The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (GS) 10-K 2021 FY Annual report

0000886982 us-gaap:MeasurementInputExpectedTermMember srt:MinimumMember gs:LoansAndSecuritiesBackedByCommercialRealEstateMember us-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel3Member 2020-12-31 0000886982 gs:LoansAndSecuritiesBackedByCommercialRealEstateMember gs:TradingCashInstrumentsAssetsMember us-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel3Member 2021-12-31

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 10-K

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF

THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 Commission File Number: 001-14965

The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	13-4019460
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
200 West Street, New York, N.Y.	10282
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

(212)

902-1000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class	Trading Symbol	Exchange on which registered
Common stock, par value $.01 per share	GS	NYSE
Depositary Shares, Each Representing 1/1,000th Interest in a Share of Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series A	GS PrA	NYSE
Depositary Shares, Each Representing 1/1,000th Interest in a Share of Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series C	GS PrC	NYSE
Depositary Shares, Each Representing 1/1,000th Interest in a Share of Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series D	GS PrD	NYSE
Depositary Shares, Each Representing 1/1,000th Interest in a Share of 5.50% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series J	GS PrJ	NYSE
Depositary Shares, Each Representing 1/1,000th Interest in a Share of 6.375% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series K	GS PrK	NYSE
5.793% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Normal Automatic Preferred Enhanced Capital Securities of Goldman Sachs Capital II	GS/43PE	NYSE
Floating Rate Normal Automatic Preferred Enhanced Capital Securities of Goldman Sachs Capital III	GS/43PF	NYSE
Medium-Term Notes, Series F, Callable Fixed and Floating Rate Notes due 2031 of GS Finance Corp.	GS/31B	NYSE

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. ☐ Yes ☒ No

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Act. ☐ Yes ☒ No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. ☒ Yes ☐ No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation

S-T

(§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). ☒ Yes ☐ No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a

non-accelerated

filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in

Rule 12b-2

of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer ☒ Accelerated filer ☐ Non-accelerated filer ☐

Smaller reporting company ☐ Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☒

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in

Rule 12b-2

of the Exchange Act). ☐ Yes ☒ No

As of June 30, 2021, the aggregate market value of the common stock of the registrant held by

non-affiliates

of the registrant was approximately $127.4 billion.

As of February 11, 2022, there were 337,922,970 shares of the registrant’s common stock outstanding.

Documents incorporated by reference

: Portions of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.’s Proxy Statement for its 2022 Annual Meeting of Shareholders are incorporated by reference in the Annual Report on

Form 10-K

in response to Part III, Items 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14.

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2021

INDEX

Form 10-K Item Number	Page No.
PART I		1
Item 1
Business		1
Introduction		1
Our Business Segments		1
Investment Banking		1
Global Markets		2
Asset Management		4
Consumer & Wealth Management		4
Business Continuity and Information Security		5
Human Capital Management		5
Sustainability		8
Competition		9
Regulation		10
Information about our Executive Officers		25
Available Information		26
Forward-Looking Statements		26
Item 1A
Risk Factors		29
Item 1B
Unresolved Staff Comments		56
Item 2
Properties		56
Item 3
Legal Proceedings		56
Item 4
Mine Safety Disclosures		56
PART II		57
Item 5
Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities		57

	Page No.
Item 7
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations		58
Introduction		58
Executive Overview		59
Business Environment		60
Critical Accounting Policies		60
Use of Estimates		63
Recent Accounting Developments		63
Results of Operations		64
Balance Sheet and Funding Sources		79
Capital Management and Regulatory Capital		82
Regulatory and Other Matters		87
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements		89
Risk Management		90
Overview and Structure of Risk Management		90
Liquidity Risk Management		96
Market Risk Management		102
Credit Risk Management		106
Operational Risk Management		114
Model Risk Management		116
Item 7A
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk		117

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

INDEX

	Page No.
Item 8
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data		117
Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting		117
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm		118
Consolidated Financial Statements		121
Consolidated Statements of Earnings		121
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income		121
Consolidated Balance Sheets		122
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity		123
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows		124
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements		125
Note 1.   Description of Business		125
Note 2.   Basis of Presentation		125
Note 3.   Significant Accounting Policies		126
Note 4.   Fair Value Measurements		131
Note 5.   Trading Assets and Liabilities		136
Note 6.   Trading Cash Instruments		137
Note 7.   Derivatives and Hedging Activities		139
Note 8.   Investments		149
Note 9.   Loans		155
Note 10. Fair Value Option		164
Note 11. Collateralized Agreements and Financings		169
Note 12. Other Assets		173
Note 13. Deposits		175
Note 14. Unsecured Borrowings		176
Note 15. Other Liabilities		179
Note 16. Securitization Activities		180
Note 17. Variable Interest Entities		182
Note 18. Commitments, Contingencies and Guarantees		185
Note 19. Shareholders’ Equity		189
Note 20. Regulation and Capital Adequacy		192
Note 21. Earnings Per Common Share		202
Note 22. Transactions with Affiliated Funds		202
Note 23. Interest Income and Interest Expense		203
Note 24. Income Taxes		203
Note 25. Business Segments		206
Note 26. Credit Concentrations		208
Note 27. Legal Proceedings		209
Note 28. Employee Benefit Plans		218
Note 29. Employee Incentive Plans		219
Note 30. Parent Company		221

	Page No.
Supplemental Financial Information		223
Common Stock Performance		223
Statistical Disclosures		223
Item 9
Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure		227
Item 9A
Controls and Procedures		227
Item 9B
Other Information		227
Item 9C
Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections		227
PART III		227
Item 10
Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance		227
Item 11
Executive Compensation		227
Item 12
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters		228
Item 13
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence		228
Item 14
Principal Accountant Fees and Services		228
PART IV		228
Item 15
Exhibit and Financial Statement Schedules		228
SIGNATURES		234

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

PART I

Item 1.    Business

Introduction

Goldman Sachs is a leading global financial institution that delivers a broad range of financial services across investment banking, securities, investment management and consumer banking to a large and diversified client base that includes corporations, financial institutions, governments and individuals. Our purpose is to advance sustainable economic growth and financial opportunity. Our goal, reflected in our

One Goldman Sachs

initiative, is to deliver the full range of our services and expertise to support our clients in a more accessible, comprehensive and efficient manner, across businesses and product areas.

When we use the terms “Goldman Sachs,” “we,” “us” and “our,” we mean The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (Group Inc. or parent company), a Delaware corporation, and its consolidated subsidiaries. When we use the term “our subsidiaries,” we mean the consolidated subsidiaries of Group Inc. References to “this

Form 10-K”

are to our Annual Report on

Form 10-K

for the year ended December 31, 2021. All references to 2021, 2020 and 2019 refer to our years ended, or the dates, as the context requires, December 31, 2021, December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively.

Group Inc. is a bank holding company (BHC) and a financial holding company (FHC) regulated by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (FRB). Our U.S. depository institution subsidiary, Goldman Sachs Bank USA (GS Bank USA), is a New York State-chartered bank.

Our Business Segments

We report our activities in four business segments: Investment Banking, Global Markets, Asset Management, and Consumer & Wealth Management. Investment Banking generates revenues from financial advisory, underwriting and corporate lending activities. Global Markets consists of Fixed Income, Currency and Commodities (FICC) and Equities, and generates revenues from intermediation and financing activities. Asset Management generates revenues from management and other fees, incentive fees, equity investments, and lending and debt investments. Consumer & Wealth Management consists of Wealth management and Consumer banking, and generates revenues from management and other fees, incentive fees, private banking and lending, and consumer-oriented activities.

The chart below presents our four business segments and their revenue sources.

Investment Banking

Investment Banking serves public and private sector clients around the world. We provide financial advisory services, help companies raise capital to strengthen and grow their businesses and provide financing to corporate clients. We seek to develop and maintain long-term relationships with a diverse global group of institutional clients, including corporations, governments, states and municipalities. Our goal is to deliver to our institutional clients all of our resources in a seamless fashion, with investment banking serving as the main initial point of contact.

Investment Banking generates revenues from the following:

• Financial advisory. We have been a leader for many years in providing financial advisory services, including strategic advisory assignments with respect to mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, corporate defense activities, restructurings and spin-offs. In particular, we help clients execute large, complex transactions for which we provide multiple services, including cross-border structuring expertise. We also assist our clients in managing their asset and liability exposures and their capital.

• Underwriting. We help companies raise capital to fund their businesses. As a financial intermediary, our job is to match the capital of our investing clients, who aim to grow the savings of millions of people, with the needs of our public and private sector clients, who need financing to generate growth, create jobs and deliver products and services. Our underwriting activities include public offerings and private placements, including local and cross-border transactions and acquisition financing, of a wide range of securities and other financial instruments, including loans. Underwriting consists of the following:

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 1

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Equity underwriting

.

We underwrite common and preferred stock and convertible and exchangeable securities. We regularly receive mandates for large, complex transactions and have held a leading position in worldwide public common stock offerings and worldwide initial public offerings for many years.

Debt underwriting

.

We underwrite and originate various types of debt instruments, including investment-grade and high-yield debt, bank and bridge loans, including in connection with acquisition financing, and emerging- and growth-market debt, which may be issued by, among others, corporate, sovereign, municipal and agency issuers. In addition, we underwrite and originate structured securities, which include mortgage-related securities and other asset-backed securities.

• Corporate lending. We lend to corporate clients, including through relationship lending, middle-market lending and acquisition financing. The hedges related to this lending and financing activity are reported as part of our corporate lending activity.

We also provide transaction banking services, including to certain of our corporate and financial institution clients. Transaction banking revenues include net interest income attributed to transaction banking deposits.

Global Markets

Global Markets serves our clients who buy and sell financial products, raise funding and manage risk. We do this by acting as a market maker and offering market expertise on a global basis. Global Markets makes markets and facilitates client transactions in fixed income, equity, currency and commodity products. In addition, we make markets in, and clear client transactions on, major stock, options and futures exchanges worldwide.

As a market maker, we provide prices to clients globally across thousands of products in all major asset classes and markets. At times, we take the other side of transactions ourselves if a buyer or seller is not readily available, and at other times we connect our clients to other parties who want to transact. Our willingness to make markets, commit capital and take risk in a broad range of products is crucial to our client relationships. Market makers provide liquidity and play a critical role in price discovery, which contributes to the overall efficiency of the capital markets. In connection with our market-making activities, we maintain (i) market-making positions, typically for a short period of time, in response to, or in anticipation of, client demand, and (ii) positions to actively manage our risk exposures that arise from these market-making activities (collectively, inventory).

Our clients are institutions that are primarily professional market participants, including investment entities whose ultimate clients include individual investors investing for their retirement, buying insurance or saving surplus cash.

We execute a high volume of transactions for our clients in large, highly liquid markets (such as markets for U.S. Treasury securities, stocks and certain agency mortgage pass-through securities). We also execute transactions for our clients in less liquid markets (such as

mid-cap

corporate bonds, emerging market currencies and certain

non-agency

mortgage-backed securities) for spreads and fees that are generally somewhat larger than those charged in more liquid markets. Additionally, we structure and execute transactions involving customized or tailor-made products that address our clients’ risk exposures, investment objectives or other complex needs (such as a jet fuel hedge for an airline), as well as derivative transactions related to client advisory and underwriting activities.

Through our global sales force, we maintain relationships with our clients, receiving orders and distributing investment research, trading ideas, market information and analysis. Much of this connectivity between us and our clients is maintained on technology platforms, including

Marquee

, and operates globally where markets are open for trading.

Marquee

provides institutional investors with market intelligence, risk analytics, proprietary datasets and trade execution across multiple asset classes.

Global Markets and our other businesses are supported by our Global Investment Research division, which, as of December 2021, provided fundamental research on approximately 3,000 companies worldwide and approximately 50 national economies, as well as on industries, currencies and commodities.

Global Markets activities are organized by asset class and include both “cash” and “derivative” instruments. “Cash” refers to trading the underlying instrument (such as a stock, bond or barrel of oil). “Derivative” refers to instruments that derive their value from underlying asset prices, indices, reference rates and other inputs, or a combination of these factors (such as an option, which is the right or obligation to buy or sell a certain bond, stock or other asset on a specified date in the future at a certain price, or an interest rate swap, which is the agreement to convert a fixed rate of interest into a floating rate or vice versa).

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THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Global Markets consists of FICC and Equities.

FICC.

FICC generates revenues from intermediation and financing activities.

• FICC intermediation. Includes client execution activities related to making markets in both cash and derivative instruments, as detailed below.

Interest Rate Products.

Government bonds (including inflation-linked securities) across maturities, other government-backed securities, and interest rate swaps, options and other derivatives.

Credit Products.

Investment-grade and high-yield corporate securities, credit derivatives, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), bank and bridge loans, municipal securities, emerging market and distressed debt, and trade claims.

Mortgages.

Commercial mortgage-related securities, loans and derivatives, residential mortgage-related securities, loans and derivatives (including U.S. government agency-issued collateralized mortgage obligations and other securities and loans), and other asset-backed securities, loans and derivatives.

Currencies.

Currency options, spot/forwards and other derivatives on

G-10

currencies and emerging-market products.

Commodities.

Commodity derivatives and, to a lesser extent, physical commodities, involving crude oil and petroleum products, natural gas, agricultural, base, precious and other metals, electricity, including renewable power, environmental products and other commodity products.

• FICC financing. Includes providing financing to our clients through warehouse loans backed by mortgages (including residential and commercial mortgage loans), corporate loans and consumer loans (including auto loans and private student loans). We also provide financing to clients through structured credit, asset-backed lending, and through securities purchased under agreements to resell (resale agreements).

Equities.

Equities generates revenues from intermediation and financing activities.

• Equities intermediation. We make markets in equity securities and equity-related products, including ETFs, convertible securities, options, futures and over-the-counter (OTC) derivative instruments. As a principal, we facilitate client transactions by providing liquidity to our clients, including by transacting in large blocks of stocks or derivatives, requiring the commitment of our capital.

We also structure and make markets in derivatives on indices, industry sectors, financial measures and individual company stocks. We develop strategies and provide information about portfolio hedging and restructuring and asset allocation transactions for our clients. We also work with our clients to create specially tailored instruments to enable sophisticated investors to establish or liquidate investment positions or undertake hedging strategies. We are one of the leading participants in the trading and development of equity derivative instruments.

Our exchange-based market-making activities include making markets in stocks and ETFs, futures and options on major exchanges worldwide.

We generate commissions and fees from executing and clearing institutional client transactions on major stock, options and futures exchanges worldwide, as well as OTC transactions. We provide our clients with access to a broad spectrum of equity execution services, including electronic

“low-touch”

access and more complex “high-touch” execution through both traditional and electronic platforms, including

Marquee

.

• Equities financing . Includes prime brokerage and other equities financing activities, including securities lending, margin lending and swaps.

We earn fees by providing clearing, settlement and custody services globally. In addition, we provide our hedge fund and other clients with a technology platform and reporting that enables them to monitor their security portfolios and manage risk exposures.

We provide services that principally involve borrowing and lending securities to cover institutional clients’ short sales and borrowing securities to cover our short sales and to make deliveries into the market. In addition, we are an active participant in

broker-to-broker

securities lending and third-party agency lending activities.

We provide financing to our clients for their securities trading activities through margin loans that are collateralized by securities, cash or other acceptable collateral. We earn a spread equal to the difference between the amount we pay for funds and the amount we receive from our client.

We execute swap transactions to provide our clients with exposure to securities and indices.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 3

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Asset Management

Asset Management provides investment services to help clients preserve and grow their financial assets. We provide these services to our institutional clients, as well as investors who primarily access our products through a network of third-party distributors around the world.

We manage client assets across a broad range of investment strategies and asset classes, including equity, fixed income and alternative investments. Alternative investments primarily includes hedge funds, credit funds, private equity, real estate, currencies, commodities and asset allocation strategies. Our investment offerings include those managed on a fiduciary basis by our portfolio managers, as well as those managed by third-party managers. We offer our investment solutions in a variety of structures, including separately managed accounts, mutual funds, private partnerships and other commingled vehicles.

We also provide customized investment advisory solutions designed to address our clients’ investment needs. These solutions begin with identifying clients’ objectives and continue through portfolio construction, ongoing asset allocation and risk management and investment realization. We draw from a variety of third-party managers, as well as our proprietary offerings, to implement solutions for clients.

Asset Management generates revenues from the following:

• Management and other fees. The majority of revenues in management and other fees consists of asset-based fees on client assets that we manage. The fees that we charge vary by asset class, distribution channel and the types of services provided, and are affected by investment performance, as well as asset inflows and redemptions.

• Incentive fees. In certain circumstances, we also receive incentive fees based on a percentage of a fund’s or a separately managed account’s return, or when the return exceeds a specified benchmark or other performance targets. Such fees include overrides, which consist of the increased share of the income and gains derived primarily from our private equity and credit funds when the return on a fund’s investments over the life of the fund exceeds certain threshold returns.

• Equity investments. Our alternative investing activities relate to public and private equity investments in corporate, real estate and infrastructure entities. We also make investments through consolidated investment entities, substantially all of which are engaged in real estate investment activities.

• Lending and debt investments. We invest in corporate debt and provide financing for real estate and other assets. These activities include investments in mezzanine debt, senior debt and distressed debt securities.

Consumer & Wealth Management

Consumer & Wealth Management helps clients achieve their individual financial goals by providing a broad range of wealth advisory and banking services, including financial planning, investment management, deposit-taking and lending. Services are offered through our global network of advisors and via our digital platforms.

Wealth Management.

Wealth managementprovides tailored wealth advisory services to clients across the wealth spectrum. We operate globally serving individuals, families, family offices, and foundations and endowments. Our relationships are established directly or introduced through corporations that sponsor financial wellness programs for their employees.

We offer personalized financial planning inclusive of income and liability management, compensation and benefits analysis, trust and estate structuring, tax optimization, philanthropic giving, and asset protection. We also provide customized investment advisory solutions, and offer structuring and execution capabilities in security and derivative products across all major global markets. We leverage a broad, open-architecture investment platform and our global execution capabilities to help clients achieve their investment goals. In addition, we offer clients a full range of private banking services, including a variety of deposit alternatives and loans that our clients use to finance investments in both financial and nonfinancial assets, bridge cash flow timing gaps or provide liquidity and flexibility for other needs.

Wealth management generates revenues from the following:

• Management and other fees. Includes fees related to managing assets, providing investing and wealth advisory solutions, providing financial planning and counseling services via Ayco Personal Financial Management, and executing brokerage transactions for wealth management clients.

• Incentive fees. In certain circumstances, we also receive incentive fees from wealth management clients based on a percentage of a fund’s return, or when the return exceeds a specified benchmark or other performance targets. Such fees include overrides, which consist of the increased share of the income and gains derived primarily from our private equity and credit funds when the return on a fund’s investments over the life of the fund exceeds certain threshold returns.

• Private banking and lending. Includes net interest income allocated to deposit-taking and net interest income earned on lending activities for wealth management clients.

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THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consumer Banking.

Our Consumer banking business issues unsecured loans, through our digital platform,

Marcus by Goldman Sachs

(Marcus),and credit cards, to finance the purchases of goods or services. We also accept deposits (including savings and time deposits) through Marcus, in GS Bank USA and Goldman Sachs International Bank (GSIB). Additionally, we provide investing services through

Marcus Invest

to U.S. customers.

Consumer banking revenues consist of net interest income earned on unsecured loans issued to consumers through Marcus and credit card lending activities, and net interest income attributed to consumer deposits.

Business Continuity and Information Security

Business continuity and information security, including cyber security, are high priorities for us. Their importance has been highlighted by (i) the coronavirus

(COVID-19)

pandemic and the work-from-home arrangements implemented by companies worldwide in response, including us, (ii) numerous highly publicized events in recent years, including cyber attacks against financial institutions, governmental agencies, large consumer-based companies, software and information technology service providers and other organizations, some of which have resulted in the unauthorized access to or disclosure of personal information and other sensitive or confidential information, the theft and destruction of corporate information and requests for ransom payments, and (iii) extreme weather events.

Our Business Continuity & Technology Resilience Program has been developed to provide reasonable assurance of business continuity in the event of disruptions at our critical facilities or of our systems, and to comply with regulatory requirements, including those of FINRA. Because we are a BHC, our Business Continuity & Technology Resilience Program is also subject to review by the FRB. The key elements of the program are crisis management, business continuity, technology resilience, business recovery, assurance and verification, and process improvement. In the area of information security, we have developed and implemented a framework of principles, policies and technology designed to protect the information provided to us by our clients and our own information from cyber attacks and other misappropriation, corruption or loss. Safeguards are designed to maintain the confidentiality, integrity and availability of information. For further information about the Business Continuity Planning strategy we have implemented in response to the

COVID-19

pandemic, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Regulatory and Other Matters — Impact of

COVID-19

Pandemic” in Part II, Item 7 of this

Form 10-K.

Human Capital Management

Our people are our greatest asset. We believe that a major strength and principal reason for our success is the quality, dedication, determination and collaboration of our people, which enables us to serve our clients, generate long-term value for our shareholders and contribute to the broader community. We invest heavily in developing and supporting our people throughout their careers, and we strive to maintain a work environment that fosters professionalism, excellence, high standards of business ethics, diversity, teamwork and cooperation among our employees worldwide.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 5

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Diversity and Inclusion

The strength of our culture, our ability to execute our strategy, and our relationships with clients all depend on a diverse workforce and an inclusive work environment that encourages a wide range of perspectives. We believe that diversity at all levels of our organization, from entry-level analysts to senior management, as well as the Board of Directors of Group Inc. (Board), which as of December 2021, was approximately 62% diverse by race, gender or sexual orientation, is essential to our sustainability. Our management team works closely with our Global Inclusion and Diversity Committee to continue to increase diversity of our global workforce at all levels. In addition, we have global and regional Inclusion and Diversity Committees which promote an environment that values different perspectives, challenges conventional thinking and maximizes the potential of all our people.

We believe that increased diversity, including diversity of experience, gender identity, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability and veteran status, in addition to being a social imperative, is vital to our commercial success through the creativity that it fosters. For this reason, we have established a comprehensive action plan with aspirational diversity hiring goals which are set forth below and are focused on cultivating an inclusive environment for all our colleagues.

Diverse leadership is crucial to our long-term success and to driving innovation, and we have implemented and expanded outreach and career advancement programs for rising diverse executive talent. For example, we are focused on providing diverse vice presidents the necessary coaching, sponsorship and advocacy to support their career trajectories and strengthen their leadership platforms, including through programs, such as our Vice President Career Investment Initiative focused on high-performing Black and Hispanic/Latinx VPs in the Americas and EMEA. Many other career development initiatives are aimed at fostering diverse talent at the analyst and associate level, including the Black Analyst and Associate Initiative, the Hispanic/Latinx Analyst Initiative and the Women’s Career Strategies Initiative. We have also established Inclusion Networks and Interest Forums that are open to all professionals at Goldman Sachs to promote and advance connectivity, understanding, inclusion and diversity.

Progress Toward Aspirational Goals.

Reflecting our efforts to increase diversity, the composition of our most recent partnership class was 27% women professionals, 17% Asian professionals, 7% Black professionals and 5% Hispanic/Latinx professionals. The composition of our most recent managing director class was 30% women professionals, 28% Asian professionals, 5% Black professionals and 5% Hispanic/Latinx professionals.

We have also set forth the following aspirational goals:

• We aim for analyst and associate hiring (which accounts for over 70% of our annual hiring) to achieve representation of 50% women professionals, 11% Black professionals and 14% Hispanic/Latinx professionals in the Americas, and 9% Black professionals in the U.K. In 2021, our analyst and associate hires included 45% women professionals, 11% Black professionals and 15% Hispanic/Latinx professionals in the Americas, and 14% Black professionals in the U.K.

• We aim for women professionals to represent 40% of our vice presidents globally by 2025 and 30% of senior talent (vice presidents and above) in the U.K. by 2023, while also endeavoring for women employees to comprise 50% of all of our employees globally over time. As of December 2021, women professionals represented 32% of our vice president population globally and 31% of senior talent (vice presidents and above) in the U.K., and women employees represented 41% of all of our employees globally.

• We aim for Black professionals to represent 7% of our vice president population in the Americas and in the U.K., and for Hispanic/Latinx professionals to represent 9% of our vice president population in the Americas, both by 2025. As of December 2021, Black professionals represented 4% of our vice president population in the Americas and 4% in the U.K., and Hispanic/Latinx professionals represented 6% of our vice president population in the Americas.

• We aim to double the number of campus hires in the U.S. recruited from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) by 2025 relative to 2020.

The metrics above are based on self-identification.

6 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Talent Development and Retention

We seek to help our people achieve their full potential by investing in them and supporting a culture of continuous development. Our goals are to maximize individual capabilities, increase commercial effectiveness and innovation, reinforce our culture, expand professional opportunities, and help our people contribute positively to their communities.

Instilling our culture in all employees is a continuous process, in which training plays an important part. We offer our employees the opportunity to participate in ongoing educational offerings and periodic seminars through Goldman Sachs University. To accelerate their integration into the firm and our culture, new hires have the opportunity to receive training before they start working and orientation programs with an emphasis on culture and networking, and nearly all employees participate in at least one training event each year. For our more senior employees, we provide guidance and training on how to manage people and projects effectively, exhibit strong leadership and exemplify our culture. We are also focused on developing a high performing, diverse leadership pipeline and career planning for our next generation of leaders. We maintain a variety of programs aimed at employees’ professional growth and support throughout their careers and as they evolve into leaders, including initiatives, such as our Vice President and Managing Director Leadership Acceleration Initiatives.

Enhancing our people’s experience of internal mobility is a key focus, as we believe that this will inspire employees, help retain top talent and create diverse experiences to build future leaders.

Another important part of instilling our culture is our employee performance review process. Employees are reviewed by supervisors,

co-workers

and employees whom they supervise in a

360-degree

review process that is integral to our team approach and includes an evaluation of an employee’s performance with respect to risk management, protecting our reputation, adherence to our code of conduct, compliance, and diversity and inclusion principles. Our approach to evaluating employee performance centers on providing robust, timely and actionable feedback that facilitates professional development. We have directed our managers, as leaders at the firm, to take an active coaching role with their teams. We have also implemented “The Three Conversations at GS” through which managers establish goals with their team members at the start of the year, check in

mid-year

on progress and then close out the year with a conversation on performance against goals.

We believe that our people value opportunities to contribute to their communities and that these opportunities enhance their job satisfaction. We also believe that being able to volunteer together with colleagues and participate in community organizations working on local service projects strengthens our people’s bond with us. Community TeamWorks, our signature volunteering initiative, enables our people to participate in high-impact, team-based volunteer opportunities, including projects coordinated with hundreds of nonprofit partner organizations worldwide. During 2021, our people volunteered approximately 80,000 hours of service globally through Community TeamWorks, with approximately 15,000 employees partnering with approximately 370 nonprofit organizations on approximately 800 community projects. To respond to the interest of our people in helping with the response to the

COVID-19

pandemic, we have developed a series of opportunities to support vulnerable populations remotely, including small business owners, students and the elderly.

Wellness

We recognize that for our people to be successful in the workplace they need support in their personal, as well as their professional lives. We have created a strong support framework for wellness, which is intended to enable employees to better balance their roles at work and their responsibilities at home. In addition to providing 20 weeks of parental leave for all employees, we provide other benefits to support the wellness of our employees, including family care leave, bereavement leave and, for longer-tenured employees, an unpaid sabbatical leave. We also continue to advance our resilience programs, offering our people a range of counseling, coaching, medical advisory and personal wellness services. We have increased the availability of these resources during the

COVID-19

pandemic, and we have continued to evolve and strengthen virtual offerings with the aim of maintaining the physical and mental well-being of our employees, enhancing their effectiveness and cohesiveness and providing them with greater opportunities to access support.

We also introduced a

COVID-19

10-day

family leave policy, available to our people globally to care for family members due to

COVID-19

related illness or meet childcare needs, including homeschooling. We remain focused on facilitating the safe return of our employees to our offices, as circumstances permit, and employees in a number of our locations around the world have returned to the office to varying degrees. Given that the situation regarding the

COVID-19

pandemic varies geographically, our approach to transitioning back to the office is tailored to each location, and it evolves based on the specific conditions and requirements of each location. We have comprehensive protocols in place, including regular testing, and we will continue to be guided by a people-first approach as circumstances evolve.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 7

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

In addition, to support the financial wellness of our employees, we offer a variety of resources that help them manage their personal financial health and decision-making, including financial education series, live and

on-demand

webinars, articles and interactive digital tools.

Global Reach and Strategic Locations

As a firm with a global client base, we take a strategic approach to attracting, developing and managing a global workforce. Our clients are located worldwide and we are an active participant in financial markets around the world. As of December 2021, we had headcount of 43,900, offices in over 35 countries and 52% of our headcount was based in the Americas, 18% in EMEA and 30% in Asia. Our employees come from over 180 countries and speak more than 110 languages as of December 2021.

In addition to maintaining offices in major financial centers around the world, we have established key strategic locations, including in Bengaluru, Salt Lake City, Dallas, Singapore and Warsaw. We continue to evaluate the expanded use of strategic locations, including cities in which we do not currently have a presence.

As of December 2021, 40% of our employees were working in one of these key strategic locations. We believe our investment in these strategic locations enables us to build centers of excellence around specific capabilities that support our business initiatives.

Sustainability

We have a long-standing commitment to sustainability. Our two priorities in this area are helping clients across industries facilitate and thrive in a

low-carbon

economy (Climate Transition) and leveraging our capabilities to advance economic empowerment (Inclusive Growth).

We have established a Sustainable Finance Group, which serves as the centralized group that drives climate strategy and sustainability efforts across our firm, including commercial efforts alongside our businesses to advance Climate Transition and Inclusive Growth. In 2020, we created a new role, Global Head of Sustainability and Inclusive Growth, which, like our

One Goldman Sachs

initiative, is intended to facilitate the application of our full capabilities across both Climate Transition and Inclusive Growth. Each of our segments has launched a Sustainability Council. These councils focus on identifying key Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) priorities for the segment, developing sustainability-related capabilities and delivering sustainability-focused solutions to clients in a holistic way.

Our activities relating to sustainability present both financial and nonfinancial risks, and we have processes for managing these risks, similar to the other risks we face. We have integrated oversight of climate-related risks into our risk management governance structure, from senior management to our Board and its committees, including the Risk and Public Responsibilities Committees. The Risk Committee of the Board oversees firmwide financial and nonfinancial risks, which include climate risk, and, as part of its oversight, receives updates on our risk management approach to climate risk. The Public Responsibilities Committee of the Board assists the Board in its oversight of our firmwide sustainability strategy and sustainability risks affecting us, including with respect to climate change. As part of its oversight, the Public Responsibilities Committee receives periodic updates on our sustainability strategy, and also periodically reviews our governance and related policies and processes for sustainability and climate change-related risks. We have also implemented an Environmental Policy Framework to guide our overall approach to sustainability issues. We apply this Framework when evaluating transactions for environmental and social risks and impacts. Our employees also receive training with respect to environmental and social risks, including for sectors and industries that we believe have higher potential for these risks. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Risk Management — Overview and Structure of Risk Management — Climate Risk Management” in Part II, Item 7 of this

Form 10-K

for further information about our climate risk management.

8 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

As a leading financial institution, we acknowledge the importance of Climate Transition for our business. In February 2021, we launched our inaugural sustainability bond of $800 million, which is aligned with our sustainable finance framework for future issuances and funds a range of

on-balance

sheet sustainable finance activity. In addition, we are working with various external groups to develop methods, metrics and frameworks for the financial sector, with an aim to support greater consistency, comparability and utility in approaches to measuring the financial sector’s contribution to Climate Transition initiatives. We believe we can advance sustainability by partnering with our clients across our businesses, including by developing new sustainability-linked financing solutions, offering strategic advice, or coinvesting alongside our clients in clean energy companies. We have announced a target to deploy $750 billion in sustainable financing, investing and advisory activity by the beginning of 2030. As of December 2021, we achieved approximately 40% of that goal, with the majority dedicated to Climate Transition. In addition, we have announced our commitment to align our financing activities with a

net-zero-by-2050

pathway. In that context, we have set an initial set of targets for 2030 focused on three sectors — power, oil and gas, and auto manufacturing — where we believe we can have the most significant impact and we see an opportunity to proactively engage our clients, investors, advocacy groups and multi-stakeholder organizations, deploy capital required for transition, and invest in new commercial solutions to drive decarbonization in the real economy. Carbon neutrality is also a priority for the operation of our firm and our supply chain. In 2015, we achieved carbon neutrality in our operations and business travel, ahead of our 2020 goal announced in 2009. We have expanded our operational carbon commitment to include our supply chain, targeting

net-zero

carbon emissions by 2030.

In addition to Climate Transition, our approach to sustainability also centers on Inclusive Growth and advancing economic empowerment and financial opportunity for all. We have sponsored initiatives, such as

One

Million Black Women,

Launch With GS, our Urban Investment Group, 10,000 Women and 10,000 Small Businesses

. An overarching theme of our sustainability strategy is promoting diversity and inclusion as an imperative for us, as well as our clients and their boards. These efforts are further strengthened by strategic partnerships that we have established in areas where we have identified gaps, or believe we are able to drive even greater impact through collaboration. We also believe our ability to achieve our sustainability objectives is critically dependent on the strengths and talents of our people, and we recognize that our people are able to maximize their impact by collaborating in a diverse and inclusive work environment. See “Business — Human Capital Management” for information about our human capital management goals, programs and policies.

Competition

The financial services industry and all of our businesses are intensely competitive, and we expect them to remain so. Our competitors are other entities that provide investment banking (including transaction banking), market-making, investment management services, commercial and/or consumer lending, deposit-taking and other banking products and services, as well as those entities that make investments in securities, commodities, derivatives, real estate, loans and other financial assets. These entities include brokers and dealers, investment banking firms, commercial banks, credit card issuers, insurance companies, investment advisers, mutual funds, hedge funds, private equity funds, merchant banks, consumer finance companies and financial technology and other internet-based companies. We compete with some entities globally and with others on a regional, product or niche basis. We compete based on a number of factors, including transaction execution, client experience, products and services, innovation, reputation and price.

We have faced, and expect to continue to face, pressure to retain market share by committing capital to businesses or transactions on terms that offer returns that may not be commensurate with their risks. In particular, corporate clients seek such commitments (such as agreements to participate in their loan facilities) from financial services firms in connection with investment banking and other assignments.

Consolidation and convergence have significantly increased the capital base and geographic reach of some of our competitors, and have also hastened the globalization of the securities and other financial services markets. As a result, we have had to commit capital to support our international operations and to execute large global transactions. To capitalize on some of our most significant opportunities, we will have to compete successfully with financial institutions that are larger and have more capital and that may have a stronger local presence and longer operating history outside the U.S.

We also compete with smaller institutions that offer more targeted services, such as independent advisory firms. Some clients may perceive these firms to be less susceptible to potential conflicts of interest than we are, and, as described below, our ability to effectively compete with them could be affected by regulations and limitations on activities that apply to us but may not apply to them.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 9

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

A number of our businesses are subject to intense price competition. Efforts by our competitors to gain market share have resulted in pricing pressure in our investment banking, market-making, consumer, wealth management and asset management businesses. For example, the increasing volume of trades executed electronically, through the internet and through alternative trading systems, has increased the pressure on trading commissions, in that commissions for electronic trading are generally lower than those for

non-electronic

trading. It appears that this trend toward

low-commission

trading will continue. Price competition has also led to compression in the difference between the price at which a market participant is willing to sell an instrument and the price at which another market participant is willing to buy it (i.e., bid/offer spread), which has affected our market-making businesses. The increasing prevalence of passive investment strategies that typically have lower fees than other strategies we offer has affected the competitive and pricing dynamics for our asset management products and services. In addition, we believe that we will continue to experience competitive pressures in these and other areas in the future as some of our competitors seek to obtain market share by further reducing prices, and as we enter into or expand our presence in markets that may rely more heavily on electronic trading and execution. We and other banks also compete for deposits on the basis of the rates we offer. Increases in short-term interest rates are expected to result in more intense competition in deposit pricing.

We also compete on the basis of the types of financial products and client experiences that we and our competitors offer. In some circumstances, our competitors may offer financial products that we do not offer and that our clients may prefer, or our competitors may develop technology platforms that provide a better client experience.

The provisions of the U.S. Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act), the requirements promulgated by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (Basel Committee) and other financial regulations could affect our competitive position to the extent that limitations on activities, increased fees and compliance costs or other regulatory requirements do not apply, or do not apply equally, to all of our competitors or are not implemented uniformly across different jurisdictions. For example, the provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act that prohibit proprietary trading and restrict investments in certain hedge and private equity funds differentiate between U.S.-based and

non-U.S.-based

banking organizations and give

non-U.S.-based

banking organizations greater flexibility to trade outside of the U.S. and to form and invest in funds outside the U.S.

Likewise, the obligations with respect to derivative transactions under Title VII of the Dodd-Frank Act depend, in part, on the location of the counterparties to the transaction. The impact of regulatory developments on our competitive position has depended and will continue to depend to a large extent on the manner in which the required rulemaking and regulatory guidance evolve, the extent of international convergence, and the development of market practice and structures under the evolving regulatory regimes, as described further in “Regulation” below.

We also face intense competition in attracting and retaining qualified employees. Our ability to continue to compete effectively has depended and will continue to depend upon our ability to attract new employees, retain and motivate our existing employees and to continue to compensate employees competitively amid intense public and regulatory scrutiny on the compensation practices of large financial institutions. Our pay practices and those of certain of our competitors are subject to review by, and the standards of, the FRB and other regulators inside and outside the U.S., including the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the U.K. We also compete for employees with institutions whose pay practices are not subject to regulatory oversight. See “Regulation — Compensation Practices” and “Risk Factors — Competition — Our businesses may be adversely affected if we are unable to hire and retain qualified employees” in Part I, Item 1A of this

Form 10-K

for further information about such regulation.

Regulation

As a participant in the global financial services industry, we are subject to extensive regulation and supervision worldwide. The regulatory regimes applicable to our operations worldwide have been, and continue to be, subject to significant changes. The Basel Committee is the primary global standard setter for prudential bank regulation; however, its standards do not become effective in a jurisdiction until the relevant regulators have adopted rules to implement its standards. The implications of these regulations for our businesses depend to a large extent on their implementation by the relevant regulators globally, and the market practices and structures that develop.

New regulations have been adopted or are being considered by regulators and policy makers worldwide, as described below. The effects of any changes to the regulations affecting our businesses, including as a result of the proposals described below, are uncertain and will not be known until such changes are finalized and market practices and structures develop under the revised regulations.

10 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Our principal subsidiaries operating in the U.S. include GS Bank USA, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC (GS&Co.), J. Aron & Company LLC (J. Aron) and Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. Our principal subsidiaries operating in Europe include Goldman Sachs International (GSI), GSIB and Goldman Sachs Asset Management International (GSAMI), which are incorporated and headquartered in the U.K., and Goldman Sachs Bank Europe SE (GSBE), which is incorporated and headquartered in Germany. Our principal subsidiaries operating in Asia include Goldman Sachs Japan Co., Ltd. (GSJCL).

As a result of the U.K.’s withdrawal from the E.U. (Brexit), we have strengthened the capabilities of our E.U. operating subsidiaries, particularly GSBE, and have moved certain activities there. For example, we have moved a number of relationships with clients of our Investment Banking, Global Markets and Wealth Management businesses from GSI and GSIB to GSBE, and clients of our Asset Management business from GSAMI to GSBE; established access for GSBE to exchanges, clearing houses and depositories and other market infrastructure in the E.U.; established branches of GSBE in several E.U. member states and in the U.K.; and strengthened the capital, personnel and other resources at GSBE.

Banking Supervision and Regulation

Group Inc. is a BHC under the U.S. Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 (BHC Act) and an FHC under amendments to the BHC Act effected by the U.S. Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 (GLB Act), and is subject to supervision and examination by the FRB, which is our primary regulator.

The FRB’s rating system for large financial institutions is aligned with its supervisory program and is comprised of component ratings for capital planning and positions, liquidity risk management and positions, and governance and controls.

Under the system of “functional regulation” established under the BHC Act, the primary regulators of our U.S.

non-bank

subsidiaries directly regulate the activities of those subsidiaries, with the FRB exercising a supervisory role. Such “functionally regulated” subsidiaries include broker-dealers and security-based swap dealers registered with the SEC, such as our principal U.S. broker-dealer, GS&Co., entities registered with or regulated by the CFTC with respect to futures-related and swaps-related activities and investment advisers registered with the SEC with respect to their investment advisory activities.

Our principal U.S. bank subsidiary, GS Bank USA, is supervised and regulated by the FRB, the FDIC, the New York State Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). GS Bank USA also has a London branch, which is regulated by the FCA and PRA, and a Tokyo branch, which is regulated by the Japan Financial Services Agency. We conduct a number of our activities partially or entirely through GS Bank USA and its subsidiaries, including: corporate loans (including leveraged lending) and transaction banking; consumer loans (including installment and credit card loans); small business loans (including installment, lines of credit and credit cards); wealth management loans (including mortgages); interest rate, credit, currency and other derivatives; deposit-taking; and agency lending.

Our E.U. subsidiaries are subject to various E.U. regulations, as well as national laws, including those implementing European directives. GSBE is directly supervised by the European Central Bank (ECB) and additionally by BaFin and Deutsche Bundesbank in the context of the E.U. Single Supervisory Mechanism (SSM). GSBE’s London branch is regulated by the FCA. GSBE engages in certain activities primarily in the E.U., including underwriting and market making in debt and equity securities and derivatives, investment, asset and wealth management services, deposit-taking, lending (including securities lending), and financial advisory services and is a primary dealer for government bonds issued by E.U. sovereigns. On July 1, 2021, GSBE became a subsidiary of GS Bank USA. As a foreign bank subsidiary of GS Bank USA, GSBE is subject to limits on the nature and scope of its activities under the FRB’s Regulation K, including limits on its underwriting and market making in equity securities based on GSBE’s and/or GS Bank USA’s capital.

Goldman Sachs Paris Inc. et Cie (GSPIC) is an investment firm regulated by the French Prudential Supervision and Resolution Authority and the Financial Markets Authority. GSPIC’s activities include certain activities that GSBE is prevented from undertaking. GSPIC applied in October 2021 to become a credit institution.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 11

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Our principal subsidiaries in the U.K. include GSI, a U.K. broker-dealer and a designated investment firm, and GSIB, a U.K. bank. Both GSI and GSIB are regulated by the PRA and the FCA. As an investment firm, GSI is subject to prudential requirements applicable to banks, including capital and liquidity requirements. GSI provides broker-dealer services in and from the U.K. and is registered with the CFTC as a swap dealer and with the SEC as a securities-based swap dealer. GSIB engages in lending (including securities lending) and deposit-taking activities and is a primary dealer for U.K. government bonds. GSI and GSIB maintain branches outside of the U.K. and are subject to the laws and regulations of the jurisdictions where they are located.

Capital and Liquidity Requirements.

We and GS Bank USA are subject to regulatory risk-based capital and leverage requirements that are calculated in accordance with the regulations of the FRB (Capital Framework). The Capital Framework is largely based on the Basel Committee’s framework for strengthening the regulation, supervision and risk management of banks (Basel III) and also implements certain provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act. Under the U.S. federal bank regulatory agencies’ tailoring framework, we and GS Bank USA are subject to “Category I” standards because we have been designated as a global systemically important bank

(G-SIB).

Accordingly, we and GS Bank USA are “Advanced approach” banking organizations. Under the Capital Framework, we and GS Bank USA must meet specific regulatory capital requirements that involve quantitative measures of assets, liabilities and certain

off-balance

sheet items. The sufficiency of our capital levels is also subject to qualitative judgments by regulators. We and GS Bank USA are also subject to liquidity requirements established by the U.S. federal bank regulatory agencies.

GSBE is subject to capital and liquidity requirements prescribed in the E.U. Capital Requirements Regulation, as amended (CRR), and the E.U. Capital Requirements Directive, as amended (CRD), which are largely based on Basel III.

The most recent previous amendments to the CRR and CRD (respectively, CRR II and CRD V) include changes to the market risk, counterparty credit risk, large exposures and leverage ratio frameworks. These changes have been applicable in the E.U. since June 2021.

GSI and GSIB are subject to the U.K. capital and liquidity frameworks, which are also largely based on Basel III and remain predominantly aligned with the E.U. capital and liquidity frameworks. Amendments similar to CRR II and CRD V became applicable in the U.K. on January 1, 2022. Requirements established by E.U. and U.K. authorities are therefore similar to those applicable to GS Bank USA and us.

Risk-Based Capital Ratios.

As Advanced approach banking organizations, we and GS Bank USA calculate risk-based capital ratios in accordance with both the Standardized and Advanced Capital Rules. Both the Advanced Capital Rules and the Standardized Capital Rules include minimum risk-based capital requirements and additional capital conservation buffer requirements that must be satisfied solely with Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) capital. Failure to satisfy a buffer requirement in full would result in constraints on capital distributions and discretionary executive compensation. The severity of the constraints would depend on the amount of the shortfall and the organization’s “eligible retained income,” defined as the greater of (i) net income for the four preceding quarters, net of distributions and associated tax effects not reflected in net income; and (ii) the average of net income over the preceding four quarters. For Group Inc., the capital conservation buffer requirements consist of a 2.5% buffer (under the Advanced Capital Rules), a stress capital buffer (SCB) (under the Standardized Capital Rules), and both a countercyclical buffer and the

G-SIB

surcharge (under both Capital Rules). For GS Bank USA, the capital conservation buffer requirements consist of a 2.5% buffer and the countercyclical capital buffer.

The SCB is based on the results of the Federal Reserve’s supervisory stress tests and our planned common stock dividends and is likely to change over time based on the results of the annual supervisory stress tests. See “Stress Tests and Capital Planning” below. The countercyclical capital buffer is designed to counteract systemic vulnerabilities and currently applies only to banking organizations subject to Category I, II or III standards, including us and GS Bank USA. Several other national supervisors also require countercyclical capital buffers. The

G-SIB

surcharge and countercyclical capital buffer applicable to us may change in the future including due to additional guidance from our regulators and/or positional changes. As a result, the minimum capital ratios to which we are subject are likely to change over time.

The U.S. federal bank regulatory agencies have a rule that implements the Basel Committee’s standardized approach for measuring counterparty credit risk exposures in connection with derivative contracts

(SA-CCR).

Under the rule, “Advanced approach” banking organizations are required to use

SA-CCR

for calculating their standardized risk-weighted assets (RWAs) and, with some adjustments, for purposes of determining their supplementary leverage ratios (SLRs) discussed below.

12 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

The capital requirements applicable to GSBE, GSI and GSIB include both minimum requirements and buffers. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Capital Management and Regulatory Capital” in Part II, Item 7 of this

Form 10-K

and Note 20 to the consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this

Form 10-K

for information about our capital ratios and those of GS Bank USA, GSBE, GSI and GSIB.

The Basel Committee standards include guidelines for calculating incremental capital ratio requirements for banking institutions that are systemically significant from a domestic but not global perspective

(D-SIBs).

Depending on how these guidelines are implemented by national regulators, they may apply, among others, to certain subsidiaries of

G-SIBs.

These guidelines are in addition to the framework for

G-SIBs,

but are more principles-based. The CRD and CRR provide that institutions that are systemically important at the E.U. or member state level, known as other systemically important institutions

(O-SIIs),

may be subject to additional capital ratio requirements, according to their degree of systemic importance

(O-SII

buffers). In 2021, BaFin identified GSBE as an

O-SII

in Germany and set an

O-SII

buffer, applicable from January 1, 2022.

In the U.K., the PRA has identified Goldman Sachs Group UK Limited (GSG UK), the parent company of GSI and GSIB, as an

O-SII

but has not applied an

O-SII

buffer.

The Basel Committee has finalized revisions to the framework for calculating capital requirements for market risk as part of its Fundamental Review of the Trading Book (FRTB). These revisions are expected to increase market risk capital requirements for most banking organizations and large broker-dealers subject to bank capital requirements. The revised framework, among other things, revises the standardized and internal model-based approaches used to calculate market risk requirements and clarifies the scope of positions subject to market risk capital requirements. The Basel Committee framework contemplates that national regulators implement the revised framework by January 1, 2023. The U.S. federal bank regulatory agencies have not yet proposed rules implementing the revised framework. Under the CRR, E.U. financial institutions commenced reporting their market risk calculations under the revised framework in the third quarter of 2021. U.K. authorities have not yet proposed rules to implement this framework.

The Basel Committee published standards that it described as the finalization of the Basel III post-crisis regulatory reforms (Basel III Revisions). These standards set a floor on internally modeled capital requirements at a percentage of the capital requirements under the standardized approach. They also revise the Basel Committee’s standardized and internal model-based approaches for credit risk, provide a new standardized approach for operational risk capital and revise the frameworks for credit valuation adjustment (CVA) risk. The Basel Committee framework contemplates that national regulators implement these standards by January 1, 2023, and that the new floor be phased in through January 1, 2028. In July 2020, the Basel Committee finalized further revisions to the framework for CVA risk, which are intended to align that framework with the market risk framework.

The U.S. federal bank regulatory authorities have not yet proposed rules implementing the Basel III Revisions for purposes of their risk-based capital ratios. The European Commission proposed rules to implement the Basel III Revisions in October 2021. The proposed E.U. rules contemplate amendments to the CRR and the CRD, referred to as CRR III and CRD VI, to take effect in January 2025. The U.K. authorities have not yet released a proposal on the Basel III Revisions.

The Basel Committee has also published an updated securitization framework and a revised

G-SIB

assessment methodology, but the U.S. federal bank regulatory agencies have not yet proposed rules implementing them. The updated securitization framework has been implemented in the E.U. and U.K.

Leverage Ratios.

Under the Capital Framework, we and GS Bank USA are subject to Tier 1 leverage ratios and SLRs established by the FRB. As a

G-SIB,

the SLR requirements applicable to us include both a minimum requirement and a buffer requirement, which operates in the same manner as the risk-based buffer requirements described above. In April 2018, the FRB and the OCC issued a proposed rule which would (i) replace the current 2% SLR buffer for

G-SIBs,

including us, with a buffer equal to 50% of their

G-SIB

surcharge and (ii) revise the 6% SLR requirement for Category I banks, such as GS Bank USA, to be “well capitalized” with a requirement equal to 3% plus 50% of their parent’s

G-SIB

surcharge. This proposal, together with the adopted rule requiring use of

SA-CCR

for purposes of calculating the SLR, would implement certain of the revisions to the leverage ratio framework published by the Basel Committee in December 2017.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 13

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

GSBE and certain of our U.K. entities, including GSI and GSIB, are also subject to requirements relating to leverage ratios, which are generally based on the Basel Committee leverage ratio standards.

See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Capital Management and Regulatory Capital” in Part II, Item 7 of this

Form 10-K

and Note 20 to the consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this

Form 10-K

for information about our and GS Bank USA’s Tier 1 leverage ratios and SLRs, and GSI’s leverage ratio.

Liquidity Ratios.

The Basel Committee’s framework for liquidity risk measurement, standards and monitoring requires banking organizations to measure their liquidity against two specific liquidity tests: the Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) and the Net Stable Funding Ratio (NSFR).

The LCR rule issued by the U.S. federal bank regulatory agencies and applicable to both us and GS Bank USA is generally consistent with the Basel Committee’s framework and is designed to ensure that a banking organization maintains an adequate level of unencumbered, high-quality liquid assets equal to or greater than the expected net cash outflows under an acute short-term liquidity stress scenario. We and GS Bank USA are required to maintain a minimum LCR of 100%. See “Available Information” below and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Capital Management and Regulatory Capital” in Part II, Item 7 of this

Form 10-K

for information about our average daily LCR.

GSBE is subject to the LCR rule issued by the European Commission, and GSI and GSIB are subject to the U.K. prudential framework’s LCR rules. These rules are generally consistent with the Basel Committee’s framework.

The NSFR is designed to promote medium- and long-term stable funding of the assets and

off-balance

sheet activities of banking organizations over a

one-year

time horizon. The Basel Committee’s NSFR framework requires banking organizations to maintain a minimum NSFR of 100%.

The U.S. federal bank regulatory agencies issued a final rule, which became effective in July 2021, implementing the NSFR for large U.S. banking organizations, including us and GS Bank USA. We will be required to publicly disclose our quarterly average daily NSFR semiannually beginning in 2023. The CRR implemented the NSFR for certain E.U. financial institutions, including GSBE, which became effective in June 2021. The NSFR requirement implemented in the U.K. became effective in January 2022 and is applicable to both GSI and GSIB.

The FRB’s enhanced prudential standards require BHCs with $100 billion or more in total consolidated assets to comply with enhanced liquidity and overall risk management standards, which include maintaining a level of highly liquid assets based on projected funding needs for 30 days, and increased involvement by boards of directors in liquidity and overall risk management. Although the liquidity requirement under these rules has some similarities to the LCR, it is a separate requirement. GSBE also has its own liquidity planning process, which incorporates internally designed stress tests and those required under German regulatory requirements and the ECB Guide to Internal Liquidity Adequacy Assessment Process (ILAAP). GSI and GSIB have their own liquidity planning processes, which incorporate internally designed stress tests developed in accordance with the guidelines of the PRA’s ILAAP.

See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Risk Management — Overview and Structure of Risk Management” and “— Liquidity Risk Management” in Part II, Item 7 of this

Form 10-K

for information about the LCR and NSFR, as well as our risk management practices and liquidity.

Stress Tests and Capital Planning.

The FRB’s Comprehensive Capital Analysis and Review (CCAR) is designed to ensure that large BHCs, including us, have sufficient capital to permit continued operations during times of economic and financial stress. As required by the FRB, we perform an annual capital stress test and incorporate the results into an annual capital plan, which we submit to the FRB for review. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Risk Management — Overview and Structure of Risk Management — Capital Risk Management” in Part II, Item 7 of this

Form 10-K

for further information about our annual capital plan. As described in “Available Information” below, summary results of the annual stress test are published on our website.

As part of the CCAR process, the FRB evaluates our plan to make capital distributions across a range of macroeconomic and company-specific assumptions, based on our and the FRB’s own stress tests.

14 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

The FRB’s rule applicable to BHCs with $100 billion or more in total consolidated assets, including us, replaced the static 2.5% component of the capital conservation buffer required under the Standardized Capital Rules with the SCB. The SCB reflects stressed losses estimated under the supervisory severely adverse scenario of the CCAR stress tests, as calculated by the FRB, and includes four quarters of planned common stock dividends. The SCB, which is subject to a 2.5% floor, is generally effective on October 1 of each year and remains in effect until October 1 of the following year, unless it is reset in connection with the resubmission of a capital plan. See “Available Information” below and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Capital Management and Regulatory Capital” in Part II, Item 7 of this

Form 10-K

for information about our SCB requirement.

The final rule implementing the SCB requires a BHC to receive the FRB’s approval for any dividend, stock repurchase or other capital distribution, other than a capital distribution on a newly issued capital instrument, if the BHC is required to resubmit its capital plan.

U.S. depository institutions with total consolidated assets of $250 billion or more that are subsidiaries of U.S.

G-SIBs

are required to submit annual

company-run

stress test results to the FRB. As a result of recent growth in its balance sheet, GS Bank USA will be required to submit its annual stress test results in 2022. GSBE also has its own capital and stress testing process, which incorporates internally designed stress tests and those required under German regulatory requirements and the ECB Guide to Internal Capital Adequacy Assessment Process (ICAAP). In addition, GSI and GSIB have their own capital planning and stress testing processes, which incorporate internally designed stress tests developed in accordance with the PRA’s ICAAP guidelines.

U.S. federal and state laws impose limitations on the payment of dividends by U.S. depository institutions, such as GS Bank USA. In general, the amount of dividends that may be paid by GS Bank USA is limited to the lesser of the amounts calculated under a recent earnings test and an undivided profits test. Under the recent earnings test, a dividend may not be paid if the total of all dividends declared by the entity in any calendar year is in excess of the current year’s net income combined with the retained net income of the two preceding years, unless the entity obtains regulatory approval. Under the undivided profits test, a dividend may not be paid in excess of the entity’s undivided profits (generally, accumulated net profits that have not been paid out as dividends or transferred to surplus), unless the entity receives regulatory and stockholder approval. As a result of dividend payments from GS Bank USA to Group Inc. in connection with the acquisition of GSBE in July 2021, GS Bank USA cannot currently declare any dividends without regulatory approval.

The applicable U.S. banking regulators have authority to prohibit or limit the payment of dividends if, in the banking regulator’s opinion, payment of a dividend would constitute an unsafe or unsound practice in light of the financial condition of the banking organization.

Source of Strength.

The Dodd-Frank Act requires BHCs to act as a source of strength to their U.S. bank subsidiaries and to commit capital and financial resources to support those subsidiaries. This support may be required by the FRB at times when BHCs might otherwise determine not to provide it. Capital loans by a BHC to a U.S. subsidiary bank are subordinate in right of payment to deposits and to certain other indebtedness of the subsidiary bank. In addition, if a BHC commits to a U.S. federal banking agency that it will maintain the capital of its bank subsidiary, whether in response to the FRB’s invoking its

source-of-strength

authority or in response to other regulatory measures, that commitment will be assumed by the bankruptcy trustee for the BHC and the bank will be entitled to priority payment in respect of that commitment, ahead of other creditors of the BHC.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 15

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Transactions Between Affiliates.

Transactions between GS Bank USA or its subsidiaries, including GSBE, and Group Inc. or its other subsidiaries and affiliates are subject to restrictions under the Federal Reserve Act and regulations issued by the FRB. These laws and regulations generally limit the types and amounts of transactions (such as loans and other credit extensions, including credit exposure arising from resale agreements, securities borrowing and derivative transactions, from GS Bank USA or its subsidiaries to Group Inc. or its other subsidiaries and affiliates and purchases of assets by GS Bank USA or its subsidiaries from Group Inc. or its other subsidiaries and affiliates) that may take place and generally require those transactions, to the extent permitted, to be on market terms or better to GS Bank USA or its subsidiaries. These laws and regulations generally do not apply to transactions between GS Bank USA and its subsidiaries. Similarly, German regulatory requirements provide that certain transactions between GSBE and GS Bank USA or its other affiliates, including Group Inc., must be on market terms and are subject to special internal approval requirements. PRA rules provide similar requirements for transactions between GSI and GSIB and their respective affiliates.

The BHC Act prohibits the FRB from requiring a payment by a BHC subsidiary to a depository institution if the functional regulator of that subsidiary objects to the payment. In that case, the FRB could instead require the divestiture of the depository institution and impose operating restrictions pending the divestiture.

Resolution and Recovery Plans.

We are required by the FRB and the FDIC to submit a periodic plan for our rapid and orderly resolution in the event of material financial distress or failure (resolution plan). If these regulators jointly determine that an institution has failed to remediate identified shortcomings in its resolution plan or that its resolution plan, after any permitted resubmission, is not credible or would not facilitate an orderly resolution under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, they may jointly impose more stringent capital, leverage or liquidity requirements or restrictions on growth, activities or operations, or may jointly order the institution to divest assets or operations, in order to facilitate orderly resolution in the event of failure. The FRB and FDIC have a rule requiring U.S.

G-SIBs

to submit resolution plans on a

two-year

cycle (alternating between full and targeted submissions). We submitted our 2021 resolution plan, which was a targeted submission, in June 2021. Our next required submission is a full submission by July 1, 2023. See “Risk Factors — The application of Group Inc.’s proposed resolution strategy could result in greater losses for Group Inc.’s security holders” in Part I, Item 1A of this

Form 10-K

and “Available Information” in Part I, Item 1 of this

Form 10-K

for further information about our resolution plan.

We are also required by the FRB to submit, on a periodic basis, a global recovery plan that outlines the steps that we could take to reduce risk, maintain sufficient liquidity and conserve capital in times of prolonged stress. Certain of our subsidiaries are also subject to similar recovery plan requirements.

The FDIC has issued a rule requiring each insured depository institution (IDI) with $50 billion or more in assets, such as GS Bank USA, to provide a resolution plan. Our resolution plan for GS Bank USA must, among other things, demonstrate that it is adequately protected from risks arising from our other entities. GS Bank USA’s most recent resolution plan was submitted in June 2018. In January 2021, the FDIC announced its intention to require resolution plan submissions for IDIs with $100 billion or more in assets, including GS Bank USA. In June 2021, the FDIC issued guidance for those resolution plans. This guidance splits covered IDIs into two groups for purposes of the timing of resolution plan submissions, and GS Bank USA is in the second group with a later submission date.

The U.S. federal bank regulatory agencies have adopted rules imposing restrictions on qualified financial contracts (QFCs) entered into by

G-SIBs.

The rules are intended to facilitate the orderly resolution of a failed

G-SIB

by limiting the ability of the

G-SIB

to enter into a QFC unless (i) the counterparty waives certain default rights in such contract arising upon the entry of the

G-SIB

or one of its affiliates into resolution, (ii) the contract does not contain enumerated prohibitions on the transfer of such contract and/or any related credit enhancement, and (iii) the counterparty agrees that the contract will be subject to the special resolution regimes set forth in the Dodd-Frank Act orderly liquidation authority (OLA) and the Federal Deposit Insurance Act of 1950 (FDIA), described below. GS Bank USA has achieved compliance by adhering to the International Swaps and Derivatives Association Universal Resolution Stay Protocol (ISDA Universal Protocol) and International Swaps and Derivatives Association 2018 U.S. Resolution Stay Protocol (U.S. ISDA Protocol) described below.

Certain of our subsidiaries also adhere to these protocols. The ISDA Universal Protocol imposes a stay on certain cross-default and early termination rights within standard ISDA derivative contracts and securities financing transactions between adhering parties in the event that one of them is subject to resolution in its home jurisdiction, including a resolution under OLA or the FDIA in the U.S. The U.S. ISDA Protocol, which was based on the ISDA Universal Protocol, was created to allow market participants to comply with the final QFC rules adopted by the federal bank regulatory agencies.

16 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

The E.U. Bank Recovery and Resolution Directive (BRRD), as amended by the BRRD II, establishes a framework for the recovery and resolution of financial institutions in the E.U., such as GSBE. The BRRD provides national supervisory authorities with tools and powers to

pre-emptively

address potential financial crises in order to promote financial stability and minimize taxpayers’ exposure to losses. The BRRD requires E.U. member states to grant certain resolution powers to national and, where relevant, E.U. resolution authorities, including the power to impose a temporary stay and to recapitalize a failing entity by writing down its unsecured debt or converting its unsecured debt into equity. Financial institutions in the E.U. must provide that contracts governed by

non-E.U.

law recognize those temporary stay and

bail-in

powers unless doing so would be impracticable. GSBE is under the direct authority of the Single Resolution Board for resolution planning. Regulatory authorities in the E.U. may require financial institutions in the E.U., including subsidiaries of

non-E.U.

groups, to submit recovery plans and to assist the relevant resolution authority in constructing resolution plans for the E.U. entities. GSBE’s primary regulator with respect to recovery planning is the ECB, and it is also regulated by BaFin and Deutsche Bundesbank.

The U.K. Special Resolution Regime confers substantially the same powers on the Bank of England, as the U.K. resolution authority, and substantially the same requirements on U.K. financial institutions. Further, certain U.K. financial institutions, including GSI and GSIB, are required to meet the Bank of England’s expectations contained in the U.K. Resolution Assessment Framework, including with respect to loss absorbency, contractual stays, operational continuity and funding in resolution. They are also required by the PRA to submit solvent wind-down plans on how they could be wound down in a stressed environment. The PRA is also the regulatory authority in the U.K. that supervises recovery planning, and GSI and GSIB are each required to submit recovery plans to the PRA.

Total Loss-Absorbing Capacity (TLAC).

The FRB has issued a rule addressing U.S. implementation of the Financial Stability Board’s (FSB’s) TLAC principles and term sheet on minimum TLAC requirements for

G-SIBs.

The rule (i) establishes minimum TLAC requirements; (ii) establishes minimum requirements for “eligible long-term debt” (i.e., debt that is unsecured, has a maturity of at least one year from issuance and satisfies certain additional criteria); (iii) prohibits certain parent company transactions; and (iv) caps the amount of parent company liabilities that are not eligible long-term debt.

The rule also prohibits a BHC that has been designated as a U.S.

G-SIB

from (i) guaranteeing subsidiaries’ liabilities that are subject to early termination provisions if the BHC enters into an insolvency or receivership proceeding, subject to an exception for guarantees permitted by rules of the U.S. federal banking agencies imposing restrictions on QFCs; (ii) incurring liabilities guaranteed by subsidiaries; (iii) issuing short-term debt to third parties; or (iv) entering into derivatives and certain other financial contracts with external counterparties.

Additionally, the rule caps, at 5% of the value of the parent company’s eligible TLAC, the amount of unsecured

non-contingent

third-party liabilities that are not eligible long-term debt that could rank equally with or junior to eligible long-term debt.

The FRB, the OCC and the FDIC issued a final rule, effective April 1, 2021, requiring “Advanced approach” banking organizations, such as us, to deduct from their own regulatory capital certain investments above thresholds in unsecured debt instruments issued by

G-SIBs,

including those issued for purposes of satisfying TLAC requirements.

The CRR and the BRRD are designed to, among other things, implement the FSB’s minimum TLAC requirement for

G-SIBs.

For example, the CRR requires E.U. subsidiaries of a

non-E.U.

G-SIB

to meet internal TLAC requirements if they exceed the threshold of 5% of the

G-SIB’s

RWAs, operating income or leverage exposure. GSBE does not currently exceed these thresholds. Under the U.K. financial services regime, GSG UK exceeds the applicable thresholds and therefore, it is subject to internal TLAC requirements.

The CRD requires a

non-E.U.

group with more than €40 billion of assets in the E.U., such as us, to establish an E.U. intermediate holding company (E.U. IHC) by December 30, 2023 if it has, as in our case, two or more of certain types of E.U. financial institution subsidiaries, including broker-dealers and banks. A

non-E.U.

group may have two E.U. IHCs if a request for a second is approved. The CRR requires E.U. IHCs to satisfy capital and liquidity requirements, a minimum requirement for own funds and eligible liabilities (MREL), and certain other prudential requirements at a consolidated level. The U.K. has not implemented the requirement for an IHC; however, the PRA has introduced a requirement to approve or exempt certain U.K. financial holding companies, including GSG UK, which became effective in January 2022.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 17

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

The BRRD II and the U.K. resolution regime subject institutions to an MREL, which is generally consistent with the FSB’s TLAC standard. In June 2018, the Bank of England published a statement of policy on internal MREL, which requires a material U.K. subsidiary of an overseas banking group, such as GSI, to meet a minimum internal MREL requirement to facilitate the transfer of losses to its resolution entity, which for GSI is Group Inc. The transitional minimum internal MREL requirement became fully effective on January 1, 2022. In order to comply with the MREL statement of policy, we have provided the Bank of England the right to exercise

bail-in

triggers over certain intercompany regulatory capital and senior debt instruments issued by GSI. These triggers enable the Bank of England to write down such instruments or convert such instruments to equity. The triggers can be exercised by the Bank of England if it determines that GSI has reached the point of

non-viability

and the FRB and the FDIC have not objected to the

bail-in

or if Group Inc. enters bankruptcy or similar proceedings.

Insolvency of a BHC or IDI.

The Dodd-Frank Act created a resolution regime, OLA, for BHCs and their affiliates that are systemically important. Under OLA, the FDIC may be appointed as receiver for the systemically important institution and its failed

non-bank

subsidiaries if, upon the recommendation of applicable regulators, the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury determines, among other things, that the institution is in default or in danger of default, that the institution’s failure would have serious adverse effects on the U.S. financial system and that resolution under OLA would avoid or mitigate those effects.

If the FDIC is appointed as receiver under OLA, then the powers of the receiver, and the rights and obligations of creditors and other parties who have dealt with the institution, would be determined under OLA, and not under the bankruptcy or insolvency law that would otherwise apply. The powers of the receiver under OLA are generally based on the powers of the FDIC as receiver for depository institutions under the FDIA, described below.

Substantial differences in the rights of creditors exist between OLA and the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, including the right of the FDIC under OLA to disregard the strict priority of creditor claims in some circumstances, the use of an administrative claims procedure to determine creditors’ claims (as opposed to the judicial procedure utilized in bankruptcy proceedings), and the right of the FDIC to transfer claims to a “bridge” entity. In addition, OLA limits the ability of creditors to enforce certain contractual cross-defaults against affiliates of the institution in receivership. The FDIC has issued a notice that it would likely resolve a failed FHC by transferring its assets to a “bridge” holding company under its “single point of entry” or “SPOE” strategy pursuant to OLA.

Under the FDIA, if the FDIC is appointed as conservator or receiver for an IDI such as GS Bank USA, upon its insolvency or in certain other events, the FDIC has broad powers, including the power:

• To transfer any of the IDI’s assets and liabilities to a new obligor, including a newly formed “bridge” bank, without the approval of the depository institution’s creditors;

• To enforce the IDI’s contracts pursuant to their terms without regard to any provisions triggered by the appointment of the FDIC in that capacity; or

• To repudiate or disaffirm any contract or lease to which the IDI is a party, the performance of which is determined by the FDIC to be burdensome and the repudiation or disaffirmance of which is determined by the FDIC to promote the orderly administration of the IDI.

In addition, the claims of holders of domestic deposit liabilities and certain claims for administrative expenses against an IDI would be afforded a priority over other general unsecured claims, including deposits at

non-U.S.

branches and claims of debtholders of the IDI, in the “liquidation or other resolution” of such an institution by any receiver. As a result, whether or not the FDIC ever sought to repudiate any debt obligations of GS Bank USA, the debtholders (other than depositors at U.S. branches) would be treated differently from, and could receive, if anything, substantially less than, the depositors at U.S. branches of GS Bank USA.

18 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Deposit Insurance.

Deposits at GS Bank USA have the benefit of FDIC insurance up to the applicable limits. The FDIC’s Deposit Insurance Fund is funded by assessments on IDIs. GS Bank USA’s assessment (subject to adjustment by the FDIC) is currently based on its average total consolidated assets less its average tangible equity during the assessment period, its supervisory ratings and specified forward-looking financial measures used to calculate the assessment rate. The deposits of GSBE are covered by the German statutory deposit protection program to the extent provided by law. In addition, GSBE has elected to participate in the German voluntary deposit protection program which provides insurance for certain eligible deposits not covered by the German statutory deposit program. Deposits at GSIB are covered by the U.K. Financial Services Compensation Scheme up to the applicable limits.

Prompt Corrective Action.

The U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991 (FDICIA) requires the U.S. federal bank regulatory agencies to take “prompt corrective action” in respect of depository institutions that do not meet specified capital requirements. FDICIA establishes five capital categories for FDIC-insured banks, such as GS Bank USA: well-capitalized, adequately capitalized, undercapitalized, significantly undercapitalized and critically undercapitalized.

An institution may be downgraded to, or deemed to be in, a capital category that is lower than is indicated by its capital ratios if it is determined to be in an unsafe or unsound condition or if it receives an unsatisfactory examination rating with respect to certain matters. FDICIA imposes progressively more restrictive constraints on operations, management and capital distributions, as the capital category of an institution declines. Failure to meet the capital requirements could also require a depository institution to raise capital. Ultimately, critically undercapitalized institutions are subject to the appointment of a receiver or conservator, as described in “Insolvency of an IDI or a BHC” above.

The prompt corrective action regulations do not apply to BHCs. However, the FRB is authorized to take appropriate action at the BHC level, based upon the undercapitalized status of the BHC’s depository institution subsidiaries. In certain instances, relating to an undercapitalized depository institution subsidiary, the BHC would be required to guarantee the performance of the undercapitalized subsidiary’s capital restoration plan and might be liable for civil money damages for failure to fulfill its commitments on that guarantee. Furthermore, in the event of the bankruptcy of the BHC, the guarantee would take priority over the BHC’s general unsecured creditors, as described in “Source of Strength” above.

Volcker Rule and Other Restrictions on Activities.

As a BHC, we are subject to limitations on the types of business activities in which we may engage.

Volcker Rule.

The Volcker Rule prohibits “proprietary trading,” but permits activities such as underwriting, market making and risk-mitigation hedging, requires an extensive compliance program and includes additional reporting and record-keeping requirements.

In addition, the Volcker Rule limits the sponsorship of, and investment in, “covered funds” (as defined in the rule) by banking entities, including us. It also limits certain types of transactions between us and our sponsored and advised funds, similar to the limitations on transactions between depository institutions and their affiliates. Covered funds include our private equity funds, certain of our credit and real estate funds, our hedge funds and certain other investment structures. The limitation on investments in covered funds requires us to limit our investment in each such fund to 3% or less of the fund’s net asset value, and to limit our aggregate investment in all such funds to 3% or less of our Tier 1 capital.

The FRB has extended the conformance period to July 2022 for our investments in, and relationships with, certain legacy “illiquid funds” (as defined in the Volcker Rule) that were in place prior to December 2013. See Note 8 to the consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this

Form 10-K

for further information about our investments in such funds.

Other Restrictions.

FHCs generally can engage in a broader range of financial and related activities than are otherwise permissible for BHCs as long as they continue to meet the eligibility requirements for FHCs. The broader range of permissible activities for FHCs includes underwriting, dealing and making markets in securities and making investments in

non-FHCs

(merchant banking activities). In addition, certain FHCs, including us, are permitted to engage in certain commodities activities in the U.S. that may otherwise be impermissible for BHCs, so long as the assets held pursuant to these activities do not equal 5% or more of their consolidated assets.

The FRB, however, has the authority to limit an FHC’s ability to conduct activities that would otherwise be permissible, and will likely do so if the FHC does not satisfactorily meet certain requirements of the FRB. For example, if an FHC or any of its U.S. depository institution subsidiaries ceases to maintain its status as well-capitalized or well-managed, the FRB may impose corrective capital and/or managerial requirements, as well as additional limitations or conditions. If the deficiencies persist, the FHC may be required to divest its U.S. depository institution subsidiaries or to cease engaging in activities other than the business of banking and certain closely related activities.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 19

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

If any IDI subsidiary of an FHC fails to maintain at least a “satisfactory” rating under the Community Reinvestment Act, the FHC would be subject to restrictions on certain new activities and acquisitions.

In addition, we are required to obtain prior FRB approval before certain acquisitions and before engaging in certain banking and other financial activities both within and outside the U.S.

The FRB issued a proposed rule in September 2016 which, if adopted, would impose new requirements on the physical commodity activities and certain merchant banking activities of FHCs, including, among other things, additional capital requirements, stringent quantitative limits on permissible physical trading activity, and new public reporting requirements. At that time, the FRB recommended that Congress repeal authorities for FHCs to engage in merchant banking activities and for certain FHCs to engage in certain otherwise impermissible commodities activities.

U.S.

G-SIBs,

like us, are also required to comply with a rule regarding single counterparty credit limits, which imposes more stringent requirements for credit exposures among major financial institutions. The Dodd-Frank Act also requires the FRB to implement early remediation requirements, which were proposed in 2011 but not finalized.

The New York State banking law imposes lending limits (which take into account credit exposure from derivative transactions) and other requirements that could impact the manner and scope of GS Bank USA’s activities.

The U.S. federal bank regulatory agencies have issued guidance that focuses on transaction structures and risk management frameworks and that outlines high-level principles for

safe-and-sound

leveraged lending, including underwriting standards, valuation and stress testing. This guidance has, among other things, limited the percentage amount of debt that can be included in certain transactions.

As a German credit institution, GSBE will become subject to Volcker Rule-type prohibitions under German banking law and regulations once its financial assets exceed certain thresholds. Prohibited activities will then include proprietary trading, certain types of high-frequency trading and certain types of lending and guarantee businesses with defined prohibited counterparties, such as hedge funds and other highly leveraged funds, unless an exclusion or an exemption applies. See “Volcker Rule” above for further information.

U.K. banks that have over £25 billion of core retail deposits are required to separate their retail banking services from their investment and international banking activities, commonly known as “ring-fencing.” GSIB is not currently subject to the ring-fencing requirement, and if it were to become subject to it, GSIB would need to make significant operational and structural changes.

Broker-Dealer and Securities Regulation

Our broker-dealer subsidiaries are subject to regulations that cover all aspects of the securities business, including sales methods, trade practices, the use and safekeeping of clients’ funds and securities, capital structure, record-keeping, the financing of clients’ purchases, and the conduct of directors, officers and employees. In the U.S., the SEC is the federal agency responsible for the administration of the federal securities laws. GS&Co. is registered as a broker-dealer, a securities-based swap dealer, a municipal advisor and an investment adviser with the SEC and as a broker-dealer in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. U.S. self-regulatory organizations, such as FINRA and the NYSE, adopt rules that apply to, and examine, broker-dealers such as GS&Co.

U.S. state securities and other U.S. regulators also have regulatory or oversight authority over GS&Co. For a description of net capital requirements applicable to GS&Co., see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Capital Management and Regulatory Capital — U.S. Regulated Broker-Dealer Subsidiaries” in Part II, Item 7 of this

Form 10-K.

The SEC issued a proposed rule in November 2021 which, if adopted, would require lenders of securities to provide the material terms of securities lending transactions to a registered national securities association, such as FINRA.

In Europe, we provide broker-dealer services, including through GSBE (which is a credit institution), GSPIC and GSI, that are subject to oversight by European and national regulators. These services are regulated in accordance with E.U., U.K. and national laws and regulations. These laws require, among other things, compliance with certain capital adequacy and liquidity standards, customer protection requirements and market conduct and trade reporting rules. Certain of our European subsidiaries are also regulated by the securities, derivatives and commodities exchanges of which they are members.

GSJCL, our regulated Japanese broker-dealer, is subject to capital requirements imposed by Japan’s Financial Services Agency. GSJCL is also regulated by the Tokyo Stock Exchange, the Bank of Japan and the Ministry of Finance, among others.

20 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

The Securities and Futures Commission in Hong Kong, the China Securities Regulatory Commission, the Reserve Bank of India, the Securities and Exchange Board of India,

the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, the Australian Securities Exchange, the Monetary Authority of Singapore, the Korean Financial Supervisory Service and the Central Bank of Brazil, among others, regulate various of our subsidiaries and also have capital standards and other requirements comparable to the rules of the U.S. regulators.

Our exchange-based market-making activities are subject to extensive regulation by a number of securities exchanges. As a market maker on exchanges, we are required to maintain orderly markets in the securities to which we are assigned.

In the E.U. and the U.K., the European Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID II) includes extensive market structure reforms, such as the establishment of new trading venue categories for the purposes of discharging the obligation to trade OTC derivatives on a trading platform and enhanced

pre-

and post-trade transparency covering a wider range of financial instruments. In equities, MiFID II introduced volume caps on

non-transparent

liquidity trading for trading venues, limited the use of broker-dealer crossing networks and created a new regime for systematic internalizers, which are investment firms that execute client transactions outside a trading venue. Additional control requirements were introduced for algorithmic trading, high frequency trading and direct electronic access. Commodities trading firms are required to calculate their positions and adhere to specific position limits. Other reforms include enhanced transaction reporting, the publication of best execution data by investment firms and trading venues, transparency on costs and charges of service to investors, changes to the way investment managers can pay for the receipt of investment research, rules limiting the payment and receipt of soft commissions and other forms of inducements, and mandatory unbundling for broker-dealers between execution and other major services.

The SEC requires broker-dealers to act in the best interest of their customers. Additionally, SEC rules require broker-dealers to provide a standardized, short-form disclosure highlighting services offered, applicable standards of conduct, fees and costs, the differences between brokerage and advisory services, and any conflicts of interest. Several states have adopted or proposed adopting uniform fiduciary duty standards applicable to broker-dealers.

The SEC, FINRA and regulators in various

non-U.S.

jurisdictions have imposed both conduct-based and disclosure-based requirements with respect to research reports and research analysts and may impose additional regulations.

GS&Co., GS Bank USA and other U.S. subsidiaries are also subject to rules adopted by U.S. federal agencies pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Act that require any person who organizes or initiates certain asset-backed securities transactions to retain a portion (generally, at least five percent) of any credit risk that the person conveys to a third party. For certain securitization transactions, retention by third-party purchasers may satisfy this requirement. Certain of our

non-U.S.

subsidiaries, including GSI, are subject to risk retention requirements in connection with securitization activities.

Swaps, Derivatives and Commodities Regulation

The commodity futures, commodity options and swaps industry in the U.S. is subject to regulation under the U.S. Commodity Exchange Act (CEA). The CFTC is the U.S. federal agency charged with the administration of the CEA. In addition, the SEC is the U.S. federal agency charged with the regulation of security-based swaps. The rules and regulations of various self-regulatory organizations, such as the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, other futures exchanges and the National Futures Association, also govern commodity futures, commodity options and swaps activities.

The terms “swaps” and “security-based swaps” include a wide variety of derivative instruments in addition to those conventionally referred to as swaps (including certain forward contracts and options), and relate to a wide variety of underlying assets or obligations, including currencies, commodities, interest or other monetary rates, yields, indices, securities, credit events, loans and other financial obligations.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 21

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CFTC rules require registration of swap dealers, mandatory clearing and execution of interest rate and credit default swaps and real-time public reporting and adherence to business conduct standards for all

in-scope

swaps. A number of these requirements, particularly those regarding recordkeeping and reporting, also apply to transactions that do not involve a registered swap dealer. GS&Co. and other subsidiaries, including GS Bank USA, GSBE, GSI and J. Aron, are registered with the CFTC as swap dealers. CFTC rules establishing capital requirements for swap dealers that are not subject to the capital rules of a prudential regulator, such as the FRB, became effective in October 2021. The CFTC has also adopted financial reporting requirements for covered swap entities and amended existing capital rules for CFTC-registered futures commission merchants to provide explicit capital requirements for proprietary positions in swaps and security-based swaps that are not cleared by a clearing organization. Certain of our registered swap dealers, including J. Aron, are subject to the CFTC’s capital requirements.

Our affiliates registered as swap dealers are subject to the margin rules issued by the CFTC (in the case of our

non-bank

swap dealers) and the FRB (in the case of GS Bank USA and GSBE). The rules for variation margin have become effective, and those for initial margin are in the process of being phased in through September 2022, depending on certain activity levels of the swap dealer and the relevant counterparty. Inter-affiliate transactions under the CFTC and FRB margin rules are generally exempt from initial margin requirements.

SEC rules govern the registration and regulation of security-based swap dealers. Security-based swaps are defined as swaps on single securities, single loans or narrow-based baskets or indices of securities. The SEC has adopted a number of rules for security-based swap dealers, including (i) capital, margin and segregation requirements; (ii) record-keeping, financial reporting and notification requirements; (iii) business conduct standards; (iv) regulatory and public trade reporting; and (v) the application of risk mitigation techniques to uncleared portfolios of security-based swaps. The compliance date for these SEC rules, as well as SEC rules addressing registration requirements and business conduct standards, was generally October 2021. In the fourth quarter of 2021, certain of our subsidiaries, including GS&Co., registered with the SEC as security-based swap dealers and became subject to the SEC’s regulations regarding security-based swaps. The SEC has recently proposed additional regulations regarding security-based swaps that would, among other things, require public reporting of large positions in security-based swaps.

The CFTC and the SEC have adopted rules relating to cross-border regulation of swaps, securities-based swaps, business conduct and registration requirements. The CFTC and the SEC have entered into agreements with certain

non-U.S.

regulators regarding the cross-border regulation of derivatives and the mutual recognition of cross-border execution facilities and clearing houses, and have approved substituted compliance with certain

non-U.S.

regulations related to certain business conduct requirements and margin rules. The U.S. prudential regulators have not yet made a determination with respect to substituted compliance for transactions subject to

non-U.S.

margin rules.

Similar types of regulation have been proposed or adopted in jurisdictions outside the U.S., including in the E.U. and Japan. Under the European Market Infrastructure Regulation (EMIR), for example, the E.U. and the U.K. have established regulatory requirements relating to portfolio reconciliation and reporting, clearing certain OTC derivatives and margining for uncleared derivatives activities. In addition, under the European Markets in Financial Instruments Directive and Regulation, transactions in certain types of derivatives are required to be executed on regulated platforms or exchanges.

The CFTC has adopted rules that limit the size of positions in physical commodity derivatives that can be held by any entity, or any group of affiliates or other parties trading under common ownership or control. Swap dealers may currently claim an exemption from the position limits for the bona fide hedging of swap-related risks, but this exemption will be eliminated in 2023. The CFTC position limits apply to futures on physical commodities and options on such futures, and these limits apply to both physically and cash settled positions. In addition, in 2023, the position limit rules will become applicable to swaps that are economically equivalent to such futures and options. The position limit rules initially impose limits in the spot month only (i.e., during the delivery period for the physical commodities, which is typically a period of several days). CFTC spot and non- spot month limits will continue to apply to futures on certain legacy agricultural commodities, and it is possible that

non-spot

month limits will at some point be adopted for other categories of commodities.

22 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

J. Aron is authorized by the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to sell wholesale physical power at market-based rates. As a FERC-authorized power marketer, J. Aron is subject to regulation under the U.S. Federal Power Act and FERC regulations and to the oversight of FERC. As a result of our investing activities, Group Inc. is also an “exempt holding company” under the U.S. Public Utility Holding Company Act of 2005 and applicable FERC rules.

In addition, as a result of our power-related and commodities activities, we are subject to energy, environmental and other governmental laws and regulations, as described in “Risk Factors — Our commodities activities, particularly our physical commodities activities, subject us to extensive regulation and involve certain potential risks, including environmental, reputational and other risks, that may expose us to significant liabilities and costs” in Part I, Item 1A of this

Form 10-K.

GS&Co. is registered with the CFTC as a futures commission merchant, and several of our subsidiaries, including GS&Co., are registered with the CFTC and act as commodity pool operators and commodity trading advisors. Goldman Sachs Financial Markets, L.P. is registered with the SEC as an OTC derivatives dealer.

Asset Management and Wealth Management Regulation

Our asset management and wealth management businesses are subject to extensive oversight by regulators around the world relating to, among other things, the fair treatment of clients, safeguarding of client assets, offerings of funds, marketing activities, transactions among affiliates and our management of client funds.

Interpretations issued by the SEC clarify the SEC’s views of the existing fiduciary duty owed by investment advisers to their clients. Additionally, SEC rules require investment advisers to provide a standardized, short-form disclosure highlighting services offered, applicable standards of conduct, fees and costs, the differences between brokerage and advisory services, and any conflicts of interest. Several states have adopted or proposed adopting uniform fiduciary duty standards applicable to advisers.

Certain of our European subsidiaries, including GSBE in the E.U. and GSAMI in the U.K., are subject to MiFID II and/or related regulations (including the U.K. legislation making such regulations part of U.K. law), which govern the approval, organizational, marketing and reporting requirements of U.K. or E.U.-based investment managers and the ability of investment fund managers located outside the E.U. or the U.K. to access those markets. Our asset management business in the U.K. and the E.U. significantly depends on our ability to delegate parts of our activities to other affiliates.

On January 1, 2022, GSAMI became subject to a new prudential regime for U.K. investment firms, the Investment Firms Prudential Regime (IFPR), which governs the prudential requirements for U.K. investment firms prudentially regulated by the FCA.

Consumer Regulation

Our U.S. consumer-oriented activities are subject to supervision and regulation by the CFPB with respect to federal consumer protection laws, including laws relating to fair lending and the prohibition of unfair, deceptive or abusive acts or practices in connection with the offer, sale or provision of consumer financial products and services. Our consumer-oriented activities are also subject to various state and local consumer protection laws, rules and regulations, which, among other things, impose obligations relating to marketing, origination, servicing and collections activities in our consumer businesses. Many of these laws, rules and regulations also apply to our small business lending activities, which are also subject to supervision and regulation by federal and state regulators. In addition, our U.K. consumer deposit-taking activities are subject to consumer protection regulations.

Compensation Practices

Our compensation practices are subject to oversight by the FRB and, with respect to some of our subsidiaries and employees, by other regulatory bodies worldwide.

The FSB has released standards for implementation by local regulators that are designed to encourage sound compensation practices at banks and other financial companies. The U.S. federal bank regulatory agencies have also provided guidance designed to ensure that incentive compensation arrangements at banking organizations take into account risk and are consistent with safe and sound practices. The guidance sets forth the following three key principles with respect to incentive compensation arrangements: (i) the arrangements should provide employees with incentives that appropriately balance risk and financial results in a manner that does not encourage employees to expose their organizations to imprudent risk; (ii) the arrangements should be compatible with effective controls and risk management; and (iii) the arrangements should be supported by strong corporate governance. The guidance provides that supervisory findings with respect to incentive compensation will be incorporated, as appropriate, into the organization’s supervisory ratings, which can affect its ability to make acquisitions or perform other actions. The guidance also notes that enforcement actions may be taken against a banking organization if its incentive compensation arrangements or related risk management, control or governance processes pose a risk to the organization’s safety and soundness.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 23

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

The Dodd-Frank Act requires U.S. financial regulators, including the FRB and SEC, to adopt rules on incentive-based payment arrangements at specified regulated entities having at least $1 billion in total assets. The U.S. financial regulators proposed revised rules in 2016, which have not been finalized.

The NYDFS’ guidance emphasizes that any incentive compensation arrangements tied to employee performance indicators at banking institutions regulated by the NYDFS, including GS Bank USA, must be subject to effective risk management, oversight and control.

In the E.U., certain provisions in the CRR and CRD are designed to meet the FSB’s compensation standards. These provisions limit the ratio of variable to fixed compensation of all employees at GSBE and of certain employees at our other operating subsidiaries in the E.U., including those employees identified as having a material impact on the risk profile of regulated entities. CRR II and CRD V amended certain aspects of these rules, including, by increasing minimum variable compensation deferral periods. Substantially similar requirements apply in the U.K. in relation to GSI and GSIB.

The E.U. has also introduced rules regulating compensation for certain persons providing services to certain investment funds.

Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Bribery Rules and Regulations

The U.S. Bank Secrecy Act, as amended (BSA), including by the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001, contains anti-money laundering and financial transparency laws and authorizes or mandates the promulgation of various regulations applicable to financial institutions, including standards for verifying client identification at account opening, and obligations to monitor client transactions and report suspicious activities. Through these and other provisions, the BSA seeks, among other things, to promote the identification of parties that may be involved in terrorism, money laundering or other suspicious activities.

The Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020 (AMLA), which amends the BSA, was enacted in January 2021. The AMLA is intended to comprehensively reform and modernize U.S. anti-money laundering laws. Among other things, the AMLA codifies a risk-based approach to anti-money laundering compliance for financial institutions; requires the U.S. Department of the Treasury to promulgate priorities for anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism policy; requires the development of standards by the U.S. Department of the Treasury for testing technology and internal processes for BSA compliance; expands enforcement- and investigation-related authority, including a significant expansion in the available sanctions for certain BSA violations; and expands BSA whistleblower incentives and protections. Many of the statutory provisions in the AMLA will require additional rulemakings, reports and other measures, and the impact of the AMLA will depend on, among other things, rulemaking and implementation guidance. In June 2021, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), a bureau of the U.S. Department of Treasury, issued the priorities for anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism policy, as required under the AMLA. The priorities include: corruption, cybercrime, terrorist financing, fraud, transnational crime, drug trafficking, human trafficking and proliferation financing.

We are subject to other laws and regulations worldwide relating to anti-money laundering and financial transparency, including the E.U. Anti-Money Laundering Directives. In addition, we are subject to the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), the U.K. Bribery Act and other laws and regulations worldwide regarding corrupt and illegal payments, or providing anything of value, for the benefit of government officials and others. The scope of the types of payments or other benefits covered by these laws is very broad. These laws and regulations include requirements relating to the identification of clients, monitoring for and reporting suspicious transactions, monitoring direct and indirect payments to politically exposed persons, providing information to regulatory authorities and law enforcement agencies, and sharing information with other financial institutions.

24 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Privacy and Cyber Security Regulation

Our businesses are subject to numerous laws and regulations relating to the privacy of information regarding clients, employees and others. These include the GLB Act, the E.U.’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the U.K.’s Data Protection Act 2018, the Japanese Personal Information Protection Act, the Personal Information Protection Law of the People’s Republic of China (PIPL), the Hong Kong Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance, and the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 (CCPA). The GDPR has heightened our privacy compliance obligations, impacted certain of our businesses’ collection, processing and retention of personal data and imposed strict standards for reporting data breaches. The GDPR also provides for significant penalties for

non-compliance.

In addition, the CCPA imposes compliance obligations with regard to the collection, use and disclosure of personal information. The CCPA was amended in 2020 by the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), which, among other things, will expand the scope of data subject to the CCPA when the CPRA becomes effective on January 1, 2023. In addition, several other states and

non-U.S.

jurisdictions have enacted, or are proposing, privacy and data protection laws similar to the GDPR and the CCPA. The PIPL, which went into effect on November 1, 2021, limits the legal bases for processing personal information, contains heightened notice and consent requirements for the handling of certain types of personal information and imposes special cross-border data transfer rules under certain circumstances.

The NYDFS also requires financial institutions regulated by the NYDFS, including GS Bank USA, to, among other things, (i) establish and maintain a cyber security program designed to ensure the confidentiality, integrity and availability of their information systems; (ii) implement and maintain a written cyber security policy setting forth policies and procedures for the protection of their information systems and nonpublic information; and (iii) designate a Chief Information Security Officer.

In November 2021, the U.S. federal bank regulatory agencies adopted a rule regarding notification requirements for banking organizations related to significant computer-security incidents. Under the final rule, a BHC or state member bank, such as Group Inc. or GS Bank USA, is required to notify its primary regulator within 36 hours of incidents that have materially disrupted or degraded, or are reasonably likely to materially disrupt or degrade, the banking organization’s ability to deliver services to a material portion of its customer base, jeopardize the viability of key operations of the banking organization, or pose a threat to the financial stability of the United States. The rule is effective April 1, 2022, with compliance required by May 1, 2022.

Information about our Executive Officers

Set forth below are the name, age, present title, principal occupation and certain biographical information for the executive officers who have been appointed by, and serve at the pleasure of, Group Inc.’s Board.

Philip R. Berlinski, 45

Mr. Berlinski has been Global Treasurer since October 2021; he also serves as Chief Executive Officer of Goldman Sachs Bank USA. He had previously served as Chief Operating Officer of Global Equities from May 2019. Prior to that, he was

Co-Head

of Global Equities Trading and Execution Services from September 2016 to May 2019.

Denis P. Coleman III, 48

Mr. Coleman has been Chief Financial Officer since January 2022. He had previously served as Deputy Chief Financial Officer from September 2021 and, prior to that,

Co-Head

of the Global Financing Group from June 2018 to September 2021. From 2016 to June 2018, he was Head of the EMEA Financing Group, and from 2009 to 2016 he was Head of EMEA Credit Finance in London.

Sheara J. Fredman, 46

Ms. Fredman has been Controller and Chief Accounting Officer since November 2019. She had previously served as Head of Regulatory Controllers from September 2017 and, prior to that, she had served as Global Product Controller.

Brian J. Lee, 55

Mr. Lee has been Chief Risk Officer since November 2019. He had previously served as Controller and Chief Accounting Officer from March 2017 and, prior to that, he had served as Deputy Controller from 2014.

Ericka T. Leslie, 51

Ms. Leslie has been Chief Administrative Officer since February 18, 2022. She had previously served as Global Head of Operations and Platform Engineering for the Global Markets Division from March 2020, as Global Head of Operations for the Securities Division from January 2019 and as Head of Global Operations for the Commodities business from September 2008.

John F.W. Rogers, 65

Mr. Rogers has been an Executive Vice President since April 2011 and Chief of Staff and Secretary to the Board since December 2001.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 25

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Kathryn H. Ruemmler, 50

Ms. Ruemmler has been the Chief Legal Officer, General Counsel and Secretary since March 2021, and was previously Global Head of Regulatory Affairs from April 2020. From June 2014 to April 2020, Ms. Ruemmler was a Litigation Partner at Latham & Watkins LLP, a global law firm, where she was Global Chair of the White Collar Defense and Investigations practice.

David Solomon, 60

Mr. Solomon has been Chairman of the Board since January 2019 and Chief Executive Officer and a director since October 2018. He had previously served as President and Chief or Co-Chief Operating Officer from January 2017 and

Co-Head

of the Investment Banking Division from July 2006 to December 2016.

John E. Waldron, 52

Mr. Waldron has been President and Chief Operating Officer since October 2018. He had previously served as

Co-Head

of the Investment Banking Division from December 2014. Prior to that he was Global Head of Investment Banking Services/Client Coverage for the Investment Banking Division and had oversight of the Investment Banking Services Leadership Group, and from 2007 to 2009 was Global

Co-Head

of the Financial Sponsors Group.

Available Information

Our internet address is

www.goldmansachs.com

and the investor relations section of our website is located at

www.goldmansachs.com/investor-relations

, where we make available, free of charge, our annual reports on

Form 10-K,

quarterly reports on

Form 10-Q

and current reports on

Form 8-K

and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, as well as proxy statements, as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC. Also posted on our website, and available in print upon request of any shareholder to our Investor Relations Department (Investor Relations), are our certificate of incorporation and

by-laws,

charters for our Audit, Risk, Compensation, Corporate Governance and Nominating, and Public Responsibilities Committees, our Policy Regarding Director Independence Determinations, our Policy on Reporting of Concerns Regarding Accounting and Other Matters, our Corporate Governance Guidelines and our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics governing our directors, officers and employees. Within the time period required by the SEC, we will post on our website any amendment to the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and any waiver applicable to any executive officer, director or senior financial officer.

Our website also includes information about (i) purchases and sales of our equity securities by our executive officers and directors; (ii) disclosure relating to certain

non-GAAP

financial measures (as defined in the SEC’s Regulation G) that we may make public orally, telephonically, by webcast, by broadcast or by other means; (iii) DFAST results; (iv) the public portion of our resolution plan submission; (v) our Pillar 3 disclosure; (vi) our average daily LCR; (vii) our People Strategy Report; (viii) our Sustainability Report; and (ix) our Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) Report.

Investor Relations can be contacted at The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., 200 West Street, 29th Floor, New York, New York 10282, Attn: Investor Relations, telephone:

212-902-0300,

e-mail:

gs-investor-relations@gs.com

. We use the following, as well as other social media channels, to disclose public information to investors, the media and others:

• Our website ( www.goldmansachs.com );

• Our Twitter account ( twitter.com/GoldmanSachs ); and

• Our Instagram account ( instagram.com/GoldmanSachs ).

Our officers may use similar social media channels to disclose public information. It is possible that certain information we or our officers post on our website and on social media could be deemed material, and we encourage investors, the media and others interested in Goldman Sachs to review the business and financial information we or our officers post on our website and on the social media channels identified above. The information on our website and those social media channels is not incorporated by reference into this

Form 10-K.

Forward-Looking Statements

We have included in this

Form 10-K,

and our management may make, statements that may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are not historical facts or statements of current conditions, but instead represent only our beliefs regarding future events, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside our control.

By identifying these statements for you in this manner, we are alerting you to the possibility that our actual results, financial condition, liquidity and capital actions may differ, possibly materially, from the anticipated results, financial condition, liquidity and capital actions in these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our results, financial condition, liquidity and capital actions to differ from those in these statements include, among others, those described below and in “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A of this

Form 10-K.

26 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

These statements may relate to, among other things, (i) our future plans and results, including our target ROE, ROTE, efficiency ratio, CET1 capital ratio and firmwide assets under supervision (AUS) inflows, and how they can be achieved, (ii) trends in or growth opportunities for our businesses, including the timing, costs, profitability, benefits and other aspects of business and strategic initiatives and their impact on our efficiency ratio, (iii) our level of future compensation expense, including as a percentage of both operating expenses and revenues net of provision for credit losses, (iv) our investment banking transaction backlog and future results, (v) our expected interest income and interest expense, (vi) our expense savings and strategic locations initiatives, (vii) expenses we may incur, including future litigation expense and expenses from investing in our consumer and transaction banking businesses, (viii) the projected growth of our deposits and other funding, asset liability management and funding strategies and related interest expense savings, (ix) our business initiatives, including transaction banking and new consumer financial products, (x) our planned 2022 benchmark debt issuances, (xi) the amount, composition and location of global core liquid assets (GCLA) we expect to hold, (xii) our credit exposures, (xiii) our expected provisions for credit losses, (xiv) the adequacy of our allowance for credit losses, (xv) the projected growth of our consumer lending and credit card businesses, (xvi) the objectives and effectiveness of our business continuity plan (BCP), information security program, risk management and liquidity policies, (xvii) our resolution plan and strategy and their implications for stakeholders, (xviii) the design and effectiveness of our resolution capital and liquidity models and triggers and alerts framework, (xix) the results of stress tests, the effect of changes to regulations, and our future status, activities or reporting under banking and financial regulation, (xx) our expected tax rate, (xxi) the future state of our liquidity and regulatory capital ratios, and our prospective capital distributions (including dividends and repurchases), (xxii) our expected SCB and

G-SIB

surcharge, (xxiii) legal proceedings, governmental investigations or other contingencies, (xxiv) the asset recovery guarantee and our remediation activities related to our 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) settlements, (xxv) the replacement of IBORs and our transition to alternative risk-free reference rates, (xxvi) the impact of the

COVID-19

pandemic on our business, results, financial position and liquidity, (xxvii) the effectiveness of our management of our human capital, including our diversity goals, (xxviii) our sustainability and carbon neutrality targets and goals, (xxix) our plans for our people to return to our offices, (xxx) future inflation and (xxxi) our completed, announced and prospective acquisitions, including our completed acquisition of the General Motors

co-branded

credit card portfolio and our announced acquisitions of NN Investment Partners and GreenSky.

Statements about our target return on average common shareholders’ equity (ROE), return on average tangible common shareholders’ equity (ROTE), efficiency ratio and expense savings, and how they can be achieved, are based on our current expectations regarding our business prospects and are subject to the risk that we may be unable to achieve our targets due to, among other things, changes in our business mix, lower profitability of new business initiatives, increases in technology and other costs to launch and bring new business initiatives to scale, and increases in liquidity requirements.

Statements about our target ROE, ROTE and CET1 capital ratio, and how they can be achieved, are based on our current expectations regarding the capital requirements applicable to us and are subject to the risk that our actual capital requirements may be higher than currently anticipated because of, among other factors, changes in the regulatory capital requirements applicable to us resulting from changes in regulations or the interpretation or application of existing regulations or changes in the nature and composition of our activities. Statements about our firmwide AUS inflows targets are based on our current expectations regarding our fundraising prospects and are subject to the risk that actual inflows may be lower than expected due to, among other factors, competition from other asset managers, changes in investment preferences and changes in economic or market conditions.

Statements about the timing, costs, profitability, benefits and other aspects of business and expense savings initiatives, the level and composition of more durable revenues and increases in market share are based on our current expectations regarding our ability to implement these initiatives and actual results may differ, possibly materially, from current expectations due to, among other things, a delay in the timing of these initiatives, increased competition and an inability to reduce expenses and grow businesses with durable revenues.

Statements about the level of future compensation expense, including as a percentage of both operating expenses and revenues net of provision for credit losses, and our efficiency ratio as our platform business initiatives reach scale are subject to the risks that the compensation and other costs to operate our businesses, including platform initiatives, may be greater than currently expected.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 27

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Statements about our investment banking transaction backlog and future results are subject to the risk that such transactions may be modified or may not be completed at all and related net revenues may not be realized or may be materially less than expected. Important factors that could have such a result include, for underwriting transactions, a decline or weakness in general economic conditions, an outbreak of hostilities, volatility in the securities markets or an adverse development with respect to the issuer of the securities and, for financial advisory transactions, a decline in the securities markets, an inability to obtain adequate financing, an adverse development with respect to a party to the transaction or a failure to obtain a required regulatory approval. For information about other important factors that could adversely affect our investment banking transactions, see “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A of this

Form 10-K.

Statements about the projected growth of our deposits and other funding, asset liability management and funding strategies and related interest expense savings, and our consumer lending and credit card businesses, are subject to the risk that actual growth and savings may differ, possibly materially, from that currently anticipated due to, among other things, changes in interest rates and competition from other similar products.

Statements about planned 2022 benchmark debt issuances and the amount, composition and location of GCLA we expect to hold are subject to the risk that actual issuances and GCLA levels may differ, possibly materially, from that currently expected due to changes in market conditions, business opportunities or our funding and projected liquidity needs.

Statements about our expected provisions for credit losses are subject to the risk that actual credit losses may differ and our expectations may change, possibly materially, from that currently anticipated due to, among other things, changes to the composition of our loan portfolio and changes in the economic environment in future periods and our forecasts of future economic conditions, as well as changes in our models, policies and other management judgments.

Statements about our future effective income tax rate are subject to the risk that it may differ from the anticipated rate indicated in such statements, possibly materially, due to, among other things, changes in the tax rates applicable to us, changes in our earnings mix, our profitability and entities in which we generate profits, the assumptions we have made in forecasting our expected tax rate, the interpretation or application of existing tax statutes and regulations, as well as any corporate tax legislation that may be enacted or any guidance that may be issued by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.

Statements about the future state of our liquidity and regulatory capital ratios (including our SCB and

G-SIB

surcharge), and our prospective capital distributions (including dividends and repurchases), are subject to the risk that our actual liquidity, regulatory capital ratios and capital distributions may differ, possibly materially, from what is currently expected due to, among other things, the need to use capital to support clients, increased regulatory requirements resulting from changes in regulations or the interpretation or application of existing regulations, results of applicable supervisory stress tests and changes to the composition of our balance sheet.

Statements about the risk exposure related to the asset recovery guarantee provided to the Government of Malaysia are subject to the risk that the actual value of, or credit received for, assets and proceeds from assets seized and returned to the Government of Malaysia may be less than currently anticipated. Statements about the progress or the status of remediation activities relating to 1MDB are based on our expectations regarding our current remediation plans. Accordingly, our ability to complete the remediation activities may change, possibly materially, from what is currently expected.

Statements about our objectives in management of our human capital, including our diversity goals, are based on our current expectations and are subject to the risk that we may not achieve these objectives and goals due to, among other things, competition in recruiting and attracting diverse candidates and unsuccessful efforts in retaining diverse employees.

Statements about our sustainability and carbon neutrality targets and goals are based on our current expectations and are subject to the risk that we may not achieve these targets and goals due to, among other things, global socio-demographic and economic trends, energy prices, lack of technological innovations, climate-related conditions and weather events, legislative and regulatory changes, and other unforeseen events or conditions.

Statements about our plans for our people to return to our offices are based on our current expectations and that return may be delayed due to, among other factors, future events that are unpredictable, including the course of the

COVID-19

pandemic, responses of governmental authorities, the emergence of new variants of

COVID-19

and the effectiveness of vaccines over the long term and against new variants.

Statements about future inflation are subject to the risk that actual inflation may differ, possibly materially, due to, among other things, changes in economic growth, unemployment or consumer demand.

Statements about our announced acquisitions of NN Investment Partners and GreenSky are subject to the risk that the transaction may not close on the timeline contemplated or at all, including due to a failure to obtain requisite regulatory approval.

28 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Item 1A.    Risk Factors

We face a variety of risks that are substantial and inherent in our businesses.

The following is a summary of some of the more important factors that could affect our businesses:

Market

• Our businesses have been and may in the future be adversely affected by conditions in the global financial markets and broader economic conditions.

• Our businesses have been and may in the future be adversely affected by declining asset values, particularly where we have net “long” positions, receive fees based on the value of assets managed, or receive or post collateral.

• Our market-making activities have been and may in the future be affected by changes in the levels of market volatility.

• Our investment banking, client intermediation, asset management and wealth management businesses have been adversely affected and may in the future be adversely affected by market uncertainty or lack of confidence among investors and CEOs due to declines in economic activity and other unfavorable economic, geopolitical or market conditions.

• Our asset management and wealth management businesses have been and may in the future be adversely affected by the poor investment performance of our investment products or a client preference for products other than those which we offer or for products that generate lower fees.

Liquidity

• Our liquidity, profitability and businesses may be adversely affected by an inability to access the debt capital markets or to sell assets.

• Our businesses have been and may in the future be adversely affected by disruptions or lack of liquidity in the credit markets, including reduced access to credit and higher costs of obtaining credit.

• Reductions in our credit ratings or an increase in our credit spreads may adversely affect our liquidity and cost of funding.

• Group Inc. is a holding company and its liquidity depends on payments from its subsidiaries, many of which are subject to legal, regulatory and other restrictions on providing funds or assets to Group Inc.

Credit

• Our businesses, profitability and liquidity may be adversely affected by deterioration in the credit quality of or defaults by third parties.

• Concentration of risk increases the potential for significant losses in our market-making, underwriting, investing and financing activities.

• Derivative transactions and delayed documentation or settlements may expose us to credit risk, unexpected risks and potential losses.

Operational

• A failure in our operational systems or infrastructure, or those of third parties, as well as human error, malfeasance or other misconduct, could impair our liquidity, disrupt our businesses, result in the disclosure of confidential information, damage our reputation and cause losses.

• A failure to protect our computer systems, networks and information, and our clients’ information, against cyber attacks and similar threats could impair our ability to conduct our businesses, result in the disclosure, theft or destruction of confidential information, damage our reputation and cause losses.

• We may incur losses as a result of ineffective risk management processes and strategies.

• We may incur losses as a result of unforeseen or catastrophic events, including pandemics, terrorist attacks, extreme weather events or other natural disasters.

• Climate change could disrupt our businesses and adversely affect client activity levels and the creditworthiness of our clients and counterparties, and our efforts to address concerns relating to climate change could result in damage to our reputation.

Legal and Regulatory

• Our businesses and those of our clients are subject to extensive and pervasive regulation around the world.

• A failure to appropriately identify and address potential conflicts of interest could adversely affect our businesses.

• We may be adversely affected by increased governmental and regulatory scrutiny or negative publicity.

• Substantial civil or criminal liability or significant regulatory action against us could have material adverse financial effects or cause us significant reputational harm, which in turn could seriously harm our business prospects.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 29

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

• In conducting our businesses around the world, we are subject to political, legal, regulatory and other risks that are inherent in operating in many countries.

• The application of regulatory strategies and requirements in the U.S. and non-U.S. jurisdictions to facilitate the orderly resolution of large financial institutions could create greater risk of loss for Group Inc.’s security holders.

• The application of Group Inc.’s proposed resolution strategy could result in greater losses for Group Inc.’s security holders.

• Our commodities activities, particularly our physical commodities activities, subject us to extensive regulation and involve certain potential risks, including environmental, reputational and other risks that may expose us to significant liabilities and costs.

Competition

• Our results have been and may in the future be adversely affected by the composition of our client base.

• The financial services industry is highly competitive.

• The growth of electronic trading and the introduction of new products and technologies, including trading technologies and cryptocurrencies, has increased competition.

• Our businesses would be adversely affected if we are unable to hire and retain qualified employees.

Market Developments and General Business Environment

• Our businesses, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations have been and may in the future be adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Certain of our businesses, our funding instruments and financial products may be adversely affected by changes in or the discontinuance of Interbank Offered Rates (IBORs), in particular LIBOR.

• Certain of our businesses and our funding instruments may be adversely affected by changes in other reference rates, currencies, indexes, baskets or ETFs to which products we offer or funding that we raise are linked.

• We face enhanced risks as new business initiatives and acquisitions lead us to engage in new activities, operate in new locations, transact with a broader array of clients and counterparties and expose us to new asset classes and new markets.

• We may not be able to fully realize the expected benefits or synergies from acquisitions in the time frames we expect, or at all.

The following are detailed descriptions of our Risk Factors summarized above:

Market

Our businesses have been and may in the future be adversely affected by conditions in the global financial markets and broader economic conditions.

Many of our businesses, by their nature, do not produce predictable earnings, and all of our businesses are materially affected by conditions in the global financial markets and economic conditions generally, both directly and through their impact on client activity levels and creditworthiness. These conditions can change suddenly and negatively.

Our financial performance is highly dependent on the environment in which our businesses operate. A favorable business environment is generally characterized by, among other factors, high global gross domestic product growth, regulatory and market conditions that result in transparent, liquid and efficient capital markets, low inflation, business, consumer and investor confidence, stable geopolitical conditions and strong business earnings.

Unfavorable or uncertain economic and market conditions can be caused by: low levels of or declines in economic growth, business activity or investor, business or consumer confidence; changes in consumer spending or borrowing patterns; pandemics; limitations on the availability or increases in the cost of credit and capital; illiquid markets; increases in inflation, interest rates, exchange rate or basic commodity price volatility or default rates; concerns about sovereign defaults; uncertainty concerning fiscal or monetary policy, government shutdowns, debt ceilings or funding; the extent of and uncertainty about potential increases in tax rates and other regulatory changes; limitations on international trade and travel; laws and regulations that limit trading in, or the issuance of, securities of issuers outside their domestic markets; outbreaks of domestic or international tensions or hostilities, terrorism, nuclear proliferation, cyber security threats or attacks and other forms of disruption to or curtailment of global communication, energy transmission or transportation networks or other geopolitical instability or uncertainty; corporate, political or other scandals that reduce investor confidence in capital markets; extreme weather events or other natural disasters; or a combination of these or other factors.

30 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

The financial services industry and the securities and other financial markets have been materially and adversely affected in the past by significant declines in the values of nearly all asset classes, by a serious lack of liquidity and by high levels of borrower defaults. In addition, concerns about the

COVID-19

pandemic, European sovereign debt risk and its impact on the European banking system, limitations on international trade, and potential or actual changes in interest rates, inflation and other market conditions, have, at times, negatively impacted the levels of client activity.

General uncertainty about economic, political and market activities, and the scope, timing and impact of regulatory reform, as well as weak consumer, investor and CEO confidence resulting in large part from such uncertainty, has in the past negatively impacted client activity, which can adversely affect many of our businesses. Periods of low volatility and periods of high volatility combined with a lack of liquidity, have at times had an unfavorable impact on our market-making businesses.

Financial institution returns may be negatively impacted by increased funding costs due in part to the lack of perceived government support of such institutions in the event of future financial crises relative to financial institutions in countries in which governmental support is maintained. In addition, liquidity in the financial markets has also been negatively impacted as market participants and market practices and structures continue to adjust to evolving regulatory frameworks.

Our businesses have been and may in the future be adversely affected by declining asset values, particularly where we have net “long” positions, receive fees based on the value of assets managed, or receive or post collateral.

Many of our businesses have net “long” positions in debt securities, loans, derivatives, mortgages, equities (including private equity and real estate) and most other asset classes. These include positions we take when we act as a principal to facilitate our clients’ activities, including our exchange-based market-making activities, or commit large amounts of capital to maintain positions in interest rate and credit products, as well as through our currencies, commodities, equities and mortgage-related activities. In addition, we invest in similar asset classes. Substantially all of our investing and market-making positions and a portion of our loans are

marked-to-market

on a daily or other periodic basis and declines in asset values directly and promptly impact our earnings, unless we have effectively “hedged” our exposures to those declines.

In certain circumstances (particularly in the case of credit products, including leveraged loans, and private equities or other securities that are not freely tradable or lack established and liquid trading markets), it may not be possible or economic to hedge our exposures and to the extent that we do so the hedge may be ineffective or may greatly reduce our ability to profit from increases in the values of the assets. Sudden declines and significant volatility in the prices of assets have in the past and may in the future substantially curtail or eliminate the trading markets for certain assets, which may make it difficult to sell, hedge or value such assets. The inability to sell or effectively hedge assets reduces our ability to limit losses in such positions and the difficulty in valuing assets may negatively affect our capital, liquidity or leverage ratios, increase our funding costs and generally require us to maintain additional capital.

In our exchange-based market-making activities, we are obligated by stock exchange rules to maintain an orderly market, including by purchasing securities in a declining market. In markets where asset values are declining and in volatile markets, this results in losses and an increased need for liquidity.

We receive asset-based management fees based on the value of our clients’ portfolios or investment in funds managed by us and, in some cases, we also receive incentive fees based on increases in the value of such investments. Declines in asset values would ordinarily reduce the value of our clients’ portfolios or fund assets, which in turn would typically reduce the fees we earn for managing such assets.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 31

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

We post collateral to support our obligations and receive collateral that supports the obligations of our clients and counterparties. When the value of the assets posted as collateral or the credit ratings of the party posting collateral decline, the party posting the collateral may need to provide additional collateral or, if possible, reduce its trading position. An example of such a situation is a “margin call” in connection with a brokerage account. Therefore, declines in the value of asset classes used as collateral mean that either the cost of funding positions is increased or the size of positions is decreased. If we are the party providing collateral, this can increase our costs and reduce our profitability and if we are the party receiving collateral, this can also reduce our profitability by reducing the level of business done with our clients and counterparties.

In addition, volatile or less liquid markets increase the difficulty of valuing assets, which can lead to costly and time-consuming disputes over asset values and the level of required collateral, as well as increased credit risk to the recipient of the collateral due to delays in receiving adequate collateral. In cases where we foreclose on collateral, sudden declines in the value or liquidity of the collateral has in the past and may in the future, despite credit monitoring, over-collateralization, the ability to call for additional collateral or the ability to force repayment of the underlying obligation, result in significant losses to us, especially where there is a single type of collateral supporting the obligation. In addition, we have been and may in the future be subject to claims that the foreclosure was not permitted under the legal documents, was conducted in an improper manner or caused a client or counterparty to go out of business.

Our market-making activities have been and may in the future be affected by changes in the levels of market volatility.

Certain of our market-making activities depend on market volatility to provide trading and arbitrage opportunities to our clients, and decreases in volatility have reduced and may in the future reduce these opportunities and the level of client activity associated with them and adversely affect the results of these activities. Increased volatility, while it can increase trading volumes and spreads, also increases risk as measured by

Value-at-Risk

(VaR) and may expose us to increased risks in connection with our market-making activities or cause us to reduce our inventory in order to avoid increasing our VaR. Limiting the size of our market-making positions can adversely affect our profitability. In periods when volatility is increasing, but asset values are declining significantly, it may not be possible to sell assets at all or it may only be possible to do so at steep discounts. In those circumstances we may be forced to either take on additional risk or to realize losses in order to decrease our VaR. In addition, increases in volatility increase the level of our RWAs, which increases our capital requirements.

Our investment banking, client intermediation, asset management and wealth management businesses have been adversely affected and may in the future be adversely affected by market uncertainty or lack of confidence among investors and CEOs due to declines in economic activity and other unfavorable economic, geopolitical or market conditions.

Our investment banking business has been and may in the future be adversely affected by market conditions. Poor economic conditions and other uncertain geopolitical conditions may adversely affect and have in the past adversely affected investor and CEO confidence, resulting in significant industry-wide declines in the size and number of underwritings and of financial advisory transactions, which would likely have an adverse effect on our revenues and our profit margins. In particular, because a significant portion of our investment banking revenues is derived from our participation in large transactions, a decline in the number of large transactions has in the past and would in the future adversely affect our investment banking business. Similarly, in recent years, cross-border initial public offerings and other securities offerings have accounted for a significant proportion of new issuance activity. Legislative, regulatory or other changes that limit trading in, or the issuance of, securities outside the issuers’ domestic markets have in the past and would in the future adversely affect our underwriting business.

In certain circumstances, market uncertainty or general declines in market or economic activity may adversely affect our client intermediation businesses by decreasing levels of overall activity or by decreasing volatility, but at other times market uncertainty and even declining economic activity may result in higher trading volumes or higher spreads or both.

Market uncertainty, volatility and adverse economic conditions, as well as declines in asset values, may cause our clients to transfer their assets out of our fundsor other products or their brokerage accounts and result in reduced net revenues, principally in our asset management and wealth management businesses. Even if clients do not withdraw their funds, they may invest them in products that generate less fee income.

32 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Our asset management and wealth management businesses have been and may in the future be adversely affected by the poor investment performance of our investment products or a client preference for products other than those which we offer or for products that generate lower fees.

Poor investment returns in our asset management and wealth management businesses, due to either general market conditions or underperformance (relative to our competitors or to benchmarks) by funds or accounts that we manage or investment products that we design or sell, affects our ability to retain existing assets and to attract new clients or additional assets from existing clients. This could affect the management and incentive fees that we earn on AUS or the commissions and net spreads that we earn for selling other investment products, such as structured notes or derivatives. To the extent that our clients choose to invest in products that we do not currently offer, we will suffer outflows and a loss of management fees. Further, if, due to changes in investor sentiment or the relative performance of certain asset classes or otherwise, clients continue to invest in products that generate lower fees (e.g., passively managed or fixed income products), our average effective management fee would continue to decline and our asset management and wealth management businesses could be adversely affected.

Liquidity

Our liquidity, profitability and businesses may be adversely affected by an inability to access the debt capital markets or to sell assets.

Liquidity is essential to our businesses. It is of critical importance to us, as most of the failures of financial institutions have occurred in large part due to insufficient liquidity. Our liquidity may be impaired by an inability to access secured and/or unsecured debt markets, an inability to raise or retain deposits, an inability to access funds from our subsidiaries or otherwise allocate liquidity optimally, an inability to sell assets or redeem our investments, lack of timely settlement of transactions, unusual deposit outflows, or other unforeseen outflows of cash or collateral, such as in March 2020, when corporate clients drew on revolving credit facilities in response to the

COVID-19

pandemic. This situation may arise due to circumstances that we may be unable to control, such as a general market or economic disruption or an operational problem that affects third parties or us, or even by the perception among market participants that we, or other market participants, are experiencing greater liquidity risk.

We employ structured products to benefit our clients and hedge our own risks. The financial instruments that we hold and the contracts to which we are a party are often complex, and these complex structured products often do not have readily available markets to access in times of liquidity stress. Our investing and financing activities may lead to situations where the holdings from these activities represent a significant portion of specific markets, which could restrict liquidity for our positions.

Further, our ability to sell assets may be impaired if there is not generally a liquid market for such assets, as well as in circumstances where other market participants are seeking to sell similar otherwise generally liquid assets at the same time, as is likely to occur in a liquidity or other market crisis or in response to changes to rules or regulations. For example, recently an investment management firm with large positions with several financial institutions defaulted, resulting in rapidly declining prices in the securities underlying those positions. In addition, clearinghouses, exchanges and other financial institutions with which we interact may exercise

set-off

rights or the right to require additional collateral, including in difficult market conditions, which could further impair our liquidity.

Regulatory changes relating to liquidity may also negatively impact our results of operations and competitive position. Numerous regulations have been adopted to introduce more stringent liquidity requirements for large financial institutions. These regulations address, among other matters, liquidity stress testing, minimum liquidity requirements, wholesale funding, limitations on the issuance of short-term debt and structured notes, deductions for holdings of TLAC and prohibitions on parent guarantees that are subject to certain cross-defaults. New and prospective liquidity-related regulations may overlap with, and be impacted by, other regulatory changes, including rules relating to minimum long-term debt requirements and TLAC, guidance on the treatment of brokered deposits and the capital, leverage and resolution and recovery frameworks applicable to large financial institutions. Given the overlap and complex interactions among these new and prospective regulations, they may have unintended cumulative effects, and their full impact will remain uncertain, while regulatory reforms are being adopted and market practices develop. In addition, our need to manage our operations in light of certain regulatory requirements when applicable thresholds are met has in the past limited and may in the future limit our ability to raise deposits in GSIB or other funding, which could adversely affect our liquidity or ability to respond efficiently to liquidity stress.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 33

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Our businesses have been and may in the future be adversely affected by disruptions or lack of liquidity in the credit markets, including reduced access to credit and higher costs of obtaining credit.

Widening credit spreads, as well as significant declines in the availability of credit, have in the past adversely affected our ability to borrow on a secured and unsecured basis and may do so in the future. We fund ourselves on an unsecured basis by issuing long-term debt and commercial paper, by raising deposits at our bank subsidiaries, by issuing hybrid financial instruments and by obtaining loans or lines of credit from commercial or other banking entities. We seek to finance many of our assets on a secured basis. Any disruptions in the credit markets may make it harder and more expensive to obtain funding for our businesses. If our available funding is limited or we are forced to fund our operations at a higher cost, these conditions may require us to curtail our business activities and increase our cost of funding, both of which could reduce our profitability, particularly in our businesses that involve investing, lending and market making.

Our clients engaging in mergers, acquisitions and other types of strategic transactions often rely on access to the secured and unsecured credit markets to finance their transactions. A lack of available credit or an increased cost of credit can adversely affect the size, volume and timing of our clients’ merger and acquisition transactions, particularly large transactions, and adversely affect our financial advisory and underwriting businesses.

Our credit businesses have been and may in the future be negatively affected by a lack of liquidity in credit markets. A lack of liquidity reduces price transparency, increases price volatility and decreases transaction volumes and size, all of which can increase transaction risk or decrease the profitability of these businesses.

Reductions in our credit ratings or an increase in our credit spreads may adversely affect our liquidity and cost of funding.

Our credit ratings are important to our liquidity. A reduction in our credit ratings could adversely affect our liquidity and competitive position, increase our borrowing costs, limit our access to the capital markets or trigger our obligations under certain provisions in some of our trading and collateralized financing contracts. Under these provisions, counterparties could be permitted to terminate contracts with us or require us to post additional collateral. Termination of our trading and collateralized financing contracts could cause us to sustain losses and impair our liquidity by requiring us to find other sources of financing or to make significant cash payments or securities movements.

As of December 2021, our counterparties could have called for additional collateral or termination payments related to our net derivative liabilities under bilateral agreements in an aggregate amount of $345 million in the event of a

one-notch

downgrade of our credit ratings and $1.54 billion in the event of a

two-notch

downgrade of our credit ratings. A downgrade by any one rating agency, depending on the agency’s relative ratings of us at the time of the downgrade, may have an impact which is comparable to the impact of a downgrade by all rating agencies. For further information about our credit ratings, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Risk Management — Liquidity Risk Management — Credit Ratings” in Part II, Item 7 of this

Form 10-K.

Our cost of obtaining long-term unsecured funding is directly related to our credit spreads (the amount in excess of the interest rate of benchmark securities that we need to pay). Increases in our credit spreads can significantly increase our cost of this funding. Changes in credit spreads are continuous, market-driven, and subject at times to unpredictable and highly volatile movements. Our credit spreads are also influenced by market perceptions of our creditworthiness and movements in the costs to purchasers of credit default swaps referenced to our long-term debt. The market for credit default swaps has proven to be extremely volatile and at times has lacked a high degree of transparency or liquidity.

34 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Group Inc. is a holding company and its liquidity depends on payments and loans from its subsidiaries, many of which are subject to legal, regulatory and other restrictions on providing funds or assets to Group Inc.

Group Inc. is a holding company and, therefore, depends on dividends, distributions, loans and other payments from its subsidiaries to fund share repurchases and dividend payments and to fund payments on its obligations, including debt obligations. Many of our subsidiaries, including our broker-dealer and bank subsidiaries, are subject to laws that restrict dividend payments or authorize regulatory bodies to block or reduce the flow of funds from those subsidiaries to Group Inc.

In addition, our broker-dealer and bank subsidiaries are subject to restrictions on their ability to lend or transact with affiliates and to minimum regulatory capital and other requirements, as well as restrictions on their ability to use funds deposited with them in brokerage or bank accounts to fund their businesses. Additional restrictions on related-party transactions, increased capital and liquidity requirements and additional limitations on the use of funds on deposit in bank or brokerage accounts, as well as lower earnings, can reduce the amount of funds available to meet the obligations of Group Inc., including under the FRB’s source of strength requirement, and even require Group Inc. to provide additional funding to such subsidiaries. Restrictions or regulatory action of that kind could impede access to funds that Group Inc. needs to make payments on its obligations, including debt obligations, or dividend payments. In addition, Group Inc.’s right to participate in a distribution of assets upon a subsidiary’s liquidation or reorganization is subject to the prior claims of the subsidiary’s creditors.

There has been a trend towards increased regulation and supervision of our subsidiaries by the governments and regulators in the countries in which those subsidiaries are located or do business. Concerns about protecting clients and creditors of financial institutions that are controlled by persons or entities located outside of the country in which such entities are located or do business have caused or may cause a number of governments and regulators to take additional steps to “ring fence” or require internal total loss-absorbing capacity (which may also be subject to

“bail-in”

powers, as described below) at those entities in order to protect clients and creditors of those entities in the event of financial difficulties involving those entities. The result has been and may continue to be additional limitations on our ability to efficiently move capital and liquidity among our affiliated entities, or to Group Inc., including in times of liquidity stress, thereby increasing the overall level of capital and liquidity required by us on a consolidated basis.

Furthermore, Group Inc. has guaranteed the payment obligations of certain of its subsidiaries, including GS&Co. and GS Bank USA, subject to certain exceptions. In addition, Group Inc. guarantees many of the obligations of its other consolidated subsidiaries on a

transaction-by-transaction

basis, as negotiated with counterparties. These guarantees may require Group Inc. to provide substantial funds or assets to its subsidiaries or their creditors or counterparties at a time when Group Inc. is in need of liquidity to fund its own obligations.

The requirements for us and certain of our subsidiaries to develop and submit recovery and resolution plans to regulators, and the incorporation of feedback received from regulators, may require us to increase capital or liquidity levels or issue additional long-term debt at Group Inc. or particular subsidiaries or otherwise incur additional or duplicative operational or other costs at multiple entities, and may reduce our ability to provide Group Inc. guarantees of the obligations of our subsidiaries or raise debt at Group Inc. Resolution planning may also impair our ability to structure our intercompany and external activities in a manner that we may otherwise deem most operationally efficient. Furthermore, arrangements to facilitate our resolution planning may cause us to be subject to additional taxes. Any such limitations or requirements would be in addition to the legal and regulatory restrictions described above on our ability to engage in capital actions or make intercompany dividends or payments.

See “Business — Regulation” in Part I, Item 1 of this

Form 10-K

for further information about regulatory restrictions.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 35

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Credit

Our businesses, profitability and liquidity may be adversely affected by deterioration in the credit quality of or defaults by third parties.

We are exposed to the risk that third parties that owe us money, securities or other assets will not perform their obligations. These parties may default on their obligations to us due to bankruptcy, lack of liquidity, operational failure or other reasons. A failure of a significant market participant, or even concerns about a default by such an institution, could lead to significant liquidity problems, losses or defaults by other institutions, which in turn could adversely affect us.

We are also subject to the risk that our rights against third parties may not be enforceable in all circumstances. In addition, deterioration in the credit quality of third parties whose securities or obligations we hold, including a deterioration in the value of collateral posted by third parties to secure their obligations to us under derivative contracts and loan agreements, could result in losses and/or adversely affect our ability to rehypothecate or otherwise use those securities or obligations for liquidity purposes.

A significant downgrade in the credit ratings of our counterparties could also have a negative impact on our results. While in many cases we are permitted to require additional collateral from counterparties that experience financial difficulty, disputes may arise as to the amount of collateral we are entitled to receive and the value of pledged assets. The termination of contracts and the foreclosure on collateral may subject us to claims for the improper exercise of our rights. Default rates, downgrades and disputes with counterparties as to the valuation of collateral typically increase significantly in times of market stress, increased volatility and illiquidity.

As part of our clearing and prime brokerage activities, we finance our clients’ positions, and we could be held responsible for the defaults or misconduct of our clients. Although we have limits and regularly review credit exposures to specific clients and counterparties and to specific industries, countries and regions that we believe may present credit concerns, default risk may arise from events or circumstances that are difficult to detect or foresee.

Concentration of risk increases the potential for significant losses in our market-making, underwriting, investing and financing activities.

Concentration of risk increases the potential for significant losses in our market-making, underwriting, investing and financing activities. The number and size of these transactions has affected and may in the future affect our results of operations in a given period. Moreover, because of concentrated risk, we may suffer losses even when economic and market conditions are generally favorable for our competitors. Disruptions in the credit markets can make it difficult to hedge these credit exposures effectively or economically. In addition, we extend large commitments as part of our credit origination activities.

Rules adopted under the Dodd-Frank Act, and similar rules adopted in other jurisdictions, require issuers of certain asset-backed securities and any person who organizes and initiates certain asset-backed securities transactions to retain economic exposure to the asset, which has affected the cost of and structures used in connection with these securitization activities. Our inability to reduce our credit risk by selling, syndicating or securitizing these positions, including during periods of market stress, could negatively affect our results of operations due to a decrease in the fair value of the positions, including due to the insolvency or bankruptcy of borrowers, as well as the loss of revenues associated with selling such securities or loans.

In the ordinary course of business, we may be subject to a concentration of credit risk to a particular counterparty, borrower, issuer (including sovereign issuers) or geographic area or group of related countries, such as the E.U., and a failure or downgrade of, or default by, such entity could negatively impact our businesses, perhaps materially, and the systems by which we set limits and monitor the level of our credit exposure to individual entities, industries, countries and regions may not function as we have anticipated. Regulatory reform, including the Dodd-Frank Act, has led to increased centralization of trading activity through particular clearing houses, central agents or exchanges, which has significantly increased our concentration of risk with respect to these entities. While our activities expose us to many different industries, counterparties and countries, we routinely execute a high volume of transactions with counterparties engaged in financial services activities, including brokers and dealers, commercial banks, clearing houses, exchanges and investment funds. This has resulted in significant credit concentration with respect to these counterparties.

36 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Derivative transactions and delayed documentation or settlements may expose us to credit risk, unexpected risks and potential losses.

We are party to a large number of derivative transactions, including credit derivatives. Many of these derivative instruments are individually negotiated and

non-standardized,

which can make exiting, transferring or settling positions difficult. Many credit derivatives require that we deliver to the counterparty the underlying security, loan or other obligation in order to receive payment. In a number of cases, we do not hold the underlying security, loan or other obligation and may not be able to obtain the underlying security, loan or other obligation. This could cause us to forfeit the payments due to us under these contracts or result in settlement delays with the attendant credit and operational risk, as well as increased costs to us.

Derivative transactions may also involve the risk that documentation has not been properly executed, that executed agreements may not be enforceable against the counterparty, or that obligations under such agreements may not be able to be “netted” against other obligations with such counterparty. In addition, counterparties may claim that such transactions were not appropriate or authorized.

As a signatory to the ISDA Universal Protocol or U.S. ISDA Protocol (ISDA Protocols) and being subject to the FRB’s and FDIC’s rules on QFCs and similar rules in other jurisdictions, we may not be able to exercise remedies against counterparties and, as this new regime has not yet been tested, we may suffer risks or losses that we would not have expected to suffer if we could immediately close out transactions upon a termination event. The ISDA Protocols and these rules and regulations extend to repurchase agreements and other instruments that are not derivative contracts.

Derivative contracts and other transactions, including secondary bank loan purchases and sales, entered into with third parties are not always confirmed by the counterparties or settled on a timely basis. While the transaction remains unconfirmed or during any delay in settlement, we are subject to heightened credit and operational risk and in the event of a default may find it more difficult to enforce our rights.

In addition, as new complex derivative products are created, covering a wider array of underlying credit and other instruments, disputes about the terms of the underlying contracts could arise, which could impair our ability to effectively manage our risk exposures from these products and subject us to increased costs. The provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act requiring central clearing of credit derivatives and other OTC derivatives, or a market shift toward standardized derivatives, could reduce the risk associated with these transactions, but under certain circumstances could also limit our ability to develop derivatives that best suit the needs of our clients and to hedge our own risks, and could adversely affect our profitability and has increased our credit exposure to central clearing platforms.

Operational

A failure in our operational systems or infrastructure, or those of third parties, as well as human error, malfeasance or other misconduct, could impair our liquidity, disrupt our businesses, result in the disclosure of confidential information, damage our reputation and cause losses.

Our businesses are highly dependent on our ability to process and monitor, on a daily basis, a very large number of transactions, many of which are highly complex and occur at high volumes and frequencies, across numerous and diverse markets in many currencies. These transactions, as well as the information technology services we provide to clients, often must adhere to client-specific guidelines, as well as legal and regulatory standards.

Many rules and regulations worldwide govern our obligations to execute transactions and report such transactions and other information to regulators, exchanges and investors. Compliance with these legal and reporting requirements can be challenging, and we have been and may in the future be subject to regulatory fines and penalties for failing to follow these rules or to report timely, accurate and complete information in accordance with these rules. As such requirements expand, compliance with these rules and regulations has become more challenging.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 37

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

As our client base, including through our consumer businesses, and our geographical reach expand and the volume, speed, frequency and complexity of transactions, especially electronic transactions (as well as the requirements to report such transactions on a real-time basis to clients, regulators and exchanges) increase, developing and maintaining our operational systems and infrastructure becomes more challenging, and the risk of systems or human error in connection with such transactions increases, as well as the potential consequences of such errors due to the speed and volume of transactions involved and the potential difficulty associated with discovering errors quickly enough to limit the resulting consequences. Such risks are exacerbated in times of increased volatility. As with other similarly situated institutions, we utilize credit underwriting models in connection with our businesses, including our consumer-oriented activities. Allegations, whether or not accurate, that the ultimate underwriting decisions do not treat consumers or clients fairly, or comply with the applicable law or regulation, can result in negative publicity, reputational damage and governmental and regulatory scrutiny, investigations and enforcement actions.

Our financial, accounting, data processing or other operational systems and facilities may fail to operate properly or become disabled as a result of events that are wholly or partially beyond our control, such as a spike in transaction volume, adversely affecting our ability to process these transactions or provide these services. We must continuously update these systems to support our operations and growth and to respond to changes in regulations and markets, and invest heavily in systemic controls and training to pursue our objective of ensuring that such transactions do not violate applicable rules and regulations or, due to errors in processing such transactions, adversely affect markets, our clients and counterparties or us. Enhancements and updates to systems, as well as the requisite training, including in connection with the integration of new businesses, entail significant costs and create risks associated with implementing new systems and integrating them with existing ones.

The use of computing devices and phones is critical to the work done by our employees and the operation of our systems and businesses and those of our clients and our third-party service providers and vendors. Their importance has continued to increase, in particular in light of work-from-home arrangements implemented in response to the

COVID-19

pandemic. Computers and computer networks are subject to various risks, including, among others, cyber attacks, inherent technological defects, system failures and human error. For example, fundamental security flaws in computer chips found in many types of these computing devices and phones have been reported in the past and may be discovered in the future. Cloud technologies are also critical to the operation of our systems and platforms and our reliance on cloud technologies is growing. Service disruptions have resulted, and may result in the future, in delays in accessing, or the loss of, data that is important to our businesses and may hinder our clients’ access to our platforms. During 2021, there were a number of widely publicized cases of outages in connection with access to cloud computing providers. Addressing these and similar issues could be costly and affect the performance of these businesses and systems. Operational risks may be incurred in applying fixes and there may still be residual security risks.

Additionally, although the prevalence and scope of applications of distributed ledger technology and similar technologies is growing, the technology is also nascent and may be vulnerable to cyber attacks or have other inherent weaknesses. We are exposed to risks, and may become exposed to additional risks, related to distributed ledger technology, including through our facilitation of clients’ activities involving financial products that use distributed ledger technology, such as blockchain or cryptocurrencies, our investments in companies that seek to develop platforms based on distributed ledger technology, the use of distributed ledger technology by third-party vendors, clients, counterparties, clearing houses and other financial intermediaries, and the receipt of cryptocurrencies or other digital assets as collateral.

38 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notwithstanding the proliferation of technology and technology-based risk and control systems, our businesses ultimately rely on people as our greatest resource, and, from time to time, they have in the past and may in the future make mistakes or engage in violations of applicable policies, laws, rules or procedures that are not always caught immediately by our technological processes or by our controls and other procedures, which are intended to prevent and detect such errors or violations. These have in the past and may in the future include calculation errors, mistakes in addressing emails, errors in software or model development or implementation, or simple errors in judgment, as well as intentional efforts to ignore or circumvent applicable policies, laws, rules or procedures. Human errors, malfeasance and other misconduct, including the intentional misuse of client information in connection with insider trading or for other purposes, even if promptly discovered and remediated, has in the past and may in the future result in reputational damage and losses and liabilities for us.

In addition, we face the risk of operational failure or significant operational delay, termination or capacity constraints of any of the clearing agents, exchanges, clearing houses or other financial intermediaries we use to facilitate our securities and derivatives transactions, and as our interconnectivity with our clients grows, we increasingly face the risk of operational failure or significant operational delay with respect to our clients’ systems.

There has been significant consolidation among clearing agents, exchanges and clearing houses and an increasing number of derivative transactions are cleared on exchanges, which has increased our exposure to operational failure or significant operational delay, termination or capacity constraints of the particular financial intermediaries that we use and could affect our ability to find adequate and cost-effective alternatives in the event of any such failure, delay, termination or constraint. Industry consolidation, whether among market participants or financial intermediaries, increases the risk of operational failure or significant operational delay as disparate complex systems need to be integrated, often on an accelerated basis.

The interconnectivity of multiple financial institutions with central agents, exchanges and clearing houses, and the increased centrality of these entities, increases the risk that an operational failure at one institution or entity may cause an industry-wide operational failure that could materially impact our ability to conduct business. Interconnectivity of financial institutions with other companies through, among other things, application programming interfaces or APIs presents similar risks. Any such failure, termination or constraint could adversely affect our ability to effect transactions, service our clients, manage our exposure to risk or expand our businesses or result in financial loss or liability to our clients, impairment of our liquidity, disruption of our businesses, regulatory intervention or reputational damage.

Despite our resiliency plans and facilities, our ability to conduct business may be adversely impacted by a disruption in the infrastructure that supports our businesses and the communities where we are located. This may include a disruption involving electrical, satellite, undersea cable or other communications, internet, transportation or other facilities used by us, our employees or third parties with which we conduct business, including cloud service providers. These disruptions may occur as a result of events that affect only our buildings or systems or those of such third parties, or as a result of events with a broader impact globally, regionally or in the cities where those buildings or systems are located, including, but not limited to, natural disasters, war, civil unrest, terrorism, economic or political developments, pandemics and weather events.

In addition, although we seek to diversify our third-party vendors to increase our resiliency, we are also exposed to the risk that a disruption or other information technology event at a common service provider to our vendors could impede their ability to provide products or services to us, including in connection with our new business initiatives. We may not be able to effectively monitor or mitigate operational risks relating to our vendors’ use of common service providers.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 39

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Aside from work-from-home arrangements during the

COVID-19

pandemic, nearly all of our employees in our primary locations, including the New York metropolitan area, London, Bengaluru, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Salt Lake City, work in close proximity to one another, in one or more buildings. Notwithstanding our efforts to maintain business continuity, given that our headquarters and the largest concentration of our employees are in the New York metropolitan area, and our two principal office buildings in the New York area both are located on the waterfront of the Hudson River, depending on the intensity and longevity of the event, a catastrophic event impacting our New York metropolitan area offices, including a terrorist attack, extreme weather event or other hostile or catastrophic event, could negatively affect our business. If a disruption occurs in one location and our employees in that location are unable to occupy our offices or communicate with or travel to other locations or successfully work remotely, our ability to service and interact with our clients may suffer, and we may not be able to successfully implement contingency plans that depend on communication, work-from-home arrangements or travel.

A failure to protect our computer systems, networks and information, and our clients’ information, against cyber attacks and similar threats could impair our ability to conduct our businesses, result in the disclosure, theft or destruction of confidential information, damage our reputation and cause losses.

Our operations rely on the secure processing, storage and transmission of confidential and other information in our computer systems and networks and those of our vendors. There have been a number of highly publicized cases involving financial services companies, consumer-based companies, software and information technology service providers, governmental agencies and other organizations reporting the unauthorized access or disclosure of client, customer or other confidential information in recent years, as well as cyber attacks involving the dissemination, theft and destruction of corporate information or other assets, as a result of failure to follow procedures by employees or contractors or as a result of actions by third parties, including actions by foreign governments. There have also been several highly publicized cases where hackers have requested “ransom” payments in exchange for not disclosing customer information or for restoring access to information or systems.

We are regularly the target of attempted cyber attacks, including

denial-of-service

attacks, and must continuously monitor and develop our systems to protect the integrity and functionality of our technology infrastructure and access to and the security of our data. We have faced an increasing number of attempted cyber attacks as we expand our mobile- and other internet-based products and services, as well as our usage of mobile and cloud technologies, and as we provide more of these services to a greater number of individual consumers. The increasing migration of our communication from devices we provide to employee-owned devices presents additional risks of cyber attacks, as do work-from-home arrangements such as those implemented in response to the

COVID-19

pandemic. In addition, due to our interconnectivity with third-party vendors (and their respective service providers), central agents, exchanges, clearing houses and other financial institutions, we could be adversely impacted if any of them is subject to a successful cyber attack or other information security event. These impacts could include the loss of access to information or services from the third party subject to the cyber attack or other information security event, which could, in turn, interrupt certain of our businesses.

Despite our efforts to ensure the integrity of our systems and information, we may not be able to anticipate, detect or implement effective preventive measures against all cyber threats, especially because the techniques used are increasingly sophisticated, change frequently and are often not recognized until launched. Cyber attacks can originate from a variety of sources, including third parties who are affiliated with or sponsored by foreign governments or are involved with organized crime or terrorist organizations. Third parties may also attempt to place individuals in our offices or induce employees, clients or other users of our systems to disclose sensitive information or provide access to our data or that of our clients, and these types of risks may be difficult to detect or prevent.

Although we take protective measures proactively and endeavor to modify them as circumstances warrant, our computer systems, software and networks may be vulnerable to unauthorized access, misuse, computer viruses or other malicious code, cyber attacks on our vendors and other events that could have a security impact. Risks relating to cyber attacks on our vendors have been increasing given the greater frequency and severity in recent years of supply chain attacks affecting software and information technology service providers. Due to the complexity and interconnectedness of our systems, the process of enhancing our protective measures can itself create a risk of systems disruptions and security issues. In addition, protective measures that we employ to compartmentalize our data may reduce our visibility into, and adversely affect our ability to respond to, cyber threats and issues with our systems.

40 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

If one or more of such events occur, this potentially could jeopardize our or our clients’ or counterparties’ confidential and other information processed, stored in, or transmitted through our computer systems and networks, or otherwise cause interruptions or malfunctions in our operations or those of our clients, counterparties or third parties, which could impact their ability to transact with us or otherwise result in legal or regulatory action, significant losses or reputational damage. In addition, such an event could persist for an extended period of time before being detected, and, following detection, it could take considerable time for us to obtain full and reliable information about the extent, amount and type of information compromised. During the course of an investigation, we may not know the full impact of the event and how to remediate it, and actions, decisions and mistakes that are taken or made may further increase the negative effects of the event on our business, results of operations and reputation.

We have expended, and expect to continue to expend, significant resources on an ongoing basis to modify our protective measures and to investigate and remediate vulnerabilities or other exposures, but these measures may be ineffective and we may be subject to legal or regulatory action, as well as financial losses that are either not insured against or not fully covered through any insurance maintained by us.

Our clients’ confidential information may also be at risk from the compromise of clients’ personal electronic devices or as a result of a data security breach at an unrelated company. Losses due to unauthorized account activity could harm our reputation and may have adverse effects on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

The increased use of mobile and cloud technologies can heighten these and other operational risks, as can work-from-home arrangements. Certain aspects of the security of such technologies are unpredictable or beyond our control, and the failure by mobile technology and cloud service providers to adequately safeguard their systems and prevent cyber attacks could disrupt our operations and result in misappropriation, corruption or loss of confidential and other information. In addition, there is a risk that encryption and other protective measures, despite their sophistication, may be defeated, particularly to the extent that new computing technologies vastly increase the speed and computing power available.

We routinely transmit and receive personal, confidential and proprietary information by email and other electronic means. We have discussed and worked with clients, vendors, service providers, counterparties and other third parties to develop secure transmission capabilities and protect against cyber attacks, but we do not have, and may be unable to put in place, secure capabilities with all of our clients, vendors, service providers, counterparties and other third parties and we may not be able to ensure that these third parties have appropriate controls in place to protect the confidentiality of the information. An interception, misuse or mishandling of personal, confidential or proprietary information being sent to or received from a client, vendor, service provider, counterparty or other third party could result in legal liability, regulatory action and reputational harm.

We may incur losses as a result of ineffective risk management processes and strategies.

We seek to monitor and control our risk exposure through a risk and control framework encompassing a variety of separate but complementary financial, credit, operational, compliance and legal reporting systems, internal controls, management review processes and other mechanisms. Our risk management process seeks to balance our ability to profit from market-making, investing or lending positions, and underwriting activities, with our exposure to potential losses. While we employ a broad and diversified set of risk monitoring and risk mitigation techniques, those techniques and the judgments that accompany their application cannot anticipate every economic and financial outcome or the specifics and timing of such outcomes. Thus, in the course of our activities, we have incurred and may in the future incur losses. Market conditions in recent years have involved unprecedented dislocations and highlight the limitations inherent in using historical data to manage risk.

The models that we use to assess and control our risk exposures reflect assumptions about the degrees of correlation or lack thereof among prices of various asset classes or other market indicators. In times of market stress or other unforeseen circumstances, previously uncorrelated indicators may become correlated, or conversely previously correlated indicators may move in different directions. These types of market movements have at times limited the effectiveness of our hedging strategies and have caused us to incur significant losses, and they may do so in the future. These changes in correlation have been and may in the future be exacerbated where other market participants are using risk or trading models with assumptions or algorithms that are similar to ours. In these and other cases, it may be difficult to reduce our risk positions due to the activity of other market participants or widespread market dislocations, including circumstances where asset values are declining significantly or no market exists for certain assets.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 41

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

In addition, the use of models in connection with risk management and numerous other critical activities presents risks that such models may be ineffective, either because of poor design, ineffective testing, or improper or flawed inputs, as well as unpermitted access to such models resulting in unapproved or malicious changes to the model or its inputs.

To the extent that we have positions through our market-making or origination activities or we make investments directly through our investing activities, including private equity, that do not have an established liquid trading market or are otherwise subject to restrictions on sale or hedging, we may not be able to reduce our positions and therefore reduce our risk associated with those positions. In addition, to the extent permitted by applicable law and regulation, we invest our own capital in private equity, credit, real estate and hedge funds that we manage and limitations on our ability to withdraw some or all of our investments in these funds, whether for legal, reputational or other reasons, may make it more difficult for us to control the risk exposures relating to these investments.

Prudent risk management, as well as regulatory restrictions, may cause us to limit our exposure to counterparties, geographic areas or markets, which may limit our business opportunities and increase the cost of our funding or hedging activities.

As we have expanded and intend to continue to expand the product and geographic scope of our offerings of credit products to consumers, we are presented with different credit risks and must expand and adapt our credit risk monitoring and mitigation activities to account for these business activities. A failure to adequately assess and control such risk exposures could result in losses to us.

For further information about our risk management policies and procedures, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Risk Management” in Part II, Item 7 of this

Form 10-K.

We may incur losses as a result of unforeseen or catastrophic events, including pandemics, terrorist attacks, extreme weather events or other natural disasters.

The occurrence of unforeseen or catastrophic events, including pandemics, such as

COVID-19,

or other widespread health emergencies (or concerns over the possibility of such an emergency), terrorist attacks, extreme weather events, solar events or other natural disasters, could create economic and financial disruptions, and could lead to operational difficulties (including travel limitations and limitations on occupancy in our offices) that could impair our ability to manage our businesses.

Climate change could disrupt our businesses and adversely affect client activity levels and the creditworthiness of our clients and counterparties, and our efforts to address concerns relating to climate change could result in damage to our reputation.

Climate change may cause extreme weather events that disrupt operations at one or more of our primary locations, which may negatively affect our ability to service and interact with our clients, adversely affect the value of our investments, including our real estate investments, and reduce the availability or increase the cost of insurance. Climate change and the transition to a less carbon-dependent economy may also have a negative impact on the operations or financial condition of our clients and counterparties, which may decrease revenues from those clients and counterparties and increase the credit risk associated with loans and other credit exposures to those clients and counterparties. In addition, climate change may impact the broader economy.

We are also exposed to risks resulting from changes in public policy, laws and regulations, or market and public perceptions and preferences in connection with the transition to a less carbon-dependent economy. These changes could adversely affect our business, results of operations and reputation. For example, our reputation and client relationships may be damaged as a result of our involvement, or our clients’ involvement, in certain industries or projects associated with causing or exacerbating climate change, as well as any decisions we make to continue to conduct or change our activities in response to considerations relating to climate change. If we are unable to achieve our objectives relating to climate change or our response to climate change is perceived to be ineffective or insufficient, our business, reputation and efforts to recruit and retain employees may suffer.

42 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

New regulations or guidance relating to climate change, as well as the perspectives of regulators, shareholders, employees and other stakeholders regarding climate change, may affect whether and on what terms and conditions we engage in certain activities or offer certain products. Federal and state, and

non-U.S.

banking regulators and supervisory authorities, shareholders and other stakeholders have increasingly viewed financial institutions as playing an important role in helping to address risks related to climate change, both directly and with respect to their clients, which may result in financial institutions coming under increased requirements and expectations regarding the disclosure and management of their climate risks and related lending, investment and advisory activities. We also may become subject to new or heightened regulatory requirements relating to climate change, such as requirements relating to operational resiliency or stress testing for various climate stress scenarios. Any such new or heightened requirements could result in increased regulatory, compliance or other costs or higher capital requirements. The risks associated with, and the perspective of regulators, shareholders, employees and other stakeholders regarding, climate change are continuing to evolve rapidly, which can make it difficult to assess the ultimate impact on us of climate change-related risks and uncertainties, and we expect that climate change-related risks will increase over time.

Legal and Regulatory

Our businesses and those of our clients are subject to extensive and pervasive regulation around the world.

As a participant in the financial services industry and a systemically important financial institution, we are subject to extensive regulation in jurisdictions around the world. We face the risk of significant intervention by law enforcement, regulatory and taxing authorities, as well as private litigation, in all jurisdictions in which we conduct our businesses. In many cases, our activities have been and may continue to be subject to overlapping and divergent regulation in different jurisdictions. Among other things, as a result of law enforcement authorities, regulators or private parties challenging our compliance with existing laws and regulations, we or our employees have been, and could be, fined, criminally charged or sanctioned; prohibited from engaging in some of our business activities; subjected to limitations or conditions on our business activities, including higher capital requirements; or subjected to new or substantially higher taxes or other governmental charges in connection with the conduct of our businesses or with respect to our employees. These limitations or conditions may limit our business activities and negatively impact our profitability.

In addition to the impact on the scope and profitability of our business activities,

day-to-day

compliance with existing laws and regulations has involved and will continue to involve significant amounts of time, including that of our senior leaders and that of a large number of dedicated compliance and other reporting and operational personnel, all of which may negatively impact our profitability.

Our revenues and profitability and those of our competitors have been and will continue to be impacted by requirements relating to capital, additional loss-absorbing capacity, leverage, minimum liquidity and long-term funding levels, requirements related to resolution and recovery planning, derivatives clearing and margin rules and levels of regulatory oversight, as well as limitations on which and, if permitted, how certain business activities may be carried out by financial institutions. The laws and regulations that apply to our businesses are often complex and, in many cases, we must make interpretive decisions regarding the application of those laws and regulations to our business activities. Changes in interpretations, whether in response to regulatory guidance, industry conventions, our own reassessments or otherwise, could adversely affect our businesses, results of operations or ability to satisfy applicable regulatory requirements, such as capital or liquidity requirements.

If there are new laws or regulations or changes in the interpretation or enforcement of existing laws or regulations applicable to our businesses or those of our clients, including capital, liquidity, leverage, long-term debt, total loss-absorbing capacity and margin requirements, restrictions on leveraged lending or other business practices, reporting requirements, requirements relating to recovery and resolution planning, tax burdens and compensation restrictions, that are imposed on a limited subset of financial institutions (whether based on size, method of funding, activities, geography or other criteria), compliance with these new laws or regulations, or changes in the enforcement of existing laws or regulations, could adversely affect our ability to compete effectively with other institutions that are not affected in the same way. In addition, regulation imposed on financial institutions or market participants generally, such as taxes on stock transfers and other financial transactions, could adversely impact levels of market activity more broadly, and thus impact our businesses. Changes to laws or regulations, such as tax laws, could also have a disproportionate impact on us, based on the way those laws or regulations are applied to financial services and financial firms or due to our corporate structure.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 43

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

These developments could impact our profitability in the affected jurisdictions, or even make it uneconomic for us to continue to conduct all or certain of our businesses in those jurisdictions, or could cause us to incur significant costs associated with changing our business practices, restructuring our businesses, moving all or certain of our businesses and our employees to other locations or complying with applicable capital requirements, including reducing dividends or share repurchases, liquidating assets or raising capital in a manner that adversely increases our funding costs or otherwise adversely affects our shareholders and creditors.

U.S. and

non-U.S.

regulatory developments, in particular the Dodd-Frank Act and Basel III, have significantly altered the regulatory framework within which we operate and have adversely affected and may in the future adversely affect our profitability. Among the aspects of the Dodd-Frank Act that have affected or may in the future affect our businesses are: increased capital, liquidity and reporting requirements; limitations on activities in which we may engage; increased regulation of and restrictions on OTC derivatives markets and transactions; limitations on incentive compensation; limitations on affiliate transactions; requirements to reorganize or limit activities in connection with recovery and resolution planning; increased deposit insurance assessments; and increased standards of care for broker-dealers and investment advisers in dealing with clients. The implementation of higher capital requirements, more stringent requirements relating to liquidity, long-term debt and total loss-absorbing capacity and the prohibition on proprietary trading and the sponsorship of, or investment in, covered funds by the Volcker Rule may continue to adversely affect our profitability and competitive position, particularly if these requirements do not apply equally to our competitors or are not implemented uniformly across jurisdictions. We may also become subject to higher and more stringent capital and other regulatory requirements as a result of the implementation of Basel Committee standards, including the new credit and operational risk capital standards published in December 2017 and the new market risk capital standard published in January 2019.

As described in “Business — Regulation — Banking Supervision and Regulation” in Part I, Item 1 of this

Form 10-K,

the SCB has replaced the capital conservation buffer under the Standardized Capital Rules and resulted in higher Standardized capital ratio requirements. Failure to comply with these requirements could limit our ability to, among other things, repurchase shares, pay dividends and make certain discretionary compensation payments. In addition, if, as in 2020, we are required to resubmit our capital plan, we generally may not make capital distributions, such as share repurchases or dividends, without the prior approval of the FRB. Dividends and repurchases are also subject to oversight by the FRB, which can result in limitations. Limitations on our ability to make capital distributions could, among other things, prevent us from returning capital to our shareholders and impact our return on equity. Additionally, as a

G-SIB,

we are subject to the

G-SIB

surcharge. Our

G-SIB

surcharge is updated annually based on financial data from the prior year. Expansion of our businesses, growth in our balance sheet and increased reliance on short-term wholesale funding have resulted in increases and in the future may result in further increases in our

G-SIB

surcharge and a corresponding increase in our capital requirements.

We are also subject to laws and regulations, such as the GDPR and the California Consumer Privacy Act, relating to the privacy of the information of clients, employees or others, and any failure to comply with these laws and regulations could expose us to liability and/or reputational damage. As new privacy-related laws and regulations are implemented, the time and resources needed for us to comply with such laws and regulations, as well as our potential liability for

non-compliance

and reporting obligations in the case of data breaches, may significantly increase.

In addition, our businesses are increasingly subject to laws and regulations relating to surveillance, encryption and data

on-shoring

in the jurisdictions in which we operate. Compliance with these laws and regulations may require us to change our policies, procedures and technology for information security, which could, among other things, make us more vulnerable to cyber attacks and misappropriation, corruption or loss of information or technology.

44 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

We have entered into consumer-oriented deposit-taking, lending and credit card businesses, and we expect to expand the product and geographic scope of our offerings. Entering into these businesses subjects us to numerous additional regulations in the jurisdictions in which these businesses operate. Not only are these regulations extensive, but they involve types of regulations and supervision, as well as regulatory compliance risks, that have not historically applied to us. The level of regulatory scrutiny and the scope of regulations affecting financial interactions with consumers is often much greater than that associated with doing business with institutions and

high-net-worth

individuals. Complying with these regulations is time-consuming, costly and presents new and increased risks.

Increasingly, regulators and courts have sought to hold financial institutions liable for the misconduct of their clients where they have determined that the financial institution should have detected that the client was engaged in wrongdoing, even though the financial institution had no direct knowledge of the activities engaged in by its client. Regulators and courts have also increasingly found liability as a “control person” for activities of entities in which financial institutions or funds controlled by financial institutions have an investment, but which they do not actively manage. In addition, regulators and courts continue to seek to establish “fiduciary” obligations to counterparties to which no such duty had been assumed to exist. To the extent that such efforts are successful, the cost of, and liabilities associated with, engaging in brokerage, clearing, market-making, prime brokerage, investing and other similar activities could increase significantly. To the extent that we have fiduciary obligations in connection with acting as a financial adviser or investment adviser or in other roles for individual, institutional, sovereign or investment fund clients, any breach, or even an alleged breach, of such obligations could have materially negative legal, regulatory and reputational consequences.

For information about the extensive regulation to which our businesses are subject, see “Business — Regulation” in Part I, Item 1 of this

Form 10-K.

A failure to appropriately identify and address potential conflicts of interest could adversely affect our businesses.

Due to the broad scope of our businesses and our client base, we regularly address potential conflicts of interest, including situations where our services to a particular client or our own investments or other interests conflict, or are perceived to conflict, with the interests of that client or another client, as well as situations where one or more of our businesses have access to material

non-public

information that may not be shared with our other businesses and situations where we may be a creditor of an entity with which we also have an advisory or other relationship.

In addition, our status as a BHC subjects us to heightened regulation and increased regulatory scrutiny by the FRB with respect to transactions between GS Bank USA and its subsidiaries and entities that are or could be viewed as affiliates of ours and, under the Volcker Rule, transactions between us and covered funds.

We have extensive procedures and controls that are designed to identify and address conflicts of interest, including those designed to prevent the improper sharing of information among our businesses. However, appropriately identifying and dealing with conflicts of interest is complex and difficult, and our reputation, which is one of our most important assets, could be damaged and the willingness of clients to enter into transactions with us may be adversely affected if we fail, or appear to fail, to identify, disclose and deal appropriately with conflicts of interest. In addition, potential or perceived conflicts could give rise to litigation or regulatory enforcement actions. Additionally, our

One Goldman Sachs

initiative aims to increase collaboration among our businesses, which may increase the potential for actual or perceived conflicts of interest and improper information sharing.

We may be adversely affected by increased governmental and regulatory scrutiny or negative publicity.

Governmental scrutiny from regulators, legislative bodies and law enforcement agencies with respect to matters relating to compensation, our business practices, our past actions and other matters remains at high levels. Political and public sentiment regarding financial institutions has in the past and may in the future result in a significant amount of adverse press coverage, as well as adverse statements or charges by regulators or other government officials. Press coverage and other public statements that assert some form of wrongdoing (including, in some cases, press coverage and public statements that do not directly involve us) often result in some type of investigation by regulators, legislators and law enforcement officials or in lawsuits.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 45

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Responding to these investigations and lawsuits, regardless of the ultimate outcome of the proceeding, is time-consuming and expensive and can divert the time and effort of our senior management from our business. Penalties and fines sought by regulatory authorities have increased substantially and certain regulators have been more likely in recent years to commence enforcement actions or to support legislation targeted at the financial services industry. Governmental authorities may also be more likely to pursue criminal or other actions, including seeking admissions of wrongdoing or guilty pleas, in connection with the resolution of an inquiry or investigation to the extent a company is viewed as having previously engaged in criminal, regulatory or other misconduct. Adverse publicity, governmental scrutiny and legal and enforcement proceedings can also have a negative impact on our reputation and on the morale and performance of our employees, which could adversely affect our businesses and results of operations.

The financial services industry generally and our businesses in particular have been subject to negative publicity. Our reputation and businesses may be adversely affected by negative publicity or information regarding our businesses and personnel, whether or not accurate or true, that may be posted on social media or other internet forums or published by news organizations. Postings on these types of forums may also adversely impact risk positions of our clients and other parties that owe us money, securities or other assets and increase the chance that they will not perform their obligations to us or reduce the revenues we receive from their use of our services. The speed and pervasiveness with which information can be disseminated through these channels, in particular social media, may magnify risks relating to negative publicity.

Substantial civil or criminal liability or significant regulatory action against us could have material adverse financial effects or cause us significant reputational harm, which in turn could seriously harm our business prospects.

We face significant legal risks in our businesses, and the volume of claims and amount of damages and penalties claimed in litigation and regulatory proceedings against financial institutions remain high. See Notes 18 and 27 to the consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this

Form 10-K

for information about certain of our legal and regulatory proceedings and investigations. We have seen legal claims by consumers and clients increase in a market downturn and employment-related claims increase following periods in which we have reduced our headcount. Additionally, governmental entities have been plaintiffs and are parties in certain of our legal proceedings, and we may face future civil or criminal actions or claims by the same or other governmental entities, as well as

follow-on

civil litigation that is often commenced after regulatory settlements.

Significant settlements by several large financial institutions, including, in some cases, us, with governmental entities have been publicly announced. The trend of large settlements with governmental entities may adversely affect the outcomes for other financial institutions in similar actions, especially where governmental officials have announced that the large settlements will be used as the basis or a template for other settlements. The uncertain regulatory enforcement environment makes it difficult to estimate probable losses, which can lead to substantial disparities between legal reserves and subsequent actual settlements or penalties.

Claims of collusion or anti-competitive conduct have become more common. Civil cases have been brought against financial institutions (including us) alleging

bid-rigging,

group boycotts or other anti-competitive practices. Antitrust laws generally provide for joint and several liability and treble damages. These claims have resulted in significant settlements in the past and may do so in the future.

We are subject to laws and regulations worldwide, including the FCPA and the U.K. Bribery Act, relating to corrupt and illegal payments to, and hiring practices with regard to, government officials and others. Violation of these or similar laws and regulations have in the past resulted in and could in the future result in significant monetary penalties. Such violations could also result in severe restrictions on our activities and damage to our reputation.

Certain law enforcement authorities have recently required admissions of wrongdoing, and, in some cases, criminal pleas, as part of the resolutions of matters brought against financial institutions or their employees. See for example, “1MDB-Related Matters” in Note 27 to the consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this

Form 10-K.

Any such resolution of a criminal matter involving us or our employees could lead to increased exposure to civil litigation, could adversely affect our reputation, could result in penalties or limitations on our ability to conduct our activities generally or in certain circumstances and could have other negative effects. Further, as a result of the 1MDB settlement, we are no longer a “well-known seasoned issuer,” which places limitations on the manner in which we can market our securities.

46 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

In conducting our businesses around the world, we are subject to political, legal, regulatory and other risks that are inherent in operating in many countries.

In conducting our businesses and supporting our global operations, we are subject to risks of possible nationalization, expropriation, price controls, capital controls, exchange controls, communications and other content restrictions, and other restrictive governmental actions. For example, sanctions have been imposed by the U.S. and the E.U. on certain individuals and companies in Russia and Venezuela. In many countries, the laws and regulations applicable to the securities and financial services industries and many of the transactions in which we are involved are uncertain and evolving, and it may be difficult for us to determine the exact requirements of local laws in every market. We have been in some cases subject to divergent and conflicting laws and regulations across markets, and we are increasingly subject to the risk that the jurisdictions in which we operate may implement laws and regulations that directly conflict with those of another jurisdiction. Any determination by local regulators that we have not acted in compliance with the application of local laws in a particular market or our failure to develop effective working relationships with local regulators could have a significant and negative effect not only on our businesses in that market, but also on our reputation generally. Further, in some jurisdictions a failure, or alleged failure, to comply with laws and regulations has subjected and may in the future subject us and our personnel not only to civil actions, but also criminal actions and other sanctions. We are also subject to the enhanced risk that transactions we structure might not be legally enforceable in all cases.

While business and other practices throughout the world differ, our principal entities are subject in their operations worldwide to rules and regulations relating to corrupt and illegal payments, hiring practices and money laundering, as well as laws relating to doing business with certain individuals, groups and countries, such as the FCPA, the BSA and the U.K. Bribery Act. While we have invested and continue to invest significant resources in training and in compliance monitoring, the geographical diversity of our operations, employees, clients and consumers, as well as the vendors and other third parties that we deal with, greatly increases the risk that we may be found in violation of such rules or regulations and any such violation could subject us to significant penalties or adversely affect our reputation. See for example, “1MDB-Related Matters” in Note 27 to the consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this

Form 10-K.

In addition, there have been a number of highly publicized cases around the world, involving actual or alleged fraud or other misconduct by employees in the financial services industry, and we have had and may in the future have employee misconduct. This misconduct has included and may also in the future include intentional efforts to ignore or circumvent applicable policies, rules or procedures or misappropriation of funds and the theft of proprietary information, including proprietary software. It is not always possible to deter or prevent employee misconduct and the precautions we take to prevent and detect this activity have not been and may not be effective in all cases, as reflected by the settlements relating to 1MDB.

The application of regulatory strategies and requirements in the U.S. and

non-U.S.

jurisdictions to facilitate the orderly resolution of large financial institutions could create greater risk of loss for Group Inc.’s security holders.

As described in “Business — Regulation — Banking Supervision and Regulation — Insolvency of an IDI or a BHC,” if the FDIC is appointed as receiver under OLA, the rights of Group Inc.’s creditors would be determined under OLA, and substantial differences exist in the rights of creditors between OLA and the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, including the right of the FDIC under OLA to disregard the strict priority of creditor claims in some circumstances, which could have a material adverse effect on our debtholders.

The FDIC has announced that a single point of entry strategy may be a desirable strategy under OLA to resolve a large financial institution in a manner that would, among other things, impose losses on shareholders, debtholders and other creditors of the

top-tier

BHC (in our case, Group Inc.), while the BHC’s subsidiaries may continue to operate. It is possible that the application of the single point of entry strategy under OLA, in which Group Inc. would be the only entity to enter resolution proceedings (and its material broker-dealer, bank and other operating entities would not enter resolution proceedings), would result in greater losses to Group Inc.’s security holders (including holders of our fixed rate, floating rate and indexed debt securities), than the losses that would result from the application of a bankruptcy proceeding or a different resolution strategy, such as a multiple point of entry resolution strategy for Group Inc. and certain of its material subsidiaries.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 47

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Assuming Group Inc. entered resolution proceedings and that support from Group Inc. or other available resources to its subsidiaries was sufficient to enable the subsidiaries to remain solvent, losses at the subsidiary level would be transferred to Group Inc. and ultimately borne by Group Inc.’s security holders, third-party creditors of Group Inc.’s subsidiaries would receive full recoveries on their claims, and Group Inc.’s security holders (including our shareholders, debtholders and other unsecured creditors) could face significant and possibly complete losses. In that case, Group Inc.’s security holders would face losses while the third-party creditors of Group Inc.’s subsidiaries would incur no losses because the subsidiaries would continue to operate and would not enter resolution or bankruptcy proceedings. In addition, holders of Group Inc.’s eligible long-term debt and holders of Group Inc.’s other debt securities could face losses ahead of its other similarly situated creditors in a resolution under OLA if the FDIC exercised its right, described above, to disregard the priority of creditor claims.

OLA also provides the FDIC with authority to cause creditors and shareholders of the financial company in receivership to bear losses before taxpayers are exposed to such losses, and amounts owed to the U.S. government would generally receive a statutory payment priority over the claims of private creditors, including senior creditors.

In addition, under OLA, claims of creditors (including debtholders) could be satisfied through the issuance of equity or other securities in a bridge entity to which Group Inc.’s assets are transferred. If such a

securities-for-claims

exchange were implemented, there can be no assurance that the value of the securities of the bridge entity would be sufficient to repay or satisfy all or any part of the creditor claims for which the securities were exchanged. While the FDIC has issued regulations to implement OLA, not all aspects of how the FDIC might exercise this authority are known and additional rulemaking is possible.

In addition, certain jurisdictions, including the U.K. and the E.U., have implemented resolution regimes to provide resolution authorities with the ability to recapitalize a failing entity by writing down its unsecured debt or converting its unsecured debt into equity. Such

“bail-in”

powers are intended to enable the recapitalization of a failing institution by allocating losses to its shareholders and unsecured debtholders. For example, the Bank of England requires a certain amount of intercompany funding that we provide to our material U.K. subsidiaries to contain a contractual trigger to expressly permit the Bank of England to exercise such

“bail-in”

powers in certain circumstances. If the intercompany funding we provide to our subsidiaries is “bailed in,” Group Inc.’s claims on its subsidiaries would be subordinated to the claims of the subsidiaries’ third-party creditors or written down. U.S. regulators are considering and

non-U.S.

authorities have adopted requirements that certain subsidiaries of large financial institutions maintain minimum amounts of total loss-absorbing capacity that would pass losses up from the subsidiaries to the

top-tier

BHC and, ultimately, to security holders of the

top-tier

BHC in the event of failure.

The application of Group Inc.’s proposed resolution strategy could result in greater losses for Group Inc.’s security holders.

In our resolution plan, Group Inc. would be resolved under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. The strategy described in our resolution plan is a variant of the single point of entry strategy: Group Inc. and Goldman Sachs Funding LLC (Funding IHC), a wholly-owned, direct subsidiary of Group Inc., would recapitalize and provide liquidity to certain major subsidiaries, including through the forgiveness of intercompany indebtedness, the extension of the maturities of intercompany indebtedness and the extension of additional intercompany loans. If this strategy were successful, creditors of some or all of Group Inc.’s major subsidiaries would receive full recoveries on their claims, while Group Inc.’s security holders could face significant and possibly complete losses.

To facilitate the execution of our resolution plan, we formed Funding IHC. In exchange for an unsecured subordinated funding note and equity interest, Group Inc. transferred certain intercompany receivables and substantially all of its GCLA to Funding IHC, and agreed to transfer additional GCLA above prescribed thresholds.

48 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

We also put in place a Capital and Liquidity Support Agreement (CLSA) among Group Inc., Funding IHC and our major subsidiaries. Under the CLSA, Funding IHC has provided Group Inc. with a committed line of credit that allows Group Inc. to draw sufficient funds to meet its cash needs during the ordinary course of business. In addition, if our financial resources deteriorate so severely that resolution may be imminent, (i) the committed line of credit will automatically terminate and the unsecured subordinated funding note will automatically be forgiven, (ii) all intercompany receivables owed by the major subsidiaries to Group Inc. will be transferred to Funding IHC or their maturities will be extended to five years, (iii) Group Inc. will be obligated to transfer substantially all of its remaining intercompany receivables and GCLA (other than an amount to fund anticipated bankruptcy expenses) to Funding IHC, and (iv) Funding IHC will be obligated to provide capital and liquidity support to the major subsidiaries. Group Inc.’s and Funding IHC’s obligations under the CLSA are secured pursuant to a related security agreement. Such actions would materially and adversely affect Group Inc.’s liquidity. As a result, during a period of severe stress, Group Inc. might commence bankruptcy proceedings at an earlier time than it otherwise would if the CLSA and related security agreement had not been implemented.

If Group Inc.’s proposed resolution strategy were successful, Group Inc.’s security holders could face losses while the third-party creditors of Group Inc.’s major subsidiaries would incur no losses because those subsidiaries would continue to operate and not enter resolution or bankruptcy proceedings. As part of the strategy, Group Inc. could also seek to elevate the priority of its guarantee obligations relating to its major subsidiaries’ derivative contracts or transfer them to another entity so that cross-default and early termination rights would be stayed under the ISDA Protocols, as applicable, which would result in holders of Group Inc.’s eligible long-term debt and holders of Group Inc.’s other debt securities incurring losses ahead of the beneficiaries of those guarantee obligations. It is also possible that holders of Group Inc.’s eligible long-term debt and other debt securities could incur losses ahead of other similarly situated creditors of Group Inc.’s major subsidiaries.

If Group Inc.’s proposed resolution strategy were not successful, Group Inc.’s financial condition would be adversely impacted and Group Inc.’s security holders, including debtholders, may as a consequence be in a worse position than if the strategy had not been implemented. In all cases, any payments to debtholders are dependent on our ability to make such payments and are therefore subject to our credit risk.

As a result of our recovery and resolution planning processes, including incorporating feedback from our regulators, we may incur increased operational, funding or other costs and face limitations on our ability to structure our internal organization or engage in internal or external activities in a manner that we may otherwise deem most operationally efficient.

Our commodities activities, particularly our physical commodities activities, subject us to extensive regulation and involve certain potential risks, including environmental, reputational and other risks that may expose us to significant liabilities and costs.

As part of our commodities business, we purchase and sell certain physical commodities, arrange for their storage and transport, and engage in market making of commodities. The commodities involved in these activities may include crude oil, refined oil products, natural gas, liquefied natural gas, electric power, agricultural products, metals (base and precious), minerals (including unenriched uranium), emission credits, coal, freight and related products and indices.

We make investments in and finance entities that engage in the production, storage and transportation of numerous commodities, including many of the commodities referenced above.

These activities subject us and/or the entities in which we invest to extensive and evolving federal, state and local energy, environmental, antitrust and other governmental laws and regulations worldwide, including environmental laws and regulations relating to, among others, air quality, water quality, waste management, transportation of hazardous substances, natural resources, site remediation and health and safety. Additionally, rising climate change concerns have led to additional regulation that could increase the operating costs and adversely affect the profitability of certain of our investments.

There may be substantial costs in complying with current or future laws and regulations relating to our commodities-related activities and investments. Compliance with these laws and regulations could require significant commitments of capital toward environmental monitoring, renovation of storage facilities or transport vessels, payment of emission fees and carbon or other taxes, and application for, and holding of, permits and licenses.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 49

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Commodities involved in our intermediation activities and investments are also subject to the risk of unforeseen or catastrophic events, which are likely to be outside of our control, including those arising from the breakdown or failure of transport vessels, storage facilities or other equipment or processes or other mechanical malfunctions, fires, leaks, spills or release of hazardous substances, performance below expected levels of output or efficiency, terrorist attacks, extreme weather events or other natural disasters or other hostile or catastrophic events. In addition, we rely on third-party suppliers or service providers to perform their contractual obligations and any failure on their part, including the failure to obtain raw materials at reasonable prices or to safely transport or store commodities, could expose us to costs or losses. Also, while we seek to insure against potential risks, we may not be able to obtain insurance to cover some of these risks and the insurance that we have may be inadequate to cover our losses.

The occurrence of any of such events may prevent us from performing under our agreements with clients, may impair our operations or financial results and may result in litigation, regulatory action, negative publicity or other reputational harm.

We may also be required to divest or discontinue certain of these activities for regulatory or legal reasons or due to the transition to a less carbon-dependent economy in response to climate change.

Competition

Our results have been and may in the future be adversely affected by the composition of our client base.

Our client base is not the same as that of our major competitors. Our businesses may have a higher or lower percentage of clients in certain industries or markets than some or all of our competitors. Therefore, unfavorable industry developments or market conditions affecting certain industries or markets have resulted in the past and may result in the future in our businesses underperforming relative to similar businesses of a competitor if our businesses have a higher concentration of clients in such industries or markets. For example, our market-making businesses have a higher percentage of clients with actively managed assets than some of our competitors and such clients have in the past and may in the future be disproportionately affected by low volatility.

Correspondingly, favorable or simply less adverse developments or market conditions involving industries or markets in a business where we have a lower concentration of clients in such industry or market have also resulted in the past and may result in the future in our underperforming relative to a similar business of a competitor that has a higher concentration of clients in such industry or market. For example, we have a smaller corporate client base in our market-making businesses than some of our peers and therefore those competitors may benefit more from increased activity by corporate clients. Similarly, we have not historically engaged in retail equities intermediation to the same extent as other financial institutions, which has in the past and could in the future adversely affect our market share in equities execution.

The financial services industry is highly competitive.

The financial services industry and all of our businesses are intensely competitive, and we expect them to remain so. We compete on the basis of a number of factors, including transaction execution, our products and services, innovation, reputation, creditworthiness and price. There has been substantial consolidation and convergence among companies in the financial services industry. This has hastened the globalization of the securities and other financial services markets. As a result, we have had to commit capital to support our international operations and to execute large global transactions. To the extent we expand into new business areas and new geographic regions, we will face competitors with more experience and more established relationships with clients, regulators and industry participants in the relevant market, which could adversely affect our ability to expand.

Governments and regulators have adopted regulations, imposed taxes, adopted compensation restrictions or otherwise put forward various proposals that have impacted or may impact our ability to conduct certain of our businesses in a cost-effective manner or at all in certain or all jurisdictions, including proposals relating to restrictions on the type of activities in which financial institutions are permitted to engage. These or other similar rules, many of which do not apply to all our U.S. or

non-U.S.

competitors, could impact our ability to compete effectively.

Pricing and other competitive pressures in our businesses have continued to increase, particularly in situations where some of our competitors may seek to increase market share by reducing prices. For example, in connection with investment banking and other assignments, in response to competitive pressure we have experienced, we have extended and priced credit at levels that may not always fully compensate us for the risks we take.

50 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

The financial services industry is highly interrelated in that a significant volume of transactions occur among a limited number of members of that industry. Many transactions are syndicated to other financial institutions and financial institutions are often counterparties in transactions. This has led to claims by other market participants and regulators that such institutions have colluded in order to manipulate markets or market prices, including allegations that antitrust laws have been violated. While we have extensive procedures and controls that are designed to identify and prevent such activities, allegations of such activities, particularly by regulators, can have a negative reputational impact and can subject us to large fines and settlements, and potentially significant penalties, including treble damages.

The growth of electronic trading and the introduction of new products and technologies, including trading technologies and cryptocurrencies, has increased competition.

Technology is fundamental to our business and our industry. The growth of electronic trading and the introduction of new technologies is changing our businesses and presenting us with new challenges. Securities, futures and options transactions are increasingly occurring electronically, both on our own systems and through other alternative trading systems, and it appears that the trend toward alternative trading systems will continue. Some of these alternative trading systems compete with us, particularly our exchange-based market-making activities, and we may experience continued competitive pressures in these and other areas. In addition, the increased use by our clients of

low-cost

electronic trading systems and direct electronic access to trading markets could cause a reduction in commissions and spreads. As our clients increasingly use our systems to trade directly in the markets, we may incur liabilities as a result of their use of our order routing and execution infrastructure.

We have invested significant resources into the development of electronic trading systems and expect to continue to do so, but there is no assurance that the revenues generated by these systems will yield an adequate return, particularly given the generally lower commissions arising from electronic trades.

In addition, the emergence, adoption and evolution of new technologies, including distributed ledgers, such as cryptocurrencies and blockchain, have required us to invest resources to adapt our existing products and services, and we expect to continue to make such investments, which could be material. The adoption and evolution of such new technologies may also increase our compliance and regulatory costs. Further, technologies, such as cryptocurrencies, that do not require intermediation could also significantly disrupt payments processing and other financial services. Regulatory limitations on our involvement in products and platforms involving technologies such as cryptocurrencies may not apply equally or in some cases at all to certain of our competitors. We may not be as timely or successful in developing or integrating, or even able to develop or integrate, new products and technologies, such as cryptocurrencies, into our existing products and services, adapting to changes in consumer preferences or achieving market acceptance of our products and services, any of which could affect our ability to attract or retain clients, cause us to lose market share or result in service disruptions and in turn reduce our revenues or otherwise adversely affect us.

Our businesses would be adversely affected if we are unable to hire and retain qualified employees.

Our performance is largely dependent on the talents and efforts of highly skilled people; therefore, our continued ability to compete effectively in our businesses, to manage our businesses effectively and to expand into new businesses and geographic areas depends on our ability to attract new talented and diverse employees and to retain and motivate our existing employees. Factors that affect our ability to attract and retain such employees include the level and composition of our compensation and benefits, and our reputation as a successful business with a culture of fairly hiring, training and promoting qualified employees. As a significant portion of the compensation that we pay to our employees is in the form of

year-end

discretionary compensation, a significant portion of which is in the form of deferred equity-related awards, declines in our profitability, or in the outlook for our future profitability, as well as regulatory limitations on compensation levels and terms, can negatively impact our ability to hire and retain highly qualified employees.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 51

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Competition from within the financial services industry and from businesses outside the financial services industry, including the technology industry, for qualified employees has often been intense. We have experienced increased competition in hiring and retaining employees to address the demands of, expanding consumer-oriented businesses and our technology initiatives. This is also the case in emerging and growth markets, where we are often competing for qualified employees with entities that have a significantly greater presence or more extensive experience in the region.

Changes in law or regulation in jurisdictions in which our operations are located that affect taxes on our employees’ income, or the amount or composition of compensation, may also adversely affect our ability to hire and retain qualified employees in those jurisdictions.

As described further in “Business — Regulation — Compensation Practices” in Part I, Item 1 of this

Form 10-K,

our compensation practices are subject to review by, and the standards of, the FRB. As a large global financial and banking institution, we are subject to limitations on compensation practices (which may or may not affect the companies with which we compete for talent) by the FRB, the PRA, the FCA, the FDIC and other regulators worldwide. These limitations have shaped our compensation practices, which has in some cases adversely affected our ability to attract and retain talented employees, in particular in relation to companies not subject to these limitations, and future legislation or regulation may have similar adverse effects.

Our operating expenses and efficiency ratio depend, in part, on our overall headcount and the proportion of our employees located in strategic locations. Our future human capital resource requirements and the benefits provided by strategic locations are uncertain, and we may not realize the benefits we anticipate.

Market Developments and General Business Environment

Our businesses, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations have been and may in the future be adversely affected by the

COVID-19

pandemic.

The

COVID-19

pandemic created economic and financial disruptions that have in the past adversely affected and may in the future adversely affect our business, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations. The extent to which the

COVID-19

pandemic will negatively affect our businesses, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations will depend on future developments, including the emergence of new variants of

COVID-19

and the effectiveness of vaccines and treatments over the long term and against new variants, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted.

While financial markets have rebounded from the significant declines that occurred early in the pandemic and global economic conditions generally improved in 2021, certain of the circumstances that arose or became more pronounced after the onset of the

COVID-19

pandemic persisted in 2021, including (i) relatively weak consumer confidence; (ii) low levels of the federal funds rate and yields on U.S. Treasury securities which, at times, were near zero; (iii) ongoing heightened credit risk with regard to industries that have been most severely impacted by the pandemic, including, at times, oil and gas, gaming and lodging, and airlines; (iv) significant interest at times by investors in liquidity products, which generate lower fees, relative to risk assets, resulting in these products comprising a higher share of AUS as compared to the

pre-pandemic

composition; (v) higher cyber security, information security and operational risks; and (vi) interruptions in the supply chain that have adversely affected many businesses and have contributed to higher rates of inflation.

52 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Depending on the duration and severity of the pandemic going forward, as well as the effects of the pandemic on consumer and corporate confidence, the conditions noted above could continue for an extended period and other adverse developments may occur or reoccur, including (i) a repeat, or worse, of the decline in the valuation of equity, fixed-income and commodity markets that occurred at the outset of the pandemic; (ii) market dislocations that may make hedging strategies less effective or ineffective; (iii) a reduction in fees on AUS due to declines in the valuation of assets or a protracted trend toward asset classes that generate lower fees; (iv) disruption in the new issuance markets for debt and equity, leading to a decline in underwriting volumes; (v) declines in completed mergers and acquisitions; (vi) a deterioration in the liquidity profile of corporate borrowers, resulting in additional draws on credit lines; (vii) defaults by consumers or corporate clients on loans; (viii) changes in consumer spending or borrowing patterns; and (ix) greater challenges in valuing derivative positions and associated collateral, leading to significant increases in collateral calls and valuation disputes.

The effects of the

COVID-19

pandemic on economic and market conditions have in the past and may in the future also increase demands on our liquidity as we meet client needs. Likewise, these adverse developments have in the past and may in the future affect our capital and leverage ratios. The effects of the

COVID-19

pandemic and FRB requirements have in the past limited and may in the future limit capital distributions.

Governmental authorities worldwide have taken increased measures to stabilize the markets and support economic growth. The continued success of these measures is unknown and they may not be sufficient to address future market dislocations or avert severe and prolonged reductions in economic activity.

Certain of our businesses, our funding instruments and financial products may be adversely affected by changes in or the discontinuance of Interbank Offered Rates (IBORs), in particular LIBOR.

The FCA and the administrator of LIBOR have announced that the publication of the most commonly used USD LIBOR settings will cease to be provided or cease to be representative after June 30, 2023. The publication of all other LIBOR settings ceased to be provided or ceased to be representative as of December 31, 2021. The U.S. federal banking agencies had also issued guidance strongly encouraging banking organizations to cease using the USD LIBOR as a reference rate in new contracts by December 31, 2021 at the latest. As the transition from LIBOR is ongoing, there continues to be substantial uncertainty as to the ultimate effect of the transition on the financial markets for LIBOR-linked financial instruments. Similar developments have occurred with respect to other IBORs.

Uncertainty regarding IBORs and the taking of discretionary actions or negotiation or implementation of fallback provisions could result in pricing volatility, loss of market share in certain products, adverse tax or accounting impacts, compliance, legal and operational costs and risks associated with client disclosures, as well as systems disruption, model disruption and other business continuity issues. In addition, uncertainty relating to IBORs could result in increased capital requirements for us given potential low transaction volumes, a lack of liquidity or limited observability for exposures linked to IBORs or any emerging successor rates and operational incidents associated with changes in and the discontinuance of IBORs.

The language in our contracts and financial instruments that define IBORs, in particular LIBOR, have developed over time and have various events that trigger when a successor rate to the designated rate would be selected. Once a trigger is satisfied, contracts and financial instruments often give the calculation agent (which may be us) discretion over the successor rate or benchmark to be selected. As a result, for the most commonly used USD LIBOR settings, there continues to be considerable uncertainty as to how the financial services industry will address the discontinuance of designated rates in contracts and financial instruments or such designated rates ceasing to be acceptable reference rates. This uncertainty could ultimately result in client disputes and litigation surrounding the proper interpretation of our IBOR-based contracts and financial instruments. For LIBOR settings that ceased to be provided or ceased to be representative as of December 2021, discretionary actions taken in connection with the implementation of fallback provisions could also result in client disputes and litigation particularly for derivatives and other synthetic instruments. Although we have adhered to the ISDA IBOR Fallbacks Protocol, the protocol is applicable to derivatives when both parties adhere to the protocol or otherwise agree for it to apply to their derivatives.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 53

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Further, the discontinuation of an IBOR, changes in an IBOR or changes in market acceptance of any IBOR as a reference rate may also adversely affect the yield on loans or securities held by us, amounts paid on securities we have issued, amounts received and paid on derivative instruments we have entered into, the value of such loans, securities or derivative instruments, the trading market for securities, the terms of new loans being made using different or modified reference rates, our ability to effectively use derivative instruments to manage risk, or the availability or cost of our floating-rate funding and our exposure to fluctuations in interest rates.

Certain of our businesses and our funding instruments may be adversely affected by changes in other reference rates, currencies, indexes, baskets or ETFs to which products we offer or funding that we raise are linked.

Many of the products that we own or that we offer, such as structured notes, warrants, swaps or security-based swaps, pay interest or determine the principal amount to be paid at maturity or in the event of default by reference to rates or by reference to an index, currency, basket, ETF or other financial metric (the underlier). In the event that the composition of the underlier is significantly changed, by reference to rules governing such underlier or otherwise, the underlier ceases to exist (for example, in the event that a country withdraws from the Euro or links its currency to or delinks its currency from another currency or benchmark, an index or ETF sponsor materially alters the composition of an index or ETF, or stocks in a basket are delisted or become impermissible to be included in the index or ETF), the underlier ceases to be recognized as an acceptable market benchmark or there are legal or regulatory constraints on linking a financial instrument to the underlier, we may experience adverse effects consistent with those described above for IBORs.

We face enhanced risks as new business initiatives and acquisitions lead us to engage in new activities, operate in new locations, transact with a broader array of clients and counterparties and expose us to new asset classes and new markets.

A number of our recent and planned business initiatives and expansions of existing businesses, including through acquisitions and partnership arrangements, may bring us into contact, directly or indirectly, with individuals and entities that are not within our traditional client and counterparty base, expose us to new asset classes and new markets, and present us with integration challenges. For example, we continue to transact business and invest in new regions, including a wide range of emerging and growth markets, and we expect this trend to continue. Various emerging and growth market countries have experienced severe economic and financial disruptions, including significant devaluations of their currencies, defaults or threatened defaults on sovereign debt, capital and currency exchange controls, and low or negative growth rates in their economies. The possible effects of any of these conditions include an adverse impact on our businesses and increased volatility in financial markets generally.

Furthermore, in a number of our businesses, including where we make markets, invest and lend, we own interests in, or otherwise become affiliated with the ownership and operation of, public services, such as airports, toll roads and shipping ports, as well as physical commodities and commodities infrastructure components, both within and outside the U.S.

We have increased and intend to further increase our consumer-oriented deposit-taking and lending activities. For example, we now issue credit cards to consumers and through our pending acquisition of GreenSky, we intend to expand our offering of

point-of-sale

financing. To the extent we engage in those and other consumer-oriented activities, we have faced, and would continue to face, additional compliance, legal and regulatory risk, increased reputational risk and increased operational risk due to, among other things, higher transaction volumes and significantly increased retention and transmission of consumer and client information. Acquisitions and new products can also expose us to new or different types of risks. For example, providing

point-of-sale

financing through GreenSky will also subject us to risks relating to retaining and attracting merchants and servicing loans for other banks, as well as potential liability for remediation costs if merchants fail to fulfill their obligations to consumers. We are also subject to additional legal requirements, including with respect to suitability and consumer protection (for example, Regulation Best Interest, fair lending laws and regulations and privacy laws and regulations). Further, identity fraud may increase and credit reporting practices may change in a manner that makes it more difficult for financial institutions, such as us, to evaluate the creditworthiness of consumers.

54 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

We have increased and intend to further increase our transaction banking activities. As a result, we expect to face additional compliance, legal and regulatory risk, including with respect to know-your-customer, anti-money laundering and reporting requirements and prohibitions on transfers of property belonging to countries, entities and individuals subject to sanctions by U.S. or other governmental authorities.

New business initiatives expose us to new and enhanced risks, including risks associated with dealing with governmental entities, reputational concerns arising from dealing with different types of clients, business partners, counterparties and investors, greater regulatory scrutiny of these activities, increased credit-related, market, sovereign and operational risks, risks arising from accidents or acts of terrorism, and reputational concerns with the manner in which certain assets are being operated or held or in which we interact with these clients, business partners, counterparties and investors. Legal, regulatory and reputational risks may also exist in connection with activities and transactions involving new products or markets where there is regulatory uncertainty or where there are different or conflicting regulations depending on the regulator or the jurisdiction involved, particularly where transactions in such products may involve multiple jurisdictions.

We have developed and pursued new business and strategic initiatives, including acquisitions, and expect to continue to do so. If and to the extent we are unable to successfully execute those initiatives, we may incur unanticipated costs and losses, and face other adverse consequences, such as negative reputational effects. In addition, the actual effects of pursuing those initiatives may differ, possibly materially, from the benefits that we expect to realize from them, such as generating additional revenues, achieving expense savings, reducing operational risk exposures or using capital and funding more efficiently. Engaging in new activities exposes us to a variety of risks, including that we may be unable to successfully develop new, competitive, efficient and effective systems and processes, and hire and retain the necessary personnel. Due to our lack of historical experience with unsecured consumer lending, our loan loss assumptions may prove to be incorrect and we may incur losses significantly above those which we originally anticipated in entering the business or in expanding the product offerings for the business.

In recent years, we have invested, and may continue to invest, more in businesses that we expect will generate a higher level of more consistent revenues. In order to develop and be able to offer consumer financial products that compete effectively, we have made and expect to continue to make significant investments in technology and human capital resources in connection with our consumer-oriented activities. Such investments and acquisitions may not be successful or have returns similar to our other businesses.

We may not be able to fully realize the expected benefits or synergies from acquisitions in the time frames we expect, or at all.

We have been engaging in selective acquisitions and expect to continue to do so in the future and these acquisitions may, individually or in the aggregate, be material to us. Any future acquisitions could involve the issuance of common stock and/or the payment of cash as consideration. The success of our acquisitions will depend, in part, on our ability to integrate the acquired businesses and realize anticipated synergies, cost savings and growth opportunities. We may face numerous risks and uncertainties in combining and integrating the relevant businesses and systems, including the need to combine or separate accounting and data processing systems and management controls and to integrate relationships with clients, counterparties, regulators and others in connection with acquisitions. Integration of acquired businesses is

time-consuming

and could disrupt our ongoing businesses, produce unforeseen regulatory or operating difficulties, cause us to incur incremental expenses or require incremental financial, management and other resources. It is also possible that an acquisition, once announced, may not close due to the failure to satisfy applicable closing conditions, such as the receipt of necessary shareholder or regulatory approvals.

There is no assurance that any of our acquisitions will be successfully integrated or yield all of the expected positive benefits and synergies in the time frames that we expect, or at all. If we are not able to integrate our acquisitions successfully, our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows could be adversely affected.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 55

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Item 1B.    Unresolved Staff Comments

There are no material unresolved written comments that were received from the SEC staff 180 days or more before the end of our fiscal year relating to our periodic or current reports under the Exchange Act.

Item 2.    Properties

In the U.S. and elsewhere in the Americas, we have offices consisting of approximately 6.6 million square feet of leased and owned space. Our principal executive offices are located at 200 West Street, New York, New York and consist of approximately 2.1 million square feet. The building is located on a parcel leased from Battery Park City Authority pursuant to a ground lease. Under the lease, Battery Park City Authority holds title to all improvements, including the office building, subject to our right of exclusive possession and use until June 2069, the expiration date of the lease. Under the terms of the ground lease, we made a lump sum ground rent payment in June 2007 of $161 million for rent through the term of the lease.

In Europe, the Middle East and Africa, we have offices consisting of approximately 1.6 million square feet of leased and owned space. Our European headquarters is located in London at Plumtree Court, consisting of approximately 826,000 square feet under a lease which can be terminated in 2039.

In Asia, Australia and New Zealand, we have offices consisting of approximately 2.6 million square feet, including our offices in India, and regional headquarters in Tokyo and Hong Kong. In India, we have offices with approximately 1.6 million square feet, the majority of which have leases that will expire in 2028.

In the preceding paragraphs, square footage figures are provided only for properties that are used in the operation of our businesses. We regularly evaluate our space capacity in relation to current and projected headcount. We may incur exit costs in the future if we (i) reduce our space capacity or (ii) commit to, or occupy, new properties in locations in which we operate and dispose of existing space that had been held for potential growth. These costs may be material to our operating results in a given period.

Item 3.    Legal Proceedings

We are involved in a number of judicial, regulatory and arbitration proceedings concerning matters arising in connection with the conduct of our businesses. Many of these proceedings are in early stages, and many of these cases seek an indeterminate amount of damages. We have estimated the upper end of the range of reasonably possible aggregate loss for matters where we have been able to estimate a range and we believe, based on currently available information, that the results of matters where we have not been able to estimate a range of reasonably possible loss, in the aggregate, will not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, but may be material to our operating results in a given period. Given the range of litigation and investigations presently under way, our litigation expenses may remain high. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Use of Estimates” in Part II, Item 7 of this

Form 10-K.

See Notes 18 and 27 to the consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this

Form 10-K

for information about our reasonably possible aggregate loss estimate and judicial, regulatory and legal proceedings.

Item 4.    Mine Safety Disclosures

Not applicable.

56 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

PART II

Item 5.    Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

The principal market on which our common stock is traded is the NYSE under the symbol “GS.” Information relating to the performance of our common stock from December 31, 2016 through December 31, 2021 is set forth in “Supplemental Financial Information — Common Stock Performance” in Part II, Item 8 of this

Form 10-K.

As of February 11, 2022, there were 5,963 holders of record of our common stock.

The table below presents purchases made by or on behalf of Group Inc. or any “affiliated purchaser” (as defined in

Rule 10b-18(a)(3)

under the Exchange Act) of our common stock during the fourth quarter of 2021.

	Total Shares Purchased	Average Price Paid Per Share	Total Shares Purchased as Part of a Publicly Announced Program	Maximum Shares That May Yet Be Purchased Under the Program
October	1,214,611	$411.65	1,214,611	34,390,960
November	–	–	–	34,390,960
December	–	–	–	34,390,960
Total	1,214,611		1,214,611

Since March 2000, our Board has approved a repurchase program authorizing repurchases of up to 605 million shares of our common stock. The repurchase program is effected primarily through regular open-market purchases (which may include repurchase plans designed to comply with

Rule 10b5-1

and accelerated share repurchases), the amounts and timing of which are determined primarily by our current and projected capital position, but which may also be influenced by general market conditions and the prevailing price and trading volumes of our common stock. The repurchase program has no set expiration or termination date.

Information relating to compensation plans under which our equity securities are authorized for issuance is presented in Part III, Item 12 of this

Form 10-K.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 57

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

Item 7.    Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Introduction

The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (Group Inc. or parent company), a Delaware corporation, together with its consolidated subsidiaries, is a leading global financial institution that delivers a broad range of financial services across investment banking, securities, investment management and consumer banking to a large and diversified client base that includes corporations, financial institutions, governments and individuals. Founded in 1869, we are headquartered in New York and maintain offices in all major financial centers around the world. We report our activities in four business segments: Investment Banking, Global Markets, Asset Management, and Consumer & Wealth Management. See “Results of Operations” for further information about our business segments.

When we use the terms “we,” “us” and “our,” we mean Group Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries. When we use the term “our subsidiaries,” we mean the consolidated subsidiaries of Group Inc. References to “this

Form 10-K”

are to our Annual Report on

Form 10-K

for the year ended December 31, 2021. All references to “the consolidated financial statements” or “Supplemental Financial Information” are to Part II, Item 8 of this

Form 10-K.

All references to 2021, 2020 and 2019 refer to our years ended, or the dates, as the context requires, December 31, 2021, December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively. Any reference to a future year refers to a year ending on December 31 of that year.

Group Inc. is a bank holding company (BHC) and a financial holding company regulated by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (FRB).

In this discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations, we have included information that may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are not historical facts or statements of current conditions, but instead represent only our beliefs regarding future events, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside our control.

By identifying these statements for you in this manner, we are alerting you to the possibility that our actual results, financial condition, liquidity and capital actions may differ, possibly materially, from the anticipated results, financial condition, liquidity and capital actions in these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our results, financial condition, liquidity and capital actions to differ from those in these statements include, among others, those described in “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A of this

Form 10-K

and “Forward-Looking Statements” in Part I, Item 1 of this

Form 10-K.

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THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

These statements may relate to, among other things, (i) our future plans and results, including our target ROE, ROTE, efficiency ratio, Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) capital ratio and firmwide assets under supervision (AUS) inflows, and how they can be achieved, (ii) trends in or growth opportunities for our businesses, including the timing, costs, profitability, benefits and other aspects of business and strategic initiatives and their impact on our efficiency ratio, (iii) our level of future compensation expense, including as a percentage of both operating expenses and revenues net of provision for credit losses, (iv) our investment banking transaction backlog and future results, (v) our expected interest income and interest expense, (vi) our expense savings and strategic locations initiatives, (vii) expenses we may incur, including future litigation expense and expenses from investing in our consumer and transaction banking businesses, (viii) the projected growth of our deposits and other funding, asset liability management and funding strategies and related interest expense savings, (ix) our business initiatives, including transaction banking and new consumer financial products, (x) our planned 2022 benchmark debt issuances, (xi) the amount, composition and location of global core liquid assets (GCLA) we expect to hold, (xii) our credit exposures, (xiii) our expected provisions for credit losses, (xiv) the adequacy of our allowance for credit losses, (xv) the projected growth of our consumer lending and credit card businesses, (xvi) the objectives and effectiveness of our Business Continuity Planning (BCP) strategy, information security program, risk management and liquidity policies, (xvii) our resolution plan and strategy and their implications for stakeholders, (xviii) the design and effectiveness of our resolution capital and liquidity models and triggers and alerts framework, (xix) the results of stress tests, the effect of changes to regulations, and our future status, activities or reporting under banking and financial regulation, (xx) our expected tax rate, (xxi) the future state of our liquidity and regulatory capital ratios, and our prospective capital distributions (including dividends and repurchases), (xxii) our expected SCB and

G-SIB

surcharge, (xxiii) legal proceedings, governmental investigations or other contingencies, (xxiv) the asset recovery guarantee and our remediation activities related to our 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) settlements, (xxv) the replacement of IBORs and our transition to alternative risk-free reference rates, (xxvi) the impact of the coronavirus

(COVID-19)

pandemic on our business, results, financial position and liquidity, (xxvii) the effectiveness of our management of our human capital, including our diversity goals, (xxviii) our sustainability and carbon neutrality targets and goals, (xxix) our plans for our people to return to our offices, (xxx) future inflation and (xxxi) our completed, announced and prospective acquisitions, including our completed acquisition of the General Motors

co-branded

credit card portfolio and our announced acquisitions of NN Investment Partners and GreenSky, Inc. (GreenSky).

Executive Overview

We generated net earnings of $21.64 billion for 2021, significantly higher compared with $9.46 billion for 2020. Diluted earnings per common share (EPS) was $59.45 for 2021, significantly higher compared with $24.74 for 2020. Return on average common shareholders’ equity (ROE) was 23.0% for 2021, compared with 11.1% for 2020. Book value per common share was $284.39 as of December 2021, 20.4% higher compared with December 2020.

During 2020, we recorded net provisions for litigation and regulatory proceedings of $3.42 billion, which reduced diluted EPS by $9.51 and reduced ROE by 3.9 percentage points.

Net revenues were $59.34 billion for 2021, 33% higher than 2020, reflecting higher net revenues across all segments, including significant increases in Asset Management, Investment Banking and Consumer & Wealth Management. Net revenues in Asset Management primarily reflected significantly higher net revenues in Equity investments and Lending and debt investments, net revenues in Investment Banking primarily reflected significantly higher net revenues in Financial advisory and Underwriting, and net revenues in Consumer & Wealth Management reflected growth in both Wealth management and Consumer banking net revenues. Net revenues in Global Markets were slightly higher, reflecting significantly higher net revenues in Equities, partially offset by lower net revenues in Fixed Income, Currency and Commodities (FICC) compared with a strong prior year.

Provision for credit losses was $357 million for 2021, compared with $3.10 billion for 2020. 2021 included provisions related to portfolio growth (primarily in credit cards, including provisions related to the commitment to acquire the General Motors

co-branded

credit card portfolio), largely offset by reserve reductions on wholesale and consumer loans reflecting continued improvement in the broader economic environment. This followed challenging conditions in the prior year as a result of the impact of the

COVID-19

pandemic, which contributed to significant provisions in 2020.

Operating expenses were $31.94 billion for 2021, 10% higher than 2020, primarily reflecting significantly higher compensation and benefits expenses (reflecting strong performance). In addition, technology expenses and professional fees were significantly higher and transaction based expenses were higher. These increases were partially offset by significantly lower net provisions for litigation and regulatory proceedings and lower expenses related to consolidated investments (including impairments). Our efficiency ratio (total operating expenses divided by total net revenues) for 2021 was 53.8%, compared with 65.0% for 2020. In 2020, net provisions for litigation and regulatory proceedings increased our efficiency ratio by 7.6 percentage points.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 59

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

During 2021, we returned $7.49 billion of capital to common shareholders, including $5.20 billion of common share repurchases and $2.29 billion of common stock dividends. As of December 2021, our CET1 capital ratio was 14.2% under the Standardized Capital Rules and 14.9% under the Advanced Capital Rules. See Note 20 to the consolidated financial statements for further information about our capital ratios.

We announced two strategic acquisitions during 2021, the pending acquisitions of NN Investment Partners in our Asset Management business and GreenSky in our Consumer banking business. We expect these acquisitions to accelerate our strategy to drive more durable returns. The acquisition of NN Investment Partners is expected to close in the second quarter of 2022, and the acquisition of GreenSky is expected to close in the first quarter of 2022.

In the first quarter of 2022, we announced that over the medium-term (approximately 3 years), our target is to achieve (i) ROE within a range of 14% to 16%, (ii) return on average tangible common shareholders’ equity (ROTE) within a range of 15% to 17% and (iii) an efficiency ratio of approximately 60%. In addition, we announced that our target is to maintain capital ratios equal to the regulatory requirements plus a buffer of 50 to 100 basis points.

Business Environment

In 2021, the global economy continued to recover from the impact of the

COVID-19

pandemic, as the distribution of vaccines helped facilitate an increase in global economic activity. Economic activity continued to benefit from ongoing fiscal stimulus from governments and continued accommodative monetary policy from global central banks. In the second half of the year, the growth in economic activity and demand for goods and services, alongside supply chain complications, contributed to inflationary pressures. Late in the year, the surge in Omicron cases sparked renewed concerns globally, contributing to increased market volatility and increased pressures on labor supply. This may result in a negative impact on economic activity.

Despite broad improvements in the overall economy since the initial impact of the

COVID-19

pandemic, uncertainty remains on the pace of the recovery going forward, reflecting concerns about virus resurgence from the Omicron variant and other possible variants and related concerns regarding vaccine distribution, efficacy and hesitancy, as well as concerns relating to inflation, supply chain complications and geopolitical risks. See “Results of Operations — Segment Assets and Operating Results — Segment Operating Results” for further information about the operating environment for each of our business segments.

Critical Accounting Policies

Fair Value

Fair Value Hierarchy.

Trading assets and liabilities, certain investments and loans, and certain other financial assets and liabilities, are included in our consolidated balance sheets at fair value (i.e.,

marked-to-market),

with related gains or losses generally recognized in our consolidated statements of earnings. The use of fair value to measure financial instruments is fundamental to our risk management practices and is our most critical accounting policy.

The fair value of a financial instrument is the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. We measure certain financial assets and liabilities as a portfolio (i.e., based on its net exposure to market and/or credit risks). In determining fair value, the hierarchy under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (U.S. GAAP) gives (i) the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities (level 1 inputs), (ii) the next priority to inputs other than level 1 inputs that are observable, either directly or indirectly (level 2 inputs), and (iii) the lowest priority to inputs that cannot be observed in market activity (level 3 inputs). In evaluating the significance of a valuation input, we consider, among other factors, a portfolio’s net risk exposure to that input. Assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to their fair value measurement.

The fair values for substantially all of our financial assets and liabilities are based on observable prices and inputs and are classified in levels 1 and 2 of the fair value hierarchy. Certain level 2 and level 3 financial assets and liabilities may require appropriate valuation adjustments that a market participant would require to arrive at fair value for factors, such as counterparty and our credit quality, funding risk, transfer restrictions, liquidity and bid/offer spreads.

Instruments classified in level 3 of the fair value hierarchy are those which require one or more significant inputs that are not observable. Level 3 financial assets represented 1.6% as of December 2021 and 2.3% as of December 2020, of our total assets. See Notes 4 through 10 to the consolidated financial statements for further information about level 3 financial assets, including changes in level 3 financial assets and related fair value measurements. Absent evidence to the contrary, instruments classified in level 3 of the fair value hierarchy are initially valued at transaction price, which is considered to be the best initial estimate of fair value. Subsequent to the transaction date, we use other methodologies to determine fair value, which vary based on the type of instrument. Estimating the fair value of level 3 financial instruments requires judgments to be made. These judgments include:

• Determining the appropriate valuation methodology and/or model for each type of level 3 financial instrument;

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THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

• Determining model inputs based on an evaluation of all relevant empirical market data, including prices evidenced by market transactions, interest rates, credit spreads, volatilities and correlations; and

• Determining appropriate valuation adjustments, including those related to illiquidity or counterparty credit quality.

Regardless of the methodology, valuation inputs and assumptions are only changed when corroborated by substantive evidence.

Controls Over Valuation of Financial Instruments.

Market makers and investment professionals in our revenue-producing units are responsible for pricing our financial instruments. Our control infrastructure is independent of the revenue-producing units and is fundamental to ensuring that all of our financial instruments are appropriately valued at market-clearing levels. In the event that there is a difference of opinion in situations where estimating the fair value of financial instruments requires judgment (e.g., calibration to market comparables or trade comparison, as described below), the final valuation decision is made by senior managers in independent risk oversight and control functions. This independent price verification is critical to ensuring that our financial instruments are properly valued.

Price Verification.

All financial instruments at fair value classified in levels 1, 2 and 3 of the fair value hierarchy are subject to our independent price verification process. The objective of price verification is to have an informed and independent opinion with regard to the valuation of financial instruments under review. Instruments that have one or more significant inputs which cannot be corroborated by external market data are classified in level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. Price verification strategies utilized by our independent risk oversight and control functions include:

• Trade Comparison. Analysis of trade data (both internal and external, where available) is used to determine the most relevant pricing inputs and valuations.

• External Price Comparison. Valuations and prices are compared to pricing data obtained from third parties (e.g., brokers or dealers, IHS Markit, Bloomberg, IDC, TRACE). Data obtained from various sources is compared to ensure consistency and validity. When broker or dealer quotations or third-party pricing vendors are used for valuation or price verification, greater priority is generally given to executable quotations.

• Calibration to Market Comparables. Market-based transactions are used to corroborate the valuation of positions with similar characteristics, risks and components.

• Relative Value Analyses. Market-based transactions are analyzed to determine the similarity, measured in terms of risk, liquidity and return, of one instrument relative to another or, for a given instrument, of one maturity relative to another.

• Collateral Analyses. Margin calls on derivatives are analyzed to determine implied values, which are used to corroborate our valuations.

• Execution of Trades. Where appropriate, market-making desks are instructed to execute trades in order to provide evidence of market-clearing levels.

• Backtesting. Valuations are corroborated by comparison to values realized upon sales.

See Note 4 to the consolidated financial statements for further information about fair value measurements.

Review of Net Revenues.

Independent risk oversight and control functions ensure adherence to our pricing policy through a combination of daily procedures, including the explanation and attribution of net revenues based on the underlying factors. Through this process, we independently validate net revenues, identify and resolve potential fair value or trade booking issues on a timely basis and seek to ensure that risks are being properly categorized and quantified.

Review of Valuation Models.

Our independent model risk management group (Model Risk), consisting of quantitative professionals who are separate from model developers, performs an independent model review and validation process of our valuation models. New or changed models are reviewed and approved prior to implementation. Models are reviewed annually to assess the impact of any changes in the product or market and any market developments in pricing theories. See “Risk Management —Model Risk Management” for further information about the review and validation of our valuation models.

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THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

Allowance for Credit Losses

We estimate and record an allowance for credit losses related to our loans held for investment that are accounted for at amortized cost. To determine the allowance for credit losses, we classify our loans accounted for at amortized cost into wholesale and consumer portfolios. These portfolios represent the level at which we have developed and documented our methodology to determine the allowance for credit losses. The allowance for credit losses is measured on a collective basis for loans that exhibit similar risk characteristics using a modeled approach and asset-specific basis for loans that do not share similar risk characteristics.

The allowance for credit losses takes into account the weighted average of a range of forecasts of future economic conditions over the expected life of the loans and lending commitments. The expected life of each loan or lending commitment is determined based on the contractual term adjusted for extension options or demand features, or is modeled in the case of revolving credit card loans. The forecasts include baseline, favorable and adverse economic scenarios over a three-year period. For loans with expected lives beyond three years, the model reverts to historical loss information based on a

non-linear

modeled approach. We apply judgment in weighting individual scenarios each quarter based on a variety of factors, including our internally derived economic outlook, market consensus, recent macroeconomic conditions and industry trends. The forecasted economic scenarios consider a number of risk factors relevant to the wholesale and consumer portfolios. Risk factors for wholesale loans include internal credit ratings, industry default and loss data, expected life, macroeconomic indicators (e.g., unemployment rates and GDP), the borrower’s capacity to meet its financial obligations, the borrower’s country of risk and industry, loan seniority and collateral type. In addition, for loans backed by real estate, risk factors include

loan-to-value

ratio, debt service ratio and home price index. Risk factors for installment and credit card loans include Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO) credit scores, delinquency status, loan vintage and macroeconomic indicators.

The allowance for credit losses also includes qualitative components which allow management to reflect the uncertain nature of economic forecasting, capture uncertainty regarding model inputs, and account for model imprecision and concentration risk.

Our estimate of credit losses entails judgment about collectability at the reporting dates, and there are uncertainties inherent in those judgments. The allowance for credit losses is subject to a governance process that involves review and approval by senior management within our independent risk oversight and control functions. Personnel within our independent risk oversight and control functions are responsible for forecasting the economic variables that underlie the economic scenarios that are used in the modeling of expected credit losses. While we use the best information available to determine this estimate, future adjustments to the allowance may be necessary based on, among other things, changes in the economic environment or variances between actual results and the original assumptions used. Loans are charged off against the allowance for loan losses when deemed to be uncollectible.

We also record an allowance for credit losses on lending commitments which are held for investment that are accounted for at amortized cost. Such allowance is determined using the same methodology as the allowance for loan losses, while also taking into consideration the probability of drawdowns or funding, and whether such commitments are cancellable by us.

To estimate the potential impact of an adverse macroeconomic environment on our allowance for credit losses, we, among other things, compared the expected credit losses under the weighted average forecast used in the calculation of allowance for credit losses as of December 2021 (which was primarily weighted towards the baseline economic scenario) to the expected credit losses under a 100% weighted adverse economic scenario. The adverse macroeconomic model assumes an emergence of new vaccine-resistant strains of

COVID-19

resulting in a resurgence of infections, an economic contraction, high inflation rates in the initial quarters, gradually climbing unemployment rates, decline in GDP growth rates and dislocations in the economy due to shortages in the supply of some goods and services. A 100% weighting to the adverse economic scenario would have resulted in an approximate $1.3 billion increase in our allowance for credit losses as of December 2021. This hypothetical increase does not take into consideration any potential adjustments to qualitative reserves. The forecasts of macroeconomic conditions are inherently uncertain and do not take into account any other offsetting or correlated effects. The actual credit loss in an adverse macroeconomic environment may differ significantly from this estimate. See Note 9 to the consolidated financial statements for further information about the allowance for credit losses.

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THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

Use of Estimates

U.S. GAAP requires us to make certain estimates and assumptions. In addition to the estimates we make in connection with fair value measurements and the allowance for credit losses on loans and lending commitments held for investment and accounted for at amortized cost, the use of estimates and assumptions is also important in determining the accounting for goodwill and identifiable intangible assets, provisions for losses that may arise from litigation and regulatory proceedings (including governmental investigations), and accounting for income taxes.

Goodwill is assessed for impairment annually in the fourth quarter or more frequently if events occur or circumstances change that indicate an impairment may exist. When assessing goodwill for impairment, first, a qualitative assessment can be made to determine whether it is more likely than not that the estimated fair value of a reporting unit is less than its estimated carrying value. If the results of the qualitative assessment are not conclusive, a quantitative goodwill test is performed. Alternatively, a quantitative goodwill test can be performed without performing a qualitative assessment. Estimating the fair value of our reporting units requires judgment. Critical inputs to the fair value estimates include projected earnings and allocated equity. There is inherent uncertainty in the projected earnings. The estimated carrying value of each reporting unit reflects an allocation of total shareholders’ equity and represents the estimated amount of total shareholders’ equity required to support the activities of the reporting unit under currently applicable regulatory capital requirements. See Note 12 to the consolidated financial statements for further information about goodwill. If we experience a prolonged or severe period of weakness in the business environment, financial markets, our performance or our common stock price, or additional increases in capital requirements, our goodwill could be impaired in the future.

Identifiable intangible assets are tested for impairment when events or changes in circumstances suggest that an asset’s or asset group’s carrying value may not be fully recoverable. Judgment is required to evaluate whether indications of potential impairment have occurred, and to test intangible assets for impairment, if required. An impairment is recognized if the estimated undiscounted cash flows relating to the asset or asset group is less than the corresponding carrying value. See Note 12 to the consolidated financial statements for further information about identifiable intangible assets.

We also estimate and provide for potential losses that may arise out of litigation and regulatory proceedings to the extent that such losses are probable and can be reasonably estimated. In addition, we estimate the upper end of the range of reasonably possible aggregate loss in excess of the related reserves for litigation and regulatory proceedings where we believe the risk of loss is more than slight. See Notes 18 and 27 to the consolidated financial statements for information about certain judicial, litigation and regulatory proceedings. Significant judgment is required in making these estimates and our final liabilities may ultimately be materially different. Our total estimated liability in respect of litigation and regulatory proceedings is determined on a

case-by-case

basis and represents an estimate of probable losses after considering, among other factors, the progress of each case, proceeding or investigation, our experience and the experience of others in similar cases, proceedings or investigations, and the opinions and views of legal counsel.

In accounting for income taxes, we recognize tax positions in the financial statements only when it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained on examination by the relevant taxing authority based on the technical merits of the position. As of December 2021, our net liability for unrecognized tax benefits was $1.16 billion. We use estimates to recognize current and deferred income taxes in the U.S. federal, state and local and

non-U.S.

jurisdictions in which we operate. The income tax laws in these jurisdictions are complex and can be subject to different interpretations between taxpayers and taxing authorities. Disputes may arise over these interpretations and can be settled by audit, administrative appeals or judicial proceedings. Our interpretations are reevaluated quarterly based on guidance currently available, tax examination experience and the opinions of legal counsel, among other factors. We recognize deferred taxes based on the amount that will more likely than not be realized in the future based on enacted income tax laws. As of December 2021, we had $6.32 billion of deferred tax assets with a related valuation allowance of $895 million. Our estimate for deferred taxes includes estimates for future taxable earnings, including the level and character of those earnings, and various tax planning strategies. See Note 24 to the consolidated financial statements for further information about income taxes.

Recent Accounting Developments

See Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements for information about Recent Accounting Developments.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 63

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

Results of Operations

The composition of our net revenues has varied over time as financial markets and the scope of our operations have changed. The composition of net revenues can also vary over the shorter term due to fluctuations in U.S. and global economic and market conditions. See “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A of this

Form 10-K

for further information about the impact of economic and market conditions on our results of operations. For a discussion of our 2020 financial results compared with 2019, see Part II, Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our Annual Report on

Form 10-K

for the year ended December 31, 2020.

Financial Overview

The table below presents an overview of our financial results and selected financial ratios.

	Year Ended December
$ in millions, except per share amounts		2021	2020	2019
Net revenues		$59,339	$44,560	$36,546
Pre-tax earnings		$27,044	$12,479	$10,583
Net earnings		$21,635	$  9,459	$  8,466
Net earnings to common		$21,151	$  8,915	$  7,897
Diluted EPS		$  59.45	$  24.74	$  21.03
ROE		23.0%	11.1%	10.0%
ROTE		24.3%	11.8%	10.6%
Net earnings to average assets		1.6%	0.8%	0.9%
Return on average shareholders’ equity		21.3%	10.3%	9.4%
Average equity to average assets		7.4%	8.2%	9.3%
Dividend payout ratio		10.9%	20.2%	19.7%

In the table above:

• Net earnings to common represents net earnings applicable to common shareholders, which is calculated as net earnings less preferred stock dividends.

• Average equity to average assets is calculated by dividing average total shareholders’ equity by average total assets.

• Dividend payout ratio is calculated by dividing dividends declared per common share by diluted EPS.

• ROE is calculated by dividing net earnings to common by average monthly common shareholders’ equity. Tangible common shareholders’ equity is calculated as total shareholders’ equity less preferred stock, goodwill and identifiable intangible assets. ROTE is calculated by dividing net earnings to common by average monthly tangible common shareholders’ equity. We believe that tangible common shareholders’ equity is meaningful because it is a measure that we and investors use to assess capital adequacy and that ROTE is meaningful because it measures the performance of businesses consistently, whether they were acquired or developed internally. Tangible common shareholders’ equity and ROTE are non-GAAP measures and may not be comparable to similar non-GAAP measures used by other companies. Return on average shareholders’ equity is calculated by dividing net earnings by average monthly shareholders’ equity.

The table below presents our average equity and the reconciliation of average common shareholders’ equity to average tangible common shareholders’ equity.

	Average for the Year Ended December
$ in millions		2021		2020		2019
Total shareholders’ equity		$101,705		$ 91,779		$ 90,297
Preferred stock		(9,876	)	(11,203	)	(11,203	)
Common shareholders’ equity		91,829		80,576		79,094
Goodwill		(4,327	)	(4,238	)	(3,965	)
Identifiable intangible assets		(536	)	(617	)	(499	)
Tangible common shareholders ’ equity		$  86,966		$ 75,721		$ 74,630

Net Revenues

The table below presents our net revenues by line item.

	Year Ended December
$ in millions		2021	2020	2019
Investment banking		$14,168	$  9,141	$  6,798
Investment management		8,059	6,923	6,189
Commissions and fees		3,619	3,548	2,988
Market making		15,352	15,546	10,157
Other principal transactions		11,671	4,651	6,052
Total non-interest revenues		52,869	39,809	32,184
Interest income		12,120	13,689	21,738
Interest expense		5,650	8,938	17,376
Net interest income		6,470	4,751	4,362
Total net revenues		$59,339	$44,560	$36,546

In the table above:

• Investment banking consists of revenues (excluding net interest) from financial advisory and underwriting assignments. These activities are included in our Investment Banking segment.

• Investment management consists of revenues (excluding net interest) from providing asset management services across all major asset classes to a diverse set of asset management clients (included in our Asset Management segment), as well as asset management services, wealth advisory services and certain transaction services for wealth management clients (included in our Consumer & Wealth Management segment).

• Commissions and fees consists of revenues from executing and clearing client transactions on major stock, options and futures exchanges worldwide, as well as over-the-counter (OTC) transactions. These activities are included in our Global Markets and Consumer & Wealth Management segments.

• Market making consists of revenues (excluding net interest) from client execution activities related to making markets in interest rate products, credit products, mortgages, currencies, commodities and equity products. These activities are included in our Global Markets segment.

• Other principal transactions consists of revenues (excluding net interest) from our equity investing activities, including revenues related to our consolidated investments (included in our Asset Management segment), and lending activities (included across our four segments).

64 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

Operating Environment.

During 2021, a general recovery of the global economy, continued monetary and fiscal support from central banks and governments and accelerating vaccine distribution provided a favorable market backdrop. These factors contributed to generally higher global equity prices and tighter credit spreads compared with the end of 2020. In addition, market-making activities reflected strong client activity levels, although activity declined from a very strong prior year which reflected heightened volatility and significant market dislocations as a result of the

COVID-19

pandemic, and investment banking activity levels across mergers and acquisitions and underwriting were elevated.

If concerns about the economic outlook, including those on inflation and supply chain issues, grow or the ongoing efforts to mitigate the impact of the

COVID-19

pandemic are ineffective (including due to new variants or complications with vaccine distribution, efficacy and hesitancy), it may lead to a decline in global equity markets, a decline in investment banking activity levels, and a continued decline in market-making activity levels, and net revenues and the provision for credit losses would likely be negatively impacted. See “Segment Assets and Operating Results — Segment Operating Results” for information about the operating environment and material trends and uncertainties that may impact our results of operations.

2021 versus 2020.

Net revenues in the consolidated statements of earnings were $59.34 billion for 2021, 33% higher than 2020, reflecting significantly higher other principal transactions revenues, investment banking revenues and net interest income, and higher investment management revenues.

Non-Interest

Revenues.

Investment banking revenues in the consolidated statements of earnings were $14.17 billion for 2021, 55% higher than 2020, due to significantly higher revenues in financial advisory, reflecting a significant increase in completed mergers and acquisitions volumes, in equity underwriting, primarily driven by strong industry-wide initial public offerings activity, and in debt underwriting, primarily reflecting elevated industry-wide leveraged finance activity.

Investment management revenues in the consolidated statements of earnings were $8.06 billion for 2021, 16% higher than 2020, primarily due to higher management and other fees, reflecting the impact of higher average AUS, partially offset by higher fee waivers on money market funds. In addition, incentive fees were significantly higher, primarily driven by harvesting.

Commissions and fees in the consolidated statements of earnings were $3.62 billion for 2021, slightly higher than 2020.

Market making revenues in the consolidated statements of earnings were $15.35 billion for 2021, essentially unchanged compared with 2020, as significantly lower revenues in interest rate products and credit products were largely offset by significantly higher revenues in equity products (primarily in derivatives) and commodities, and improved results in mortgages.

Other principal transactions revenues in the consolidated statements of earnings were $11.67 billion for 2021, compared with $4.65 billion for 2020, primarily reflecting significantly higher net gains from investments in private equities and in debt instruments, partially offset by net losses from investments in public equities compared with significant net gains in 2020.

Net Interest Income.

Net interest income in the consolidated statements of earnings was $6.47 billion for 2021, 36% higher than 2020, reflecting a decrease in interest expense, partially offset by a decrease in interest income. The decrease in interest expense is primarily related to other interest-bearing liabilities, deposits and long-term borrowings, each reflecting the impact of lower interest rates. The decrease in interest income primarily related to collateralized agreements and trading assets, both reflecting the impact of lower interest rates, partially offset by the impact of higher average balances for loans. See “Supplemental Financial Information — Statistical Disclosures — Distribution of Assets, Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity” for further information about our sources of net interest income.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 65

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

Provision for Credit Losses

Provision for credit losses consists of provision for credit losses on loans and lending commitments held for investment and accounted for at amortized cost. See Note 9 to the consolidated financial statements for further information about the provision for credit losses.

The table below presents our provision for credit losses.

	Year Ended December
$ in millions		2021	2020	2019
Provision for credit losses		$357	$3,098	$1,065

2021 versus 2020.

Provision for credit losses in the consolidated statements of earnings was $357 million for 2021, compared with $3.10 billion for 2020. 2021 included provisions related to portfolio growth (primarily in credit cards, including approximately $185 million of provisions related to the commitment to acquire the General Motors

co-branded

credit card portfolio), largely offset by reserve reductions on wholesale and consumer loans reflecting continued improvement in the broader economic environment. This followed challenging conditions in the prior year as a result of the

COVID-19

pandemic, which contributed to significant provisions in 2020.

Operating Expenses

Our operating expenses are primarily influenced by compensation, headcount and levels of business activity. Compensation and benefits includes salaries,

year-end

discretionary compensation, amortization of equity awards and other items such as benefits. Discretionary compensation is significantly impacted by, among other factors, the level of net revenues net of provision for credit losses, overall financial performance, prevailing labor markets, business mix, the structure of our share-based compensation programs and the external environment.

The table below presents our operating expenses by line item and headcount.

	Year Ended December
$ in millions		2021	2020	2019
Compensation and benefits		$17,719	$13,309	$12,353
Transaction based		4,710	4,141	3,513
Market development		553	401	739
Communications and technology		1,573	1,347	1,167
Depreciation and amortization		2,015	1,902	1,704
Occupancy		981	960	1,029
Professional fees		1,648	1,306	1,316
Other expenses		2,739	5,617	3,077
Total operating expenses		$31,938	$28,983	$24,898
Headcount at period-end		43,900	40,500	38,300

2021 versus 2020.

Operating expenses in the consolidated statements of earnings were $31.94 billion for 2021, 10% higher than 2020. Our efficiency ratio for 2021 was 53.8%, compared with 65.0% for 2020. In 2020, net provisions for litigation and regulatory proceedings increased our efficiency ratio by 7.6 percentage points.

The increase in operating expenses compared with 2020 primarily reflected significantly higher compensation and benefits expenses (reflecting strong performance). In addition, technology expenses and professional fees were significantly higher and transaction based expenses were higher. These increases were partially offset by significantly lower net provisions for litigation and regulatory proceedings and lower expenses related to consolidated investments (including impairments).

Net provisions for litigation and regulatory proceedings for 2021 were $534 million compared with $3.42 billion for 2020.

Charitable contributions to Goldman Sachs Gives were approximately $250 million for 2021.

As of December 2021, headcount increased 8% compared with December 2020, reflecting investments in new business initiatives and an increase in technology professionals.

Provision for Taxes

The effective income tax rate for 2021 was 20.0%, down from the full year income tax rate of 24.2% for 2020, primarily due to a decrease in provisions for

non-deductible

litigation, partially offset by a decrease in the impact of tax benefits in 2021 compared with 2020.

In March 2021, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Rescue Plan) was signed into law. The Rescue Plan is a $1.9 trillion stimulus package enacted to help address the economic and health impacts of the

COVID-19

pandemic. The Rescue Plan includes a repeal of a provision under which U.S. affiliated groups could elect a worldwide allocation of interest expense for foreign tax credit limitation purposes for one year beginning in January 2021. Additionally, beginning in 2027, the limitation on corporate tax deductions for compensation payable to the CEO, CFO and the top three highest paid employees will be expanded to include the next five highest paid employees. The legislation did not have a material impact on our 2021 annual effective tax rate and is not expected to have a material impact on our 2022 annual effective tax rate.

In April 2021, the New York State (NYS) FY 2022 budget was enacted. The legislation temporarily increased the NYS corporate income tax rate from 6.5% to 7.25% for calendar years 2021 through 2023. The legislation did not have a material impact on our 2021 annual effective tax rate and is not expected to have a material impact on our 2022 annual effective tax rate.

66 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

The U.K. Finance Act 2021 was enacted in June 2021 and includes a six percent increase in the corporate income tax rate effective from April 2023. During 2021, U.K. deferred tax assets and liabilities were remeasured and a deferred tax benefit of approximately $100 million was recognized. The Finance (No. 2) Bill

2021-22,

issued in November 2021, includes a five percent reduction in the U.K. bank surcharge tax rate, effective from April 2023. The bank surcharge is currently applicable to certain of our U.K. subsidiaries and branches, including Goldman Sachs International (GSI) and Goldman Sachs International Bank (GSIB). Following Royal Assent, the associated impact of any change to the bank surcharge on U.K. deferred tax assets and liabilities could have a material impact on our effective tax rate, depending on the operating results for the quarter during which this legislation is enacted.

We expect our tax rate for 2022 to be between 20% and 21%, excluding the impact of income tax benefits on employee share-based awards and any potential changes in current income tax rates.

Segment Assets and Operating Results

Segment Assets.

The table below presents assets by segment.

	As of December
$ in millions		2021	2020
Investment Banking		$  144,157	$  116,242
Global Markets		1,082,378	844,606
Asset Management		91,115	95,751
Consumer & Wealth Management		146,338	106,429
Total		$1,463,988	$1,163,028

The allocation process for segment assets is based on the activities of these segments. The allocation of assets includes allocation of GCLA (which consists of unencumbered, highly liquid securities and cash), which is generally included within cash and cash equivalents, collateralized agreements and trading assets on our balance sheet. Due to the integrated nature of these segments, estimates and judgments are made in allocating these assets. See “Risk Management — Liquidity Risk Management” for further information about our GCLA.

Segment Operating Results.

The table below presents our segment operating results.

	Year Ended December
$ in millions		2021		2020	2019
Investment Banking
Net revenues		$14,876		$  9,423	$  7,599
Provision for credit losses		(298	)	1,624	333
Operating expenses		6,705		6,134	4,685
Pre-tax earnings		$  8,469		$  1,665	$  2,581
Net earnings to common		$  6,705		$  1,193	$  1,996
Average common equity		$10,341		$11,313	$11,167
Return on average common equity		64.8%		10.5%	17.9%
Global Markets
Net revenues		$22,077		$21,157	$14,779
Provision for credit losses		45		274	35
Operating expenses		12,969		12,806	10,851
Pre-tax earnings		$  9,063		$  8,077	$  3,893
Net earnings to common		$  6,973		$  5,766	$  2,729
Average common equity		$45,497		$40,760	$40,060
Return on average common equity		15.3%		14.1%	6.8%
Asset Management
Net revenues		$14,916		$  7,984	$  8,965
Provision for credit losses		18		442	274
Operating expenses		5,970		5,142	4,817
Pre-tax earnings		$  8,928		$  2,400	$  3,874
Net earnings to common		$  7,046		$  1,740	$  3,013
Average common equity		$25,195		$20,491	$21,575
Return on average common equity		28.0%		8.5%	14.0%
Consumer & Wealth Management
Net revenues		$  7,470		$  5,996	$  5,203
Provision for credit losses		592		758	423
Operating expenses		6,294		4,901	4,545
Pre-tax earnings		$    584		$    337	$    235
Net earnings to common		$    427		$    216	$    159
Average common equity		$10,796		$  8,012	$  6,292
Return on average common equity		4.0%		2.7%	2.5%
Total net revenues		$59,339		$44,560	$36,546
Total provision for credit losses		357		3,098	1,065
Total operating expenses		31,938		28,983	24,898
Total pre-tax earnings		$27,044		$12,479	$10,583
Net earnings to common		$21,151		$  8,915	$  7,897
Average common equity		$91,829		$80,576	$79,094
Return on average common equity		23.0%		11.1%	10.0%

Net revenues in our segments include allocations of interest income and expense to specific positions in relation to the cash generated by, or funding requirements of, such positions. See Note 25 to the consolidated financial statements for further information about our business segments.

The allocation of common shareholders’ equity and preferred stock dividends to each segment is based on the estimated amount of equity required to support the activities of the segment under relevant regulatory capital requirements. Net earnings for each segment is calculated by applying the firmwide tax rate to each segment’s

pre-tax

earnings.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 67

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

Effective January 1, 2021, the attributed equity among our segments was updated to reflect the results of our 2020 Comprehensive Capital Analysis and Review (CCAR) process. See “Capital Management and Regulatory Capital — Capital Management” for information about the impact of these updates on the allocation of attributed equity among our segments as of the beginning of the first quarter of 2021. The average common equity balances above incorporate such impact, as well as the changes in the size and composition of assets held in each of our segments that occurred during 2021. See “Capital Management and Regulatory Capital — Capital Management” for information about our 2021 CCAR process and our updated SCB, which became effective on October 1, 2021.

Compensation and benefits expenses within our segments reflect, among other factors, our overall performance, as well as the performance of individual businesses. Consequently,

pre-tax

margins in one segment of our business may be significantly affected by the performance of our other business segments. A description of segment operating results follows.

Investment Banking

Investment Banking generates revenues from the following:

• Financial advisory. Includes strategic advisory assignments with respect to mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, corporate defense activities, restructurings and spin-offs.

• Underwriting. Includes public offerings and private placements, including local and cross-border transactions and acquisition financing, of a wide range of securities and other financial instruments, including loans.

• Corporate lending. Includes lending to corporate clients, including through relationship lending, middle-market lending and acquisition financing. We also provide transaction banking services to certain of our corporate clients.

The table below presents our Investment Banking assets.

	As of December
$ in millions		2021	2020
Cash and cash equivalents		$  64,437	$  34,730
Collateralized agreements		21,354	20,242
Customer and other receivables		5,248	2,465
Trading assets		20,338	29,493
Investments		1,053	1,078
Loans		29,555	26,544
Other assets		2,172	1,690
Total		$144,157	$116,242

The table below presents our Investment Banking operating results.

	Year Ended December
$ in millions		2021		2020	2019
Financial advisory		$  5,653		$  3,065	$  3,197
Equity underwriting		5,011		3,406	1,482
Debt underwriting		3,504		2,670	2,119
Underwriting		8,515		6,076	3,601
Corporate lending		708		282	801
Net revenues		14,876		9,423	7,599
Provision for credit losses		(298	)	1,624	333
Operating expenses		6,705		6,134	4,685
Pre-tax earnings		8,469		1,665	2,581
Provision for taxes		1,694		403	516
Net earnings		6,775		1,262	2,065
Preferred stock dividends		70		69	69
Net earnings to common		$  6,705		$  1,193	$  1,996
Average common equity		$10,341		$11,313	$11,167
Return on average common equity		64.8%		10.5%	17.9%

The table below presents our financial advisory and underwriting transaction volumes.

	Year Ended December
$ in billions		2021	2020	2019
Announced mergers and acquisitions		$  1,851	$    948	$  1,350
Completed mergers and acquisitions		$  1,581	$  1,033	$  1,270
Equity and equity-related offerings		$    141	$    115	$      67
Debt offerings		$    332	$    352	$    246

In the table above:

• Volumes are per Dealogic.

• Announced and completed mergers and acquisitions volumes are based on full credit to each of the advisors in a transaction. Equity and equity-related offerings and debt offerings are based on full credit for single book managers and equal credit for joint book managers. Transaction volumes may not be indicative of net revenues in a given period. In addition, transaction volumes for prior periods may vary from amounts previously reported due to the subsequent withdrawal or a change in the value of a transaction.

• Equity and equity-related offerings includes Rule 144A and public common stock offerings, convertible offerings and rights offerings.

• Debt offerings includes non-convertible preferred stock, mortgage-backed securities, asset-backed securities and taxable municipal debt. Includes publicly registered and Rule 144A issues and excludes leveraged loans.

68 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

Operating Environment.

During 2021, Investment Banking operated in an environment characterized by strong industry-wide activity. In mergers and acquisitions, industry-wide completed and announced volumes were at high levels, reflecting supportive market conditions and strong CEO confidence. In underwriting, industry-wide activity levels reflected continued strength in equity underwriting volumes, including strong initial public offerings activity, and solid debt underwriting volumes, including elevated leveraged finance activity.

In the future, if market and economic conditions deteriorate, and industry-wide mergers and acquisitions volumes decline, or if industry-wide equity and debt underwriting volumes decline, or credit spreads related to hedges on our relationship lending portfolio tighten further, net revenues in Investment Banking would likely be negatively impacted. In addition, a deterioration in the creditworthiness of borrowers would negatively impact the provision for credit losses.

2021 versus 2020.

Net revenues in Investment Banking were $14.88 billion for 2021, 58% higher than 2020, primarily reflecting significantly higher net revenues in Financial advisory and Underwriting.

The increase in Financial advisory net revenues reflected a significant increase in completed mergers and acquisitions volumes. The increase in Underwriting net revenues was due to significantly higher net revenues in both Equity underwriting, primarily driven by strong industry-wide initial public offerings activity, and Debt underwriting, primarily reflecting elevated industry-wide leveraged finance activity. Corporate lending net revenues were significantly higher, primarily reflecting net gains from lending activities compared with net losses in the prior year, and significantly higher net interest income.

Provision for credit losses was a net benefit of $298 million for 2021, compared with net provisions of $1.62 billion for 2020, primarily due to reserve reductions in the current year reflecting continued improvement in the broader economic environment following challenging conditions in 2020 resulting from the

COVID-19

pandemic.

Operating expenses were $6.71 billion for 2021, 9% higher than 2020, due to significantly higher compensation and benefits expenses (reflecting strong performance), partially offset by significantly lower net provisions for litigation and regulatory proceedings.

Pre-tax

earnings were $8.47 billion for 2021, compared with $1.67 billion for 2020. ROE was 64.8% for 2021, compared with 10.5% for 2020 (which included the impact of net provisions for litigation and regulatory proceedings that reduced ROE by 11.5 percentage points).

As of December 2021, our investment banking transaction backlog increased significantly compared with December 2020, due to significantly higher estimated net revenues from potential financial advisory transactions and potential debt underwriting transactions (particularly from leveraged finance transactions), and higher estimated net revenues from potential equity underwriting transactions.

Our backlog represents an estimate of our net revenues from future transactions where we believe that future revenue realization is more likely than not. We believe changes in our backlog may be a useful indicator of client activity levels which, over the long term, impact our net revenues. However, the time frame for completion and corresponding revenue recognition of transactions in our backlog varies based on the nature of the assignment, as certain transactions may remain in our backlog for longer periods of time. In addition, our backlog is subject to certain limitations, such as assumptions about the likelihood that individual client transactions will occur in the future. Transactions may be cancelled or modified, and transactions not included in the estimate may also occur.

Global Markets

Our Global Markets segment consists of:

FICC.

FICC generates revenues from intermediation and financing activities.

• FICC intermediation. Includes client execution activities related to making markets in both cash and derivative instruments, as detailed below.

Interest Rate Products.

Government bonds (including inflation-linked securities) across maturities, other government-backed securities, and interest rate swaps, options and other derivatives.

Credit Products.

Investment-grade and high-yield corporate securities, credit derivatives, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), bank and bridge loans, municipal securities, emerging market and distressed debt, and trade claims.

Mortgages.

Commercial mortgage-related securities, loans and derivatives, residential mortgage-related securities, loans and derivatives (including U.S. government agency-issued collateralized mortgage obligations and other securities and loans), and other asset-backed securities, loans and derivatives.

Currencies.

Currency options, spot/forwards and other derivatives on

G-10

currencies and emerging-market products.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 69

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

Commodities.

Commodity derivatives and, to a lesser extent, physical commodities, involving crude oil and petroleum products, natural gas, agricultural, base, precious and other metals, electricity, including renewable power, environmental products and other commodity products.

For further information about market-making activities, see “Market-Making Activities” below.

• FICC financing. Includes providing financing to our clients through warehouse loans backed by mortgages (including residential and commercial mortgage loans), corporate loans and consumer loans (including auto loans and private student loans). We also provide financing to clients through structured credit, asset-backed lending, and through securities purchased under agreements to resell (resale agreements).

Equities.

Equities generates revenues from intermediation and financing activities.

• Equities intermediation. We make markets in equity securities and equity-related products, including ETFs, convertible securities, options, futures and OTC derivative instruments. We also structure and make markets in derivatives on indices, industry sectors, financial measures and individual company stocks. Our exchange-based market-making activities include making markets in stocks and ETFs, futures and options on major exchanges worldwide. In addition, we generate commissions and fees from executing and clearing institutional client transactions on major stock, options and futures exchanges worldwide, as well as OTC transactions. For further information about market-making activities, see “Market-Making Activities” below.

• Equities financing. Includes prime brokerage and other equities financing activities, including securities lending, margin lending and swaps. We earn fees by providing clearing, settlement and custody services globally. We provide services that principally involve borrowing and lending securities to cover institutional clients’ short sales and borrowing securities to cover our short sales and to make deliveries into the market. In addition, we are an active participant in broker-to-broker securities lending and third-party agency lending activities. We provide financing to our clients for their securities trading activities through margin loans that are collateralized by securities, cash or other acceptable collateral. In addition, we execute swap transactions to provide our clients with exposure to securities and indices.

Market-Making Activities

As a market maker, we facilitate transactions in both liquid and less liquid markets, primarily for institutional clients, such as corporations, financial institutions, investment funds and governments, to assist clients in meeting their investment objectives and in managing their risks. In this role, we seek to earn the difference between the price at which a market participant is willing to sell an instrument to us and the price at which another market participant is willing to buy it from us, and vice versa (i.e., bid/offer spread). In addition, we maintain (i) market-making positions, typically for a short period of time, in response to, or in anticipation of, client demand, and (ii) positions to actively manage our risk exposures that arise from these market-making activities (collectively, inventory). Our inventory is recorded in trading assets (long positions) or trading liabilities (short positions) in our consolidated balance sheets.

Our results are influenced by a combination of interconnected drivers, including (i) client activity levels and transactional bid/offer spreads (collectively, client activity), and (ii) changes in the fair value of our inventory and interest income and interest expense related to the holding, hedging and funding of our inventory (collectively, market-making inventory changes). Due to the integrated nature of our market-making activities, disaggregation of net revenues into client activity and market-making inventory changes is judgmental and has inherent complexities and limitations.

The amount and composition of our net revenues vary over time as these drivers are impacted by multiple interrelated factors affecting economic and market conditions, including volatility and liquidity in the market, changes in interest rates, currency exchange rates, credit spreads, equity prices and commodity prices, investor confidence, and other macroeconomic concerns and uncertainties.

In general, assuming all other market-making conditions remain constant, increases in client activity levels or bid/offer spreads tend to result in increases in net revenues, and decreases tend to have the opposite effect. However, changes in market-making conditions can materially impact client activity levels and bid/offer spreads, as well as the fair value of our inventory. For example, a decrease in liquidity in the market could have the impact of (i) increasing our bid/offer spread, (ii) decreasing investor confidence and thereby decreasing client activity levels, and (iii) widening of credit spreads on our inventory positions.

70 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

The table below presents our Global Markets assets.

	As of December
$ in millions		2021	2020
Cash and cash equivalents		$  131,390	$  86,663
Collateralized agreements		343,535	212,711
Customer and other receivables		142,547	110,473
Trading assets		337,040	339,349
Investments		55,285	52,929
Loans		60,916	33,214
Other assets		11,665	9,267
Total		$1,082,378	$844,606

The table below presents our Global Markets operating results.

	Year Ended December
$ in millions		2021	2020	2019
FICC intermediation		$  8,647	$  9,991	$  6,009
FICC financing		1,937	1,593	1,379
FICC		10,584	11,584	7,388
Equities intermediation		7,574	6,989	4,374
Equities financing		3,919	2,584	3,017
Equities		11,493	9,573	7,391
Net revenues		22,077	21,157	14,779
Provision for credit losses		45	274	35
Operating expenses		12,969	12,806	10,851
Pre-tax earnings		9,063	8,077	3,893
Provision for taxes		1,813	1,955	779
Net earnings		7,250	6,122	3,114
Preferred stock dividends		277	356	385
Net earnings to common		$  6,973	$  5,766	$  2,729
Average common equity		$45,497	$40,760	$40,060
Return on average common equity		15.3%	14.1%	6.8%

The table below presents our Global Markets net revenues by line item in the consolidated statements of earnings.

$ in millions	FICC	Equities		Global Markets
Year Ended December 2021
Market making	$  7,584	$  7,768		$15,352
Commissions and fees	–	3,543		3,543
Other principal transactions	358	56		414
Net interest income	2,642	126		2,768
Total	$10,584	$11,493		$22,077
Year Ended December 2020
Market making	$  8,972	$  6,574		$15,546
Commissions and fees	–	3,347		3,347
Other principal transactions	53	(18	)	35
Net interest income	2,559	(330	)	2,229
Total	$11,584	$  9,573		$21,157
Year Ended December 2019
Market making	$  5,813	$  4,344		$10,157
Commissions and fees	–	2,900		2,900
Other principal transactions	1	51		52
Net interest income	1,574	96		1,670
Total	$  7,388	$  7,391		$14,779

In the table above:

• The difference between commissions and fees and those in the consolidated statements of earnings represents commissions and fees included in our Consumer & Wealth Management segment.

• See “Net Revenues” for information about market making revenues, commissions and fees, other principal transactions revenues and net interest income. See Note 25 to the consolidated financial statements for net interest income by segment.

• The primary driver of net revenues for FICC intermediation was client activity.

Operating Environment.

During 2021, Global Markets operated in an environment characterized by continued economic recovery and continued monetary and fiscal support from central banks and governments, which contributed to strong client activity levels, although activity declined from a very strong prior year which reflected heightened volatility and significant market dislocations as a result of the

COVID-19

pandemic. In addition, global equity prices were generally higher compared with the end of 2020, as the S&P 500 Index increased by 27% and the MSCI World Index increased by 17%. Market volatility continued to moderate from elevated levels last year, as the average daily VIX was 33% lower than 2020. If macroeconomic conditions lead to a continued decline in activity levels or continued decline in volatility, net revenues in Global Markets would likely be negatively impacted.

2021 versus 2020.

Net revenues in Global Markets were $22.08 billion for 2021, 4% higher than 2020.

Net revenues in FICC were $10.58 billion, 9% lower than 2020, due to lower net revenues in FICC intermediation, reflecting significantly lower net revenues in interest rate products and credit products and slightly lower net revenues in currencies, partially offset by significantly higher net revenues in mortgages and higher net revenues in commodities. Net revenues in FICC financing were significantly higher, reflecting significantly higher net revenues from mortgage lending, partially offset by significantly lower net revenues from resale agreements.

The decrease in FICC intermediation net revenues reflected strong but significantly lower client activity compared with very strong activity levels in the prior year due to high volatility amid the

COVID-19

pandemic. This was partially offset by the impact of improved market-making conditions on our inventory compared with challenging conditions in the prior year. The following provides information about our FICC intermediation net revenues by business, compared with 2020 results:

• Net revenues in interest rate products primarily reflected lower client activity.

• Net revenues in credit products and currencies reflected lower client activity, partially offset by the impact of improved market-making conditions on our inventory.

• Net revenues in mortgages reflected the impact of improved market-making conditions on our inventory.

• Net revenues in commodities primarily reflected higher client activity.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 71

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

Net revenues in Equities were $11.49 billion, 20% higher than 2020, due to significantly higher net revenues in Equities financing, primarily reflecting increased activity (including higher average client balances), and higher net revenues in Equities intermediation, across both derivatives and cash products.

Provision for credit losses was $45 million for 2021, compared with $274 million for 2020, primarily reflecting reserve reductions in the current year due to continued improvement in the broader economic environment following challenging conditions in 2020 resulting from the

COVID-19

pandemic, partially offset by portfolio growth.

Operating expenses were $12.97 billion for 2021, essentially unchanged compared with 2020, as higher compensation and benefits expenses (reflecting strong performance) and higher transaction based expenses were offset by significantly lower net provisions for litigation and regulatory proceedings.

Pre-tax

earnings were $9.06 billion, 12% higher than 2020. ROE was 15.3% for 2021, compared with 14.1% for 2020 (which included the impact of net provisions for litigation and regulatory proceedings that reduced ROE by 4.0 percentage points).

Asset Management

We manage client assets across a broad range of investment strategies and asset classes for a diverse set of institutional clients and a network of third-party distributors around the world, including equity, fixed income and alternative investments. We provide investment solutions including those managed on a fiduciary basis by our portfolio managers, as well as those managed by third-party managers. We offer our investment solutions in a variety of structures, including separately managed accounts, mutual funds, private partnerships and other commingled vehicles. These solutions begin with identifying clients’ objectives and continue through portfolio construction, ongoing asset allocation and risk management and investment realization.

In addition to managing client assets, we invest in alternative investments across a range of asset classes that seek to deliver long-term accretive risk-adjusted returns. Our investing activities, which are typically longer term, include investments in corporate equity, credit, real estate and infrastructure assets.

Asset Management generates revenues from the following:

• Management and other fees. The majority of revenues in management and other fees consists of asset-based fees on client assets that we manage. For further information about AUS, see “Assets Under Supervision” below. The fees that we charge vary by asset class, distribution channel and the types of services provided, and are affected by investment performance, as well as asset inflows and redemptions.

• Incentive fees. In certain circumstances, we also receive incentive fees based on a percentage of a fund’s or a separately managed account’s return, or when the return exceeds a specified benchmark or other performance targets. Such fees include overrides, which consist of the increased share of the income and gains derived primarily from our private equity and credit funds when the return on a fund’s investments over the life of the fund exceeds certain threshold returns.

• Equity investments. Our alternative investing activities relate to public and private equity investments in corporate, real estate and infrastructure entities. We also make investments through consolidated investment entities (CIEs), substantially all of which are engaged in real estate investment activities.

• Lending and debt investments. We invest in corporate debt and provide financing for real estate and other assets. These activities include investments in mezzanine debt, senior debt and distressed debt securities.

The table below presents our Asset Management assets.

	As of December
$ in millions		2021	2020
Cash and cash equivalents		$16,636	$  8,635
Collateralized agreements		5,227	4,749
Customer and other receivables		946	1,261
Trading assets		5,000	6,819
Investments		32,318	34,386
Loans		13,698	16,558
Other assets		17,290	23,343
Total		$91,115	$95,751

The table below presents our Asset Management operating results.

	Year Ended December
$ in millions		2021	2020	2019
Management and other fees		$  2,883	$  2,785	$  2,600
Incentive fees		438	287	130
Equity investments		9,189	4,095	4,765
Lending and debt investments		2,406	817	1,470
Net revenues		14,916	7,984	8,965
Provision for credit losses		18	442	274
Operating expenses		5,970	5,142	4,817
Pre-tax earnings		8,928	2,400	3,874
Provision for taxes		1,785	581	775
Net earnings		7,143	1,819	3,099
Preferred stock dividends		97	79	86
Net earnings to common		$  7,046	$  1,740	$  3,013
Average common equity		$25,195	$20,491	$21,575
Return on average common equity		28.0%	8.5%	14.0%

The table below presents our Equity investments net revenues by equity type and asset class.

	Year Ended December
$ in millions		2021		2020	2019
Equity Type
Private equity		$  9,266		$  2,417	$  4,288
Public equity		(77	)	1,678	477
Total		$  9,189		$  4,095	$  4,765
Asset Class
Real estate		$  2,489		$  1,621	$  2,384
Corporate		6,700		2,474	2,381
Total		$  9,189		$  4,095	$  4,765

72 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

The table below presents details about our Lending and debt investments net revenues.

	Year Ended December
$ in millions		2021	2020		2019
Fair value net gains/(losses)		$1,155	$  (228	)	$  334
Net interest income		1,251	1,045		1,136
Total		$2,406	$  817		$1,470

Operating Environment.

During 2021, the operating environment for Asset Management improved, as global equity prices were generally higher and credit spreads tightened, amid economic recovery and continued support from central banks and governments globally. If optimism about the economic outlook declines or the ongoing efforts to mitigate the impact of the

COVID-19

pandemic are ineffective, it may lead to a decline in asset prices, widening of credit spreads, and investors transitioning to asset classes that typically generate lower fees or investors withdrawing their assets, and net revenues in Asset Management would likely be negatively impacted.

2021 versus 2020.

Net revenues in Asset Management were $14.92 billion for 2021, 87% higher than 2020, primarily reflecting significantly higher net revenues in Equity investments and Lending and debt investments.

The increase in Equity investments net revenues reflected significantly higher net gains from investments in private equities, driven by company-specific events and improved corporate performance compared with 2020, partially offset by net losses from investments in public equities compared with significant net gains in the prior year.

The increase in Lending and debt investments net revenues reflected net gains from investments in debt instruments compared with net losses in the prior year, and significantly higher net interest income.

Incentive fees were higher, primarily driven by harvesting, and Management and other fees were slightly higher, reflecting the impact of higher average assets under supervision, partially offset by higher fee waivers on money market funds.

Provision for credit losses was $18 million for 2021, compared with $442 million for 2020, primarily due to reserve reductions in the current year reflecting continued improvement in the broader economic environment following challenging conditions in 2020 resulting from the

COVID-19

pandemic.

Operating expenses were $5.97 billion for 2021, 16% higher than 2020, primarily due to significantly higher compensation and benefits expenses (reflecting strong performance), partially offset by lower expenses related to consolidated investments (including impairments).

Pre-tax

earnings were $8.93 billion for 2021, compared with $2.40 billion for 2020. ROE was 28.0% for 2021, compared with 8.5% for 2020.

Consumer & Wealth Management

Consumer & Wealth Management helps clients achieve their individual financial goals by providing a broad range of wealth advisory and banking services, including financial planning, investment management, deposit-taking and lending. Services are offered through our global network of advisors and via our digital platforms.

Wealth Management.

Wealth management provides tailored wealth advisory services to clients across the wealth spectrum. We operate globally serving individuals, families, family offices, and foundations and endowments. Our relationships are established directly or introduced through corporations that sponsor financial wellness programs for their employees.

We offer personalized financial planning inclusive of income and liability management, compensation and benefits analysis, trust and estate structuring, tax optimization, philanthropic giving, and asset protection. We also provide customized investment advisory solutions, and offer structuring and execution capabilities in security and derivative products across all major global markets. We leverage a broad, open-architecture investment platform and our global execution capabilities to help clients achieve their investment goals. In addition, we offer clients a full range of private banking services, including a variety of deposit alternatives and loans that our clients use to finance investments in both financial and nonfinancial assets, bridge cash flow timing gaps or provide liquidity and flexibility for other needs.

Wealth management generates revenues from the following:

• Management and other fees. Includes fees related to managing assets, providing investing and wealth advisory solutions, providing financial planning and counseling services via Ayco Personal Financial Management, and executing brokerage transactions for wealth management clients.

• Incentive fees. In certain circumstances, we also receive incentive fees from wealth management clients based on a percentage of a fund’s return, or when the return exceeds a specified benchmark or other performance targets. Such fees include overrides, which consist of the increased share of the income and gains derived primarily from our private equity and credit funds when the return on a fund’s investments over the life of the fund exceeds certain threshold returns.

• Private banking and lending. Includes net interest income allocated to deposit-taking and net interest income earned on lending activities for wealth management clients.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 73

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

Consumer Banking.

Our Consumer banking business issues unsecured loans, through our digital platform,

Marcus by Goldman Sachs

(Marcus),and credit cards, to finance the purchases of goods or services. We also accept deposits (including savings and time deposits) through Marcus, in Goldman Sachs Bank USA (GS Bank USA) and GSIB. Additionally, we provide investing services through

Marcus Invest

to U.S. customers.

Consumer banking revenues consist of net interest income earned on unsecured loans issued to consumers through Marcus and credit card lending activities, and net interest income attributed to consumer deposits.

The table below presents our Consumer & Wealth Management assets.

	As of December
$ in millions		2021	2020
Cash and cash equivalents		$  48,573	$  25,814
Collateralized agreements		14,358	12,518
Customer and other receivables		11,932	7,132
Trading assets		13,538	17,969
Investments		63	52
Loans		54,393	39,799
Other assets		3,481	3,145
Total		$146,338	$106,429

The table below presents our Consumer & Wealth Management operating results.

	Year Ended December
$ in millions		2021	2020	2019
Management and other fees		$  4,691	$3,889	$3,475
Incentive fees		178	114	81
Private banking and lending		1,109	780	783
Wealth management		5,978	4,783	4,339
Consumer banking		1,492	1,213	864
Net revenues		7,470	5,996	5,203
Provision for credit losses		592	758	423
Operating expenses		6,294	4,901	4,545
Pre-tax earnings		584	337	235
Provision for taxes		117	81	47
Net earnings		467	256	188
Preferred stock dividends		40	40	29
Net earnings to common		$    427	$   216	$   159
Average common equity		$10,796	$8,012	$6,292
Return on average common equity		4.0%	2.7%	2.5%

Operating Environment.

During 2021, improved market and economic conditions contributed to a more favorable backdrop for consumer banking and wealth management activities. Global equity prices were generally higher and, in the U.S., unemployment decreased and consumer spending increased compared with 2020, aided by optimism about the economic recovery and continued support from central banks and governments globally. If optimism about the economic outlook declines or the ongoing efforts to mitigate the impact of the

COVID-19

pandemic are ineffective, it may lead to a decline in asset prices, investors favoring asset classes that typically generate lower fees, investors withdrawing their assets and consumers withdrawing their deposits or deterioration in consumer credit, net revenues and the provision for credit losses in Consumer & Wealth Management would likely be negatively impacted.

2021 versus 2020.

Net revenues in Consumer & Wealth Management were $7.47 billion for 2021, 25% higher than 2020.

Net revenues in Wealth management were $5.98 billion, 25% higher than 2020, due to significantly higher Management and other fees, primarily reflecting the impact of higher average assets under supervision, and significantly higher net revenues in Private banking and lending, primarily reflecting higher loan balances. In addition, Incentive fees were higher, primarily due to harvesting.

Net revenues in Consumer banking were $1.49 billion, 23% higher than 2020, reflecting higher credit card and deposit balances.

Provision for credit losses was $592 million for 2021, 22% lower than 2020, primarily due to reserve reductions in the current year reflecting continued improvement in the broader economic environment following challenging conditions in 2020, partially offset by growth in credit card balances, including approximately $185 million of provisions related to the commitment to acquire the General Motors

co-branded

credit card portfolio.

Operating expenses were $6.29 billion for 2021, 28% higher than 2020, primarily reflecting significantly higher compensation and benefits expenses (reflecting strong performance).

Pre-tax

earnings were $584 million for 2021, 73% higher than 2020. ROE was 4.0% for 2021, compared with 2.7% for 2020.

74 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

Assets Under Supervision

AUS includes our institutional clients’ assets and assets sourced through third-party distributors (both included in our Asset Management segment), as well as

high-net-worth

clients’ assets (included in our Consumer & Wealth Management segment), where we earn a fee for managing assets on a discretionary basis. This includes net assets in our mutual funds, hedge funds, credit funds, private equity funds, real estate funds, and separately managed accounts for institutional and individual investors. AUS also includes client assets invested with third-party managers, private bank deposits and advisory relationships where we earn a fee for advisory and other services, but do not have investment discretion. AUS does not include the self-directed brokerage assets of our clients.

The table below presents information about our firmwide

period-end

AUS by segment, asset class, distribution channel, region and vehicle.

	As of December
$ in billions		2021	2020	2019
Segment
Asset Management		$1,719	$1,530	$1,298
Consumer & Wealth Management		751	615	561
Total AUS		$2,470	$2,145	$1,859
Asset Class
Alternative investments		$236	$191	$185
Equity		613	475	423
Fixed income		940	896	789
Total long-term AUS		1,789	1,562	1,397
Liquidity products		681	583	462
Total AUS		$2,470	$2,145	$1,859
Distribution Channel
Institutional		$824	$761	$684
Wealth management		751	615	561
Third-party distributed		895	769	614
Total AUS		$2,470	$2,145	$1,859
Region
Americas		$1,930	$1,656	$1,408
EMEA		354	318	279
Asia		186	171	172
Total AUS		$2,470	$2,145	$1,859
Vehicle
Separate accounts		$1,347	$1,186	$1,069
Public funds		811	707	603
Private funds and other		312	252	187
Total AUS		$2,470	$2,145	$1,859

In the table above:

• Liquidity products includes money market funds and private bank deposits.

• EMEA represents Europe, Middle East and Africa.

The table below presents changes in our AUS.

	Year Ended December
$ in billions		2021	2020		2019
Asset Management
Beginning balance		$1,530	$1,298		$1,087
Net inflows/(outflows):
Alternative investments		15	(3	)	2
Equity		5	(12	)	34
Fixed income		54	53		35
Total long-term AUS net inflows/(outflows)		74	38		71
Liquidity products		76	107		52
Total AUS net inflows/(outflows)		150	145		123
Net market appreciation/(depreciation)		39	87		88
Ending balance		$1,719	$1,530		$1,298
Consumer & Wealth Management
Beginning balance		$615	$561		$455
Net inflows/(outflows):
Alternative investments		18	2		9
Equity		36	8		11
Fixed income		2	(6	)	17
Total long-term AUS net inflows/(outflows)		56	4		37
Liquidity products		22	14		13
Total AUS net inflows/(outflows)		78	18		50
Net market appreciation/(depreciation)		58	36		56
Ending balance		$751	$615		$561
Firmwide
Beginning balance		$2,145	$1,859		$1,542
Net inflows/(outflows):
Alternative investments		33	(1	)	11
Equity		41	(4	)	45
Fixed income		56	47		52
Total long-term AUS net inflows/(outflows)		130	42		108
Liquidity products		98	121		65
Total AUS net inflows/(outflows)		228	163		173
Net market appreciation/(depreciation)		97	123		144
Ending balance		$2,470	$2,145		$1,859

In the table above, total AUS net inflows/(outflows) for 2019 included $71 billion of inflows (substantially all in equity and fixed income assets) in connection with the acquisitions of Standard & Poor’s Investment Advisory Services (SPIAS), GS Personal Financial Management and Rocaton Investment Advisors (Rocaton). SPIAS and Rocaton were included in the Asset Management segment and GS Personal Financial Management was included in the Consumer & Wealth Management segment.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 75

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

The table below presents information about our average monthly firmwide AUS by segment and asset class.

	Average for the Year Ended December
$ in billions		2021	2020	2019
Segment
Asset Management		$1,628	$1,429	$1,182
Consumer & Wealth Management		674	565	505
Total AUS		$2,302	$1,994	$1,687
Asset Class
Alternative investments		$211	$183	$176
Equity		547	409	364
Fixed income		919	829	746
Total long-term AUS		1,677	1,421	1,286
Liquidity products		625	573	401
Total AUS		$2,302	$1,994	$1,687

In addition to our AUS, we have discretion over alternative investments where we currently do not earn management fees

(non-fee-earning

alternative assets).

We earn management fees on client assets that we manage and also receive incentive fees based on a percentage of a fund’s or a separately managed account’s return, or when the return exceeds a specified benchmark or other performance targets. These incentive fees are recognized when it is probable that a significant reversal of such fees will not occur. Our estimated unrecognized incentive fees were $3.39 billion as of December 2021 and $1.79 billion as of December 2020. Such amounts are based on the completion of the funds’ financial statements, which is generally one quarter in arrears. These fees will be recognized, assuming no decline in fair value, if and when it is probable that a significant reversal of such fees will not occur, which is generally when such fees are no longer subject to fluctuations in the market value of the assets.

Our firmwide management and other fees were $7.57 billion for 2021, $6.67 billion for 2020 and $6.08 billion for 2019. In the first quarter of 2022, we announced that our target is to achieve management and other fees of more than $10 billion (including more than $2 billion from alternative AUS) in 2024.

The table below presents our average effective management fee (which excludes

non-asset-based

fees) earned on our firmwide AUS.

	Year Ended December
Effective fees (bps)		2021	2020	2019
Asset Class
Alternative investments		63	61	61
Equity		60	58	61
Fixed income		17	18	19
Liquidity products		5	14	16
Total average effective fee		29	29	32

The table below presents details about our monthly average AUS for alternative investments and the average effective management fee we earned on such assets.

$ in billions	Direct Strategies	Fund of Funds	Total
Year Ended December 2021
Average AUS
Corporate equity	$  20	$59	$  79
Credit	19	1	20
Real estate	8	7	15
Hedge funds and other	51	11	62
Funds and discretionary accounts	$  98	$78	$176
Advisory accounts			35
Total average AUS for alternative investments			$211
Effective Fees (bps)
Corporate equity	117	57	72
Credit	102	54	98
Real estate	93	56	76
Hedge funds and other	61	66	62
Funds and discretionary accounts	83	58	72
Advisory accounts			17
Total average effective fee			63
Year Ended December 2020
Average AUS
Corporate equity	$  15	$58	$  73
Credit	13	2	15
Real estate	7	6	13
Hedge funds and other	44	10	54
Fundsand discretionary accounts	$  79	$76	$155
Advisory accounts			28
Total average AUS for alternative investments			$183
Effective Fees (bps)
Corporate equity	131	57	73
Credit	95	53	89
Real estate	87	63	75
Hedge funds and other	59	65	60
Funds and discretionary accounts	81	59	70
Advisory accounts			13
Total average effective fee			61
Year Ended December 2019
Average AUS
Corporate equity	$  16	$51	$  67
Credit	10	2	12
Real estate	6	4	10
Hedge funds and other	47	11	58
Funds and discretionary accounts	$  79	$68	$147
Advisory accounts			29
Total average AUS for alternative investments			$176
Effective Fees (bps)
Corporate equity	134	52	73
Credit	108	48	99
Real estate	88	59	76
Hedge funds and other	61	61	61
Funds and discretionary accounts	84	54	70
Advisory accounts			13
Total average effective fee			61

76 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

The table below presents information about our

period-end

AUS for alternative investments,

non-fee-earning

alternative investments and total alternative investments.

$ in billions	AUS	Non-fee-earning alternative assets	Total alternative assets
As of December 2021
Corporate equity	$  87	$  79	$166
Credit	25	69	94
Real estate	16	39	55
Hedge funds and other	70	2	72
Funds and discretionary accounts	198	189	387
Advisory accounts	38	1	39
Total alternative investments	$236	$190	$426
As of December 2020
Corporate equity	$  74	$  51	$125
Credit	18	72	90
Real estate	13	43	56
Hedge funds and other	56	2	58
Funds and discretionary accounts	161	168	329
Advisory accounts	30	1	31
Total alternative investments	$191	$169	$360
As of December 2019
Corporate equity	$  76	$  38	$114
Credit	14	51	65
Real estate	8	43	51
Hedge funds and other	58	2	60
Funds and discretionary accounts	156	134	290
Advisory accounts	29	–	29
Total alternative investments	$185	$134	$319

In the table above:

• Corporate equity primarily includes private equity.

• Total alternative investments included uncalled capital that is available for future investing of $42 billion as of December 2021, $44 billion as of December 2020 and $32 billion as of December 2019.

• Non-fee-earning alternative investments primarily includes investments that we hold on our balance sheet, our unfunded commitments, unfunded commitments of our clients (where we do not charge fees on commitments), credit facilities collateralized by fund assets and employee funds. Our calculation of non-fee-earning alternative investments may not be comparable to similar calculations used by other companies.

In the beginning of 2020, we announced a strategic objective of growing our third-party alternatives business, and established a target of achieving gross inflows of $150 billion for alternative investments by the end of 2024. In the first quarter of 2022, we increased that target to $225 billion by the end of 2024.

The table below presents information about third-party commitments raised in our alternatives business during 2020 and 2021.

$ in billions	As of December 2021
Included in AUS	$  64
Included in non-fee-earning alternative assets	43
Third-party commitments raised	$107

In the table above, commitments included in

non-fee-earning

alternative investments included approximately $29 billion which will begin to earn fees (and become AUS), if and when the commitments are drawn and assets are invested.

The table below presents information about alternative investments in our Asset Management segment that we hold on our balance sheet.

$ in billions	Loans	Debt securities	Equity securities	CIE investments and other	Total
As of December 2021
Corporate equity	$–	$–	$15	$–	$15
Credit	7	11	–	–	18
Real estate	7	2	4	14	27
Other	–	–	–	1	1
Total	$14	$13	$19	$15	$61
As of December 2020
Corporate equity	$–	$–	$16	$–	$16
Credit	8	11	–	–	19
Real estate	9	2	4	19	34
Other	–	–	–	1	1
Total	$17	$13	$20	$20	$70
As of December 2019
Corporate equity	$–	$–	$17	$–	$17
Credit	8	12	–	–	20
Real estate	9	2	5	17	33
Other	–	–	–	1	1
Total	$17	$14	$22	$18	$71

Loans and Debt Securities.

The table below presents the concentration of loans and debt securities within our alternative investments by accounting classification, region and industry.

	As of December
$ in billions		2021	2020
Loans		$14	$ 17
Debt securities		13	13
Total		$27	$ 30
Accounting Classification
Debt securities at fair value		48%	44%
Loans at amortized cost		40%	43%
Loans at fair value		12%	13%
Total		100%	100%
Region
Americas		44%	45%
EMEA		34%	33%
Asia		22%	22%
Total		100%	100%
Industry
Consumers		4%	5%
Financial Institutions		8%	7%
Healthcare		11%	9%
Industrials		14%	15%
Natural Resources & Utilities		3%	4%
Real Estate		33%	36%
Technology, Media & Telecommunications		17%	14%
Other		10%	10%
Total		100%	100%

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 77

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

Equity Securities.

The table below presents the concentration of equity securities within our alternative investments by region and industry.

	As of December
$ in billions		2021	2020
Equity securities		$19	$20
Region
Americas		57%	51%
EMEA		23%	18%
Asia		20%	31%
Total		100%	100%
Industry
Consumers		6%	2%
Financial Institutions		11%	25%
Healthcare		11%	8%
Industrials		7%	5%
Natural Resources & Utilities		10%	7%
Real Estate		22%	18%
Technology, Media & Telecommunications		30%	31%
Other		3%	4%
Total		100%	100%

In the table above:

• Equity securities included $15 billion as of December 2021 and $17 billion as of December 2020 of private equity positions, and $4 billion as of December 2021 and $3 billion as of December 2020 of public equity positions that converted from private equity upon the initial public offerings of the underlying companies.

• The concentrations for real estate equity securities as of December 2021 were 5% for multifamily (3% as of December 2020), 5% for office (3% as of December 2020), 6% for mixed use (5% as of December 2020) and 6% for other real estate equity securities (7% as of December 2020).

The table below presents the concentration of equity securities within our alternative investments by vintage.

	Vintage
As of December 2021
2014 or earlier	21%
2015 - 2017	31%
2018 - thereafter	48%
Total	100%
As of December 2020
2013 or earlier	33%
2014 - 2016	34%
2017 - thereafter	33%
Total	100%

As we continue to grow our third-party alternatives business, we remain focused on our strategic objective to reduce the capital intensity of the Asset Management segment by reducing our

on-balance

sheet equity investments.

The table below presents the rollforward of our equity securities within our alternative investments from the beginning of 2020 through the end of 2021.

$ in billions	Total Equity
Beginning balance	$ 22
Additions	6
Dispositions	(18	)
Mark-ups	9
Ending balance	$ 19

CIE Investments and Other.

CIE investments and other included assets held by CIEs of $14 billion as of December 2021 and $19 billion as of December 2020, which were funded with liabilities of approximately $7 billion as of December 2021 and $10 billion as of December 2020. Substantially all such liabilities were nonrecourse, thereby reducing our equity at risk.

The table below presents the concentration of CIE assets, net of financings, within our alternative investments by region and asset class.

	As of December
$ in billions		2021	2020
CIE assets, net of financings		$7	$9
Region
Americas		63%	63%
EMEA		25%	22%
Asia		12%	15%
Total		100%	100%
Asset Class
Hospitality		4%	4%
Industrials		10%	10%
Multifamily		23%	23%
Office		24%	28%
Retail		5%	6%
Senior Housing		16%	13%
Student Housing		6%	7%
Other		12%	9%
Total		100%	100%

The table below presents the concentration of CIE assets, net of financings, within our alternative investments by vintage.

	Vintage
As of December 2021
2014 or earlier		2%
2015 - 2017		29%
2018 - thereafter		69%
Total		100%
As of December 2020
2013 or earlier		1%
2014 - 2016		17%
2017 - thereafter		82%
Total		100%

Geographic Data

See Note 25 to the consolidated financial statements for a summary of our total net revenues,

pre-tax

earnings and net earnings by geographic region.

78 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

Balance Sheet and Funding Sources

Balance Sheet Management

One of our risk management disciplines is our ability to manage the size and composition of our balance sheet. While our asset base changes due to client activity, market fluctuations and business opportunities, the size and composition of our balance sheet also reflects factors, including (i) our overall risk tolerance, (ii) the amount of capital we hold and (iii) our funding profile, among other factors. See “Capital Management and Regulatory Capital — Capital Management” for information about our capital management process.

Although our balance sheet fluctuates on a

day-to-day

basis, our total assets at

quarter-end

and

year-end

dates are generally not materially different from those occurring within our reporting periods.

In order to ensure appropriate risk management, we seek to maintain a sufficiently liquid balance sheet and have processes in place to dynamically manage our assets and liabilities, which include (i) balance sheet planning, (ii) balance sheet limits, (iii) monitoring of key metrics and (iv) scenario analyses.

Balance Sheet Planning.

We prepare a balance sheet plan that combines our projected total assets and composition of assets with our expected funding sources over a three-year time horizon. This plan is reviewed quarterly and may be adjusted in response to changing business needs or market conditions. The objectives of this planning process are:

• To develop our balance sheet projections, taking into account the general state of the financial markets and expected business activity levels, as well as regulatory requirements;

• To allow Treasury and our independent risk oversight and control functions to objectively evaluate balance sheet limit requests from our revenue-producing units in the context of our overall balance sheet constraints, including our liability profile and capital levels, and key metrics; and

• To inform the target amount, tenor and type of funding to raise, based on our projected assets and contractual maturities.

Treasury and our independent risk oversight and control functions, along with our revenue-producing units, review current and prior period information and expectations for the year to prepare our balance sheet plan. The specific information reviewed includes asset and liability size and composition, limit utilization, risk and performance measures, and capital usage.

Our consolidated balance sheet plan, including our balance sheets by business, funding projections and projected key metrics, is reviewed and approved by the Firmwide Asset Liability Committee and the Risk Governance Committee. See “Risk Management — Overview and Structure of Risk Management” for an overview of our risk management structure.

Balance Sheet Limits.

The Firmwide Asset Liability Committee and the Risk Governance Committee have the responsibility to review and approve balance sheet limits. These limits are set at levels which are close to actual operating levels, rather than at levels which reflect our maximum risk appetite, in order to ensure prompt escalation and discussion among our revenue-producing units, Treasury and our independent risk oversight and control functions on a routine basis. Requests for changes in limits are evaluated after giving consideration to their impact on our key metrics. Compliance with limits is monitored by our revenue-producing units and Treasury, as well as our independent risk oversight and control functions.

Monitoring of Key Metrics.

We monitor key balance sheet metrics both by business and on a consolidated basis, including asset and liability size and composition, limit utilization and risk measures. We attribute assets to businesses and review and analyze movements resulting from new business activity, as well as market fluctuations.

Scenario Analyses.

We conduct various scenario analyses, including as part of CCAR and U.S. Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act Stress Tests (DFAST), as well as our resolution and recovery planning. See “Capital Management and Regulatory Capital — Capital Management” for further information about these scenario analyses. These scenarios cover short- and long-term time horizons using various macroeconomic and firm-specific assumptions, based on a range of economic scenarios. We use these analyses to assist us in developing our longer-term balance sheet management strategy, including the level and composition of assets, funding and capital. Additionally, these analyses help us develop approaches for maintaining appropriate funding, liquidity and capital across a variety of situations, including a severely stressed environment.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 79

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

Balance Sheet Analysis and Metrics

As of December 2021, total assets in our consolidated balance sheets were $1.46 trillion, an increase of $300.96 billion from December 2020, primarily reflecting increases in collateralized agreements of $134.25 billion (primarily reflecting the impact of our and our clients’ activities), cash and cash equivalents of $105.19 billion (primarily reflecting our activity), loans of $42.45 billion (reflecting increases across the portfolio), and customer and other receivables of $39.34 billion (primarily reflecting client activity).

As of December 2021, total liabilities in our consolidated balance sheets were $1.35 trillion, an increase of $286.97 billion from December 2020, primarily reflecting increases in deposits of $104.27 billion (reflecting increases across channels), customer and other payables of $61.27 billion (primarily reflecting client activity), collateralized financings of $56.99 billion (primarily reflecting the impact of our and our clients’ activities), unsecured borrowings of $34.70 billion (primarily driven by new issuances partially offset by maturities), and trading liabilities of $27.70 billion (primarily reflecting the impact of our and our clients’ activities in government obligations, and corporate and other debt obligations, partially offset by the impact of interest rates, currency and commodity price movements on derivative instruments).

Our total securities sold under agreements to repurchase (repurchase agreements), accounted for as collateralized financings, were $165.88 billion as of December 2021 and $126.57 billion as of December 2020, which were 3% higher as of December 2021 and 24% higher as of December 2020 than the average daily amount of repurchase agreements over the respective quarters, and 14% higher as of December 2021 and 31% higher as of December 2020 than the average daily amount of repurchase agreements over the respective years. As of December 2021, the increase in our repurchase agreements relative to the average daily amount of repurchase agreements during the quarter and year resulted from higher levels of our and our clients’ activities at the end of the period.

The level of our repurchase agreements fluctuates between and within periods, primarily due to providing clients with access to highly liquid collateral, such as certain government and agency obligations, through collateralized financing activities.

The table below presents information about our balance sheet and leverage ratios.

	As of December
$ in millions		2021	2020
Total assets		$1,463,988	$1,163,028
Unsecured long-term borrowings		$  254,092	$  213,481
Total shareholders’ equity		$  109,926	$    95,932
Leverage ratio		13.3x	12.1x
Debt-to-equity ratio		2.3x	2.2x

In the table above:

• The leverage ratio equals total assets divided by total shareholders’ equity and measures the proportion of equity and debt we use to finance assets. This ratio is different from the leverage ratios included in Note 20 to the consolidated financial statements.

• The debt-to-equity ratio equals unsecured long-term borrowings divided by total shareholders’ equity.

The table below presents information about our shareholders’ equity and book value per common share, including the reconciliation of common shareholders’ equity to tangible common shareholders’ equity.

	As of December
$ in millions, except per share amounts		2021		2020
Total shareholders’ equity		$109,926		$ 95,932
Preferred stock		(10,703	)	(11,203	)
Common shareholders’ equity		99,223		84,729
Goodwill		(4,285	)	(4,332	)
Identifiable intangible assets		(418	)	(630	)
Tangible common shareholders’ equity		$  94,520		$ 79,767
Book value per common share		$  284.39		$ 236.15
Tangible book value per common share		$  270.91		$ 222.32

In the table above:

• Tangible common shareholders’ equity is calculated as total shareholders’ equity less preferred stock, goodwill and identifiable intangible assets. We believe that tangible common shareholders’ equity is meaningful because it is a measure that we and investors use to assess capital adequacy. Tangible common shareholders’ equity is a non-GAAP measure and may not be comparable to similar non-GAAP measures used by other companies.

• Book value per common share and tangible book value per common share are based on common shares outstanding and restricted stock units granted to employees with no future service requirements and not subject to performance or market conditions (collectively, basic shares) of 348.9 million as of December 2021 and 358.8 million as of December 2020. We believe that tangible book value per common share (tangible common shareholders’ equity divided by basic shares) is meaningful because it is a measure that we and investors use to assess capital adequacy. Tangible book value per common share is a non-GAAP measure and may not be comparable to similar non-GAAP measures used by other companies.

80 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

Funding Sources

Our primary sources of funding are deposits, collateralized financings, unsecured short- and long-term borrowings, and shareholders’ equity. We seek to maintain broad and diversified funding sources globally across products, programs, markets, currencies and creditors to avoid funding concentrations.

The table below presents information about our funding sources.

	As of December
$ in millions		2021		2020
Deposits		$  364,227	36%	$259,962	33%
Collateralized financings		230,932	23%	173,947	22%
Unsecured short-term borrowings		46,955	5%	52,870	6%
Unsecured long-term borrowings		254,092	25%	213,481	27%
Total shareholders’ equity		109,926	11%	95,932	12%
Total		$1,006,132	100%	$796,192	100%

Our funding is primarily raised in U.S. dollar, Euro, British pound and Japanese yen. We generally distribute our funding products through our own sales force and third-party distributors to a large, diverse creditor base in a variety of markets in the Americas, Europe and Asia. We believe that our relationships with our creditors are critical to our liquidity. Our creditors include banks, governments, securities lenders, corporations, pension funds, insurance companies, mutual funds and individuals. We have imposed various internal guidelines to monitor creditor concentration across our funding programs.

Deposits.

Our deposits provide us with a diversified source of funding and reduce our reliance on wholesale funding. We raise deposits, including savings, demand and time deposits, from private bank clients, consumers, transaction banking clients, other institutional clients, and through internal and third-party broker-dealers. Substantially all of our deposits are raised through GS Bank USA and GSIB. See Note 13 to the consolidated financial statements for further information about our deposits, including a maturity profile of our time deposits.

Secured Funding.

We fund a significant amount of inventory and a portion of investments on a secured basis. Secured funding includes collateralized financings in the consolidated balance sheets. See Note 11 to the consolidated financial statements for further information about our collateralized financings, including its maturity profile. We may also pledge our inventory and investments as collateral for securities borrowed under a securities lending agreement. We also use our own inventory and investments to cover transactions in which we or our clients have sold securities that have not yet been purchased. Secured funding is less sensitive to changes in our credit quality than unsecured funding, due to our posting of collateral to our lenders. Nonetheless, we analyze the refinancing risk of our secured funding activities, taking into account trade tenors, maturity profiles, counterparty concentrations, collateral eligibility and counterparty rollover probabilities. We seek to mitigate our refinancing risk by executing term trades with staggered maturities, diversifying counterparties, raising excess secured funding and

pre-funding

residual risk through our GCLA.

We seek to raise secured funding with a term appropriate for the liquidity of the assets that are being financed, and we seek longer maturities for secured funding collateralized by asset classes that may be harder to fund on a secured basis, especially during times of market stress. Our secured funding, excluding funding collateralized by liquid government and agency obligations, is primarily executed for tenors of one month or greater and is primarily executed through term repurchase agreements and securities loaned contracts.

Assets that may be harder to fund on a secured basis during times of market stress include certain financial instruments in the following categories: mortgage and other asset-backed loans and securities,

non-investment-grade

corporate debt securities, equity securities and emerging market securities.

We also raise financing through other types of collateralized financings, such as secured loans and notes. GS Bank USA has access to funding from the Federal Home Loan Bank. Our outstanding borrowings against the Federal Home Loan Bank were $100 million as of December 2021 and we had no outstanding borrowings as of December 2020. Additionally, we have access to funding through the Federal Reserve discount window. However, we do not rely on this funding in our liquidity planning and stress testing.

Unsecured Short-Term Borrowings.

A significant portion of our unsecured short-term borrowings was originally long-term debt that is scheduled to mature within one year of the reporting date. We use unsecured short-term borrowings, including U.S. and

non-U.S.

hybrid financial instruments and commercial paper, to finance liquid assets and for other cash management purposes. In accordance with regulatory requirements, Group Inc. does not issue debt with an original maturity of less than one year, other than to its subsidiaries. See Note 14 to the consolidated financial statements for further information about our unsecured short-term borrowings.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 81

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

Unsecured Long-Term Borrowings.

Unsecured long-term borrowings, including structured notes, are raised through syndicated U.S. registered offerings, U.S. registered and Rule 144A medium-term note programs, offshore medium-term note offerings and other debt offerings. We issue in different tenors, currencies and products to maximize the diversification of our investor base.

The table below presents our quarterly unsecured long-term borrowings maturity profile.

$ in millions	First Quarter	Second Quarter	Third Quarter	Fourth Quarter	Total
As of December 2021
2023	$15,373	$7,271	$8,939	$11,628	$  43,211
2024	$  8,622	$8,948	$8,869	$  7,297	33,736
2025	$  6,855	$9,732	$5,671	$  6,545	28,803
2026	$  6,174	$3,773	$3,485	$  8,725	22,157
2027 - thereafter					126,185
Total					$254,092

The weighted average maturity of our unsecured long-term borrowings as of December 2021 was approximately seven years. To mitigate refinancing risk, we seek to limit the principal amount of debt maturing over the course of any monthly, quarterly or annual time horizon. We enter into interest rate swaps to convert a portion of our unsecured long-term borrowings into floating-rate obligations to manage our exposure to interest rates. See Note 14 to the consolidated financial statements for further information about our unsecured long-term borrowings. We issued approximately $60 billion of benchmark debt during 2021 to support the growth in our total assets amid client demand and attractive return opportunities. We intend to issue significantly less benchmark debt in 2022 compared to our benchmark debt issuance in 2021, though actual issuances may differ due to business needs and market opportunities.

Shareholders’ Equity.

Shareholders’ equity is a stable and perpetual source of funding. See Note 19 to the consolidated financial statements for further information about our shareholders’ equity.

Capital Management and Regulatory Capital

Capital adequacy is of critical importance to us. We have in place a comprehensive capital management policy that provides a framework, defines objectives and establishes guidelines to assist us in maintaining the appropriate level and composition of capital in both

business-as-usual

and stressed conditions.

Capital Management

We determine the appropriate amount and composition of our capital by considering multiple factors, including our current and future regulatory capital requirements, the results of our capital planning and stress testing process, the results of resolution capital models and other factors, such as rating agency guidelines, subsidiary capital requirements, the business environment and conditions in the financial markets.

We manage our capital requirements and the levels of our capital usage principally by setting limits on the balance sheet and/or limits on risk, in each case at both the firmwide and business levels.

We principally manage the level and composition of our capital through issuances and repurchases of our common stock.

We may issue, redeem or repurchase our preferred stock, junior subordinated debt issued to trusts and other subordinated debt or other forms of capital as business conditions warrant. Prior to such redemptions or repurchases, we must receive approval from the FRB. See Notes 14 and 19 to the consolidated financial statements for further information about our preferred stock, junior subordinated debt issued to trusts and other subordinated debt.

Capital Planning and Stress Testing Process.

As part of capital planning, we project sources and uses of capital given a range of business environments, including stressed conditions. Our stress testing process is designed to identify and measure material risks associated with our business activities, including market risk, credit risk, operational risk and liquidity risk, as well as our ability to generate revenues.

Our capital planning process incorporates an internal capital adequacy assessment with the objective of ensuring that we are appropriately capitalized relative to the risks in our businesses. We incorporate stress scenarios into our capital planning process with a goal of holding sufficient capital to ensure we remain adequately capitalized after experiencing a severe stress event. Our assessment of capital adequacy is viewed in tandem with our assessment of liquidity adequacy and is integrated into our overall risk management structure, governance and policy framework.

Our stress tests incorporate our internally designed stress scenarios, including our internally developed severely adverse scenario, and those required by the FRB, and are designed to capture our specific vulnerabilities and risks. We provide further information about our stress test processes and a summary of the results on our website as described in “Business — Available Information” in Part I, Item 1 of this

Form 10-K.

As required by the FRB’s CCAR rules, we submit an annual capital plan for review by the FRB. The purpose of the FRB’s review is to ensure that we have a robust, forward-looking capital planning process that accounts for our unique risks and that permits continued operation during times of economic and financial stress.

82 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

The FRB evaluates us based, in part, on whether we have the capital necessary to continue operating under the baseline and severely adverse scenarios provided by the FRB and those developed internally. This evaluation also takes into account our process for identifying risk, our controls and governance for capital planning, and our guidelines for making capital planning decisions. In addition, the FRB evaluates our plan to make capital distributions (i.e., dividend payments and repurchases or redemptions of stock, subordinated debt or other capital securities) and issue capital, across the range of macroeconomic scenarios and firm-specific assumptions. The FRB determines the SCB applicable to us based on its own annual stress test. The SCB under the Standardized approach is calculated as (i) the difference between our starting and minimum projected CET1 capital ratios under the supervisory severely adverse scenario and (ii) our planned common stock dividends for each of the fourth through seventh quarters of the planning horizon, expressed as a percentage of risk-weighted assets (RWAs).

We submitted our 2021 CCAR capital plan in April 2021 and published a summary of our annual DFAST results in June 2021. See “Business — Available Information” in Part I, Item 1 of this

Form 10-K.

Based on our 2021 CCAR submission, the FRB reduced our SCB from 6.6% to 6.4%, resulting in a Standardized CET1 capital ratio requirement of 13.4% for the period from October 1, 2021 through September 30, 2022. See “Share Repurchase Program” for further information about common stock repurchases and dividends.

GS Bank USA has its own capital planning process and, starting in 2022, will be required to submit its annual stress test results to the FRB. GSI, GSIB and Goldman Sachs Bank Europe SE (GSBE) also have their own capital planning and stress testing processes, which incorporate internally designed stress tests developed in accordance with the guidelines of their respective regulators.

Contingency Capital Plan.

As part of our comprehensive capital management policy, we maintain a contingency capital plan. Our contingency capital plan provides a framework for analyzing and responding to a perceived or actual capital deficiency, including, but not limited to, identification of drivers of a capital deficiency, as well as mitigants and potential actions. It outlines the appropriate communication procedures to follow during a crisis period, including internal dissemination of information, as well as timely communication with external stakeholders.

Capital Attribution.

We assess each of our businesses’ capital usage based on our internal assessment of risks, which incorporates an attribution of our relevant regulatory capital requirements. These regulatory capital requirements are allocated using our attributed equity framework, which takes into consideration our most binding capital constraints. Our most binding capital constraint is based on the results of the FRB’s annual stress test, which includes the Standardized risk-based capital and leverage ratios.

We review and make any necessary adjustments to our attributed equity in January each year, to reflect, among other things, the results of our latest CCAR process, as well as projected changes in our balance sheet. On January 1, 2021, our allocation of attributed equity changed (relative to the allocation as of December 2020) as follows: attributed equity increased by approximately $3.7 billion for Asset Management and approximately $0.7 billion for Consumer & Wealth Management, while attributed equity decreased by approximately $2.3 billion for Global Markets and approximately $2.1 billion for Investment Banking. On January 1, 2022, our allocation of attributed equity changed (relative to the allocation as of December 2021) as follows: attributed equity increased by approximately $1.0 billion for Consumer & Wealth Management and approximately $0.5 billion for Investment Banking, while attributed equity decreased by approximately $0.8 billion for Global Markets and approximately $0.7 billion for Asset Management. See “Segment Assets and Operating Results — Segment Operating Results” for information about our average quarterly attributed equity by segment.

Share Repurchase Program.

We use our share repurchase program to help maintain the appropriate level of common equity. The repurchase program is effected primarily through regular open-market purchases (which may include repurchase plans designed to comply with

Rule 10b5-1

and accelerated share repurchases), the amounts and timing of which are determined primarily by our current and projected capital position and our capital plan submitted to the FRB as part of CCAR. The amounts and timing of the repurchases may also be influenced by general market conditions and the prevailing price and trading volumes of our common stock.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 83

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

In the third quarter of 2021, the Board of Directors of Group Inc. (Board) approved an increase in our common stock dividend from $1.25 to $2.00 per share. During the fourth quarter of 2021, we returned a total of $1.20 billion to shareholders, including common stock repurchases of $500 million and approximately $700 million in common stock dividends. We currently expect our common stock repurchases in the first quarter of 2022 to be at or around the levels of common stock repurchases in the fourth quarter of 2021. Consistent with our capital management philosophy, we will continue prioritizing deployment of capital for our clients where returns are attractive and return any excess capital to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases.

As of December 2021, the remaining share authorization under our existing repurchase program was 34.4 million shares. See “Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities” in Part II, Item 5 of this

Form 10-K

and Note 19 to the consolidated financial statements for further information about our share repurchase program, and see above for information about our capital planning and stress testing process.

Resolution Capital Models.

In connection with our resolution planning efforts, we have established a Resolution Capital Adequacy and Positioning framework, which is designed to ensure that our major subsidiaries (GS Bank USA, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC (GS&Co.), GSI, GSIB, GSBE, Goldman Sachs Japan Co., Ltd. (GSJCL), Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. and Goldman Sachs Asset Management International) have access to sufficient loss-absorbing capacity (in the form of equity, subordinated debt and unsecured senior debt) so that they are able to wind-down following a Group Inc. bankruptcy filing in accordance with our preferred resolution strategy.

In addition, we have established a triggers and alerts framework, which is designed to provide the Board with information needed to make an informed decision on whether and when to commence bankruptcy proceedings for Group Inc.

Rating Agency Guidelines

The credit rating agencies assign credit ratings to the obligations of Group Inc., which directly issues or guarantees substantially all of our senior unsecured debt obligations. GS&Co. and GSI have been assigned long- and short-term issuer ratings by certain credit rating agencies. GS Bank USA, GSIB and GSBE have also been assigned long- and short-term issuer ratings, as well as ratings on their long- and short-term bank deposits. In addition, credit rating agencies have assigned ratings to debt obligations of certain other subsidiaries of Group Inc.

The level and composition of our capital are among the many factors considered in determining our credit ratings. Each agency has its own definition of eligible capital and methodology for evaluating capital adequacy, and assessments are generally based on a combination of factors rather than a single calculation. See “Risk Management — Liquidity Risk Management — Credit Ratings” for further information about credit ratings of Group Inc., GS Bank USA, GSIB, GSBE, GS&Co. and GSI.

Consolidated Regulatory Capital

We are subject to consolidated regulatory capital requirements which are calculated in accordance with the regulations of the FRB (Capital Framework). Under the Capital Framework, we are an “Advanced approach” banking organization and have been designated as a global systemically important bank

(G-SIB).

The capital requirements calculated under the Capital Framework include the capital conservation buffer requirements, which are comprised of a 2.5% buffer (under the Advanced Capital Rules), the SCB (under the Standardized Capital Rules), a countercyclical capital buffer (under both Capital Rules) and the

G-SIB

surcharge (under both Capital Rules). Our

G-SIB

surcharge is 2.5% for 2021 and 2022 and 3.0% for 2023. Based on financial data for 2021, we are above the threshold for the 3.5%

G-SIB

surcharge. The earliest this surcharge could be effective is January 2024. The

G-SIB

surcharge and countercyclical capital buffer in the future may differ due to additional guidance from our regulators and/or positional changes, and our SCB is likely to change from year to year based on the results of the annual supervisory stress tests. Our target is to maintain capital ratios equal to the regulatory requirements plus a buffer of 50 to 100 basis points.

See Note 20 to the consolidated financial statements for further information about our risk-based capital ratios and leverage ratios, and the Capital Framework.

Total Loss-Absorbing Capacity (TLAC)

We are also subject to the FRB’s TLAC and related requirements. Failure to comply with the TLAC and related requirements would result in restrictions being imposed by the FRB and could limit our ability to repurchase shares, pay dividends and make certain discretionary compensation payments.

84 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

The table below presents TLAC and external long-term debt requirements.

	As of December
		2021	2020
TLAC to RWAs		21.5%	22.0%
TLAC to leverage exposure		9.5%	9.5%
External long-term debt to RWAs		8.5%	8.5%
External long-term debt to leverage exposure		4.5%	4.5%

In the table above:

• As of both December 2021 and December 2020, the TLAC to RWAs requirement included (i) the 18% minimum, (ii) the 2.5% buffer, (iii) the countercyclical capital buffer, which the FRB has set to zero percent and (iv) the G-SIB surcharge (Method 1). The G-SIB surcharge (Method 1) was 1.0% as of December 2021 and 1.5% as of December 2020.

• The TLAC to leverage exposure requirement includes (i) the 7.5% minimum and (ii) the 2.0% leverage exposure buffer.

• The external long-term debt to RWAs requirement includes (i) the 6% minimum and (ii) the 2.5% G-SIB surcharge (Method 2).

• The external long-term debt to total leverage exposure is the 4.5% minimum.

The table below presents information about our TLAC and external long-term debt ratios.

	For the Three Months Ended or as of December
$ in millions		2021	2020
TLAC		$  297,765	$  242,730
External long-term debt		$  174,500	$  139,200
RWAs		$  676,863	$  609,750
Leverage exposure		$1,910,521	$1,332,937
TLAC to RWAs		44.0%	39.8%
TLAC to leverage exposure		15.6%	18.2%
External long-term debt to RWAs		25.8%	22.8%
External long-term debt to leverage exposure		9.1%	10.4%

In the table above:

• TLAC includes common and preferred stock, and eligible long-term debt issued by Group Inc. Eligible long-term debt represents unsecured debt, which has a remaining maturity of at least one year and satisfies additional requirements.

• External long-term debt consists of eligible long-term debt subject to a haircut if it is due to be paid between one and two years.

• RWAs represent Standardized RWAs as of December 2021 and Advanced RWAs as of December 2020. In accordance with the TLAC rules, the higher of Advanced or Standardized RWAs are used in the calculation of TLAC and external long-term debt ratios and applicable requirements.

• Leverage exposure consists of average adjusted total assets and certain off-balance sheet exposures. Leverage exposure for the three months ended December 2020 excluded average holdings of U.S. Treasury securities and average deposits at the Federal Reserve as permitted by the FRB under a temporary amendment. This temporary amendment had the effect of increasing the TLAC to leverage exposure ratio and the external long-term debt to leverage ratio. The impact of this temporary amendment was an increase to the TLAC to leverage exposure ratio of 2.4 percentage points and the external long-term debt to leverage exposure ratio of 1.3 percentage points for the three months ended December 2020. The amendment permitting this exclusion expired on April 1, 2021.

See “Business — Regulation” in Part I, Item 1 of this

Form 10-K

for further information about TLAC.

Subsidiary Capital Requirements

Many of our subsidiaries, including our bank and broker-dealer subsidiaries, are subject to separate regulation and capital requirements of the jurisdictions in which they operate.

Bank Subsidiaries.

GS Bank USA is our primary U.S. banking subsidiary and GSIB and GSBE are our primary

non-U.S.

banking subsidiaries. These entities are subject to regulatory capital requirements. See Note 20 to the consolidated financial statements for further information about the regulatory capital requirements of our bank subsidiaries.

U.S. Regulated Broker-Dealer Subsidiaries.

GS&Co. is our primary U.S. regulated broker-dealer subsidiary and is subject to regulatory capital requirements, including those imposed by the SEC and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. In addition, GS&Co. is a registered futures commission merchant and a registered swap dealer with the CFTC, and therefore is subject to regulatory capital requirements imposed by the CFTC, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and the National Futures Association. Beginning in the fourth quarter of 2021, GS&Co. also became a registered security-based swap dealer with the SEC, and therefore became subject to capital requirements for security-based swap dealers which became effective in October 2021.

Rule 15c3-1

of the SEC and Rules 1.17 and Part 23 Subpart E of the CFTC specify uniform minimum net capital requirements, as defined, for their registrants, and also effectively require that a significant part of the registrants’ assets be kept in relatively liquid form. GS&Co. has elected to calculate its minimum capital requirements in accordance with the “Alternative Net Capital Requirement” as permitted by

Rule 15c3-1

of the SEC.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 85

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

GS&Co. had regulatory net capital, as defined by

Rule 15c3-1,

of $22.18 billion as of December 2021 and $22.38 billion as of December 2020, which exceeded the amount required by $17.74 billion as of December 2021 and $18.45 billion as of December 2020. In addition to its alternative minimum net capital requirements, GS&Co. is also required to hold tentative net capital in excess of $5 billion and net capital in excess of $1 billion in accordance with

Rule 15c3-1.

GS&Co. is also required to notify the SEC in the event that its tentative net capital is less than $6 billion. As of both December 2021 and December 2020, GS&Co. had tentative net capital and net capital in excess of both the minimum and the notification requirements.

Non-U.S.

Regulated Broker-Dealer Subsidiaries.

Our principal

non-U.S.

regulated broker-dealer subsidiaries include GSI and GSJCL.

GSI, our U.K. broker-dealer, is regulated by the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).GSI is subject to the U.K. capital framework, which is predominantly aligned with the E.U. capital framework prescribed in the amended E.U. Capital Requirements Directive (CRD) and the E.U. Capital Requirements Regulation (CRR). These capital regulations are largely based on the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision’s (Basel Committee) capital framework for strengthening international capital standards (Basel III).

The table below presents GSI’s risk-based capital requirements.

	As of December
		2021	2020
Risk-based capital requirements
CET1 capital ratio		8.1%	8.1%
Tier 1 capital ratio		9.9%	10.0%
Total capital ratio		12.4%	12.5%

In the table above, the risk-based capital requirements incorporate capital guidance received from the PRA and could change in the future.

The table below presents information about GSI’s risk-based capital ratios.

	As of December
$ in millions		2021	2020
Risk-based capital and risk-weighted assets
CET1 capital		$  28,810	$  26,962
Tier 1 capital		$  37,110	$  35,262
Tier 2 capital		$    5,377	$    5,377
Total capital		$  42,487	$  40,639
RWAs		$269,762	$252,355
Risk-based capital ratios
CET1 capital ratio		10.7%	10.7%
Tier 1 capital ratio		13.8%	14.0%
Total capital ratio		15.7%	16.1%

In the table above, the risk-based capital ratios as of December 2021 reflected GSI’s profits after foreseeable charges for the three months ended December 2021 (which will not be finalized until verification by GSI’s external auditors and approval by GSI’s Board of Directors for inclusion in risk-based capital). These profits contributed approximately 16 basis points to the CET1 capital ratio.

GSI is also subject to the leverage ratio framework established by the PRA. This framework sets the minimum leverage ratio requirement at 3.25% that will apply to GSI from January 1, 2023. GSI had a leverage ratio of 4.2% as of December 2021 and 4.7% as of December 2020. The leverage ratio as of December 2021 reflected GSI’s profits after foreseeable charges for the three months ended December 2021 (which will not be finalized until verification by GSI’s external auditors and approval by GSI’s Board of Directors for inclusion in risk-based capital). These profits contributed approximately 7 basis points to the leverage ratio.

GSI is a registered swap dealer with the CFTC and, beginning in the fourth quarter of 2021, also became a registered security-based swap dealer with the SEC. As of December 2021, GSI was subject to and in compliance with applicable capital requirements for swap dealers and security-based swap dealers.

GSI is also subject to a minimum requirement for own funds and eligible liabilities issued to affiliates. This requirement is subject to a transitional period which began to phase in from January 2019 and became fully effective beginning in January 2022. As of both December 2021 and December 2020, GSI was in compliance with this requirement.

GSJCL, our Japanese broker-dealer, is regulated by Japan’s Financial Services Agency. GSJCL and certain other

non-U.S.

subsidiaries are also subject to capital requirements promulgated by authorities of the countries in which they operate. As of both December 2021 and December 2020, these subsidiaries were in compliance with their local capital requirements.

86 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

Regulatory and Other Matters

Regulatory Matters

Our businesses are subject to extensive regulation and supervision worldwide. Regulations have been adopted or are being considered by regulators and policy makers worldwide. Given that many of the new and proposed rules are highly complex, the full impact of regulatory reform will not be known until the rules are implemented and market practices develop under the final regulations.

See “Business — Regulation” in Part I, Item 1 of this

Form 10-K

for further information about the laws, rules and regulations and proposed laws, rules and regulations that apply to us and our operations.

Other Matters

Replacement of Interbank Offered Rates (IBORs), including LIBOR.

On January 1, 2022, the publication of all EUR, CHF, JPY and GBP LIBOR

(non-USD

LIBOR) settings along with certain USD LIBOR settings ceased. The publication of the most commonly used USD LIBOR settings will cease after June 2023. The FCA has allowed the publication and use of synthetic rates for certain GBP and JPY LIBOR settings in legacy GBP or JPY LIBOR-based derivative contracts through December 2022. The U.S. federal banking agencies’ guidance strongly encourages banking organizations to cease using USD LIBOR.

The International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA) 2020 IBOR Fallbacks Protocol (IBOR Protocol) has provided derivatives market participants with amended fallbacks for legacy and new derivative contracts to mitigate legal or economic uncertainty. Both counterparties have to adhere to the IBOR Protocol or engage in bilateral amendments for the terms to be effective for derivative contracts. ISDA confirmed that the FCA’s formal announcement in March 2021 fixed the spread adjustment for all LIBOR rates and that fallbacks will automatically occur for outstanding derivative contracts that incorporate the relevant terms. In April 2021, the State of New York approved legislation intended to minimize legal and economic uncertainty for contracts that are governed by New York law and have no fallback provisions or have fallback provisions that are based on USD LIBOR by providing a statutory framework to replace USD LIBOR with a benchmark rate based on the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR).

We have facilitated an orderly transition from

non-USD

LIBORs to alternative risk-free reference rates for us and our clients and continue to make progress on our transition program as it relates to USD LIBOR.

Our

non-USD

LIBOR risk exposure was substantially all in connection with derivative contracts. As of December 2021, substantially all of our

non-USD

LIBOR-based derivative contracts were with central clearing counterparties or exchanges which had incorporated fallbacks consistent with the IBOR Protocol in their rulebooks or were under bilateral agreements subject to the IBOR Protocol. The remainder were converted to synthetic rates as permitted by the FCA. The notional amount of derivatives converted to synthetic rates was not material.

Our risk exposure to USD LIBOR is primarily in connection with our derivative contracts and to a lesser extent our unsecured debt, preferred stock and loan portfolio. As of December 2021, the notional amount of our USD LIBOR-based derivative contracts was approximately $10.0 trillion, of which approximately $5.5 trillion will mature after June 2023 based on their contractual terms. A majority of such derivative contracts are with counterparties under bilateral agreements subject to the IBOR Protocol, or with central clearing counterparties or exchanges which have incorporated fallbacks consistent with the IBOR Protocol in their rulebooks and have announced that they plan to convert USD LIBOR contracts to alternative risk-free reference rates. Our benchmark unsecured debt and preferred stock with USD LIBOR exposure was approximately $34.5 billion as of December 2021, of which $29.4 billion will contractually mature after June 2023 or is perpetual and has no stated maturity date. A large portion of such debt and preferred stock represents our

fixed-to-floating

rate instruments, currently in the fixed-rate period, with call options before the LIBOR exposure begins. We continue to monitor industry and legislative developments as they relate to unsecured debt and preferred stock and will take actions designed to facilitate an orderly transition. In addition, we are also engaging with our clients in order to remediate our loan agreements through bilateral amendments.

We have also issued debt and deposits linked to SOFR and Sterling Overnight Index Average (SONIA) and executed SOFR- and SONIA-based derivative contracts to make markets and facilitate client activities. When appropriate, we continue to execute transactions in the market to reduce our USD LIBOR exposures arising from hedges to our fixed-rate debt issuances and replace them with alternative risk-free reference rate exposures.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 87

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

Our LIBOR transition program continues to make progress with a focus on:

• Evaluating and monitoring the impacts of USD LIBOR settings across our businesses, including transactions and products;

• Ensuring that legacy financial instruments and contracts that continue to be impacted by the transition already contain appropriate fallback language or are being amended, either through bilateral negotiation or using industry-wide tools, such as protocols;

• Enhancements to infrastructure (for example, models and systems) to prepare for a smooth transition from USD LIBOR to alternative risk-free reference rates;

• Ensuring operational readiness to offer and support various alternative risk-free reference rate products;

• Active participation in central bank and sector working groups, including responding to industry consultations; and

• Client education and communication.

Impact of

COVID-19

Pandemic.

Infection rates in many parts of the world spiked toward the end of 2021 and into early 2022, as the highly transmissible Omicron variant emerged in the fourth quarter and spread rapidly, while the Delta variant also remained a concern. The surge of infections has led to a renewed emphasis globally on safety measures and restrictions, as well as a greater sense of urgency regarding the distribution of vaccines and vaccine boosters, and has created a greater degree of uncertainty regarding the prospects for economic growth in 2022.

We have continued to successfully execute on our BCP strategy since initially activating it in the first quarter of 2020 in response to the emergence of the

COVID-19

pandemic. Our priority has been to safeguard our employees and to seek to ensure continuity of business operations on behalf of our clients. Our business continuity response to the

COVID-19

pandemic is managed by a central team, which is led by our chief administrative officer and chief medical officer, and includes senior management within Risk and the chief operating officers across all regions and businesses. We remain focused on ensuring that our employees are able to safely work from our offices, where circumstances permit. During 2021, we made substantial progress in facilitating the safe return of employees to our offices and employees in a number of our locations around the world returned to the office to varying degrees. Given that the situation regarding

COVID-19

is fluid and varies geographically, our approach to transitioning back to the office is flexible and evolves as the specific conditions and requirements of each location change. For instance, in light of the rapid spread of the Omicron variant late in 2021, we took the step of having the vast majority of employees in the U.S., the U.K. and in some of our other locations work remotely at the outset of 2022.

Our systems and infrastructure have been robust throughout the

COVID-19

pandemic, enabling us to conduct our activities without disruption. Communication throughout our organization has remained active during the pandemic and our risk management processes have continued to operate in a rigorous and disciplined manner.

We maintained high liquidity levels during 2021, as our GCLA averaged $335 billion for the year. We have continued to access our traditional funding sources in the normal course and service our debt and other obligations on a timely basis. See “Balance Sheet and Funding Sources” and “Risk Management — Liquidity Risk Management” for further information.

Accounting estimates, particularly those made in connection with determining the allowance for credit losses and the fair value of certain level 3 assets, are sensitive to assumptions regarding future economic conditions. Predicting the trajectory of the economic recovery is highly judgmental given the uncertainty as to how the pandemic will evolve, as it will largely depend on the duration of the Omicron wave, the possible emergence of other variants and further progress in the distribution of vaccines and vaccine boosters.

88 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

In general, the market backdrop continued to be constructive during 2021 and activity levels remained solid. Volatility increased toward the end of the year as a result of the spike in infections, while accelerating inflation, driven by supply chain disruptions and labor shortages, and more moderated growth expectations, were key macroeconomic considerations heading into 2022. We continued to deploy our balance sheet to intermediate risk and to support the needs of clients. We have maintained our proactive approach to managing market risk levels, which entails ongoing review and monitoring of exposures and focusing on ways to mitigate risk. As the economic recovery progressed in 2021, credit risk continued to abate from the low point of the pandemic. However, we continue to closely monitor those industries that have been most severely challenged by the pandemic.

While the global economy continued on the path to recovery during 2021, it is vulnerable to the risk that the Omicron variant, or other possible variants, could impede the recovery going forward by precipitating adverse economic consequences, such as a softening in consumer and business confidence and spending, a worsening of supply chain constraints, and an intensification of inflationary pressures. If the future effects of the pandemic were to lead to a sustained period of economic weakness, our businesses would be negatively impacted. This would have a negative impact on factors that are important to our operating performance, such as the level of client activity, creditworthiness of counterparties and borrowers, and the amount of our AUS. We will continue to closely monitor the rollout of vaccines across regions, as well as the impact of new variants of the virus, and will take further actions, as necessary, in order to best serve the interests of our employees, clients and counterparties. For further information about the risks associated with the

COVID-19

pandemic, see “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A of this

Form 10-K.

Off-Balance

Sheet Arrangements

In the ordinary course of business, we enter into various types of

off-balance

sheet arrangements. Our involvement in these arrangements can take many different forms, including:

• Purchasing or retaining residual and other interests in special purpose entities, such as mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securitization vehicles;

• Holding senior and subordinated debt, interests in limited and general partnerships, and preferred and common stock in other nonconsolidated vehicles;

• Entering into interest rate, foreign currency, equity, commodity and credit derivatives, including total return swaps; and

• Providing guarantees, indemnifications, commitments, letters of credit and representations and warranties.

We enter into these arrangements for a variety of business purposes, including securitizations. The securitization vehicles that purchase mortgages, corporate bonds and other types of financial assets are critical to the functioning of several significant investor markets, including the mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities markets, since they offer investors access to specific cash flows and risks created through the securitization process.

We also enter into these arrangements to underwrite client securitization transactions; provide secondary market liquidity; make investments in performing and nonperforming debt, distressed loans, power-related assets, equity securities, real estate and other assets; and provide investors with credit-linked and asset-repackaged notes.

The table below presents where information about our various

off-balance

sheet arrangements may be found in this

Form 10-K.

In addition, see Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements for information about our consolidation policies.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement	Disclosure in Form 10-K
Variable interests and other obligations, including contingent obligations, arising from variable interests in nonconsolidated variable interest entities (VIEs)	See Note 17 to the consolidated financial statements.
Guarantees, and lending and other commitments	See Note 18 to the consolidated financial statements.
Derivatives	See “Risk Management — Credit Risk Management — Credit Exposures — OTC Derivatives” and Notes 4, 5, 7 and 18 to the consolidated financial statements.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 89

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

Risk Management

Risks are inherent in our businesses and include liquidity, market, credit, operational, model, legal, compliance, conduct, regulatory and reputational risks. Our risks include the risks across our risk categories, regions or global businesses, as well as those which have uncertain outcomes and have the potential to materially impact our financial results, our liquidity and our reputation. For further information about our risk management processes, see “Overview and Structure of Risk Management,” and for information about our areas of risk, see “Liquidity Risk Management,” “Market Risk Management,” “Credit Risk Management,” “Operational Risk Management” and “Model Risk Management” and “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A of this

Form 10-K.

Overview and Structure of Risk Management

Overview

We believe that effective risk management is critical to our success. Accordingly, we have established an enterprise risk management framework that employs a comprehensive, integrated approach to risk management, and is designed to enable comprehensive risk management processes through which we identify, assess, monitor and manage the risks we assume in conducting our activities. Our risk management structure is built around three core components: governance, processes and people.

Governance.

Risk management governance starts with the Board, which both directly and through its committees, including its Risk Committee, oversees our risk management policies and practices implemented through the enterprise risk management framework. The Board is also responsible for the annual review and approval of our risk appetite statement. The risk appetite statement describes the levels and types of risk we are willing to accept or to avoid, in order to achieve our objectives included in our strategic business plan, while remaining in compliance with regulatory requirements. The Board reviews our strategic business plan and is ultimately responsible for overseeing and providing direction about our strategy and risk appetite.

The Board receives regular briefings on firmwide risks, including liquidity risk, market risk, credit risk, operational risk and model risk, from our independent risk oversight and control functions, including the chief risk officer, and on compliance risk and conduct risk from Compliance, on legal and regulatory enforcement matters from the chief legal officer, and on other matters impacting our reputation from the chair of our Firmwide Client and Business Standards Committee and our Firmwide Reputational Risk Committee. The chief risk officer reports to our chief executive officer and to the Risk Committee of the Board. As part of the review of the firmwide risk portfolio, the chief risk officer regularly advises the Risk Committee of the Board of relevant risk metrics and material exposures, including risk limits and thresholds established in our risk appetite statement.

The implementation of our risk governance structure and core risk management processes are overseen by Enterprise Risk, which reports to our chief risk officer, and is responsible for ensuring that our enterprise risk management framework provides the Board, our risk committees and senior management with a consistent and integrated approach to managing our various risks in a manner consistent with our risk appetite.

Our revenue-producing units, as well as Treasury, Engineering, Human Capital Management, Operations, and Corporate and Workplace Solutions, are considered our first line of defense. They are accountable for the outcomes of our risk-generating activities, as well as for assessing and managing those risks within our risk appetite.

Our independent risk oversight and control functions are considered our second line of defense and provide independent assessment, oversight and challenge of the risks taken by our first line of defense, as well as lead and participate in risk committees. Independent risk oversight and control functions include Compliance, Conflicts Resolution, Controllers, Legal, Risk and Tax.

Internal Audit is considered our third line of defense, and our director of Internal Audit reports to the Audit Committee of the Board and administratively to our chief executive officer. Internal Audit includes professionals with a broad range of audit and industry experience, including risk management expertise. Internal Audit is responsible for independently assessing and validating the effectiveness of key controls, including those within the risk management framework, and providing timely reporting to the Audit Committee of the Board, senior management and regulators.

90 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

The three lines of defense structure promotes the accountability of first line risk takers, provides a framework for effective challenge by the second line and empowers independent review from the third line.

Processes.

We maintain various processes that are critical components of our risk management framework, including (i) risk identification and assessment, (ii) risk appetite, limit and threshold setting, (iii) risk reporting and monitoring, and (iv) risk decision-making.

• Risk Identification and Assessment. We believe that the identification and assessment of our risks is a critical step in providing our Board and senior management transparency and insight into the range and materiality of our risks. We have a comprehensive data collection process, including firmwide policies and procedures that require all employees to report and escalate risk events. Our approach for risk identification and assessment is comprehensive across all risk types, is dynamic and forward-looking to reflect and adapt to our changing risk profile and business environment, leverages subject matter expertise, and allows for prioritization of our most critical risks.

To effectively assess our risks, we maintain a daily discipline of marking substantially all of our inventory to current market levels. We carry our inventory at fair value, with changes in valuation reflected immediately in our risk management systems and in net revenues. We do so because we believe this discipline is one of the most effective tools for assessing and managing risk and that it provides transparent and realistic insight into our inventory exposures.

An important part of our risk management process is firmwide stress testing. It allows us to quantify our exposure to tail risks, highlight potential loss concentrations, undertake risk/reward analysis, and assess and mitigate our risk positions. Firmwide stress tests are performed on a regular basis and are designed to ensure a comprehensive analysis of our vulnerabilities and idiosyncratic risks combining financial and nonfinancial risks, including, but not limited to, credit, market, liquidity and funding, operational and compliance, strategic, systemic and emerging risks into a single combined scenario. We also perform ad hoc stress tests in anticipation of market events or conditions. Stress tests are also used to assess capital adequacy as part of our capital planning and stress testing process. See “Capital Management and Regulatory Capital — Capital Management” for further information.

• Risk Appetite, Limit and Threshold Setting. We apply a rigorous framework of limits and thresholds to control and monitor risk across transactions, products, businesses and markets. The Board, directly or indirectly through its Risk Committee, approves limits and thresholds included in our risk appetite statement at firmwide, business and product levels. In addition, the Firmwide Enterprise Risk Committee is responsible for approving our risk limits framework, subject to the overall limits approved by the Risk Committee of the Board, and monitoring these limits.

The Risk Governance Committee is responsible for approving limits at firmwide, business and product levels. Certain limits may be set at levels that will require periodic adjustment, rather than at levels that reflect our maximum risk appetite. This fosters an ongoing dialogue about risk among our first and second lines of defense, committees and senior management, as well as rapid escalation of

risk-related

matters. Additionally, through delegated authority from the Risk Governance Committee, Market Risk sets limits at certain product and desk levels, and Credit Risk sets limits for individual counterparties, counterparties and their subsidiaries, industries and countries. Limits are reviewed regularly and amended on a permanent or temporary basis to reflect changing market conditions, business conditions or risk tolerance.

• Risk Reporting and Monitoring. Effective risk reporting and risk decision-making depends on our ability to get the right information to the right people at the right time. As such, we focus on the rigor and effectiveness of our risk systems, with the objective of ensuring that our risk management technology systems provide us with complete, accurate and timely information. Our risk reporting and monitoring processes are designed to take into account information about both existing and emerging risks, thereby enabling our risk committees and senior management to perform their responsibilities with the appropriate level of insight into risk exposures. Furthermore, our limit and threshold breach processes provide means for timely escalation. We evaluate changes in our risk profile and our businesses, including changes in business mix or jurisdictions in which we operate, by monitoring risk factors at a firmwide level.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 91

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

• Risk Decision-Making. Our governance structure provides the protocol and responsibility for decision-making on risk management issues and ensures implementation of those decisions. We make extensive use of risk committees that meet regularly and serve as an important means to facilitate and foster ongoing discussions to manage and mitigate risks.

We maintain strong and proactive communication about risk and we have a culture of collaboration in decision-making among our first and second lines of defense, committees and senior management. While our first line of defense is responsible for management of their risk, we dedicate extensive resources to our second line of defense in order to ensure a strong oversight structure and an appropriate segregation of duties. We regularly reinforce our strong culture of escalation and accountability across all functions.

People.

Even the best technology serves only as a tool for helping to make informed decisions in real time about the risks we are taking. Ultimately, effective risk management requires our people to interpret our risk data on an ongoing and timely basis and adjust risk positions accordingly. The experience of our professionals, and their understanding of the nuances and limitations of each risk measure, guides us in assessing exposures and maintaining them within prudent levels.

We reinforce a culture of effective risk management, consistent with our risk appetite, in our training and development programs, as well as in the way we evaluate performance, and recognize and reward our people. Our training and development programs, including certain sessions led by our most senior leaders, are focused on the importance of risk management, client relationships and reputational excellence. As part of our performance review process, we assess reputational excellence, including how an employee exercises good risk management and reputational judgment, and adheres to our code of conduct and compliance policies. Our review and reward processes are designed to communicate and reinforce to our professionals the link between behavior and how people are recognized, the need to focus on our clients and our reputation, and the need to always act in accordance with our highest standards.

Structure

Ultimate oversight of risk is the responsibility of our Board. The Board oversees risk both directly and through its committees, including its Risk Committee. We have a series of committees with specific risk management mandates that have oversight or decision-making responsibilities for risk management activities. Committee membership generally consists of senior managers from both our first and second lines of defense. We have established procedures for these committees to ensure that appropriate information barriers are in place. Our primary risk committees, most of which also have additional

sub-committees,

councils or working groups, are described below. In addition to these committees, we have other risk committees that provide oversight for different businesses, activities, products, regions and entities. All of our committees have responsibility for considering the impact on our reputation of the transactions and activities that they oversee.

Membership of our risk committees is reviewed regularly and updated to reflect changes in the responsibilities of the committee members. Accordingly, the length of time that members serve on the respective committees varies as determined by the committee chairs and based on the responsibilities of the members.

The chart below presents an overview of our risk management governance structure.

Management Committee.

The Management Committee oversees our global activities. It provides this oversight directly and through authority delegated to committees it has established. This committee consists of our most senior leaders, and is chaired by our chief executive officer. Most members of the Management Committee are also members of other committees. The following are the committees that are principally involved in firmwide risk management.

92 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

Firmwide Enterprise Risk Committee.

The Firmwide Enterprise Risk Committee is responsible for overseeing all of our financial and nonfinancial risks. As part of such oversight, the committee is responsible for the ongoing review, approval and monitoring of our enterprise risk management framework, as well as our risk limits framework. This committee is

co-chaired

by our chief financial officer and our chief risk officer, who are appointed as chairs by our chief executive officer, and reports to the Management Committee. The following are the primary committees or councils that report to the Firmwide Enterprise Risk Committee:

• Firmwide Risk Council. The Firmwide Risk Council is responsible for the ongoing monitoring of relevant financial risks and related risk limits at the firmwide, business and product levels. This council is co-chaired by the chairs of the Firmwide Enterprise Risk Committee.

• Firmwide New Activity Committee. The Firmwide New Activity Committee is responsible for reviewing new activities and for establishing a process to identify and review previously approved activities that are significant and that have changed in complexity and/or structure or present different reputational and suitability concerns over time to consider whether these activities remain appropriate. This committee is co-chaired by the controller and chief accounting officer, and our chief administrative officer, who are appointed as chairs by the chairs of the Firmwide Enterprise Risk Committee.

• Firmwide Operational Risk and Resilience Committee. The Firmwide Operational Risk and Resilience Committee is responsible for overseeing operational risk, and for ensuring our business and operational resilience. To assist the Firmwide Operational Risk and Resilience Committee in carrying out its mandate, other risk committees with dedicated oversight for technology-related risks, including cyber security matters, report into the Firmwide Operational Risk and Resilience Committee. This committee is co-chaired by our chief administrative officer and the head of Operational Risk, who are appointed as chairs by the chairs of the Firmwide Enterprise Risk Committee.

• Firmwide Conduct Committee. The Firmwide Conduct Committee is responsible for the ongoing approval and monitoring of the frameworks and policies which govern our conduct risks. Conduct risk is the risk that our people fail to act in a manner consistent with our Business Principles and related core values, policies or codes, or applicable laws or regulations, thereby falling short in fulfilling their responsibilities to us, our clients, colleagues, other market participants or the broader community. This committee is chaired by our chief legal officer, who is appointed as chair by the chairs of the Firmwide Enterprise Risk Committee.

• Risk Governance Committee. The Risk Governance Committee (through delegated authority from the Firmwide Enterprise Risk Committee) is responsible for the ongoing approval and monitoring of risk frameworks, policies and parameters related to our core risk management processes, as well as limits, at firmwide, business and product levels. In addition, this committee reviews the results of stress tests and scenario analyses. To assist the Risk Governance Committee in carrying out its mandate, a number of other risk committees with dedicated oversight for stress testing, model risks and Volcker Rule compliance report into the Risk Governance Committee. This committee is chaired by our chief risk officer, who is appointed as chair by the chairs of the Firmwide Enterprise Risk Committee.

Firmwide Client and Business Standards Committee.

The Firmwide Client and Business Standards Committee is responsible for overseeing relationships with our clients, client service and experience, and related business standards, as well as client-related reputational matters. This committee is chaired by our president and chief operating officer, who is appointed as chair by the chief executive officer, and reports to the Management Committee. This committee periodically provides updates to, and receives guidance from, the Public Responsibilities Committee of the Board.

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THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

The following committees report jointly to the Firmwide Enterprise Risk Committee and the Firmwide Client and Business Standards Committee:

• Firmwide Reputational Risk Committee. The Firmwide Reputational Risk Committee is responsible for assessing reputational risks arising from transactions that have been identified as having potential heightened reputational risk pursuant to the criteria established by the Firmwide Reputational Risk Committee and as determined by committee leadership. This committee is chaired by our president and chief operating officer, who is appointed as chair by the chief executive officer, and the vice-chairs are our chief legal officer and the former chair of Conflicts Resolution (now a senior advisor to the firm), who are appointed as vice-chairs by the chair of the Firmwide Reputational Risk Committee. This committee periodically provides updates to, and receives guidance from, the Public Responsibilities Committee of the Board.

• Firmwide Suitability Committee. The Firmwide Suitability Committee is responsible for setting standards and policies for product, transaction and client suitability and providing a forum for consistency across functions, regions and products on suitability assessments. This committee also reviews suitability matters escalated from other committees. This committee is co-chaired by our chief compliance officer, and a co-head of EMEA FICC sales, who are appointed as chairs by the chair of the Firmwide Client and Business Standards Committee.

• Firmwide Investment Policy Committee. The Firmwide Investment Policy Committee periodically reviews our investing and lending activities on a portfolio basis, including review of risk management and controls, and sets business standards and policies for these types of investments. This committee is co-chaired by a co-head of our Asset Management Division, a co-head of our Global Markets Division and our chief risk officer, who are appointed as chairs by our president and chief operating officer and our chief financial officer.

• Firmwide Capital Committee. The Firmwide Capital Committee provides approval and oversight of debt-related transactions, including principal commitments of our capital. This committee aims to ensure that business, reputational and suitability standards for underwritings and capital commitments are maintained on a global basis. This committee is co-chaired by the head of Credit Risk and the head of Americas Leveraged Finance, who are appointed as chairs by the chairs of the Firmwide Enterprise Risk Committee.

• Firmwide Commitments Committee. The Firmwide Commitments Committee reviews our underwriting and distribution activities with respect to equity and equity-related product offerings, and sets and maintains policies and procedures designed to ensure that legal, reputational, regulatory and business standards are maintained on a global basis. In addition to reviewing specific transactions, this committee periodically conducts general strategic reviews of sectors and products and establishes policies in connection with transaction practices. This committee is co-chaired by the chief underwriting officer for EMEA, the chief equity underwriting officer for the Americas, a co-chairman of the Global Financial Institutions Group and a co-head of the Industrials Group in our Investment Banking Division, who are appointed as chairs by the chair of the Firmwide Client and Business Standards Committee.

Firmwide Asset Liability Committee.

The Firmwide Asset Liability Committee reviews and approves the strategic direction for our financial resources, including capital, liquidity, funding and balance sheet. This committee has oversight responsibility for asset liability management, including interest rate and currency risk, funds transfer pricing, capital allocation and incentives, and credit ratings. This committee makes recommendations as to any adjustments to asset liability management and financial resource allocation in light of current events, risks, exposures, and regulatory requirements and approves related policies. This committee is

co-chaired

by our chief financial officer and our global treasurer, who are appointed as chairs by our chief executive officer, and reports to the Management Committee.

Conflicts Management

Conflicts of interest and our approach to dealing with them are fundamental to our client relationships, our reputation and our long-term success. The term “conflict of interest” does not have a universally accepted meaning, and conflicts can arise in many forms within a business or between businesses. The responsibility for identifying potential conflicts, as well as complying with our policies and procedures, is shared by all of our employees.

We have a multilayered approach to resolving conflicts and addressing reputational risk. Our senior management oversees policies related to conflicts resolution and, in conjunction with Conflicts Resolution, Legal and Compliance, the Firmwide Client and Business Standards Committee, and other internal committees, formulates policies, standards and principles, and assists in making judgments regarding the appropriate resolution of particular conflicts. Resolving potential conflicts necessarily depends on the facts and circumstances of a particular situation and the application of experienced and informed judgment.

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THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

As a general matter, Conflicts Resolution reviews financing and advisory assignments in Investment Banking and certain of our investing, lending and other activities. In addition, we have various transaction oversight committees, such as the Firmwide Capital, Commitments and Suitability Committees and other committees that also review new underwritings, loans, investments and structured products. These groups and committees work with internal and external counsel and Compliance to evaluate and address any actual or potential conflicts. The head of Conflicts Resolution reports to our chief legal officer, who reports to our chief executive officer.

We regularly assess our policies and procedures that address conflicts of interest in an effort to conduct our business in accordance with the highest ethical standards and in compliance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations.

Climate Risk Management

We categorize climate risk into physical risk and transition risk. Physical risk is the risk that asset values may decline or operations may be disrupted as a result of changes in the climate, while transition risk is the risk that asset values may decline because of changes in climate policies or changes in the underlying economy due to decarbonization.

As a global financial institution, climate-related risks manifest in different ways across our businesses and we have continued to make significant enhancements to our climate risk management framework, including steps to further integrate climate into our broader risk management processes. We have integrated oversight of climate-related risks into our risk management governance structure, from senior management to our Board and its committees, including the Risk and Public Responsibilities Committees. The Risk Committee of the Board oversees firmwide financial and nonfinancial risks, which include climate risk, and, as part of its oversight, receives updates on our risk management approach to climate risk, including our approaches towards scenario analysis and integration into existing risk management processes. The Public Responsibilities Committee of the Board assists the Board in its oversight of our firmwide sustainability strategy and sustainability issues affecting us, including with respect to climate change. As part of its oversight, the Public Responsibilities Committee receives periodic updates on our sustainability strategy, and also periodically reviews our governance and related policies and processes for sustainability and climate change-related risks. Senior management within Risk is responsible for the development of our climate risk program.

We have begun incorporating climate risk into our credit evaluation and underwriting processes for select industries. Climate risk factors are now evaluated as part of transaction due diligence for select loan commitments.

See “Business — Sustainability” in Part I, Item 1 and “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A of this

Form 10-K

for information about our sustainability initiatives, including in relation to climate transition.

Compliance Risk Management

Compliance risk is the risk of legal or regulatory sanctions, material financial loss or damage to our reputation arising from our failure to comply with the requirements of applicable laws, rules and regulations, and our internal policies and procedures. Compliance risk is inherent in all activities through which we conduct our businesses. Our Compliance Risk Management Program, administered by Compliance, assesses our compliance, regulatory and reputational risk; monitors for compliance with new or amended laws, rules and regulations; designs and implements controls, policies, procedures and training; conducts independent testing; investigates, surveils and monitors for compliance risks and breaches; and leads our responses to regulatory examinations, audits and inquiries. We monitor and review business practices to assess whether they meet or exceed minimum regulatory and legal standards in all markets and jurisdictions in which we conduct business.

Capital Risk Management

Capital risk is the risk that our capital is insufficient to support our business activities under normal and stressed market conditions or we face capital reductions or RWA increases, including from new or revised rules or changes in interpretations of existing rules, and are therefore unable to meet our internal capital targets or external regulatory capital requirements. Capital adequacy is of critical importance to us. Accordingly, we have in place a comprehensive capital management policy that provides a framework, defines objectives and establishes guidelines to maintain an appropriate level and composition of capital in both

business-as-usual

and stressed conditions. Our capital management framework is designed to provide us with the information needed to comprehensively manage risk, and develop and apply projected stress scenarios that capture idiosyncratic vulnerabilities with a goal of holding sufficient capital to remain adequately capitalized even after experiencing a severe stress event. See “Capital Management and Regulatory Capital” for further information about our capital management process.

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THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

We have established a comprehensive governance structure to manage and oversee our

day-to-day

capital management activities and compliance with capital rules and related policies. Our capital management activities are overseen by the Board and its committees. The Board is responsible for approving our annual capital plan and the Risk Committee of the Board approves our capital management policy. In addition, committees and members of senior management are responsible for the ongoing monitoring of our capital adequacy and evaluate current and future regulatory capital requirements, review the results of our capital planning and stress tests processes, and the results of our capital models, review our contingency capital plan, key capital adequacy metrics, including regulatory capital ratios, as well as capital plan metrics, such as the payout ratio, outcomes and findings of calculation testing, and monitor capital risk limits and breaches.

Our process for managing capital risk also includes independent review functions in Risk that, among other things, assess regulatory capital policies and related interpretations, escalate certain interpretations to senior management and/or the appropriate risk committee, and perform calculation testing to corroborate alignment with applicable capital rules.

Liquidity Risk Management

Overview

Liquidity risk is the risk that we will be unable to fund ourselves or meet our liquidity needs in the event of firm-specific, broader industry or market liquidity stress events. We have in place a comprehensive and conservative set of liquidity and funding policies. Our principal objective is to be able to fund ourselves and to enable our core businesses to continue to serve clients and generate revenues, even under adverse circumstances.

Treasury, which reports to our chief financial officer, has primary responsibility for developing, managing and executing our liquidity and funding strategy within our risk appetite.

Liquidity Risk, which is independent of our revenue-producing units and Treasury, and reports to our chief risk officer, has primary responsibility for assessing, monitoring and managing our liquidity risk through firmwide oversight across our global businesses and the establishment of stress testing and limits frameworks.

Liquidity Risk Management Principles

We manage liquidity risk according to three principles: (i) hold sufficient excess liquidity in the form of GCLA to cover outflows during a stressed period, (ii) maintain appropriate Asset-Liability Management and (iii) maintain a viable Contingency Funding Plan.

GCLA.

GCLA is liquidity that we maintain to meet a broad range of potential cash outflows and collateral needs in a stressed environment. A primary liquidity principle is to

pre-fund

our estimated potential cash and collateral needs during a liquidity crisis and hold this liquidity in the form of unencumbered, highly liquid securities and cash. We believe that the securities held in our GCLA would be readily convertible to cash in a matter of days, through liquidation, by entering into repurchase agreements or from maturities of resale agreements, and that this cash would allow us to meet immediate obligations without needing to sell other assets or depend on additional funding from credit-sensitive markets.

Our GCLA reflects the following principles:

• The first days or weeks of a liquidity crisis are the most critical to a company’s survival;

• Focus must be maintained on all potential cash and collateral outflows, not just disruptions to financing flows. Our businesses are diverse, and our liquidity needs are determined by many factors, including market movements, collateral requirements and client commitments, all of which can change dramatically in a difficult funding environment;

• During a liquidity crisis, credit-sensitive funding, including unsecured debt, certain deposits and some types of secured financing agreements, may be unavailable, and the terms (e.g., interest rates, collateral provisions and tenor) or availability of other types of secured financing may change and certain deposits may be withdrawn; and

• As a result of our policy to pre-fund liquidity that we estimate may be needed in a crisis, we hold more unencumbered securities and have larger funding balances than our businesses would otherwise require. We believe that our liquidity is stronger with greater balances of highly liquid unencumbered securities, even though it increases our total assets and our funding costs.

We maintain our GCLA across Group Inc., Goldman Sachs Funding LLC (Funding IHC) and Group Inc.’s major broker-dealer and bank subsidiaries, asset types and clearing agents to provide us with sufficient operating liquidity to ensure timely settlement in all major markets, even in a difficult funding environment. In addition to the GCLA, we maintain cash balances and securities in several of our other entities, primarily for use in specific currencies, entities or jurisdictions where we do not have immediate access to parent company liquidity.

96 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

Asset-Liability Management.

Our liquidity risk management policies are designed to ensure we have a sufficient amount of financing, even when funding markets experience persistent stress. We manage the maturities and diversity of our funding across markets, products and counterparties, and seek to maintain a diversified funding profile with an appropriate tenor, taking into consideration the characteristics and liquidity profile of our assets.

Our approach to asset-liability management includes:

• Conservatively managing the overall characteristics of our funding book, with a focus on maintaining long-term, diversified sources of funding in excess of our current requirements. See “Balance Sheet and Funding Sources — Funding Sources” for further information;

• Actively managing and monitoring our asset base, with particular focus on the liquidity, holding period and ability to fund assets on a secured basis. We assess our funding requirements and our ability to liquidate assets in a stressed environment while appropriately managing risk. This enables us to determine the most appropriate funding products and tenors. See “Balance Sheet and Funding Sources — Balance Sheet Management” for further information about our balance sheet management process and “— Funding Sources — Secured Funding” for further information about asset classes that may be harder to fund on a secured basis; and

• Raising secured and unsecured financing that has a long tenor relative to the liquidity profile of our assets. This reduces the risk that our liabilities will come due in advance of our ability to generate liquidity from the sale of our assets. Because we maintain a highly liquid balance sheet, the holding period of certain of our assets may be materially shorter than their contractual maturity dates.

Our goal is to ensure that we maintain sufficient liquidity to fund our assets and meet our contractual and contingent obligations in normal times, as well as during periods of market stress. Through our dynamic balance sheet management process, we use actual and projected asset balances to determine secured and unsecured funding requirements. Funding plans are reviewed and approved by the Firmwide Asset Liability Committee. In addition, our independent risk oversight and control functions analyze, and the Firmwide Asset Liability Committee reviews, our consolidated total capital position (unsecured long-term borrowings plus total shareholders’ equity) so that we maintain a level of long-term funding that is sufficient to meet our long-term financing requirements. In a liquidity crisis, we would first use our GCLA in order to avoid reliance on asset sales (other than our GCLA). However, we recognize that orderly asset sales may be prudent or necessary in a severe or persistent liquidity crisis.

Subsidiary Funding Policies

The majority of our unsecured funding is raised by Group Inc., which provides the necessary funds to Funding IHC and other subsidiaries, some of which are regulated, to meet their asset financing, liquidity and capital requirements. In addition, Group Inc. provides its regulated subsidiaries with the necessary capital to meet their regulatory requirements. The benefits of this approach to subsidiary funding are enhanced control and greater flexibility to meet the funding requirements of our subsidiaries. Funding is also raised at the subsidiary level through a variety of products, including deposits, secured funding and unsecured borrowings.

Our intercompany funding policies assume that a subsidiary’s funds or securities are not freely available to its parent, Funding IHC or other subsidiaries unless (i) legally provided for and (ii) there are no additional regulatory, tax or other restrictions. In particular, many of our subsidiaries are subject to laws that authorize regulatory bodies to block or reduce the flow of funds from those subsidiaries to Group Inc. or Funding IHC. Regulatory action of that kind could impede access to funds that Group Inc. needs to make payments on its obligations. Accordingly, we assume that the capital provided to our regulated subsidiaries is not available to Group Inc. or other subsidiaries and any other financing provided to our regulated subsidiaries is not available to Group Inc. or Funding IHC until the maturity of such financing.

Group Inc. has provided substantial amounts of equity and subordinated indebtedness, directly or indirectly, to its regulated subsidiaries. For example, as of December 2021, Group Inc. had $38.08 billion of equity and subordinated indebtedness invested in GS&Co., its principal U.S. registered broker-dealer; $44.44 billion invested in GSI, a regulated U.K. broker-dealer; $2.50 billion invested in GSJCL, a regulated Japanese broker-dealer; $46.17 billion invested in GS Bank USA, a regulated New York State-chartered bank; and $4.28 billion invested in GSIB, a regulated U.K. bank. Group Inc. also provides financing, directly or indirectly, in the form of: $95.74 billion of unsubordinated loans (including secured loans of $41.91 billion) and $17.68 billion of collateral and cash deposits to these entities as of December 2021. In addition, as of December 2021, Group Inc. had significant amounts of capital invested in and loans to its other regulated subsidiaries.

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THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

Contingency Funding Plan.

We maintain a contingency funding plan to provide a framework for analyzing and responding to a liquidity crisis situation or periods of market stress. Our contingency funding plan outlines a list of potential risk factors, key reports and metrics that are reviewed on an ongoing basis to assist in assessing the severity of, and managing through, a liquidity crisis and/or market dislocation. The contingency funding plan also describes in detail our potential responses if our assessments indicate that we have entered a liquidity crisis, which include

pre-funding

for what we estimate will be our potential cash and collateral needs, as well as utilizing secondary sources of liquidity. Mitigants and action items to address specific risks which may arise are also described and assigned to individuals responsible for execution.

The contingency funding plan identifies key groups of individuals and their responsibilities, which include fostering effective coordination, control and distribution of information, implementing liquidity maintenance activities and managing internal and external communication, all of which are critical in the management of a crisis or period of market stress.

Stress Tests

In order to determine the appropriate size of our GCLA, we model liquidity outflows over a range of scenarios and time horizons. One of our primary internal liquidity risk models, referred to as the Modeled Liquidity Outflow, quantifies our liquidity risks over a

30-day

stress scenario. We also consider other factors, including, but not limited to, an assessment of our potential intraday liquidity needs through an additional internal liquidity risk model, referred to as the Intraday Liquidity Model, the results of our long-term stress testing models, our resolution liquidity models and other applicable regulatory requirements and a qualitative assessment of our condition, as well as the financial markets. The results of the Modeled Liquidity Outflow, the Intraday Liquidity Model, the long-term stress testing models and the resolution liquidity models are reported to senior management on a regular basis. We also perform firmwide stress tests. See “Overview and Structure of Risk Management” for information about firmwide stress tests.

Modeled Liquidity Outflow.

Our Modeled Liquidity Outflow is based on conducting multiple scenarios that include combinations of market-wide and firm-specific stress. These scenarios are characterized by the following qualitative elements:

• Severely challenged market environments, which includes low consumer and corporate confidence, financial and political instability, and adverse changes in market values, including potential declines in equity markets and widening of credit spreads; and

• A firm-specific crisis potentially triggered by material losses, reputational damage, litigation and/or a ratings downgrade.

The following are key modeling elements of our Modeled Liquidity Outflow:

• Liquidity needs over a 30-day scenario;

• A two-notch downgrade of our long-term senior unsecured credit ratings;

• Changing conditions in funding markets, which limit our access to unsecured and secured funding;

• No support from additional government funding facilities. Although we have access to various central bank funding programs, we do not assume reliance on additional sources of funding in a liquidity crisis; and

• A combination of contractual outflows and contingent outflows arising from both our on- and off-balance sheet arrangements. Contractual outflows include, among other things, upcoming maturities of unsecured debt, term deposits and secured funding. Contingent outflows include, among other things, the withdrawal of customer credit balances in our prime brokerage business, increase in variation margin requirements due to adverse changes in the value of our exchange-traded and OTC-cleared derivatives, draws on unfunded commitments and withdrawals of deposits that have no contractual maturity. See notes to the consolidated financial statements for further information about contractual outflows, including Note 11 for collateralized financings, Note 13 for deposits, Note 14 for unsecured long-term borrowings and Note 15 for operating lease payments, and “Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements” for further information about our various types of off-balance sheet arrangements.

Intraday Liquidity Model.

Our Intraday Liquidity Model measures our intraday liquidity needs using a scenario analysis characterized by the same qualitative elements as our Modeled Liquidity Outflow. The model assesses the risk of increased intraday liquidity requirements during a scenario where access to sources of intraday liquidity may become constrained.

Long-Term Stress Testing.

We utilize longer-term stress tests to take a forward view on our liquidity position through prolonged stress periods in which we experience a severe liquidity stress and recover in an environment that continues to be challenging. We are focused on ensuring conservative asset-liability management to prepare for a prolonged period of potential stress, seeking to maintain a diversified funding profile with an appropriate tenor, taking into consideration the characteristics and liquidity profile of our assets.

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THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

Resolution Liquidity Models.

In connection with our resolution planning efforts, we have established our Resolution Liquidity Adequacy and Positioning framework, which estimates liquidity needs of our major subsidiaries in a stressed environment. The liquidity needs are measured using our Modeled Liquidity Outflow assumptions and include certain additional inter-affiliate exposures. We have also established our Resolution Liquidity Execution Need framework, which measures the liquidity needs of our major subsidiaries to stabilize and wind-down following a Group Inc. bankruptcy filing in accordance with our preferred resolution strategy.

In addition, we have established a triggers and alerts framework, which is designed to provide the Board with information needed to make an informed decision on whether and when to commence bankruptcy proceedings for Group Inc.

Limits

We use liquidity risk limits at various levels and across liquidity risk types to manage the size of our liquidity exposures. Limits are measured relative to acceptable levels of risk given our liquidity risk tolerance. See “Overview and Structure of Risk Management” for information about the limit approval process.

Limits are monitored by Treasury and Liquidity Risk. Liquidity Risk is responsible for identifying and escalating to senior management and/or the appropriate risk committee, on a timely basis, instances where limits have been exceeded.

GCLA and Unencumbered Metrics

GCLA.

Based on the results of our internal liquidity risk models, described above, as well as our consideration of other factors, including, but not limited to, a qualitative assessment of our condition, as well as the financial markets, we believe our liquidity position as of both December 2021 and December 2020 was appropriate. We strictly limit our GCLA to a narrowly defined list of securities and cash because they are highly liquid, even in a difficult funding environment. We do not include other potential sources of excess liquidity in our GCLA, such as less liquid unencumbered securities or committed credit facilities.

The table below presents information about our GCLA.

	Average for the
	Three Months Ended December				Year Ended December
$ in millions	2021		2020		2021		2020
Denomination
U.S. dollar		$230,720		$190,735		$217,797		$181,949
Non-U.S. dollar		122,401		107,106		116,723		101,182
Total		$353,121		$297,841		$334,520		$283,131
Asset Class
Overnight cash deposits		$188,223		$108,345		$173,000		$100,489
U.S. government obligations		107,898		125,060		108,260		113,531
U.S. agency obligations		13,154		7,059		10,183		12,017
Non-U.S. government obligations		43,846		57,377		43,077		57,094
Total		$353,121		$297,841		$334,520		$283,131
Entity Type
Group Inc. and Funding IHC		$  54,489		$  36,737		$  53,205		$  41,705
Major broker-dealer subsidiaries		107,279		100,891		104,326		99,798
Major bank subsidiaries		191,353		160,213		176,989		141,628
Total		$353,121		$297,841		$334,520		$283,131

In the table above:

• The U.S. dollar-denominated GCLA consists of (i) unencumbered U.S. government and agency obligations (including highly liquid U.S. agency mortgage-backed obligations), all of which are eligible as collateral in Federal Reserve open market operations and (ii) certain overnight U.S. dollar cash deposits.

• The non-U.S. dollar-denominated GCLA consists of non-U.S. government obligations (only unencumbered German, French, Japanese and U.K. government obligations) and certain overnight cash deposits in highly liquid currencies.

We maintain our GCLA to enable us to meet current and potential liquidity requirements of our parent company, Group Inc., and its subsidiaries. Our Modeled Liquidity Outflow and Intraday Liquidity Model incorporate a requirement for Group Inc., as well as a standalone requirement for each of our major broker-dealer and bank subsidiaries. Funding IHC is required to provide the necessary liquidity to Group Inc. during the ordinary course of business, and is also obligated to provide capital and liquidity support to major subsidiaries in the event of our material financial distress or failure. Liquidity held directly in each of our major broker-dealer and bank subsidiaries is intended for use only by that subsidiary to meet its liquidity requirements and is assumed not to be available to Group Inc. or Funding IHC unless (i) legally provided for and (ii) there are no additional regulatory, tax or other restrictions. In addition, the Modeled Liquidity Outflow and Intraday Liquidity Model also incorporate a broader assessment of standalone liquidity requirements for other subsidiaries and we hold a portion of our GCLA directly at Group Inc. or Funding IHC to support such requirements.

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THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

Other Unencumbered Assets.

In addition to our GCLA, we have a significant amount of other unencumbered cash and financial instruments, including other government obligations, high-grade money market securities, corporate obligations, marginable equities, loans and cash deposits not included in our GCLA. The fair value of our unencumbered assets averaged $271.65 billion for the three months ended December 2021, $214.06 billion for the three months ended December 2020, $249.32 billion for the year ended December 2021 and $207.60 billion for the year ended December 2020. We do not consider these assets liquid enough to be eligible for our GCLA.

Liquidity Regulatory Framework

As a BHC, we are subject to a minimum Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) under the LCR rule approved by the U.S. federal bank regulatory agencies. The LCR rule requires organizations to maintain an adequate ratio of eligible high-quality liquid assets (HQLA) to expected net cash outflows under an acute, short-term liquidity stress scenario. Eligible HQLA excludes HQLA held by subsidiaries that is in excess of their minimum requirement and is subject to transfer restrictions. We are required to maintain a minimum LCR of 100%. We expect that fluctuations in client activity, business mix and the market environment will impact our LCR.

The table below presents information about our average daily LCR.

	Average for the Three Months Ended
$ in millions		December 2021	September 2021	December 2020
Total HQLA		$342,047	$344,351	$291,393
Eligible HQLA		$248,570	$249,915	$212,614
Net cash outflows		$203,623	$196,664	$166,551
LCR		122%	127%	128%

In October 2020, the U.S. federal bank regulatory agencies issued a final rule that established a net stable funding ratio (NSFR) requirement for large U.S. banking organizations. This rule became effective on July 1, 2021 and requires banking organizations to ensure they have access to stable funding over a

one-year

time horizon. The rule also requires disclosure of the ratio on a semi-annual basis and a description of the banking organization’s stable funding sources beginning in 2023. Our NSFR as of December 2021 exceeded the minimum requirement.

The following provides information about our subsidiary liquidity regulatory requirements:

• GS Bank USA. GS Bank USA is subject to a minimum LCR of 100% under the LCR rule approved by the U.S. federal bank regulatory agencies. As of December 2021, GS Bank USA’s LCR exceeded the minimum requirement. The NSFR requirement described above also applies to GS Bank USA. As of December 2021, GS Bank USA’s NSFR exceeded the minimum requirement.

• GSI and GSIB. GSI and GSIB are subject to a minimum LCR of 100% under the LCR rule approved by the U.K. regulatory authorities. GSI’s and GSIB’s average monthly LCR for the trailing twelve-month period ended December 2021 exceeded the minimum requirement. GSI and GSIB are subject to the applicable NSFR requirement in the U.K., which became effective in January 2022. As of December 2021, both GSI’s and GSIB’s NSFR exceeded the minimum requirement.

• GSBE. GSBE is subject to a minimum LCR of 100% under the LCR rule approved by the European Parliament and Council. GSBE’s average monthly LCR for the trailing twelve-month period ended December 2021 exceeded the minimum requirement. GSBE is subject to the applicable NSFR requirement in the E.U., which became effective in June 2021. As of December 2021, GSBE’s NSFR exceeded the minimum requirement.

• Other Subsidiaries. We monitor local regulatory liquidity requirements of our subsidiaries to ensure compliance. For many of our subsidiaries, these requirements either have changed or are likely to change in the future due to the implementation of the Basel Committee’s framework for liquidity risk measurement, standards and monitoring, as well as other regulatory developments.

The implementation of these rules and any amendments adopted by the regulatory authorities could impact our liquidity and funding requirements and practices in the future.

Credit Ratings

We rely on the short- and long-term debt capital markets to fund a significant portion of our

day-to-day

operations and the cost and availability of debt financing is influenced by our credit ratings. Credit ratings are also important when we are competing in certain markets, such as OTC derivatives, and when we seek to engage in longer-term transactions. See “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A of this

Form 10-K

for information about the risks associated with a reduction in our credit ratings.

100 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

The table below presents the unsecured credit ratings and outlook of Group Inc.

	As of December 2021
		DBRS	Fitch	Moody’s	R&I	S&P
Short-term debt		R-1 (middle)	F1	P-1	a-1	A-2
Long-term debt		A (high)	A	A2	A	BBB+
Subordinated debt		A	BBB+	Baa2	A-	BBB
Trust preferred		A	BBB-	Baa3	N/A	BB+
Preferred stock		BBB (high)	BBB-	Ba1	N/A	BB+
Ratings outlook		Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable	Stable

In the table above:

• The ratings and outlook are by DBRS, Inc. (DBRS), Fitch, Inc. (Fitch), Moody’s Investors Service (Moody’s), Rating and Investment Information, Inc. (R&I), and Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services (S&P).

• The ratings for trust preferred relate to the guaranteed preferred beneficial interests issued by Goldman Sachs Capital I.

• The DBRS, Fitch, Moody’s and S&P ratings for preferred stock include the APEX issued by Goldman Sachs Capital II and Goldman Sachs Capital III.

The table below presents the unsecured credit ratings and outlook of GS Bank USA, GSIB, GSBE, GS&Co. and GSI.

	As of December 2021
		Fitch	Moody’s	S&P
GS Bank USA
Short-term debt		F1	P-1	A-1
Long-term debt		A+	A1	A+
Short-term bank deposits		F1+	P-1	N/A
Long-term bank deposits		AA-	A1	N/A
Ratings outlook		Stable	Stable	Stable
GSIB
Short-term debt		F1	P-1	A-1
Long-term debt		A+	A1	A+
Short-term bank deposits		F1	P-1	N/A
Long-term bank deposits		A+	A1	N/A
Ratings outlook		Stable	Stable	Stable
GSBE
Short-term debt		F1	P-1	A-1
Long-term debt		A	A1	A+
Short-term bank deposits		N/A	P-1	N/A
Long-term bank deposits		N/A	A1	N/A
Ratings outlook		Stable	Stable	Stable
GS&Co.
Short-term debt		F1	N/A	A-1
Long-term debt		A+	N/A	A+
Ratings outlook		Stable	N/A	Stable
GSI
Short-term debt		F1	P-1	A-1
Long-term debt		A+	A1	A+
Ratings outlook		Stable	Stable	Stable

We believe our credit ratings are primarily based on the credit rating agencies’ assessment of:

• Our liquidity, market, credit and operational risk management practices;

• Our level and variability of earnings;

• Our capital base;

• Our franchise, reputation and management;

• Our corporate governance; and

• The external operating and economic environment, including, in some cases, the assumed level of government support or other systemic considerations, such as potential resolution.

Certain of our derivatives have been transacted under bilateral agreements with counterparties who may require us to post collateral or terminate the transactions based on changes in our credit ratings. We manage our GCLA to ensure we would, among other potential requirements, be able to make the additional collateral or termination payments that may be required in the event of a

two-notch

reduction in our long-term credit ratings, as well as collateral that has not been called by counterparties, but is available to them.

See Note 7 to the consolidated financial statements for further information about derivatives with credit-related contingent features and the additional collateral or termination payments related to our net derivative liabilities under bilateral agreements that could have been called by counterparties in the event of a

one-

or

two-notch

downgrade in our credit ratings.

Cash Flows

As a global financial institution, our cash flows are complex and bear little relation to our net earnings and net assets. Consequently, we believe that traditional cash flow analysis is less meaningful in evaluating our liquidity position than the liquidity and asset-liability management policies described above. Cash flow analysis may, however, be helpful in highlighting certain macro trends and strategic initiatives in our businesses.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 101

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

Year Ended December 2021.

Our cash and cash equivalents increased by $105.19 billion to $261.04 billion at the end of 2021, primarily due to net cash provided by financing activities, partially offset by net cash used for investing activities. The net cash provided by financing activities primarily reflected an increase in net deposits, reflecting increases across channels, and net issuances of unsecured long-term borrowings. The net cash used for investing activities primarily reflected purchases of investments and an increase in net lending activities, partially offset by sales and paydowns of investments.

Year Ended December 2020.

Our cash and cash equivalents increased by $22.30 billion to $155.84 billion at the end of 2020, primarily due to net cash provided by financing activities, partially offset by net cash used for investing activities and operating activities. The net cash provided by financing activities primarily reflected an increase in net deposits, reflecting increases in consumer, transaction banking and private bank deposits. The net cash used for investing activities primarily reflected an increase in net purchases of investments, reflecting an increase in U.S. government obligations accounted for as

available-for-sale

and an increase in net lending activities. The net cash used for operating activities primarily reflected an increase in trading assets, net customer and other receivables and payables, and collateralized transactions (an increase in collateralized agreements, partially offset by an increase in collateralized financings), partially offset by an increase in trading liabilities as a result of our and our clients’ activities.

For an analysis of cash flows for the year ended December 2019, see Part II, Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our Annual Report on

Form 10-K

for the year ended December 31, 2020.

Market Risk Management

Overview

Market risk is the risk of loss in the value of our inventory, investments, loans and other financial assets and liabilities accounted for at fair value due to changes in market conditions. We hold such positions primarily for market making for our clients and for our investing and financing activities, and therefore, these positions change based on client demands and our investment opportunities. Since these positions are accounted for at fair value, they fluctuate on a daily basis, with the related gains and losses included in the consolidated statements of earnings. We employ a variety of risk measures, each described in the respective sections below, to monitor market risk. Categories of market risk include the following:

• Interest rate risk: results from exposures to changes in the level, slope and curvature of yield curves, the volatilities of interest rates, prepayment speeds and credit spreads;

• Equity price risk: results from exposures to changes in prices and volatilities of individual equities, baskets of equities and equity indices;

• Currency rate risk: results from exposures to changes in spot prices, forward prices and volatilities of currency rates; and

• Commodity price risk: results from exposures to changes in spot prices, forward prices and volatilities of commodities, such as crude oil, petroleum products, natural gas, electricity, and precious and base metals.

Market Risk, which is independent of our revenue-producing units and reports to our chief risk officer, has primary responsibility for assessing, monitoring and managing our market risk through firmwide oversight across our global businesses.

Managers in revenue-producing units and Market Risk discuss market information, positions and estimated loss scenarios on an ongoing basis. Managers in revenue-producing units are accountable for managing risk within prescribed limits. These managers have

in-depth

knowledge of their positions, markets and the instruments available to hedge their exposures.

Market Risk Management Process

Our process for managing market risk includes the critical components of our risk management framework described in the “Overview and Structure of Risk Management,” as well as the following:

• Monitoring compliance with established market risk limits and reporting our exposures;

• Diversifying exposures;

• Controlling position sizes; and

• Evaluating mitigants, such as economic hedges in related securities or derivatives.

Our market risk management systems enable us to perform an independent calculation of

Value-at-Risk

(VaR) and stress measures, capture risk measures at individual position levels, attribute risk measures to individual risk factors of each position, report many different views of the risk measures (e.g., by desk, business, product type or entity) and produce ad hoc analyses in a timely manner.

102 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

Risk Measures

We produce risk measures and monitor them against established market risk limits. These measures reflect an extensive range of scenarios and the results are aggregated at product, business and firmwide levels.

We use a variety of risk measures to estimate the size of potential losses for both moderate and more extreme market moves over both short- and long-term time horizons. Our primary risk measures are VaR, which is used for shorter-term periods, and stress tests. Our risk reports detail key risks, drivers and changes for each desk and business, and are distributed daily to senior management of both our revenue-producing units and our independent risk oversight and control functions.

Value-at-Risk.

VaR is the potential loss in value due to adverse market movements over a defined time horizon with a specified confidence level. For assets and liabilities included in VaR, see “Financial Statement Linkages to Market Risk Measures.” We typically employ a

one-day

time horizon with a 95% confidence level. We use a single VaR model, which captures risks, including interest rates, equity prices, currency rates and commodity prices. As such, VaR facilitates comparison across portfolios of different risk characteristics. VaR also captures the diversification of aggregated risk at the firmwide level.

We are aware of the inherent limitations to VaR and therefore use a variety of risk measures in our market risk management process. Inherent limitations to VaR include:

• VaR does not estimate potential losses over longer time horizons where moves may be extreme;

• VaR does not take account of the relative liquidity of different risk positions; and

• Previous moves in market risk factors may not produce accurate predictions of all future market moves.

To comprehensively capture our exposures and relevant risks in our VaR calculation, we use historical simulations with full valuation of market factors at the position level by simultaneously shocking the relevant market factors for that position. These market factors include spot prices, credit spreads, funding spreads, yield curves, volatility and correlation, and are updated periodically based on changes in the composition of positions, as well as variations in market conditions. We sample from five years of historical data to generate the scenarios for our VaR calculation. The historical data is weighted so that the relative importance of the data reduces over time. This gives greater importance to more recent observations and reflects current asset volatilities, which improves the accuracy of our estimates of potential loss. As a result, even if our positions included in VaR were unchanged, our VaR would increase with increasing market volatility and vice versa.

Given its reliance on historical data, VaR is most effective in estimating risk exposures in markets in which there are no sudden fundamental changes or shifts in market conditions.

Our VaR measure does not include:

• Positions that are best measured and monitored using sensitivity measures; and

• The impact of changes in counterparty and our own credit spreads on derivatives, as well as changes in our own credit spreads on financial liabilities for which the fair value option was elected.

We perform daily backtesting of our VaR model (i.e., comparing daily net revenues for positions included in VaR to the VaR measure calculated as of the prior business day) at the firmwide level and for each of our businesses and major regulated subsidiaries.

Stress Testing.

Stress testing is a method of determining the effect of various hypothetical stress scenarios. We use stress testing to examine risks of specific portfolios, as well as the potential impact of our significant risk exposures. We use a variety of stress testing techniques to calculate the potential loss from a wide range of market moves on our portfolios, including firmwide stress tests, sensitivity analysis and scenario analysis. The results of our various stress tests are analyzed together for risk management purposes. See “Overview and Structure of Risk Management” for information about firmwide stress tests.

Sensitivity analysis is used to quantify the impact of a market move in a single risk factor across all positions (e.g., equity prices or credit spreads) using a variety of defined market shocks, ranging from those that could be expected over a

one-day

time horizon up to those that could take many months to occur. We also use sensitivity analysis to quantify the impact of the default of any single entity, which captures the risk of large or concentrated exposures.

Scenario analysis is used to quantify the impact of a specified event, including how the event impacts multiple risk factors simultaneously. For example, for sovereign stress testing we calculate potential direct exposure associated with our sovereign positions, as well as the corresponding debt, equity and currency exposures associated with our

non-sovereign

positions that may be impacted by the sovereign distress. When conducting scenario analysis, we often consider a number of possible outcomes for each scenario, ranging from moderate to severely adverse market impacts. In addition, these stress tests are constructed using both historical events and forward-looking hypothetical scenarios.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 103

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

Unlike VaR measures, which have an implied probability because they are calculated at a specified confidence level, there may not be an implied probability that our stress testing scenarios will occur. Instead, stress testing is used to model both moderate and more extreme moves in underlying market factors. When estimating potential loss, we generally assume that our positions cannot be reduced or hedged (although experience demonstrates that we are generally able to do so).

Limits

We use market risk limits at various levels to manage the size of our market exposures. These limits are set based on VaR and on a range of stress tests relevant to our exposures. See “Overview and Structure of Risk Management” for information about the limit approval process.

Market Risk is responsible for monitoring these limits, and identifying and escalating to senior management and/or the appropriate risk committee, on a timely basis, instances where limits have been exceeded (e.g., due to positional changes or changes in market conditions, such as increased volatilities or changes in correlations). Such instances are remediated by a reduction in the positions we hold and/or a temporary or permanent increase to the limit, if warranted.

Metrics

We analyze VaR at the firmwide level and a variety of more detailed levels, including by risk category, business and region. Diversification effect in the tables below represents the difference between total VaR and the sum of the VaRs for the four risk categories. This effect arises because the four market risk categories are not perfectly correlated.

The table below presents our average daily VaR.

	Year Ended December
$ in millions		2021		2020
Categories
Interest rates		$ 60		$ 71
Equity prices		43		55
Currency rates		13		23
Commodity prices		25		20
Diversification effect		(55	)	(75	)
Total		$ 86		$ 94

Our average daily VaR decreased to $86 million in 2021 from $94 million in 2020, due to lower levels of volatility, partially offset by increased exposures. The total decrease of $8 million was driven by decreases in the equity prices, interest rates and currency rates categories, partially offset by a decrease in the diversification effect and an increase in the commodity prices category.

The table below presents our

period-end

VaR.

	As of December
$ in millions		2021		2020
Categories
Interest rates		$ 69		$ 60
Equity prices		31		50
Currency rates		19		11
Commodity prices		30		16
Diversification effect		(58	)	(46	)
Total		$ 91		$ 91

Our

period-end

VaR was $91 million as of December 2021, unchanged compared with December 2020, reflecting increased exposures, offset by lower levels of volatility. This was driven by increases in the commodity prices, interest rates and currency rates categories, offset by a decrease in the equity prices category and an increase in the diversification effect.

During 2021, the firmwide VaR risk limit was not exceeded, raised or reduced, and there were no permanent or temporary changes to the firmwide VaR risk limit. During 2020, the firmwide VaR risk limit was exceeded on 16 occasions (all of which occurred during the first half of 2020), primarily due to higher levels of volatility. There were no permanent changes to the firmwide VaR risk limit during this period. However, there were temporary increases to the firmwide VaR risk limit as a result of the market environment in 2020.

The table below presents our high and low VaR.

	Year Ended December
	2021			2020
$ in millions		High	Low		High	Low
Categories
Interest rates		$  74	$49		$120	$46
Equity prices		$  71	$30		$116	$23
Currency rates		$  20	$  8		$  53	$  8
Commodity prices		$  45	$14		$  54	$  9
Firmwide
VaR		$105	$69		$195	$58

The chart below presents our daily VaR for 2021.

104 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

The table below presents, by number of business days, the frequency distribution of our daily net revenues for positions included in VaR.

	Year Ended December
$ in millions		2021	2020
>$100		53	50
$75 - $100		45	37
$50 - $75		42	48
$25 - $50		33	51
$0 - $25		45	43
$(25) - $0		24	11
$(50) - $(25)		6	8
$(75) - $(50)		2	3
$(100) - $(75)		1	2
<$(100)		1	–
Total		252	253

Daily net revenues for positions included in VaR are compared with VaR calculated as of the end of the prior business day. Net losses incurred on a single day for such positions exceeded our 95%

one-day

VaR (i.e., a VaR exception) on one occasion during 2021 and on two occasions during 2020.

During periods in which we have significantly more positive net revenue days than net revenue loss days, we expect to have fewer VaR exceptions because, under normal conditions, our business model generally produces positive net revenues. In periods in which our franchise revenues are adversely affected, we generally have more loss days, resulting in more VaR exceptions. The daily net revenues for positions included in VaR used to determine VaR exceptions reflect the impact of any intraday activity, including bid/offer net revenues, which are more likely than not to be positive by their nature.

Sensitivity Measures

Certain portfolios and individual positions are not included in VaR because VaR is not the most appropriate risk measure. Other sensitivity measures we use to analyze market risk are described below.

10% Sensitivity Measures.

The table below presents our market risk by asset category for positions accounted for at fair value, that are not included in VaR.

	As of December
$ in millions		2021	2020
Equity		$1,953	$1,854
Debt		2,244	2,516
Total		$4,197	$4,370

In the table above:

• The market risk of these positions is determined by estimating the potential reduction in net revenues of a 10% decline in the value of these positions.

• Equity positions relate to private and restricted public equity securities, including interests in funds that invest in corporate equities and real estate and interests in hedge funds.

• Debt positions include interests in funds that invest in corporate mezzanine and senior debt instruments, loans backed by commercial and residential real estate, corporate bank loans and other corporate debt, including acquired portfolios of distressed loans.

• Funded equity and debt positions are included in our consolidated balance sheets in investments and loans. See Note 8 to the consolidated financial statements for further information about investments and Note 9 to the consolidated financial statements for further information about loans.

• These measures do not reflect the diversification effect across asset categories or across other market risk measures.

Credit and Funding Spread Sensitivity on Derivatives and Financial Liabilities.

VaR excludes the impact of changes in counterparty credit spreads, our own credit spreads and unsecured funding spreads on derivatives, as well as changes in our own credit spreads (debt valuation adjustment) on financial liabilities for which the fair value option was elected. The estimated sensitivity to a one basis point increase in credit spreads (counterparty and our own) and unsecured funding spreads on derivatives (including hedges) was a loss of $1 million as of December 2021 and $3 million as of December 2020. In addition, the estimated sensitivity to a one basis point increase in our own credit spreads on financial liabilities for which the fair value option was elected was a gain of $33 million as of December 2021 and $22 million as of December 2020. However, the actual net impact of a change in our own credit spreads is also affected by the liquidity, duration and convexity (as the sensitivity is not linear to changes in yields) of those financial liabilities for which the fair value option was elected, as well as the relative performance of any hedges undertaken.

Interest Rate Sensitivity.

Loans accounted for at amortized cost were $139.93 billion as of December 2021 and $99.69 billion as of December 2020, substantially all of which had floating interest rates. The estimated sensitivity to a 100 basis point increase in interest rates on such loans was $1.07 billion as of December 2021 and $737 million as of December 2020 of additional interest income over a twelve-month period, which does not take into account the potential impact of an increase in costs to fund such loans. See Note 9 to the consolidated financial statements for further information about loans accounted for at amortized cost.

Other Market Risk Considerations

We make investments in securities that are accounted for as

available-for-sale,

held-to-maturity

or under the equity method which are included in investments in the consolidated balance sheets. See Note 8 to the consolidated financial statements for further information.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 105

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

Direct investments in real estate are accounted for at cost less accumulated depreciation. See Note 12 to the consolidated financial statements for further information about other assets.

Financial Statement Linkages to Market Risk Measures

We employ a variety of risk measures, each described in the respective sections above, to monitor market risk across the consolidated balance sheets and consolidated statements of earnings. The related gains and losses on these positions are included in market making, other principal transactions, interest income and interest expense in the consolidated statements of earnings, and debt valuation adjustment in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

The table below presents certain assets and liabilities in our consolidated balance sheets and the market risk measures used to assess those assets and liabilities.

Assets or Liabilities	Market Risk Measures
Collateralized agreements, at fair value	VaR
Customer and other receivables, at fair value	10% Sensitivity Measures
Trading assets	VaR Credit Spread Sensitivity
Investments, at fair value	VaR 10% Sensitivity Measures
Loans	VaR 10% Sensitivity Measures Interest Rate Sensitivity
Deposits, at fair value	VaR Credit Spread Sensitivity
Collateralized financings, at fair value	VaR
Trading liabilities	VaR Credit Spread Sensitivity
Unsecured borrowings, at fair value	VaR Credit Spread Sensitivity

Credit Risk Management

Overview

Credit risk represents the potential for loss due to the default or deterioration in credit quality of a counterparty (e.g., an OTC derivatives counterparty or a borrower) or an issuer of securities or other instruments we hold. Our exposure to credit risk comes mostly from client transactions in OTC derivatives and loans and lending commitments. Credit risk also comes from cash placed with banks, securities financing transactions (i.e., resale and repurchase agreements and securities borrowing and lending activities) and customer and other receivables.

Credit Risk, which is independent of our revenue-producing units and reports to our chief risk officer, has primary responsibility for assessing, monitoring and managing our credit risk through firmwide oversight across our global businesses. In addition, we hold other positions that give rise to credit risk (e.g., bonds and secondary bank loans). These credit risks are captured as a component of market risk measures, which are monitored and managed by Market Risk. We also enter into derivatives to manage market risk exposures. Such derivatives also give rise to credit risk, which is monitored and managed by Credit Risk.

Credit Risk Management Process

Our process for managing credit risk includes the critical components of our risk management framework described in the “Overview and Structure of Risk Management,” as well as the following:

• Monitoring compliance with established credit risk limits and reporting our credit exposures and credit concentrations;

• Establishing or approving underwriting standards;

• Assessing the likelihood that a counterparty will default on its payment obligations;

• Measuring our current and potential credit exposure and losses resulting from a counterparty default;

• Using credit risk mitigants, including collateral and hedging; and

• Maximizing recovery through active workout and restructuring of claims.

We also perform credit reviews, which include initial and ongoing analyses of our counterparties. For substantially all of our credit exposures, the core of our process is an annual counterparty credit review. A credit review is an independent analysis of the capacity and willingness of a counterparty to meet its financial obligations, resulting in an internal credit rating. The determination of internal credit ratings also incorporates assumptions with respect to the nature of and outlook for the counterparty’s industry, and the economic environment. Senior personnel, with expertise in specific industries, inspect and approve credit reviews and internal credit ratings.

Our risk assessment process may also include, where applicable, reviewing certain key metrics, including, but not limited to, delinquency status, collateral values, FICO credit scores and other risk factors.

106 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

Our credit risk management systems capture credit exposure to individual counterparties and on an aggregate basis to counterparties and their subsidiaries. These systems also provide management with comprehensive information about our aggregate credit risk by product, internal credit rating, industry, country and region.

Risk Measures

We measure our credit risk based on the potential loss in the event of

non-payment

by a counterparty using current and potential exposure. For derivatives and securities financing transactions, current exposure represents the amount presently owed to us after taking into account applicable netting and collateral arrangements, while potential exposure represents our estimate of the future exposure that could arise over the life of a transaction based on market movements within a specified confidence level. Potential exposure also takes into account netting and collateral arrangements. For loans and lending commitments, the primary measure is a function of the notional amount of the position.

Stress Tests

We conduct regular stress tests to calculate the credit exposures, including potential concentrations that would result from applying shocks to counterparty credit ratings or credit risk factors (e.g., currency rates, interest rates, equity prices). These shocks cover a wide range of moderate and more extreme market movements, including shocks to multiple risk factors, consistent with the occurrence of a severe market or economic event. In the case of sovereign default, we estimate the direct impact of the default on our sovereign credit exposures, changes to our credit exposures arising from potential market moves in response to the default, and the impact of credit market deterioration on corporate borrowers and counterparties that may result from the sovereign default. Unlike potential exposure, which is calculated within a specified confidence level, stress testing does not generally assume a probability of these events occurring. We also perform firmwide stress tests. See “Overview and Structure of Risk Management” for information about firmwide stress tests.

To supplement these regular stress tests, as described above, we also conduct tailored stress tests on an ad hoc basis in response to specific market events that we deem significant. We also utilize these stress tests to estimate the indirect impact of certain hypothetical events on our country exposures, such as the impact of credit market deterioration on corporate borrowers and counterparties along with the shocks to the risk factors described above. The parameters of these shocks vary based on the scenario reflected in each stress test. We review estimated losses produced by the stress tests in order to understand their magnitude, highlight potential loss concentrations, and assess and mitigate our exposures where necessary.

Limits

We use credit risk limits at various levels, as well as underwriting standards to manage the size and nature of our credit exposures. Limits for industries and countries are based on our risk appetite and are designed to allow for regular monitoring, review, escalation and management of credit risk concentrations. See “Overview and Structure of Risk Management” for information about the limit approval process.

Credit Risk is responsible for monitoring these limits, and identifying and escalating to senior management and/or the appropriate risk committee, on a timely basis, instances where limits have been exceeded.

Risk Mitigants

To reduce our credit exposures on derivatives and securities financing transactions, we may enter into netting agreements with counterparties that permit us to offset receivables and payables with such counterparties. We may also reduce credit risk with counterparties by entering into agreements that enable us to obtain collateral from them on an upfront or contingent basis and/or to terminate transactions if the counterparty’s credit rating falls below a specified level. We monitor the fair value of the collateral to ensure that our credit exposures are appropriately collateralized. We seek to minimize exposures where there is a significant positive correlation between the creditworthiness of our counterparties and the market value of collateral we receive.

For loans and lending commitments, depending on the credit quality of the borrower and other characteristics of the transaction, we employ a variety of potential risk mitigants. Risk mitigants include collateral provisions, guarantees, covenants, structural seniority of the bank loan claims and, for certain lending commitments, provisions in the legal documentation that allow us to adjust loan amounts, pricing, structure and other terms as market conditions change. The type and structure of risk mitigants employed can significantly influence the degree of credit risk involved in a loan or lending commitment.

When we do not have sufficient visibility into a counterparty’s financial strength or when we believe a counterparty requires support from its parent, we may obtain third-party guarantees of the counterparty’s obligations. We may also mitigate our credit risk using credit derivatives or participation agreements.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 107

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

Credit Exposures

As of December 2021, our aggregate credit exposure increased as compared with December 2020, primarily reflecting increases in cash deposits with central banks and loans and lending commitments. The percentage of our credit exposures arising from

non-investment-grade

counterparties (based on our internally determined public rating agency equivalents) decreased as compared with December 2020, primarily reflecting an increase in investment-grade credit exposure related to cash deposits with central banks. Our credit exposures are described further below.

Cash and Cash Equivalents.

Our credit exposure on cash and cash equivalents arises from our unrestricted cash, and includes both interest-bearing and

non-interest-bearing

deposits. To mitigate the risk of credit loss, we place substantially all of our deposits with highly rated banks and central banks.

The table below presents our credit exposure from unrestricted cash and cash equivalents, and the concentration by industry, region and internally determined public rating agency equivalents.

	As of December
$ in millions		2021	2020
Cash and Cash Equivalents		$236,168	$131,324
Industry
Financial Institutions		5%	11%
Sovereign		95%	89%
Total		100%	100%
Region
Americas		55%	45%
EMEA		36%	41%
Asia		9%	14%
Total		100%	100%
Credit Quality (Credit Rating Equivalent)
AAA		64%	44%
AA		24%	38%
A		11%	17%
BBB		1%	1%
Total		100%	100%

The table above excludes cash segregated for regulatory and other purposes of $24.87 billion as of December 2021 and $24.52 billion as of December 2020.

OTC Derivatives.

Our credit exposure on OTC derivatives arises primarily from our market-making activities. As a market maker, we enter into derivative transactions to provide liquidity to clients and to facilitate the transfer and hedging of their risks. We also enter into derivatives to manage market risk exposures. We manage our credit exposure on OTC derivatives using the credit risk process, measures, limits and risk mitigants described above.

We generally enter into OTC derivatives transactions under bilateral collateral arrangements that require the daily exchange of collateral. As credit risk is an essential component of fair value, we include a credit valuation adjustment (CVA) in the fair value of derivatives to reflect counterparty credit risk, as described in Note 7 to the consolidated financial statements. CVA is a function of the present value of expected exposure, the probability of counterparty default and the assumed recovery upon default.

The table below presents our net credit exposure from OTC derivatives and the concentration by industry and region.

	As of December
$ in millions		2021		2020
OTC derivative assets		$ 58,637		$ 64,850
Collateral (not netted under U.S. GAAP)		(17,245	)	(18,990	)
Net credit exposure		$ 41,392		$ 45,860
Industry
Consumer & Retail		2%		4%
Diversified Industrials		10%		23%
Financial Institutions		15%		12%
Funds		13%		12%
Healthcare		1%		2%
Municipalities & Nonprofit		5%		6%
Natural Resources & Utilities		33%		11%
Sovereign		8%		14%
Technology, Media & Telecommunications		8%		12%
Other (including Special Purpose Vehicles)		5%		4%
Total		100%		100%
Region
Americas		53%		62%
EMEA		37%		30%
Asia		10%		8%
Total		100%		100%

Our credit exposure (before any potential recoveries) to OTC derivative counterparties that defaulted during 2021 remained low, representing less than 2% of our total credit exposure from OTC derivatives.

In the table above:

• OTC derivative assets, included in the consolidated balance sheets, are reported on a net-by-counterparty basis (i.e., the net receivable for a given counterparty) when a legal right of setoff exists under an enforceable netting agreement (counterparty netting) and are accounted for at fair value, net of cash collateral received under enforceable credit support agreements (cash collateral netting).

• Collateral represents cash collateral and the fair value of securities collateral, primarily U.S. and non-U.S. government and agency obligations, received under credit support agreements, that we consider when determining credit risk, but such collateral is not eligible for netting under U.S. GAAP.

108 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

The table below presents the distribution of our net credit exposure from OTC derivatives by tenor.

$ in millions	Investment- Grade		Non-Investment- Grade / Unrated		Total
As of December 2021
Less than 1 year	$  27,668		$ 11,203		$   38,871
1 - 5 years	21,746		9,515		31,261
Greater than 5 years	64,670		6,590		71,260
Total	114,084		27,308		141,392
Netting	(89,244	)	(10,756	)	(100,000	)
Net credit exposure	$  24,840		$ 16,552		$   41,392
As of December 2020
Less than 1 year	$   22,332		$12,507		$  34,839
1 - 5 years	23,927		16,486		40,413
Greater than 5 years	77,653		8,958		86,611
Total	123,912		37,951		161,863
Netting	(101,691	)	(14,312	)	(116,003	)
Net credit exposure	$   22,221		$23,639		$  45,860

In the table above:

• Tenor is based on remaining contractual maturity.

• Netting includes counterparty netting across tenor categories and collateral that we consider when determining credit risk (including collateral that is not eligible for netting under U.S. GAAP). Counterparty netting within the same tenor category is included within such tenor category.

The tables below present the distribution of our net credit exposure from OTC derivatives by tenor and internally determined public rating agency equivalents.

	Investment-Grade
$ in millions		AAA		AA			A		BBB		Total
As of December 2021
Less than 1 year		$   1,017		$  4,926			$ 12,481		$   9,244		$  27,668
1 - 5 years		1,150		3,071			8,298		9,227		21,746
Greater than 5 years		13,777		5,421			23,867		21,605		64,670
Total		15,944		13,418			44,646		40,076		114,084
Netting		(13,535	)	(9,501	)		(36,005	)	(30,203	)	(89,244	)
Net credit exposure		$   2,409		$  3,917			$   8,641		$   9,873		$  24,840
As of December 2020
Less than 1 year		$     532		$   4,146			$11,440		$  6,214		$   22,332
1 - 5 years		1,069		4,189			10,976		7,693		23,927
Greater than 5 years		16,550		7,403			28,410		25,290		77,653
Total		18,151		15,738			50,826		39,197		123,912
Netting		(14,364	)	(11,230	)		(44,529	)	(31,568	)	(101,691	)
Net credit exposure		$  3,787		$   4,508			$  6,297		$  7,629		$   22,221
						Non-Investment-Grade / Unrated
$ in millions							BB or lower		Unrated		Total
As of December 2021
Less than 1 year							$ 10,446		$     757		$  11,203
1 - 5 years							9,210		305		9,515
Greater than 5 years							6,320		270		6,590
Total							25,976		1,332		27,308
Netting							(10,683	)	(73	)	(10,756	)
Net credit exposure							$ 15,293		$   1,259		$  16,552
As of December 2020
Less than 1 year							$11,541		$    966		$   12,507
1 - 5 years							16,274		212		16,486
Greater than 5 years							8,844		114		8,958
Total							36,659		1,292		37,951
Netting							(14,114	)	(198	)	(14,312	)
Net credit exposure							$22,545		$  1,094		$   23,639

Lending Activities.

We manage our lending activities using the credit risk process, measures, limits and risk mitigants described above. Other lending positions, including secondary trading positions, are risk-managed as a component of market risk.

The table below presents our loans and lending commitments.

$ in millions	Loans		Lending Commitments		Total
As of December 2021
Corporate	$  55,927		$155,930		$211,857
Wealth management	43,998		4,094		48,092
Commercial real estate	25,883		5,813		31,696
Residential real estate	15,913		3,396		19,309
Consumer:
Installment	3,672		9		3,681
Credit cards	8,212		35,932		44,144
Other	8,530		6,378		14,908
Total	$162,135		$211,552		$373,687
Allowance for loan losses	$  (3,573	)	$    (776	)	$  (4,349	)
As of December 2020
Corporate	$  48,659		$135,818		$184,477
Wealth management	33,023		3,103		36,126
Commercial real estate	20,290		4,268		24,558
Residential real estate	5,750		1,900		7,650
Consumer:
Installment	3,823		4		3,827
Credit cards	4,270		21,640		25,910
Other	4,174		4,842		9,016
Total	$119,989		$171,575		$291,564
Allowance for loan losses	$  (3,874	)	$      (557	)	$  (4,431	)

See Note 9 to the consolidated financial statements for information about net charge-offs on wholesale and consumer loans, as well as past due and nonaccrual loans accounted for at amortized cost.

Corporate.

Corporate loans and lending commitments include term loans, revolving lines of credit, letter of credit facilities and bridge loans, and are principally used for operating and general corporate purposes, or in connection with acquisitions. Corporate loans may be secured or unsecured, depending on the loan purpose, the risk profile of the borrower and other factors.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 109

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

The table below presents our credit exposure from corporate loans and lending commitments, and the concentration by industry, region, internally determined public rating agency equivalents and other credit metrics.

$ in millions	Loans	Lending Commitments	Total
As of December 2021
Corporate	$55,927	$155,930	$211,857
Industry
Consumer & Retail	8%	13%	12%
Diversified Industrials	13%	16%	15%
Financial Institutions	8%	7%	7%
Funds	21%	4%	8%
Healthcare	7%	9%	9%
Natural Resources & Utilities	9%	17%	14%
Real Estate	8%	5%	6%
Technology, Media & Telecommunications	18%	24%	23%
Other (including Special Purpose Vehicles)	8%	5%	6%
Total	100%	100%	100%
Region
Americas	54%	76%	70%
EMEA	38%	21%	26%
Asia	8%	3%	4%
Total	100%	100%	100%
Credit Quality (Credit Rating Equivalent)
AAA	–	1%	1%
AA	1%	5%	3%
A	5%	16%	13%
BBB	22%	38%	34%
BB or lower	72%	40%	49%
Total	100%	100%	100%
As of December 2020
Corporate	$48,659	$135,818	$184,477
Industry
Consumer & Retail	7%	14%	12%
Diversified Industrials	17%	17%	17%
Financial Institutions	10%	6%	7%
Funds	13%	3%	6%
Healthcare	7%	12%	11%
Natural Resources & Utilities	12%	18%	16%
Real Estate	8%	6%	6%
Technology, Media & Telecommunications	17%	19%	19%
Other (including Special Purpose Vehicles)	9%	5%	6%
Total	100%	100%	100%
Region
Americas	60%	70%	67%
EMEA	31%	28%	29%
Asia	9%	2%	4%
Total	100%	100%	100%
Credit Quality (Credit Rating Equivalent)
AAA	–	1%	1%
AA	–	5%	4%
A	6%	19%	15%
BBB	13%	36%	30%
BB or lower	80%	38%	49%
Other metrics/unrated	1%	1%	1%
Total	100%	100%	100%

In the table above, credit exposure excludes $4.14 billion as of December 2021 and $3.20 billion as of December 2020 relating to issued letters of credit which are classified as guarantees in our consolidated financial statements. See Note 18 to the consolidated financial statements for further information about guarantees.

Wealth Management.

Wealth management loans and lending commitments are extended to private bank clients, including wealth management and other clients. These loans are used to finance investments in both financial and nonfinancial assets, bridge cash flow timing gaps or provide liquidity for other needs. Substantially all of such loans are secured by securities, residential real estate, commercial real estate or other assets.

The table below presents our credit exposure from wealth management loans and lending commitments, and the concentration by region, internally determined public rating agency equivalents and other credit metrics.

$ in millions	Loans	Lending Commitments	Total
As of December 2021
Wealth Management	$43,998	$4,094	$48,092
Region
Americas	87%	98%	88%
EMEA	10%	2%	9%
Asia	3%	–	3%
Total	100%	100%	100%
Credit Quality (Credit Rating Equivalent)
Investment-grade	72%	67%	71%
Non-investment-grade	13%	19%	14%
Other metrics/unrated	15%	14%	15%
Total	100%	100%	100%
As of December 2020
Wealth Management	$33,023	$3,103	$36,126
Region
Americas	88%	99%	89%
EMEA	10%	1%	9%
Asia	2%	–	2%
Total	100%	100%	100%
Credit Quality (Credit Rating Equivalent)
Investment-grade	67%	58%	66%
Non-investment-grade	16%	21%	17%
Other metrics/unrated	17%	21%	17%
Total	100%	100%	100%

In the table above, other metrics/unrated loans primarily include loans backed by residential real estate. Our risk assessment process for such loans include reviewing certain key metrics, such as

loan-to-value

ratio and delinquency status.

110 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

Commercial Real Estate.

Commercial real estate loans and lending commitments include originated loans and lending commitments (other than those extended to private bank clients) that are directly or indirectly secured by hotels, retail stores, multifamily housing complexes and commercial and industrial properties. Commercial real estate loans and lending commitments also includes loans and lending commitments extended to clients who warehouse assets that are directly or indirectly backed by commercial real estate. In addition, commercial real estate includes loans purchased by us.

The table below presents our credit exposure from commercial real estate loans and lending commitments, and the concentration by region, internally determined public rating agency equivalents and other credit metrics.

$ in millions	Loans	Lending Commitments	Total
As of December 2021
Commercial Real Estate	$25,883	$5,813	$31,696
Region
Americas	80%	75%	79%
EMEA	15%	11%	14%
Asia	5%	14%	7%
Total	100%	100%	100%
Credit Quality (Credit Rating Equivalent)
Investment-grade	15%	10%	14%
Non-investment-grade	83%	90%	85%
Other metrics/unrated	2%	–	1%
Total	100%	100%	100%
As of December 2020
Commercial Real Estate	$20,290	$4,268	$24,558
Region
Americas	71%	65%	70%
EMEA	19%	10%	18%
Asia	10%	25%	12%
Total	100%	100%	100%
Credit Quality (Credit Rating Equivalent)
Investment-grade	9%	13%	10%
Non-investment-grade	86%	87%	86%
Other metrics/unrated	5%	–	4%
Total	100%	100%	100%

In the table above, credit exposure includes loans and lending commitments of $11.65 billion as of December 2021 and $7.88 billion as of December 2020 which are extended to clients who warehouse assets that are directly or indirectly backed by commercial real estate.

In addition, we also have credit exposure to certain commercial real estate loans held for securitization of $922 million as of December 2021 and $503 million as of December 2020. Such loans are included in trading assets in our consolidated balance sheets.

Residential Real Estate.

Residential real estate loans and lending commitments are extended to clients (other than those extended to private bank clients) who warehouse assets that are directly or indirectly secured by residential real estate and also includes loans purchased by us.

The table below presents our credit exposure from residential real estate loans and lending commitments, and the concentration by region, internally determined public rating agency equivalents and other credit metrics.

$ in millions	Loans	Lending Commitments	Total
As of December 2021
Residential Real Estate	$15,913	$3,396	$19,309
Region
Americas	95%	79%	92%
EMEA	2%	19%	5%
Asia	3%	2%	3%
Total	100%	100%	100%
Credit Quality (Credit Rating Equivalent)
Investment-grade	7%	24%	10%
Non-investment-grade	87%	74%	84%
Other metrics/unrated	6%	2%	6%
Total	100%	100%	100%
As of December 2020
Residential Real Estate	$  5,750	$1,900	$  7,650
Region
Americas	88%	98%	91%
EMEA	9%	2%	7%
Asia	3%	–	2%
Total	100%	100%	100%
Credit Quality (Credit Rating Equivalent)
Investment-grade	11%	2%	9%
Non-investment-grade	67%	93%	73%
Other metrics/unrated	22%	5%	18%
Total	100%	100%	100%

In the table above:

• Credit exposure includes loans and lending commitments of $16.89 billion as of December 2021 and $5.71 billion as of December 2020 which are extended to clients who warehouse assets that are directly or indirectly secured by residential real estate.

• Other metrics/unrated primarily includes loans purchased by us. Our risk assessment process for such loans includes reviewing certain key metrics, such as loan-to-value ratio, delinquency status, collateral values, expected cash flows and other risk factors.

In addition, we also have exposure to residential real estate loans held for securitization of $11.57 billion as of December 2021 and $5.57 billion as of December 2020. Such loans are included in trading assets in our consolidated balance sheets.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 111

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

Installment and Credit Card Lending.

We originate unsecured installment loans and credit card loans (pursuant to revolving lines of credit) to consumers in the Americas. The credit card lines are cancellable by us and therefore do not result in credit exposure.

The table below presents our credit exposure from originated installment and credit card funded loans, and the concentration by the ten most concentrated U.S. states.

	As of December
$ in millions		2021	2020
Installment		$3,672	$3,823
California		11%	11%
Texas		9%	9%
Florida		7%	7%
New York		7%	7%
Illinois		4%	4%
New Jersey		4%	4%
Pennsylvania		4%	4%
Georgia		3%	3%
Ohio		3%	3%
Virginia		3%	3%
Other		45%	45%
Total		100%	100%
Credit Cards		$8,212	$4,270
California		18%	19%
Texas		9%	9%
New York		8%	8%
Florida		8%	8%
New Jersey		4%	4%
Illinois		4%	4%
Pennsylvania		3%	3%
Georgia		3%	3%
Ohio		3%	3%
Virginia		2%	3%
Other		38%	36%
Total		100%	100%

See Note 9 to the consolidated financial statements for further information about the credit quality indicators of installment and credit card loans.

Other.

Other loans and lending commitments are extended to clients who warehouse assets that are directly or indirectly secured by consumer loans, including auto loans and private student loans, and other assets. Other loans also includes unsecured consumer and credit card loans purchased by us.

The table below presents our credit exposure from other loans and lending commitments, and the concentration by region, internally determined public rating agency equivalents and other credit metrics.

$ in millions	Loans	Lending Commitments	Total
As of December 2021
Other	$8,530	$6,378	$14,908
Region
Americas	84%	98%	90%
EMEA	15%	–	9%
Asia	1%	2%	1%
Total	100%	100%	100%
Credit Quality (Credit Rating Equivalent)
Investment-grade	34%	90%	58%
Non-investment-grade	37%	9%	25%
Other metrics/unrated	29%	1%	17%
Total	100%	100%	100%
As of December 2020
Other	$4,174	$4,842	$  9,016
Region
Americas	81%	98%	90%
EMEA	17%	–	8%
Asia	2%	2%	2%
Total	100%	100%	100%
Credit Quality (Credit Rating Equivalent)
Investment-grade	44%	94%	71%
Non-investment-grade	23%	6%	14%
Other metrics/unrated	33%	–	15%
Total	100%	100%	100%

In the table above:

• Credit exposure includes loans and lending commitments extended to clients who warehouse assets of $11.09 billion as of December 2021 and $7.28 billion as of December 2020.

• Other metrics/unrated primarily includes consumer and credit card loans purchased by us. Our risk assessment process for such loans includes reviewing certain key metrics, such as expected cash flows, delinquency status and other risk factors.

In addition, we also have exposure to other loans held for securitization of $467 million as of December 2021 and $420 million as of December 2020. Such loans are included in trading assets in our consolidated balance sheets.

Credit Hedges.

To mitigate the credit risk associated with our lending activities, we obtain credit protection on certain loans and lending commitments through credit default swaps, both single-name and index-based contracts, and through the issuance of credit-linked notes.

112 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

Securities Financing Transactions.

We enter into securities financing transactions in order to, among other things, facilitate client activities, invest excess cash, acquire securities to cover short positions and finance certain activities. We bear credit risk related to resale agreements and securities borrowed only to the extent that cash advanced or the value of securities pledged or delivered to the counterparty exceeds the value of the collateral received. We also have credit exposure on repurchase agreements and securities loaned to the extent that the value of securities pledged or delivered to the counterparty for these transactions exceeds the amount of cash or collateral received. Securities collateral for these transactions primarily includes U.S. and

non-U.S.

government and agency obligations.

The table below presents our credit exposure from securities financing transactions and the concentration by industry, region and internally determined public rating agency equivalents.

	As of December
$ in millions		2021	2020
Securities Financing Transactions		$34,505	$30,190
Industry
Financial Institutions		34%	39%
Funds		23%	24%
Municipalities & Nonprofit		5%	5%
Sovereign		35%	30%
Other (including Special Purpose Vehicles)		3%	2%
Total		100%	100%
Region
Americas		36%	33%
EMEA		44%	46%
Asia		20%	21%
Total		100%	100%
Credit Quality (Credit Rating Equivalent)
AAA		19%	15%
AA		28%	28%
A		33%	40%
BBB		9%	10%
BB or lower		11%	5%
Unrated		–	2%
Total		100%	100%

The table above reflects both netting agreements and collateral that we consider when determining credit risk.

Other Credit Exposures.

We are exposed to credit risk from our receivables from brokers, dealers and clearing organizations and customers and counterparties. Receivables from brokers, dealers and clearing organizations primarily consist of initial margin placed with clearing organizations and receivables related to sales of securities which have traded, but not yet settled. These receivables generally have minimal credit risk due to the low probability of clearing organization default and the short-term nature of receivables related to securities settlements. Receivables from customers and counterparties generally consist of collateralized receivables related to customer securities transactions and generally have minimal credit risk due to both the value of the collateral received and the short-term nature of these receivables.

The table below presents our other credit exposures and the concentration by industry, region and internally determined public rating agency equivalents.

	As of December
$ in millions		2021	2020
Other Credit Exposures		$61,187	$56,429
Industry
Financial Institutions		86%	85%
Funds		9%	9%
Other (including Special Purpose Vehicles)		5%	6%
Total		100%	100%
Region
Americas		50%	54%
EMEA		43%	35%
Asia		7%	11%
Total		100%	100%
Credit Quality (Credit Rating Equivalent)
AAA		4%	5%
AA		47%	48%
A		29%	27%
BBB		6%	8%
BB or lower		13%	11%
Unrated		1%	1%
Total		100%	100%

The table above reflects collateral that we consider when determining credit risk.

Selected Exposures

We have credit and market exposures, as described below, that have had heightened focus given recent events and broad market concerns. Credit exposure represents the potential for loss due to the default or deterioration in credit quality of a counterparty or borrower. Market exposure represents the potential for loss in value of our long and short positions due to changes in market prices.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 113

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

Country Exposures.

High external funding needs and inconsistent monetary policy have led to significant depreciation of the Turkish Lira, prompting concerns about foreign exchange reserves and economic instability. As of December 2021, our total credit exposure to Turkey was $1.39 billion, which was to

non-sovereign

counterparties or borrowers. Such exposure consisted of $663 million related to OTC derivatives, $160 million related to loans and lending commitments and $567 million related to secured receivables. After taking into consideration the benefit of hedges and Turkish corporate and sovereign collateral, and other risk mitigants provided by Turkish counterparties, our net credit exposure was $290 million. In addition, our total market exposure to Turkey as of December 2021 was $105 million, primarily to

non-sovereign

issuers or underliers. Such exposure consisted of $179 million related to debt, $(156) million related to credit derivatives and $82 million related to equities.

The potential for further sanctions on Russia has led to concerns about its economic and financial stability. As of December 2021, our total credit exposure to Russia was $650 million, substantially all of which was to

non-sovereign

counterparties or borrowers. Such exposure consisted of $134 million related to OTC derivatives, $177 million related to loans and lending commitments and $339 million related to secured receivables. After taking into consideration the benefit of Russian corporate and sovereign collateral, and other risk mitigants provided by Russian counterparties, our net credit exposure was $293 million. In addition, our total market exposure to Russia as of December 2021 was $414 million, primarily to

non-sovereign

issuers or underliers. Such exposure consisted of $258 million related to debt, $(531) million related to credit derivatives and $687 million related to equities.

Liquidity pressures prompted the Argentine government to default and restructure local and foreign obligations in 2020. Economic challenges persist and the country still needs to secure new financial terms with the IMF. As of December 2021, our total credit exposure to Argentina was $102 million, which was to

non-sovereign

counterparties or borrowers, and was primarily related to loans and lending commitments. In addition, our total market exposure to Argentina as of December 2021 was $91 million, primarily to sovereign issuers or underliers. Such exposure consisted of $70 million related to debt, $(14) million related to credit derivatives and $35 million related to equities.

Escalating geopolitical conflict has led to concerns about Ukraine’s political and financial stability. As of December 2021, our total credit exposure to Ukraine was not material. Our total market exposure to Ukraine as of December 2021 was $236 million, primarily to sovereign issuers or underliers. Such exposure consisted of $164 million related to debt, $30 million related to credit derivatives and $42 million related to equities.

Lebanon’s sovereign debt default and sharp currency depreciation have led to concerns about its financial and political stability. As of December 2021, our total credit and market exposure to Lebanon was not material.

Zambia’s sovereign debt default and liquidity pressures aggravated by the

COVID-19

pandemic have led to concerns about the country’s financial stability. As of December 2021, our total credit and market exposure to Zambia was not material.

Venezuela has delayed payments on its sovereign debt and is experiencing deep economic and social crises. As of December 2021, our total credit and market exposure to Venezuela was not material.

Escalating political unrest in Ethiopia has led to concerns about the country’s political, economic and financial stability. As of December 2021, our total credit and market exposure to Ethiopia was not material.

We have a comprehensive framework to monitor, measure and assess our country exposures and to determine our risk appetite. We determine the country of risk by the location of the counterparty, issuer or underlier’s assets, where they generate revenue, the country in which they are headquartered, the jurisdiction where a claim against them could be enforced, and/or the government whose policies affect their ability to repay their obligations. We monitor our credit exposure to a specific country both at the individual counterparty level, as well as at the aggregate country level. See “Stress Tests” for information about stress tests that are designed to estimate the direct and indirect impact of events involving the above countries.

Operational Risk Management

Overview

Operational risk is the risk of an adverse outcome resulting from inadequate or failed internal processes, people, systems or from external events. Our exposure to operational risk arises from routine processing errors, as well as extraordinary incidents, such as major systems failures or legal and regulatory matters.

Potential types of loss events related to internal and external operational risk include:

• Execution, delivery and process management;

• Business disruption and system failures;

• Employment practices and workplace safety;

• Clients, products and business practices;

• Damage to physical assets;

• Internal fraud; and

• External fraud.

114 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

Operational Risk, which is independent of our revenue-producing units and reports to our chief risk officer, has primary responsibility for developing and implementing a formalized framework for assessing, monitoring and managing operational risk with the goal of maintaining our exposure to operational risk at levels that are within our risk appetite.

Operational Risk Management Process

Our process for managing operational risk includes the critical components of our risk management framework described in the “Overview and Structure of Risk Management,” including a comprehensive data collection process, as well as firmwide policies and procedures, for operational risk events.

We combine

top-down

and

bottom-up

approaches to manage and measure operational risk. From a

top-down

perspective, our senior management assesses firmwide and business-level operational risk profiles. From a

bottom-up

perspective, our first and second lines of defense are responsible for risk identification and risk management on a

day-to-day

basis, including escalating operational risks and risk events to senior management.

We maintain a comprehensive control framework designed to provide a well-controlled environment to minimize operational risks. The Firmwide Operational Risk and Resilience Committee is responsible for overseeing operational risk, and for ensuring our business and operational resilience.

Our operational risk management framework is designed to comply with the operational risk measurement rules under the Capital Framework and has evolved based on the changing needs of our businesses and regulatory guidance.

We have established policies that require all employees to report and escalate operational risk events. When operational risk events are identified, our policies require that the events be documented and analyzed to determine whether changes are required in our systems and/or processes to further mitigate the risk of future events.

We use operational risk management applications to capture, analyze, aggregate and report operational risk event data and key metrics. One of our key risk identification and assessment tools is an operational risk and control self-assessment process, which is performed by our managers. This process consists of the identification and rating of operational risks, on a forward-looking basis, and the related controls. The results from this process are analyzed to evaluate operational risk exposures and identify businesses, activities or products with heightened levels of operational risk.

Risk Measurement

We measure our operational risk exposure using both statistical modeling and scenario analyses, which involve qualitative and quantitative assessments of internal and external operational risk event data and internal control factors for each of our businesses. Operational risk measurement also incorporates an assessment of business environment factors, including:

• Evaluations of the complexity of our business activities;

• The degree of automation in our processes;

• New activity information;

• The legal and regulatory environment; and

• Changes in the markets for our products and services, including the diversity and sophistication of our customers and counterparties.

The results from these scenario analyses are used to monitor changes in operational risk and to determine business lines that may have heightened exposure to operational risk. These analyses are used in the determination of the appropriate level of operational risk capital to hold. We also perform firmwide stress tests. See “Overview and Structure of Risk Management” for information about firmwide stress tests.

Types of Operational Risks

Increased reliance on technology and third-party relationships has resulted in increased operational risks, such as information and cyber security risk, third-party risk and business resilience risk. We manage those risks as follows:

Information and Cyber Security Risk.

Information and cyber security risk is the risk of compromising the confidentiality, integrity or availability of our data and systems, leading to an adverse impact to us, our reputation, our clients and/or the broader financial system. We seek to minimize the occurrence and impact of unauthorized access, disruption or use of information and/or information systems. We deploy and operate preventive and detective controls and processes to mitigate emerging and evolving information security and cyber security threats, including monitoring our network for known vulnerabilities and signs of unauthorized attempts to access our data and systems. There is increased information risk through diversification of our data across external service providers, including use of a variety of cloud-provided or -hosted services and applications. See “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A of this

Form 10-K

for further information about information and cyber security risk.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 115

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

Third-Party Risk.

Third-party risk, including vendor risk, is the risk of an adverse impact due to reliance on third parties performing services or activities on our behalf. These risks may include legal, regulatory, information security, reputational, operational or any other risks inherent in engaging a third party. We identify, manage and report key third-party risks and conduct due diligence across multiple risk domains, including information security and cyber security, resilience and additional third-party dependencies. The Third-Party Risk Program monitors, reviews and reassesses third-party risks on an ongoing basis. See “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A of this

Form 10-K

for further information about third-party risk.

Business Resilience Risk.

Business resilience risk is the risk of disruption to our critical processes. We monitor threats and assess risks and seek to ensure our state of readiness in the event of a significant operational disruption to the normal operations of our critical functions or their dependencies, such as critical facilities, systems, third parties, data and/or personnel. We approach BCP through the lens of business and operational resilience. The resilience framework defines the fundamental principles for BCP and crisis management to ensure that critical functions can continue to operate in the event of a disruption. The business continuity program is comprehensive, consistent firmwide and

up-to-date,

incorporating new information, techniques and technologies as and when they become available, and our resilience recovery plans incorporate and test specific and measurable recovery time objectives in accordance with local market best practices and regulatory requirements, and under specific scenarios. See “Regulatory and Other Matters — Other Matters” for information about the impact of the

COVID-19

pandemic. See “Business — Business Continuity and Information Security” in Part I, Item 1 of this

Form 10-K

for further information about business continuity.

Model Risk Management

Overview

Model risk is the potential for adverse consequences from decisions made based on model outputs that may be incorrect or used inappropriately. We rely on quantitative models across our business activities primarily to value certain financial assets and liabilities, to monitor and manage our risk, and to measure and monitor our regulatory capital.

Model Risk, which is independent of our revenue-producing units, model developers, model owners and model users, and reports to our chief risk officer, has primary responsibility for assessing, monitoring and managing our model risk through firmwide oversight across our global businesses, and provides periodic updates to senior management, risk committees and the Risk Committee of the Board.

Our model risk management framework is managed through a governance structure and risk management controls, which encompass standards designed to ensure we maintain a comprehensive model inventory, including risk assessment and classification, sound model development practices, independent review and model-specific usage controls. The Firmwide Model Risk Control Committee oversees our model risk management framework.

Model Review and Validation Process

Model Risk consists of quantitative professionals who perform an independent review, validation and approval of our models. This review includes an analysis of the model documentation, independent testing, an assessment of the appropriateness of the methodology used, and verification of compliance with model development and implementation standards.

We regularly refine and enhance our models to reflect changes in market or economic conditions and our business mix. All models are reviewed on an annual basis, and new models or significant changes to existing models and their assumptions are approved prior to implementation.

The model validation process incorporates a review of models and trade and risk parameters across a broad range of scenarios (including extreme conditions) in order to critically evaluate and verify:

• The model’s conceptual soundness, including the reasonableness of model assumptions, and suitability for intended use;

• The testing strategy utilized by the model developers to ensure that the models function as intended;

• The suitability of the calculation techniques incorporated in the model;

• The model’s accuracy in reflecting the characteristics of the related product and its significant risks;

• The model’s consistency with models for similar products; and

• The model’s sensitivity to input parameters and assumptions.

See “Critical Accounting Policies — Fair Value — Review of Valuation Models,” “Liquidity Risk Management,” “Market Risk Management,” “Credit Risk Management” and “Operational Risk Management” for further information about our use of models within these areas.

116 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Item 7A.    Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk are set forth in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Risk Management” in Part II, Item 7 of this

Form 10-K.

Item 8.    Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

Management of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., together with its consolidated subsidiaries (the firm), is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. The firm’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed under the supervision of the firm’s principal executive and principal financial officers to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of the firm’s financial statements for external reporting purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

As of December 31, 2021, management conducted an assessment of the firm’s internal control over financial reporting based on the framework established in

Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013)

issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Based on this assessment, management has determined that the firm’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021 was effective.

Our internal control over financial reporting includes policies and procedures that pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect transactions and dispositions of assets; provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and the directors of the firm; and provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the firm’s assets that could have a material effect on our financial statements.

The firm’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021 has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PCAOB ID 238), an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report appearing on pages 118 to 120, which expresses an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the firm’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 117

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.:

Opinions on the Financial Statements and Internal Control over Financial Reporting

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the Company) as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, and the related consolidated statements of earnings, of comprehensive income, of changes in shareholders’ equity and of cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2021, including the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). We also have audited the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021, based on criteria established in

Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013)

issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2021 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021, based on criteria established in

Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013)

issued by the COSO.

Change in Accounting Principle

As discussed in Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company changed the manner in which it accounts for credit losses on certain financial instruments in 2020.

Basis for Opinions

The Company’s management is responsible for these consolidated financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting appearing on page 117. Our responsibility is to express opinions on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud, and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.

Our audits of the consolidated financial statements included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.

118 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

Critical Audit Matters

The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current period audit of the consolidated financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (i) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial statements and (ii) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.

Valuation of Certain Level 3 Financial Instruments

As described in Notes 4 through 10 to the consolidated financial statements, as of December 31, 2021, the Company carries financial instruments at fair value, which includes $24.1 billion of financial assets and $29.2 billion of financial liabilities classified in Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy, as one or more inputs to the financial instrument’s valuation technique are significant and unobservable. Significant unobservable inputs used by management to value certain of these Level 3 financial instruments included (i) industry multiples and public comparables, (ii) credit spreads or (iii) correlation.

The principal considerations for our determination that performing procedures relating to the valuation of these certain Level 3 financial instruments is a critical audit matter are (i) the significant judgment by management in valuing the financial instruments, which in turn led to a high degree of auditor judgment, subjectivity, and effort in performing procedures and evaluating audit evidence related to the aforementioned significant unobservable inputs used in the valuation of certain Level 3 financial instruments, and (ii) the audit effort involved the use of professionals with specialized skill and knowledge.

Addressing the matter involved performing procedures and evaluating audit evidence in connection with forming our overall opinion on the consolidated financial statements. These procedures included testing the effectiveness of controls relating to the valuation of financial instruments, including controls over the methods and significant unobservable inputs used in the valuation of certain Level 3 financial instruments. These procedures also included, among others, for a sample of financial instruments, the involvement of professionals with specialized skill and knowledge to assist in (i) developing an independent estimate of fair value or (ii) testing management’s process to determine the fair value of these financial instruments. Developing the independent estimate involved (i) testing the completeness and accuracy of data provided by management, (ii) evaluating and utilizing management’s significant unobservable inputs or developing independent significant unobservable inputs, and (iii) comparing management’s estimate to the independently developed estimate of fair value. Testing management’s process included evaluating the reasonableness of the aforementioned significant unobservable inputs, evaluating the appropriateness of the techniques used, and testing the completeness and accuracy of data used by management to determine the fair value of these instruments.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 119

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Allowance for Loan Losses — Wholesale Loan Portfolio

As described in Note 9 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company’s allowance for loan losses for the wholesale loan portfolio reflects management’s estimate of loan losses over the remaining expected life of the loans and also considers forecasts of future economic conditions. As of December 31, 2021, $2.1 billion of the allowance for loan losses and $131.6 billion of the loans accounted for at amortized cost related to the wholesale loan portfolio. The allowance for loan losses for the wholesale loan portfolio is measured on a collective basis for loans that exhibit similar risk characteristics using a modeled approach and asset-specific basis for loans that do not share similar risk characteristics. In addition, it includes qualitative components to reflect the uncertain nature of economic forecasting, capture uncertainty regarding model inputs, and account for model imprecision and concentration risk. The wholesale models determine the probability of default and loss given default based on various risk factors, including internal credit ratings, industry default and loss data, expected life, macroeconomic indicators, the borrower’s capacity to meet its financial obligations, the borrower’s country of risk and industry, loan seniority and collateral type. The most significant inputs to the forecast model for wholesale loans include forecasted U.S. unemployment rates, GDP, credit spreads, commercial and industrial delinquency rates, short- and long-term interest rates, and oil prices.

The principal considerations for our determination that performing procedures relating to the allowance for loan losses for the wholesale loan portfolio is a critical audit matter are (i) the significant judgment and estimation by management in the determinations of internal credit ratings and the forecasted U.S. unemployment rates, which in turn led to a high degree of auditor judgment, subjectivity, and effort in performing procedures and evaluating audit evidence related to management’s determinations, and (ii) the audit effort involved the use of professionals with specialized skill and knowledge.

Addressing the matter involved performing procedures and evaluating audit evidence in connection with forming our overall opinion on the consolidated financial statements. These procedures included testing the effectiveness of controls relating to the Company’s allowance for loan losses for the wholesale loan portfolio, including controls over the model, certain data, and significant assumptions. These procedures also included, among others, testing management’s process for estimating the allowance for loan losses for the wholesale loan portfolio using a modeled approach, which involved evaluating the appropriateness of the methodology and testing the completeness and accuracy of certain data used in estimating the allowance for loan losses. The procedures also involved the use of professionals with specialized skill and knowledge to assist in evaluating (i) the appropriateness of the model and methodology and (ii) the reasonableness of the internal credit ratings and the forecasted U.S. unemployment rates used in estimating the allowance for loan losses for the wholesale loan portfolio.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

New York, New York

February 24, 2022

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 1922.

120 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Earnings

	Year Ended December
in millions, except per share amounts		2021	2020	2019
Revenues
Investment banking		$14,168	$  9,141	$  6,798
Investment management		8,059	6,923	6,189
Commissions and fees		3,619	3,548	2,988
Market making		15,352	15,546	10,157
Other principal transactions		11,671	4,651	6,052
Total non-interest revenues		52,869	39,809	32,184
Interest income		12,120	13,689	21,738
Interest expense		5,650	8,938	17,376
Net interest income		6,470	4,751	4,362
Total net revenues		59,339	44,560	36,546
Provision for credit losses		357	3,098	1,065
Operating expenses
Compensation and benefits		17,719	13,309	12,353
Transaction based		4,710	4,141	3,513
Market development		553	401	739
Communications and technology		1,573	1,347	1,167
Depreciation and amortization		2,015	1,902	1,704
Occupancy		981	960	1,029
Professional fees		1,648	1,306	1,316
Other expenses		2,739	5,617	3,077
Total operating expenses		31,938	28,983	24,898
Pre-tax earnings		27,044	12,479	10,583
Provision for taxes		5,409	3,020	2,117
Net earnings		21,635	9,459	8,466
Preferred stock dividends		484	544	569
Net earnings applicable to common shareholders		$21,151	$  8,915	$  7,897
Earnings per common share
Basic		$  60.25	$  24.94	$  21.18
Diluted		$  59.45	$  24.74	$  21.03
Average common shares
Basic		350.5	356.4	371.6
Diluted		355.8	360.3	375.5

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

	Year Ended December
$ in millions		2021		2020		2019
Net earnings		$21,635		$  9,459		$  8,466
Other comprehensive income/(loss) adjustments, net of tax:
Currency translation		(42	)	(80	)	5
Debt valuation adjustment		322		(261	)	(2,079	)
Pension and postretirement liabilities		41		(26	)	(261	)
Available-for-sale securities		(955	)	417		158
Other comprehensive income/(loss)		(634	)	50		(2,177	)
Comprehensive income		$21,001		$  9,509		$  6,289

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 121

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Balance Sheets

	As of December
$ in millions		2021		2020
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents		$261,036		$   155,842
Collateralized agreements:
Securities purchased under agreements to resell (at fair value)		205,703		108,060
Securities borrowed (includes $39,955 and $28,898at fair value)		178,771		142,160
Customer and other receivables (includes $42 and $82 at fair value)		160,673		121,331
Trading assets (at fair value and includes $68,208 and $69,031 pledged as collateral)		375,916		393,630
Investments (includes $83,427 and $82,778 at fair value, and $12,840 and $13,375 pledged as collateral)		88,719		88,445
Loans (net of allowance of $3,573 and $3,874, and includes $10,769 and $13,625 at fair value)		158,562		116,115
Other assets		34,608		37,445
Total assets		$1,463,988		$1,163,028
Liabilities and shareholders’ equity
Deposits (includes $35,425 and $16,176 at fair value)		$364,227		$   259,962
Collateralized financings:
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase (at fair value)		165,883		126,571
Securities loaned (includes $9,170 and $1,053 at fair value)		46,505		21,621
Other secured financings (includes $17,074 and $24,126 at fair value)		18,544		25,755
Customer and other payables		251,931		190,658
Trading liabilities (at fair value)		181,424		153,727
Unsecured short-term borrowings (includes $29,832 and $26,750 at fair value)		46,955		52,870
Unsecured long-term borrowings (includes $52,390 and $40,911 at fair value)		254,092		213,481
Other liabilities (includes $359 and $263 at fair value)		24,501		22,451
Total liabilities		1,354,062		1,067,096
Commitments, contingencies and guarantees		0		0
Shareholders’ equity
Preferred stock; aggregate liquidation preference of $10,703 and $11,203		10,703		11,203
Common stock; 906,430,314 and 901,692,039 shares issued, and 333,573,254 and 344,088,725 shares outstanding		9		9
Share-based awards		4,211		3,468
Nonvoting common stock; no shares issued and outstanding		0		0
Additional paid-in capital		56,396		55,679
Retained earnings		131,811		112,947
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(2,068	)	(1,434	)
Stock held in treasury, at cost; 572,857,062 and 557,603,316 shares		(91,136	)	(85,940	)
Total shareholders’ equity		109,926		95,932
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity		$1,463,988		$1,163,028

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

122 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity

	Year Ended December
$ in millions		2021		2020		2019
Preferred stock
Beginning balance		$  11,203		$  11,203		$  11,203
Issued		2,175		350		1,100
Redeemed		(2,675	)	(350	)	(1,100	)
Ending balance		10,703		11,203		11,203
Common stock
Beginning balance		9		9		9
Issued		0		0		0
Ending balance		9		9		9
Share-based awards
Beginning balance		3,468		3,195		2,845
Issuance and amortization of share-based awards		2,527		1,967		2,073
Delivery of common stock underlying share-based awards		(1,626	)	(1,601	)	(1,623	)
Forfeiture of share-based awards		(158	)	(93	)	(100	)
Ending balance		4,211		3,468		3,195
Additional paid-in capital
Beginning balance		55,679		54,883		54,005
Delivery of common stock underlying share-based awards		1,678		1,619		1,617
Cancellation of share-based awards in satisfaction of withholding tax requirements		(984	)	(829	)	(743	)
Issuance costs of redeemed preferred stock		24		0		4
Other		(1	)	6		0
Ending balance		56,396		55,679		54,883
Retained earnings
Beginning balance, as previously reported		112,947		106,465		100,100
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle for:
Current expected credit losses, net of tax		0		(638	)	0
Leases, net of tax		0		0		12
Beginning balance, adjusted		112,947		105,827		100,112
Net earnings		21,635		9,459		8,466
Dividends and dividend equivalents declared on common stock and share-based awards		(2,287	)	(1,795	)	(1,544	)
Dividends declared on preferred stock		(443	)	(543	)	(560	)
Preferred stock redemption premium		(41	)	(1	)	(9	)
Ending balance		131,811		112,947		106,465
Accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss)
Beginning balance		(1,434	)	(1,484	)	693
Other comprehensive income/(loss)		(634	)	50		(2,177	)
Ending balance		(2,068	)	(1,434	)	(1,484	)
Stock held in treasury, at cost
Beginning balance		(85,940	)	(84,006	)	(78,670	)
Repurchased		(5,200	)	(1,928	)	(5,335	)
Reissued		11		11		12
Other		(7	)	(17	)	(13	)
Ending balance		(91,136	)	(85,940	)	(84,006	)
Total shareholders’ equity		$109,926		$  95,932		$  90,265

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 123

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

	Year Ended December
$ in millions		2021		2020		2019
Cash flows from operating activities
Net earnings		$  21,635		$    9,459		$    8,466
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by/(used for) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		2,015		1,902		1,704
Deferred income taxes		5		(833	)	(334	)
Share-based compensation		2,348		1,920		2,018
Gain related to extinguishment of unsecured borrowings		0		(1	)	(20	)
Provision for credit losses		357		3,098		1,065
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Customer and other receivables and payables, net		21,971		(30,895	)	(7,693	)
Collateralized transactions (excluding other secured financings), net		(70,058	)	(13,007	)	94,991
Trading assets		15,232		(33,405	)	(68,682	)
Trading liabilities		26,616		44,892		(231	)
Loans held for sale, net		(5,556	)	1,820		(1,458	)
Other, net		(13,644	)	1,322		(5,958	)
Net cash provided by/(used for) operating activities		921		(13,728	)	23,868
Cash flows from investing activities
Purchase of property, leasehold improvements and equipment		(4,667	)	(6,309	)	(8,443	)
Proceeds from sales of property, leasehold improvements and equipment		3,933		2,970		6,632
Net cash used for business acquisitions		0		(231	)	(803	)
Purchase of investments		(39,912	)	(48,670	)	(29,773	)
Proceeds from sales and paydowns of investments		45,701		29,057		17,812
Loans (excluding loans held for sale), net		(35,520	)	(11,173	)	(9,661	)
Net cash used for investing activities		(30,465	)	(34,356	)	(24,236	)
Cash flows from financing activities
Unsecured short-term borrowings, net		2,137		7,707		14
Other secured financings (short-term), net		(1,320	)	2,861		(2,050	)
Proceeds from issuance of other secured financings (long-term)		4,795		8,073		7,257
Repayment of other secured financings (long-term), including the current portion		(6,590	)	(4,137	)	(7,468	)
Purchase of Trust Preferred securities		0		(11	)	(206	)
Proceeds from issuance of unsecured long-term borrowings		92,717		47,250		22,381
Repayment of unsecured long-term borrowings, including the current portion		(52,608	)	(55,040	)	(43,936	)
Derivative contracts with a financing element, net		1,121		1,037		3,952
Deposits, net		103,538		67,343		31,214
Preferred stock redemption		(2,675	)	(350	)	(1,100	)
Common stock repurchased		(5,200	)	(1,928	)	(5,335	)
Settlement of share-based awards in satisfaction of withholding tax requirements		(985	)	(830	)	(745	)
Dividends and dividend equivalents paid on common stock, preferred stock and share-based awards		(2,725	)	(2,336	)	(2,104	)
Proceeds from issuance of preferred stock, net of issuance costs		2,172		349		1,098
Other financing, net		361		392		395
Net cash provided by financing activities		134,738		70,380		3,367
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents		105,194		22,296		2,999
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning balance		155,842		133,546		130,547
Cash and cash equivalents, ending balance		$261,036		$155,842		$133,546
Supplemental disclosures:
Cash payments for interest, net of capitalized interest		$    5,521		$    9,091		$  18,645
Cash payments for income taxes, net		$    6,195		$    2,754		$    1,266

See Notes 12 and 16 for information about

non-cash

activities.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

124 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Note 1.

Description of Business

The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (Group Inc. or parent company), a Delaware corporation, together with its consolidated subsidiaries (collectively, the firm), is a leading global financial institution that delivers a broad range of financial services across investment banking, securities, investment management and consumer banking to a large and diversified client base that includes corporations, financial institutions, governments and individuals. Founded in 1869, the firm is headquartered in New York and maintains offices in all major financial centers around the world.

The firm reports its activities in 4 business segments:

Investment Banking

The firm provides a broad range of investment banking services to a diverse group of corporations, financial institutions, investment funds and governments. Services include strategic advisory assignments with respect to mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, corporate defense activities, restructurings and spin-offs, and equity and debt underwriting of public offerings and private placements. The firm also provides lending to corporate clients, including relationship lending, middle-market lending and acquisition financing. The firm also provides transaction banking services to certain corporate clients.

Global Markets

The firm facilitates client transactions and makes markets in fixed income, equity, currency and commodity products with institutional clients, such as corporations, financial institutions, investment funds and governments. The firm also makes markets in and clears institutional client transactions on major stock, options and futures exchanges worldwide and provides prime brokerage and other equities financing activities, including securities lending, margin lending and swaps. The firm also provides financing to clients through securities purchased under agreements to resell (resale agreements), and through structured credit, warehouse and asset-backed lending.

Asset Management

The firm manages assets and offers investment products (primarily through separately managed accounts and commingled vehicles, such as mutual funds and private investment funds) across all major asset classes to a diverse set of institutional clients and a network of third-party distributors around the world. The firm makes equity investments, which include alternative investing activities related to public and private equity investments in corporate, real estate and infrastructure assets, as well as investments through consolidated investment entities, substantially all of which are engaged in real estate investment activities. The firm also invests in corporate debt and provides financing for real estate and other assets.

Consumer & Wealth Management

The firm provides investing and wealth advisory solutions, including financial planning and counseling, executing brokerage transactions and managing assets for individuals in its wealth management business. The firm also provides loans, accepts deposits and provides investing services through its consumer banking digital platform,

Marcus by Goldman Sachs

, and through its private bank, as well as issues credit cards to consumers.

Note 2.

Basis of Presentation

These consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (U.S. GAAP) and include the accounts of Group Inc. and all other entities in which the firm has a controlling financial interest. Intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated.

All references to 2021, 2020 and 2019 refer to the firm’s years ended, or the dates, as the context requires, December 31, 2021, December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively. Any reference to a future year refers to a year ending on December 31 of that year. Certain reclassifications have been made to previously reported amounts to conform to the current presentation.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 125

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, measuring the allowance for credit losses on loans and lending commitments accounted for at amortized cost, and when to consolidate an entity. See Note 4 for policies on fair value measurements, Note 9 for policies on the allowance for credit losses, and below and Note 17 for policies on consolidation accounting. All other significant accounting policies are either described below or included in the following footnotes:

Fair Value Measurements	Note 4
Trading Assets and Liabilities	Note 5
Trading Cash Instruments	Note 6
Derivatives and Hedging Activities	Note 7
Investments	Note 8
Loans	Note 9
Fair Value Option	Note 10
Collateralized Agreements and Financings	Note 11
Other Assets	Note 12
Deposits	Note 13
Unsecured Borrowings	Note 14
Other Liabilities	Note 15
Securitization Activities	Note 16
Variable Interest Entities	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 controlling 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 17 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 generally accounted for 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 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 8 for further information about equity-method investments.

126 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Investment Funds.

The firm has formed investment funds with third-party investors. These funds are typically organized as limited partnerships or limited liability companies for which the firm acts as general partner or manager. Generally, the firm does not hold a majority of the economic interests in these funds. These funds are usually voting interest entities and generally are not consolidated because third-party investors typically have rights to terminate the funds or to remove the firm as general partner or manager. Investments in these funds are generally measured at net asset value (NAV) and are included in investments. See Notes 8, 18 and 22 for further information about investments in funds.

Use of Estimates

Preparation of these consolidated financial statements requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions, the most important of which relate to fair value measurements, the allowance for credit losses on loans and lending commitments accounted for at amortized cost, accounting for goodwill and identifiable intangible assets, provisions for losses that may arise from litigation and regulatory proceedings (including governmental investigations), and accounting for income taxes. These estimates and assumptions are based on the best available information but actual results could be materially different.

Revenue Recognition

Financial Assets and Liabilities at Fair Value.

Trading assets and liabilities and certain investments are carried at fair value either under the fair value option or in accordance with other U.S. GAAP. In addition, the firm has elected to account for certain of its loans and other financial assets and liabilities at fair value by electing the fair value option. The fair value of a financial instrument is the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Financial assets are marked to bid prices and financial liabilities are marked to offer prices. Fair value measurements do not include transaction costs. Fair value gains or losses are generally included in market making or other principal transactions. See Note 4 for further information about fair value measurements.

Revenue from Contracts with Clients.

The firm recognizes revenue earned from contracts with clients for services, such as investment banking, investment management, and execution and clearing (contracts with clients), when the performance obligations related to the underlying transaction are completed.

Revenues from contracts with clients represent approximately 45% of total

non-interest

revenues for both 2021 and 2020 (including approximately 90% of investment banking revenues, approximately 95% of investment management revenues and all commissions and fees), and approximately 45% of total non-interest revenues for 2019 (including approximately 85% of investment banking revenues, approximately 95% of investment management revenues and all commissions and fees). See Note 25 for information about net revenues by business segment.

Investment Banking

Advisory.

Fees from financial advisory assignments are recognized in revenues when the services related to the underlying transaction are completed under the terms of the assignment.

Non-refundable

deposits and milestone payments in connection with financial advisory assignments are recognized in revenues upon completion of the underlying transaction or when the assignment is otherwise concluded.

Expenses associated with financial advisory assignments are recognized when incurred and are included in transaction based expenses. Client reimbursements for such expenses are included in investment banking revenues.

Underwriting.

Fees from underwriting assignments are recognized in revenues upon completion of the underlying transaction based on the terms of the assignment.

Expenses associated with underwriting assignments are generally deferred until the related revenue is recognized or the assignment is otherwise concluded. Such expenses are included in transaction based expenses for completed assignments.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 127

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Investment Management

The firm earns management fees and incentive fees for investment management services, which are included in investment management revenues. The firm makes payments to brokers and advisors related to the placement of the firm’s investment funds (distribution fees), which are included in transaction based expenses.

Management Fees.

Management fees for mutual funds are calculated as a percentage of daily net asset value and are received monthly. Management fees for hedge funds and separately managed accounts are calculated as a percentage of

month-end

net asset value and are generally received quarterly. Management fees for private equity funds are calculated as a percentage of monthly invested capital or committed capital and are received quarterly, semi-annually or annually, depending on the fund. Management fees are recognized over time in the period the services are provided.

Distribution fees paid by the firm are calculated based on either a percentage of the management fee, the investment fund’s net asset value or the committed capital. Such fees are included in transaction based expenses.

Incentive Fees.

Incentive fees are calculated as a percentage of a fund’s or separately managed account’s return, or excess return above a specified benchmark or other performance target. Incentive fees are generally based on investment performance over a twelve-month period or over the life of a fund. Fees that are based on performance over a twelve-month period are subject to adjustment prior to the end of the measurement period. For fees that are based on investment performance over the life of the fund, future investment underperformance may require fees previously distributed to the firm to be returned to the fund.

Incentive fees earned from a fund or separately managed account are recognized when it is probable that a significant reversal of such fees will not occur, which is generally when such fees are no longer subject to fluctuations in the market value of investments held by the fund or separately managed account. Therefore, incentive fees recognized during the period may relate to performance obligations satisfied in previous periods.

Commissions and Fees

The firm earns commissions and fees from executing and clearing client transactions on stock, options and futures markets, as well as

over-the-counter

(OTC) transactions. Commissions and fees are recognized on the day the trade is executed. The firm also provides third-party research services to clients in connection with certain soft-dollar arrangements. Third-party research costs incurred by the firm in connection with such arrangements are presented net within commissions and fees.

Remaining Performance Obligations

Remaining performance obligations are services that the firm has committed to perform in the future in connection with its contracts with clients. The firm’s remaining performance obligations are generally related to its financial advisory assignments and certain investment management activities. Revenues associated with remaining performance obligations relating to financial advisory assignments cannot be determined until the outcome of the transaction. For the firm’s investment management activities, where fees are calculated based on the net asset value of the fund or separately managed account, future revenues associated with such remaining performance obligations cannot be determined as such fees are subject to fluctuations in the market value of investments held by the fund or separately managed account.

The firm is able to determine the future revenues associated with management fees calculated based on committed capital. As of December 2021, substantially all future net revenues associated with such remaining performance obligations will be recognized through 2029. Annual revenues associated with such performance obligations average less than $250 million through 2029.

Transfers of Financial Assets

Transfers of financial assets are accounted for as sales when the firm has relinquished control over the assets transferred. For transfers of financial assets accounted for as sales, any gains or losses are recognized in net revenues. Assets or liabilities that arise from the firm’s continuing involvement with transferred financial assets are initially recognized at fair value. For transfers of financial assets that are not accounted for as sales, the assets are generally included in trading assets and the transfer is accounted for as a collateralized financing, with the related interest expense recognized over the life of the transaction. See Note 11 for further information about transfers of financial assets accounted for as collateralized financings and Note 16 for further information about transfers of financial assets accounted for as sales.

128 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The firm defines cash equivalents as highly liquid overnight deposits held in the ordinary course of business. Cash and cash equivalents included cash and due from banks of $10.14 billion as of December 2021 and $11.95 billion as of December 2020. Cash and cash equivalents also included interest-bearing deposits with banks of $250.90 billion as of December 2021 and $143.89 billion as of December 2020.

The firm segregates cash for regulatory and other purposes related to client activity. Cash and cash equivalents segregated for regulatory and other purposes were $24.87 billion as of December 2021 and $24.52 billion as of December 2020. In addition, the firm segregates securities for regulatory and other purposes related to client activity. See Note 11 for further information about segregated securities.

Customer and Other Receivables

Customer and other receivables included receivables from customers and counterparties of $103.82 billion as of December 2021 and $82.39 billion as of December 2020, and receivables from brokers, dealers and clearing organizations of $56.85 billion as of December 2021 and $38.94 billion as of December 2020. Such receivables primarily consist of customer margin loans, receivables resulting from unsettled transactions and collateral posted in connection with certain derivative transactions.

Substantially all of these receivables are accounted for at amortized cost net of any allowance for credit losses, which generally approximates fair value. As these receivables are not accounted for at fair value, they are not included in the firm’s fair value hierarchy in Notes 4 through 10. Had these receivables been included in the firm’s fair value hierarchy, substantially all would have been classified in level 2 as of both December 2021 and December 2020. See Note 10 for further information about customer and other receivables accounted for at fair value under the fair value option. Interest on customer and other receivables is recognized over the life of the transaction and included in interest income.

Customer and other receivables includes receivables from contracts with clients and contract assets. Contract assets represent the firm’s right to receive consideration for services provided in connection with its contracts with clients for which collection is conditional and not merely subject to the passage of time. The firm’s receivables from contracts with clients were $3.01 billion as of December 2021 and $2.60 billion as of December 2020. As of both December 2021 and December 2020 contract assets were not material.

Customer and Other Payables

Customer and other payables included payables to customers and counterparties of $241.93 billion as of December 2021 and $183.57 billion as of December 2020, and payables to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations of $10.00 billion as of December 2021 and $7.09 billion as of December 2020. Such payables primarily consist of customer credit balances related to the firm’s prime brokerage activities. Customer and other payables are accounted for at cost plus accrued interest, which generally approximates fair value. As these payables are not accounted for at fair value, they are not included in the firm’s fair value hierarchy in Notes 4 through 10. Had these payables been included in the firm’s fair value hierarchy, substantially all would have been classified in level 2 as of both December 2021 and December 2020. Interest on customer and other payables is recognized over the life of the transaction and included in interest expense.

Offsetting Assets and Liabilities

To reduce credit exposures on derivatives and securities financing transactions, the firm may enter into master netting agreements or similar arrangements (collectively, netting agreements) with counterparties that permit it to offset receivables and payables with such counterparties. A netting agreement is a contract with a counterparty that permits net settlement of multiple transactions with that counterparty, including upon the exercise of termination rights by a

non-defaulting

party. Upon exercise of such termination rights, all transactions governed by the netting agreement are terminated and a net settlement amount is calculated. In addition, the firm receives and posts cash and securities collateral with respect to its derivatives and securities financing transactions, subject to the terms of the related credit support agreements or similar arrangements (collectively, credit support agreements). An enforceable credit support agreement grants the

non-defaulting

party exercising termination rights the right to liquidate the collateral and apply the proceeds to any amounts owed. In order to assess enforceability of the firm’s right of setoff under netting and credit support agreements, the firm evaluates various factors, including applicable bankruptcy laws, local statutes and regulatory provisions in the jurisdiction of the parties to the agreement.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 129

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Derivatives are reported on a

net-by-counterparty

basis (i.e., the net payable or receivable for derivative assets and liabilities for a given counterparty) in the consolidated balance sheets when a legal right of setoff exists under an enforceable netting agreement. Resale agreements and securities sold under agreements to repurchase (repurchase agreements) and securities borrowed and loaned transactions with the same term and currency are presented on a

net-by-counterparty

basis in the consolidated balance sheets when such transactions meet certain settlement criteria and are subject to netting agreements.

In the consolidated balance sheets, derivatives are reported net of cash collateral received and posted under enforceable credit support agreements, when transacted under an enforceable netting agreement. In the consolidated balance sheets, resale and repurchase agreements, and securities borrowed and loaned, are not reported net of the related cash and securities received or posted as collateral. See Note 11 for further information about collateral received and pledged, including rights to deliver or repledge collateral. See Notes 7 and 11 for further information about offsetting assets and liabilities.

Foreign Currency Translation

Assets and liabilities denominated in

non-U.S.

currencies are translated at rates of exchange prevailing on the date of the consolidated balance sheets and revenues and expenses are translated at average rates of exchange for the period. Foreign currency remeasurement gains or losses on transactions in nonfunctional currencies are recognized in earnings. Gains or losses on translation of the financial statements of a

non-U.S.

operation, when the functional currency is other than the U.S. dollar, are included, net of hedges and taxes, in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

Recent Accounting Developments

Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (ASC 326).

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU

No. 2016-13,

“Financial Instruments — Credit Losses (Topic 326) — Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments.” This ASU amends several aspects of the measurement of credit losses on certain financial instruments, including replacing the existing incurred credit loss model and other models with the Current Expected Credit Losses (CECL) model and amending certain aspects of accounting for purchased financial assets with deterioration in credit quality since origination.

The firm adopted this ASU in January 2020 under a modified retrospective approach. As a result of adopting this ASU, the firm’s allowance for credit losses on financial assets and commitments that are measured at amortized cost reflects management’s estimate of credit losses over the remaining expected life of such assets. Expected credit losses for newly recognized financial assets and commitments, as well as changes to expected credit losses during the period, are recognized in earnings. These expected credit losses are measured based on historical experience, current conditions and forecasts that affect the collectability of the reported amount.

The cumulative effect of measuring the allowance under CECL as a result of adopting this ASU as of January 1, 2020 was an increase in the allowance for credit losses of $848 million. The increase in the allowance is driven by the fact that the allowance under CECL covers expected credit losses over the full expected life of the loan portfolios and also takes into account forecasts of expected future economic conditions. In addition, in accordance with the ASU, the firm elected the fair value option for loans that were previously accounted for as Purchased Credit Impaired (PCI), which resulted in a decrease to the allowance for PCI loans of $169 million. The cumulative effect of adopting this ASU was a decrease to retained earnings of $638 million (net of tax).

Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting (ASC 848).

In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU

No. 2020-04,

“Reference Rate Reform — Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting.” This ASU provides optional relief from applying generally accepted accounting principles to contracts, hedging relationships and other transactions affected by reference rate reform. In addition, in January 2021 the FASB issued ASU

No. 2021-01,

“Reference Rate Reform — Scope,” which clarified the scope of ASC 848 relating to contract modifications. The firm adopted these ASUs upon issuance and elected to apply the relief available to certain modified derivatives. The adoption of these ASUs did not have a material impact on the firm’s consolidated financial statements.

130 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Note 4.

Fair Value Measurements

The fair value of a financial instrument is the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Financial assets are marked to bid prices and financial liabilities are marked to offer prices. Fair value measurements do not include transaction costs. The firm measures certain financial assets and liabilities as a portfolio (i.e., based on its net exposure to market and/or credit risks).

The best evidence of fair value is a quoted price in an active market. If quoted prices in active markets are not available, fair value is determined by reference to prices for similar instruments, quoted prices or recent transactions in less active markets, or internally developed models that primarily use market-based or independently sourced inputs, including, but not limited to, interest rates, volatilities, equity or debt prices, foreign exchange rates, commodity prices, credit spreads and funding spreads (i.e., the spread or difference between the interest rate at which a borrower could finance a given financial instrument relative to a benchmark interest rate).

U.S. GAAP has a three-level hierarchy for disclosure of fair value measurements. This hierarchy prioritizes inputs to the valuation techniques used to measure fair value, giving the highest priority to level 1 inputs and the lowest priority to level 3 inputs. A financial instrument’s level in this hierarchy is based on the lowest level of input that is significant to its fair value measurement. In evaluating the significance of a valuation input, the firm considers, among other factors, a portfolio’s net risk exposure to that input. The fair value hierarchy is as follows:

Level 1.

Inputs are unadjusted quoted prices in active markets to which the firm had access at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities.

Level 2.

Inputs to valuation techniques are observable, either directly or indirectly.

Level 3.

One or more inputs to valuation techniques are significant and unobservable.

The fair values for substantially all of the firm’s financial assets and liabilities are based on observable prices and inputs and are classified in levels 1 and 2 of the fair value hierarchy. Certain level 2 and level 3 financial assets and liabilities may require valuation adjustments that a market participant would require to arrive at fair value for factors, such as counterparty and the firm’s credit quality, funding risk, transfer restrictions, liquidity and bid/offer spreads. Valuation adjustments are generally based on market evidence.

The valuation techniques and nature of significant inputs used to determine the fair value of the firm’s financial instruments are described below. See Notes 5 through 10 for further information about significant unobservable inputs used to value level 3 financial instruments.

Valuation Techniques and Significant Inputs for Trading Cash Instruments, Investments and Loans

Level 1.

Level 1 instruments include U.S. government obligations, most

non-U.S.

government obligations, certain agency obligations, certain corporate debt instruments, certain money market instruments and actively traded listed equities. These instruments are valued using quoted prices for identical unrestricted instruments in active markets. The firm defines active markets for equity instruments based on the average daily trading volume both in absolute terms and relative to the market capitalization for the instrument. The firm defines active markets for debt instruments based on both the average daily trading volume and the number of days with trading activity.

Level 2.

Level 2 instruments include certain

non-U.S.

government obligations, most agency obligations, most mortgage-backed loans and securities, most corporate debt instruments, most state and municipal obligations, most money market instruments, most other debt obligations, restricted or less liquid listed equities, certain private equities, commodities and certain lending commitments.

Valuations of level 2 instruments can be verified to quoted prices, recent trading activity for identical or similar instruments, broker or dealer quotations or alternative pricing sources with reasonable levels of price transparency. Consideration is given to the nature of the quotations (e.g., indicative or executable) and the relationship of recent market activity to the prices provided from alternative pricing sources.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 131

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Valuation adjustments are typically made to level 2 instruments (i) if the instrument is subject to transfer restrictions and/or (ii) for other premiums and liquidity discounts that a market participant would require to arrive at fair value. Valuation adjustments are generally based on market evidence.

Level 3.

Level 3 instruments have one or more significant valuation inputs that are not observable. Absent evidence to the contrary, level 3 instruments are initially valued at transaction price, which is considered to be the best initial estimate of fair value. Subsequently, the firm uses other methodologies to determine fair value, which vary based on the type of instrument. Valuation inputs and assumptions are changed when corroborated by substantive observable evidence, including values realized on sales.

Valuation techniques of level 3 instruments vary by instrument, but are generally based on discounted cash flow techniques. The valuation techniques and the nature of significant inputs used to determine the fair values of each type of level 3 instrument are described below:

Loans and Securities Backed by Commercial Real Estate

Loans and securities backed by commercial real estate are directly or indirectly collateralized by a single property or a portfolio of properties and may include tranches of varying levels of subordination. Significant inputs are generally determined based on relative value analyses and include:

• Market yields implied by transactions of similar or related assets and/or current levels and changes in market indices, such as the CMBX (an index that tracks the performance of commercial mortgage bonds);

• Transaction prices in both the underlying collateral and instruments with the same or similar underlying collateral;

• A measure of expected future cash flows in a default scenario (recovery rates) implied by the value of the underlying collateral, which is mainly driven by current performance of the underlying collateral and capitalization rates. Recovery rates are expressed as a percentage of notional or face value of the instrument and reflect the benefit of credit enhancements on certain instruments; and

• Timing of expected future cash flows (duration) which, in certain cases, may incorporate the impact of any loan forbearances and other unobservable inputs (e.g., prepayment speeds).

Loans and Securities Backed by Residential Real Estate

Loans and securities backed by residential real estate are directly or indirectly collateralized by portfolios of residential real estate and may include tranches of varying levels of subordination. Significant inputs are generally determined based on relative value analyses, which incorporate comparisons to instruments with similar collateral and risk profiles. Significant inputs include:

• Market yields implied by transactions of similar or related assets;

• Transaction prices in both the underlying collateral and instruments with the same or similar underlying collateral;

• Cumulative loss expectations, driven by default rates, home price projections, residential property liquidation timelines, related costs and subsequent recoveries; and

• Duration, driven by underlying loan prepayment speeds and residential property liquidation timelines.

Corporate Debt Instruments

Corporate debt instruments includes corporate loans, debt securities and convertible debentures. Significant inputs for corporate debt instruments are generally determined based on relative value analyses, which incorporate comparisons both to prices of credit default swaps that reference the same or similar underlying instrument or entity and to other debt instruments for the same or similar issuer for which observable prices or broker quotations are available. Significant inputs include:

• Market yields implied by transactions of similar or related assets and/or current levels and trends of market indices, such as the CDX (an index that tracks the performance of corporate credit);

• Current performance and recovery assumptions and, where the firm uses credit default swaps to value the related instrument, the cost of borrowing the underlying reference obligation;

• Duration; and

• Market and transaction multiples for corporate debt instruments with convertibility or participation options.

Equity Securities

Equity securities consists of private equities. Recent third-party completed or pending transactions (e.g., merger proposals, debt restructurings, tender offers) are considered the best evidence for any change in fair value. When these are not available, the following valuation methodologies are used, as appropriate:

• Industry multiples (primarily EBITDA and revenue multiples) and public comparables;

• Transactions in similar instruments;

132 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

• Discounted cash flow techniques; and

• Third-party appraisals.

The firm also considers changes in the outlook for the relevant industry and financial performance of the issuer as compared to projected performance. Significant inputs include:

• Market and transaction multiples;

• Discount rates and capitalization rates; and

• For equity securities with debt-like features, market yields implied by transactions of similar or related assets, current performance and recovery assumptions, and duration.

Other Trading Cash Instruments, Investments and Loans

The significant inputs to the valuation of other instruments, such as

non-U.S.

government obligations and U.S. and

non-U.S.

agency obligations, state and municipal obligations, and other loans and debt obligations are generally determined based on relative value analyses, which incorporate comparisons both to prices of credit default swaps that reference the same or similar underlying instrument or entity and to other debt instruments for the same issuer for which observable prices or broker quotations are available. Significant inputs include:

• Market yields implied by transactions of similar or related assets and/or current levels and trends of market indices;

• Current performance and recovery assumptions and, where the firm uses credit default swaps to value the related instrument, the cost of borrowing the underlying reference obligation; and

• Duration.

Valuation Techniques and Significant Inputs for Derivatives

The firm’s level 2 and level 3 derivatives are valued using derivative pricing models (e.g., discounted cash flow models, correlation models and models that incorporate option pricing methodologies, such as Monte Carlo simulations). Price transparency of derivatives can generally be characterized by product type, as described below.

• Interest Rate. In general, the key inputs used to value interest rate derivatives are transparent, even for most long-dated contracts. Interest rate swaps and options denominated in the currencies of leading industrialized nations are characterized by high trading volumes and tight bid/offer spreads. Interest rate derivatives that reference indices, such as an inflation index, or the shape of the yield curve (e.g., 10-year swap rate vs. 2-year swap rate) are more complex, but the key inputs are generally observable.

• Credit. Price transparency for credit default swaps, including both single names and baskets of credits, varies by market and underlying reference entity or obligation. Credit default swaps that reference indices, large corporates and major sovereigns generally exhibit the most price transparency. For credit default swaps with other underliers, price transparency varies based on credit rating, the cost of borrowing the underlying reference obligations, and the availability of the underlying reference obligations for delivery upon the default of the issuer. Credit default swaps that reference loans, asset-backed securities and emerging market debt instruments tend to have less price transparency than those that reference corporate bonds. In addition, more complex credit derivatives, such as those sensitive to the correlation between two or more underlying reference obligations, generally have less price transparency.

• Currency. Prices for currency derivatives based on the exchange rates of leading industrialized nations, including those with longer tenors, are generally transparent. The primary difference between the price transparency of developed and emerging market currency derivatives is that emerging markets tend to be only observable for contracts with shorter tenors.

• Commodity. Commodity derivatives include transactions referenced to energy (e.g., oil, natural gas and electricity), metals (e.g., precious and base) and soft commodities (e.g., agricultural). Price transparency varies based on the underlying commodity, delivery location, tenor and product quality (e.g., diesel fuel compared to unleaded gasoline). In general, price transparency for commodity derivatives is greater for contracts with shorter tenors and contracts that are more closely aligned with major and/or benchmark commodity indices.

• Equity. Price transparency for equity derivatives varies by market and underlier. Options on indices and the common stock of corporates included in major equity indices exhibit the most price transparency. Equity derivatives generally have observable market prices, except for contracts with long tenors or reference prices that differ significantly from current market prices. More complex equity derivatives, such as those sensitive to the correlation between two or more individual stocks, generally have less price transparency.

Liquidity is essential to observability of all product types. If transaction volumes decline, previously transparent prices and other inputs may become unobservable. Conversely, even highly structured products may at times have trading volumes large enough to provide observability of prices and other inputs.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 133

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Level 1.

Level 1 derivatives include short-term contracts for future delivery of securities when the underlying security is a level 1 instrument, and exchange-traded derivatives if they are actively traded and are valued at their quoted market price.

Level 2.

Level 2 derivatives include OTC derivatives for which all significant valuation inputs are corroborated by market evidence and exchange-traded derivatives that are not actively traded and/or that are valued using models that calibrate to market-clearing levels of OTC derivatives.

The selection of a particular model to value a derivative depends on the contractual terms of and specific risks inherent in the instrument, as well as the availability of pricing information in the market. For derivatives that trade in liquid markets, model selection does not involve significant management judgment because outputs of models can be calibrated to market-clearing levels.

Valuation models require a variety of inputs, such as contractual terms, market prices, yield curves, discount rates (including those derived from interest rates on collateral received and posted as specified in credit support agreements for collateralized derivatives), credit curves, measures of volatility, prepayment rates, loss severity rates and correlations of such inputs. Significant inputs to the valuations of level 2 derivatives can be verified to market transactions, broker or dealer quotations or other alternative pricing sources with reasonable levels of price transparency. Consideration is given to the nature of the quotations (e.g., indicative or executable) and the relationship of recent market activity to the prices provided from alternative pricing sources.

Level 3.

Level 3 derivatives are valued using models which utilize observable level 1 and/or level 2 inputs, as well as unobservable level 3 inputs. The significant unobservable inputs used to value the firm’s level 3 derivatives are described below.

• For level 3 interest rate and currency derivatives, significant unobservable inputs include correlations of certain currencies and interest rates (e.g., the correlation between Euro inflation and Euro interest rates) and specific interest rate and currency volatilities.

• For level 3 credit derivatives, significant unobservable inputs include illiquid credit spreads and upfront credit points, which are unique to specific reference obligations and reference entities, and recovery rates.

• For level 3 commodity derivatives, significant unobservable inputs include volatilities for options with strike prices that differ significantly from current market prices and prices or spreads for certain products for which the product quality or physical location of the commodity is not aligned with benchmark indices.

• For level 3 equity derivatives, significant unobservable inputs generally include equity volatility inputs for options that are long-dated and/or have strike prices that differ significantly from current market prices. In addition, the valuation of certain structured trades requires the use of level 3 correlation inputs, such as the correlation of the price performance of two or more individual stocks or the correlation of the price performance for a basket of stocks to another asset class, such as commodities.

Subsequent to the initial valuation of a level 3 derivative, the firm updates the level 1 and level 2 inputs to reflect observable market changes and any resulting gains and losses are classified in level 3. Level 3 inputs are changed when corroborated by evidence, such as similar market transactions, third-party pricing services and/or broker or dealer quotations or other empirical market data. In circumstances where the firm cannot verify the model value by reference to market transactions, it is possible that a different valuation model could produce a materially different estimate of fair value. See Note 7 for further information about significant unobservable inputs used in the valuation of level 3 derivatives.

Valuation Adjustments.

Valuation adjustments are integral to determining the fair value of derivative portfolios and are used to adjust the

mid-market

valuations produced by derivative pricing models to the exit price valuation. These adjustments incorporate bid/offer spreads, the cost of liquidity, and credit and funding valuation adjustments, which account for the credit and funding risk inherent in the uncollateralized portion of derivative portfolios. The firm also makes funding valuation adjustments to collateralized derivatives where the terms of the agreement do not permit the firm to deliver or repledge collateral received. Market-based inputs are generally used when calibrating valuation adjustments to market-clearing levels.

In addition, for derivatives that include significant unobservable inputs, the firm makes model or exit price adjustments to account for the valuation uncertainty present in the transaction.

134 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Valuation Techniques and Significant Inputs for Other Financial Instruments at Fair Value

In addition to trading cash instruments, derivatives, and certain investments and loans, the firm accounts for certain of its other financial assets and liabilities at fair value under the fair value option. Such instruments include resale and repurchase agreements; certain securities borrowed and loaned transactions; certain customer and other receivables, including certain margin loans; certain time deposits, including structured certificates of deposit, which are hybrid financial instruments; substantially all other secured financings, including transfers of assets accounted for as financings; certain unsecured short- and long-term borrowings, substantially all of which are hybrid financial instruments; and certain other liabilities. These instruments are generally valued based on discounted cash flow techniques, which incorporate inputs with reasonable levels of price transparency, and are generally classified in level 2 because the inputs are observable. Valuation adjustments may be made for liquidity and for counterparty and the firm’s credit quality. The significant inputs used to value the firm’s other financial instruments are described below.

Resale and Repurchase Agreements and Securities Borrowed and Loaned.

The significant inputs to the valuation of resale and repurchase agreements and securities borrowed and loaned are funding spreads, the amount and timing of expected future cash flows and interest rates.

Customer and Other Receivables.

The significant inputs to the valuation of receivables are interest rates, the amount and timing of expected future cash flows and funding spreads.

Deposits.

The significant inputs to the valuation of time deposits are interest rates and the amount and timing of future cash flows. The inputs used to value the embedded derivative component of hybrid financial instruments are consistent with the inputs used to value the firm’s other derivative instruments described above. See Note 7 for further information about derivatives and Note 13 for further information about deposits.

Other Secured Financings.

The significant inputs to the valuation of other secured financings are the amount and timing of expected future cash flows, interest rates, funding spreads and the fair value of the collateral delivered by the firm (determined using the amount and timing of expected future cash flows, market prices, market yields and recovery assumptions). See Note 11 for further information about other secured financings.

Unsecured Short- and Long-Term Borrowings.

The significant inputs to the valuation of unsecured short- and long-term borrowings are the amount and timing of expected future cash flows, interest rates, the credit spreads of the firm and commodity prices for prepaid commodity transactions. The inputs used to value the embedded derivative component of hybrid financial instruments are consistent with the inputs used to value the firm’s other derivative instruments described above. See Note 7 for further information about derivatives and Note 14 for further information about borrowings.

Other Liabilities.

The significant inputs to the valuation of other liabilities are the amount and timing of expected future cash flows and equity volatility and correlation inputs. The inputs used to value the embedded derivative component of hybrid financial instruments are consistent with the inputs used to value the firm’s other derivative instruments described above. See Note 7 for further information about derivatives.

Financial Assets and Liabilities at Fair Value

The table below presents financial assets and liabilities carried at fair value.

	As of December
$ in millions		2021		2020
Total level 1 financial assets		$     255,774		$   263,999
Total level 2 financial assets		498,527		410,275
Total level 3 financial assets		24,083		26,305
Investments in funds at NAV		3,469		3,664
Counterparty and cash collateral netting		(66,041	)	(77,170	)
Total financial assets at fair value		$     715,812		$   627,073
Total assets		$1,463,988		$1,163,028
Total level 3 financial assets divided by:
Total assets		1.6%		2.3%
Total financial assets at fair value		3.4%		4.2%
Total level 1 financial liabilities		$     110,030		$     85,120
Total level 2 financial liabilities		403,627		331,824
Total level 3 financial liabilities		29,169		32,930
Counterparty and cash collateral netting		(51,269	)	(60,297	)
Total financial liabilities at fair value		$     491,557		$   389,577
Total liabilities		$1,354,062		$1,067,096
Total level 3 financial liabilities divided by:
Total liabilities		2.2%		3.1%
Total financial liabilities at fair value		5.9%		8.5%

In the table above:

• Counterparty netting among positions classified in the same level is included in that level.

• Counterparty and cash collateral netting represents the impact on derivatives of netting across levels.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 135

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

The table below presents a summary of level 3 financial assets.

	As of December
$ in millions		2021	2020
Trading assets:
Trading cash instruments		$  1,889	$  1,237
Derivatives		5,938	5,967
Investments		13,902	16,423
Loans		2,354	2,678
Total		$24,083	$26,305

Level 3 financial assets as of December 2021 decreased compared with December 2020, primarily reflecting a decrease in level 3 investments. See Notes 5 through 10 for further information about level 3 financial assets (including information about unrealized gains and losses related to level 3 financial assets and transfers in and out of level 3).

Note 5.

Trading Assets and Liabilities

Trading assets and liabilities include trading cash instruments and derivatives held in connection with the firm’s market-making or risk management activities. These assets and liabilities are carried at fair value either under the fair value option or in accordance with other U.S. GAAP, and the related fair value gains and losses are generally recognized in the consolidated statements of earnings.

The table below presents a summary of trading assets and liabilities.

$ in millions	Trading Assets	Trading Liabilities
As of December 2021
Trading cash instruments	$311,956	$129,471
Derivatives	63,960	51,953
Total	$375,916	$181,424
As of December 2020
Trading cash instruments	$324,049	$  95,136
Derivatives	69,581	58,591
Total	$393,630	$153,727

See Note 6 for further information about trading cash instruments and Note 7 for further information about derivatives.

Gains and Losses from Market Making

The table below presents market making revenues by major product type.

	Year Ended December
$ in millions		2021		2020		2019
Interest rates		$ (2,669	)	$  6,191		$  3,272
Credit		1,739		3,250		682
Currencies		5,627		(3,257	)	2,902
Equities		8,459		6,757		2,946
Commodities		2,196		2,605		355
Total		$15,352		$15,546		$10,157

In the table above:

• Gains/(losses) include both realized and unrealized gains and losses. Gains/(losses) exclude related interest income and interest expense. See Note 23 for further information about interest income and interest expense.

• Gains/(losses) included in market making are primarily related to the firm’s trading assets and liabilities, including both derivative and non-derivative financial instruments.

• Gains/(losses) are not representative of the manner in which the firm manages its business activities because many of the firm’s market-making and client facilitation strategies utilize financial instruments across various product types. Accordingly, gains or losses in one product type frequently offset gains or losses in other product types. For example, most of the firm’s longer-term derivatives across product types are sensitive to changes in interest rates and may be economically hedged with interest rate swaps. Similarly, a significant portion of the firm’s trading cash instruments and derivatives across product types has exposure to foreign currencies and may be economically hedged with foreign currency contracts.

136 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Note 6.

Trading Cash Instruments

Trading cash instruments consists of instruments held in connection with the firm’s market-making or risk management activities. These instruments are carried at fair value and the related fair value gains and losses are recognized in the consolidated statements of earnings.

Fair Value of Trading Cash Instruments by Level

The table below presents trading cash instruments by level within the fair value hierarchy.

$ in millions	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
As of December 2021
Assets
Government and agency obligations:
U.S.	$   63,388		$  27,427		$       0		$   90,815
Non-U.S.	35,284		13,511		19		48,814
Loans and securities backed by:
Commercial real estate	0		1,717		137		1,854
Residential real estate	0		13,083		152		13,235
Corporate debt instruments	590		36,874		1,318		38,782
State and municipal obligations	0		568		36		604
Other debt obligations	69		1,564		66		1,699
Equity securities	105,233		2,958		156		108,347
Commodities	0		7,801		5		7,806
Total	$ 204,564		$105,503		$1,889		$ 311,956
Liabilities
Government and agency obligations:
U.S.	$  (21,002	)	$      (25	)	$       –		$  (21,027	)
Non-U.S.	(39,983	)	(2,602	)	–		(42,585	)
Loans and securities backed by:
Commercial real estate	–		(40	)	(2	)	(42	)
Residential real estate	0		(5	)	–		(5	)
Corporate debt instruments	(23	)	(15,781	)	(71	)	(15,875	)
Equity securities	(48,991	)	(915	)	(31	)	(49,937	)
Total	$(109,999	)	$(19,368	)	$(104	)	$(129,471	)
As of December 2020
Assets
Government and agency obligations:
U.S.	$   93,670		$  44,863		$      0		$138,533
Non-U.S.	46,147		11,261		15		57,423
Loans and securities backed by:
Commercial real estate	0		597		203		800
Residential real estate	0		6,948		131		7,079
Corporate debt instruments	915		29,639		797		31,351
State and municipal obligations	0		200		0		200
Other debt obligations	338		1,055		19		1,412
Equity securities	75,300		2,505		72		77,877
Commodities	0		9,374		–		9,374
Total	$ 216,370		$106,442		$1,237		$324,049
Liabilities
Government and agency obligations:
U.S.	$  (16,880	)	$        (13	)	$      –		$  (16,893	)
Non-U.S.	(22,092	)	(1,792	)	–		(23,884	)
Loans and securities backed by:
Commercial real estate	–		(17	)	(1	)	(18	)
Residential real estate	–		(1	)	–		(1	)
Corporate debt instruments	(2	)	(7,970	)	(50	)	(8,022	)
State and municipal obligations	–		(5	)	–		(5	)
Other debt obligations	–		–		(2	)	(2	)
Equity securities	(45,734	)	(550	)	(27	)	(46,311	)
Total	$  (84,708	)	$ (10,348	)	$    (80	)	$  (95,136	)

In the table above:

• Trading cash instrument assets are shown as positive amounts and trading cash instrument liabilities are shown as negative amounts.

• Corporate debt instruments includes corporate loans, debt securities, convertible debentures, prepaid commodity transactions and transfers of assets accounted for as secured loans rather than purchases.

• Other debt obligations includes other asset-backed securities and money market instruments.

• Equity securities includes public equities and exchange-traded funds.

See Note 4 for an overview of the firm’s fair value measurement policies and the valuation techniques and significant inputs used to determine the fair value of trading cash instruments. See Note 7 for information about hedging activities for precious metals included in commodities and accounted for at the lower of cost or net realizable value. These precious metals are designated in a fair value hedging relationship, and therefore their carrying value equals fair value.

Significant Unobservable Inputs

The table below presents the amount of level 3 assets, and ranges and weighted averages of significant unobservable inputs used to value level 3 trading cash instruments.

	As of December 2021			As of December 2020
$ in millions		Amount or Range	Weighted Average		Amount or Range	Weighted Average
Loans and securities backed by commercial real estate
Level 3 assets		$137			$203
Yield		2.8 % to  28.5 %	12.3 %		1.7 % to  22.0 %	9.0 %
Recovery rate		5.1 % to  86.5 %	55.0 %		5.1 % to 94.9 %	57.7 %
Duration (years)		0.1  to  4.3	1.8		1.1 to 9.1	5.0
Loans and securities backed by residential real estate
Level 3 assets		$152			$131
Yield		0.4 % to  26.6 %	7.0 %		0.6 % to 15.7 %	6.3 %
Cumulative loss rate		0.1 % to  43.4 %	17.7 %		3.4 % to 45.6 %	20.8 %
Duration (years)		1.2  to  17.2	6.5		0.9 to 16.1	6.5
Corporate debt instruments
Level 3 assets		$1,318			$797
Yield		0.0 % to  18.0 %	7.1%		0.6% to 30.6%	9.5%
Recovery rate		9.0 % to  69.9 %	52.0%		0.0% to 73.6%	58.7%
Duration (years)		2.0  to 28.5	4.5		0.3 to 25.5	4.0

As of both December 2021 and December 2020, level 3 government and agency obligations, state and municipal obligations, other debt obligations and commodities were not material, and, therefore, are not included in the table above. In addition, as of both December 2021 and December 2020, each of the significant unobservable inputs for equity securities did not have a range as they pertained to individual positions. Therefore, such unobservable inputs are not included in the table above.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 137

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

In the table above:

• Ranges represent the significant unobservable inputs that were used in the valuation of each type of trading cash instrument.

• Weighted averages are calculated by weighting each input by the relative fair value of the trading cash instruments.

• The ranges and weighted averages of these inputs are not representative of the appropriate inputs to use when calculating the fair value of any one trading cash instrument. For example, the highest recovery rate for corporate debt instruments is appropriate for valuing a specific corporate debt instrument, but may not be appropriate for valuing any other corporate debt instrument. Accordingly, the ranges of inputs do not represent uncertainty in, or possible ranges of, fair value measurements of level 3 trading cash instruments.

• Increases in yield, duration or cumulative loss rate used in the valuation of level 3 trading cash instruments would have resulted in a lower fair value measurement, while increases in recovery rate would have resulted in a higher fair value measurement as of both December 2021 and December 2020. Due to the distinctive nature of each level 3 trading cash instrument, the interrelationship of inputs is not necessarily uniform within each product type.

• Trading cash instruments are valued using discounted cash flows.

Level 3 Rollforward

The table below presents a summary of the changes in fair value for level 3 trading cash instruments.

	Year Ended December
$ in millions		2021		2020
Total trading cash instrument assets
Beginning balance		$1,237		$1,242
Net realized gains/(losses)		80		66
Net unrealized gains/(losses)		52		(143	)
Purchases		1,241		796
Sales		(456	)	(411	)
Settlements		(273	)	(266	)
Transfers into level 3		272		156
Transfers out of level 3		(264	)	(203	)
Ending balance		$1,889		$1,237
Total trading cash instrument liabilities
Beginning balance		$  (80	)	$  (273	)
Net realized gains/(losses)		6		0
Net unrealized gains/(losses)		(5	)	(15	)
Purchases		36		34
Sales		(64	)	(38	)
Settlements		13		9
Transfers into level 3		(16	)	(27	)
Transfers out of level 3		6		230
Ending balance		$(104	)	$    (80	)

In the table above:

• Changes in fair value are presented for all trading cash instruments that are classified in level 3 as of the end of the period.

• Net unrealized gains/(losses) relates to trading cash instruments that were still held at period-end.

• Transfers between levels of the fair value hierarchy are reported at the beginning of the reporting period in which they occur. If a trading cash instrument was transferred to level 3 during a reporting period, its entire gain or loss for the period is classified in level 3.

• For level 3 trading cash instrument assets, increases are shown as positive amounts, while decreases are shown as negative amounts. For level 3 trading cash instrument liabilities, increases are shown as negative amounts, while decreases are shown as positive amounts.

• Level 3 trading cash instruments are frequently economically hedged with level 1 and level 2 trading cash instruments and/or level 1, level 2 or level 3 derivatives. Accordingly, gains or losses that are classified in level 3 can be partially offset by gains or losses attributable to level 1 or level 2 trading cash instruments and/or level 1, level 2 or level 3 derivatives. As a result, gains or losses included in the level 3 rollforward below do not necessarily represent the overall impact on the firm’s results of operations, liquidity or capital resources.

138 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

The table below presents information, by product type, for assets included in the summary table above.

	Year Ended December
$ in millions		2021		2020
Loans and securities backed by commercial real estate
Beginning balance		$     203		$191
Net realized gains/(losses)		7		11
Net unrealized gains/(losses)		(16	)	(33	)
Purchases		67		110
Sales		(31	)	(19	)
Settlements		(18	)	(64	)
Transfers into level 3		14		25
Transfers out of level 3		(89	)	(18	)
Ending balance		$     137		$203
Loans and securities backed by residential real estate
Beginning balance		$     131		$231
Net realized gains/(losses)		5		11
Net unrealized gains/(losses)		19		23
Purchases		68		69
Sales		(44	)	(80	)
Settlements		(35	)	(40	)
Transfers into level 3		28		5
Transfers out of level 3		(20	)	(88	)
Ending balance		$     152		$131
Corporate debt instruments
Beginning balance		$     797		$692
Net realized gains/(losses)		57		47
Net unrealized gains/(losses)		28		(118	)
Purchases		894		551
Sales		(330	)	(233	)
Settlements		(182	)	(146	)
Transfers into level 3		207		96
Transfers out of level 3		(153	)	(92	)
Ending balance		$1,318		$797
Other
Beginning balance		$     106		$128
Net realized gains/(losses)		11		(3	)
Net unrealized gains/(losses)		21		(15	)
Purchases		212		66
Sales		(51	)	(79	)
Settlements		(38	)	(16	)
Transfers into level 3		23		30
Transfers out of level 3		(2	)	(5	)
Ending balance		$     282		$106

In the table above, other includes U.S. and

non-U.S.

government and agency obligations, other debt obligations and equity securities.

Level 3 Rollforward Commentary

Year Ended December 2021.

The net realized and unrealized gains on level 3 trading cash instrument assets of $132 million (reflecting $80 million of net realized gains and $52 million of net unrealized gains) for 2021 included gains of $45 million reported in market making and $87 million reported in interest income.

The drivers of the net unrealized gains on level 3 trading cash instrument assets for 2021 were not material.

Transfers into level 3 trading cash instrument assets during 2021 primarily reflected transfers of certain corporate debt instruments from level 2 (principally due to certain unobservable yield and duration inputs becoming significant to the valuation of these instruments, and reduced price transparency as a result of a lack of market evidence, including fewer market transactions in these instruments).

Transfers out of level 3 trading cash instrument assets during 2021 primarily reflected transfers of certain corporate debt instruments, and loans and securities backed by commercial real estate to level 2 (in each case, principally due to increased price transparency as a result of market evidence, including market transactions in these instruments, and certain unobservable yield and duration inputs no longer being significant to the valuation of these instruments).

Year Ended December 2020.

The net realized and unrealized losses on level 3 trading cash instrument assets of $77 million (reflecting $66 million of net realized gains and $143 million of net unrealized losses) for 2020 included gains/(losses) of $(193) million reported in market making and $116 million reported in interest income.

The net unrealized losses on level 3 trading cash instrument assets for 2020 primarily reflected losses on certain corporate debt instruments (principally driven by wider credit spreads).

Transfers into level 3 trading cash instrument assets during 2020 primarily reflected transfers of certain corporate debt instruments from level 2 (principally due to reduced price transparency as a result of a lack of market evidence, including fewer market transactions in these instruments).

Transfers out of level 3 trading cash instrument assets during 2020 primarily reflected transfers of certain corporate debt instruments, and loans and securities backed by residential real estate to level 2 (in each case, principally due to increased price transparency as a result of market evidence, including market transactions in these instruments).

Note 7.

Derivatives and Hedging Activities

Derivative Activities

Derivatives are instruments that derive their value from underlying asset prices, indices, reference rates and other inputs, or a combination of these factors. Derivatives may be traded on an exchange (exchange-traded) or they may be privately negotiated contracts, which are usually referred to as OTC derivatives. Certain of the firm’s OTC derivatives are cleared and settled through central clearing counterparties

(OTC-cleared),

while others are bilateral contracts between two counterparties (bilateral OTC).

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 139

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Market Making.

As a market maker, the firm enters into derivative transactions to provide liquidity to clients and to facilitate the transfer and hedging of their risks. In this role, the firm typically acts as principal and is required to commit capital to provide execution, and maintains market-making positions in response to, or in anticipation of, client demand.

Risk Management.

The firm also enters into derivatives to actively manage risk exposures that arise from its market-making and investing and financing activities. The firm’s holdings and exposures are hedged, in many cases, on either a portfolio or risk-specific basis, as opposed to an instrument-by-instrument basis. The offsetting impact of this economic hedging is reflected in the same business segment as the related revenues. In addition, the firm may enter into derivatives designated as hedges under U.S. GAAP. These derivatives are used to manage interest rate exposure of certain fixed-rate unsecured borrowings and deposits, foreign exchange risk of certain available-for-sale securities and the net investment in certain

non-U.S.

operations, and the price risk of certain commodities.

The firm enters into various types of derivatives, including:

• Futures and Forwards. Contracts that commit counterparties to purchase or sell financial instruments, commodities or currencies in the future.

• Swaps. Contracts that require counterparties to exchange cash flows, such as currency or interest payment streams. The amounts exchanged are based on the specific terms of the contract with reference to specified rates, financial instruments, commodities, currencies or indices.

• Options. Contracts in which the option purchaser has the right, but not the obligation, to purchase from or sell to the option writer financial instruments, commodities or currencies within a defined time period for a specified price.

Derivatives are reported on a

net-by-counterparty

basis (i.e., the net payable or receivable for derivative assets and liabilities for a given counterparty) when a legal right of setoff exists under an enforceable netting agreement (counterparty netting). Derivatives are accounted for at fair value, net of cash collateral received or posted under enforceable credit support agreements (cash collateral netting). Derivative assets are included in trading assets and derivative liabilities are included in trading liabilities. Realized and unrealized gains and losses on derivatives not designated as hedges are included in market making (for derivatives included in the Global Markets segment), and other principal transactions (for derivatives included in the remaining business segments) in the consolidated statements of earnings. For both 2021 and 2020, substantially all of the firm’s derivatives were included in the Global Markets segment.

The tables below present the gross fair value and the notional amounts of derivative contracts by major product type, the amounts of counterparty and cash collateral netting in the consolidated balance sheets, as well as cash and securities collateral posted and received under enforceable credit support

agreements

that do not

meet

the criteria for netting under U.S. GAAP.

	As of December 2021					As of December 2020
$ in millions		Derivative Assets		Derivative Liabilities			Derivative Assets		Derivative Liabilities
Not accounted for as hedges
Exchange-traded		$          256		$          557			$      665		$      660
OTC-cleared		13,795		12,692			18,832		16,809
Bilateral OTC		232,595		205,073			337,998		304,370
Total interest rates		246,646		218,322			357,495		321,839
OTC-cleared		3,665		4,053			4,137		4,517
Bilateral OTC		12,591		11,702			12,418		11,551
Total credit		16,256		15,755			16,555		16,068
Exchange-traded		417		10			133		22
OTC-cleared		423		338			401		631
Bilateral OTC		86,076		85,795			101,830		102,676
Total currencies		86,916		86,143			102,364		103,329
Exchange-traded		6,534		6,189			4,476		4,177
OTC-cleared		652		373			195		187
Bilateral OTC		28,359		25,969			9,320		13,691
Total commodities		35,545		32,531			13,991		18,055
Exchange-traded		33,840		35,518			29,006		31,944
OTC-cleared		8		5			0		0
Bilateral OTC		39,718		44,750			47,867		49,072
Total equities		73,566		80,273			76,873		81,016
Subtotal		458,929		433,024			567,278		540,307
Accounted for as hedges
OTC-cleared		1		0			1		0
Bilateral OTC		945		0			1,346		0
Total interest rates		946		0			1,347		0
OTC-cleared		34		27			0		87
Bilateral OTC		60		139			4		372
Total currencies		94		166			4		459
Subtotal		1,040		166			1,351		459
Total gross fair value		$ 459,969		$ 433,190			$568,629		$540,766
Offset in the consolidated balance sheets
Exchange-traded		$  (35,724	)	$  (35,724	)		$  (29,549	)	$  (29,549	)
OTC-cleared		(16,979	)	(16,979	)		(21,315	)	(21,315	)
Bilateral OTC		(279,189	)	(279,189	)		(372,142	)	(372,142	)
Counterparty netting		(331,892	)	(331,892	)		(423,006	)	(423,006	)
OTC-cleared		(1,033	)	(361	)		(1,926	)	(720	)
Bilateral OTC		(63,084	)	(48,984	)		(74,116	)	(58,449	)
Cash collateral netting		(64,117	)	(49,345	)		(76,042	)	(59,169	)
Total amounts offset		$(396,009	)	$(381,237	)		$(499,048	)	$(482,175	)
Included in the consolidated balance sheets
Exchange-traded		$     5,323		$     6,550			$    4,731		$    7,254
OTC-cleared		566		148			325		196
Bilateral OTC		58,071		45,255			64,525		51,141
Total		$   63,960		$   51,953			$  69,581		$  58,591
Not offset in the consolidated balance sheets
Cash collateral		$    (1,008	)	$    (1,939	)		$      (979	)	$    (2,427	)
Securities collateral		(15,751	)	(7,349	)		(17,297	)	(9,943	)
Total		$   47,201		$   42,665			$  51,305		$  46,221

140 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to

Consolidated

Financial

Statements

	Notional Amounts as of December
$ in millions		2021	2020
Not accounted for as hedges
Exchange-traded		$  2,630,915	$  3,722,558
OTC-cleared		17,874,504	13,789,571
Bilateral OTC		11,122,871	11,076,460
Total interest rates		31,628,290	28,588,589
OTC-cleared		463,477	515,197
Bilateral OTC		616,095	558,813
Total credit		1,079,572	1,074,010
Exchange-traded		14,617	7,413
OTC-cleared		194,124	157,687
Bilateral OTC		6,606,927	6,041,663
Total currencies		6,815,668	6,206,763
Exchange-traded		308,917	242,193
OTC-cleared		3,647	2,315
Bilateral OTC		234,322	206,253
Total commodities		546,886	450,761
Exchange-traded		1,149,777	948,937
OTC-cleared		198	–
Bilateral OTC		1,173,103	1,126,572
Total equities		2,323,078	2,075,509
Subtotal		42,393,494	38,395,632
Accounted for as hedges
OTC-cleared		219,083	182,311
Bilateral OTC		4,499	6,641
Total interest rates		223,582	188,952
OTC-cleared		2,758	1,767
Bilateral OTC		18,658	14,055
Total currencies		21,416	15,822
Exchange-traded		1,050	–
Total commodities		1,050	–
Subtotal		246,048	204,774
Total notional amounts		$42,639,542	$38,600,406

In the tables above:

• Gross fair values exclude the effects of both counterparty netting and collateral, and therefore are not representative of the firm’s exposure.

• Where the firm has received or posted collateral under credit support agreements, but has not yet determined such agreements are enforceable, the related collateral has not been netted.

• Notional amounts, which represent the sum of gross long and short derivative contracts, provide an indication of the volume of the firm’s derivative activity and do not represent anticipated losses.

• Total gross fair value of derivatives included derivative assets of $17.48 billion as of December 2021 and $20.60 billion as of December 2020, and derivative liabilities of $17.29 billion as of December 2021 and $22.98 billion as of December  2020, which are not subject to an enforceable netting agreement or are subject to a netting agreement that the firm has not yet determined to be enforceable.

Fair Value of Derivatives by Level

The table below presents derivatives on a gross basis by level and product type, as well as the impact of netting.

$ in millions	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
As of December 2021
Assets
Interest rates	$       2		$ 246,525		$ 1,065		$ 247,592
Credit	0		12,823		3,433		16,256
Currencies	0		86,773		237		87,010
Commodities	0		34,501		1,044		35,545
Equities	33		72,570		963		73,566
Gross fair value	35		453,192		6,742		459,969
Counterparty netting in levels	0		(329,164	)	(804	)	(329,968	)
Subtotal	$     35		$ 124,028		$ 5,938		$ 130,001
Cross-level counterparty netting							(1,924	)
Cash collateral netting							(64,117	)
Net fair value							$   63,960
Liabilities
Interest rates	$   (2	)	$(217,438	)	$     (882	)	$(218,322	)
Credit	–		(14,176	)	(1,579	)	(15,755	)
Currencies	–		(85,925	)	(384	)	(86,309	)
Commodities	–		(31,925	)	(606	)	(32,531	)
Equities	(29	)	(77,393	)	(2,851	)	(80,273	)
Gross fair value	(31	)	(426,857	)	(6,302	)	(433,190	)
Counterparty netting in levels	–		329,164		804		329,968
Subtotal	$(31	)	$  (97,693	)	$(5,498	)	$(103,222	)
Cross-level counterparty netting							1,924
Cash collateral netting							49,345
Net fair value							$  (51,953	)
As of December 2020
Assets
Interest rates	$297		$357,568		$   977		$358,842
Credit	0		13,104		3,451		16,555
Currencies	0		102,221		147		102,368
Commodities	0		13,285		706		13,991
Equities	75		75,054		1,744		76,873
Gross fair value	372		561,232		7,025		568,629
Counterparty netting in levels	(135	)	(420,685	)	(1,058	)	(421,878	)
Subtotal	$237		$140,547		$5,967		$146,751
Cross-level counterparty netting							(1,128	)
Cash collateral netting							(76,042	)
Net fair value							$  69,581
Liabilities
Interest rates	$(229	)	$(320,900	)	$   (710	)	$(321,839	)
Credit	–		(14,395	)	(1,673	)	(16,068	)
Currencies	–		(103,303	)	(485	)	(103,788	)
Commodities	–		(17,649	)	(406	)	(18,055	)
Equities	(318	)	(78,122	)	(2,576	)	(81,016	)
Gross fair value	(547	)	(534,369	)	(5,850	)	(540,766	)
Counterparty netting in levels	135		420,685		1,058		421,878
Subtotal	$(412	)	$(113,684	)	$(4,792	)	$(118,888	)
Cross-level counterparty netting							1,128
Cash collateral netting							59,169
Net fair value							$  (58,591	)

In the table above:

• Gross fair values exclude the effects of both counterparty netting and collateral netting, and therefore are not representative of the firm’s exposure.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 141

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

• Counterparty netting is reflected in each level to the extent that receivable and payable balances are netted within the same level and is included in counterparty netting in levels. Where the counterparty netting is across levels, the netting is included in cross-level counterparty netting.

• Derivative assets are shown as positive amounts and derivative liabilities are shown as negative amounts.

See Note 4 for an overview of the firm’s fair value measurement policies and the valuation techniques and significant inputs used to determine the fair value of derivatives.

Significant Unobservable Inputs

The table below presents the amount of level 3 derivative assets (liabilities), and ranges, averages and medians of significant unobservable inputs used to value level 3 derivatives.

	As of December 2021				As of December 2020
$ in millions, except inputs		Amount or Range		Average/ Median		Amount or Range	Average/ Median
Interest rates, net		$183	��			$267
Correlation		25% to 81%		63%/62%		(8)% to 81%	56%/60%
Volatility (bps)		31 to 100		59/54		31 to 150	65/53
Credit, net		$1,854				$1,778
Credit spreads (bps)		1 to 568		136/107		2 to 699	109/74
Upfront credit points		2 to 100		34/26		7 to 90	40/30
Recovery rates		20% to 50%		37%/40%		25% to 90%	46%/40%
Currencies, net		$(147)				$(338)
Correlation		20% to 71%		40%/41%		20% to 70%	39%/41%
Volatility		19% to 19%		19%/19%		18% to 18%	18%/18%
Commodities, net		$438				$300
Volatility		15% to 93%		32%/29%		15% to 87%	32%/30%
Natural gas spread		$(1.33) to  $2.60		$(0.11)/ $(0.07)		$(1.00) to  $2.13	$(0.13)/ $(0.09)
Oil spread		$8.64 to  $22.68		$13.36/ $12.69		$8.30 to  $11.20	$9.73/ $9.55
Electricity price		$1.50 to  $289.96		$37.42/ $32.20		N/A	N/A
Equities, net		$(1,888)				$(832)
Correlation		(70)% to 99%		59%/62%		(70)% to 100%	52%/55%
Volatility		3% to 150%		17%/17%		3% to 129%	14%/7%

In the table above:

• Derivative assets are shown as positive amounts and derivative liabilities are shown as negative amounts.

• Ranges represent the significant unobservable inputs that were used in the valuation of each type of derivative.

• Averages represent the arithmetic average of the inputs and are not weighted by the relative fair value or notional amount of the respective financial instruments. An average greater than the median indicates that the majority of inputs are below the average. For example, the difference between the average and the median for credit spreads indicates that the majority of the inputs fall in the lower end of the range.

• The ranges, averages and medians of these inputs are not representative of the appropriate inputs to use when calculating the fair value of any one derivative. For example, the highest correlation for interest rate derivatives is appropriate for valuing a specific interest rate derivative but may not be appropriate for valuing any other interest rate derivative. Accordingly, the ranges of inputs do not represent uncertainty in, or possible ranges of, fair value measurements of level 3 derivatives.

• Interest rates, currencies and equities derivatives are valued using option pricing models, credit derivatives are valued using option pricing, correlation and discounted cash flow models, and commodities derivatives are valued using option pricing and discounted cash flow models.

• The fair value of any one instrument may be determined using multiple valuation techniques. For example, option pricing models and discounted cash flow models are typically used together to determine fair value. Therefore, the level 3 balance encompasses both of these techniques.

• Correlation within currencies and equities includes cross-product type correlation.

• Natural gas spread represents the spread per million British thermal units of natural gas.

• Oil spread represents the spread per barrel of oil and refined products.

• Electricity price represents the price per megawatt hour of electricity.

Range of Significant Unobservable Inputs

The following provides information about the ranges of significant unobservable inputs used to value the firm’s level 3 derivative instruments:

• Correlation. Ranges for correlation cover a variety of underliers both within one product type (e.g., equity index and equity single stock names) and across product types (e.g., correlation of an interest rate and a currency), as well as across regions. Generally, cross-product type correlation inputs are used to value more complex instruments and are lower than correlation inputs on assets within the same derivative product type.

• Volatility. Ranges for volatility cover numerous underliers across a variety of markets, maturities and strike prices. For example, volatility of equity indices is generally lower than volatility of single stocks.

142 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

• Credit spreads, upfront credit points and recovery rates. The ranges for credit spreads, upfront credit points and recovery rates cover a variety of underliers (index and single names), regions, sectors, maturities and credit qualities (high-yield and investment-grade). The broad range of this population gives rise to the width of the ranges of significant unobservable inputs.

• Commodity prices and spreads. The ranges for commodity prices and spreads cover variability in products, maturities and delivery locations.

Sensitivity of Fair Value Measurement to Changes in Significant Unobservable Inputs

The following is a description of the directional sensitivity of the firm’s level 3 fair value measurements to changes in significant unobservable inputs, in isolation, as of each

period-end:

• Correlation. In general, for contracts where the holder benefits from the convergence of the underlying asset or index prices (e.g., interest rates, credit spreads, foreign exchange rates, inflation rates and equity prices), an increase in correlation results in a higher fair value measurement.

• Volatility. In general, for purchased options, an increase in volatility results in a higher fair value measurement.

• Credit spreads, upfront credit points and recovery rates. In general, the fair value of purchased credit protection increases as credit spreads or upfront credit points increase or recovery rates decrease. Credit spreads, upfront credit points and recovery rates are strongly related to distinctive risk factors of the underlying reference obligations, which include reference entity-specific factors, such as leverage, volatility and industry, market-based risk factors, such as borrowing costs or liquidity of the underlying reference obligation, and macroeconomic conditions.

• Commodity prices and spreads. In general, for contracts where the holder is receiving a commodity, an increase in the spread (price difference from a benchmark index due to differences in quality or delivery location) or price results in a higher fair value measurement.

Due to the distinctive nature of each of the firm’s level 3 derivatives, the interrelationship of inputs is not necessarily uniform within each product type.

Level 3 Rollforward

The table below presents a summary of the changes in fair value for level 3 derivatives.

	Year Ended December
$ in millions		2021		2020
Total level 3 derivatives, net
Beginning balance		$ 1,175		$     25
Net realized gains/(losses)		265		226
Net unrealized gains/(losses)		452		612
Purchases		501		319
Sales		(1,541	)	(724	)
Settlements		(59	)	750
Transfers into level 3		(131	)	(40	)
Transfers out of level 3		(222	)	7
Ending balance		$   440		$1,175

In the table above:

• Changes in fair value are presented for all derivative assets and liabilities that are classified in level 3 as of the end of the period.

• Net unrealized gains/(losses) relates to instruments that were still held at period-end.

• Transfers between levels of the fair value hierarchy are reported at the beginning of the reporting period in which they occur. If a derivative was transferred into level 3 during a reporting period, its entire gain or loss for the period is classified in level 3.

• Positive amounts for transfers into level 3 and negative amounts for transfers out of level 3 represent net transfers of derivative assets. Negative amounts for transfers into level 3 and positive amounts for transfers out of level 3 represent net transfers of derivative liabilities.

• A derivative with level 1 and/or level 2 inputs is classified in level 3 in its entirety if it has at least one significant level 3 input.

• If there is one significant level 3 input, the entire gain or loss from adjusting only observable inputs (i.e., level 1 and level 2 inputs) is classified in level 3.

• Gains or losses that have been classified in level 3 resulting from changes in level 1 or level 2 inputs are frequently offset by gains or losses attributable to level 1 or level 2 derivatives and/or level 1, level 2 and level 3 trading cash instruments. As a result, gains/(losses) included in the level 3 rollforward below do not necessarily represent the overall impact on the firm’s results of operations, liquidity or capital resources.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 143

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

The table below presents information, by product type, for derivatives included in the summary table above.

	Year Ended December
$ in millions		2021		2020
Interest rates, net
Beginning balance		$      267		$      89
Net realized gains/(losses)		72		12
Net unrealized gains/(losses)		316		226
Purchases		124		12
Sales		(341	)	(28	)
Settlements		18		(34	)
Transfers into level 3		2		(13	)
Transfers out of level 3		(275	)	3
Ending balance		$      183		$    267
Credit, net
Beginning balance		$ 1,778		$ 1,877
Net realized gains/(losses)		(21	)	28
Net unrealized gains/(losses)		409		110
Purchases		53		39
Sales		(217	)	(50	)
Settlements		(77	)	(229	)
Transfers into level 3		(70	)	47
Transfers out of level 3		(1	)	(44	)
Ending balance		$ 1,854		$ 1,778
Currencies, net
Beginning balance		$     (338	)	$   (211	)
Net realized gains/(losses)		9		(8	)
Net unrealized gains/(losses)		155		(210	)
Purchases		7		1
Sales		(10	)	(20	)
Settlements		32		117
Transfers into level 3		(17	)	(2	)
Transfers out of level 3		15		(5	)
Ending balance		$     (147	)	$   (338	)
Commodities, net
Beginning balance		$      300		$    247
Net realized gains/(losses)		(80	)	(12	)
Net unrealized gains/(losses)		355		159
Purchases		42		37
Sales		(15	)	(22	)
Settlements		(149	)	(60	)
Transfers into level 3		(3	)	(27	)
Transfers out of level 3		(12	)	(22	)
Ending balance		$      438		$    300
Equities, net
Beginning balance		$     (832	)	$(1,977	)
Net realized gains/(losses)		285		206
Net unrealized gains/(losses)		(783	)	327
Purchases		275		230
Sales		(958	)	(604	)
Settlements		117		956
Transfers into level 3		(43	)	(45	)
Transfers out of level 3		51		75
Ending balance		$(1,888	)	$   (832	)

Level 3 Rollforward Commentary

Year Ended December 2021.

The net realized and unrealized gains on level 3 derivatives of $717 million (reflecting $265 million of net realized gains and $452 million of net unrealized gains) for 2021 included gains of $700 million reported in market making and gains of $17 million reported in other principal transactions.

The net unrealized gains on level 3 derivatives for 2021 were primarily attributable to gains on certain credit and currency derivatives (in each case, primarily reflecting the impact of changes in foreign exchange rates), gains on certain commodity derivatives (primarily reflecting the impact of an increase in commodity prices) and gains on certain interest rate derivatives (primarily reflecting the impact of an increase in interest rates), partially offset by losses on certain equity derivatives (primarily reflecting the impact of an increase in equity prices).

The drivers of transfers into level 3 derivatives during 2021 were not material.

Transfers out of level 3 derivatives during 2021 primarily reflected transfers of certain interest rate derivative assets to level 2 (principally due to increased transparency of certain volatility inputs used to value these derivatives).

Year Ended December 2020.

The net realized and unrealized gains on level 3 derivatives of $838 million (reflecting $226 million of net realized gains and $612 million of net unrealized gains) for 2020 included gains of $900 million reported in market making and losses of $62 million reported in other principal transactions.

The net unrealized gains on level 3 derivatives for 2020 were primarily attributable to gains on certain equity derivatives (primarily reflecting the impact of an increase in equity prices), gains on certain interest rate derivatives (primarily reflecting the impact of a decrease in interest rates and changes in foreign exchange rates), gains on certain commodity derivatives (primarily reflecting the impact of changes in commodity prices), and gains on certain credit derivatives (primarily reflecting the impact of a decrease in interest rates), partially offset by losses on certain currency derivatives (primarily reflecting the impact of changes in foreign exchange rates and a decrease in interest rates).

The drivers of both transfers into level 3 derivatives and transfers out of level 3 derivatives during 2020 were not material.

144 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

OTC Derivatives

The table below presents OTC derivative assets and liabilities by tenor and major product type.

$ in millions	Less than 1 Year		1 - 5 Years		Greater than 5 Years		Total
As of December 2021
Assets
Interest rates	$  6,076		$11,655		$61,380		$  79,111
Credit	1,800		2,381		3,113		7,294
Currencies	13,366		6,642		6,570		26,578
Commodities	10,178		7,348		770		18,296
Equities	11,075		6,592		2,100		19,767
Counterparty netting in tenors	(3,624	)	(3,357	)	(2,673	)	(9,654	)
Subtotal	$38,871		$31,261		$71,260		$141,392
Cross-tenor counterparty netting							(18,638	)
Cash collateral netting							(64,117	)
Total OTC derivative assets							$  58,637
Liabilities
Interest rates	$  3,929		$10,932		$34,676		$  49,537
Credit	1,695		3,257		1,841		6,793
Currencies	14,122		6,581		5,580		26,283
Commodities	7,591		6,274		1,763		15,628
Equities	8,268		12,944		3,587		24,799
Counterparty netting in tenors	(3,624	)	(3,357	)	(2,673	)	(9,654	)
Subtotal	$31,981		$36,631		$44,774		$113,386
Cross-tenor counterparty netting							(18,638	)
Cash collateral netting							(49,345	)
Total OTC derivative liabilities							$  45,403
As of December 2020
Assets
Interest rates	$  8,913		$20,145		$74,893		$103,951
Credit	822		3,270		3,302		7,394
Currencies	13,887		7,400		9,303		30,590
Commodities	2,998		1,466		488		4,952
Equities	12,182		12,590		1,807		26,579
Counterparty netting in tenors	(3,963	)	(4,458	)	(3,182	)	(11,603	)
Subtotal	$34,839		$40,413		$86,611		$161,863
Cross-tenor counterparty netting							(20,971	)
Cash collateral netting							(76,042	)
Total OTC derivative assets							$  64,850
Liabilities
Interest rates	$  5,687		$11,967		$49,301		$  66,955
Credit	1,268		3,462		2,177		6,907
Currencies	18,770		7,575		5,775		32,120
Commodities	3,455		1,545		4,315		9,315
Equities	9,702		14,095		3,986		27,783
Counterparty netting in tenors	(3,963	)	(4,458	)	(3,182	)	(11,603	)
Subtotal	$34,919		$34,186		$62,372		$131,477
Cross-tenor counterparty netting							(20,971	)
Cash collateral netting							(59,169	)
Total OTC derivative liabilities							$  51,337

In the table above:

• Tenor is based on remaining contractual maturity.

• Counterparty netting within the same product type and tenor category is included within such product type and tenor category.

• Counterparty netting across product types within the same tenor category is included in counterparty netting in tenors. Where the counterparty netting is across tenor categories, the netting is included in cross-tenor counterparty netting.

Credit Derivatives

The firm enters into a broad array of credit derivatives to facilitate client transactions and to manage the credit risk associated with market-making and investing and financing activities. Credit derivatives are actively managed based on the firm’s net risk position. Credit derivatives are generally individually negotiated contracts and can have various settlement and payment conventions. Credit events include failure to pay, bankruptcy, acceleration of indebtedness, restructuring, repudiation and dissolution of the reference entity.

The firm enters into the following types of credit derivatives:

• Credit Default Swaps. Single-name credit default swaps protect the buyer against the loss of principal on one or more bonds, loans or mortgages (reference obligations) in the event the issuer of the reference obligations suffers a credit event. The buyer of protection pays an initial or periodic premium to the seller and receives protection for the period of the contract. If there is no credit event, as defined in the contract, the seller of protection makes no payments to the buyer. If a credit event occurs, the seller of protection is required to make a payment to the buyer, calculated according to the terms of the contract.

• Credit Options. In a credit option, the option writer assumes the obligation to purchase or sell a reference obligation at a specified price or credit spread. The option purchaser buys the right, but does not assume the obligation, to sell the reference obligation to, or purchase it from, the option writer. The payments on credit options depend either on a particular credit spread or the price of the reference obligation.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 145

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

• Credit Indices, Baskets and Tranches. Credit derivatives may reference a basket of single-name credit default swaps or a broad-based index. If a credit event occurs in one of the underlying reference obligations, the protection seller pays the protection buyer. The payment is typically a pro-rata portion of the transaction’s total notional amount based on the underlying defaulted reference obligation. In certain transactions, the credit risk of a basket or index is separated into various portions (tranches), each having different levels of subordination. The most junior tranches cover initial defaults and once losses exceed the notional amount of these junior tranches, any excess loss is covered by the next most senior tranche.

• Total Return Swaps. A total return swap transfers the risks relating to economic performance of a reference obligation from the protection buyer to the protection seller. Typically, the protection buyer receives a floating rate of interest and protection against any reduction in fair value of the reference obligation, and the protection seller receives the cash flows associated with the reference obligation, plus any increase in the fair value of the reference obligation.

The firm economically hedges its exposure to written credit derivatives primarily by entering into offsetting purchased credit derivatives with identical underliers. Substantially all of the firm’s purchased credit derivative transactions are with financial institutions and are subject to stringent collateral thresholds. In addition, upon the occurrence of a specified trigger event, the firm may take possession of the reference obligations underlying a particular written credit derivative, and consequently may, upon liquidation of the reference obligations, recover amounts on the underlying reference obligations in the event of default.

As of December 2021, written credit derivatives had a total gross notional amount of $510.24 billion and purchased credit derivatives had a total gross notional amount of $569.34 billion, for total net notional purchased protection of $59.10 billion. As of December 2020, written credit derivatives had a total gross notional amount of $515.85 billion and purchased credit derivatives had a total gross notional amount of $558.18 billion, for total net notional purchased protection of $42.33 billion. The firm’s written and purchased credit derivatives primarily consist of credit default swaps.

The table below presents information about credit derivatives.

	Credit Spread on Underlier (basis points)
$ in millions		0 - 250	251 - 500		501 - 1,000		Greater than 1,000		Total
As of December 2021
Maximum Payout/Notional Amount of Written Credit Derivatives by Tenor
Less than 1 year		$120,456	$  6,173		$  1,656		$ 4,314		$132,599
1 - 5 years		305,255	14,328		12,754		3,814		336,151
Greater than 5 years		35,558	3,087		2,529		311		41,485
Total		$461,269	$23,588		$16,939		$ 8,439		$510,235
Maximum Payout/Notional Amount of Purchased Credit Derivatives
Offsetting		$381,715	$17,210		$12,806		$ 6,714		$418,445
Other		$138,214	$  7,780		$  3,576		$ 1,322		$150,892
Fair Value of Written Credit Derivatives
Asset		$    9,803	$       924		$       318		$      137		$  11,182
Liability		941	123		1,666		1,933		4,663
Net asset/(liability)		$    8,862	$       801		$   (1,348	)	$(1,796	)	$    6,519
As of December 2020
Maximum Payout/Notional Amount of Written Credit Derivatives by Tenor
Less than 1 year		$  96,049	$  5,826		$     450		$2,403		$104,728
1 - 5 years		331,145	17,913		8,801		4,932		362,791
Greater than 5 years		44,132	3,839		272		88		48,331
Total		$471,326	$27,578		$  9,523		$7,423		$515,850
Maximum Payout/Notional Amount of Purchased Credit Derivatives
Offsetting		$407,315	$19,822		$  8,679		$7,091		$442,907
Other		$103,604	$  7,272		$  3,619		$   776		$115,271
Fair Value of Written Credit Derivatives
Asset		$  10,302	$     638		$     256		$   118		$  11,314
Liability		1,112	1,119		387		2,001		4,619
Net asset/(liability)		$    9,190	$    (481	)	$    (131	)	$(1,883	)	$    6,695

In the table above:

• Fair values exclude the effects of both netting of receivable balances with payable balances under enforceable netting agreements, and netting of cash received or posted under enforceable credit support agreements, and therefore are not representative of the firm’s credit exposure.

• Tenor is based on remaining contractual maturity.

• The credit spread on the underlier, together with the tenor of the contract, are indicators of payment/performance risk. The firm is less likely to pay or otherwise be required to perform where the credit spread and the tenor are lower.

• Offsetting purchased credit derivatives represent the notional amount of purchased credit derivatives that economically hedge written credit derivatives with identical underliers.

• Other purchased credit derivatives represent the notional amount of all other purchased credit derivatives not included in offsetting.

146 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Impact of Credit and Funding Spreads on Derivatives

The firm realizes gains or losses on its derivative contracts. These gains or losses include credit valuation adjustments (CVA) relating to uncollateralized derivative assets and liabilities, which represent the gains or losses (including hedges) attributable to the impact of changes in credit exposure, counterparty credit spreads, liability funding spreads (which include the firm’s own credit), probability of default and assumed recovery. These gains or losses also include funding valuation adjustments (FVA) relating to uncollateralized derivative assets, which represent the gains or losses (including hedges) attributable to the impact of changes in expected funding exposures and funding spreads.

The table below presents information about CVA and FVA.

	Year Ended December
$ in millions		2021	2020		2019
CVA, net of hedges		$25	$(143	)	$(289	)
FVA, net of hedges		60	173		485
Total		$85	$   30		$ 196

Bifurcated Embedded Derivatives

The table below presents the fair value and the notional amount of derivatives that have been bifurcated from their related borrowings.

	As of December
$ in millions		2021		2020
Fair value of assets		$     845		$  1,450
Fair value of liabilities		(124	)	(1,220	)
Net asset/(liability)		$     721		$     230
Notional amount		$10,743		$12,548

In the table above, derivatives that have been bifurcated from their related borrowings are recorded at fair value and primarily consist of interest rate, equity and commodity products. These derivatives are included in unsecured short- and long-term borrowings, as well as other secured financings, with the related borrowings.

Derivatives with Credit-Related Contingent Features

Certain of the firm’s derivatives have been transacted under bilateral agreements with counterparties who may require the firm to post collateral or terminate the transactions based on changes in the firm’s credit ratings. The firm assesses the impact of these bilateral agreements by determining the collateral or termination payments that would occur assuming a downgrade by all rating agencies. A downgrade by any one rating agency, depending on the agency’s relative ratings of the firm at the time of the downgrade, may have an impact which is comparable to the impact of a downgrade by all rating agencies.

The table below presents information about net derivative liabilities under bilateral agreements (excluding collateral posted), the fair value of collateral posted and additional collateral or termination payments that could have been called by counterparties in the event of a

one-

or

two-notch

downgrade in the firm’s credit ratings.

	As of December
$ in millions		2021	2020
Net derivative liabilities under bilateral agreements		$34,315	$43,368
Collateral posted		$29,214	$35,296
Additional collateral or termination payments:
One-notch downgrade		$     345	$     481
Two-notch downgrade		$  1,536	$  1,388

Hedge Accounting

The firm applies hedge accounting for (i) interest rate swaps used to manage the interest rate exposure of certain fixed-rate unsecured long- and short-term borrowings and certain fixed-rate certificates of deposit, (ii) foreign exchange forward contracts used to manage the foreign exchange risk of certain

available-for-sale

securities, (iii) foreign currency forward contracts and foreign currency-denominated debt used to manage foreign currency exposures on the firm’s net investment in certain

non-U.S.

operations and (iv) commodity futures contracts used to manage the price risk of certain commodities.

To qualify for hedge accounting, the hedging instrument must be highly effective at reducing the risk from the exposure being hedged. Additionally, the firm must formally document the hedging relationship at inception and assess the hedging relationship at least on a quarterly basis to ensure the hedging instrument continues to be highly effective over the life of the hedging relationship.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 147

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Fair Value Hedges

The firm designates interest rate swaps as fair value hedges of certain fixed-rate unsecured long- and short-term debt and fixed-rate certificates of deposit. These interest rate swaps hedge changes in fair value attributable to the designated benchmark interest rate (e.g., London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR), Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) or Overnight Index Swap Rate), effectively converting a substantial portion of fixed-rate obligations into floating-rate obligations.

The firm applies a statistical method that utilizes regression analysis when assessing the effectiveness of these hedging relationships in achieving offsetting changes in the fair values of the hedging instrument and the risk being hedged (i.e., interest rate risk). An interest rate swap is considered highly effective in offsetting changes in fair value attributable to changes in the hedged risk when the regression analysis results in a coefficient of determination of 80% or greater and a slope between 80% and 125%.

For qualifying interest rate fair value hedges, gains or losses on derivatives are included in interest expense. The change in fair value of the hedged item attributable to the risk being hedged is reported as an adjustment to its carrying value (hedging adjustment) and is also included in interest expense. When a derivative is no longer designated as a hedge, any remaining difference between the carrying value and par value of the hedged item is amortized in interest expense over the remaining life of the hedged item using the effective interest method. See Note 23 for further information about interest income and interest expense.

The table below presents the gains/(losses) from interest rate derivatives accounted for as hedges and the related hedged borrowings and deposits, and total interest expense.

	Year Ended December
$ in millions		2021		2020		2019
Interest rate hedges		$(6,638	)	$ 3,862		$  3,196
Hedged borrowings and deposits		$ 6,085		$(4,557	)	$(3,657	)
Interest expense		$ 5,650		$ 8,938		$17,376

The table below presents the carrying value of deposits and unsecured borrowings that are designated in a hedging relationship and the related cumulative hedging adjustment (increase/(decrease)) from current and prior hedging relationships included in such carrying values.

$ in millions	Carrying Value	Cumulative Hedging Adjustment
As of December 2021
Deposits	$  14,131	$       246
Unsecured short-term borrowings	$    2,167	$           5
Unsecured long-term borrowings	$144,934	$   6,169
As of December 2020
Deposits	$  17,303	$     649
Unsecured short-term borrowings	$    5,976	$       53
Unsecured long-term borrowings	$115,242	$11,624

In the table above, cumulative hedging adjustment included $5.91 billion as of December 2021 and $6.34 billion as of December 2020 of hedging adjustments from prior hedging relationships that were

de-designated

and substantially all were related to unsecured long-term borrowings.

In addition,cumulative hedging adjustments for items no longer designated in a hedging relationship were $68 million as of December 2021 and $489 million as of December 2020 and substantially all were related to unsecured long-term borrowings.

The firm designates foreign exchange forward contracts as fair value hedges of the foreign exchange risk of

non-U.S.

government securities classified as

available-for-sale.

See Note 8 for information about the amortized cost and fair value of such securities. The effectiveness of such hedges is assessed based on changes in spot rates. The gains/(losses) on the hedges (relating to both spot and forward points) and the foreign exchange gains/(losses) on the related

available-for-sale

securities were included in market making and were not material for both 2021 and 2020.

During 2021, the firm designated commodity futures contracts as fair value hedges of the price risk of certain precious metals included in commodities within trading assets. As of December 2021, the carrying value of such commodities was $1.05 billion and the amortized cost was $1.02 billion. Changes in spot rates of such commodities are reflected as an adjustment to their carrying value, and the related gains/(losses) on both the commodities and the designated futures contracts are included in market making. The contractual forward points on the designated futures contracts are amortized into earnings ratably over the life of the contract and other gains/(losses) as a result of changes in the forward points are included in other comprehensive income/(loss). The cumulative hedging adjustment was not material as of December 2021 and the related gains/(losses) were not material for 2021.

148 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Net Investment Hedges

The firm seeks to reduce the impact of fluctuations in foreign exchange rates on its net investments in certain

non-U.S.

operations through the use of foreign currency forward contracts and foreign currency-denominated debt. For foreign currency forward contracts designated as hedges, the effectiveness of the hedge is assessed based on the overall changes in the fair value of the forward contracts (i.e., based on changes in forward rates). For foreign currency-denominated debt designated as a hedge, the effectiveness of the hedge is assessed based on changes in spot rates. For qualifying net investment hedges, all gains or losses on the hedging instruments are included in currency translation.

The table below presents the gains/(losses) from net investment hedging.

	Year Ended December
$ in millions		2021	2020		2019
Hedges:
Foreign currency forward contract		$755	$(126	)	$   6
Foreign currency-denominated debt		$386	$(297	)	$(19	)

Gains or losses on individual net investments in

non-U.S.

operations are reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss) to other principal transactions in the consolidated statements of earnings when such net investments are sold or substantially liquidated. The gross and net gains and losses on hedges and the related net investments in

non-U.S.

operations reclassified to earnings from accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss) was not material for 2021, $61 million (reflecting a gain of $214 million related to hedges and a loss of $153 million on the related net investments in

non-U.S.

operations) for 2020 and not material for 2019.

The firm had designated $3.71 billion as of December 2021 and $4.97 billion as of December 2020 of foreign currency-denominated debt, included in unsecured long- and short-term borrowings, as hedges of net investments in

non-U.S.

subsidiaries.

Note 8.

Investments

Investments includes debt instruments and equity securities that are accounted for at fair value and are generally held by the firm in connection with its long-term investing activities. In addition, investments includes debt securities classified as

available-for-sale

and

held-to-maturity

that are generally held in connection with the firm’s asset-liability management activities. Investments also consists of equity securities that are accounted for under the equity method.

The table below presents information about investments.

	As of December
$ in millions		2021	2020
Equity securities, at fair value		$18,937	$19,781
Debt instruments, at fair value		15,558	16,981
Available-for-sale securities, at fair value		48,932	46,016
Investments, at fair value		83,427	82,778
Held-to-maturity securities		4,699	5,301
Equity method investments		593	366
Total investments		$88,719	$88,445

Equity Securities and Debt Instruments, at Fair Value

Equity securities and debt instruments, at fair value are accounted for at fair value either under the fair value option or in accordance with other U.S. GAAP, and the related fair value gains and losses are recognized in the consolidated statements of earnings.

Equity Securities, at Fair Value.

Equity securities, at fair value consists of the firm’s public and private equity investments in corporate and real estate entities.

The table below presents information about equity securities, at fair value.

	As of December
$ in millions		2021	2020
Equity securities, at fair value		$18,937	$19,781
Equity Type
Public equity		24%	15%
Private equity		76%	85%
Total		100%	100%
Asset Class
Corporate		78%	83%
Real estate		22%	17%
Total		100%	100%

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 149

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

In the table above:

• Equity securities, at fair value included investments accounted for at fair value under the fair value option where the firm would otherwise apply the equity method of accounting of $5.81 billion as of December 2021 and $7.14 billion as of December 2020. Gains recognized as a result of changes in the fair value of equity securities for which the fair value option was elected were $2.12 billion for 2021 and $573 million for 2020. These gains are included in other principal transactions.

• Equity securities, at fair value included $1.80 billion as of December 2021 and $2.35 billion as of December 2020 of investments in funds that are measured at NAV.

Debt Instruments, at Fair Value.

Debt instruments, at fair value primarily includes mezzanine, senior and distressed debt.

The table below presents information about debt instruments, at fair value.

	As of December
$ in millions		2021	2020
Corporate debt securities		$  9,793	$10,991
Securities backed by real estate		2,280	1,940
Money market instruments		1,396	2,185
Other		2,089	1,865
Total		$15,558	$16,981

In the table above:

• Money market instruments primarily includes time deposits and investments in money market funds.

• Other included $1.67 billion as of December 2021 and $1.31 billion as of December 2020 of investments in credit funds that are measured at NAV.

Investments in Funds at Net Asset Value Per Share.

Equity securities and debt instruments, at fair value include investments in funds that are measured at NAV of the investment fund. The firm uses NAV to measure the fair value of fund investments when (i) the fund investment does not have a readily determinable fair value and (ii) the NAV of the investment fund is calculated in a manner consistent with the measurement principles of investment company accounting, including measurement of the investments at fair value.

Substantially all of the firm’s investments in funds at NAV consist of investments in firm-sponsored private equity, credit, real estate and hedge funds where the firm

co-invests

with third-party investors.

Private equity funds primarily invest in a broad range of industries worldwide, including leveraged buyouts, recapitalizations, growth investments and distressed investments. Credit funds generally invest in loans and other fixed income instruments and are focused on providing private high-yield capital for leveraged and management buyout transactions, recapitalizations, financings, refinancings, acquisitions and restructurings for private equity firms, private family companies and corporate issuers. Real estate funds invest globally, primarily in real estate companies, loan portfolios, debt recapitalizations and property. Private equity, credit and real estate funds are

closed-end

funds in which the firm’s investments are generally not eligible for redemption. Distributions will be received from these funds as the underlying assets are liquidated or distributed, the timing of which is uncertain.

The firm also invests in hedge funds, primarily multi-disciplinary hedge funds that employ a fundamental

bottom-up

investment approach across various asset classes and strategies. The firm’s investments in hedge funds primarily include interests where the underlying assets are illiquid in nature, and proceeds from redemptions will not be received until the underlying assets are liquidated or distributed, the timing of which is uncertain.

Private equity and hedge funds described above are primarily “covered funds” as defined in the Volcker Rule of the U.S. Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act). Substantially all of the credit and real estate funds described above are not covered funds. The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (FRB) extended the conformance period to July 2022 for the firm’s investments in, and relationships with, certain legacy “illiquid funds” (as defined in the Volcker Rule) that were in place prior to December 2013. This extension is applicable to substantially all of the firm’s remaining investments in, and relationships with, such covered funds. As of December 2021, the firm’s total investments in funds at NAV of $3.47 billion included $903 

million of investments in covered funds for which compliance with the Volcker Rule will need to be achieved by July 2022.

The firm expects to achieve compliance for these covered funds through ongoing harvesting of underlying fund investments in the ordinary course or through structural modifications to these funds. To the extent that the firm is not able to achieve compliance through these measures, the firm will be required to sell its interests in such funds by July 2022. If that occurs, the firm may receive a value for its interests that is less than the then carrying value as there could be a limited secondary market for these investments and the firm may be unable to sell them in orderly transactions.

150 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

The table below presents the fair value of investments in funds at NAV and the related unfunded commitments.

$ in millions	Fair Value of Investments	Unfunded Commitments
As of December 2021
Private equity funds	$1.411	$     619
Credit funds	1,686	556
Hedge funds	84	–
Real estate funds	288	147
Total	$3,469	$1,322
As of December 2020
Private equity funds	$2,042	$   557
Credit funds	1,312	680
Hedge funds	102	–
Real estate funds	208	213
Total	$3,664	$1,450

Available-for-Sale

Securities

Available-for-sale

securities are accounted for at fair value, and the related unrealized fair value gains and losses are included in accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss) unless designated in a fair value hedging relationship. See Note 7 for information about

available-for-sale

securities that are designated in a hedging relationship.

The table below presents information about

available-for-sale

securities by tenor.

$ in millions	Amortized Cost	Fair Value	Weighted Average Yield
As of December 2021
Less than 1 year	$         25	$         25	0.12%
1 year to 5 years	41,536	41,066	0.47%
5 years to 10 years	5,337	5,229	0.92%
Greater than 10 years	2	2	2.00%
Total U.S. government obligations	46,900	46,322	0.53%
5 years to 10 years	2,693	2,610	0.33%
Total non-U.S. government obligations	2,693	2,610	0.33%
Total available-for-sale securities	$49,593	$48,932	0.52%
As of December 2020
Less than 1 year	$       25	$       25	0.08%
1 year to 5 years	35,831	36,158	0.70%
5 years to 10 years	7,454	7,732	1.19%
Total U.S. government obligations	43,310	43,915	0.78%
5 years to 10 years	1,739	1,744	0.10%
Greater than 10 years	353	357	0.74%
Total non-U.S. government obligations	2,092	2,101	0.21%
Total available-for-sale securities	$45,402	$46,016	0.76%

In the table above:

• Available-for-sale securities were classified in level 1 of the fair value hierarchy as of both December 2021 and December 2020.

• The weighted average yield for available-for-sale securities is computed using the effective interest rate of each security at the end of the period, weighted based on the fair value of each security.

• The gross unrealized gains included in accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss) were $118 million and the gross unrealized losses included in accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss) were $779 million as of December 2021 and primarily related to U.S. government obligations in a continuous unrealized loss position for less than a year. The gross unrealized gains included in accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss) were $631 million and the gross unrealized losses included in accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss) were not material as of December 2020. Net unrealized gains/(losses) included in other comprehensive income/(loss) were $(1.28) billion ($(955) million, net of tax) for 2021 and $557 million ($417 million, net of tax) for 2020.

• If the fair value of available-for-sale securities is less than amortized cost, such securities are considered impaired. If the firm has the intent to sell the debt security, or if it is more likely than not that the firm will be required to sell the debt security before recovery of its amortized cost, the difference between the amortized cost (net of allowance, if any) and the fair value of the securities is recognized as an impairment loss in earnings. The firm did not record any such impairment losses during either 2021 or 2020. Impaired available-for-sale debt securities that the firm has the intent and ability to hold are reviewed to determine if an allowance for credit losses should be recorded. The firm considers various factors in such determination, including market conditions, changes in issuer credit ratings and severity of the unrealized losses. The firm did not record any provision for credit losses on such securities during either 2021 or 2020.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 151

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

The table below presents gross realized gains/(losses) and the proceeds from the sales of available-for-sale securities.

	Year Ended December
$ in millions		2021		2020	2019
Gross realized gains		$      206		$   319	$   181
Gross realized losses		(19	)	0	0
Gains/(losses)		$      187		$   319	$   181
Proceeds from sales		$ 24,882		$4,489	$9,580

In the table above, the realized gains/(losses) were reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss) to other principal transactions in the consolidated statements of earnings.

Fair Value of Investments by Level

The table below presents investments accounted for at fair value by level within the fair value hierarchy.

$ in millions	Level 1	Level 2	Level 3	Total
As of December 2021
Government and agency obligations:
U.S.	$46,322	$         –	$         –	$46,322
Non-U.S.	2,612	–	–	2,612
Corporate debt securities	65	5,201	4,527	9,793
Securities backed by real estate	–	1,202	1,078	2,280
Money market instruments	41	1,355	–	1,396
Other debt obligations	–	35	382	417
Equity securities	2,135	7,088	7,915	17,138
Subtotal	$51,175	$14,881	$13,902	$79,958
Investments in funds at NAV				3,469
Total investments				$83,427
As of December 2020
Government and agency obligations:
U.S.	$43,915	$         –	$         –	$43,915
Non-U.S.	2,109	48	–	2,157
Corporate debt securities	70	5,635	5,286	10,991
Securities backed by real estate	–	942	998	1,940
Money market instruments	781	1,404	–	2,185
Other debt obligations	–	–	497	497
Equity securities	517	7,270	9,642	17,429
Subtotal	$47,392	$15,299	$16,423	$79,114
Investments in funds at NAV				3,664
Total investments				$82,778

See Note 4 for an overview of the firm’s fair value measurement policies and the valuation techniques and significant inputs used to determine the fair value of investments.

Significant Unobservable Inputs

The table below presents the amount of level 3 investments, and ranges and weighted averages of significant unobservable inputs used to value such investments.

	As of December 2021			As of December 2020
$ in millions		Amount or Range	Weighted Average		Amount or Range	Weighted Average
Corporate debt securities
Level 3 assets		$4,527			$5,286
Yield		2.0% to 29.0%	10.8%		4.5% to 19.5%	10.2%
Recovery rate		9.1% to 76.0%	59.1%		10.0% to 70.0%	50.7%
Duration (years)		1.4 to 6.4	3.8		3.0 to 7.7	4.2
Multiples		0.5x to 28.2x	6.9x		0.6x to 29.3x	6.9x
Securities backed by real estate
Level 3 assets		$1,078			$998
Yield		8.3% to 20.3%	13.1%		8.2% to 52.4%	17.5%
Recovery rate		55.1% to 61.0%	56.4%		21.6% to 57.8%	33.7%
Duration (years)		0.1 to 2.6	1.2		0.4 to 3.6	2.7
Other debt obligations
Level 3 assets		$382			$497
Yield		2.3% to 10.6%	3.2%		1.7% to 6.2%	3.5%
Duration (years)		0.9 to 9.3	4.8		0.2 to 10.3	6.4
Equity securities
Level 3 assets		$7,915			$9,642
Multiples		0.4x to 30.5x	10.1x		0.6x to 27.9x	9.0x
Discount rate/yield		2.0% to 35.0%	14.1%		4.0% to 38.5%	13.5%
Capitalization rate		3.5% to 14.0%	5.7%		3.7% to 14.1%	6.3%

In the table above:

• Ranges represent the significant unobservable inputs that were used in the valuation of each type of investment.

• Weighted averages are calculated by weighting each input by the relative fair value of the investment.

• The ranges and weighted averages of these inputs are not representative of the appropriate inputs to use when calculating the fair value of any one investment. For example, the highest multiple for private equity securities is appropriate for valuing a specific private equity security but may not be appropriate for valuing any other private equity security. Accordingly, the ranges of inputs do not represent uncertainty in, or possible ranges of, fair value measurements of level 3 investments.

• Increases in yield, discount rate, capitalization rate or duration used in the valuation of level 3 investments would have resulted in a lower fair value measurement, while increases in recovery rate or multiples would have resulted in a higher fair value measurement as of both December 2021 and December 2020. Due to the distinctive nature of each level 3 investment, the interrelationship of inputs is not necessarily uniform within each product type.

152 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

• Corporate debt securities, securities backed by real estate and other debt obligations are valued using discounted cash flows, and equity securities are valued using market comparables and discounted cash flows.

• The fair value of any one instrument may be determined using multiple valuation techniques. For example, market comparables and discounted cash flows may be used together to determine fair value. Therefore, the level 3 balance encompasses both of these techniques.

Level 3 Rollforward

The table below presents a summary of the changes in fair value for level 3 investments.

	Year Ended December
$ in millions		2021		2020
Beginning balance		$16,423		$15,282
Net realized gains/(losses)		449		215
Net unrealized gains/(losses)		1,263		(443	)
Purchases		1,600		1,815
Sales		(2,135	)	(1,550	)
Settlements		(3,265	)	(1,570	)
Transfers into level 3		3,080		4,708
Transfers out of level 3		(3,513	)	(2,034	)
Ending balance		$13,902		$16,423

In the table above:

• Changes in fair value are presented for all investments that are classified in level 3 as of the end of the period.

• Net unrealized gains/(losses) relates to investments that were still held at period-end.

• Transfers between levels of the fair value hierarchy are reported at the beginning of the reporting period in which they occur. If an investment was transferred to level 3 during a reporting period, its entire gain or loss for the period is classified in level 3.

• For level 3 investments, increases are shown as positive amounts, while decreases are shown as negative amounts.

The table below presents information, by product type, for investments included in the summary table above.

	Year Ended December
$ in millions		2021		2020
Corporate debt securities
Beginning balance		$ 5,286		$  3,465
Net realized gains/(losses)		167		110
Net unrealized gains/(losses)		311		(96	)
Purchases		431		636
Sales		(594	)	(302	)
Settlements		(1,876	)	(678	)
Transfers into level 3		1,871		2,661
Transfers out of level 3		(1,069	)	(510	)
Ending balance		$ 4,527		$  5,286
Securities backed by real estate
Beginning balance		$   998		$     595
Net realized gains/(losses)		45		22
Net unrealized gains/(losses)		6		(96	)
Purchases		182		233
Sales		(44	)	0
Settlements		(234	)	(83	)
Transfers into level 3		142		327
Transfers out of level 3		(17	)	0
Ending balance		$ 1,078		$     998
Other debt obligations
Beginning balance		$   497		$     319
Net realized gains/(losses)		12		15
Net unrealized gains/(losses)		1		1
Purchases		63		113
Settlements		(96	)	(45	)
Transfers into level 3		0		94
Transfers out of level 3		(95	)	0
Ending balance		$   382		$     497
Equity securities
Beginning balance		$ 9,642		$10,903
Net realized gains/(losses)		225		68
Net unrealized gains/(losses)		945		(252	)
Purchases		924		833
Sales		(1,497	)	(1,248	)
Settlements		(1,059	)	(764	)
Transfers into level 3		1,067		1,626
Transfers out of level 3		(2,332	)	(1,524	)
Ending balance		$ 7,915		$  9,642

Level 3 Rollforward Commentary

Year Ended December 2021.

The net realized and unrealized gains on level 3 investments of $1.71 billion (reflecting $449 million of net realized gains and $1.26 billion of net unrealized gains) for 2021 included gains of $1.53 billion reported in other principal transactions and $180 million reported in interest income.

The net unrealized gains on level 3 investments for 2021 primarily reflected gains on certain private equity securities and corporate debt securities (in each case, principally driven by corporate performance and company-specific events).

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 153

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Transfers into level 3 investments during 2021 primarily reflected transfers of certain corporate debt securities from level 2 (principally due to reduced price transparency as a result of a lack of market evidence, including fewer market transactions in these instruments, and certain unobservable yield and duration inputs becoming significant to the valuation of these instruments) and transfers of certain private equity securities from level 2 (principally due to reduced price transparency as a result of a lack of market evidence, including fewer market transactions in these instruments).

Transfers out of level 3 investments during 2021 primarily reflected transfers of certain private equity securities to level 2 (principally due to increased price transparency as a result of market evidence, including market transactions in these instruments) and transfers of certain corporate debt securities to level 2 (principally due to certain unobservable yield and duration inputs no longer being significant to the valuation of these instruments, and increased price transparency as a result of market evidence, including market transactions of these instruments).

Year Ended December 2020.

The net realized and unrealized losses on level 3 investments of $228 million (reflecting $215 million of net realized gains and $443 million of net unrealized losses) for 2020 included losses of $428 million reported in other principal transactions and $200 million reported in interest income.

The net unrealized losses on level 3 investments for 2020 reflected losses on certain private equity, corporate debt securities and securities backed by real estate (in each case, principally driven by corporate performance).

Transfers into level 3 investments during 2020 primarily reflected transfers of certain corporate debt securities from level 2 (principally due to reduced price transparency as a result of a lack of market evidence, including fewer transactions in these instruments, and certain unobservable yield and duration inputs becoming significant to the valuation of these instruments) and transfers of certain private equity securities from level 2 (principally due to reduced price transparency as a result of a lack of market evidence, including fewer transactions in these instruments).

Transfers out of level 3 investments during 2020 primarily reflected transfers of certain private equity securities and corporate debt securities to level 2 (principally due to increased price transparency as a result of market evidence, including market transactions in these instruments).

Held-to-Maturity

Securities

Held-to-maturity

securities are accounted for at amortized cost.

The table below presents information about

held-to-maturity

securities by type and tenor.

$ in millions	Amortized Cost	Fair Value	Weighted Average Yield
As of December 2021
1 year to 5 years	$4,054	$4,200	2.30%
Total U.S. government obligations	4,054	4,200	2.30%
5 years to 10 years	3	3	2.78%
Greater than 10 years	642	670	1.03%
Total securities backed by real estate	645	673	1.04%
Total held-to-maturity securities	$4,699	$4,873	2.13%
As of December 2020
Less than 1 year	$   501	$   513	2.53%
1 year to 5 years	2,529	2,695	2.34%
5 years to 10 years	1,531	1,675	2.25%
Total U.S. government obligations	4,561	4,883	2.33%
5 years to 10 years	4	3	2.56%
Greater than 10 years	736	751	1.08%
Total securities backed by real estate	740	754	1.08%
Total held-to-maturity securities	$5,301	$5,637	2.15%

In the table above:

• Substantially all of the securities backed by real estate consist of securities backed by residential real estate.

• As these securities are not accounted for at fair value, they are not included in the firm’s fair value hierarchy in Notes 4 through 10. Had these securities been included in the firm’s fair value hierarchy, U.S. government obligations would have been classified in level 1 and securities backed by real estate would have been primarily classified in level 2 of the fair value hierarchy as of both December 2021 and December 2020.

• The weighted average yield for held-to-maturity securities is computed using the effective interest rate of each security at the end of the period, weighted based on the amortized cost of each security.

• The gross unrealized gains were $175 million as of December 2021 and $340 million as of December 2020. The gross unrealized losses were 0t material as of both December 2021 and December 2020.

• Held-to-maturity securities are reviewed to determine if an allowance for credit losses should be recorded in the consolidated statements of earnings. The firm considers various factors in such determination, including market conditions, changes in issuer credit ratings, historical credit losses and sovereign guarantees. Provision for credit losses on such securities was not material during either 2021 or 2020.

154 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Note 9.

Loans

Loans include (i) loans held for investment that are accounted for at amortized cost net of allowance for loan losses or at fair value under the fair value option and (ii) loans held for sale that are accounted for at the lower of cost or fair value. Interest on loans is recognized over the life of the loan and is recorded on an accrual basis.

The table below presents information about loans.

$ in millions	Amortized Cost		Fair Value	Held For Sale	Total
As of December 2021
Loan Type
Corporate	$  50,960		$  2,492	$2,475	$  55,927
Wealth management	38,062		5,936	0	43,998
Commercial real estate	21,150		1,588	3,145	25,883
Residential real estate	15,493		320	100	15,913
Consumer:
Installment	3,672		0	0	3,672
Credit cards	8,212		0	0	8,212
Other	5,958		433	2,139	8,530
Total loans, gross	143,507		10,769	7,859	162,135
Allowance for loan losses	(3,573	)	0	0	(3,573	)
Total loans	$139,934		$10,769	$7,859	$158,562
As of December 2020
Loan Type
Corporate	$  44,778		$  2,751	$1,130	$  48,659
Wealth management	25,151		7,872	0	33,023
Commercial real estate	17,096		1,961	1,233	20,290
Residential real estate	5,236		494	20	5,750
Consumer:
Installment	3,823		0	0	3,823
Credit cards	4,270		0	0	4,270
Other	3,211		547	416	4,174
Total loans, gross	103,565		13,625	2,799	119,989
Allowance for loan losses	(3,874	)	0	0	(3,874	)
Total loans	$  99,691		$13,625	$2,799	$116,115

In the table above, loans held for investment that are accounted for at amortized cost include net deferred fees and costs, and unamortized premiums and discounts, which are amortized over the life of the loan. These amounts were less than 1% of loans accounted for at amortized cost as of both December 2021 and December 2020.

The following is a description of the loan types in the table above:

• Corporate. Corporate loans includes term loans, revolving lines of credit, letter of credit facilities and bridge loans, and are principally used for operating and general corporate purposes, or in connection with acquisitions. Corporate loans may be secured or unsecured, depending on the loan purpose, the risk profile of the borrower and other factors.

• Wealth Management. Wealth management loans includes loans extended to private bank clients, including wealth management and other clients. These loans are used to finance investments in both financial and nonfinancial assets, bridge cash flow timing gaps or provide liquidity for other needs. Substantially all of such loans are secured by securities, residential real estate, commercial real estate or other assets.

• Commercial Real Estate. Commercial real estate loans includes originated loans (other than those extended to private bank clients) that are directly or indirectly secured by hotels, retail stores, multifamily housing complexes and commercial and industrial properties. Commercial real estate loans also includes loans extended to clients who warehouse assets that are directly or indirectly backed by commercial real estate. In addition, commercial real estate includes loans purchased by the firm.

• Residential Real Estate. Residential real estate loans primarily includes loans extended by the firm to clients (other than those extended to private bank clients) who warehouse assets that are directly or indirectly secured by residential real estate and loans purchased by the firm.

• Installment. Installment loans are unsecured and are originated by the firm.

• Credit Cards. Credit card loans are loans made pursuant to revolving lines of credit issued to consumers by the firm.

• Other. Other loans primarily includes loans extended to clients who warehouse assets that are directly or indirectly secured by consumer loans, including auto loans and private student loans, and other assets. Other loans also includes unsecured consumer and credit card loans purchased by the firm.

Credit Quality

Risk Assessment.

The firm’s risk assessment process includes evaluating the credit quality of its loans by our independent risk oversight and control function. For corporate loans and a majority of wealth management, real estate and other loans, the firm performs credit reviews which include initial and ongoing analyses of its borrowers, resulting in an internal credit rating. A credit review is an analysis of the capacity and willingness of a borrower to meet its financial obligations and is performed on an annual basis or more frequently if circumstances change that indicate that a review may be necessary. The determination of internal credit ratings also incorporates assumptions with respect to the nature of and outlook for the borrower’s industry and the economic environment.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 155

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

The table below presents gross loans by an internally determined public rating agency equivalent or other credit metrics and the concentration of secured and unsecured loans.

$ in millions	Investment- Grade	Non-Investment- Grade	Other Metrics/ Unrated	Total
As of December 2021
Accounting Method
Amortized cost	$50,923	$75,179	$17,405	$143,507
Fair value	2,301	4,634	3,834	10,769
Held for sale	1,650	4,747	1,462	7,859
Total	$54,874	$84,560	$22,701	$162,135
Loan Type
Corporate	$15,370	$40,389	$    168	$  55,927
Wealth management	31,476	5,730	6,792	43,998
Real estate:
Commercial	3,986	21,523	374	25,883
Residential	1,112	13,779	1,022	15,913
Consumer:
Installment	0	0	3,672	3,672
Credit cards	0	0	8,212	8,212
Other	2,930	3,139	2,461	8,530
Total	$54,874	$84,560	$22,701	$162,135
Secured	85%	92%	36%	82%
Unsecured	15%	8%	64%	18%
Total	100%	100%	100%	100%
As of December 2020
Accounting Method
Amortized cost	$33,532	$58,250	$11,783	$103,565
Fair value	2,084	5,925	5,616	13,625
Held for sale	224	2,152	423	2,799
Total	$35,840	$66,327	$17,822	$119,989
Loan Type
Corporate	$  9,478	$38,704	$     477	$  48,659
Wealth management	22,098	5,331	5,594	33,023
Real estate:
Commercial	1,792	17,480	1,018	20,290
Residential	636	3,852	1,262	5,750
Consumer:
Installment	0	0	3,823	3,823
Credit cards	0	0	4,270	4,270
Other	1,836	960	1,378	4,174
Total	$35,840	$66,327	$17,822	$119,989
Secured	83%	90%	46%	82%
Unsecured	17%	10%	54%	18%
Total	100%	100%	100%	100%

In the table above:

• Wealth management loans included in the other metrics/unrated category primarily consists of loans backed by residential real estate and securities, and real estate loans included in the other metrics/unrated category primarily consists of purchased loans. The firm’s risk assessment process for these loans includes reviewing certain key metrics, such as loan-to-value ratio, delinquency status, collateral values, expected cash flows, the Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO) credit score (which measures a borrower’s creditworthiness by considering factors such as payment and credit history) and other risk factors.

• For installment and credit card loans included in the other metrics/unrated category, the evaluation of credit quality incorporates the borrower’s FICO credit score. FICO credit scores are periodically refreshed by the firm to assess the updated creditworthiness of the borrower. See “Vintage” below for information about installment and credit card loans by FICO credit scores.

The firm also assigns a regulatory risk rating to its loans based on the definitions provided by the U.S. federal bank regulatory agencies. Total loans included 92% of loans as of December 2021 and 85% of loans as of December 2020 that were rated

pass/non-criticized.

156 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Vintage.

The tables below present gross loans accounted for at amortized cost (excluding installment and credit card loans) by an internally determined public rating agency equivalent or other credit metrics and origination year for term loans.

	As of December 2021
$ in millions		Investment- Grade	Non-Investment- Grade	Other Metrics/ Unrated	Total
2021		$  4,687	$10,424	$    52	$  15,163
2020		1,911	4,561	7	6,479
2019		451	3,949	0	4,400
2018		1,842	2,901	0	4,743
2017		733	1,857	0	2,590
2016 or earlier		274	1,693	0	1,967
Revolving		3,800	11,744	74	15,618
Corporate		13,698	37,129	133	50,960
2021		1,405	1,186	1,265	3,856
2020		558	287	0	845
2019		537	352	0	889
2018		334	38	0	372
2017		380	31	0	411
2016 or earlier		565	243	0	808
Revolving		26,349	2,127	2,405	30,881
Wealth management		30,128	4,264	3,670	38,062
2021		334	4,084	94	4,512
2020		127	1,890	0	2,017
2019		52	1,336	0	1,388
2018		207	829	0	1,036
2017		398	624	0	1,022
2016 or earlier		405	583	7	995
Revolving		1,768	8,412	0	10,180
Commercial real estate		3,291	17,758	101	21,150
2021		113	1,944	253	2,310
2020		260	557	103	920
2019		0	0	173	173
2018		0	84	165	249
2017		8	65	119	192
2016 or earlier		0	1	56	57
Revolving		673	10,919	0	11,592
Residential real estate		1,054	13,570	869	15,493
2021		0	694	261	955
2020		0	59	378	437
2019		0	25	19	44
2018		0	30	0	30
2017		0	5	8	13
Revolving		2,752	1,645	82	4,479
Other		2,752	2,458	748	5,958
Total		$50,923	$75,179	$5,521	$131,623
Percentage of total		39%	57%	4%	100%

	As of December 2020
$ in millions		Investment- Grade	Non-Investment- Grade	Other Metrics/ Unrated	Total
2020		$  1,978	$  7,545	$   140	$  9,663
2019		889	6,106	0	6,995
2018		2,076	3,555	0	5,631
2017		851	3,083	0	3,934
2016		268	1,262	0	1,530
2015 or earlier		351	2,073	0	2,424
Revolving		2,662	11,891	48	14,601
Corporate		9,075	35,515	188	44,778
2020		497	313	0	810
2019		723	403	0	1,126
2018		298	87	0	385
2017		377	30	0	407
2016		22	20	0	42
2015 or earlier		531	264	0	795
Revolving		18,077	2,085	1,424	21,586
Wealth management		20,525	3,202	1,424	25,151
2020		848	3,071	55	3,974
2019		76	1,965	0	2,041
2018		137	2,164	25	2,326
2017		26	1,734	12	1,772
2016		0	165	9	174
2015 or earlier		0	775	526	1,301
Revolving		461	5,047	0	5,508
Commercial real estate		1,548	14,921	627	17,096
2020		402	976	115	1,493
2019		0	90	271	361
2018		0	123	249	372
2017		9	83	152	244
2016		0	1	0	1
2015 or earlier		0	0	70	70
Revolving		225	2,470	0	2,695
Residential real estate		636	3,743	857	5,236
2020		242	84	466	792
2019		0	67	29	96
2018		0	46	0	46
2017		0	8	0	8
Revolving		1,506	664	99	2,269
Other		1,748	869	594	3,211
Total		$33,532	$58,250	$3,690	$95,472
Percentage of total		35%	61%	4%	100%

In the tables above, revolving loans which converted to term loans were not material as of both December 2021 and December 2020.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 157

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

The table below presents gross installment loans by refreshed FICO credit scores and origination year and gross credit card loans by refreshed FICO credit scores.

$ in millions	Greater than or equal to 660	Less than 660	Total
As of December 2021
2021	$2,017	$    42	$  2,059
2020	665	40	705
2019	508	61	569
2018	257	42	299
2017	32	7	39
2016	1	0	1
Installment	3,480	192	3,672
Credit cards	6,100	2,112	8,212
Total	$9,580	$2,304	$11,884
Percentage of total:
Installment	95%	5%	100%
Credit cards	74%	26%	100%
Total	81%	19%	100%
As of December 2020
2020	$1,321	$     38	$  1,359
2019	1,225	132	1,357
2018	792	150	942
2017	128	30	158
2016	6	1	7
Installment	3,472	351	3,823
Credit cards	3,398	872	4,270
Total	$6,870	$1,223	$  8,093
Percentage of total:
Installment	91%	9%	100%
Credit cards	80%	20%	100%
Total	85%	15%	100%

In the table above, credit card loans consist of revolving lines of credit.

Credit Concentrations.

The table below presents the concentration of gross loans by region.

$ in millions	Carrying Value	Americas	EMEA	Asia	Total
As of December 2021
Corporate	$  55,927	54%	38%	8%	100%
Wealth management	43,998	87%	10%	3%	100%
Commercial real estate	25,883	80%	15%	5%	100%
Residential real estate	15,913	95%	2%	3%	100%
Consumer:
Installment	3,672	100%	–	–	100%
Credit cards	8,212	100%	–	–	100%
Other	8,530	84%	15%	1%	100%
Total	$162,135	76%	19%	5%	100%
As of December 2020
Corporate	$  48,659	60%	31%	9%	100%
Wealth management	33,023	88%	10%	2%	100%
Commercial real estate	20,290	71%	19%	10%	100%
Residential real estate	5,750	88%	9%	3%	100%
Consumer:
Installment	3,823	100%	–	–	100%
Credit cards	4,270	100%	–	–	100%
Other	4,174	81%	17%	2%	100%
Total	$119,989	75%	19%	6%	100%

In the table above:

• EMEA represents Europe, Middle East and Africa.

• The top five industry concentrations for corporate loans as of December 2021 were 21% for funds (13% as of December 2020), 18% for technology, media & telecommunications (17% as of December 2020), 13% for diversified industrials (17% as of December 2020), 9% for natural resources & utilities (12% as of December 2020), and 8% for financial institutions (10% as of December 2020).

Nonaccrual and Past Due Loans.

Loans accounted for at amortized cost (other than credit card loans) are placed on nonaccrual status when it is probable that the firm will not collect all principal and interest due under the contractual terms, regardless of the delinquency status or if a loan is past due for 90 days or more, unless the loan is both well collateralized and in the process of collection. At that time, all accrued but uncollected interest is reversed against interest income and interest subsequently collected is recognized on a cash basis to the extent the loan balance is deemed collectible. Otherwise, all cash received is used to reduce the outstanding loan balance. A loan is considered past due when a principal or interest payment has not been made according to its contractual terms. Credit card loans are not placed on nonaccrual status and accrue interest until the loan is paid in full or is charged off.

In certain circumstances, the firm may modify the original terms of a loan agreement by granting a concession to a borrower experiencing financial difficulty, typically in the form of a modification of loan covenants, but may also include forbearance of interest or principal, payment extensions or interest rate reductions. These modifications, to the extent significant, are considered troubled debt restructurings (TDRs). Loan modifications that extend payment terms for a period of less than 90 days are generally considered insignificant and therefore not reported as TDRs.

The firm adopted the relief issued under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), as amended, and certain interpretive guidance issued by the U.S. banking agencies that provides for certain modified loans that would otherwise meet the definition of a TDR to not be classified as such. Loans accounted for at amortized cost that were not classified as TDRs as a result of this relief and interpretive guidance were $166 million as of December 2021 and were $184 million as of December 2020. The relief provided under the CARES Act expired in January 2022.

158 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

The table below presents information about past due loans.

$ in millions	30-89 days	90 days or more	Total
As of December 2021
Corporate	$    5	$  90	$  95
Wealth management	0	20	20
Commercial real estate	7	143	150
Residential real estate	3	4	7
Consumer:
Installment	20	7	27
Credit cards	86	71	157
Other	15	3	18
Total	$136	$338	$474
Total divided by gross loans at amortized cost			0.3%
As of December 2020
Corporate	$    0	$294	$294
Wealth management	58	34	92
Commercial real estate	49	183	232
Residential real estate	4	23	27
Consumer:
Installment	42	16	58
Credit cards	46	31	77
Other	20	4	24
Total	$219	$585	$804
Total divided by gross loans at amortized cost			0.8%

The table below presents information about nonaccrual loans.

	As of December
$ in millions		2021	2020
Corporate		$1,559	$2,651
Wealth management		21	61
Commercial real estate		841	649
Residential real estate		5	25
Installment		43	44
Other		0	122
Total		$2,469	$3,552
Total divided by gross loans at amortized cost		1.7%	3.4%

In the table above:

• Nonaccrual loans included $254 million as of December 2021 and $533 million as of December 2020 of loans that were 30 days or more past due.

• Loans that were 90 days or more past due and still accruing were not material as of both December 2021 and December 2020.

• Nonaccrual loans included $267 million as of December 2021 and $315 million as of December 2020 of corporate and commercial real estate loans that were modified in a TDR. The firm’s lending commitments related to these loans were not material as of both December 2021 and December 2020. Installment loans that were modified in a TDR were not material as of both December 2021 and December 2020.

• Allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total nonaccrual loans was 144.7% as of December 2021 and 109.1% as of December 2020.

Allowance for Credit Losses

The firm’s allowance for credit losses consists of the allowance for losses on loans and lending commitments accounted for at amortized cost. Loans and lending commitments accounted for at fair value or accounted for at the lower of cost or fair value are not subject to an allowance for credit losses.

To determine the allowance for credit losses, the firm classifies its loans and lending commitments accounted for at amortized cost into wholesale and consumer portfolios. These portfolios represent the level at which the firm has developed and documented its methodology to determine the allowance for credit losses. The allowance for credit losses is measured on a collective basis for loans that exhibit similar risk characteristics using a modeled approach and asset-specific basis for loans that do not share similar risk characteristics.

The allowance for credit losses takes into account the weighted average of a range of forecasts of future economic conditions over the expected life of the loan and lending commitments. The expected life of each loan or lending commitment is determined based on the contractual term adjusted for extension options or demand features, or is modeled in the case of revolving credit card loans. The forecasts include baseline, favorable and adverse economic scenarios over a three-year period. For loans with expected lives beyond three years, the model reverts to historical loss information based on a

non-linear

modeled approach. The forecasted economic scenarios consider a number of risk factors relevant to the wholesale and consumer portfolios described below. The firm applies judgment in weighing individual scenarios each quarter based on a variety of factors, including the firm’s internally derived economic outlook, market consensus, recent macroeconomic conditions and industry trends.

The allowance for credit losses also includes qualitative components which allow management to reflect the uncertain nature of economic forecasting, capture uncertainty regarding model inputs, and account for model imprecision and concentration risk.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 159

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Management’s estimate of credit losses entails judgment about loan collectability at the reporting dates, and there are uncertainties inherent in those judgments. The allowance for credit losses is subject to a governance process that involves review and approval by senior management within the firm’s independent risk oversight and control functions. Personnel within the firm’s independent risk oversight and control functions are responsible for forecasting the economic variables that underlie the economic scenarios that are used in the modeling of expected credit losses. While management uses the best information available to determine this estimate, future adjustments to the allowance may be necessary based on, among other things, changes in the economic environment or variances between actual results and the original assumptions used.

The table below presents gross loans and lending commitments accounted for at amortized cost by portfolio.

	As of December
	2021			2020
$ in millions		Loans	Lending Commitments		Loans	Lending Commitments
Wholesale
Corporate		$  50,960	$143,296		$  44,778	$127,756
Wealth management		38,062	4,091		25,151	2,314
Commercial real estate		21,150	4,306		17,096	4,154
Residential real estate		15,493	3,317		5,236	1,804
Other		5,958	6,169		3,211	4,841
Consumer
Installment		3,672	9		3,823	4
Credit cards		8,212	35,932		4,270	21,640
Total		$143,507	$197,120		$103,565	$162,513

In the table above:

• Wholesale loans included $2.43 billion as of December 2021 and $3.51 billion as of December 2020 of nonaccrual loans for which the allowance for credit losses was measured on an asset-specific basis. The allowance for credit losses on these loans was $543 million as of December 2021 and $649 million as of December 2020. These loans included $140 million as of December 2021 and $584 million as of December 2020 of loans which did not require a reserve as the loan was deemed to be recoverable.

• Credit card lending commitments included $33.97 billion as of December 2021 and $21.64 billion as of December 2020 related to credit card lines issued by the firm to consumers. These credit card lines are cancellable by the firm. Credit card lending commitments also included approximately $2.0 billion as of December 2021 related to a commitment to acquire the General Motors co-branded credit card portfolio.

See Note 18 for further information about lending commitments.

The following is a description of the methodology used to calculate the allowance for credit losses:

Wholesale.

The allowance for credit losses for wholesale loans and lending commitments that exhibit similar risk characteristics is measured using a modeled approach. These models determine the probability of default and loss given default based on various risk factors, including internal credit ratings, industry default and loss data, expected life, macroeconomic indicators, the borrower’s capacity to meet its financial obligations, the borrower’s country of risk and industry, loan seniority and collateral type. For lending commitments, the methodology also considers probability of drawdowns or funding. In addition, for loans backed by real estate, risk factors include the loan-to-value ratio, debt service ratio and home price index. The most significant inputs to the forecast model for wholesale loans and lending commitments include unemployment rates, GDP, credit spreads, commercial and industrial delinquency rates, short- and long-term interest rates, and oil prices.

The allowance for loan losses for wholesale loans that do not share similar risk characteristics, such as nonaccrual loans or loans in a TDR, is calculated using the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s original effective rate, the observable market price of the loan or the fair value of the collateral.

Wholesale loans are charged off against the allowance for loan losses when deemed to be uncollectible.

Consumer.

The allowance for credit losses for consumer loans that exhibit similar risk characteristics is calculated using a modeled approach which classifies consumer loans into pools based on borrower-related and exposure-related characteristics that differentiate a pool’s risk characteristics from other pools. The factors considered in determining a pool are generally consistent with the risk characteristics used for internal credit risk measurement and management and include key metrics, such as FICO credit scores, delinquency status, loan vintage and macroeconomic indicators. The most significant inputs to the forecast model for consumer loans include unemployment rates and delinquency rates. The expected life of revolving credit card loans is determined by modeling expected future draws and the timing and amount of repayments allocated to the funded balance. The firm also recognizes an allowance for credit losses on commitments to acquire loans. However, no allowance for credit losses is recognized on credit card lending commitments as they are cancellable by the firm.

160 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

The allowance for credit losses for consumer loans that do not share similar risk characteristics, such as loans in a TDR, is calculated using the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s original effective rate.

Installment loans are charged off when they are 120 days past due. Credit card loans are charged off when they are 180 days past due.

Allowance for Credit Losses Rollforward

The table below presents information about the allowance for credit losses.

$ in millions	Wholesale		Consumer		Total
Year Ended December 2021
Allowance for loan losses
Beginning balance	$2,584		$1,290		$3,874
Net charge-offs	(130	)	(203	)	(333	)
Provision	(231	)	351		120
Other	(88	)	0		(88	)
Ending balance	$2,135		$1,438		$3,573
Allowance ratio	1.6%		12.1%		2.5%
Net charge-off ratio	0.1%		2.3%		0.3%
Allowance for losses on lending commitments
Beginning balance	$  557		$      0		$     557
Provision	50		187		237
Other	(18	)	0		(18	)
Ending balance	$  589		$  187		$     776
Year Ended December 2020
Allowance for loan losses
Beginning balance	$1,331		$  837		$2,168
Net charge-offs	(615	)	(292	)	(907	)
Provision	2,108		745		2,853
Other	(240	)	0		(240	)
Ending balance	$2,584		$1,290		$3,874
Allowance ratio	2.7%		15.9%		3.7%
Net charge-off ratio	0.6%		4.2%		0.9%
Allowance for losses on lending commitments
Beginning balance	$  313		$      0		$  313
Provision	244		0		244
Ending balance	$  557		$      0		$  557

In the table above:

• Other primarily represents the reduction to the allowance related to loans and lending commitments transferred to held for sale.

• The allowance ratio is calculated by dividing the allowance for loan losses by gross loans accounted for at amortized cost.

• The net charge-off ratio is calculated by dividing net charge-offs by average gross loans accounted for at amortized cost.

• The beginning balance for the allowance for loan losses and allowance for losses on lending commitments for 2020 reflects the cumulative effect of measuring the allowance under the CECL standard as of January 1, 2020. The cumulative effect was an increase in the allowance for credit losses of $679 million, which consisted of (i) an increase in the allowance for loan losses of $727 million (an increase in the allowance for wholesale loans of $452 million, an increase in the allowance for consumer loans of $444 million and a decrease in the allowance for PCI loans of $169 million) and (ii) a decrease in the allowance for lending commitments of $48 million.

Allowance for Credit Losses Commentary

Year Ended December 2021.

The allowance for credit losses decreased by $82 million during 2021.

The provision for credit losses reflected growth in the firm’s lending portfolios, primarily in the consumer portfolio related to credit cards, including a provision for credit losses of approximately

$185million relating to the commitment to acquire the General Motors

co-branded

credit card portfolio, largely offset by reserve reduction driven by improved broader economic environment.

Net charge-offs for 2021 for wholesale loans were primarily related to corporate loans and net charge-offs for consumer loans were primarily related to credit cards.

Forecast model inputs as of December 2021.

When modeling expected credit losses, the firm employs a weighted, multi-scenario forecast, which includes baseline, adverse and favorable economic scenarios. As of December 2021, this multi-scenario forecast was primarily weighted towards the baseline economic scenario.

The table below presents the forecasted U.S. unemployment and U.S. GDP growth rates used in the baseline economic scenario of the forecast model.

	As of December 2021
U.S. unemployment rate
Forecast for the quarter ended:
June 2022	3.7%
December 2022	3.5%
June 2023	3.4%
Growth in U.S. GDP
Forecast for the year:
2022	3.4%
2023	2.1%
2024	1.8%

In addition, in the adverse economic scenario in the firm’s forecast model, the U.S. unemployment rate peaks at

approximately 9.5%

during the first quarter of 2023 and the maximum decline in the quarterly U.S. GDP relative to the fourth quarter of 2021 is

approximately 2.5%

, which occurs during the first quarter of 2023.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 161

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

In the table above:

• U.S. unemployment rate represents the rate forecasted as of the respective quarter-end.

• Growth in U.S. GDP represents the year-over-year growth rate forecasted for the respective years.

• While the U.S. unemployment and U.S. GDP growth rates are significant inputs to the forecast model, the model contemplates a variety of other inputs across a range of scenarios to provide a forecast of future economic conditions. Given the complex nature of the forecasting process, no single economic variable can be viewed in isolation and independently of other inputs.

Year Ended December 2020.

The allowance for credit losses increased by $2.63 billion during 2020 reflecting $679 million relating to the impact of CECL adoption and $1.95 billion from activity during the period.

The provision for credit losses for wholesale and consumer loans reflected the impact of the coronavirus

(COVID-19)

pandemic on economic conditions, which resulted in higher modeled expected losses and lower recoveries. In addition, the provision for credit losses for wholesale loans was impacted by asset-specific provisions and ratings downgrades primarily related to borrowers in the diversified industrials, technology, media & telecommunications and natural resources industries. Besides the weaker economic outlook related to the

COVID-19

pandemic, the provision for credit losses for consumer loans for 2020 was also impacted by the growth of the credit card portfolio.

Net charge-offs for 2020 for wholesale loans were primarily related to corporate loans and net charge-offs for consumer loans were primarily related to installment loans.

Fair Value of Loans by Level

The table below presents loans held for investment accounted for at fair value under the fair value option by level within the fair value hierarchy.

$ in millions	Level 1	Level 2	Level 3	Total
As of December 2021
Loan Type
Corporate	$  0	$  1,655	$  837	$  2,492
Wealth management	0	5,873	63	5,936
Commercial real estate	0	605	983	1,588
Residential real estate	0	115	205	320
Other	0	167	266	433
Total	$  0	$  8,415	$2,354	$10,769
As of December 2020
Loan Type
Corporate	$  0	$  1,822	$  929	$  2,751
Wealth management	0	7,809	63	7,872
Commercial real estate	0	857	1,104	1,961
Residential real estate	0	234	260	494
Other	0	225	322	547
Total	$  0	$10,947	$2,678	$13,625

The gains as a result of changes in the fair value of loans held for investment for which the fair value option was elected were $216 million for 2021 and $151 million for 2020. These gains were included in other principal transactions.

See Note 4 for an overview of the firm’s fair value measurement policies and the valuation techniques and significant inputs used to determine the fair value of loans.

Significant Unobservable Inputs

The table below presents the amount of level 3 loans, and ranges and weighted averages of significant unobservable inputs used to value such loans.

	As of December 2021			As of December 2020
$ in millions		Amount or Range	Weighted Average		Amount or Range	Weighted Average
Corporate
Level 3 assets		$837			$929
Yield		1.5% to 55.6%	14.9%		1.1% to 45.2%	12.4%
Recovery rate		15.0% to 92.0%	40.8%		15.0% to 58.0%	31.0%
Duration (years)		0.9 to 6.8	2.7		1.5 to 5.3	3.4
Commercial real estate
Level 3 assets		$983			$1,104
Yield		3.2% to 18.7%	12.6%		4.5% to 19.3%	11.0%
Recovery rate		4.1% to 99.5%	41.4%		3.0% to 99.8%	66.5%
Duration (years)		0.4 to 4.0	1.7		0.3 to 4.8	2.6
Residential real estate
Level 3 assets		$205			$260
Yield		2.1% to 20.0%	16.1%		2.0% to 14.0%	12.1%
Duration (years)		0.1 to 2.4	1.0		0.6 to 2.6	1.7
Wealth management and other
Level 3 assets		$329			$385
Yield		3.6% to 18.7%	7.1%		2.8% to 18.7%	8.0%
Duration (years)		2.9 to 5.5	3.6		0.9 to 5.5	4.1

162 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

In the table above:

• Ranges represent the significant unobservable inputs that were used in the valuation of each type of loan.

• Weighted averages are calculated by weighting each input by the relative fair value of the loan.

• The ranges and weighted averages of these inputs are not representative of the appropriate inputs to use when calculating the fair value of any one loan. For example, the highest yield for residential real estate loans is appropriate for valuing a specific residential real estate loan but may not be appropriate for valuing any other residential real estate loan. Accordingly, the ranges of inputs do not represent uncertainty in, or possible ranges of, fair value measurements of level 3 loans.

• Increases in yield or duration used in the valuation of level 3 loans would have resulted in a lower fair value measurement, while increases in recovery rate would have resulted in a higher fair value measurement as of both December 2021 and December 2020. Due to the distinctive nature of each level 3 loan, the interrelationship of inputs is not necessarily uniform within each product type.

• Loans are valued using discounted cash flows.

Level 3 Rollforward

The table below presents a summary of the changes in fair value for level 3 loans.

	Year Ended December
$ in millions		2021		2020
Beginning balance		$2,678		$1,890
Net realized gains/(losses)		99		72
Net unrealized gains/(losses)		(33	)	87
Purchases		272		670
Sales		(54	)	(50	)
Settlements		(668	)	(727	)
Transfers into level 3		369		836
Transfers out of level 3		(309	)	(100	)
Ending balance		$2,354		$2,678

In the table above:

• Changes in fair value are presented for loans that are classified in level 3 as of the end of the period.

• Net unrealized gains/(losses) relates to loans that were still held at period-end.

• Purchases includes originations and secondary purchases.

• Transfers between levels of the fair value hierarchy are reported at the beginning of the reporting period in which they occur. If a loan was transferred to level 3 during a reporting period, its entire gain or loss for the period is classified in level 3.

The table below presents information, by loan type, for loans included in the summary table above.

	Year Ended December
$ in millions		2021		2020
Corporate
Beginning balance		$  929		$  752
Net realized gains/(losses)		31		22
Net unrealized gains/(losses)		(34	)	(22	)
Purchases		143		277
Sales		(15	)	(38	)
Settlements		(251	)	(125	)
Transfers into level 3		127		163
Transfers out of level 3		(93	)	(100	)
Ending balance		$  837		$  929
Commercial real estate
Beginning balance		$1,104		$  591
Net realized gains/(losses)		45		24
Net unrealized gains/(losses)		(21	)	60
Purchases		20		334
Sales		(6	)	(5	)
Settlements		(292	)	(366	)
Transfers into level 3		185		466
Transfers out of level 3		(52	)	0
Ending balance		$  983		$1,104
Residential real estate
Beginning balance		$  260		$  221
Net realized gains/(losses)		12		13
Net unrealized gains/(losses)		(41	)	10
Purchases		58		48
Sales		(4	)	(2	)
Settlements		(61	)	(78	)
Transfers into level 3		57		48
Transfers out of level 3		(76	)	0
Ending balance		$  205		$  260
Wealth management and other
Beginning balance		$  385		$  326
Net realized gains/(losses)		11		13
Net unrealized gains/(losses)		63		39
Purchases		51		11
Sales		(29	)	(5	)
Settlements		(64	)	(158	)
Transfers into level 3		0		159
Transfers out of level 3		(88	)	0
Ending balance		$  329		$  385

Level 3 Rollforward Commentary

Year Ended December 2021.

The net realized and unrealized gains on level 3 loans of $66 million (reflecting $99 million of net realized gains and $33 million of net unrealized losses) for 2021 included gains of $42 million reported in other principal transactions and $24 million reported in interest income.

The drivers of the net unrealized losses on level 3 loans for 2021 were not material.

Transfers into level 3 loans during 2021 primarily reflected transfers of certain loans backed by commercial real estate from level 2 (principally due to certain unobservable yield and duration inputs becoming significant to the valuation of these instruments) and transfers of certain corporate loans from level 2 (principally due to reduced price transparency as a result of a lack of market evidence, including fewer market transactions in these instruments).

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 163

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Transfers out of level 3 loans during 2021 primarily reflected transfers of certain corporate loans and wealth management and other loans to level 2 (in each case, principally due to increased price transparency as a result of market evidence, including market transactions in these instruments).

Year Ended December 2020.

The net realized and unrealized gains on level 3 loans of $159 million (reflecting $72 million of net realized gains and $87 million of net unrealized gains) for 2020 included gains of $135 million reported in other principal transactions and $24 million reported in interest income.

The drivers of the net unrealized gains on level 3 loans for 2020 were not material.

Transfers into level 3 loans during 2020 reflected transfers of certain loans backed by commercial real estate, corporate loans, and wealth management and other loans from level 2 (in each case, principally due to reduced price transparency as a result of a lack of market evidence, including fewer market transactions in these instruments).

Transfers out of level 3 loans during 2020 reflected transfers of certain corporate loans to level 2 (principally due to duration and yield inputs no longer being significant to the valuation of these loans and increased price transparency as a result of increased market evidence, including market transactions in these instruments).

Estimated Fair Value

The table below presents the estimated fair value of loans that are not accounted for at fair value and in what level of the fair value hierarchy they would have been classified if they had been included in the firm’s fair value hierarchy.

	Carrying Value		Estimated Fair Value
$ in millions				Level 2	Level 3	Total
As of December 2021
Amortized cost		$139,934		$87,676	$54,127	$141,803
Held for sale		$    7,859		$  5,970	$  1,917	$    7,887
As of December 2020
Amortized cost		$  99,691		$52,793	$48,512	$101,305
Held for sale		$    2,799		$  1,541	$  1,271	$    2,812

Note 10.

Fair Value Option

Other Financial Assets and Liabilities at Fair Value

In addition to trading assets and liabilities, and certain investments and loans, the firm accounts for certain of its other financial assets and liabilities at fair value, substantially all under the fair value option. The primary reasons for electing the fair value option are to:

• Reflect economic events in earnings on a timely basis;

• Mitigate volatility in earnings from using different measurement attributes (e.g., transfers of financial assets accounted for as financings are recorded at fair value, whereas the related secured financing would be recorded on an accrual basis absent electing the fair value option); and

• Address simplification and cost-benefit considerations (e.g., accounting for hybrid financial instruments at fair value in their entirety versus bifurcation of embedded derivatives and hedge accounting for debt hosts).

Hybrid financial instruments are instruments that contain bifurcatable embedded derivatives and do not require settlement by physical delivery of nonfinancial assets (e.g., physical commodities). If the firm elects to bifurcate the embedded derivative from the associated debt, the derivative is accounted for at fair value and the host contract is accounted for at amortized cost, adjusted for the effective portion of any fair value hedges. If the firm does not elect to bifurcate, the entire hybrid financial instrument is accounted for at fair value under the fair value option.

Other financial assets and liabilities accounted for at fair value under the fair value option include:

• Resale and repurchase agreements;

• Certain securities borrowed and loaned transactions;

• Certain customer and other receivables and certain other liabilities;

• Certain time deposits (deposits with no stated maturity are not eligible for a fair value option election), including structured certificates of deposit, which are hybrid financial instruments;

• Substantially all other secured financings, including transfers of assets accounted for as financings; and

• Certain unsecured short- and long-term borrowings, substantially all of which are hybrid financial instruments.

164 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Fair Value of Other Financial Assets and Liabilities by Level

The table below presents, by level within the fair value hierarchy, other financial assets and liabilities at fair value, substantially all of which are accounted for at fair value under the fair value option.

$ in millions	Level 1	Level 2		Level 3		Total
As of December 2021
Assets
Resale agreements	$  –	$ 205,703		$         –		$ 205,703
Securities borrowed	–	39,955		–		39,955
Customer and other receivables	–	42		–		42
Total	$  –	$ 245,700		$         –		$ 245,700
Liabilities
Deposits	$  –	$  (31,812	)	$  (3,613	)	$  (35,425	)
Repurchase agreements	–	(165,883	)	–		(165,883	)
Securities loaned	–	(9,170	)	–		(9,170	)
Other secured financings	–	(14,508	)	(2,566	)	(17,074	)
Unsecured borrowings:
Short-term	–	(22,003	)	(7,829	)	(29,832	)
Long-term	–	(42,977	)	(9,413	)	(52,390	)
Other liabilities	–	(213	)	(146	)	(359	)
Total	$  –	$(286,566	)	$(23,567	)	$(310,133	)
As of December 2020
Assets
Resale agreements	$  –	$108,060		$         –		$108,060
Securities borrowed	–	28,898		–		28,898
Customer and other receivables	–	82		–		82
Total	$  –	$137,040		$         –		$137,040
Liabilities
Deposits	$  –	$(11,955	)	$(4,221	)	$  (16,176	)
Repurchase agreements	–	(126,569	)	(2	)	(126,571	)
Securities loaned	–	(1,053	)	–		(1,053	)
Other secured financings	–	(20,652	)	(3,474	)	(24,126	)
Unsecured borrowings:
Short-term	–	(19,227	)	(7,523	)	(26,750	)
Long-term	–	(28,335	)	(12,576	)	(40,911	)
Other liabilities	–	(1	)	(262	)	(263	)
Total	$  –	$(207,792	)	$(28,058	)	$(235,850	)

In the table above, other financial assets are shown as positive amounts and other financial liabilities are shown as negative amounts.

See Note 4 for an overview of the firm’s fair value measurement policies and the valuation techniques and significant inputs used to determine the fair value of other financial assets and liabilities.

Significant Unobservable Inputs

See below for information about the significant unobservable inputs used to value level 3 other financial assets and liabilities at fair value as of both December 2021 and December 2020.

Other Secured Financings.

The ranges and weighted averages of significant unobservable inputs used to value level 3 other secured financings are presented below. These ranges and weighted averages exclude unobservable inputs that are only relevant to a single instrument, and therefore are not meaningful.

As of December 2021:

• Yield: 1.3% to 6.4% (weighted average: 2.1%)

• Duration: 0.6 to 7.1 years (weighted average: 3.7 years)

As of December 2020:

• Yield: 1.4% to 7.1% (weighted average: 2.7%)

• Duration: 1.4 to 8.0 years (weighted average: 4.0 years)

Generally, increases in yield or duration, in isolation, would have resulted in a lower fair value measurement as of

period-end.

Due to the distinctive nature of each of level 3 other secured financings, the interrelationship of inputs is not necessarily uniform across such financings. See Note 11 for further information about other secured financings.

Deposits, Unsecured Borrowings and Other Liabilities.

Substantially all of the firm’s deposits, unsecured short- and long-term borrowings, and other liabilities that are classified in level 3 are hybrid financial instruments. As the significant unobservable inputs used to value hybrid financial instruments primarily relate to the embedded derivative component of these deposits, unsecured borrowings and other liabilities, these unobservable inputs are incorporated in the firm’s derivative disclosures in Note 7. See Note 13 for further information about deposits, Note 14 for further information about unsecured borrowings and Note 15 for further information about other liabilities.

Repurchase Agreements.

As of December 2021, the firm had no level 3 repurchase agreements. As of December 2020, the firm’s level 3 repurchase agreements were not material.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 165

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Level 3 Rollforward

The table below presents a summary of the changes in fair value for level 3 other financial liabilities accounted for at fair value.

	Year Ended December
$ in millions		2021		2020
Beginning balance		$(28,058	)	$(21,036	)
Net realized gains/(losses)		(401	)	(317	)
Net unrealized gains/(losses)		825		(1,301	)
Issuances		(12,632	)	(18,123	)
Settlements		14,930		15,373
Transfers into level 3		(736	)	(3,575	)
Transfers out of level 3		2,505		921
Ending balance		$(23,567	)	$(28,058	)

In the table above:

• Changes in fair value are presented for all other financial liabilities that are classified in level 3 as of the end of the period.

• Net unrealized gains/(losses) relates to other financial liabilities that were still held at period-end.

• Transfers between levels of the fair value hierarchy are reported at the beginning of the reporting period in which they occur. If a financial liability was transferred to level 3 during a reporting period, its entire gain or loss for the period is classified in level 3.

• For level 3 other financial liabilities, increases are shown as negative amounts, while decreases are shown as positive amounts.

• Level 3 other financial liabilities are frequently economically hedged with trading assets and liabilities. Accordingly, gains or losses that are classified in level 3 can be partially offset by gains or losses attributable to level 1, 2 or 3 trading assets and liabilities. As a result, gains or losses included in the level 3 rollforward below do not necessarily represent the overall impact on the firm’s results of operations, liquidity or capital resources.

The table below presents information, by the consolidated balance sheet line items, for liabilities included in the summary table above.

	Year Ended December
$ in millions		2021		2020
Deposits
Beginning balance		$  (4,221	)	$  (4,023	)
Net realized gains/(losses)		(28	)	1
Net unrealized gains/(losses)		(110	)	(319	)
Issuances		(473	)	(4,049	)
Settlements		1,203		4,168
Transfers into level 3		(70	)	(57	)
Transfers out of level 3		86		58
Ending balance		$  (3,613	)	$  (4,221	)
Repurchase agreements
Beginning balance		$        (2	)	$       (30	)
Net unrealized gains/(losses)		1		(2	)
Settlements		1		30
Ending balance		$        –		$         (2	)
Other secured financings
Beginning balance		$  (3,474	)	$     (386	)
Net realized gains/(losses)		(27	)	13
Net unrealized gains/(losses)		63		(142	)
Issuances		(145	)	(1,195	)
Settlements		779		368
Transfers into level 3		(135	)	(2,132	)
Transfers out of level 3		373		–
Ending balance		$  (2,566	)	$  (3,474	)
Unsecured short-term borrowings
Beginning balance		$  (7,523	)	$  (5,707	)
Net realized gains/(losses)		(134	)	(132	)
Net unrealized gains/(losses)		374		(215	)
Issuances		(7,878	)	(6,634	)
Settlements		7,188		5,029
Transfers into level 3		(163	)	(629	)
Transfers out of level 3		307		765
Ending balance		$  (7,829	)	$  (7,523	)
Unsecured long-term borrowings
Beginning balance		$(12,576	)	$(10,741	)
Net realized gains/(losses)		(212	)	(229	)
Net unrealized gains/(losses)		381		(510	)
Issuances		(4,136	)	(6,215	)
Settlements		5,759		5,778
Transfers into level 3		(368	)	(757	)
Transfers out of level 3		1,739		98
Ending balance		$  (9,413	)	$(12,576	)
Other liabilities
Beginning balance		$    (262	)	$     (149	)
Net realized gains/(losses)		–		30
Net unrealized gains/(losses)		116		(113	)
Issuances		–		(30	)
Ending balance		$    (146	)	$     (262	)

Level 3 Rollforward Commentary

Year Ended December 2021.

The net realized and unrealized gains on level 3 other financial liabilities of $424 million (reflecting $401 million of net realized losses and $825 million of net unrealized gains) for 2021 included gains/(losses) of $355 million reported in market making, $32 million reported in other principal transactions and $(20) million reported in interest expense in the consolidated statements of earnings, and $57 million reported in debt valuation adjustment in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

166 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

The net unrealized gains on level 3 other financial liabilities for 2021 primarily reflected gains on certain hybrid financial instruments included in unsecured long- and short-term borrowings (principally due to an increase in interest rates).

Transfers into level 3 other financial liabilities during 2021 primarily reflected transfers of certain hybrid financial instruments included in unsecured long- and short-term borrowings from level 2 (principally due to reduced price transparency of certain volatility and correlation inputs used to value these instruments) and certain other secured financings from level 2 (principally due to reduced price transparency of certain yield and duration inputs used to value these instruments).

Transfers out of level 3 other financial liabilities during 2021 primarily reflected transfers of certain hybrid financial instruments included in unsecured long- and short-term borrow

in

gs to level 2 (principally due to increased price transparency of certain volatility and correlation inputs used to value these instruments, and certain unobservable volatility inputs no longer being significant to the valuation of these instruments) and certain other secured financings to level 2 (principally due to increased price transparency of certain yield and duration inputs used to value these instruments).

Year Ended December 2020.

The net realized and unrealized losses on level 3 other financial liabilities of $1.62 billion (reflecting $317 million of net realized losses and $1.30 billion of net unrealized losses) for 2020 included losses of $1.44 billion reported in market making, $28 million reported in other principal transactions and $15 million reported in interest expense in the consolidated statements of earnings, and $139 million reported in debt valuation adjustment in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

The net unrealized losses on level 3 other financial liabilities for 2020 primarily reflected losses on certain hybrid financial instruments included in unsecured long- and short-term borrowings (principally due to an increase in global equity prices), and losses on certain hybrid financial instruments included in deposits (principally due to an increase in the market value of the underlying assets).

Transfers into level 3 other financial liabilities during 2020 primarily reflected transfers of certain other secured financings from level 2 (principally due to reduced price transparency of certain yield and duration inputs used to value these instruments), and certain hybrid financial instruments included in unsecured long- and short-term borrowings from level 2 (principally due to reduced price transparency of certain volatility and correlation inputs used to value these instruments).

Transfers out of level 3 other financial liabilities during 2020 primarily reflected transfers of certain hybrid financial instruments included in unsecured short-term borrowings to level 2 (principally due to increased price transparency of certain volatility and correlation inputs used to value these instruments).

Gains and Losses on Other Financial Assets and Liabilities Accounted for at Fair Value Under the Fair Value Option

The table below presents the gains and losses recognized in earnings as a result of the election to apply the fair value option to certain financial assets and liabilities.

	Year Ended December
$ in millions		2021		2020		2019
Unsecured short-term borrowings		$(1,016	)	$    206		$(3,365	)
Unsecured long-term borrowings		(2,393	)	(2,804	)	(5,251	)
Other		(135	)	(563	)	(883	)
Total		$(3,544	)	$(3,161	)	$(9,499	)

In the table above:

• Gains/(losses) were substantially all included in market making.

• Gains/(losses) exclude contractual interest, which is included in interest income and interest expense, for all instruments other than hybrid financial instruments. See Note 23 for further information about interest income and interest expense.

• Gains/(losses) included in unsecured short- and long-term borrowings were substantially all related to the embedded derivative component of hybrid financial instruments for 2021, 2020 and 2019. These gains and losses would have been recognized under other U.S. GAAP even if the firm had not elected to account for the entire hybrid financial instrument at fair value.

• Other primarily consists of gains/(losses) on customer and other receivables, deposits, other secured financings and other liabilities.

• Other financial assets and liabilities at fair value are frequently economically hedged with trading assets and liabilities. Accordingly, gains or losses on such other financial assets and liabilities can be partially offset by gains or losses on trading assets and liabilities. As a result, gains or losses on other financial assets and liabilities do not necessarily represent the overall impact on the firm’s results of operations, liquidity or capital resources.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 167

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

See Note 8 for information about gains/(losses) on equity securities and Note 9 for information about gains/(losses) on loans which are accounted for at fair value under the fair value option. Gains/(losses) on trading assets and liabilities accounted for at fair value under the fair value option are included in market making. See Note 5 for further information about gains/(losses) from market making.

Long-Term Debt Instruments

The difference between the aggregate contractual principal amount and the related fair value of long-term other secured financings, for which the fair value option was elected, was not material as of both December 2021 and December 2020.

The difference between the aggregate contractual principal amount and the related fair value of unsecured long-term borrowings, for which the fair value option was elected, was 0t material as of December 2021, and the fair value exceeded the aggregate contractual principal amount by $445 million as of December 2020. The amount above includes both principal-protected and

non-principal-protected

long-term borrowings.

Debt Valuation Adjustment

The firm calculates the fair value of financial liabilities for which the fair value option is elected by discounting future cash flows at a rate which incorporates the firm’s credit spreads.

The table below presents information about the net debt valuation adjustment (DVA) gains/(losses) on financial liabilities for which the fair value option was elected.

	Year Ended December
$ in millions		2021	2020		2019
Pre-tax DVA		$433	$(347	)	$(2,763	)
After tax DVA		$322	$(261	)	$(2,079	)

In the table above:

• After tax DVA is included in debt valuation adjustment in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

• The gains/(losses) reclassified to market making in the consolidated statements of earnings from accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss) upon extinguishment of such financial liabilities were not material for 2021, 2020 and 2019.

Loans and Lending Commitments

The table below presents the difference between the aggregate fair value and the aggregate contractual principal amount for loans (included in trading assets and loans in the consolidated balance sheets) for which the fair value option was elected.

	As of December
$ in millions		2021	2020
Performing loans
Aggregate contractual principal in excess of fair value		$1,373	$     958
Loans on nonaccrual status and/or more than 90 days past due
Aggregate contractual principal in excess of fair value		$8,600	$10,526
Aggregate fair value		$3,559	$  3,519

In the table above, the aggregate contractual principal amount of loans on nonaccrual status and/or more than 90 days past due (which excludes loans carried at zero fair value and considered uncollectible) exceeds the related fair value primarily because the firm regularly purchases loans, such as distressed loans, at values significantly below the contractual principal amounts.

The fair value of unfunded lending commitments for which the fair value option was elected was a liability of $20 million as of December 2021 and $25 million as of December 2020, and the related total contractual amount of these lending commitments was $611 million as of December 2021 and $1.64 billion as of December 2020. See Note 18 for further information about lending commitments.

Impact of Credit Spreads on Loans and Lending Commitments

The estimated net gain/(loss) attributable to changes in instrument-specific credit spreads on loans and lending commitments for which the fair value option was elected was $277 million for 2021, $(106) million for 2020 and $134 million for 2019. The firm generally calculates the fair value of loans and lending commitments for which the fair value option is elected by discounting future cash flows at a rate which incorporates the instrument-specific credit spreads. For floating-rate loans and lending commitments, substantially all changes in fair value are attributable to changes in instrument-specific credit spreads, whereas for fixed-rate loans and lending commitments, changes in fair value are also attributable to changes in interest rates.

168 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Note 11.

Collateralized Agreements and Financings

Collateralized agreements are resale agreements and securities borrowed. Collateralized financings are repurchase agreements, securities loaned and other secured financings. The firm enters into these transactions in order to, among other things, facilitate client activities, invest excess cash, acquire securities to cover short positions and finance certain firm activities.

Collateralized agreements and financings are presented on a

net-by-counterparty

basis when a legal right of setoff exists. Interest on collateralized agreements, which is included in interest income, and collateralized financings, which is included in interest expense, is recognized over the life of the transaction. See Note 23 for further information about interest income and interest expense.

Resale and Repurchase Agreements

A resale agreement is a transaction in which the firm purchases financial instruments from a seller, typically in exchange for cash, and simultaneously enters into an agreement to resell the same or substantially the same financial instruments to the seller at a stated price plus accrued interest at a future date.

A repurchase agreement is a transaction in which the firm sells financial instruments to a buyer, typically in exchange for cash, and simultaneously enters into an agreement to repurchase the same or substantially the same financial instruments from the buyer at a stated price plus accrued interest at a future date.

Even though repurchase and resale agreements (including “repos- and

reverses-to-maturity”)

involve the legal transfer of ownership of financial instruments, they are accounted for as financing arrangements because they require the financial instruments to be repurchased or resold before or at the maturity of the agreement. The financial instruments purchased or sold in resale and repurchase agreements typically include U.S. government and agency, and investment-grade sovereign obligations.

The firm receives financial instruments purchased under resale agreements and makes delivery of financial instruments sold under repurchase agreements. To mitigate credit exposure, the firm monitors the market value of these financial instruments on a daily basis, and delivers or obtains additional collateral due to changes in the market value of the financial instruments, as appropriate. For resale agreements, the firm typically requires collateral with a fair value approximately equal to the carrying value of the relevant assets in the consolidated balance sheets.

Securities Borrowed and Loaned Transactions

In a securities borrowed transaction, the firm borrows securities from a counterparty in exchange for cash or securities. When the firm returns the securities, the counterparty returns the cash or securities. Interest is generally paid periodically over the life of the transaction.

In a securities loaned transaction, the firm lends securities to a counterparty in exchange for cash or securities. When the counterparty returns the securities, the firm returns the cash or securities posted as collateral. Interest is generally paid periodically over the life of the transaction.

The firm receives securities borrowed and makes delivery of securities loaned. To mitigate credit exposure, the firm monitors the market value of these securities on a daily basis, and delivers or obtains additional collateral due to changes in the market value of the securities, as appropriate. For securities borrowed transactions, the firm typically requires collateral with a fair value approximately equal to the carrying value of the securities borrowed transaction.

Securities borrowed and loaned within Fixed Income, Currency and Commodities (FICC) financing are recorded at fair value under the fair value option. See Note 10 for further information about securities borrowed and loaned accounted for at fair value.

Substantially all of securities borrowed and loaned within Equities financing are recorded based on the amount of cash collateral advanced or received plus accrued interest. The firm also reviews such securities borrowed to determine if an allowance for credit losses should be recorded by taking into consideration the fair value of collateral received. As these agreements generally can be terminated on demand, they exhibit little, if any, sensitivity to changes in interest rates. Therefore, the carrying value of such agreements approximates fair value. As these agreements are not accounted for at fair value, they are not included in the firm’s fair value hierarchy in Notes 4 through 10. Had these agreements been included in the firm’s fair value hierarchy, they would have been classified in level 2 as of both December 2021 and December 2020.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 169

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Offsetting Arrangements

The table below presents resale and repurchase agreements and securities borrowed and loaned transactions included in the consolidated balance sheets, as well as the amounts not offset in the consolidated balance sheets.

	Assets					Liabilities
$ in millions		Resale agreements		Securities borrowed			Repurchase agreements		Securities loaned
As of December 2021
Included in the consolidated balance sheets
Gross carrying value		$ 334,725		$ 190,197			$ 294,905		$ 57,931
Counterparty netting		(129,022	)	(11,426	)		(129,022	)	(11,426	)
Total		205,703		178,771			165,883		46,505
Amounts not offset
Counterparty netting		(27,376	)	(12,822	)		(27,376	)	(12,822	)
Collateral		(173,915	)	(157,752	)		(134,465	)	(33,143	)
Total		$     4,412		$     8,197			$     4,042		$        540
As of December 2020
Included in the consolidated balance sheets
Gross carrying value		$205,817		$147,593			$224,328		$27,054
Counterparty netting		(97,757	)	(5,433	)		(97,757	)	(5,433	)
Total		108,060		142,160			126,571		21,621
Amounts not offset
Counterparty netting		(8,920	)	(3,525	)		(8,920	)	(3,525	)
Collateral		(96,140	)	(132,893	)		(116,819	)	(17,693	)
Total		$    3,000		$    5,742			$       832		$     403

In the table above:

• Substantially all of the gross carrying values of these arrangements are subject to enforceable netting agreements.

• Where the firm has received or posted collateral under credit support agreements, but has not yet determined such agreements are enforceable, the related collateral has not been netted.

• Amounts not offset includes counterparty netting that does not meet the criteria for netting under U.S. GAAP and the fair value of collateral received or posted subject to enforceable credit support agreements.

• Resale agreements and repurchase agreements are carried at fair value under the fair value option. See Note 4 for further information about the valuation techniques and significant inputs used to determine fair value.

• Securities borrowed included in the consolidated balance sheets of $39.96 billion as of December 2021 and $28.90 billion as of December 2020, and securities loaned of $9.17 billion as of December 2021 and $1.05 billion as of December 2020 were at fair value under the fair value option. See Note 10 for further information about securities borrowed and securities loaned accounted for at fair value.

Gross Carrying Value of Repurchase Agreements and Securities Loaned

The table below presents the gross carrying value of repurchase agreements and securities loaned by class of collateral pledged.

$ in millions	Repurchase agreements	Securities loaned
As of December 2021
Money market instruments	$         328	$         14
U.S. government and agency obligations	132,049	503
Non-U.S. government and agency obligations	126,397	1,254
Securities backed by commercial real estate	362	–
Securities backed by residential real estate	919	–
Corporate debt securities	11,034	510
State and municipal obligations	248	–
Other debt obligations	374	–
Equity securities	23,194	55,650
Total	$294,905	$57,931
As of December 2020
Money market instruments	$         88	$       0
U.S. government and agency obligations	121,751	–
Non-U.S. government and agency obligations	79,159	1,634
Securities backed by commercial real estate	65	–
Securities backed by residential real estate	121	–
Corporate debt securities	6,364	46
State and municipal obligations	92	–
Other debt obligations	20	–
Equity securities	16,668	25,374
Total	$224,328	$27,054

The table below presents the gross carrying value of repurchase agreements and securities loaned by maturity.

	As of December 2021
$ in millions		Repurchase agreements	Securities loaned
No stated maturity and overnight		$  97,675	$35,052
2 - 30 days		102,440	153
31 - 90 days		38,297	110
91 days - 1 year		41,013	15,656
Greater than 1 year		15,480	6,960
Total		$294,905	$57,931

In the table above:

• Repurchase agreements and securities loaned that are repayable prior to maturity at the option of the firm are reflected at their contractual maturity dates.

• Repurchase agreements and securities loaned that are redeemable prior to maturity at the option of the holder are reflected at the earliest dates such options become exercisable.

170 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Other Secured Financings

In addition to repurchase agreements and securities loaned transactions, the firm funds certain assets through the use of other secured financings and pledges financial instruments and other assets as collateral in these transactions. These other secured financings include:

• Liabilities of consolidated VIEs;

• Transfers of assets accounted for as financings rather than sales (e.g., pledged commodities, bank loans and mortgage whole loans); and

• Other structured financing arrangements.

Other secured financings included nonrecourse arrangements. Nonrecourse other secured financings were $8.64 billion as of December 2021 and $12.31 billion as of December 2020.

The firm has elected to apply the fair value option to substantially all other secured financings because the use of fair value eliminates

non-economic

volatility in earnings that would arise from using different measurement attributes. See Note 10 for further information about other secured financings that are accounted for at fair value.

Other secured financings that are not recorded at fair value are recorded based on the amount of cash received plus accrued interest, which generally approximates fair value. As these financings are not accounted for at fair value, they are not included in the firm’s fair value hierarchy in Notes 4 through 10. Had these financings been included in the firm’s fair value hierarchy, substantially all would have been classified in level 3 as of both December 2021 and December 2020.

The table below presents information about other secured financings.

$ in millions	U.S. Dollar	Non-U.S. Dollar	Total
As of December 2021
Other secured financings (short-term):
At fair value	$   5,315	$  3,664	$  8,979
At amortized cost	–	191	191
Other secured financings (long-term):
At fair value	4,170	3,925	8,095
At amortized cost	827	452	1,279
Total other secured financings	$10,312	$  8,232	$18,544
Other secured financings collateralized by:
Financial instruments	$  5,990	$  6,834	$12,824
Other assets	$  4,322	$  1,398	$  5,720
As of December 2020
Other secured financings (short-term):
At fair value	$  6,371	$  6,847	$13,218
At amortized cost	–	0	0
Other secured financings (long-term):
At fair value	6,632	4,276	10,908
At amortized cost	914	715	1,629
Total other secured financings	$13,917	$11,838	$25,755
Other secured financings collateralized by:
Financial instruments	$  6,841	$10,068	$16,909
Other assets	$  7,076	$  1,770	$  8,846

In the table above:

• Short-term other secured financings includes financings maturing within one year of the financial statement date and financings that are redeemable within one year of the financial statement date at the option of the holder.

• Non-U.S. dollar-denominated short-term other secured financings at amortized cost had a weighted average interest rate of 0.22% as of December 2021. This rate includes the effect of hedging activities.

• U.S. dollar-denominated long-term other secured financings at amortized cost had a weighted average interest rate of 1.06% as of December 2021 and 1.27% as of December 2020. These rates include the effect of hedging activities.

• Non-U.S. dollar-denominated long-term other secured financings at amortized cost had a weighted average interest rate of 0.46% as of December 2021 and 0.40% as of December 2020. These rates include the effect of hedging activities.

• Total other secured financings included $1.97 billion as of December 2021 and $2.05 billion as of December 2020 related to transfers of financial assets accounted for as financings rather than sales. Such financings were collateralized by financial assets, primarily included in trading assets, of $2.02 billion as of December 2021 and $2.26 billion as of December 2020.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 171

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

• Other secured financings collateralized by financial instruments included $10.37 billion as of December 2021 and $11.28 billion as of December 2020 of other secured financings collateralized by trading assets, investments and loans, and included $2.45 billion as of December 2021 and $5.63 billion as of December 2020 of other secured financings collateralized by financial instruments received as collateral and repledged.

The table below presents other secured financings by maturity.

$ in millions	As of December 2021
Other secured financings (short-term)	$  9,170
Other secured financings (long-term):
2023	3,585
2024	1,844
2025	855
2026	1,097
2027 - thereafter	1,993
Total other secured financings (long-term)	9,374
Total other secured financings	$18,544

In the table above:

• Long-term other secured financings that are repayable prior to maturity at the option of the firm are reflected at their contractual maturity dates.

• Long-term other secured financings that are redeemable prior to maturity at the option of the holder are reflected at the earliest dates such options become exercisable.

Collateral Received and Pledged

The firm receives cash and securities (e.g., U.S. government and agency obligations, other sovereign and corporate obligations, as well as equity securities) as collateral, primarily in connection with resale agreements, securities borrowed, derivative transactions and customer margin loans. The firm obtains cash and securities as collateral on an upfront or contingent basis for derivative instruments and collateralized agreements to reduce its credit exposure to individual counterparties.

In many cases, the firm is permitted to deliver or repledge financial instruments received as collateral when entering into repurchase agreements and securities loaned transactions, primarily in connection with secured client financing activities. The firm is also permitted to deliver or repledge these financial instruments in connection with other secured financings, collateralized derivative transactions and firm or customer settlement requirements.

The firm also pledges certain trading assets in connection with repurchase agreements, securities loaned transactions and other secured financings, and other assets (substantially all real estate and cash) in connection with other secured financings to counterparties who may or may not have the right to deliver or repledge them.

The table below presents financial instruments at fair value received as collateral that were available to be delivered or repledged and were delivered or repledged.

	As of December
$ in millions		2021	2020
Collateral available to be delivered or repledged		$1,057,195	$864,494
Collateral that was delivered or repledged		$     875,213	$723,409

The table below presents information about assets pledged.

	As of December
$ in millions		2021	2020
Pledged to counterparties that had the right to deliver or repledge
Trading assets		$   68,208	$  69,031
Investments		$  12,840	$  13,375
Pledged to counterparties that did not have the right to deliver or repledge
Trading assets		$102,259	$  99,142
Investments		$    8,683	$    2,331
Loans		$    6,808	$    8,320
Other assets		$    8,878	$  14,144

The firm also segregates securities for regulatory and other purposes related to client activity. Such securities are segregated from trading assets and investments, as well as from securities received as collateral under resale agreements and securities borrowed transactions. Securities segregated by the firm were $41.49 billion as of December 2021 and $32.97 billion as of December 2020.

172 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Note 12.

Other Assets

The table below presents other assets by type.

	As of December
$ in millions		2021	2020
Property, leasehold improvements and equipment		$18,094	$23,147
Goodwill		4,285	4,332
Identifiable intangible assets		418	630
Operating lease right-of-use assets		2,292	2,280
Income tax-related assets		3,860	2,960
Miscellaneous receivables and other		5,659	4,096
Total		$34,608	$37,445

Property, Leasehold Improvements and Equipment

Property, leasehold improvements and equipment is net of accumulated depreciation and amortization of $10.81 billion as of December 2021 and $10.12 billion as of December 2020. Property, leasehold improvements and equipment included $6.71 billion as of December 2021 and $6.54 billion as of December 2020 that the firm uses in connection with its operations, and $194 million as of December 2021 and $318 million as of December 2020 of foreclosed real estate primarily related to distressed loans that were purchased by the firm. The remainder is held by investment entities, including VIEs, consolidated by the firm. Substantially all property and equipment is depreciated on a straight-line basis over the useful life of the asset. Leasehold improvements are amortized on a straight-line basis over the shorter of the useful life of the improvement or the term of the lease. Capitalized costs of software developed or obtained for internal use are amortized on a straight-line basis over three years.

The firm tests property, leasehold improvements and equipment for impairment when events or changes in circumstances suggest that an asset’s or asset group’s carrying value may not be fully recoverable. To the extent the carrying value of an asset or asset group exceeds the projected undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposal of the asset or asset group, the firm determines the asset or asset group is impaired and records an impairment equal to the difference between the estimated fair value and the carrying value of the asset or asset group. In addition, the firm will recognize an impairment prior to the sale of an asset or asset group if the carrying value of the asset or asset group exceeds its estimated fair value.

The firm had impairments of $143 million during 2021 and $171 million during 2020, primarily related to properties held by the firm’s investment entities. There were 0 material impairments during 2019.

Goodwill

Goodwill is the cost of acquired companies in excess of the fair value of net assets, including identifiable intangible assets, at the acquisition date.

The table below presents the carrying value of goodwill by reporting unit.

	As of December
$ in millions		2021	2020
Investment Banking		$     281	$  281
Global Markets:
FICC		269	269
Equities		2,638	2,644
Asset Management		349	390
Consumer & Wealth Management:
Consumer banking		48	48
Wealth management		700	700
Total		$4,285	$4,332

Goodwill is assessed for impairment annually in the fourth quarter or more frequently if events occur or circumstances change that indicate an impairment may exist. When assessing goodwill for impairment, first, a qualitative assessment can be made to determine whether it is more likely than not that the estimated fair value of a reporting unit is less than its estimated carrying value. If the results of the qualitative assessment are not conclusive, a quantitative goodwill test is performed. Alternatively, a quantitative goodwill test can be performed without performing a qualitative assessment.

The quantitative goodwill test compares the estimated fair value of each reporting unit with its estimated net book value (including goodwill and identifiable intangible assets). If the reporting unit’s estimated fair value exceeds its estimated net book value, goodwill is not impaired. An impairment is recognized if the estimated fair value of a reporting unit is less than its estimated net book value.

To estimate the fair value of each reporting unit, other than Consumer banking, a relative value technique is used because the firm believes market participants would use this technique to value these reporting units. The relative value technique applies observable

price-to-earnings

multiples or

price-to-book

multiples of comparable competitors to reporting units’ net earnings or net book value. To estimate the fair value of Consumer banking, a discounted cash flow valuation approach is used because the firm believes market participants would use this technique to value that reporting unit given its early stage of development. The estimated net carrying value of each reporting unit reflects an allocation of total shareholders’ equity and represents the estimated amount of total shareholders’ equity required to support the activities of the reporting unit under currently applicable regulatory capital requirements.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 173

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

In the fourth quarter of 2021, the firm performed its annual assessment of goodwill for impairment, for each of its reporting units, by performing a qualitative assessment. Multiple factors were assessed with respect to each of the firm’s reporting units to determine whether it was more likely than not that the estimated fair value of any of those reporting units was less than its estimated carrying value. The qualitative assessment also considered changes since a quantitative test was last performed in 2019.

The firm considered the following factors in the qualitative annual assessment when evaluating whether it was more likely than not that the estimated fair value of a reporting unit was less than its estimated carrying value:

• Performance Indicators. During 2021, the firm’s net revenues, diluted earnings per common share (EPS), return on average common shareholders’ equity and book value per common share all increased from 2020 and from when a quantitative test was last performed in 2019. The firm’s operating expenses increased, primarily reflecting significantly higher compensation and benefits expenses (reflecting strong financial performance). Despite the increase in expenses, both the efficiency ratio (total operating expenses divided by total net revenues) and pre-tax margin improved compared with 2020.

• Macroeconomic Indicators. The global economy continued to recover during 2021 from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, as the lifting of health and safety restrictions amid vaccine distribution facilitated an increase in global economic recovery, and monetary and fiscal policy from central banks and governments remained accommodative. However, there remains uncertainty related to the impact and the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Firm and Industry Events. There were no events, entity-specific or otherwise, that would have had a significant negative impact on the valuation of the firm’s reporting units.

• Fair Value Indicators. Since the 2020 qualitative goodwill test, fair value indicators in the market generally improved, as global equity prices were higher, credit spreads were tighter, and the firm and its peers’ stock prices and price-to-book multiples were higher. Despite increased inflation concerns, supply chain challenges and the rise in COVID-19 cases in the fourth quarter of 2021, the firm’s stock price and price-to-book multiple ended the year higher compared with the end of 2020.

As a result of the qualitative assessment, the firm determined that it was more likely than not that the estimated fair value of each reporting unit exceeded its respective estimated carrying value. Therefore, the firm determined that goodwill for each reporting unit was not impaired and that a quantitative goodwill test was not required.

Identifiable Intangible Assets

The table below presents identifiable intangible assets by reporting unit and type.

	As of December
$ in millions		2021		2020
By Reporting Unit
Global Markets:
FICC		$        1		$        2
Equities		43		45
Asset Management		122		274
Consumer & Wealth Management:
Consumer banking		0		6
Wealth management		252		303
Total		$      418		$    630
By Type
Customer lists
Gross carrying value		$   1,460		$ 1,478
Accumulated amortization		(1,130	)	(1,089	)
Net carrying value		330		389
Acquired leases and other
Gross carrying value		500		710
Accumulated amortization		(412	)	(469	)
Net carrying value		88		241
Total gross carrying value		1,960		2,188
Total accumulated amortization		(1,542	)	(1,558	)
Total net carrying value		$      418		$    630

During 2021, the amount of intangible assets acquired by the firm was 0t material. The firm acquired $155 million of intangible assets during 2020, primarily related to acquired leases and customer lists, with a weighted average amortization period of 10 years.

Substantially all of the firm’s identifiable intangible assets have finite useful lives and are amortized over their estimated useful lives generally using the straight-line method.

174 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

The tables below present information about the amortization of identifiable intangible assets.

	Year Ended December
$ in millions		2021	2020	2019
Amortization		$120	$147	$173

$ in millions	As of December 2021
Estimated future amortization
2022	$69
2023	$65
2024	$53
2025	$37
2026	$30

The firm tests intangible assets for impairment when events or changes in circumstances suggest that an asset’s or asset group’s carrying value may not be fully recoverable. To the extent the carrying value of an asset or asset group exceeds the projected undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposal of the asset or asset group, the firm determines the asset or asset group is impaired and records an impairment equal to the difference between the estimated fair value and the carrying value of the asset or asset group. In addition, the firm will recognize an impairment prior to the sale of an asset or asset group if the carrying value of the asset or asset group exceeds its estimated fair value. There were no material impairments during 2021, 2020 or 2019.

Operating Lease

Right-of-Use

Assets

The firm enters into operating leases for real estate, office equipment and other assets, substantially all of which are used in connection with its operations. For leases longer than one year, the firm recognizes a

right-of-use

asset representing the right to use the underlying asset for the lease term, and a lease liability representing the liability to make payments. The lease term is generally determined based on the contractual maturity of the lease. For leases where the firm has the option to terminate or extend the lease, an assessment of the likelihood of exercising the option is incorporated into the determination of the lease term. Such assessment is initially performed at the inception of the lease and is updated if events occur that impact the original assessment.

An operating lease

right-of-use

asset is initially determined based on the operating lease liability, adjusted for initial direct costs, lease incentives and amounts paid at or prior to lease commencement. This amount is then amortized over the lease term. The firm recognized $305 million for 2021, $182 million for 2020 and $963 million (primarily related to the firm’s European headquarters in London) for 2019 of

right-of-use

assets and operating lease liabilities in

non-cash

transactions for leases entered into or assumed. See Note 15 for information about operating lease liabilities.

For leases where the firm will derive no economic benefit from leased space that it has vacated or where the firm has shortened the term of a lease when space is no longer needed, the firm will record an impairment or accelerated amortization of

right-of-use

assets. There were no material impairments or accelerated amortizations during 2021 and 2020.

Miscellaneous Receivables and Other

Miscellaneous receivables and other included:

• Investments in qualified affordable housing projects of $714 million as of December 2021 and $678 million as of December 2020.

• Assets classified as held for sale of $1.02 billion as of December 2021 and $437 million as of December 2020 related to certain of the firm’s consolidated investments within the Asset Management segment, substantially all of which consisted of property and equipment.

Note 13.

Deposits

The table below presents the types and sources of deposits.

$ in millions	Savings and Demand	Time	Total
As of December 2021
Consumer	$  89,150	$  20,533	$109,683
Private bank	85,427	9,665	95,092
Brokered certificates of deposit	0	30,816	30,816
Deposit sweep programs	37,965	0	37,965
Transaction banking	48,618	5,689	54,307
Other	275	36,089	36,364
Total	$261,435	$102,792	$364,227
As of December 2020
Consumer	$  67,395	$  29,530	$  96,925
Private bank	67,185	1,183	68,368
Brokered certificates of deposit	0	30,060	30,060
Deposit sweep programs	22,987	0	22,987
Transaction banking	28,852	0	28,852
Other	0	12,770	12,770
Total	$186,419	$  73,543	$259,962

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 175

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

In the table above:

• Substantially all deposits are interest-bearing.

• Savings and demand accounts consist of money market deposit accounts, negotiable order of withdrawal accounts and demand deposit accounts that have no stated maturity or expiration date.

• Time deposits included $35.43 billion as of December 2021 and $16.18 billion as of December 2020 of deposits accounted for at fair value under the fair value option. See Note 10 for further information about deposits accounted for at fair value.

• Time deposits had a weighted average maturity of approximately 0.9 years as of December 2021 and 1.3 years as of December 2020.

• Deposit sweep programs include long-term contractual agreements with U.S. broker-dealers who sweep client cash to FDIC-insured deposits. As of December 2021, the firm had 15 such deposit sweep program agreements.

• Transaction banking deposits consists of deposits that the firm raised through its cash management services business for corporate and other institutional clients.

• Other deposits represent deposits from institutional clients.

• Deposits insured by the FDIC were $156.66 billion as of December 2021 and $123.03 billion as of December 2020.

• Deposits insured by non-U.S. insurance programs were $31.44 billion as of December 2021 and $27.52 billion as of December 2020.

The table below presents the location of deposits.

	As of December
$ in millions		2021	2020
U.S. offices		$283,705	$206,356
Non-U.S. offices		80,522	53,606
Total		$364,227	$259,962

In the table above, U.S. deposits were held at Goldman Sachs Bank USA (GS Bank USA) and substantially all

non-U.S.

deposits were held at Goldman Sachs International Bank (GSIB).

The table below presents maturities of time deposits held in U.S. and

non-U.S.

offices.

	As of December 2021
$ in millions		U.S.	Non-U.S.	Total
2022		$48,842	$31,760	$  80,602
2023		9,616	391	10,007
2024		4,747	125	4,872
2025		2,342	252	2,594
2026		2,335	265	2,600
2027 - thereafter		1,445	672	2,117
Total		$69,327	$33,465	$102,792

As of December 2021, deposits in U.S. offices included $25.44 billion and deposits in

non-U.S.

offices included $32.73 billion of time deposits in denominations that met or exceeded the applicable insurance limits, or were otherwise not covered by insurance.

The firm’s savings and demand deposits are recorded based on the amount of cash received plus accrued interest, which approximates fair value. In addition, the firm designates certain derivatives as fair value hedges to convert a portion of its time deposits not accounted for at fair value from fixed-rate obligations into floating-rate obligations. The carrying value of time deposits not accounted for at fair value approximated fair value as of both December 2021 and December 2020. As these savings and demand deposits and time deposits are not accounted for at fair value, they are not included in the firm’s fair value hierarchy in Notes 4 through 10. Had these deposits been included in the firm’s fair value hierarchy, they would have been classified in level 2 as of both December 2021 and December 2020.

Note 14.

Unsecured Borrowings

The table below presents information about unsecured borrowings.

	As of December
$ in millions		2021	2020
Unsecured short-term borrowings		$  46,955	$  52,870
Unsecured long-term borrowings		254,092	213,481
Total		$301,047	$266,351

Unsecured Short-Term Borrowings

Unsecured short-term borrowings includes the portion of unsecured long-term borrowings maturing within one year of the financial statement date and unsecured long-term borrowings that are redeemable within one year of the financial statement date at the option of the holder.

The firm accounts for certain hybrid financial instruments at fair value under the fair value option. See Note 10 for further information about unsecured short-term borrowings that are accounted for at fair value. In addition, the firm designates certain derivatives as fair value hedges to convert a portion of its unsecured short-term borrowings not accounted for at fair value from fixed-rate obligations into floating-rate obligations. The carrying value of unsecured short-term borrowings that are not recorded at fair value generally approximates fair value due to the short-term nature of the obligations. As these unsecured short-term borrowings are not accounted for at fair value, they are not included in the firm’s fair value hierarchy in Notes 4 through 10. Had these borrowings been included in the firm’s fair value hierarchy, substantially all would have been classified in level 2 as of both December 2021 and December 2020. 

176 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

The table below presents information about unsecured short-term borrowings.

	As of December
$ in millions		2021	2020
Current portion of unsecured long-term borrowings		$18,118	$25,914
Hybrid financial instruments		20,073	18,823
Commercial paper		6,730	6,085
Other unsecured short-term borrowings		2,034	2,048
Total unsecured short-term borrowings		$46,955	$52,870
Weighted average interest rate		2.34%	1.84%

In the table above:

• The current portion of unsecured long-term borrowings included $9.16 billion as of December 2021 and $17.06 billion as of December 2020 issued by Group Inc.

• The weighted average interest rates for these borrowings include the effect of hedging activities and exclude unsecured short-term borrowings accounted for at fair value under the fair value option. See Note 7 for further information about hedging activities.

Unsecured Long-Term Borrowings

The table below presents information about unsecured long-term borrowings.

$ in millions	U.S. Dollar	Non-U.S. Dollar	Total
As of December 2021
Fixed-rate obligations:
Group Inc.	$124,731	$43,219	$167,950
Subsidiaries	1,803	3,189	4,992
Floating-rate obligations:
Group Inc.	23,452	17,394	40,846
Subsidiaries	27,543	12,761	40,304
Total	$177,529	$76,563	$254,092
As of December 2020
Fixed-rate obligations:
Group Inc.	$  98,858	$35,614	$134,472
Subsidiaries	1,700	3,145	4,845
Floating-rate obligations:
Group Inc.	18,579	18,871	37,450
Subsidiaries	23,440	13,274	36,714
Total	$142,577	$70,904	$213,481

In the table above:

• Unsecured long-term borrowings consists principally of senior borrowings, which have maturities extending through 2065 .

• Floating-rate obligations includes equity-linked, credit-linked and indexed instruments. Floating interest rates are generally based on USD LIBOR, Euro Interbank Offered Rate or SOFR.

• U.S. dollar-denominated debt had interest rates ranging from 0.48% to 7.68% (with a weighted average rate of 3.34%) as of December 2021 and 0.63% to 9.30% (with a weighted average rate of 4.07%) as of December 2020. These rates exclude unsecured long-term borrowings accounted for at fair value under the fair value option.

• Non-U.S. dollar-denominated debt had interest rates ranging from 0.13% to 13.00% (with a weighted average rate of 1.86%) as of December 2021 and 0.13% to 13.00% (with a weighted average rate of 2.20%) as of December 2020. These rates exclude unsecured long-term borrowings accounted for at fair value under the fair value option.

The table below presents unsecured long-term borrowings by maturity.

	As of December 2021
$ in millions		Group Inc.	Subsidiaries	Total
2023		$  33,921	$  9,290	$  43,211
2024		27,003	6,733	33,736
2025		23,158	5,645	28,803
2026		18,571	3,586	22,157
2027 – thereafter		106,143	20,042	126,185
Total		$208,796	$45,296	$254,092

In the table above:

• Unsecured long-term borrowings maturing within one year of the financial statement date and unsecured long-term borrowings that are redeemable within one year of the financial statement date at the option of the holder are excluded as they are included in unsecured short-term borrowings.

• Unsecured long-term borrowings that are repayable prior to maturity at the option of the firm are reflected at their contractual maturity dates.

• Unsecured long-term borrowings that are redeemable prior to maturity at the option of the holder are reflected at the earliest dates such options become exercisable.

• Unsecured long-term borrowings included $6.24 billion of adjustments to the carrying value of certain unsecured long-term borrowings resulting from the application of hedge accounting by year of maturity as follows: $91 million in 2023, $305 million in 2024, $270 million in 2025, $214 million in 2026, and $5.36 billion in 2027 and thereafter.

The firm designates certain derivatives as fair value hedges to convert a portion of fixed-rate unsecured long-term borrowings not accounted for at fair value into floating-rate obligations. See Note 7 for further information about hedging activities.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 177

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

The table below presents unsecured long-term borrowings, after giving effect to such hedging activities.

$ in millions	Group Inc.	Subsidiaries	Total
As of December 2021
Fixed-rate obligations:
At fair value	$    4,798	$         65	$    4,863
At amortized cost	27,133	3,237	30,370
Floating-rate obligations:
At fair value	12,864	34,663	47,527
At amortized cost	164,001	7,331	171,332
Total	$208,796	$45,296	$254,092
As of December 2020
Fixed-rate obligations:
At fair value	$    1,407	$     114	$    1,521
At amortized cost	27,482	3,345	30,827
Floating-rate obligations:
At fair value	9,721	29,669	39,390
At amortized cost	133,312	8,431	141,743
Total	$171,922	$41,559	$213,481

In the table above, the aggregate amounts of unsecured long-term borrowings had weighted average interest rates of 1.60% (2.25% related to fixed-rate obligations and 1.48% related to floating-rate obligations) as of December 2021 and 2.01% (3.34% related to fixed-rate obligations and 1.70% related to floating-rate obligations) as of December 2020. These rates exclude unsecured long-term borrowings accounted for at fair value under the fair value option.

The carrying value of unsecured long-term borrowings for which the firm did not elect the fair value option was $201.70 billion as of December 2021 and $172.57 billion as of December 2020. The estimated fair value of such unsecured long-term borrowings was $209.37 billion as of December 2021 and $183.29 billion as of December 2020. As these borrowings are not accounted for at fair value, they are not included in the firm’s fair value hierarchy in Notes 4 through 10. Had these borrowings been included in the firm’s fair value hierarchy, substantially all would have been classified in level 2 as of both December 2021 and December 2020.

Subordinated Borrowings

Unsecured long-term borrowings includes subordinated debt and junior subordinated debt. Subordinated debt that matures within one year is included in unsecured short-term borrowings. Junior subordinated debt is junior in right of payment to other subordinated borrowings, which are junior to senior borrowings. Long-term subordinated debt had maturities ranging from 2025 to 2045 as of both December 2021 and December 2020.

The table below presents information about subordinated borrowings.

$ in millions	Par Amount	Carrying Value	Rate
As of December 2021
Subordinated debt	$12,437	$15,571	1.74%
Junior subordinated debt	968	1,321	1.31%
Total	$13,405	$16,892	1.71%
As of December 2020
Subordinated debt	$14,136	$18,529	1.83%
Junior subordinated debt	968	1,430	1.32%
Total	$15,104	$19,959	1.80%

In the table above:

• The par amount of subordinated debt issued by Group Inc. was $12.44 billion as of December 2021 and $14.14 billion as of December 2020, and the carrying value of subordinated debt issued by Group Inc. was $15.57 billion as of December 2021 and $18.53 billion as of December 2020.

• The rate is the weighted average interest rate for these borrowings (excluding borrowings accounted for at fair value under the fair value option), including the effect of fair value hedges used to convert fixed-rate obligations into floating-rate obligations. See Note 7 for further information about hedging activities.

Junior Subordinated Debt

In 2004, Group Inc. issued $2.84 billion of junior subordinated debt to Goldman Sachs Capital I (Trust), a Delaware statutory trust. The Trust issued $2.75 billion of guaranteed preferred beneficial interests (Trust Preferred securities) to third parties and $85 million of common beneficial interests to Group Inc. As of both December 2021 and December 2020, the outstanding par amount of junior subordinated debt held by the Trust was $968 million and the outstanding par amount of Trust Preferred securities and common beneficial interests issued by the Trust was $939 million and $29 million, respectively. The Trust is a wholly-owned finance subsidiary of the firm for regulatory and legal purposes but is not consolidated for accounting purposes.

178 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

The firm pays interest semi-annually on the junior subordinated debt at an annual rate of 6.345% and the debt matures on February 15, 2034. The coupon rate and the payment dates applicable to the beneficial interests are the same as the interest rate and payment dates for the junior subordinated debt. The firm has the right, from time to time, to defer payment of interest on the junior subordinated debt, and therefore cause payment on the Trust’s preferred beneficial interests to be deferred, in each case up to ten consecutive semi-annual periods. During any such deferral period, the firm will not be permitted to, among other things, pay dividends on or make certain repurchases of its common stock. The Trust is not permitted to pay any distributions on the common beneficial interests held by Group Inc. unless all dividends payable on the preferred beneficial interests have been paid in full.

The firm has covenanted in favor of the holders of Group Inc.’s 6.345% junior subordinated debt due February 15, 2034, that, subject to certain exceptions, the firm will not redeem or purchase the capital securities issued by Goldman Sachs Capital II and Goldman Sachs Capital III (APEX Trusts) or shares of Group Inc.’s Perpetual

Non-Cumulative

Preferred Stock, Series E (Series E Preferred Stock), Perpetual

Non-Cumulative

Preferred Stock, Series F (Series F Preferred Stock) or Perpetual

Non-Cumulative

Preferred Stock, Series O, if the redemption or purchase results in less than $253 million aggregate liquidation preference of that series outstanding, prior to specified dates in 2022 for a price that exceeds a maximum amount determined by reference to the net cash proceeds that the firm has received from the sale of qualifying securities.

The APEX Trusts hold Group Inc.’s Series E Preferred Stock and Series F Preferred Stock. These trusts are Delaware statutory trusts sponsored by the firm and wholly-owned finance subsidiaries of the firm for regulatory and legal purposes but are not consolidated for accounting purposes.

Note 15.

Other Liabilities

The table below presents other liabilities by type.

	As of December
$ in millions		2021	2020
Compensation and benefits		$10,838	$  7,896
Income tax-related liabilities		2,360	3,155
Operating lease liabilities		2,288	2,283
Noncontrolling interests		840	1,640
Employee interests in consolidated funds		29	34
Accrued expenses and other		8,146	7,443
Total		$24,501	$22,451

Operating Lease Liabilities

For leases longer than one year, the firm recognizes a

right-of-use

asset representing the right to use the underlying asset for the lease term, and a lease liability representing the liability to make payments. See Note 12 for information about operating lease

right-of-use

assets.

The table below presents information about operating lease liabilities.

$ in millions	Operating lease liabilities
As of December 2021
2022	$     305
2023	307
2024	284
2025	258
2026	216
2027 - thereafter	1,655
Total undiscounted lease payments	3,025
Imputed interest	(737	)
Total operating lease liabilities	$2,288
Weighted average remaining lease term	14 years
Weighted average discount rate	3.61%
As of December 2020
2021	$   342
2022	301
2023	264
2024	247
2025	215
2026 - thereafter	1,899
Total undiscounted lease payments	3,268
Imputed interest	(985	)
Total operating lease liabilities	$2,283
Weighted average remaining lease term	16 years
Weighted average discount rate	4.02%

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 179

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

In the table above, the weighted average discount rate represents the firm’s incremental borrowing rate as of January 2019 for operating leases existing on the date of adoption of ASU

No. 2016-02,

“Leases (Topic 842),” and at the lease inception date for leases entered into subsequent to the adoption of this ASU.

Operating lease costs were $463 million for 2021, $458 million for 2020 and $538 million for 2019. Variable lease costs, which are included in operating lease costs, were not material for 2021, 2020 and 2019. Total occupancy expenses for space held in excess of the firm’s current requirements were not material for both 2021 and 2020.

Lease payments relating to operating lease arrangements that were signed, but had not yet commenced were $300 million as of December 2021.

Accrued Expenses and Other

Accrued expenses and other included:

• Liabilities classified as held for sale of $310 million as of December 2021 related to certain of the firm’s consolidated investments within the Asset Management segment, substantially all of which consisted of other secured financings primarily carried at fair value under the fair value option, and were related to assets classified as held for sale. See Note 12 for further information about assets held for sale. As of December 2020, liabilities classified as held for sale were not material.

• Contract liabilities, which represent consideration received by the firm in connection with its contracts with clients prior to providing the service. As of both December 2021 and December 2020, the firm’s contract liabilities were not material.

Note 16.

Securitization Activities

The firm securitizes residential and commercial mortgages, corporate bonds, loans and other types of financial assets by selling these assets to securitization vehicles (e.g., trusts, corporate entities and limited liability companies) or through a resecuritization. The firm acts as underwriter of the beneficial interests that are sold to investors. The firm’s residential mortgage securitizations are primarily in connection with government agency securitizations.

The firm accounts for a securitization as a sale when it has relinquished control over the transferred financial assets. Prior to securitization, the firm generally accounts for assets pending transfer at fair value and therefore does not typically recognize significant gains or losses upon the transfer of assets. Net revenues from underwriting activities are recognized in connection with the sales of the underlying beneficial interests to investors.

The firm generally receives cash in exchange for the transferred assets but may also have continuing involvement with the transferred financial assets, including ownership of beneficial interests in securitized financial assets, primarily in the form of debt instruments. The firm may also purchase senior or subordinated securities issued by securitization vehicles (which are typically VIEs) in connection with secondary market-making activities.

The primary risks included in beneficial interests and other interests from the firm’s continuing involvement with securitization vehicles are the performance of the underlying collateral, the position of the firm’s investment in the capital structure of the securitization vehicle and the market yield for the security. Interests accounted for at fair value are primarily classified in level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. Interests not accounted for at fair value are carried at amounts that approximate fair value. See Notes 4 through 10 for further information about fair value measurements.

The table below presents the amount of financial assets securitized and the cash flows received on retained interests in securitization entities in which the firm had continuing involvement as of the end of the period.

	Year Ended December
$ in millions	2021		2020		2019
Residential mortgages		$29,048		$20,167		$15,124
Commercial mortgages		18,396		14,904		12,741
Other financial assets		4,377		1,775		1,252
Total financial assets		$51,821		$36,846		$29,117
Retained interests cash flows		$       513		$     331		$     286

The firm securitized assets of $886 million for 2021, $551 million for 2020 and $601 million for 2019, in a

non-cash

exchange for loans and investments.

180 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

The table below presents information about nonconsolidated securitization entities to which the firm sold assets and had continuing involvement as of the end of the period.

$ in millions	Outstanding Principal Amount	Retained Interests	Purchased Interests
As of December 2021
U.S. government agency-issued CMOs	$   33,984	$   955	$    3
Other residential mortgage-backed	23,262	1,114	96
Other commercial mortgage-backed	50,350	1,123	130
Corporate debt and other asset-backed	7,755	360	37
Total	$115,351	$3,552	$266
As of December 2020
U.S. government agency-issued CMOs	$  20,841	$   906	$    4
Other residential mortgage-backed	24,262	1,170	23
Other commercial mortgage-backed	38,340	914	39
Corporate debt and other asset-backed	4,299	192	0
Total	$  87,742	$3,182	$  66

In the table above:

• CMOs represents collateralized mortgage obligations.

• The outstanding principal amount is presented for the purpose of providing information about the size of the securitization entities and is not representative of the firm’s risk of loss.

• The firm’s risk of loss from retained or purchased interests is limited to the carrying value of these interests.

• Purchased interests represent senior and subordinated interests, purchased in connection with secondary market-making activities, in securitization entities in which the firm also holds retained interests.

• Substantially all of the total outstanding principal amount and total retained interests relate to securitizations during 2017 and thereafter.

• The fair value of retained interests was $3.57 billion as of December 2021 and $3.19 billion as of December 2020.

In addition to the interests in the table above, the firm had other continuing involvement in the form of derivative transactions and commitments with certain nonconsolidated VIEs. The carrying value of these derivatives and commitments was a net asset of $81 million as of December 2021 and $52 million as of December 2020, and the notional amount of these derivatives and commitments was $1.81 billion as of December 2021 and $1.43 billion as of December 2020. The notional amounts of these derivatives and commitments are included in maximum exposure to loss in the nonconsolidated VIE table in Note 17.

The table below presents information about the weighted average key economic assumptions used in measuring the fair value of mortgage-backed retained interests.

	As of December
$ in millions		2021		2020
Fair value of retained interests		$3,209		$2,993
Weighted average life (years)		5.1		4.7
Constant prepayment rate		14.1%		15.0%
Impact of 10% adverse change		$    (38	)	$    (25	)
Impact of 20% adverse change		$    (69	)	$    (50	)
Discount rate		5.6%		6.1%
Impact of 10% adverse change		$    (49	)	$    (42	)
Impact of 20% adverse change		$    (96	)	$    (82	)

In the table above:

• Amounts do not reflect the benefit of other financial instruments that are held to mitigate risks inherent in these retained interests.

• Changes in fair value based on an adverse variation in assumptions generally cannot be extrapolated because the relationship of the change in assumptions to the change in fair value is not usually linear.

• The impact of a change in a particular assumption is calculated independently of changes in any other assumption. In practice, simultaneous changes in assumptions might magnify or counteract the sensitivities disclosed above.

• The constant prepayment rate is included only for positions for which it is a key assumption in the determination of fair value.

• The discount rate for retained interests that relate to U.S. government agency-issued CMOs does not include any credit loss. Expected credit loss assumptions are reflected in the discount rate for the remainder of retained interests.

The firm has other retained interests not reflected in the table above with a fair value of $360 million and a weighted average life of 3.6 years as of December 2021, and a fair value of $192 million and a weighted average life of 3.9 years as of December 2020. Due to the nature and fair value of certain of these retained interests, the weighted average assumptions for constant prepayment and discount rates and the related sensitivity to adverse changes are not meaningful as of both December 2021 and December 2020. The firm’s maximum exposure to adverse changes in the value of these interests is the carrying value of $360 million as of December 2021 and $192 million as of December 2020.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 181

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Note 17.

Variable Interest Entities

A variable interest in a VIE is an investment (e.g., debt or equity) or other interest (e.g., derivatives or loans and lending commitments) that will absorb portions of the VIE’s expected losses and/or receive portions of the VIE’s expected residual returns.

The firm’s variable interests in VIEs include senior and subordinated debt; loans and lending commitments; limited and general partnership interests; preferred and common equity; derivatives that may include foreign currency, equity and/or credit risk; guarantees; and certain of the fees the firm receives from investment funds. Certain interest rate, foreign currency and credit derivatives the firm enters into with VIEs are not variable interests because they create, rather than absorb, risk.

VIEs generally finance the purchase of assets by issuing debt and equity securities that are either collateralized by or indexed to the assets held by the VIE. The debt and equity securities issued by a VIE may include tranches of varying levels of subordination. The firm’s involvement with VIEs includes securitization of financial assets, as described in Note 16, and investments in and loans to other types of VIEs, as described below. See Note 3 for the firm’s consolidation policies, including the definition of a VIE.

VIE Consolidation Analysis

The enterprise with a controlling financial interest in a VIE is known as the primary beneficiary and consolidates the VIE. The firm determines whether it is the primary beneficiary of a VIE by performing an analysis that principally considers:

• Which variable interest holder has the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance;

• Which variable interest holder has the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE;

• The VIE’s purpose and design, including the risks the VIE was designed to create and pass through to its variable interest holders;

• The VIE’s capital structure;

• The terms between the VIE and its variable interest holders and other parties involved with the VIE; and

• Related-party relationships.

The firm reassesses its evaluation of whether an entity is a VIE when certain reconsideration events occur. The firm reassesses its determination of whether it is the primary beneficiary of a VIE on an ongoing basis based on current facts and circumstances.

VIE Activities

The firm is principally involved with VIEs through the following business activities:

Mortgage-Backed VIEs.

The firm sells residential and commercial mortgage loans and securities to mortgage-backed VIEs and may retain beneficial interests in the assets sold to these VIEs. The firm purchases and sells beneficial interests issued by mortgage-backed VIEs in connection with market-making activities. In addition, the firm may enter into derivatives with certain of these VIEs, primarily interest rate swaps, which are typically not variable interests. The firm generally enters into derivatives with other counterparties to mitigate its risk.

Real Estate, Credit- and Power-Related and Other Investing VIEs.

The firm purchases equity and debt securities issued by and makes loans to VIEs that hold real estate, performing and nonperforming debt, distressed loans, power-related assets and equity securities. The firm generally does not sell assets to, or enter into derivatives with, these VIEs.

Corporate Debt and Other Asset-Backed VIEs.

The firm structures VIEs that issue notes to clients, purchases and sells beneficial interests issued by corporate debt and other asset-backed VIEs in connection with market-making activities, and makes loans to VIEs that warehouse corporate debt. Certain of these VIEs synthetically create the exposure for the beneficial interests they issue by entering into credit derivatives with the firm, rather than purchasing the underlying assets. In addition, the firm may enter into derivatives, such as total return swaps, with certain corporate debt and other asset-backed VIEs, under which the firm pays the VIE a return due to the beneficial interest holders and receives the return on the collateral owned by the VIE. The collateral owned by these VIEs is primarily other asset-backed loans and securities. The firm may be removed as the total return swap counterparty and may enter into derivatives with other counterparties to mitigate its risk related to these swaps. The firm may sell assets to the corporate debt and other asset-backed VIEs it structures.

182 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Principal-Protected Note VIEs.

The firm structures VIEs that issue principal-protected notes to clients. These VIEs own portfolios of assets, principally with exposure to hedge funds. Substantially all of the principal protection on the notes issued by these VIEs is provided by the asset portfolio rebalancing that is required under the terms of the notes. The firm enters into total return swaps with these VIEs under which the firm pays the VIE the return due to the principal-protected note holders and receives the return on the assets owned by the VIE. The firm may enter into derivatives with other counterparties to mitigate its risk. The firm also obtains funding through these VIEs.

Investments in Funds.

The firm makes equity investments in certain investment fund VIEs it manages and is entitled to receive fees from these VIEs. The firm has generally not sold assets to, or entered into derivatives with, these VIEs.

Nonconsolidated VIEs

The table below presents a summary of the nonconsolidated VIEs in which the firm holds variable interests.

	As of December
$ in millions		2021	2020
Total nonconsolidated VIEs
Assets in VIEs		$176,809	$148,665
Carrying value of variable interests — assets		$    9,582	$    8,624
Carrying value of variable interests — liabilities		$         928	$       888
Maximum exposure to loss:
Retained interests		$    3,552	$    3,182
Purchased interests		1,071	1,041
Commitments and guarantees		2,440	2,455
Derivatives		8,682	8,343
Debt and equity		4,639	4,020
Total		$  20,384	$  19,041

In the table above:

• The nature of the firm’s variable interests is described in the rows under maximum exposure to loss.

• The firm’s exposure to the obligations of VIEs is generally limited to its interests in these entities. In certain instances, the firm provides guarantees, including derivative guarantees, to VIEs or holders of variable interests in VIEs.

• The maximum exposure to loss excludes the benefit of offsetting financial instruments that are held to mitigate the risks associated with these variable interests.

• The maximum exposure to loss from retained interests, purchased interests, and debt and equity is the carrying value of these interests.

• The maximum exposure to loss from commitments and guarantees, and derivatives is the notional amount, which does not represent anticipated losses and has not been reduced by unrealized losses. As a result, the maximum exposure to loss exceeds liabilities recorded for commitments and guarantees, and derivatives.

The table below presents information, by principal business activity, for nonconsolidated VIEs included in the summary table above.

	As of December
$ in millions		2021	2020
Mortgage-backed
Assets in VIEs		$120,343	$99,353
Carrying value of variable interests — assets		$    4,147	$  4,014
Maximum exposure to loss:
Retained interests		$    3,192	$  2,990
Purchased interests		955	1,024
Commitments and guarantees		34	47
Derivatives		18	394
Total		$    4,199	$  4,455
Real estate, credit- and power-related and other investing
Assets in VIEs		$  26,867	$20,934
Carrying value of variable interests — assets		$    3,923	$  3,288
Carrying value of variable interests — liabilities		$           8	$      14
Maximum exposure to loss:
Commitments and guarantees		$    2,030	$  1,374
Derivatives		64	84
Debt and equity		3,923	3,288
Total		$    6,017	$  4,746
Corporate debt and other asset-backed
Assets in VIEs		$  18,391	$14,077
Carrying value of variable interests — assets		$    1,156	$    913
Carrying value of variable interests — liabilities		$       920	$    874
Maximum exposure to loss:
Retained interests		$       360	$    192
Purchased interests		116	17
Commitments and guarantees		250	989
Derivatives		8,597	7,862
Debt and equity		360	323
Total		$    9,683	$  9,383
Investments in funds
Assets in VIEs		$  11,208	$14,301
Carrying value of variable interests — assets		$       356	$    409
Maximum exposure to loss:
Commitments and guarantees		$       126	$      45
Derivatives		3	3
Debt and equity		356	409
Total		$       485	$    457

As of both December 2021 and December 2020, the carrying values of the firm’s variable interests in nonconsolidated VIEs are included in the consolidated balance sheets as follows:

• Mortgage-backed: Assets primarily included in trading assets and loans.

• Real estate, credit- and power-related and other investing: Assets primarily included in investments and loans, and liabilities included in trading liabilities and other liabilities.

• Corporate debt and other asset-backed: Assets included in loans and trading assets, and liabilities included in trading liabilities.

• Investments in funds: Assets included in investments.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 183

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Consolidated VIEs

The table below presents a summary of the carrying value and balance sheet classification of assets and liabilities in consolidated VIEs.

	As of December
$ in millions		2021	2020
Total consolidated VIEs
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents		$  501	$  312
Trading assets		122	96
Investments		153	880
Loans		1,988	2,099
Other assets		314	989
Total		$3,078	$4,376
Liabilities
Other secured financings		$1,143	$1,891
Customer and other payables		34	28
Trading liabilities		7	296
Unsecured short-term borrowings		146	43
Unsecured long-term borrowings		81	226
Other liabilities		163	948
Total		$1,574	$3,432

In the table above:

• Assets and liabilities are presented net of intercompany eliminations and exclude the benefit of offsetting financial instruments that are held to mitigate the risks associated with the firm’s variable interests.

• VIEs in which the firm holds a majority voting interest are excluded if (i) the VIE meets the definition of a business and (ii) the VIE’s assets can be used for purposes other than the settlement of its obligations.

• Substantially all assets can only be used to settle obligations of the VIE.

The table below presents information, by principal business activity, for consolidated VIEs included in the summary table above.

	As of December
$ in millions		2021	2020
Real estate, credit-related and other investing
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents		$  274	$  229
Trading assets		16	8
Investments		153	880
Loans		1,988	2,099
Other assets		314	989
Total		$2,745	$4,205
Liabilities
Other secured financings		$  150	$  649
Customer and other payables		34	28
Trading liabilities		7	46
Other liabilities		163	948
Total		$  354	$1,671
Corporate debt and other asset-backed
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents		$  227	$    83
Trading assets		17	0
Total		$  244	$    83
Liabilities
Other secured financings		$  602	$  679
Total		$  602	$  679
Principal-protected notes
Assets
Trading assets		$    89	$    88
Total		$    89	$    88
Liabilities
Other secured financings		$  391	$  563
Trading liabilities		0	250
Unsecured short-term borrowings		146	43
Unsecured long-term borrowings		81	226
Total		$  618	$1,082

In the table above:

• The majority of the assets in principal-protected notes VIEs are intercompany and are eliminated in consolidation.

• Creditors and beneficial interest holders of real estate, credit-related and other investing VIEs do not have recourse to the general credit of the firm.

184 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Note 18.

Commitments, Contingencies and Guarantees

Commitments

The table below presents commitments by type.

	As of December
$ in millions		2021	2020
Commitment Type
Commercial lending:
Investment-grade		$  95,585	$  83,801
Non-investment-grade		69,644	56,757
Warehouse financing		10,391	9,377
Credit cards		35,932	21,640
Total lending		211,552	171,575
Risk participations		10,016	8,054
Collateralized agreement		101,031	55,278
Collateralized financing		29,561	35,402
Investment		11,381	6,456
Other		9,143	8,203
Total commitments		$372,684	$284,968

The table below presents commitments by expiration.

	As of December 2021
$ in millions		2022	2023 - 2024	2025 - 2026	2027 - Thereafter
Commitment Type
Commercial lending:
Investment-grade		$  19,095	$29,347	$46,021	$  1,122
Non-investment-grade		5,353	24,008	26,878	13,405
Warehouse financing		1,584	6,350	2,057	400
Credit cards		35,932	0	0	0
Total lending		61,964	59,705	74,956	14,927
Risk participations		1,598	6,340	1,880	198
Collateralized agreement		99,455	1,576	0	0
Collateralized financing		29,561	0	0	0
Investment		6,130	1,965	1,082	2,204
Other		8,801	297	0	45
Total commitments		$207,509	$69,883	$77,918	$17,374

In the tables above, beginning in the fourth quarter of 2021, the firm’s commitments under letters of credit, issued by various banks which the firm provides to counterparties to satisfy certain collateral and margin deposit requirements, is included in other commitments. Previously, such letters of credit were disclosed as a separate line item in the tables above. Previously reported amounts have been conformed to the current presentation.

Lending Commitments

The firm’s commercial and warehouse financing lending commitments are agreements to lend with fixed termination dates and depend on the satisfaction of all contractual conditions to borrowing. These commitments are presented net of amounts syndicated to third parties. The total commitment amount does not necessarily reflect actual future cash flows because the firm may syndicate portions of these commitments. In addition, commitments can expire unused or be reduced or cancelled at the counterparty’s request. The firm also provides credit to consumers by issuing credit card lines.

The table below presents information about lending commitments.

	As of December
$ in millions		2021	2020
Held for investment		$197,120	$162,513
Held for sale		13,175	6,594
At fair value		1,257	2,468
Total		$211,552	$171,575

In the table above:

• Held for investment lending commitments are accounted for at amortized cost. The carrying value of lending commitments was a liability of $1.05 billion (including allowance for credit losses of $776 million) as of December 2021 and $775 million (including allowance for credit losses of $557 million) as of December 2020. The estimated fair value of such lending commitments was a liability of $4.17 billion as of December 2021 and $4.05 billion as of December 2020. Had these lending commitments been carried at fair value and included in the fair value hierarchy, $1.91 billion as of December 2021 and $2.43 billion as of December 2020 would have been classified in level 2, and $2.26 billion as of December 2021 and $1.62 billion as of December 2020 would have been classified in level 3.

• Held for sale lending commitments are accounted for at the lower of cost or fair value. The carrying value of lending commitments held for sale was a liability of $91 million as of December 2021 and $68 million as of December 2020. The estimated fair value of such lending commitments approximates the carrying value. Had these lending commitments been included in the fair value hierarchy, they would have been primarily classified in level 3 as of both December 2021 and December 2020.

• Gains or losses related to lending commitments at fair value, if any, are generally recorded net of any fees in other principal transactions.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 185

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Commercial Lending.

The firm’s commercial lending commitments were primarily extended to investment-grade corporate borrowers. Such commitments primarily included $120.99 billion as of December 2021 and $110.31 billion as of December 2020, related to relationship lending activities (principally used for operating and general corporate purposes) and $21.07 billion as of December 2021 and $15.81 billion as of December 2020, related to other investment banking activities (generally extended for contingent acquisition financing and are often intended to be short-term in nature, as borrowers often seek to replace them with other funding sources). The firm also extends lending commitments in connection with other types of corporate lending, as well as commercial real estate financing. See Note 9 for further information about funded loans.

To mitigate the credit risk associated with the firm’s commercial lending activities, the firm obtains credit protection on certain loans and lending commitments through credit default swaps, both single-name and index-based contracts, and through the issuance of credit-linked notes.

Warehouse Financing.

The firm provides financing to clients who warehouse financial assets. These arrangements are secured by the warehoused assets, primarily consisting of residential real estate, consumer and corporate loans.

Credit Cards.

The firm’s credit card lending commitments included $33.97 billion as of December 2021 and $21.64 billion as of December 2020 related to credit card lines issued by the firm to consumers. These credit card lines are cancellable by the firm. Credit card commitments also includes approximately $2.0 billion relating to the firm’s commitment to acquire a credit card portfolio in connection with its agreement, in January 2021, to form a

co-branded

credit card relationship with General Motors. This acquisition was completed in February 2022.

Risk Participations

The firm also risk participates certain of its commercial lending commitments to other financial institutions. In the event of a risk participant’s default, the firm will be responsible to fund the borrower.

Collateralized Agreement Commitments/Collateralized Financing Commitments

Collateralized agreement commitments includes forward starting resale and securities borrowing agreements, and collateralized financing commitments includes forward starting repurchase and secured lending agreements that settle at a future date, generally within three business days. Collateralized agreement commitments also includes transactions where the firm has entered 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.

Investment Commitments

Investment commitments includes commitments to invest in private equity, real estate and other assets directly and through funds that the firm raises and manages. Investment commitments included $1.60 billion as of December 2021 and $1.69 billion as of December 2020, related 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.

Investment commitments also included approximately $1.90 billion as of December 2021 related to the firm’s commitment to acquire NN Investment Partners, a leading European asset manager with approximately $320billion in assets under supervision, in an

all-cash

transaction. This acquisition is expected to close in the second quarter of 2022. In addition, investment commitments included approximately $2.0billion as of December 2021 related to the firm’s commitment to acquire GreenSky, Inc. (GreenSky), a leading technology company facilitating point-of-sale financing for merchants and consumers. This acquisition is expected to close

in

the first quarter of 2022. The GreenSky acquisition will be an

all-stock

transaction in which stockholders of GreenSky and unit holders of GreenSky Holdings, LLC (GreenSky Holdings) will receive 0.03

shares of the firm’s common stock for each share of GreenSky Class A common stock and each GreenSky Holdings common unit. The investment commitment in the table above represents the purchase price of the acquisition based on the stock price of Group Inc. as of December 2021. However, the final purchase price of the acquisition will depend upon the stock price of Group Inc. at the time of the closing of the transaction. In connection with this transaction, the firm provided a commitment to acquire up to

$800 million of loans originated by GreenSky’s bank partners, and, as of December 2021, had acquired approximately $200 million of loans under this commitment. The remaining commitment of approximately $600 

million is included in other commitments in the table above. In the event that the acquisition is not completed, the firm has agreed to provide a commitment to purchase up to an additional $1.0 billion of loans originated by GreenSky’s bank partners. This commitment is not included in the table above.

186 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Contingencies

Legal Proceedings.

See Note 27 for information about legal proceedings.

Guarantees

The table below presents derivatives that meet the definition of a guarantee, securities lending and clearing guarantees and certain other financial guarantees.

$ in millions	Derivatives	Securities lending and clearing	Other financial guarantees
As of December 2021
Carrying Value of Net Liability	$    3,406	$        –	$     234
Maximum Payout/Notional Amount by Period of Expiration
2022	$  68,212	$ 11,046	$     871
2023 - 2024	48,273	–	3,608
2025 - 2026	19,706	–	2,015
2027 - thereafter	30,006	–	97
Total	$166,197	$11,046	$6,591
As of December 2020
Carrying Value of Net Liability	$    4,357	$        –	$   253
Maximum Payout/Notional Amount by Period of Expiration
2021	$  89,202	$21,352	$1,263
2022 - 2023	56,204	–	3,304
2024 - 2025	23,389	–	2,787
2026 - thereafter	32,244	–	268
Total	$201,039	$21,352	$7,622

In the table above:

• The maximum payout is based on the notional amount of the contract and does not represent anticipated losses.

• Amounts exclude certain commitments to issue standby letters of credit that are included in lending commitments. See the tables in “Commitments” above for a summary of the firm’s commitments.

• The carrying value for derivatives included derivative assets of $1.10 billion as of December 2021 and $1.66 billion as of December 2020, and derivative liabilities of $4.51 billion as of December 2021 and $6.02 billion as of December 2020.

Derivative Guarantees.

The firm enters into various derivatives that meet the definition of a guarantee under U.S. GAAP, including written equity and commodity put options, written currency contracts and interest rate caps, floors and swaptions. These derivatives are risk managed together with derivatives that do not meet the definition of a guarantee, and therefore the amounts in the table above do not reflect the firm’s overall risk related to derivative activities. Disclosures about derivatives are not required if they may be cash settled and the firm has no basis to conclude it is probable that the counterparties held the underlying instruments at inception of the contract. The firm has concluded that these conditions have been met for certain large, internationally active commercial and investment bank counterparties, central clearing counterparties, hedge funds and certain other counterparties.

Accordingly, the firm has not included such contracts in the table above. See Note 7 for information about credit derivatives that meet the definition of a guarantee, which are not included in the table above.

Derivatives are accounted for at fair value and therefore the carrying value is considered the best indication of payment/performance risk for individual contracts. However, the carrying values in the table above exclude the effect of counterparty and cash collateral netting.

Securities Lending and Clearing Guarantees.

Securities lending and clearing guarantees include the indemnifications and guarantees that the firm provides in its capacity as an agency lender and in its capacity as a sponsoring member of the Fixed Income Clearing Corporation.

As an agency lender, the firm indemnifies most of its securities lending customers against losses incurred in the event that borrowers do not return securities and the collateral held is insufficient to cover the market value of the securities borrowed. The maximum payout of such indemnifications was $11.05 billion as of December 2021 and $19.86 billion as of December 2020. Collateral held by the lenders in connection with securities lending indemnifications was $11.36 billion as of December 2021 and $20.39 billion as of December 2020. Because the contractual nature of these arrangements requires the firm to obtain collateral with a market value that exceeds the value of the securities lent to the borrower, there is minimal performance risk associated with these indemnifications.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 187

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

As a sponsoring member of the Government Securities Division of the Fixed Income Clearing Corporation, the firm guarantees the performance of its sponsored member clients to the Fixed Income Clearing Corporation in connection with certain resale and repurchase agreements. To minimize potential losses on such guarantees, the firm obtains a security interest in the collateral that the sponsored client placed with the Fixed Income Clearing Corporation. Therefore, the risk of loss on such guarantees is minimal. There were no amounts outstanding under the guarantee as of December 2021. As of December 2020, the maximum payout on this guarantee was $1.49 billion and the related collateral held was $1.50 billion.

Other Financial Guarantees.

In the ordinary course of business, the firm provides other financial guarantees of the obligations of third parties (e.g., standby letters of credit and other guarantees to enable clients to complete transactions and fund-related guarantees). These guarantees represent obligations to make payments to beneficiaries if the guaranteed party fails to fulfill its obligation under a contractual arrangement with that beneficiary. Other financial guarantees also include a guarantee that the firm has provided to the Government of Malaysia that it will receive at least $1.4 billion in assets and proceeds from assets seized by governmental authorities around the world related to 1Malaysia Development Berhad, a sovereign wealth fund in Malaysia (1MDB). The firm evaluates progress toward satisfying this obligation based on the report that it receives on a semi-annual basis, expected in February and August. Based on the latest report as of August 2021, approximately $450 million in assets or proceeds from assets has been returned to the Government of Malaysia in connection with this guarantee, which must be satisfied by August 18, 2025. Any amounts paid by the firm under this guarantee would be subject to reimbursement in the event the assets or proceeds received by the Government of Malaysia through August 18, 2028 exceeds $1.4 billion. See Note 27 for further information about matters related to 1MDB.

Guarantees of Securities Issued by Trusts.

The firm has established trusts, including Goldman Sachs Capital I, the APEX 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 14 for further information about the transactions involving Goldman Sachs Capital I and the APEX 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. No subsidiary of Group Inc. guarantees the securities of Goldman Sachs Capital I or the APEX Trusts.

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 or other parties for losses arising from its custodial role or caused by acts or omissions of third-party service providers, including

sub-custodians

and third-party brokers. In certain cases, the firm has the right to seek indemnification from these third-party service providers for certain relevant losses incurred by the firm. 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 and other loss scenarios.

In connection with the firm’s 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.

188 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

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 balance sheets as of both December 2021 and December 2020.

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 balance sheets as of both December 2021 and December 2020.

Guarantees of Subsidiaries.

Group Inc. is the entity that fully and unconditionally guarantees the securities issued by GS Finance Corp., a wholly-owned finance subsidiary of the firm. Group Inc. has guaranteed the payment obligations of Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC (GS&Co.), GS Bank USA and Goldman Sachs Paris Inc. et Cie, subject to certain exceptions. In addition, Group Inc. has provided guarantees to Goldman Sachs International (GSI) and Goldman Sachs Bank Europe SE (GSBE) related to agreements that each entity has entered into with certain of its counterparties. Furthermore, Group Inc. provided a guarantee to GS Bank USA in 2020 related to securities that GS Bank USA acquired from certain affiliated funds of Group Inc. and loans and lending commitments that GS Bank USA acquired from certain subsidiaries of Group Inc. As of December 2021, none of the securities acquired from the affiliated funds were outstanding.

Group Inc. guarantees many of the obligations of its other consolidated subsidiaries on a

transaction-by-transaction

basis, as negotiated with counterparties. Group Inc. is unable to develop an estimate of the maximum payout under its subsidiary guarantees. However, because these obligations are also obligations of consolidated subsidiaries, Group Inc.’s liabilities as guarantor are not separately disclosed.

Note 19.

Shareholders’ Equity

Common Equity

As of both December 2021 and December 2020, the firm had 4.00 billion authorized shares of common stock and 200 million authorized shares of nonvoting common stock, each with a par value of $0.01 per share.

The firm’s share repurchase program is intended to help maintain the appropriate level of common equity. The share repurchase program is effected primarily through regular open-market purchases (which may include repurchase plans designed to comply with

Rule 10b5-1

and accelerated share repurchases), the amounts and timing of which are determined primarily by the firm’s current and projected capital position, and capital deployment opportunities, but which may also be influenced by general market conditions and the prevailing price and trading volumes of the firm’s common stock. The firm suspended stock repurchases during the first quarter of 2020 and, consistent with the FRB’s requirement for all large bank holding companies (BHCs), extended the suspension of stock repurchases through the fourth quarter of 2020. The firm resumed stock repurchases in the first quarter of 2021.

The table below presents information about common stock repurchases.

	Year Ended December
in millions, except per share amounts		2021	2020	2019
Common share repurchases		15.3	8.2	25.8
Average cost per share		$339.81	$236.35	$206.56
Total cost of common share repurchases		$  5,200	$  1,928	$  5,335

Pursuant to the terms of certain share-based compensation plans, employees may remit shares to the firm or the firm may cancel share-based awards to satisfy statutory employee tax withholding requirements. Under these plans, 1,830 shares in 2021, 3,476 shares in 2020 and 7,490 shares in 2019 were remitted with a total value of $0.5 million in 2021, $0.9 million in 2020 and $2 million in 2019, and the firm cancelled 3.4 million share-based awards in 2021, 3.4 million in 2020 and 3.8 million in 2019 with a total value of $984 million in 2021, $829 million in 2020 and $743 million in 2019.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 189

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

The table below presents common stock dividends declared.

	Year Ended December
		2021	2020	2019
Dividends declared per common share		$6.50	$5.00	$4.15

On

January 14, 2022

, the Board of Directors of Group Inc. (Board) declared a dividend of $

2.00

per common share to be paid on

March 30, 2022

to common shareholders of record on

March 2, 2022.

Preferred Equity

The tables below present information about the perpetual preferred stock issued and outstanding as of December 2021.

Series	Shares Authorized	Shares Issued	Shares Outstanding	Depositary Shares Per Share
A	50,000	30,000	29,999	1,000
C	25,000	8,000	8,000	1,000
D	60,000	54,000	53,999	1,000
E	17,500	7,667	7,667	N/A
F	5,000	1,615	1,615	N/A
J	46,000	40,000	40,000	1,000
K	32,200	28,000	28,000	1,000
O	26,000	26,000	26,000	25
P	66,000	60,000	60,000	25
Q	20,000	20,000	20,000	25
R	24,000	24,000	24,000	25
S	14,000	14,000	14,000	25
T	27,000	27,000	27,000	25
U	30,000	30,000	30,000	25
V	30,000	30,000	30,000	25
Total	472,700	400,282	400,280

Series	Earliest Redemption Date	Liquidation Preference	Redemption Value ($ in millions)
A	Currently redeemable	$  25,000	$     750
C	Currently redeemable	$  25,000	200
D	Currently redeemable	$  25,000	1,350
E	Currently redeemable	$100,000	767
F	Currently redeemable	$100,000	161
J	May 10, 2023	$  25,000	1,000
K	May 10, 2024	$  25,000	700
O	November 10, 2026	$  25,000	650
P	November 10, 2022	$  25,000	1,500
Q	August 10, 2024	$  25,000	500
R	February 10, 2025	$  25,000	600
S	February 10, 2025	$  25,000	350
T	May 10, 2026	$  25,000	675
U	August 10, 2026	$  25,000	750
V	November 10, 2026	$  25,000	750
Total			$10,703

In the tables above:

• All shares have a par value of $0.01 per share and, where applicable, each share is represented by the specified number of depositary shares.

• The earliest redemption date represents the date on which each share of non-cumulative preferred stock is redeemable at the firm’s option.

• Prior to redeeming preferred stock, the firm must receive approval from the FRB.

• In October 2021, the firm issued 30,000 shares of Series V 4.125% Fixed-Rate Reset Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock (Series V Preferred Stock).

• In July 2021, the firm issued 30,000 shares of Series U 3.65% Fixed-Rate Reset Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock (Series U Preferred Stock).

• In April 2021, the firm issued 27,000 shares of Series T 3.80% Fixed-Rate Reset Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock (Series T Preferred Stock).

• The redemption price per share for Series A through F and Series Q through V Preferred Stock is the liquidation preference plus declared and unpaid dividends. The redemption price per share for Series J through P Preferred Stock is the liquidation preference plus accrued and unpaid dividends. Each share of Series E and Series F Preferred Stock is redeemable at the firm’s option, subject to certain covenant restrictions governing the firm’s ability to redeem the preferred stock without issuing common stock or other instruments with equity-like characteristics. See Note 14 for information about the replacement capital covenants applicable to the Series E and Series F Preferred Stock.

• All series of preferred stock are pari passu and have a preference over the firm’s common stock on liquidation.

• The firm’s ability to declare or pay dividends on, or purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire, its common stock is subject to certain restrictions in the event that the firm fails to pay or set aside full dividends on the preferred stock for the latest completed dividend period.

In 2021, the firm

redeemed

all outstanding shares of its (i) Series N 6.30%

Non-Cumulative

Preferred Stock with a redemption value of $675 million ($25,000 per share), plus accrued and unpaid dividends and its (ii) Series M 5.375%

Fixed-to-Floating

Rate

Non-Cumulative

Preferred Stock with a redemption value of $2 billion ($25,000 per share), plus accrued and unpaid dividends. The difference between the redemption value and net carrying value at the time of these redemptions was $41 million, which was recorded as an addition to preferred stock dividends in 2021.

In 2020, the firm redeemed the remaining 14,000 outstanding shares of its Series L 5.70%

Non-Cumulative

Preferred Stock with a redemption value of $350 million ($25,000 per share), plus accrued and unpaid dividends. The difference between the redemption value and net carrying value was $1 million, which was recorded as an addition to preferred stock dividends in 2020.

190 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

The table below presents the dividend rates of perpetual preferred stock as of December 2021.

Series		Per Annum Dividend Rate
A	3 month LIBOR + 0.75%, with floor of 3.75%, payable quarterly
C	3 month LIBOR + 0.75%, with floor of 4.00%, payable quarterly
D	3 month LIBOR + 0.67%, with floor of 4.00%, payable quarterly
E	3 month LIBOR + 0.7675%, with floor of 4.00%, payable quarterly
F	3 month LIBOR + 0.77%, with floor of 4.00%, payable quarterly
J	5.50% to, but excluding, May 10, 2023; 3 month LIBOR + 3.64% thereafter, payable quarterly
K	6.375% to, but excluding, May 10, 2024; 3 month LIBOR + 3.55% thereafter, payable quarterly
O	5.30%, payable semi-annually, from issuance date to, but excluding, November 10, 2026; 3 month LIBOR + 3.834%, payable quarterly, thereafter
P	5.00%, payable semi-annually, from issuance date to, but excluding, November 10, 2022; 3 month LIBOR + 2.874%, payable quarterly, thereafter
Q	5.50%, payable semi-annually, from issuance date to, but excluding, August 10, 2024; 5 year treasury rate + 3.623%, payable semi-annually, thereafter
R	4.95%, payable semi-annually, from issuance date to, but excluding, February 10, 2025; 5 year treasury rate + 3.224%, payable semi-annually, thereafter
S	4.40%, payable semi-annually, from issuance date to, but excluding, February 10, 2025; 5 year treasury rate + 2.85%, payable semi-annually thereafter
T	3.80%, payable semi-annually, from issuance date to, but excluding, May 10, 2026; 5 year treasury rate + 2.969%, payable semi-annually, thereafter
U	3.65%, payable semi-annually, from issuance date to, but excluding, August 10, 2026; 5 year treasury rate + 2.915%, payable semi-annually, thereafter
V	4.125%, payable semi-annually, from issuance date to, but excluding, November 10, 2026; 5 year treasury rate + 2.949%, payable semi-annually, thereafter

In the table above, dividends on each series of preferred stock are payable in arrears for the periods specified.

The table below presents preferred stock dividends declared.

	Year Ended December
	2021			2020			2019
Series		per share	$ in millions		per share	$ in millions		per share	$ in millions
A		$ 950.51	$  28		$   947.92	$  28		$   947.92	$  28
B		$           –	–		$            –	–		$   775.00	5
C		$1,013.90	8		$1,011.12	8		$1,011.11	8
D		$1,013.90	55		$1,011.12	55		$1,011.11	54
E		$4,055.55	31		$4,055.55	31		$4,044.44	31
F		$4,055.55	7		$4,055.55	6		$4,044.44	7
J		$1,375.00	55		$1,375.00	55		$1,375.00	55
K		$1,593.76	44		$1,593.76	45		$1,593.76	45
L		$           –	–		$   361.54	4		$1,519.67	68
M		$           –	–		$1,217.16	97		$1,343.76	107
N		$ 787.50	19		$1,575.00	43		$1,575.00	43
O		$1,325.00	34		$1,325.00	34		$1,325.00	34
P		$1,250.00	75		$1,250.00	75		$1,250.00	75
Q		$1,375.00	28		$1,577.43	32		$            –	–
R		$1,237.50	30		$   910.94	22		$            –	–
S		$1,100.00	15		$   586.67	8		$            –	–
T		$ 511.94	14		$            –	–		$            –	–
Total			$443			$543			$560

On January 6, 2022, Group Inc. declared dividends of $239.58 per share of Series A Preferred Stock, $255.56 per share of Series C Preferred Stock, $255.56 per share of Series D Preferred Stock, $343.75 per share of Series J Preferred Stock, $398.44 per share of Series K Preferred Stock, $687.50 per share of Series Q Preferred Stock, $618.75 per share of Series R Preferred Stock, $550.00 per share of Series S Preferred Stock and $486.67 per share of Series U Preferred Stock to be paid on February 10, 2022 to preferred shareholders of record on January 26, 2022. In addition, the firm declared dividends of $1,000.00 per share of Series E Preferred Stock and $1,000.00 per share of Series F Preferred Stock to be paid on March 1, 2022 to preferred shareholders of record on February 14, 2022.

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(Loss)

The table below presents changes in accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss), net of tax, by type.

$ in millions	Beginning balance		Other comprehensive income/(loss) adjustments, net of tax		Ending balance
Year Ended December 2021
Currency translation	$ (696	)	$    (42	)	$ (738	)
Debt valuation adjustment	(833	)	322		(511	)
Pension and postretirement liabilities	(368	)	41		(327	)
Available-for-sale securities	463		(955	)	(492	)
Total	$(1,434	)	$  (634	)	$(2,068	)
Year Ended December 2020
Currency translation	$  (616	)	$     (80	)	$  (696	)
Debt valuation adjustment	(572	)	(261	)	(833	)
Pension and postretirement liabilities	(342	)	(26	)	(368	)
Available-for-sale securities	46		417		463
Total	$(1,484	)	$      50		$(1,434	)
Year Ended December 2019
Currency translation	$  (621	)	$        5		$  (616	)
Debt valuation adjustment	1,507		(2,079	)	(572	)
Pension and postretirement liabilities	(81	)	(261	)	(342	)
Available-for-sale securities	(112	)	158		46
Total	$   693		$(2,177	)	$(1,484	)

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 191

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Note 20.

Regulation and Capital Adequacy

The FRB is the primary regulator of Group Inc., a BHC under the U.S. Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 and a financial holding company under amendments to this Act. The firm is subject to consolidated regulatory capital requirements which are calculated in accordance with the regulations of the FRB (Capital Framework).

The capital requirements are expressed as risk-based capital and leverage ratios that compare measures of regulatory capital to risk-weighted assets (RWAs), average assets and

off-balance

sheet exposures. Failure to comply with these capital requirements would result in restrictions being imposed by the firm’s regulators and could limit the firm’s ability to repurchase shares, pay dividends and make certain discretionary compensation payments. The firm’s capital levels are also subject to qualitative judgments by the regulators about components of capital, risk weightings and other factors. Furthermore, certain of the firm’s subsidiaries are subject to separate regulations and capital requirements.

Capital Framework

The regulations under the Capital Framework are largely based on the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision’s (Basel Committee) capital framework for strengthening international capital standards (Basel III) and also implement certain provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act. Under the Capital Framework, the firm is an “Advanced approach” banking organization and has been designated as a global systemically important bank

(G-SIB).

The Capital Framework includes the minimum risk-based capital and the capital conservation buffer requirements. The buffer must consist entirely of capital that qualifies as Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) capital.

The firm calculates its CET1 capital, Tier 1 capital and Total capital ratios in accordance with both the Standardized and Advanced Capital Rules. Each of the ratios calculated under the Standardized and Advanced Capital Rules must meet its respective capital requirements.

Under the Capital Framework, the firm is also subject to leverage requirements which consist of a minimum Tier 1 leverage ratio and a minimum supplementary leverage ratio (SLR), as well as the SLR buffer.

Consolidated Regulatory Capital Requirements

Risk-Based Capital Ratios.

The table below presents the risk-based capital requirements.

	Standardized	Advanced
As of December 2021
CET1 capital ratio	13.4%	9.5%
Tier 1 capital ratio	14.9%	11.0%
Total capital ratio	16.9%	13.0%
As of December 2020
CET1 capital ratio	13.6%	9.5%
Tier 1 capital ratio	15.1%	11.0%
Total capital ratio	17.1%	13.0%

In the table above:

• As of both December 2021 and December 2020, under both the Standardized and Advanced Capital Rules, the CET1 capital ratio requirement includes a minimum of 4.5%, the Tier 1 capital ratio requirement includes a minimum of 6.0% and the Total capital ratio requirement includes a minimum of 8.0%. These requirements also include the capital conservation buffer requirements, consisting of the G-SIB surcharge of 2.5% (Method 2) and the countercyclical capital buffer, which the FRB has set to 0 percent. In addition, the capital conservation buffer requirements include the stress capital buffer (SCB) of 6.4% as of December 2021 and 6.6% as of December 2020 under the Standardized Capital Rules and a buffer of 2.5% as of both December 2021 and December 2020 under the Advanced Capital Rules.

• The G-SIB surcharge is updated annually based on financial data from the prior year and is generally applicable for the following year. The G-SIB surcharge is calculated using two methodologies, the higher of which is reflected in the firm’s risk-based capital requirements. The first calculation (Method 1) is based on the Basel Committee’s methodology which, among other factors, relies upon measures of the size, activity and complexity of each G-SIB. The second calculation (Method 2) uses similar inputs but includes a measure of reliance on short-term wholesale funding.

192 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

The table below presents information about risk-based capital ratios.

$ in millions	Standardized	Advanced
As of December 2021
CET1 capital	$  96,254	$  96,254
Tier 1 capital	$106,766	$106,766
Tier 2 capital	$  14,636	$  12,051
Total capital	$121,402	$118,817
RWAs	$676,863	$647,921
CET1 capital ratio	14.2%	14.9%
Tier 1 capital ratio	15.8%	16.5%
Total capital ratio	17.9%	18.3%
As of December 2020
CET1 capital	$  81,641	$  81,641
Tier 1 capital	$  92,730	$  92,730
Tier 2 capital	$  15,424	$  13,279
Total capital	$108,154	$106,009
RWAs	$554,162	$609,750
CET1 capital ratio	14.7%	13.4%
Tier 1 capital ratio	16.7%	15.2%
Total capital ratio	19.5%	17.4%

In the table above,

• As permitted by the FRB, the firm elected to temporarily delay the estimated effects of adopting CECL on regulatory capital until January 2022 and to subsequently phase   in the effects through January 2025. In addition, the firm elected to increase regulatory capital by 25% of the increase in the allowance for credit losses since January 1, 2020, as permitted by the rules issued by the FRB. The impact of this increase will also be phased in over the three-year transition period. Reflecting the full impact of CECL as of both December 2021 and December 2020 would not have had a material impact on the firm’s capital ratios.

• In the third quarter of 2021, based on regulatory feedback, the firm revised certain interpretations of the Capital Rules underlying the calculation of Standardized RWAs. As of December 2020, this change would have increased the firm’s Standardized RWAs of $554 billion by approximately $23 billion, which would have reduced the firm’s Standardized CET1 capital ratio of 14.7% by 0.6 percentage points, Standardized Tier 1 capital ratio of 16.7% by 0.6 percentage points and Standardized Total capital ratio of 19.5% by 0.8 percentage points.

• In December 2021, the firm early adopted the U.S. federal bank regulatory agencies’ final rule that implements the new standardized approach for counterparty credit risk (SA-CCR). SA-CCR replaced the current exposure method for calculating the exposure amount of derivative contracts for determining Standardized RWAs and supplementary leverage exposure. Adoption of SA-CCR resulted in a decrease to the firm’s Standardized CET1 capital ratio by approximately 0.3 percentage points as of December 2021.

Leverage Ratios.

The table below presents the leverage requirements.

	Requirements
Tier 1 leverage ratio	4.0%
SLR	5.0%

In the table above, the SLR requirement of 5% includes a minimum of 3% and a 2% buffer applicable to

G-SIBs.

The table below presents information about leverage ratios.

	For the Three Months Ended or as of December
$ in millions		2021		2020
Tier 1 capital		$     106,766		$     92,730
Average total assets		$1,466,770		$1,152,785
Deductions from Tier 1 capital		(4,583	)	(4,948	)
Average adjusted total assets		1,462,187		1,147,837
Impact of SLR temporary amendment		–		(202,748	)
Off-balance sheet and other exposures		448,334		387,848
Total leverage exposure		$1,910,521		$1,332,937
Tier 1 leverage ratio		7.3%		8.1%
SLR		5.6%		7.0%

In the table above:

• Average total assets represents the average daily assets for the quarter adjusted for the impact of CECL transition.

• Impact of SLR temporary amendment represented the exclusion of average holdings of U.S. Treasury securities and average deposits at the Federal Reserve as permitted by the FRB. The impact of this temporary amendment was an increase in the firm’s SLR by approximately 1.0 percentage points for the three months ended December 2020. The amendment permitting this exclusion expired on April 1, 2021.

• Off-balance sheet and other exposures primarily includes the monthly average of off-balance sheet exposures, consisting of derivatives, securities financing transactions, commitments and guarantees.

• Tier 1 leverage ratio is calculated as Tier 1 capital divided by average adjusted total assets.

• SLR is calculated as Tier 1 capital divided by total leverage exposure. Adoption of SA-CCR in December 2021, as described above, did not result in a material impact to the firm’s SLR for the three months ended December 2021.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 193

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Risk-Based Capital.

The table below presents information about risk-based capital.

	As of December
$ in millions		2021		2020
Common shareholders’ equity		$  99,223		$  84,729
Impact of CECL transition		1,105		1,126
Deduction for goodwill		(3,610	)	(3,652	)
Deduction for identifiable intangible assets		(401	)	(601	)
Other adjustments		(63	)	39
CET1 capital		96,254		81,641
Preferred stock		10,703		11,203
Deduction for investments in covered funds		(189	)	(106	)
Other adjustments		(2	)	(8	)
Tier 1 capital		$106,766		$  92,730
Standardized Tier 2 and Total capital
Tier 1 capital		$106,766		$  92,730
Qualifying subordinated debt		11,554		12,196
Junior subordinated debt		94		188
Allowance for credit losses		3,034		3,095
Other adjustments		(46	)	(55	)
Standardized Tier 2 capital		14,636		15,424
Standardized Total capital		$121,402		$108,154
Advanced Tier 2 and Total capital
Tier 1 capital		$106,766		$  92,730
Standardized Tier 2 capital		14,636		15,424
Allowance for credit losses		(3,034	)	(3,095	)
Other adjustments		449		950
Advanced Tier 2 capital		12,051		13,279
Advanced Total capital		$118,817		$106,009

In the table above:

• Impact of CECL transition represents the impact of adoption as of January 1, 2020 and the impact of increasing regulatory capital by 25% of the increase in the allowance for credit losses since January 1, 2020. The allowance for credit losses within Standardized and Advanced Tier 2 capital also reflects the impact of these adjustments.

• Deduction for goodwill was net of deferred tax liabilities of $675 million as of December 2021 and $680 million as of December 2020.

• Deduction for identifiable intangible assets was net of deferred tax liabilities of $17 million as of December 2021 and $29 million as of December 2020.

• Deduction for investments in covered funds represents the firm’s aggregate investments in applicable covered funds, excluding investments that are subject to an extended conformance period. See Note 8 for further information about the Volcker Rule.

• Other adjustments within CET1 capital and Tier 1 capital primarily include credit valuation adjustments on derivative liabilities, the overfunded portion of the firm’s defined benefit pension plan obligation net of associated deferred tax liabilities, disallowed deferred tax assets, debt valuation adjustments and other required credit risk-based deductions. Other adjustments within Advanced Tier 2 capital include eligible credit reserves.

• Qualifying subordinated debt is subordinated debt issued by Group Inc. with an original maturity of five years or greater. The outstanding amount of subordinated debt qualifying for Tier 2 capital is reduced upon reaching a remaining maturity of five years. See Note 14 for further information about the firm’s subordinated debt.

• Junior subordinated debt is debt issued to a Trust. As of December 2021, 10% of this debt was included in Tier 2 capital and 90% was phased out of regulatory capital. As of December 2020, 20% of this debt was included in Tier 2 capital and 80% was phased out of regulatory capital. Junior subordinated debt is reduced by the amount of Trust Preferred securities purchased by the firm and was fully phased out of Tier 2 capital beginning in January 2022. See Note 14 for further information about the firm’s junior subordinated debt and Trust Preferred securities.

194 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

The table below presents changes in CET1 capital, Tier 1 capital and Tier 2 capital.

$ in millions	Standardized		Advanced
Year Ended December 2021
CET1 capital
Beginning balance	$  81,641		$  81,641
Change in:
Common shareholders’ equity	14,494		14,494
Impact of CECL transition	(21	)	(21	)
Deduction for goodwill	42		42
Deduction for identifiable intangible assets	200		200
Other adjustments	(102	)	(102	)
Ending balance	$  96,254		$  96,254
Tier 1 capital
Beginning balance	$  92,730		$  92,730
Change in:
CET1 capital	14,613		14,613
Deduction for investments in covered funds	(83	)	(83	)
Preferred stock	(500	)	(500	)
Other adjustments	6		6
Ending balance	106,766		106,766
Tier 2 capital
Beginning balance	15,424		13,279
Change in:
Qualifying subordinated debt	(642	)	(642	)
Junior subordinated debt	(94	)	(94	)
Allowance for credit losses	(61	)	0
Other adjustments	9		(492	)
Ending balance	14,636		12,051
Total capital	$121,402		$118,817
Year Ended December 2020
CET1 capital
Beginning balance	$  74,850		$  74,850
Change in:
Common shareholders’ equity	5,667		5,667
Impact of CECL transition	1,126		1,126
Deduction for goodwill	(123	)	(123	)
Deduction for identifiable intangible assets	3		3
Other adjustments	118		118
Ending balance	$  81,641		$  81,641
Tier 1 capital
Beginning balance	$  85,440		$  85,440
Change in:
CET1 capital	6,791		6,791
Deduction for investments in covered funds	504		504
Other adjustments	(5	)	(5	)
Ending balance	92,730		92,730
Tier 2 capital
Beginning balance	14,925		13,473
Change in:
Qualifying subordinated debt	(651	)	(651	)
Junior subordinated debt	(96	)	(96	)
Allowance for credit losses	1,293		0
Other adjustments	(47	)	553
Ending balance	15,424		13,279
Total capital	$108,154		$106,009

RWAs.

RWAs are calculated in accordance with both the Standardized and Advanced Capital Rules.

Credit Risk

Credit RWAs are calculated based on measures of exposure, which are then risk weighted under the Standardized and Advanced Capital Rules:

• The Standardized Capital Rules apply prescribed risk-weights, which depend largely on the type of counterparty. The exposure measure for derivatives and securities financing transactions are based on specific formulas which take certain factors into consideration.

• Under the Advanced Capital Rules, the firm computes risk-weights for wholesale and retail credit exposures in accordance with the Advanced Internal Ratings-Based approach. The exposure measures for derivatives and securities financing transactions are computed utilizing internal models.

• For both Standardized and Advanced credit RWAs, the risk-weights for securitizations and equities are based on specific required formulaic approaches.

Market Risk

RWAs for market risk in accordance with the Standardized and Advanced Capital Rules are generally consistent. Market RWAs are calculated based on measures of exposure which include the following:

• Value-at-Risk (VaR) is the potential loss in value of trading assets and liabilities, as well as certain investments, loans, and other financial assets and liabilities accounted for at fair value, due to adverse market movements over a defined time horizon with a specified confidence level.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 195

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

For both risk management purposes and regulatory capital calculations, the firm uses a single VaR model which captures risks, including those related to interest rates, equity prices, currency rates and commodity prices. However, VaR used for risk management purposes differs from VaR used for regulatory capital requirements (regulatory VaR) due to differences in time horizons, confidence levels and the scope of positions on which VaR is calculated. For risk management purposes, a 95%

one-day

VaR is used, whereas for regulatory capital requirements, a 99%

10-day

VaR is used to determine Market RWAs and a 99%

one-day

VaR is used to determine regulatory VaR exceptions. In addition, the daily net revenues used to determine risk management VaR exceptions (i.e., comparing the daily net revenues to the VaR measure calculated as of the end of the prior business day) include intraday activity, whereas the Capital Framework requires that intraday activity be excluded from daily net revenues when calculating regulatory VaR exceptions. Intraday activity includes bid/offer net revenues, which are more likely than not to be positive by their nature. As a result, there may be differences in the number of VaR exceptions and the amount of daily net revenues calculated for regulatory VaR compared to the amounts calculated for risk management VaR.

The firm’s positional losses observed on a single day exceeded its 99%

one-day

regulatory VaR on one occasion during 2021 and on six occasions during 2020 (all of which occurred during March 2020 and, as permitted by the FRB, did not have any impact on the firm’s VaR multiplier used to calculate Market RWAs);

• Stressed VaR is the potential loss in value of trading assets and liabilities, as well as certain investments, loans, and other financial assets and liabilities accounted for at fair value, during a period of significant market stress;

• Incremental risk is the potential loss in value of non-securitized positions due to the default or credit migration of issuers of financial instruments over a one-year time horizon;

• Comprehensive risk is the potential loss in value, due to price risk and defaults, within the firm’s credit correlation positions; and

• Specific risk is the risk of loss on a position that could result from factors other than broad market movements, including event risk, default risk and idiosyncratic risk. The standardized measurement method is used to determine specific risk RWAs, by applying supervisory defined risk-weighting factors after applicable netting is performed.

Operational Risk

Operational RWAs are only required to be included under the Advanced Capital Rules. The firm utilizes an internal risk-based model to quantify Operational RWAs.

The table below presents information about RWAs.

$ in millions	Standardized	Advanced
As of December 2021
Credit RWAs
Derivatives	$175,628	$109,532
Commitments, guarantees and loans	233,639	182,210
Securities financing transactions	76,346	14,407
Equity investments	43,256	45,582
Other	71,485	86,768
Total Credit RWAs	600,354	438,499
Market RWAs
Regulatory VaR	13,510	13,510
Stressed VaR	38,922	38,922
Incremental risk	6,867	6,867
Comprehensive risk	2,521	2,521
Specific risk	14,689	14,689
Total Market RWAs	76,509	76,509
Total Operational RWAs	0	132,913
Total RWAs	$676,863	$647,921
As of December 2020
Credit RWAs
Derivatives	$120,292	$111,691
Commitments, guarantees and loans	176,501	151,587
Securities financing transactions	71,427	16,568
Equity investments	46,944	49,268
Other	70,274	83,599
Total Credit RWAs	485,438	412,713
Market RWAs
Regulatory VaR	14,913	14,913
Stressed VaR	31,978	31,978
Incremental risk	7,882	7,882
Comprehensive risk	1,758	1,758
Specific risk	12,193	12,193
Total Market RWAs	68,724	68,724
Total Operational RWAs	0	128,313
Total RWAs	$554,162	$609,750

In the table above:

• Securities financing transactions represents resale and repurchase agreements and securities borrowed and loaned transactions.

• Other includes receivables, certain debt securities, cash and cash equivalents, and other assets.

196 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

The table below presents changes in RWAs.

$ in millions	Standardized		Advanced
Year Ended December 2021
RWAs
Beginning balance	$554,162		$609,750
Credit RWAs
Change in:
Derivatives	55,336		(2,159	)
Commitments, guarantees and loans	57,138		30,623
Securities financing transactions	4,919		(2,161	)
Equity investments	(3,688	)	(3,686	)
Other	1,211		3,169
Change in Credit RWAs	114,916		25,786
Market RWAs
Change in:
Regulatory VaR	(1,403	)	(1,403	)
Stressed VaR	6,944		6,944
Incremental risk	(1,015	)	(1,015	)
Comprehensive risk	763		763
Specific risk	2,496		2,496
Change in Market RWAs	7,785		7,785
Change in Operational RWAs	0		4,600
Ending balance	$676,863		$647,921
Year Ended December 2020
RWAs
Beginning balance	$563,575		$544,653
Credit RWAs
Change in:
Derivatives	(614	)	39,060
Commitments, guarantees and loans	(3,239	)	17,131
Securities financing transactions	5,560		2,734
Equity investments	(9,870	)	(12,624	)
Other	(5,386	)	5,333
Change in Credit RWAs	(13,549	)	51,634
Market RWAs
Change in:
Regulatory VaR	5,980		5,980
Stressed VaR	1,067		1,067
Incremental risk	3,574		3,574
Comprehensive risk	365		567
Specific risk	(6,850	)	(6,850	)
Change in Market RWAs	4,136		4,338
Change in Operational RWAs	0		9,125
Ending balance	$554,162		$609,750

RWAs Rollforward Commentary

Year Ended December 2021.

Standardized Credit RWAs as of December 2021 increased by $114.92 billion compared with December 2020, primarily reflecting an increase in commitments, guarantees and loans (principally due to increased lending activity and revisions to certain interpretations of the Capital Rules underlying the RWA calculation based on regulatory feedback) and an increase in derivatives (principally due to increased exposures and the impact of SA-CCR adoption). Standardized Market RWAs as of December 2021 increased by $7.79 billion compared with December 2020, primarily reflecting an increase in stressed VaR (principally due to increased exposures to interest rates).

Advanced Credit RWAs as of December 2021 increased by $25.79 billion compared with December 2020, primarily reflecting an increase in commitments, guarantees and loans (principally due to increased lending activity). This increase was partially offset by a decrease in equity investments (principally due to the sale of equity positions). Advanced Market RWAs as of December 2021 increased by $7.79 billion compared with December 2020, primarily reflecting an increase in stressed VaR (principally due to increased exposures to interest rates). Advanced Operational RWAs as of December 2021 increased by $4.60 billion compared with December 2020, primarily associated with litigation and regulatory proceedings.

Year Ended December 2020.

Standardized Credit RWAs as of December 2020 decreased by $13.55 billion compared with December 2019, primarily reflecting a decrease in equity investments (principally due to the sale of certain equity positions) and a decrease in other (principally due to decreased receivables as a result of changes in risk measurements). These decreases were partially offset by an increase in securities financing transactions (principally due to increased funding exposures). Standardized Market RWAs as of December 2020 increased by $4.14 billion compared with December 2019, primarily reflecting an increase in regulatory VaR (principally due to increased market volatility) and an increase in incremental risk (principally due to increased exposures in equities held for market-making purposes). These increases were partially offset by a decrease in specific risk (principally due to changes in risk measurements on certain exposures).

Advanced Credit RWAs as of December 2020 increased by $51.63 billion compared with December 2019, primarily reflecting an increase in derivatives (principally due to the impact of higher levels of volatility and counterparty credit risk) and an increase in commitments, guarantees and loans (principally due to increased lending activity). These increases were partially offset by a decrease in equity investments (principally due to the sale of certain equity positions). Advanced Market RWAs as of December 2020 increased by $4.34 billion compared with December 2019, primarily reflecting an increase in regulatory VaR (principally due to increased market volatility) and an increase in incremental risk (principally due to increased exposures in equities held for market-making purposes). These increases were partially offset by a decrease in specific risk (principally due to changes in risk measurements on certain exposures). Advanced Operational RWAs as of December 2020 increased by $9.13 billion compared with December 2019. The vast majority of this increase was associated with litigation and regulatory proceedings.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 197

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Bank Subsidiaries

GS Bank USA.

GS Bank USA is the firm’s primary U.S. bank subsidiary. GS Bank USA is an FDIC-insured, New York State-chartered bank and a member of the Federal Reserve System, is supervised and regulated by the FRB, the FDIC, the New York State Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and is subject to regulatory capital requirements that are calculated under the Capital Framework. On July 1, 2021, GS Bank USA acquired GSBE, a

non-U.S.

banking subsidiary of the firm, which is also subject to standalone regulatory capital requirements noted below. GS Bank USA is an Advanced approach banking organization under the Capital Framework.

The Capital Framework includes the minimum risk-based capital and the capital conservation buffer requirements (consisting of a 2.5% buffer and the countercyclical capital buffer). The buffer must consist entirely of capital that qualifies as CET1 capital. In addition, the Capital Framework includes the leverage ratio requirement.

GS Bank USA is required to calculate the CET1 capital, Tier 1 capital and Total capital ratios in accordance with both the Standardized and Advanced Capital Rules. The lower of each risk-based capital ratio under the Standardized and Advanced Capital Rules is the ratio against which GS Bank USA’s compliance with its risk-based capital requirements is assessed. In addition, under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action applicable to GS Bank USA, in order to meet the quantitative requirements for a “well-capitalized” depository institution, GS Bank USA must also meet the “well-capitalized” requirements in the table below. GS Bank USA’s capital levels and prompt corrective action classification are also subject to qualitative judgments by the regulators about components of capital, risk weightings and other factors. Failure to comply with the capital requirements, including a breach of the buffers described below, would result in restrictions being imposed by the regulators.

The table below presents GS Bank USA’s risk-based capital, leverage and “well-capitalized” requirements.

	Requirements	“Well-capitalized” Requirements
Risk-based capital requirements
CET1 capital ratio	7.0%	6.5%
Tier 1 capital ratio	8.5%	8.0%
Total capital ratio	10.5%	10.0%
Leverage requirements
Tier 1 leverage ratio	4.0%	5.0%
SLR	3.0%	6.0%

In the table above:

• The CET1 capital ratio requirement includes a minimum of 4.5%, the Tier 1 capital ratio requirement includes a minimum of 6.0% and the Total capital ratio requirement includes a minimum of 8.0%. These requirements also include the capital conservation buffer requirements consisting of a 2.5% buffer and the countercyclical capital buffer, which the FRB has set to 0percent.

• The “well-capitalized” requirements are the binding requirements for leverage ratios.

The table below presents information about GS Bank USA’s risk-based capital ratios.

$ in millions	Standardized	Advanced
As of December 2021
CET1 capital	$  42,535	$  42,535
Tier 1 capital	$  42,535	$  42,535
Tier 2 capital	$    6,430	$    4,646
Total capital	$  48,965	$  47,181
RWAs	$312,601	$222,607
CET1 capital ratio	13.6%	19.1%
Tier 1 capital ratio	13.6%	19.1%
Total capital ratio	15.7%	21.2%
As of December 2020
CET1 capital	$  34,687	$  34,687
Tier 1 capital	$  34,687	$  34,687
Tier 2 capital	$    6,312	$    4,963
Total capital	$  40,999	$  39,650
RWAs	$280,877	$173,442
CET1 capital ratio	12.3%	20.0%
Tier 1 capital ratio	12.3%	20.0%
Total capital ratio	14.6%	22.9%

In the table above:

• In accordance with the reporting requirements for business combinations of entities under common control, prior period amounts are presented as if the acquisition of GSBE by GS Bank USA had occurred at the beginning of 2020.

• The lower of the Standardized or Advanced ratio is the ratio against which GS Bank USA’s compliance with the capital requirements is assessed under the risk-based Capital Rules, and therefore, the Standardized ratios applied to GS Bank USA as of both December 2021 and December 2020.

• As permitted by the FRB, GS Bank USA elected to temporarily delay the estimated effects of adopting CECL on regulatory capital until January 2022 and to subsequently phase   in the effects through January 2025. In addition, GS Bank USA elected to increase regulatory capital by 25% of the increase in the allowance for credit losses since January 1, 2020, as permitted by the rules issued by the FRB. The impact of this increase will also be phased in over the three-year transition period. Reflecting the full impact of CECL as of both December 2021 and December 2020 would not have had a material impact on GS Bank USA’s Standardized risk-based capital ratios.

198 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

• In connection with the regulatory feedback the firm received in the third quarter of 2021, GS Bank USA revised certain interpretations of the Capital Rules underlying the calculation of Standardized RWAs. As of December 2020, this change would have increased GS Bank USA’s Standardized RWAs of $281 billion by approximately $11 billion, which would have reduced GS Bank USA’s Standardized CET1 capital ratio of 12.3% by 0.4 percentage points, Standardized Tier 1 capital ratio of 12.3% by 0.4 percentage points and Standardized Total capital ratio of 14.6% by 0.6 percentage points.

• In December 2021, GS Bank USA adopted SA-CCR , which resulted in an increase to GS Bank USA’s Standardized CET1 capital ratio by approximately 1.9 percentage points as of December 2021.

• The Standardized risk-based capital ratios increased from December 2020 to December 2021, reflecting an increase in capital due to capital contributions and net earnings, partially offset by an increase in both Credit and Market RWAs. The increase in Standardized Credit RWAs reflected an increase in commitments, guarantees and loans (principally due to increased lending activity and revisions to certain interpretations of the Capital Rules underlying the RWA calculation based on regulatory feedback described above), partially offset by a decrease in derivatives (principally due to the impact of SA-CCR adoption described above). The increase in Standardized Market RWAs primarily reflected an increase in stressed VaR and regulatory VaR (in each case, principally due to increased exposures to interest rates).

• The Advanced risk-based capital ratios decreased from December 2020 to December 2021, reflecting an increase in both Credit and Market RWAs, partially offset by an increase in capital due to capital contributions and net earnings. The increase in Advanced Credit RWAs reflected an increase in commitments, guarantees and loans (principally due to increased lending activity) and the increase in Advanced Market RWAs primarily reflected an increase in stressed VaR and regulatory VaR (in each case, principally due to increased exposures to interest rates).

The table below presents information about GS Bank USA’s leverage ratios.

	For the Three Months Ended or as of December
$ in millions		2021	2020
Tier 1 capital		$  42,535	$  34,687
Average adjusted total assets		$409,739	$310,690
Total leverage exposure		$627,799	$381,637
Tier 1 leverage ratio		10.4%	11.2%
SLR		6.8%	9.1%

In the table above:

• In accordance with the reporting requirements for business combinations of entities under common control, prior period amounts are presented as if the acquisition of GSBE by GS Bank USA had occurred at the beginning of 2020.

• Average adjusted total assets represents the average daily assets for the quarter adjusted for deductions from Tier 1 capital and the impact of CECL transition.

• Total leverage exposure, for the three months ended December 2020, excluded average holdings of U.S. Treasury securities and average deposits at the Federal Reserve as permitted by the FRB under a temporary amendment. The impact of this temporary amendment was an increase in GS Bank USA’s SLR by approximately 2.4 percentage points for the three months ended December 2020. The amendment permitting this exclusion expired on April 1, 2021.

• Tier 1 leverage ratio is calculated as Tier 1 capital divided by average adjusted total assets.

• SLR is calculated as Tier 1 capital divided by total leverage exposure. Adoption of SA-CCR in December 2021 resulted in an increase to GS Bank USA’s SLR by approximately 0.2 percentage points for the three months ended December 2021.

The deposits of GS Bank USA are insured by the FDIC to the extent provided by law. The FRB requires that GS Bank USA maintain cash reserves with the Federal Reserve. As of both December 2021 and December 2020, the reserve requirement ratio was zero percent. The amount deposited by GS Bank USA at the Federal Reserve was $122.01 billion as of December 2021 and $52.71 billion as of December 2020.

GS Bank USA is a registered swap dealer with the CFTC and, beginning in the fourth quarter of 2021, also became a registered security-based swap dealer with the SEC. As of December 2021, GS Bank USA was subject to and in compliance with applicable capital requirements for swap dealers and security-based swap dealers.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 199

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

GSIB.

GSIB is our U.K. bank subsidiary regulated by the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). GSIB is subject to the U.K. capital framework, which is largely based on Basel III.

The table below presents GSIB’s risk-based capital requirements.

	As of December
		2021	2020
Risk-based capital requirements
CET1 capital ratio		8.5%	8.3%
Tier 1 capital ratio		10.5%	10.3%
Total capital ratio		13.2%	12.9%

The table below presents information about GSIB’s risk-based capital ratios.

	As of December
$ in millions		2021	2020
Risk-based capital and risk-weighted assets
CET1 capital		$  3,408	$  3,051
Tier 1 capital		$  3,408	$  3,051
Tier 2 capital		$    826	$    827
Total capital		$  4,234	$  3,878
RWAs		$17,196	$19,263
Risk-based capital ratios
CET1 capital ratio		19.8%	15.8%
Tier 1 capital ratio		19.8%	15.8%
Total capital ratio		24.6%	20.1%

In the table above, the risk-based capital ratios as of December 2021 reflected GSIB’s profits after foreseeable charges for the year ended December 2021 (which will not be finalized until verification by GSIB’s external auditors and approval by GSIB’s Board of Directors for inclusion in risk-based capital). These profits contributed approximately 68 basis points to the CET1 capital ratio.

The eligible retail deposits of GSIB are covered by the U.K. Financial Services Compensation Scheme to the extent provided by law.GSIB is subject to minimum reserve requirements at the Bank of England. The minimum reserve requirement was $172 million as of December 2021 and $126 million as of December 2020. The amount deposited by GSIB at the Bank of England was $2.20 billion as of December 2021 and $9.82 billion as of December 2020.

GSBE.

GSBE is our German bank subsidiary supervised by the European Central Bank, BaFin and Deutsche Bundesbank. GSBE is subject to the capital requirements prescribed in the amended E.U. Capital Requirements Directive (CRD) and E.U. Capital Requirements Regulation (CRR), which are largely based on Basel III.

The table below presents GSBE’s risk-based capital requirements.

	As of December
		2021	2020
Risk-based capital requirements
CET1 capital ratio		8.7%	7.0%
Tier 1 capital ratio		10.8%	8.5%
Total capital ratio		13.5%	10.5%

The table below presents information about GSBE’s risk-based capital ratios.

	As of December
$ in millions		2021	2020
Risk-based capital and risk-weighted assets
CET1 capital		$  6,527	$  3,991
Tier 1 capital		$  6,527	$  3,991
Tier 2 capital		$      23	$       24
Total capital		$  6,550	$  4,015
RWAs		$28,924	$11,634
Risk-based capital ratios
CET1 capital ratio		22.6%	34.3%
Tier 1 capital ratio		22.6%	34.3%
Total capital ratio		22.6%	34.5%

In the table above:

• The risk-based capital ratios as of December 2021 reflected GSBE’s profits after foreseeable charges for the year ended December 2021 (which will not be finalized until verification by GSBE’s external auditors and approval by GSBE’s shareholder (GS Bank USA) for inclusion in risk-based capital). These profits contributed approximately 106 basis points to the CET1 capital ratio.

• Risk-based capital ratios as of December 2021 reflected the CRR and the CRD rules which implement changes in the Basel standards with respect to counterparty credit risk and large exposure. These rules became effective in June 2021. Adoption of these rules did not result in a material impact to GSBE’s risk-based capital ratios as of December 2021.

200 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

The table below presents GSBE’s leverage ratio requirement which became effective in June 2021 and the leverage ratio.

	As of December 2021
Leverage ratio requirement	3.0%
Leverage ratio	7.6%

In the table above, the leverage ratio as of December 2021 reflected GSBE’s profits after foreseeable charges for the year ended December 2021 (which will not be finalized until verification by GSBE’s external auditors and approval by GSBE’s shareholder (GS Bank USA) for inclusion in risk-based capital). These profits contributed

approximately 58 basis points to the leverage ratio.

The deposits of GSBE are covered by the German statutory deposit protection program to the extent provided by law. In addition, GSBE has elected to participate in the German voluntary deposit protection program which provides insurance for certain eligible deposits not covered by the German statutory deposit program. GSBE is subject to minimum reserve requirements at central banks in certain of the jurisdictions in which it operates. The minimum reserve requirement was $189 million as of December 2021 and $25 million as of December 2020. The amount deposited by GSBE at central banks was $20.36 billion as of December 2021 and $3.17 billion as of December 2020, substantially all of which was deposited with Deutsche Bundesbank.

GSBE is a registered swap dealer with the CFTC and, beginning in the fourth quarter of 2021, also became a registered security-based swap dealer with the SEC. As of December 2021, GSBE was subject to and in compliance with applicable capital requirements for swap dealers and security-based swap dealers.

Restrictions on Payments

Group Inc. may be limited in its ability to access capital held at certain subsidiaries as a result of regulatory, tax or other constraints. These limitations include provisions of applicable law and regulations and other regulatory restrictions that limit the ability of those subsidiaries to declare and pay dividends without prior regulatory approval. For example, the amount of dividends that may be paid by GS Bank USA are limited to the lesser of the amounts calculated under a recent earnings test and an undivided profits test. As a result of dividends paid in connection with the acquisition of GSBE in July 2021, GS Bank USA cannot currently declare any additional dividends without prior regulatory approval.

In addition, subsidiaries not subject to separate regulatory capital requirements may hold capital to satisfy local tax and legal guidelines, rating agency requirements (for entities with assigned credit ratings) or internal policies, including policies concerning the minimum amount of capital a subsidiary should hold based on its underlying level of risk.

Group Inc.’s equity investment in subsidiaries was $118.90 billion as of December 2021 and $103.80 billion as of December 2020, of which Group Inc. was required to maintain $77.22 billion as of December 2021 and $63.68 billion as of December 2020, of minimum equity capital in its regulated subsidiaries in order to satisfy the regulatory requirements of such subsidiaries.

Group Inc.’s capital invested in certain

non-U.S.

dollar functional currency subsidiaries is exposed to foreign exchange risk, substantially all of which is managed through a combination of derivatives and

non-U.S.

dollar-denominated

debt. See Note 7 for information about the firm’s net investment hedges used to hedge this risk.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 201

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Note 21.

Earnings Per Common Share

Basic EPS is calculated by dividing net earnings to common by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding and restricted stock units (RSUs) for which the delivery of the underlying common stock is not subject to satisfaction of future service, performance or market conditions (collectively, basic shares). Diluted EPS includes the determinants of basic EPS and, in addition, reflects the dilutive effect of the common stock deliverable for RSUs for which the delivery of the underlying common stock is subject to satisfaction of future service, performance or market conditions.

The table below presents information about basic and diluted EPS.

	Year Ended December
in millions, except per share amounts		2021	2020	2019
Net earnings to common		$21,151	$8,915	$7,897
Weighted average basic shares		350.5	356.4	371.6
Effect of dilutive RSUs		5.3	3.9	3.9
Weighted average diluted shares		355.8	360.3	375.5
Basic EPS		$  60.25	$24.94	$21.18
Diluted EPS		$  59.45	$24.74	$21.03

In the table above:

• Net earnings to common represents net earnings applicable to common shareholders, which is calculated as net earnings less preferred stock dividends.

• Unvested share-based awards that have non-forfeitable rights to dividends or dividend equivalents are treated as a separate class of securities under the two-class method. Distributed earnings allocated to these securities reduce net earnings to common to calculate EPS under this method. The impact of applying this methodology was a reduction in basic EPS of $0.10 for 2021, and $0.07 for both 2020 and 2019.

• Diluted EPS does not include antidilutive RSUs , including those that are subject to market conditions , of 0.3 million for 2021, and 0.1 million for both 2020 and 2019.

Note 22.

Transactions with Affiliated Funds

The firm has formed nonconsolidated investment funds with third-party investors. As the firm generally acts as the investment manager for these funds, it is entitled to receive management fees and, in certain cases, advisory fees or incentive fees from these funds. Additionally, the firm invests alongside the third-party investors in certain funds.

The tables below present information about affiliated funds.

	Year Ended December
$ in millions		2021	2020	2019
Fees earned from funds		$3,707	$3,393	$2,967

	As of December
$ in millions		2021	2020
Fees receivable from funds		$     873	$   803
Aggregate carrying value of interests in funds		$4,321	$5,068

The firm has waived, and may waive in the future, certain management fees on selected money market funds to enhance the yield for investors in such funds. Management fees waived were $595 million (of which $565 million related to voluntary waivers on money market funds) for 2021, $109 million for 2020 and $44 million for 2019.

The Volcker Rule restricts the firm from providing financial support to covered funds (as defined in the rule) after the expiration of the conformance period. As a general matter, in the ordinary course of business, the firm does not expect to provide additional voluntary financial support to any covered funds, but may choose to do so with respect to funds that are not subject to the Volcker Rule. However, any such support is not expected to be material to the results of operations of the firm.

In March 2020, GS Bank USA and unaffiliated entities purchased certificates of deposit and commercial paper from two money market funds managed by the firm. These funds are not covered funds under the Volcker Rule. GS Bank USA’s purchase price of these securities was $1.84 billion, of which NaN were outstanding as of December 2021 and $321 million were outstanding as of December 2020. These purchases were made to promote liquidity in the short-term credit markets and to increase the funds’ weekly liquid assets. Group Inc. provided a guarantee to GS Bank USA in connection with these securities. See Note 18 for information about guarantees provided by Group Inc. to subsidiaries.

202 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

The firm had an outstanding guarantee, as permitted under the Volcker Rule, on behalf of its funds, of $87 million as of December 2020. The firm had voluntarily provided this guarantee in connection with a financing agreement with a third-party lender executed by one of the firm’s real estate funds that is not covered by the Volcker Rule. The firm had 0 outstanding guarantee as of December 2021 and except as noted above, the firm has not provided any additional financial support to its affiliated funds during 2021 and 2020.

In addition, in the ordinary course of business, the firm may also engage in other activities with its affiliated funds, including, among others, securities lending, trade execution, market-making, custody, and acquisition and bridge financing. See Note 18 for information about the firm’s investment commitments related to these funds.

Note 23.

Interest Income and Interest Expense

Interest is recorded over the life of the instrument on an accrual basis based on contractual interest rates.

The table below presents sources of interest income and interest expense.

	Year Ended December
$ in millions		2021		2020	2019
Deposits with banks		$       (24	)	$    245	$  1,211
Collateralized agreements		(980	)	282	4,397
Trading assets		4,716		5,210	5,899
Investments		1,589		1,627	1,457
Loans		5,319		4,883	5,411
Other interest		1,500		1,442	3,363
Total interest income		12,120		13,689	21,738
Deposits		1,303		2,386	3,568
Collateralized financings		0		599	2,658
Trading liabilities		1,662		1,238	1,213
Short-term borrowings		527		542	668
Long-term borrowings		3,231		4,153	5,359
Other interest		(1,073	)	20	3,910
Total interest expense		5,650		8,938	17,376
Net interest income		$ 6,470		$  4,751	$  4,362

In the table above:

• Collateralized agreements includes rebates paid and interest income on securities borrowed.

• Loans excludes interest on loans held for sale that are accounted for at the lower of cost or fair value. Such interest is included within other interest.

• Other interest income includes interest income on customer debit balances, other interest-earning assets and loans held for sale that are accounted for at the lower of cost or fair value.

• Collateralized financings consists of repurchase agreements and securities loaned.

• Short- and long-term borrowings include both secured and unsecured borrowings.

• Other interest expense includes rebates received on other interest-bearing liabilities and interest expense on customer credit balances.

Note 24.

Income Taxes

Provision for Income Taxes

Income taxes are provided for using the asset and liability method under which deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for temporary differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities. The firm reports interest expense related to income tax matters in provision for taxes and income tax penalties in other expenses.

The table below presents information about the provision for taxes.

	Year Ended December
$ in millions		2021		2020		2019
Current taxes
U.S. federal		$2,904		$1,759		$1,113
State and local		574		555		388
Non-U.S.		1,926		1,539		950
Total current tax expense		5,404		3,853		2,451
Deferred taxes
U.S. federal		192		(798	)	(383	)
State and local		72		(42	)	(20	)
Non-U.S.		(259	)	7		69
Total deferred tax benefit		5		(833	)	(334	)
Provision for taxes		$5,409		$3,020		$2,117

The table below presents a reconciliation of the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate to the effective income tax rate.

	Year Ended December
		2021		2020		2019
U.S. federal statutory income tax rate		21.0%		21.0%		21.0%
State and local taxes, net of U.S. federal benefit		1.9		3.1		2.9
Settlement of employee share-based awards		(0.7	)	(1.0	)	(0.6	)
Non-U.S. operations		(1.5	)	(2.4	)	(3.6	)
Tax credits		(0.6	)	(1.2	)	(1.8	)
Tax-exempt income, including dividends		(0.5	)	(0.6	)	(1.0	)
Non-deductible legal expenses		–		5.6		2.1
Other		0.4		(0.3	)	1.0
Effective income tax rate		20.0%		24.2%		20.0%

In the table above,

Non-U.S.

operations include the impact of the Base Erosion and Anti-Abuse Tax and Global Intangible Low Taxed Income (GILTI).

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 203

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Deferred Income Taxes

Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities. These temporary differences result in taxable or d

e

ductible amounts in future years and are measured using the tax rates and laws that will be in effect when such differences are expected to reverse. Valuation allowances are established to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount that more likely than not will be realized and primarily relate to the ability to utilize losses in various tax jurisdictions. Tax assets are included in other assets and tax liabilities are included in other liabilities.

The table below presents information about deferred tax assets and liabilities, excluding the impact of netting within tax jurisdictions.

	As of December
$ in millions		2021		2020
Deferred tax assets
Compensation and benefits		$1,978		$1,609
ASC 740 asset related to unrecognized tax benefits		287		200
Non-U.S. operations		606		737
Net operating losses		681		510
Occupancy-related		151		138
Other comprehensive income/(loss)-related		593		282
Tax credits carryforward		43		34
Operating lease liabilities		624		618
Allowance for credit losses		1,081		1,054
Other, net		271		333
Subtotal		6,315		5,515
Valuation allowance		(895	)	(551	)
Total deferred tax assets		$5,420		$4,964
Deferred tax liabilities
Depreciation and amortization		$1,225		$1,153
Unrealized gains		1,114		1,120
Operating lease right-of-use assets		585		581
Total deferred tax liabilities		$2,924		$2,854

 

The firm has recorded deferred tax assets of $681 million as of December 2021 and $510 million as of December 2020, in connection with U.S. federal, state and local and foreign net operating loss carryforwards. The firm also recorded a valuation allowance of $285 million as of December 2021 and $79 million as of December 2020, related to these net operating loss carryforwards.

As of December 2021, the U.S. federal net operating loss carryforward was $1.16 billion, the state and local net operating loss carryforward was $1.80 billion, and the foreign net operating loss carryforward was $1.31 billion. If not utilized, the U.S. federal, the state and local, and foreign net operating loss carryforwards will begin to expire in 2022. If these carryforwards expire, they will not have a material impact on the firm’s results of operations. As of December 2021, the firm has recorded deferred tax assets of $32 million in connection with general business credit carryforwards and $11 million in connection with state and local tax credit carryforwards. If not utilized, the general business credit carryforward will begin to expire in 2022 and the state and local tax credit carryforward will begin to expire in 2023. As of December 2021, the firm did not have any foreign tax credit carryforwards.

As of both December 2021 and December 2020, the firm had no U.S. capital loss carryforwards and 0 related net deferred income tax assets. As of December 2021, the firm had deferred tax assets of $270 million in connection with foreign capital loss carryforwards and a valuation allowance of $270 million related to these capital loss carryforwards.

The valuation allowance increased by $344 million during 2021 and increased by $84 million during 2020. The increases in both 2021 and 2020 were primarily due to an increase in deferred tax assets from which the firm does not expect to realize any benefit.

The firm permanently reinvested eligible earnings of certain foreign subsidiaries. As of both December 2021 and December 2020, all U.S. taxes were accrued on these subsidiaries’ distributable earnings.

204 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Unrecognized Tax Benefits

The firm recognizes tax positions in the consolidated financial statements only when it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained on examination by the relevant taxing authority based on the technical merits of the position. A position that meets this standard is measured at the largest amount of benefit that will more likely than not be realized on settlement. A liability is established for differences between positions taken in a tax return and amounts recognized in the consolidated financial statements.

The accrued liability for interest expense related to income tax matters and income tax penalties was $131 million as of December 2021 and $129 million as of December 2020. The firm recognized interest expense and income tax penalties of $13 million for 2021, $41 million for 2020 and $60 million for 2019. It is reasonably possible that unrecognized tax benefits could change significantly during the twelve months subsequent to December 2021 due to potential audit settlements. However, at this time it is not possible to estimate any potential change.

The table below presents the changes in the liability for unrecognized tax benefits, which is included in other liabilities.

	Year Ended or as of December
$ in millions		2021		2020		2019
Beginning balance		$1,251		$1,445		$1,051
Increases based on current year tax positions		297		164		131
Increases based on prior years’ tax positions		95		209		441
Decreases based on prior years’ tax positions		(111	)	(205	)	(54	)
Decreases related to settlements		(80	)	(367	)	(125	)
Exchange rate fluctuations		(6	)	5		1
Ending balance		$1,446		$1,251		$1,445
Related deferred income tax asset		287		200		279
Net unrecognized tax benefit		$1,159		$1,051		$1,166

 

Regulatory Tax Examinations

The firm is subject to examination by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and other taxing authorities in jurisdictions where the firm has significant business operations, such as the United Kingdom, Japan, Hong Kong and various states, such as New York. The tax years under examination vary by jurisdiction. The firm does not expect completion of these audits to have a material impact on the firm’s financial condition, but it may be material to operating results for a particular period, depending, in part, on the operating results for that period.

The table below presents the earliest tax years that remain subject to examination by major jurisdiction.

Jurisdiction	As of December 2021
U.S. Federal	2011
New York State and City	2015
United Kingdom	2017
Japan	2016
Hong Kong	2015

The firm has been accepted into the Compliance Assurance Process program by the IRS for each of the tax years from 2013 through 2022. This program allows the firm to work with the IRS to identify and resolve potential U.S. Federal tax issues before the filing of tax returns. The fieldwork for tax years 2011 through 2018 has been completed and the final resolution is not expected to have a material impact on the effective tax rate. The 2019 and 2020 tax years remain subject to post-filing review. New York State and City examinations of 2015 through 2018 commenced during 2021.

All years, including and subsequent to the years in the table above, remain open to examination by the taxing authorities. The firm believes that the liability for unrecognized tax benefits it has established is adequate in relation to the potential for additional assessments.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 205

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Note 25.

Business Segments

The firm reports its activities in four business segments: Investment Banking, Global Markets, Asset Management and Consumer & Wealth Management. See Note 1 for information about the firm’s business segments.

Compensation and benefits expenses in the firm’s segments reflect, among other factors, the overall performance of the firm, as well as the performance of individual businesses. Consequently,

pre-tax

margins in one segment of the firm’s business may be significantly affected by the performance of the firm’s other business segments.

The firm allocates assets (including allocations of global core liquid assets and cash, secured client financing and other assets), revenues and expenses among the four business segments. Due to the integrated nature of these segments, estimates and judgments are made in allocating certain assets, revenues and expenses. The allocation process is based on the manner in which management currently views the performance of the segments.

The allocation of common shareholders’ equity and preferred stock dividends to each segment is based on the estimated amount of equity required to support the activities of the segment under relevant regulatory capital requirements.

Net earnings for each segment is calculated by applying the firmwide tax rate to each segment’s

pre-tax

earnings.

Management believes that this allocation provides a reasonable representation of each segment’s contribution to consolidated net earnings to common, return on average common equity and total assets. Transactions between segments are based on specific criteria or approximate third-party rates.

Segment Results

The table below presents a summary of the firm’s segment results.

	Year Ended December
$ in millions		2021		2020	2019
Investment Banking
Non-interest revenues		$14,425		$  9,158	$  7,079
Net interest income		451		265	520
Total net revenues		14,876		9,423	7,599
Provision for credit losses		(298	)	1,624	333
Operating expenses		6,705		6,134	4,685
Pre-tax earnings		$  8,469		$  1,665	$  2,581
Net earnings		$  6,775		$  1,262	$  2,065
Net earnings to common		$  6,705		$  1,193	$  1,996
Average common equity		$10,341		$11,313	$11,167
Return on average common equity		64.8%		10.5%	17.9%
Global Markets
Non-interest revenues		$19,309		$18,928	$13,109
Net interest income		2,768		2,229	1,670
Total net revenues		22,077		21,157	14,779
Provision for credit losses		45		274	35
Operating expenses		12,969		12,806	10,851
Pre-tax earnings		$  9,063		$  8,077	$  3,893
Net earnings		$  7,250		$  6,122	$  3,114
Net earnings to common		$  6,973		$  5,766	$  2,729
Average common equity		$45,497		$40,760	$40,060
Return on average common equity		15.3%		14.1%	6.8%
Asset Management
Non-interest revenues		$14,366		$  7,743	$  8,454
Net interest income		550		241	511
Total net revenues		14,916		7,984	8,965
Provision for credit losses		18		442	274
Operating expenses		5,970		5,142	4,817
Pre-tax earnings		$  8,928		$  2,400	$  3,874
Net earnings		$  7,143		$  1,819	$  3,099
Net earnings to common		$  7,046		$  1,740	$  3,013
Average common equity		$25,195		$20,491	$21,575
Return on average common equity		28.0%		8.5%	14.0%
Consumer & Wealth Management
Non-interest revenues		$  4,769		$  3,980	$  3,542
Net interest income		2,701		2,016	1,661
Total net revenues		7,470		5,996	5,203
Provision for credit losses		592		758	423
Operating expenses		6,294		4,901	4,545
Pre-tax earnings		$       584		$     337	$     235
Net earnings		$       467		$     256	$     188
Net earnings to common		$       427		$     216	$     159
Average common equity		$10,796		$  8,012	$  6,292
Return on average common equity		4.0%		2.7%	2.5%
Total
Non-interest revenues		$52,869		$39,809	$32,184
Net interest income		6,470		4,751	4,362
Total net revenues		59,339		44,560	36,546
Provision for credit losses		357		3,098	1,065
Operating expenses		31,938		28,983	24,898
Pre-tax earnings		$27,044		$12,479	$10,583
Net earnings		$21,635		$  9,459	$  8,466
Net earnings to common		$21,151		$  8,915	$  7,897
Average common equity		$91,829		$80,576	$79,094
Return on average common equity		23.0%		11.1%	10.0%

206 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

In the table above:

• Revenues and expenses directly associated with each segment are included in determining pre-tax earnings.

• Net revenues in the firm’s segments include allocations of interest income and expense to specific positions in relation to the cash generated by, or funding requirements of, such positions. Net interest is included in segment net revenues as it is consistent with how management assesses segment performance.

• Total operating expenses included net provisions for litigation and regulatory proceedings of $534 million for 2021, $3.42 billion for 2020 and $1.24 billion for 2019, primarily reflected in Investment Banking and Global Markets.

• Overhead expenses not directly allocable to specific segments are allocated ratably based on direct segment expenses.

• Effective January 1, 2021, the allocation of attributed equity among the firm’s segments was updated to reflect the results of the firm’s 2020 Comprehensive Capital Analysis and Review process. The average common equity balances above incorporate such impact, as well as the changes in the size and composition of assets held in each of the firm’s segments that occurred during 2021. See Note 20 for information about the firm’s updated SCB, which became effective on October 1, 2021.

The table below presents depreciation and amortization expense by segment.

	Year Ended December
$ in millions		2021	2020	2019
Investment Banking		$     195	$   174	$   139
Global Markets		772	611	646
Asset Management		675	740	618
Consumer & Wealth Management		373	377	301
Total		$2,015	$1,902	$1,704

Segment Assets

The table below presents assets by segment.

	As of December
$ in millions		2021	2020
Investment Banking		$     144,157	$   116,242
Global Markets		1,082,378	844,606
Asset Management		91,115	95,751
Consumer & Wealth Management		146,338	106,429
Total		$1,463,988	$1,163,028

The table below presents gross loans by segment and loan type, and allowance for loan losses by segment.

	As of December
$ in millions		2021		2020
Investment Banking
Corporate		$       30,421		$     27,866
Loans, gross		30,421		27,866
Allowance for loan losses		(866	)	(1,322	)
Loans		29,555		26,544
Global Markets
Corporate		18,578		13,248
Real estate		34,986		16,915
Other		7,838		3,499
Loans, gross		61,402		33,662
Allowance for loan losses		(486	)	(448	)
Loans		60,916		33,214
Asset Management
Corporate		6,928		7,545
Real estate		6,810		9,125
Other		692		675
Loans, gross		14,430		17,345
Allowance for loan losses		(732	)	(787	)
Loans		13,698		16,558
Consumer & Wealth Management
Wealth management		43,998		33,023
Installment		3,672		3,823
Credit cards		8,212		4,270
Loans, gross		55,882		41,116
Allowance for loan losses		(1,489	)	(1,317	)
Loans		54,393		39,799
Total
Loans, gross		162,135		119,989
Allowance for loan losses		(3,573	)	(3,874	)
Loans		$     158,562		$   116,115

See Note 9 for further information about loans.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 207

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Geographic Information

Due to the highly integrated nature of international financial markets, the firm manages its businesses based on the profitability of the enterprise as a whole. The methodology for allocating profitability to geographic regions is dependent on estimates and management judgment because a significant portion of the firm’s activities require cross-border coordination in order to facilitate the needs of the firm’s clients. Geographic results are generally allocated as follows:

• Investment Banking: location of the client and investment banking team.

• Global Markets: FICC and Equities intermediation: location of the market-making desk; FICC and Equities financing (excluding prime brokerage financing): location of the desk; prime brokerage financing: location of the primary market for the underlying security.

• Asset Management (excluding Equity investments and Lending and debt investments): location of the sales team; Equity investments: location of the investment; Lending and debt investments: location of the client.

• Consumer & Wealth Management: Wealth management: location of the sales team; Consumer banking: location of the client.

The table below presents total net revenues,

pre-tax

earnings and net earnings by geographic region.

$ in millions	2021		2020			2019
Year Ended December
Americas	$37,379	63%	$27,508		62%	$22,148	60%
EMEA	14,372	24%	10,868		24%	9,745	27%
Asia	7,588	13%	6,184		14%	4,653	13%
Total net revenues	$59,339	100%	$44,560		100%	$36,546	100%
Americas	$17,476	65%	$  9,019		72%	$  6,623	62%
EMEA	7,062	26%	3,041		25%	3,349	32%
Asia	2,506	9%	419		3%	611	6%
Total pre-tax earnings	$27,044	100%	$12,479		100%	$10,583	100%
Americas	$13,927	65%	$  7,468		79%	$  5,514	65%
EMEA	5,695	26%	2,090		22%	2,600	31%
Asia	2,013	9%	(99	)	(1)%	352	4%
Total net earnings	$21,635	100%	$  9,459		100%	$  8,466	100%

In the table above:

• Asia pre-tax earnings and net earnings for 2020 and 2019 were impacted by net provisions for litigation and regulatory proceedings.

• Substantially all of the amounts in Americas were attributable to the U.S.

• Asia includes Australia a n d New Zealand.

Note 26.

Credit Concentrations

The firm’s concentrations of credit risk arise from its market making, client facilitation, investing, underwriting, lending and collateralized transactions, and cash management activities, and may be impacted by changes in economic, industry or political factors. These activities expose the firm to many different industries and counterparties, and may also subject the firm to a concentration of credit risk to a particular central bank, counterparty, borrower or issuer, including sovereign issuers, or to a particular clearing house or exchange. The firm seeks to mitigate credit risk by actively monitoring exposures and obtaining collateral from counterparties as deemed appropriate.

The firm measures and monitors its credit exposure based on amounts owed to the firm after taking into account risk mitigants that the firm considers when determining credit risk. Such risk mitigants include netting and collateral arrangements and economic hedges, such as credit derivatives, futures and forward contracts. Netting and collateral agreements permit the firm to offset receivables and payables with such counterparties and/or enable the firm to obtain collateral on an upfront or contingent basis.

The table below presents the credit concentrations included in trading cash instruments and investments.

	As of December
$ in millions		2021	2020
U.S. government and agency obligations		$141,191	$187,009
Percentage of total assets		9.6%	16.1%
Non-U.S. government and agency obligations		$  51,426	$  59,580
Percentage of total assets		3.5%	5.1%

In addition, the firm had $222.20 billion as of December 2021 and $116.63 billion as of December 2020 of cash deposits held at central banks (included in cash and cash equivalents), of which $122.01 billion as of December 2021 and $52.71 billion as of December 2020 was held at the Fed

e

ral Reserve.

As of both December 2021 and December 2020, the firm did not have credit exposure to any other counterparty that exceeded 2% of total assets.

208 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Collateral obtained by the firm related to derivative assets is principally cash and is held by the firm or a third-party custodian. Collateral obtained by the firm related to resale agreements and securities borrowed transactions is primarily U.S. government and agency obligations and

non-U.S.

government and ag

e

ncy obligations. See Note 11 for further information about collateralized agreements and financings.

The table below presents U.S. government and agency obligations and

non-U.S.

government and agency obligations that collateralize resale agreements and securities borrowed transactions.

	As of December
$ in millions		2021	2020
U.S. government and agency obligations		$  86,274	$60,158
Non-U.S. government and agency obligations		$141,588	$68,001

In the table above:

• Non-U.S. government and agency obligations primarily consists of securities issued by the governments of the U.K., France and Japan.

• Given that the firm’s primary credit exposure on such transactions is to the counterparty to the transaction, the firm would be exposed to the collateral issuer only in the event of counterparty default.

Note 27.

Legal Proceedings

The firm is involved in a number of judicial, regulatory and arbitration proceedings (including those described below) concerning matters arising in connection with the conduct of the firm’s businesses. Many of these proceedings are in early stages, and many of these cases seek an indeterminate amount of damages.

Under ASC 450, an event is “reasonably possible” if “the chance of the future event or events occurring is more than remote but less than likely” and an event is “remote” if “the chance of the future event or events occurring is slight.” Thus, references to the upper end of the range of reasonably possible loss for cases in which the firm is able to estimate a range of reasonably possible loss mean the upper end of the range of loss for cases for which the firm believes the risk of loss is more than slight.

With respect to matters described below for which management has been able to estimate a range of reasonably possible loss where (i) actual or potential plaintiffs have claimed an amount of money damages, (ii) the firm is being, or threatened to be, sued by purchasers in a securities offering and is not being indemnified by a party that the firm believes will pay the full amount of any judgment, or (iii) the purchasers are demanding that the firm repurchase securities, management has estimated the upper end of the range of reasonably possible loss based on (a) in the case of (i), the amount of money damages claimed, (b) in the case of (ii), the difference between the initial sales price of the securities that the firm sold in such offering and the estimated lowest subsequent price of such securities prior to the action being commenced and (c) in the case of (iii), the price that purchasers paid for the securities less the estimated value, if any, as of December 2021 of the relevant securities, in each of cases (i), (ii) and (iii), taking into account any other factors believed to be relevant to the particular matter or matters of that type. As of the date hereof, the firm has estimated the upper end of the range of reasonably possible aggregate loss for such matters and for any other matters described below where management has been able to estimate a range of reasonably possible aggregate loss to be approximately $2.0 billion in excess of the aggregate reserves for such matters.

Management is generally unable to estimate a range of reasonably possible loss for matters other than those included in the estimate above, including where (i) actual or potential plaintiffs have not claimed an amount of money damages, except in those instances where management can otherwise determine an appropriate amount, (ii) matters are in early stages, (iii) matters relate to regulatory investigations or reviews, except in those instances where management can otherwise determine an appropriate amount, (iv) there is uncertainty as to the likelihood of a class being certified or the ultimate size of the class, (v) there is uncertainty as to the outcome of pending appeals or motions, (vi) there are significant factual issues to be resolved, and/or (vii) there are novel legal issues presented. For example, the firm’s potential liabilities with respect to the investigations and reviews described below in “Regulatory Investigations and Reviews and Related Litigation” generally are not included in management’s estimate of reasonably possible loss. However, management does not believe, based on currently available information, that the outcomes of such other matters will have a material adverse effect on the firm’s financial condition, though the outcomes could be material to the firm’s operating results for any particular period, depending, in part, upon the operating results for such period.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 209

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

1MDB-Related Matters

Between 2012 and 2013, subsidiaries of the firm acted as arrangers or purchasers of approximately $6.5 billion of debt securities of 1MDB.

On November 1, 2018, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) unsealed a criminal information and guilty plea by Tim Leissner, a former participating managing director of the firm, and an indictment against Ng Chong Hwa, a former managing director of the firm. On August 28, 2018, Leissner was adjudicated guilty by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York of conspiring to launder money and to violate the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act’s (FCPA) anti-bribery and internal accounting controls provisions. Ng was charged with conspiring to launder money and to violate the FCPA’s anti-bribery and internal accounting controls provisions. On May 6, 2019, Ng pleaded not guilty to the DOJ’s criminal charges, and trial commenced on February 7, 2022.

On August 18, 2020, the firm announced that it entered into a settlement agreement with the Government of Malaysia to resolve the criminal and regulatory proceedings in Malaysia involving the firm, which includes a guarantee that the Government of Malaysia receives at least $1.4 billion in assets and proceeds from assets seized by governmental authorities around the world related to 1MDB. See Note 18 for further information about this guarantee.

On October 22, 2020, the firm announced that it reached settlements of governmental and regulatory investigations relating to 1MDB with the DOJ, the SEC, the FRB, the NYDFS, the FCA, the PRA, the Singapore Attorney General’s Chambers, the Singapore Commercial Affairs Department, the Monetary Authority of Singapore and the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission. Group Inc. entered into a three-year deferred prosecution agreement with the DOJ, in which a charge against the firm, one count of conspiracy to violate the FCPA, was filed and will later be dismissed if the firm abides by the terms of the agreement. In addition, GS Malaysia pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate the FCPA, and was sentenced on June 9, 2021. In May 2021, the U.S. Department of Labor granted the firm a five-year exemption to maintain its status as a qualified professional asset manager (QPAM).

The firm has received multiple demands, beginning in November 2018, from alleged shareholders under Section 220 of the Delaware General Corporation Law for books and records relating to, among other things, the firm’s involvement with 1MDB and the firm’s compliance procedures. On December 13, 2019, an alleged shareholder filed a lawsuit in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware seeking books and records relating to, among other things, the firm’s involvement with 1MDB and the firm’s compliance procedures. The lawsuit was dismissed without prejudice on August 4, 2021.

On February 19, 2019, a purported shareholder derivative action relating to 1MDB was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York against Group Inc. and the directors at the time and a former chairman and chief executive officer of the firm. The second amended complaint filed on November 13, 2020, alleges breaches of fiduciary duties, including in connection with alleged insider trading by certain current and former directors, unjust enrichment and violations of the anti-fraud provisions of the Exchange Act, including in connection with Group Inc.’s common stock repurchases and solicitation of proxies, and seeks unspecified damages, disgorgement and injunctive relief. Defendants moved to dismiss this action on January 15, 2021. On February 3, 2022, the parties reached a settlement in principle, subject to final documentation and court approval, to resolve this action.

Beginning in March 2019, the firm has also received demands from three shareholders to investigate and pursue claims against certain current and former directors and executive officers based on their oversight and public disclosures regarding 1MDB and related internal controls. In June 2019, the Board appointed a Special Committee to consider the demands and, in January 2021, the Board voted to reject them. In June 2021, the firm reached a settlement with the three shareholders. Following the Board’s decision to reject the initial three demands, the firm received two additional demands from alleged shareholders (one of which is the alleged shareholder that filed the December 2019 books and records action in Delaware Chancery Court) to investigate and pursue claims related to 1MDB (and, for one of the demands, other matters) against other parties, including certain current and former directors and executive officers of the firm. In December 2021, the Board voted to reject the two additional demands.

210 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

On December 20, 2018, a putative securities class action lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York against Group Inc. and certain former officers of the firm alleging violations of the anti-fraud provisions of the Exchange Act with respect to Group Inc.’s disclosures and public statements concerning 1MDB and seeking unspecified damages. The plaintiffs filed the second amended complaint on October 28, 2019. On June 28, 2021, the court dismissed the claims against one of the individual defendants but denied the defendants’ motion to dismiss with respect to the firm and the remaining individual defendants. On November 12, 2021, the plaintiffs moved for class certification.

Mortgage-Related Matters

Beginning in April 2010, a number of purported securities law class actions were filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York challenging the adequacy of Group Inc.’s public disclosure of, among other things, the firm’s activities in the collateralized debt obligation market, and the firm’s conflict of interest management.

The consolidated amended complaint filed on July 25, 2011, which named as defendants Group Inc. and certain current and former officers and employees of Group Inc. and its affiliates, generally alleges violations of Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Exchange Act and seeks monetary damages. The defendants have moved for summary judgment. On April 7, 2020, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the district court’s August 14, 2018 grant of class certification. On June 21, 2021, the United States Supreme Court vacated the judgment of the Second Circuit and remanded the case for further proceedings, and on August 26, 2021, the Second Circuit vacated the district court’s grant of class certification and remanded the case for further proceedings. On December 8, 2021, the district court granted the plaintiffs’ motion for class certification. On December 22, 2021, defendants filed a petition with the Second Circuit seeking interlocutory review of the district court’s grant of class certification.

Complaints were filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on July 25, 2019 and May 29, 2020 against Goldman Sachs Mortgage Company and GS Mortgage Securities Corp. by U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee for two residential mortgage-backed securitization trusts that issued $1.7 billion of securities. The complaints generally allege that mortgage loans in the trusts failed to conform to applicable representations and warranties and seek specific performance or, alternatively, compensatory damages and other relief. On November 23, 2020, the court granted in part and denied in part defendants’ motion to dismiss the complaint in the first action and denied defendants’ motion to dismiss the complaint in the second action. On January 14, 2021, amended complaints were filed in both actions.

Currencies-Related Litigation

GS&Co. and Group Inc. are among the defendants named in an action filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on November 7, 2018, and GSI, GSIB, Goldman Sachs Group UK Limited and GS Bank USA are among the defendants in an action filed in the High Court of England and Wales on November 11, 2020, in each case by certain direct purchasers of foreign exchange instruments that opted out of a class settlement reached with, among others, GS&Co. and Group Inc. The third amended complaint in the U.S. district court action, filed on August 3, 2020, generally alleges that the defendants violated federal antitrust law and state common law in connection with an alleged conspiracy to manipulate the foreign currency exchange markets and seeks declaratory and injunctive relief, as well as unspecified amounts of compensatory, punitive, treble and other damages. The claim in the English action is for breaches of English and E.U. competition rules from 2003 to 2013 and alleges manipulation of foreign exchange rates and bid/offer spreads, the exchange of commercially sensitive information among defendants and collusive trading.

GS&Co. is among the defendants named in a putative class action filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on August 4, 2021. The amended complaint, filed on January 6, 2022, generally asserts claims under federal antitrust law and state common law in connection with an alleged conspiracy among the defendants to manipulate auctions for foreign exchange transactions on an electronic trading platform, as well as claims under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. The complaint seeks declaratory and injunctive relief, as well as unspecified amounts of treble and other damages.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 211

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Banco Espirito Santo S.A. and Oak Finance

Beginning in February 2015, GSI commenced actions against Novo Banco S.A. (Novo Banco) in the English Commercial Court and the Bank of Portugal (BoP) in Portuguese Administrative Court in response to BoP’s decisions in December 2014, September 2015 and December 2015 to reverse an earlier transfer to Novo Banco of an $835 million facility agreement (the Facility), structured by GSI, between Oak Finance Luxembourg S.A. (Oak Finance), a special purpose vehicle formed in connection with the Facility, and Banco Espirito Santo S.A. (BES) prior to the failure of BES. In July 2018, the English Supreme Court found that the English courts did not yet have jurisdiction over GSI’s action. In July 2018, the Liquidation Committee for BES issued a decision seeking to claw back from GSI $54 million paid to GSI and $50 million paid to Oak Finance in connection with the Facility, alleging that GSI acted in bad faith in extending the Facility, including because GSI allegedly knew that BES was at risk of imminent failure. In October 2018, GSI commenced an action in Lisbon Commercial Court challenging the Liquidation Committee’s decision and has since also issued a claim against the Portuguese State seeking compensation for losses of approximately $222 million related to the failure of BES, together with a contingent claim for the $104 million sought by the Liquidation Committee.

Financial Advisory Services

Group Inc. and certain of its affiliates are from time to time parties to various civil litigation and arbitration proceedings and other disputes with clients and third parties relating to the firm’s financial advisory activities. These claims generally seek, among other things, compensatory damages and, in some cases, punitive damages, and in certain cases allege that the firm did not appropriately disclose or deal with conflicts of interest.

Archegos-Related Matters

GS&Co. is among the underwriters named as defendants in a putative securities class action filed on August 13, 2021 in New York Supreme Court, County of New York, relating to ViacomCBS Inc.’s (ViacomCBS) March 2021 public offerings of $1.7 billion of common stock and $1.0 billion of preferred stock. In addition to the underwriters, the defendants include ViacomCBS and certain of its officers and directors. GS&Co. underwrote 646,154 shares of common stock representing an aggregate offering price of approximately $55 million and 323,077 shares of preferred stock representing an aggregate offering price of approximately $32 million. The complaint asserts claims under the federal securities laws and alleges that the offering documents contained material misstatements and omissions, including, among other things, that the offering documents failed to disclose that Archegos Capital Management (Archegos) had substantial exposure to ViacomCBS, including through total return swaps to which certain of the underwriters, including GS&Co., were allegedly counterparties, and that such underwriters failed to disclose their exposure to Archegos. The complaint seeks rescission and compensatory damages in unspecified amounts. On November 5, 2021,

the

plaintiffs filed an amended complaint, and, on December 22, 2021,

the

defendants filed motions to dismiss the amended complaint. On January 4, 2022, the plaintiffs moved for class certification.

Group Inc. is also a defendant in putative securities class actions filed beginning in October 2021 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. The complaints allege that Group Inc., along with another financial institution, sold shares in Vipshop Holdings Ltd. (Vipshop), GSX Techedu Inc. (Gaotu), Tencent Music Entertainment Group (Tencent), ViacomCBS, iQIYI Inc. (iQIYI) and Baidu Inc. (Baidu) based on material nonpublic information regarding the liquidation of Archegos’ position in Vipshop, Gaotu, Tencent, ViacomCBS, iQIYI and Baidu, respectively. The complaints generally assert violations of Sections 10(b), 20A and 20(a) of the Exchange Act and seek unspecified damages.

On January 24, 2022, the firm received a demand from an alleged shareholder under Section 220 of the Delaware General Corporation Law for books and records relating to, among other things, the firm’s involvement with Archegos and the firm’s controls with respect to insider trading.

Underwriting Litigation

Firm affiliates are among the defendants in a number of proceedings in connection with securities offerings. In these proceedings, including those described below, the plaintiffs assert class action or individual claims under federal and state securities laws and in some cases other applicable laws, allege that the offering documents for the securities that they purchased contained material misstatements and omissions, and generally seek compensatory and rescissory damages in unspecified amounts, as well as rescission. Certain of these proceedings involve additional allegations.

212 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Altice USA, Inc.

GS&Co. is among the underwriters named as defendants in putative securities class actions pending in New York Supreme Court, County of Queens, and the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York beginning in June 2018, relating to Altice USA, Inc.’s (Altice) $2.15 billion June 2017 initial public offering. In addition to the underwriters, the defendants include Altice and certain of its officers and directors. GS&Co. underwrote 12,280,042 shares of common stock representing an aggregate offering price of approximately $368 million. On June 26, 2020, the court dismissed the amended complaint in the state court action, and on September 4, 2020, plaintiffs moved for leave to file a consolidated amended complaint. Plaintiffs in the district court action filed a second amended complaint on October 7, 2020. On November 8, 2021, the state court preliminarily approved a settlement. The firm will not be required to contribute to the settlement.

Uber Technologies, Inc.

GS&Co. is among the underwriters named as defendants in several putative securities class actions filed beginning in September 2019 in California Superior Court, County of San Francisco and the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, relating to Uber Technologies, Inc.’s (Uber) $8.1 billion May 2019 initial public offering. In addition to the underwriters, the defendants include Uber and certain of its officers and directors. GS&Co. underwrote 35,864,408 shares of common stock representing an aggregate offering price of approximately $1.6 billion. On November 16, 2020, the court in the state court action granted defendants’ motion to dismiss the consolidated amended complaint filed on February 11, 2020, and on December 16, 2020, plaintiffs appealed. On August 7, 2020, defendants’ motion to dismiss the district court action was denied. On September 25, 2020, the plaintiffs in the district court action moved for class certification. On December 5, 2020, the plaintiffs in the state court action filed a complaint in the district court, which was consolidated with the existing district court action on January 25, 2021. On May 14, 2021, the plaintiffs filed a second amended complaint in the district court, purporting to add the plaintiffs from the state court action as additional class representatives. On October 1, 2021, defendants’ motion to dismiss the additional class representatives from the second amended complaint was denied, and, on October 29, 2021, the plaintiffs in the district court action filed a revised motion for class certification.

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

GS&Co. is among the underwriters named as defendants in a putative securities class action filed on September 12, 2019 in New York Supreme Court, County of New York, relating to Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc.’s (Alnylam) $805 million November 2017 public offering of common stock. In addition to the underwriters, the defendants include Alnylam and certain of its officers and directors. GS&Co. underwrote 2,576,000 shares of common stock representing an aggregate offering price of approximately $322 million. On October 30, 2020, the court denied the defendants’ motion to dismiss the amended complaint filed on November 7, 2019. On February 22, 2021, the plaintiffs moved for class certification. On April 29, 2021, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York for the First Department denied defendants’ appeal of the New York Supreme Court’s denial of the defendants’ motion to dismiss the amended complaint, except with respect to one of the plaintiffs’ claims against Alnylam’s officers and directors. On December 3, 2021, the court preliminarily approved a settlement. The firm will not be required to contribute to the settlement.

Venator Materials PLC.

GS&Co. is among the underwriters named as defendants in putative securities class actions in Texas District Court, Dallas County, New York Supreme Court, New York County, and the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, filed beginning in February 2019, relating to Venator Materials PLC’s (Venator) $522 million August 2017 initial public offering and $534 million December 2017 secondary equity offering. In addition to the underwriters, the defendants include Venator, certain of its officers and directors and certain of its shareholders. GS&Co. underwrote 6,351,347 shares of common stock in the August 2017 initial public offering representing an aggregate offering price of approximately $127 million and 5,625,768 shares of common stock in the December 2017 secondary equity offering representing an aggregate offering price of approximately $127 million. On January 21, 2020, the Texas Court of Appeals reversed the Texas District Court and dismissed the claims against the underwriter defendants, including GS&Co., in the Texas state court action for lack of personal jurisdiction. On March 22, 2021, the defendants’ motion to dismiss the New York state court action was granted and the plaintiffs have filed a notice of appeal. On July 7, 2021, the court in the federal action granted in part and denied in part defendants’ motion to dismiss the consolidated complaint. On August 16, 2021, the plaintiffs in the federal action filed an amended consolidated complaint. On November 19, 2021, the plaintiffs in the putative class action moved for class certification.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 213

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

XP Inc.

GS&Co. is among the underwriters named as defendants in putative securities class actions pending in New York Supreme Court, County of New York, and the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of York, filed beginning March 19, 2020, relating to XP Inc.’s (XP) $2.3 billion December 2019 initial public offering. In addition to the underwriters, the defendants include XP, certain of its officers and directors and certain of its shareholders. GS&Co. underwrote 19,326,218 shares of common stock in the December 2019 initial public offering representing an aggregate offering price of approximately $522 million. On August 5, 2020, defendants’ motion to stay the state court action in favor of the federal court action was denied. On February 8, 2021, the state court granted the defendants’ motion to dismiss the state court action, and on March 7, 2021, the district court granted the defendants’ motion to dismiss the federal court action. On

November 22, 2021, the Second

Circuit affirmed the district court’s order granting the defendants’ motion to dismiss.

GoHealth, Inc.

GS&Co. is among the underwriters named as defendants in putative securities class actions filed beginning on September 21, 2020 and consolidated in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois relating to GoHealth, Inc.’s (GoHealth) $914 million July 2020 initial public offering. In addition to the underwriters, the defendants include GoHealth, certain of its officers and directors and certain of its shareholders. GS&Co. underwrote 11,540,550 shares of common stock representing an aggregate offering price of approximately $242 million. On February 25, 2021, the plaintiffs filed a consolidated complaint. On April 26, 2021, the defendants filed a motion to dismiss the consolidated complaint.

Array Technologies, Inc.

GS&Co. is among the underwriters named as defendants in a putative securities class action filed on May 14, 2021 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, relating to Array Technologies, Inc.’s (Array) $1.2 billion October 2020 initial public offering of common stock, $1.3 billion December 2020 offering of common stock and $993 million March 2021 offering of common stock. In addition to the underwriters, the defendants include Array and certain of its officers and directors. GS&Co. underwrote an aggregate of 31,912,213 shares of common stock in the three offerings representing an aggregate offering price of approximately $877 million. On December 7, 2021, the plaintiffs filed an amended consolidated complaint.

Skillz Inc.

GS&Co. is among the underwriters named as defendants in a putative securities class action filed on October 8, 2021 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California relating to Skillz Inc.’s (Skillz) approximately $883 million March 2021 public offering of common stock. In addition to the underwriters, the defendants include Skillz and certain of its officers and directors. GS&Co. underwrote 8,832,000 shares of common stock representing an aggregate offering price of approximately $212 million. On December 23, 2021, the defendants filed a motion to dismiss the amended consolidated complaint.

ContextLogic Inc.

GS&Co. is among the underwriters named as defendants in putative securities class actions filed beginning on May 17, 2021 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, relating to ContextLogic Inc.’s (ContextLogic) $1.1 billion December 2020 initial public offering of common stock. In addition to the underwriters, the defendants include ContextLogic and certain of its officers and directors. GS&Co. underwrote 16,169,000 shares of common stock representing an aggregate offering price of approximately $388 million.

DiDi Global Inc.

Goldman Sachs (Asia) L.L.C. (GS Asia) is among the underwriters named as defendants in putative securities class actions filed beginning on July 6, 2021 in the U.S. District Courts for the Southern District of New York and the Central District of California relating to DiDi Global Inc.’s (DiDi) $4.4 billion June 2021 initial public offering of American Depositary Shares (ADS). In addition to the underwriters, the defendants include DiDi and certain of its officers and directors. GS Asia underwrote 104,554,000 ADS representing an aggregate offering price of approximately $1.5 billion. On September 22, 2021, plaintiffs in the California action voluntarily dismissed their claims without prejudice. On January 7, 2022, plaintiffs in the federal action filed a consolidated amended complaint, which includes allegations of violations of Sections 10(b) and 20A of the Exchange Act against the underwriter defendants.

Vroom Inc.

GS&Co. is among the underwriters named as defendants in a putative securities class action filed on October 4, 2021 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York relating to Vroom Inc.’s (Vroom) approximately $589 million September 2020 public offering of common stock. In addition to the underwriters, the defendants include Vroom and certain of its officers and directors. GS&Co. underwrote 3,886,819 shares of common stock representing an aggregate offering price of approximately $212 million. On December 20, 2021, the defendants served a motion to dismiss the consolidated complaint.

214 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Zymergen Inc.

GS&Co. is among the underwriters named as defendants in a putative securities class action filed on August 4, 2021 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California relating to Zymergen Inc.’s (Zymergen) $575 million April 2021 initial public offering of common stock. In addition to the underwriters, the defendants include Zymergen and certain of its officers and directors. GS&Co. underwrote 5,750,345 shares of common stock representing an aggregate offering price of approximately $178 million.

Waterdrop Inc.

GS Asia is among the underwriters named as defendants in a putative securities class action filed on September 14, 2021 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York relating to Waterdrop Inc.’s (Waterdrop) $360 million May 2021 initial public offering of ADS. In addition to the underwriters, the defendants include Waterdrop and certain of its officers and directors. GS Asia underwrote 15,300,000 ADS representing an aggregate offering price of approximately $184 million.

Investment Management Services

Group Inc. and certain of its affiliates are parties to various civil litigation and arbitration proceedings and other disputes with clients relating to losses allegedly sustained as a result of the firm’s investment management services. These claims generally seek, among other things, restitution or other compensatory damages and, in some cases, punitive damages.

Securities Lending Antitrust Litigation

Group Inc. and GS&Co. are among the defendants named in a putative antitrust class action and three individual actions relating to securities lending practices filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York beginning in August 2017. The complaints generally assert claims under federal and state antitrust law and state common law in connection with an alleged conspiracy among the defendants to preclude the development of electronic platforms for securities lending transactions. The individual complaints also assert claims for tortious interference with business relations and under state trade practices law and, in the second and third individual actions, unjust enrichment under state common law. The complaints seek declaratory and injunctive relief, as well as unspecified amounts of compensatory, treble, punitive and other damages. Group Inc. was voluntarily dismissed from the putative class action on January 26, 2018. Defendants’ motion to dismiss the class action complaint was denied on September 27, 2018. Defendants’ motion to dismiss the first individual action was granted on August 7, 2019. The plaintiffs in the putative class action moved for class certification on February 22, 2021. On September 30, 2021, the defendants’ motion to dismiss the second and third individual actions, which were consolidated in June 2019, was granted. On October 25, 2021, the plaintiff in the second individual action appealed to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.

Variable Rate Demand Obligations Antitrust Litigation

GS&Co. is among the defendants named in a putative class action relating to variable rate demand obligations (VRDOs), filed beginning in February 2019 under separate complaints and consolidated in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. The consolidated amended complaint, filed on May 31, 2019, generally asserts claims under federal antitrust law and state common law in connection with an alleged conspiracy among the defendants to manipulate the market for VRDOs. The complaint seeks declaratory and injunctive relief, as well as unspecified amounts of compensatory, treble and other damages. On November 2, 2020, the court granted in part and denied in part the defendants’ motion to dismiss, dismissing the state common law claims against GS&Co., but denying dismissal of the federal antitrust law claims.

GS&Co. is also among the defendants named in a related putative class action filed on June 2, 2021 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. The complaint alleges the same conspiracy in the market for VRDOs as that alleged in the consolidated amended complaint filed on May 31, 2019, and asserts federal antitrust law, state law and state common law claims against the defendants. The complaint seeks declaratory and injunctive relief, as well as unspecified amounts of compensatory, treble and other damages.

On August 6, 2021, plaintiffs

 in the May 31, 2019 action filed an amended complaint consolidating the June 2, 2021 action with the May 31, 2019 action. On September 14, 2021, defendants filed a joint partial motion to dismiss the

August 6, 2021 amended

 consolidated complaint.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 215

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Interest Rate Swap Antitrust Litigation

Group Inc., GS&Co., GSI, GS Bank USA and Goldman Sachs Financial Markets, L.P. are among the defendants named in a putative antitrust class action relating to the trading of interest rate swaps, filed in November 2015 and consolidated in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. The same Goldman Sachs entities

are

also among the defendants named in two antitrust actions relating to the trading of interest rate swaps, commenced in April 2016 and June 2018, respectively, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York by three operators of swap execution facilities and certain of their affiliates. These actions have been consolidated for pretrial proceedings. The complaints generally assert claims under federal antitrust law and state common law in connection with an alleged conspiracy among the defendants to preclude exchange trading of interest rate swaps. The complaints in the individual actions also assert claims under state antitrust law. The complaints seek declaratory and injunctive relief, as well as treble damages in an unspecified amount. Defendants moved to dismiss the class and the first individual action and the district court dismissed the state common law claims asserted by the plaintiffs in the first individual action and otherwise limited the state common law claim in the putative class action and the antitrust claims in both actions to the period from 2013 to 2016. On November 20, 2018, the court granted in part and denied in part the defendants’ motion to dismiss the second individual action, dismissing the state common law claims for unjust enrichment and tortious interference, but denying dismissal of the federal and state antitrust claims. On March 13, 2019, the court denied the plaintiffs’ motion in the putative class action to amend their complaint to add allegations related to

 conduct from

2008

to

2012, but granted the motion to add limited allegations from 2013

to

2016, which the plaintiffs added in a fourth consolidated amended complaint filed on March 22, 2019. The plaintiffs in the putative class action moved for class certification on March 7, 2019.

Commodities-Related Litigation

GSI is among the defendants named in putative class actions relating to trading in platinum and palladium, filed beginning on November 25, 2014 and most recently amended on May 15, 2017, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. The amended complaint generally alleges that the defendants violated federal antitrust laws and the Commodity Exchange Act in connection with an alleged conspiracy to manipulate a benchmark for physical platinum and palladium prices and seek declaratory and injunctive relief, as well as treble damages in an unspecified amount. On March 29, 2020, the court granted the defendants’ motions to dismiss and for reconsideration, resulting in the dismissal of all claims. On April 27, 2020, plaintiffs appealed to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.

GS&Co., GSI, J. Aron & Company and Metro International Trade Services (Metro), a previously consolidated subsidiary of Group Inc. that was sold in the fourth quarter of 2014, are among the defendants in a number of putative class and individual actions filed beginning on August 1, 2013 and consolidated in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. The complaints generally allege violations of federal antitrust laws and state laws in connection with the storage of aluminum and aluminum trading. The complaints seek declaratory, injunctive and other equitable relief, as well as unspecified monetary damages, including treble damages. In December 2016, the district court granted defendants’ motions to dismiss and on August 27, 2019, the Second Circuit vacated the district court’s dismissals and remanded the case to district court for further proceedings. On July 23, 2020, the district court denied the class plaintiffs’ motion for class certification, and on December 16, 2020 the Second Circuit denied leave to appeal the denial. On February 17, 2021, the district court granted defendants’ motion for summary judgment with respect to the claims of most of the individual plaintiffs. On April 14, 2021, the plaintiffs appealed to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.

In connection with the sale of Metro, the firm agreed to provide indemnities to the buyer, including for any potential liabilities for legal or regulatory proceedings arising out of the conduct of Metro’s business while the firm owned it.

U.S. Treasury Securities Litigation

GS&Co. is among the primary dealers named as defendants in several putative class actions relating to the market for U.S. Treasury securities, filed beginning in July 2015 and consolidated in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. GS&Co. is also among the primary dealers named as defendants in a similar individual action filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on August 25, 2017. The consolidated class action complaint, filed on December 29, 2017, generally alleges that the defendants violated antitrust laws in connection with an alleged conspiracy to manipulate the when-issued market and auctions for U.S. Treasury securities and that certain defendants, including GS&Co., colluded to preclude trading of U.S. Treasury securities on electronic trading platforms in order to impede competition in the bidding process. The individual action alleges a similar conspiracy regarding manipulation of the when-issued market and auctions, as well as related futures and options in violation of the Commodity Exchange Act. The complaints seek declaratory and injunctive relief, treble damages in an unspecified amount and restitution. Defendants’ motion to dismiss was granted on March 31, 2021. On May 14, 2021, plaintiffs filed an amended complaint. On June 14, 2021, defendants filed a motion to dismiss the amended complaint.

216 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Corporate Bonds Antitrust Litigation

Group Inc. and GS&Co. are among the dealers named as defendants in a putative class action relating to the secondary market for

odd-lot

corporate bonds, filed on April 21, 2020 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. The amended consolidated complaint, filed on October 29, 2020, asserts claims under federal antitrust law in connection with alleged anti-competitive conduct by the defendants in the secondary market for

odd-lots

of corporate bonds, and seeks declaratory and injunctive relief, as well as unspecified monetary damages, including treble and punitive damages and restitution. On October 25, 2021, the court granted defendants’ motion to dismiss with prejudice. On November 23, 2021, plaintiffs appealed to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.

Credit Default Swap Antitrust Litigation

Group Inc., GS&Co. and GSI are among the defendants named in a putative antitrust class action relating to the settlement of credit default swaps, filed on June 30, 2021 in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico. The complaint generally asserts claims under federal antitrust law and the Commodity Exchange Act in connection with an alleged conspiracy among the defendants to manipulate the benchmark price used to value credit default swaps for settlement. The complaint also asserts a claim for unjust enrichment under state common law. The complaint seeks declaratory and injunctive relief, as well as unspecified amounts of treble and other damages. On November 15, 2021, the defendants filed a motion to dismiss the complaint. On February 4, 2022, the plaintiffs filed an amended complaint.

Employment-Related Matters

On September 15, 2010, a putative class action was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York by three female former employees. The complaint, as subsequently amended, alleges that Group Inc. and GS&Co. have systematically discriminated against female employees in respect of compensation, promotion and performance evaluations. The complaint alleges a class consisting of all female employees employed at specified levels in specified areas by Group Inc. and GS&Co. since July 2002, and asserts claims under federal and New York City discrimination laws. The complaint seeks class action status, injunctive relief and unspecified amounts of compensatory, punitive and other damages.

On March 30, 2018, the district court certified a damages class as to the plaintiffs’ disparate impact and treatment claims. On September 4, 2018, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals denied defendants’ petition for interlocutory review of the district court’s class certification decision and subsequently denied defendants’ petition for rehearing. On September 27, 2018, plaintiffs advised the district court that they would not seek to certify a class for injunctive and declaratory relief. On March 26, 2020, the Magistrate Judge in the district court granted in part a motion to compel arbitration as to class members who are parties to certain agreements with Group Inc. and/or GS&Co. in which they agreed to arbitrate employment-related disputes. On April 16, 2020, plaintiffs submitted objections to the Magistrate Judge’s order and defendants submitted conditional objections in the event that the district judge overturned any portion of the Magistrate Judge’s order. On July 22, 2021, defendants filed a motion to decertify the class. On August 9, 2021, plaintiffs filed a motion for partial summary judgment as to a portion of a disparate impact claim, and defendants filed a motion for summary judgment as to plaintiff’s disparate impact and treatment claims. On September 15, 2021, the district court affirmed the decision of the Magistrate Judge to compel arbitration.

Communications Recordkeeping Investigation and Review

The firm is cooperating with the SEC and producing documents in connection with an investigation of the firm’s compliance with records preservation requirements relating to business communications sent over electronic messaging channels that have not been approved by the firm. The SEC has stated that it is conducting similar investigations of record preservation practices at other financial institutions.

Regulatory Investigations and Reviews and Related Litigation

Group Inc. and certain of its affiliates are subject to a number of other investigations and reviews by, and in some cases have received subpoenas and requests for documents and information from, various governmental and regulatory bodies and self-regulatory organizations and litigation and shareholder requests relating to various matters relating to the firm’s businesses and operations, including:

• The securities offering process and underwriting practices;

• The firm’s investment management and financial advisory services;

• Conflicts of interest;

• Research practices, including research independence and interactions between research analysts and other firm personnel, including investment banking personnel, as well as third parties;

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 217

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

• Transactions involving government-related financings and other matters, municipal securities, including wall-cross procedures and conflict of interest disclosure with respect to state and municipal clients, the trading and structuring of municipal derivative instruments in connection with municipal offerings, political contribution rules, municipal advisory services and the possible impact of credit default swap transactions on municipal issuers;

• Consumer lending, as well as residential mortgage lending, servicing and securitization, and compliance with related consumer laws;

• The offering, auction, sales, trading and clearance of corporate and government securities, currencies, commodities and other financial products and related sales and other communications and activities, as well as the firm’s supervision and controls relating to such activities, including compliance with applicable short sale rules, algorithmic, high-frequency and quantitative trading, the firm’s U.S. alternative trading system (dark pool), futures trading, options trading, when-issued trading, transaction reporting, technology systems and controls, communications recordkeeping and recording, securities lending practices, prime brokerage activities, trading and clearance of credit derivative instruments and interest rate swaps, commodities activities and metals storage, private placement practices, allocations of and trading in securities, and trading activities and communications in connection with the establishment of benchmark rates, such as currency rates;

• Compliance with the FCPA;

• The firm’s hiring and compensation practices;

• The firm’s system of risk management and controls; and

• Insider trading, the potential misuse and dissemination of material nonpublic information regarding corporate and governmental developments and the effectiveness of the firm’s insider trading controls and information barriers.

The firm is cooperating with all such governmental and regulatory investigations and reviews.

Note 28.

Employee Benefit Plans

The firm sponsors various pension plans and certain other postretirement benefit plans, primarily healthcare and life insurance. The firm also provides certain benefits to former or inactive employees prior to retirement.

Defined Benefit Pension Plans and Postretirement Plans

Employees of certain

non-U.S.

subsidiaries participate in various defined benefit pension plans. These plans generally provide benefits based on years of credited service and a percentage of eligible compensation. The firm maintains a defined benefit pension plan for certain U.K. employees. As of April 2008, the U.K. defined benefit plan was closed to new participants and frozen for existing participants as of March 31, 2016. The

non-U.S.

plans do not have a material impact on the firm’s consolidated results of operations.

The firm also maintains a defined benefit pension plan for substantially all U.S. employees hired prior to November 1, 2003. As of November 2004, this plan was closed to new participants and frozen for existing participants. In addition, the firm maintains unfunded postretirement benefit plans that provide medical and life insurance for eligible retirees and their dependents covered under these programs. These plans do not have a material impact on the firm’s consolidated results of operations.

The firm recognizes the funded status of its defined benefit pension and postretirement plans, measured as the difference between the fair value of the plan assets and the benefit obligation, in the consolidated balance sheets. As of December 2021, other assets included $411 million (related to overfunded pension plans) and other liabilities included $426 million related to these plans. As of December 2020, other assets included $343 million (related to overfunded pension plans) and other liabilities included $478 million related to these plans.

Defined Contribution Plans

The firm contributes to employer-sponsored U.S. and

non-U.S.

defined contribution plans. The firm’s contribution to these plans was $274 million for 2021, $261 million for 2020 and $254 million for 2019.

218 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Note 29.

Employee Incentive Plans

The cost of employee services received in exchange for a share-based award is generally measured based on the grant-date fair value of the award. Share-based awards that do not require future service (i.e., vested awards, including awards granted to retirement-eligible employees) are expensed immediately. Share-based awards that require future service are amortized over the relevant service period. Forfeitures are recorded when they occur.

Cash dividend equivalents paid on RSUs are generally charged to retained earnings. If RSUs that require future service are forfeited, the related dividend equivalents originally charged to retained earnings are reclassified to compensation expense in the period in which forfeiture occurs.

The firm generally issues new shares of common stock upon delivery of share-based awards. In certain cases, primarily related to conflicted employment (as outlined in the applicable award agreements), the firm may cash settle share-based compensation awards accounted for as equity instruments. For these awards, whose terms allow for cash settlement, additional

paid-in

capital is adjusted to the extent of the difference between the value of the award at the time of cash settlement and the grant-date value of the award.

Stock Incentive Plan

The firm sponsors a stock incentive plan, The Goldman Sachs Amended and Restated Stock Incentive Plan (2021) (2021 SIP), which provides for grants of RSUs, restricted stock, dividend equivalent rights, incentive stock options, nonqualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, and other share-based awards, each of which may be subject to terms and conditions, including performance or market conditions. On April 29, 2021, shareholders approved the 2021 SIP. The 2021 SIP is a successor to several predecessor stock incentive plans, the first of which was adopted on April 30, 1999, and each of which was approved by the firm’s shareholders.

As of December 2021, 69.8 million shares were available to be delivered pursuant to awards granted under the 2021 SIP. If any shares of common stock underlying awards granted under the 2021 SIP or awards granted under the 2018, 2015 or 2013 predecessor stock incentive plans are not delivered because such awards are forfeited, terminated or canceled, or if shares of common stock underlying such awards are surrendered or withheld to satisfy any obligation of the grantee (including taxes), those shares will become available to be delivered pursuant to awards granted under the 2021 SIP. Shares available to be delivered under the 2021 SIP also are subject to adjustment for certain events or changes in corporate structure as provided under the 2021 SIP. The 2021 SIP is scheduled to terminate on the date of the annual meeting of shareholders that occurs in 2025.

Restricted Stock Units

The firm grants RSUs (including RSUs subject to performance or market conditions) to employees, which are generally valued based on the closing price of the underlying shares on the date of grant after taking into account a liquidity discount for any applicable post-vesting and delivery transfer restrictions. The value of equity awards also considers the impact of material non-public information, if any, that the firm expects to make available shortly following grant. RSUs generally vest and underlying shares of common stock deliver (net of required withholding tax) as outlined in the applicable award agreements. Award agreements generally provide that vesting is accelerated in certain circumstances, such as on retirement, death, disability and, in certain cases, conflicted employment. Delivery of the underlying shares of common stock is conditioned on the grantees satisfying certain vesting and other requirements outlined in the award agreements. RSUs not subject to performance conditions generally

vest

and

deliver over a three-year period.

RSUs

that are subject to performance or market conditions generally deliver after the end of a three to five year period. For awards that are subject to performance or market conditions, generally the final award is adjusted from

0 up to 150% of the original grant based on satisfaction of those conditions. Dividend equivalents that accrue on these awards are paid when the awards settle.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 219

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

The table below presents the 2021 activity related to stock settled RSUs.

	Restricted Stock Units Outstanding					Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value of Restricted Stock Units Outstanding
		Future Service Required		No Future Service Required			Future Service Required	No Future Service Required
Beginning balance		3,991,348		15,223,219			$207.23	$203.41
Granted		3,838,363		6,033,314			$276.57	$256.93
Forfeited		(567,318	)	(398,076	)		$231.77	$220.26
Delivered		0		(8,144,080	)		$         0	$202.58
Vested		(3,219,319	)	3,219,319			$225.48	$225.48
Ending balance		4,043,074		15,933,696			$255.08	$228.14

In the table above:

• The weighted average grant-date fair value of RSUs granted was $264.57 during 2021, $220.45 during 2020 and $177.42 during 2019. The fair value of the RSUs granted included a liquidity discount of 10.2% during 2021, 10.1% during 2020 and 10.5% during 2019, to reflect post-vesting and delivery transfer restrictions, generally of up to 4 years.

• The aggregate fair value of awards that vested was $2.64 billion during 2021, $2.01 billion during 2020 and $2.00 billion during 2019.

• The ending balance included restricted stock subject to future service requirements of 47,719 shares as of December 2021 and 72,369 shares as of December 2020.

• The ending balance included RSUs subject to future service requirements and performance or market conditions of 322,935 RSUs as of December 2021 and 210,692 RSUs as of December 2020, and the maximum amount of such RSUs that may be earned was 387,508 RSUs as of December 2021 and 210,692 RSUs as of December 2020.

• The ending balance also included RSUs not subject to future service requirements but subject to performance conditions of 590,453 RSUs as of December 2021 and 489,602 RSUs as of December 2020, and the maximum amount of such RSUs that may be earned was 885,680 RSUs as of December 2021 and 734,403 RSUs as of December 2020.

In relation to

2021 year-end,

during the first quarter of 2022, the firm granted to its employees approximately 12 million RSUs (of which 4.4 million RSUs require future service as a condition of delivery for the related shares of common stock) and delivered, net of required withholding tax, approximately 1 million shares of restricted stock (which do not require future service). Both RSU and restricted stock awards are subject to additional conditions as outlined in the award agreements. Generally, shares underlying these RSUs, net of required withholding tax, deliver over a three-year period, but are subject to a one-year post-vesting and delivery transfer restriction. The restricted stock is subject to a three-year post-vesting and delivery transfer restriction. These awards are not included in the table above.

As of December 2021, there was $565 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to

non-vested

share-based compensation arrangements. This cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.02 years. In addition, there is unrecognized compensation cost related to share-based compensation arrangements subject to performance conditions. The maximum payout related to these awards is $31 million. This cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of two years.

The table below presents the share-based compensation and the related excess tax benefit.

	Year Ended December
$ in millions		2021	2020	2019
Share-based compensation		$2,553	$1,985	$2,120
Excess net tax benefit for share-based awards		$  196	$   120	$     63

In the table above, excess net tax benefit for share-based awards includes the net tax benefit on dividend equivalents paid on RSUs and the delivery of common stock underlying share-based awards.

220 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Note 30.

Parent Company

Group Inc. — Condensed Statements of Earnings

	Year Ended December
$ in millions		2021		2020		2019
Revenues
Dividends from subsidiaries and other affiliates:
Bank		$16,990		$       40		$     63
Nonbank		15,562		11,860		4,199
Other revenues		529		774		335
Total non-interest revenues		33,081		12,674		4,597
Interest income		3,695		4,020		7,575
Interest expense		4,570		5,861		8,545
Net interest loss		(875	)	(1,841	)	(970	)
Total net revenues		32,206		10,833		3,627
Operating expenses
Compensation and benefits		750		367		331
Other expenses		1,005		3,339		1,365
Total operating expenses		1,755		3,706		1,696
Pre-tax earnings		30,451		7,127		1,931
Benefit for taxes		(551	)	(696	)	(538	)
Undistributed earnings/(loss) of subsidiaries and other affiliates		(9,367	)	1,636		5,997
Net earnings		21,635		9,459		8,466
Preferred stock dividends		484		544		569
Net earnings applicable to common shareholders		$21,151		$  8,915		$7,897

Supplemental Disclosures:

In the condensed statements of earnings above, revenues and expenses included the following with subsidiaries and other affiliates:

• Dividends from bank subsidiaries included cash dividends of $16.99 billion for 2021, $38 million for 2020 and $60 million for 2019.

• Dividends from nonbank subsidiaries and other affiliates included cash dividends of $15.14 billion for 2021, $11.32 billion for 2020 and $4.18 billion for 2019.

• Other revenues included $(1.01) billion for 2021, $2.62 billion for 2020 and $1.29 billion for 2019.

• Interest income included $3.39 billion for 2021, $3.68 billion for 2020 and $7.26 billion for 2019.

• Interest expense included $1.24 billion for 2021, $1.73 billion for 2020 and $3.15 billion for 2019.

• Other expenses included $113 million for 2021, $100 million for 2020 and $138 million for 2019.

Group Inc.’s other comprehensive income/(loss) was $(634) million for 2021, $50 million for 2020 and $(2.18) billion for 2019.

Group Inc. — Condensed Balance Sheets

	As of December
$ in millions		2021		2020
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents:
With third-party banks		$           47		$         26
With subsidiary bank		2		0
Loans to and receivables from subsidiaries:
Bank		1,024		357
Nonbank ( $7,638 and $7,242 at fair value)		273,416		239,483
Investments in subsidiaries and other affiliates:
Bank		43,021		31,116
Nonbank		75,883		72,689
Trading assets (at fair value)		4,663		951
Investments ( $22,525 and $16,642 at fair value)		26,078		20,204
Other assets		6,098		4,811
Total assets		$430,232		$369,637
Liabilities and shareholders’ equity
Secured borrowings with subsidiaries		$  50,805		$35,228
Payables to subsidiaries		1,357		503
Trading liabilities (at fair value)		1,116		320
Unsecured short-term borrowings:
With third parties ( $1,215  and $1,723 at fair value)		11,127		20,563
With subsidiaries		3,687		7,385
Unsecured long-term borrowings:
With third parties ( $17,690  and $11,145 at fair value)		208,796		171,934
With subsidiaries		40,405		32,419
Other liabilities		3,013		5,353
Total liabilities		320,306		273,705
Commitments, contingencies and guarantees		0		0
Shareholders’ equity
Preferred stock		10,703		11,203
Common stock		9		9
Share-based awards		4,211		3,468
Additional paid-in capital		56,396		55,679
Retained earnings		131,811		112,947
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(2,068	)	(1,434	)
Stock held in treasury, at cost		(91,136	)	(85,940	)
Total shareholders’ equity		109,926		95,932
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity		$430,232		$369,637

Supplemental Disclosures:

Goldman Sachs Funding LLC (Funding IHC), a wholly-owned, direct subsidiary of Group Inc., has provided Group Inc. with a committed line of credit that allows Group Inc. to draw sufficient funds to meet its cash needs in the ordinary course of business.

Trading assets included derivative contracts with subsidiaries of $1.38 billion as of December 2021 and $843 million as of December 2020.

Trading liabilities included derivative contracts with subsidiaries of $1.12 billion as of December 2021 and $320 million as of December 2020.

As of December 2021, unsecured long-term borrowings with subsidiaries by maturity date are $38.85 billion in 2023, $324 million in 2024, $385 million in 2025, $45 million in 2026 and $798 million in 2027-thereafter.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 221

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Group Inc. — Condensed Statements of Cash Flows

	Year Ended December
$ in millions		2021		2020		2019
Cash flows from operating activities
Net earnings		$ 21,635		$   9,459		$  8,466
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
Undistributed (earnings)/loss of subsidiaries and other affiliates		9,367		(1,636	)	(5,997	)
Depreciation and amortization		9		6		26
Deferred income taxes		(241	)	(160	)	(210	)
Share-based compensation		335		127		118
Gain on extinguishment of unsecured borrowings		–		(1	)	(20	)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Collateralized transactions (excluding secured borrowings, net)		–		332		77
Trading assets		(10,273	)	3,484		5,145
Trading liabilities		796		(97	)	136
Other, net		(5,213	)	(1,492	)	(1,208	)
Net cash provided by operating activities		16,415		10,022		6,533
Cash flows from investing activities
Purchase of property, leasehold improvements and equipment		(13	)	(26	)	(34	)
Repayments/(issuances) of short-term loans to subsidiaries, net		(9,951	)	7,021		2,079
Issuance of term loans to subsidiaries		(37,260	)	(32,472	)	(7,374	)
Repayments of term loans by subsidiaries		10,059		29,568		1,894
Purchase of investments		(16,964	)	(3,767	)	(16,776	)
Sales/paydowns of investments		10,896		4,135		9,768
Capital contributions to subsidiaries, net		(23,978	)	(5,617	)	(415	)
Net cash used for investing activities		(67,211	)	(1,158	)	(10,858	)
Cash flows from financing activities
Secured borrowings with subsidiary, net		12,346		(6,360	)	26,398
Unsecured short-term borrowings, net:
With third parties		(683	)	(1,372	)	(22	)
With subsidiaries		7,007		12,603		4,649
Issuance of unsecured long-term borrowings		73,164		24,789		8,804
Repayment of unsecured long-term borrowings		(31,588	)	(33,432	)	(27,172	)
Purchase of Trust Preferred securities		0		(11	)	(206	)
Preferred stock redemption		(2,675	)	(350	)	(1,100	)
Common stock repurchased		(5,200	)	(1,928	)	(5,335	)
Settlement of share-based awards in satisfaction of withholding tax requirements		(985	)	(830	)	(745	)
Dividends and dividend equivalents paid on stock and share-based awards		(2,725	)	(2,336	)	(2,104	)
Issuance of preferred stock, net of costs		2,172		349		1,098
Other financing, net		(14	)	0		(3	)
Net cash provided by/(used for) financing activities		50,819		(8,878	)	4,262
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		23		(14	)	(63	)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning balance		26		40		103
Cash and cash equivalents, ending balance		$          49		$       26		$       40

Supplemental Disclosures:

Cash payments for interest, net of capitalized interest, were $4.72 billion for 2021, $5.92 billion for 2020 and $9.53 billion for 2019, and included $1.33 billion for 2021, $1.90 billion for 2020 and $3.01 billion for 2019 of payments to subsidiaries.

Cash payments/(refunds) for income taxes, net, were $3.74 billion for 2021, $1.37 billion for 2020 and $272 million for 2019.

Non-cash

activities during the year ended December 2021:

• Group Inc. exchanged $948 million of loans for additional equity investment in its wholly-owned subsidiaries.

Non-cash

activities during the year ended December 2020:

• Group Inc. exchanged $11.2 million of Trust Preferred securities and common beneficial interests for $12.5 million of certain of Group Inc.’s junior subordinated debt.

Non-cash

activities during the year ended December 2019:

• Group Inc. acquired $8.50 billion of deposits with GS Bank USA from Funding IHC in exchange for borrowings.

• Group Inc. exchanged $211 million of Trust Preferred securities and common beneficial interests for $231 million of certain of Group Inc.’s junior subordinated debt.

222 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Supplemental Financial Information

Common Stock Performance

The graph and table below compare the performance of an investment in the firm’s common stock from December 31, 2016 (the last trading day before the firm’s 2017 fiscal year) through December 31, 2021, with the S&P 500 Index (S&P 500) and the S&P 500 Financials Index (S&P 500 Financials).

	As of December
		2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021
Group Inc.		$100.00	$107.74	$  71.63	$100.61	$118.19	$174.44
S&P 500		$100.00	$121.82	$116.47	$153.14	$181.30	$233.30
S&P 500 Financials		$100.00	$122.14	$106.21	$140.30	$137.83	$185.89

The graph and table above assume $100 was invested on December 31, 2016 in each of the firm’s common stock, the S&P 500 and the S&P 500 Financials, and the dividends were reinvested without payment of any commissions. The performance shown represents past performance and should not be considered an indication of future performance.

Statistical Disclosures

Distribution of Assets, Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

The tables below present information about average balances, interest and average interest rates.

	Average Balance for the Year Ended December
$ in millions		2021	2020	2019
Assets
U.S.		$     103,182	$     55,662	$  41,250
Non-U.S.		95,735	71,312	49,161
Deposits with banks		198,917	126,974	90,411
U.S.		202,841	138,447	156,769
Non-U.S.		148,604	114,974	123,069
Collateralized agreements		351,445	253,421	279,838
U.S.		173,498	204,118	157,266
Non-U.S.		136,075	118,642	118,086
Trading assets		309,573	322,760	275,352
U.S.		69,893	56,167	38,419
Non-U.S.		18,573	17,156	15,100
Investments		88,466	73,323	53,519
U.S.		108,032	94,115	84,416
Non-U.S.		21,455	18,867	13,839
Loans		129,487	112,982	98,255
U.S.		98,086	57,149	39,961
Non-U.S.		55,530	45,672	36,768
Other interest-earning assets		153,616	102,821	76,729
Interest-earning assets		1,231,504	992,281	874,104
Cash and due from banks		10,804	10,303	10,998
Other non-interest-earning assets		128,521	116,750	86,137
Assets		$1,370,829	$1,119,334	$971,239
Liabilities
U.S.		$     231,967	$   188,767	$131,937
Non-U.S.		72,899	51,997	34,993
Interest-bearing deposits		304,866	240,764	166,930
U.S.		110,099	77,727	65,170
Non-U.S.		72,691	35,284	31,875
Collateralized financings		182,790	113,011	97,045
U.S.		67,734	42,213	29,333
Non-U.S.		75,763	55,119	45,816
Trading liabilities		143,497	97,332	75,149
U.S.		31,866	34,449	34,284
Non-U.S.		34,326	22,113	17,323
Short-term borrowings		66,192	56,562	51,607
U.S.		216,864	199,196	205,324
Non-U.S.		29,764	30,941	28,079
Long-term borrowings		246,628	230,137	233,403
U.S.		139,278	127,489	128,846
Non-U.S.		85,913	66,403	55,101
Other interest-bearing liabilities		225,191	193,892	183,947
Interest-bearing liabilities		1,169,164	931,698	808,081
Non-interest-bearing deposits		5,920	6,672	5,503
Other non-interest-bearing liabilities		94,040	89,185	67,358
Liabilities		1,269,124	1,027,555	880,942
Shareholders’ equity
Preferred stock		9,876	11,203	11,203
Common stock		91,829	80,576	79,094
Shareholders’ equity		101,705	91,779	90,297
Liabilities and shareholders’ equity		$1,370,829	$1,119,334	$971,239
Percentage attributable to non-U.S. operations
Interest-earnings assets		38.65%	38.96%	40.73%
Interest-bearing liabilities		31.76%	28.11%	26.38%

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 223

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Supplemental Financial Information

	Interest for the Year Ended December
$ in millions		2021		2020		2019
Assets
U.S.		$       143		$     219		$     918
Non-U.S.		(167	)	26		293
Deposits with banks		(24	)	245		1,211
U.S.		(383	)	371		3,925
Non-U.S.		(597	)	(89	)	472
Collateralized agreements		(980	)	282		4,397
U.S.		2,943		3,649		3,622
Non-U.S.		1,773		1,561		2,277
Trading assets		4,716		5,210		5,899
U.S.		991		1,081		972
Non-U.S.		598		546		485
Investments		1,589		1,627		1,457
U.S.		4,423		4,061		4,655
Non-U.S.		896		822		756
Loans		5,319		4,883		5,411
U.S.		1,201		1,099		2,313
Non-U.S.		299		343		1,050
Other interest-earning assets		1,500		1,442		3,363
Interest-earning assets		$12,120		$13,689		$21,738
Liabilities
U.S.		$  1,098		$  1,967		$  3,099
Non-U.S.		205		419		469
Interest-bearing deposits		1,303		2,386		3,568
U.S.		146		554		2,374
Non-U.S.		(146	)	45		284
Collateralized financings		–		599		2,658
U.S.		661		477		466
Non-U.S.		1,001		761		747
Trading liabilities		1,662		1,238		1,213
U.S.		476		492		642
Non-U.S.		51		50		26
Short-term borrowings		527		542		668
U.S.		3,139		4,034		5,234
Non-U.S.		92		119		125
Long-term borrowings		3,231		4,153		5,359
U.S.		(897	)	(148	)	4,048
Non-U.S.		(176	)	168		(138	)
Other interest-bearing liabilities		(1,073	)	20		3,910
Interest-bearing liabilities		$  5,650		$  8,938		$17,376
Net interest income
U.S.		$  4,695		$  3,104		$     542
Non-U.S.		1,775		1,647		3,820
Net interest income		$  6,470		$  4,751		$  4,362

	Average Rate for the Year Ended December
		2021	2020	2019
Assets
U.S.		0.14%	0.39%	2.23%
Non-U.S.		(0.17)%	0.04%	0.60%
Deposits with banks		(0.01)%	0.19%	1.34%
U.S.		(0.19)%	0.27%	2.50%
Non-U.S.		(0.40)%	(0.08)%	0.38%
Collateralized agreements		(0.28)%	0.11%	1.57%
U.S.		1.70%	1.79%	2.30%
Non-U.S.		1.30%	1.32%	1.93%
Trading assets		1.52%	1.61%	2.14%
U.S.		1.42%	1.92%	2.53%
Non-U.S.		3.22%	3.18%	3.21%
Investments		1.80%	2.22%	2.72%
U.S.		4.09%	4.31%	5.51%
Non-U.S.		4.18%	4.36%	5.46%
Loans		4.11%	4.32%	5.51%
U.S.		1.22%	1.92%	5.79%
Non-U.S.		0.54%	0.75%	2.86%
Other interest-earning assets		0.98%	1.40%	4.38%
Interest-earning assets		0.98%	1.38%	2.49%
Liabilities
U.S.		0.47%	1.04%	2.35%
Non-U.S.		0.28%	0.81%	1.34%
Interest-bearing deposits		0.43%	0.99%	2.14%
U.S.		0.13%	0.71%	3.64%
Non-U.S.		(0.20)%	0.13%	0.89%
Collateralized financings		0.00%	0.53%	2.74%
U.S.		0.98%	1.13%	1.59%
Non-U.S.		1.32%	1.38%	1.63%
Trading liabilities		1.16%	1.27%	1.61%
U.S.		1.49%	1.43%	1.87%
Non-U.S.		0.15%	0.23%	0.15%
Short-term borrowings		0.80%	0.96%	1.29%
U.S.		1.45%	2.03%	2.55%
Non-U.S.		0.31%	0.38%	0.45%
Long-term borrowings		1.31%	1.80%	2.30%
U.S.		(0.64)%	(0.12)%	3.14%
Non-U.S.		(0.20)%	0.25%	(0.25)%
Other interest-bearing liabilities		(0.48)%	0.01%	2.13%
Interest-bearing liabilities		0.48%	0.96%	2.15%
Interest rate spread		0.50%	0.42%	0.34%
U.S.		0.62%	0.51%	0.10%
Non-U.S.		0.37%	0.43%	1.07%
Net yield on interest-earning assets		0.53%	0.48%	0.50%

In the tables above:

• Assets, liabilities and interest are classified as U.S. and non-U.S. based on the location of the entity in which the assets and liabilities are held.

• Derivative instruments and commodities are included in other non-interest-earning assets and other non-interest-bearing liabilities.

• Average collateralized agreements included $167.95 billion of resale agreements and $183.50 billion of securities borrowed for 2021, $119.16 billion of resale agreements and $134.26 billion of securities borrowed for 2020, and $133.50 billion of resale agreements and $146.34 billion of securities borrowed for 2019.

• Other interest-earning assets primarily consists of certain receivables from customers and counterparties.

224 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Supplemental Financial Information

• Collateralized financings included $145.68 billion of repurchase agreements and $37.11 billion of securities loaned for 2021, $96.60 billion of repurchase agreements and $16.41 billion of securities loaned for 2020, and $84.00 billion of repurchase agreements and $13.05 billion of securities loaned for 2019.

• Substantially all of the other interest-bearing liabilities consists of certain payables to customers and counterparties.

• Interest rates for borrowings include the effects of interest rate swaps accounted for as hedges.

• Loans exclude loans held for sale that are accounted for at the lower of cost or fair value. Such loans are included within other interest-earning assets.

• Short- and long-term borrowings include both secured and unsecured borrowings.

Changes in Net Interest Income, Volume and Rate Analysis

The tables below present the effect on net interest income of volume and rate changes. In this analysis, changes due to volume/rate variance have been allocated to volume.

	Year Ended December 2021 versus December 2020
	Increase (decrease) due to change in:
$ in millions		Volume		Rate		Net Change
Interest-earning assets
U.S.		$   66		$     (142	)	$    (76	)
Non-U.S.		(43	)	(150	)	(193	)
Deposits with banks		23		(292	)	(269	)
U.S.		(122	)	(632	)	(754	)
Non-U.S.		(135	)	(373	)	(508	)
Collateralized agreements		(257	)	(1,005	)	(1,262	)
U.S.		(519	)	(187	)	(706	)
Non-U.S.		227		(15	)	212
Trading assets		(292	)	(202	)	(494	)
U.S.		195		(285	)	(90	)
Non-U.S.		46		6		52
Investments		241		(279	)	(38	)
U.S.		570		(208	)	362
Non-U.S.		108		(34	)	74
Loans		678		(242	)	436
U.S.		501		(399	)	102
Non-U.S.		53		(97	)	(44	)
Other interest-earning assets		554		(496	)	58
Change in interest income		$ 947		$(2,516	)	$(1,569	)
Interest-bearing liabilities
U.S.		$ 204		$(1,073	)	$     (869	)
Non-U.S.		59		(273	)	(214	)
Interest-bearing deposits		263		(1,346	)	(1,083	)
U.S.		43		(451	)	(408	)
Non-U.S.		(75	)	(116	)	(191	)
Collateralized financings		(32	)	(567	)	(599	)
U.S.		249		(65	)	184
Non-U.S.		273		(33	)	240
Trading liabilities		522		(98	)	424
U.S.		(39	)	23		(16	)
Non-U.S.		18		(17	)	1
Short-term borrowings		(21	)	6		(15	)
U.S.		256		(1,151	)	(895	)
Non-U.S.		(4	)	(23	)	(27	)
Long-term borrowings		252		(1,174	)	(922	)
U.S.		(76	)	(673	)	(749	)
Non-U.S.		(40	)	(304	)	(344	)
Other interest-bearing liabilities		(116	)	(977	)	(1,093	)
Change in interest expense		868		(4,156	)	(3,288	)
Change in net interest income		$   79		$ 1,640		$ 1,719

	Year Ended December 2020 versus December 2019
	Increase (decrease) due to change in:
$ in millions		Volume		Rate		Net Change
Interest-earning assets
U.S.		$     57		$     (756	)	$   (699	)
Non-U.S.		8		(275	)	(267	)
Deposits with banks		65		(1,031	)	(966	)
U.S.		(49	)	(3,505	)	(3,554	)
Non-U.S.		6		(567	)	(561	)
Collateralized agreements		(43	)	(4,072	)	(4,115	)
U.S.		838		(811	)	27
Non-U.S.		7		(723	)	(716	)
Trading assets		845		(1,534	)	(689	)
U.S.		342		(233	)	109
Non-U.S.		65		(4	)	61
Investments		407		(237	)	170
U.S.		419		(1,013	)	(594	)
Non-U.S.		219		(153	)	66
Loans		638		(1,166	)	(528	)
U.S.		331		(1,545	)	(1,214	)
Non-U.S.		67		(774	)	(707	)
Other interest-earning assets		398		(2,319	)	(1,921	)
Change in interest income		$2,310		$(10,359	)	$(8,049	)
Interest-bearing liabilities
U.S.		$   592		$  (1,724	)	$(1,132	)
Non-U.S.		137		(187	)	(50	)
Interest-bearing deposits		729		(1,911	)	(1,182	)
U.S.		90		(1,910	)	(1,820	)
Non-U.S.		4		(243	)	(239	)
Collateralized financings		94		(2,153	)	(2,059	)
U.S.		146		(135	)	11
Non-U.S.		128		(114	)	14
Trading liabilities		274		(249	)	25
U.S.		2		(152	)	(150	)
Non-U.S.		11		13		24
Short-term borrowings		13		(139	)	(126	)
U.S.		(124	)	(1,076	)	(1,200	)
Non-U.S.		11		(17	)	(6	)
Long-term borrowings		(113	)	(1,093	)	(1,206	)
U.S.		2		(4,198	)	(4,196	)
Non-U.S.		29		277		306
Other interest-bearing liabilities		31		(3,921	)	(3,890	)
Change in interest expense		1,028		(9,466	)	(8,438	)
Change in net interest income		$1,282		$     (893	)	$    389

Deposits

The table below presents information about interest-bearing deposits.

	Year Ended December
$ in millions		2021	2020
Average balances
U.S.
Savings and demand		$174,745	$125,264
Time		57,222	63,503
Total U.S.		231,967	188,767
Non-U.S.
Demand		43,709	34,838
Time		29,190	17,159
Total non-U.S.		72,899	51,997
Total		$304,866	$240,764
Average interest rates
U.S.
Savings and demand		0.34%	0.72%
Time		0.89%	1.68%
Total U.S.		0.47%	1.04%
Non-U.S.
Demand		0.33%	0.79%
Time		0.21%	0.84%
Total non-U.S.		0.28%	0.81%
Total		0.43%	0.99%

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 225

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Supplemental Financial Information

In the table above, deposits are classified as U.S. and

non-U.S.

based on the location of the entity in which such deposits are held.

The amount of deposits in U.S. offices held by

non-U.S.

depositors was $7.56 billion as of December 2021 and $4.53 billion as of December 2020.

The amount of uninsured deposits in U.S. offices was $127.05 billion as of December 2021 and $83.33 billion as of December 2020. The amount of uninsured deposits in

non-U.S.

offices was $49.08 billion as of December 2021 and $26.08 billion as of December 2020.

The table below presents uninsured time deposits by maturity.

	As of December 2021
$ in millions		U.S.	Non-U.S.
3 months or less		$  7,651	$12,240
3 to 6 months		8,961	8,683
6 to 12 months		3,711	9,974
Greater than 12 months		1,542	1,710
Total		$21,865	$32,607

In the table above:

• All U.S. time deposits were in accounts eligible for FDIC insurance and non-U.S. time deposits include deposits in accounts eligible for insurance in their local jurisdictions, as well as deposits in uninsured accounts.

• The insurance limit is allocated between time and other deposits on a pro-rata basis for account holders who have both time and other deposits that, in aggregate, exceed the insurance limit.

Loan Portfolio

The table below presents information about loans.

	As of December
$ in millions		2021		2020
Corporate		$  55,927	35%	$  48,659	41%
Wealth management		43,998	27%	33,023	27%
Commercial real estate		25,883	16%	20,290	17%
Residential real estate		15,913	10%	5,750	5%
Consumer:
Installment		3,672	2%	3,823	3%
Credit cards		8,212	5%	4,270	4%
Other		8,530	5%	4,174	3%
Total		$162,135	100%	$119,989	100%

Maturities and Interest Rates.

The table below presents gross loans by tenor.

	As of December 2021
$ in millions		1 year or less	More than 1 year to 5 years	More than 5 years to 15 years	More than 15 years	Total
Corporate		$  7,618	$40,955	$  7,200	$       154	$  55,927
Wealth management		29,799	5,495	70	8,634	43,998
Commercial real estate		2,552	19,690	3,555	86	25,883
Residential real estate		4,811	10,152	60	890	15,913
Consumer:
Installment		176	3,112	384	–	3,672
Credit cards		8,212	–	–	–	8,212
Other		824	4,895	2,287	524	8,530
Total		$53,992	$84,299	$13,556	$10,288	$162,135

The table below presents the gross loans by tenor and for loans with tenors greater than one year, the distributions of such loans between fixed and floating interest rates.

	As of December 2021
	1 year or less		More than one year
$ in millions				Fixed-rate	Floating-rate	Total
Corporate		$  7,618		$     301	$  48,008	$  55,927
Wealth management		29,799		–	14,199	43,998
Commercial real estate		2,552		611	22,720	25,883
Residential real estate		4,811		4	11,098	15,913
Consumer:
Installment		176		3,496	–	3,672
Credit cards		8,212		–	–	8,212
Other		824		10	7,696	8,530
Total		$53,992		$4,422	$103,721	$162,135

Allowance for Loan Losses

The table below presents information about the allowance for loan losses.

	As of December
$ in millions		2021	2020
Corporate		$1,395	$1,948
Wealth management		51	27
Commercial real estate		473	448
Residential real estate		105	68
Other		111	93
Wholesale		2,135	2,584
Installment		490	717
Credit cards		948	573
Consumer		1,438	1,290
Total		$3,573	$3,874

The table below presents information about the net

charge-off

ratio for loans accounted for at amortized cost.

$ in millions	Net charge-offs	Average balance	Net charge- off ratio
Year ended December 2021
Wholesale	$130	$111,088	0.1%
Installment	68	3,497	1.9%
Credit cards	135	5,495	2.5%
Consumer	203	8,992	2.3%
Total	$333	$120,080	0.3%
Year ended December 2020
Wholesale	$615	$  95,256	0.6%
Installment	220	4,419	5.0%
Credit cards	72	2,572	2.8%
Consumer	292	6,991	4.2%
Total	$907	$102,247	0.9%

In the table above, the net

charge-off

ratio is calculated by dividing the net charge-offs by average gross loans accounted for at amortized cost. Net charge-offs for wholesale loans were primarily related to corporate loans for both 2021 and 2020.

226 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Item 9.  Changes  in  and  Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

There were no changes in or disagreements with accountants on accounting and financial disclosure during the last two years.

Item 9A. Controls and Procedures

As of the end of the period covered by this report, an evaluation was carried out by Goldman Sachs management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in

Rule 13a-15(e)

under the Exchange Act). Based upon that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that these disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this report. In addition, no change in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in

Rule 13a-15(f)

under the Exchange Act) occurred during the fourth quarter of our year ended December 31, 2021 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting and the Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm are set forth in Part II, Item 8 of this

Form 10-K.

Item 9B. Other Information

Not applicable.

Item 9C.  Disclosure  Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections

Not applicable.

PART III

Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

Information about our executive officers is included on page 25 of this

Form 10-K.

Information about our directors, including our audit committee and audit committee financial experts and the procedures by which shareholders can recommend director nominees, and our executive officers will be in our definitive Proxy Statement for our 2022 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which will be filed within 120 days of the end of 2021 (2022 Proxy Statement) and is incorporated in this

Form 10-K

by reference. Information about our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, which applies to our senior financial officers, is included in “Business — Available Information” in Part I, Item 1 of this

Form 10-K.

Item 11. Executive Compensation

Information relating to our executive officer and director compensation and the compensation committee of the Board will be in the 2022 Proxy Statement and is incorporated in this

Form 10-K

by reference.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 227

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Item 12.    Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

Information relating to security ownership of certain beneficial owners of our common stock and information relating to the security ownership of our management will be in the 2022 Proxy Statement and is incorporated in this

Form 10-K

by reference.

The table below presents information as of December 31, 2021 regarding securities to be issued pursuant to outstanding restricted stock units (RSUs) and securities remaining available for issuance under our equity compensation plans that were in effect during 2021.

Plan Category	Securities to be Issued Upon Exercise of Outstanding Options and Rights (a)	Weighted Average Exercise Price of Outstanding Options (b)	Securities Available For Future Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans (c)
Equity compensation plans:
Approved by security holders	20,288,851	N/A	69,806,823
Not approved by security holders	–	–	–
Total	20,288,851		69,806,823

In the table above:

• Securities to be Issued Upon Exercise of Outstanding Options and Rights includes 20,288,851 shares that may be issued pursuant to outstanding RSUs. These awards are subject to vesting and other conditions to the extent set forth in the respective award agreements, and the underlying shares will be delivered net of any required tax withholding. As of December 31, 2021, there were no outstanding options.

• Shares underlying RSUs are deliverable without the payment of any consideration, and therefore these awards have not been taken into account in calculating the weighted average exercise price.

• Securities Available For Future Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans represents shares remaining to be issued under our current stock incentive plan (SIP), excluding shares reflected in column (a). If any shares of common stock underlying awards granted under our current SIP, our SIP adopted in 2018, our SIP adopted in 2015 or our SIP adopted in 2013 are not delivered due to forfeiture, termination or cancellation or are surrendered or withheld, those shares will again become available to be delivered under our current SIP. Shares available for grant are also subject to adjustment for certain changes in corporate structure as permitted under our current SIP.

Item 13.    Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

Information regarding certain relationships and related transactions and director independence will be in the 2022 Proxy Statement and is incorporated in this

Form 10-K

by reference.

Item 14.    Principal Accountant Fees and Services

Information regarding principal accountant fees and services will be in the 2022 Proxy Statement and is incorporated in this

Form 10-K

by reference.

PART IV

Item 15.    Exhibit and Financial Statement Schedules

(a) Documents filed as part of this Report:

1. Consolidated Financial Statements

The consolidated financial statements required to be filed in this

Form 10-K

are included in Part II, Item 8 hereof.

2. Exhibits

2.1	Plan of Incorporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-74449)).
3.1	Restated Certificate of Incorporation of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., amended as of November 10, 2021 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on November 10, 2021).
3.2	Amended and Restated By-Laws of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., amended as of October 28, 2021 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2021).
4.1	Description of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.’s Securities registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

228 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

4.2	Indenture, dated as of May 19, 1999, between The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. and The Bank of New York, as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 6 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A, filed on June 29, 1999).
4.3	Subordinated Debt Indenture, dated as of February 20, 2004, between The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. and The Bank of New York, as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended November 28, 2003).
4.4	Warrant Indenture, dated as of February 14, 2006, between The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. and The Bank of New York, as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.34 to the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 3 to Form S-3, filed on March 1, 2006).
4.5	Senior Debt Indenture, dated as of December 4, 2007, among GS Finance Corp., as issuer, The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., as guarantor, and The Bank of New York, as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.69 to the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 10 to Form S-3, filed on December 4, 2007).
4.6	Senior Debt Indenture, dated as of July 16, 2008, between The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.82 to the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 11 to Form S-3 (No. 333-130074), filed on July 17, 2008).
4.7	Fourth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 31, 2016, between The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee, with respect to the Senior Debt Indenture, dated as of July 16, 2008 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on January 6, 2017).
4.8	Senior Debt Indenture, dated as of October 10, 2008, among GS Finance Corp., as issuer, The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., as guarantor, and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.70 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-154173), filed on October 10, 2008).

4.9	First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of February 20, 2015, among GS Finance Corp., as issuer, The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., as guarantor, and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee, with respect to the Senior Debt Indenture, dated as of October 10, 2008 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.7 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014).
4.10	Fourth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of August 21, 2018, among GS Finance Corp., as issuer, The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., as guarantor, and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee, with respect to the Senior Debt Indenture, dated as of October 10, 2008 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2018).
4.11	Ninth Supplemental Subordinated Debt Indenture, dated as of May 20, 2015, between The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee, with respect to the Subordinated Debt Indenture, dated as of February 20, 2004 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on May 22, 2015).
4.12	Tenth Supplemental Subordinated Debt Indenture, dated as of July 7, 2017, between The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee, with respect to the Subordinated Debt Indenture, dated as of February 20, 2004 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.89 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-219206), filed on July 10, 2017).
4.13	Seventh Supplemental Indenture, dated as of July 1, 2020, among GS Finance Corp., as issuer, The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., as guarantor, and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee, with respect to the Senior Debt Indenture, dated as of October 10, 2008 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.69 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-239610), filed on July 1, 2020).
4.14	Eighth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of October 14, 2020, among GS Finance Corp., as issuer, The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., as guarantor, and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee, with respect to the Senior Debt Indenture, dated as of October 10, 2008 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on October 14, 2020).
	Certain instruments defining the rights of holders of long-term debt securities of the Registrant and its subsidiaries are omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(4)(iii) of Regulation S-K. The Registrant hereby undertakes to furnish to the SEC, upon request, copies of any such instruments.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 229

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

10.1	The Goldman Sachs Amended and Restated Stock Incentive Plan (2021) (incorporated by reference to Annex C to the Registrant’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed on March 19, 2021). †
10.2	The Goldman Sachs Partner Compensation Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.18 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-74449)). †
10.3	The Goldman Sachs Amended and Restated Restricted Partner Compensation Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended February 24, 2006). †
10.4	Form of Employment Agreement for Participating Managing Directors (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.19 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-75213)). †
10.5	Form of Agreement Relating to Noncompetition and Other Covenants (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.20 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-75213)). †
10.6	Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement, effective as of December 31, 2019, among The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. and various parties (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019).
10.7	Instrument of Indemnification (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.27 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-75213)).
10.8	Form of Indemnification Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.28 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended November 26, 1999).
10.9	Form of Indemnification Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.44 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended November 26, 1999).

10.10	Form of Indemnification Agreement, dated as of July 5, 2000 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended August 25, 2000).
10.11	Form of Amendment, dated November 27, 2004, to Agreement Relating to Noncompetition and Other Covenants, dated May 7, 1999 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.32 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended November 26, 2004). †
10.12	Form of Year-End Option Award Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.36 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended November 28, 2008). †
10.13	Form of Non-Employee Director Option Award Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.34 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009). †
10.14	Form of Non-Employee Director RSU Award Agreement (pre-2015) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.21 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014). †
10.15	Ground Lease, dated August 23, 2005, between Battery Park City Authority d/b/a/ Hugh L. Carey Battery Park City Authority, as Landlord, and Goldman Sachs Headquarters LLC, as Tenant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on August 26, 2005).
10.16	General Guarantee Agreement, dated January 30, 2006, made by The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. relating to certain obligations of Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.45 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended November 25, 2005).
10.17	Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC Executive Life Insurance Policy and Certificate with Metropolitan Life Insurance Company for Participating Managing Directors (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended August 25, 2006). †

230 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

10.18	Form of Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC Executive Life Insurance Policy with Pacific Life & Annuity Company for Participating Managing Directors, including policy specifications and form of restriction on Policy Owner’s Rights (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended August 25, 2006). †
10.19	Form of Second Amendment, dated November 25, 2006, to Agreement Relating to Noncompetition and Other Covenants, dated May 7, 1999, as amended effective November 27, 2004 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.51 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended November 24, 2006). †
10.20	Description of PMD Retiree Medical Program. †
10.21	Letter, dated June 28, 2008, from The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. to Mr. Lakshmi N. Mittal (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on June 30, 2008). †
10.22	General Guarantee Agreement, dated December 1, 2008, made by The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. relating to certain obligations of Goldman Sachs Bank USA (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.80 to the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Form S-3, filed on March 19, 2009).
10.23	Form of One-Time RSU Award Agreement (pre-2015) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.32 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014). †
10.24	Amendments to Certain Non-Employee Director Equity Award Agreements (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.69 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended November 28, 2008). †
10.25	Form of Year-End RSU Award Agreement (not fully vested) (pre-2015) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.36 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014). †

10.26	Form of Year-End RSU Award Agreement (fully vested) (pre-2015) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.37 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014). †
10.27	Form of Year-End RSU Award Agreement (Base and/or Supplemental) (pre-2015) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.38 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014). †
10.28	Form of Year-End Restricted Stock Award Agreement (fully vested) (pre-2015) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.41 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013). †
10.29	Form of Year-End Restricted Stock Award Agreement (Base and/or Supplemental) (pre-2015) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.41 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014). †
10.30	Form of Fixed Allowance RSU Award Agreement (pre-2015) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.43 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014). †
10.31	Form of Deed of Gift (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2010). †
10.32	The Goldman Sachs Long-Term Performance Incentive Plan, dated December 17, 2010 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on December 23, 2010). †
10.33	Form of Performance-Based Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement (pre-2015) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on December 23, 2010). †
10.34	Form of Performance-Based Option Award Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on December 23, 2010). †

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 231

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

10.35	Form of Performance-Based Cash Compensation Award Agreement (pre-2015) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on December 23, 2010). †
10.36	Amended and Restated General Guarantee Agreement, dated November 21, 2011, made by The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. relating to certain obligations of Goldman Sachs Bank USA (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on November 21, 2011).
10.37	Form of Aircraft Time Sharing Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.61 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011). †
10.38	The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. Clawback Policy, effective as of January 1, 2015 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.53 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014).
10.39	Form of Non-Employee Director RSU Award Agreement. †
10.40	Form of One-Time/Year-End RSU Award Agreement. †
10.41	Form of Year-End RSU Award Agreement (not fully vested). †
10.42	Form of Year-End RSU Award Agreement (fully vested). †
10.43	Form of Year-End RSU Award Agreement (Base (not fully vested) and/or Supplemental). †
10.44	Form of Year-End Short-Term RSU Award Agreement. †
10.45	Form of Year-End Restricted Stock Award Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.46 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020). †
10.46	Form of Year-End Restricted Stock Award Agreement (fully vested) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.53 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017). †

10.47	Form of Year-End Short-Term Restricted Stock Award Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.57 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015). †
10.48	Form of Fixed Allowance RSU Award Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.49 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020). †
10.49	Form of Fixed Allowance Restricted Stock Award Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.50 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020). †
10.50	Form of Fixed Allowance Deferred Cash Award Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.59 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015). †
10.51	Form of Performance-Based Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement (fully vested). †
10.52	Form of Performance-Based Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement (not fully vested). †
10.53	Form of Performance-Based Cash Compensation Award Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.61 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015). †
10.54	Form of Signature Card for Equity Awards. †
10.55	Amended and Restated General Guarantee Agreement, dated September 28, 2018, made by The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. relating to certain obligations of Goldman Sachs Bank USA (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on September 28, 2018).
10.56	Amended and Restated General Guarantee Agreement, dated September 28, 2018, made by The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. relating to certain obligations of Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on September 28, 2018).

232 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

10.57	Lease, dated August 17, 2018, between Farringdon Street Partners Limited and Farringdon Street (Nominee) Limited, as Landlord, and Goldman Sachs International, as Tenant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2018).
21.1	List of significant subsidiaries of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.
22.1	Issuers of guaranteed securities (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 22.1 to the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Form S-3, filed on February 18, 2021).
23.1	Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
31.1	Rule 13a-14(a) Certifications.
32.1	Section 1350 Certifications (This information is furnished and not filed for purposes of Sections 11 and 12 of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934).

101	Pursuant to Rules 405 and 406 of Regulation S-T, the following information is formatted in iXBRL (Inline eXtensible Business Reporting Language): (i) the Consolidated Statements of Earnings for the years ended December 31, 2021, December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, (ii) the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the years ended December 31, 2021, December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, (iii) the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, (iv) the Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity for the years ended December 31, 2021, December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, (v) the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2021, December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, (vi) the notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements and (vii) the cover page.
104	Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted in iXBRL in Exhibit 101).
	† This exhibit is a management contract or a compensatory plan or arrangement.

Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K 233

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

T HE G OLDMAN S ACHS G ROUP , I NC .
By:	/s/	Denis P. Coleman III
Name:		Denis P. Coleman III
Title:		Chief Financial Officer
Date:		February 24, 2022

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

By:	/s/	David Solomon
Name:		David Solomon
Capacity:		Director, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)
Date:		February 24, 2022
By:	/s/	M. Michele Burns
Name:		M. Michele Burns
Capacity:		Director
Date:		February 24, 2022
By:	/s/	Drew G. Faust
Name:		Drew G. Faust
Capacity:		Director
Date:		February 24, 2022
By:	/s/	Mark A. Flaherty
Name:		Mark A. Flaherty
Capacity:		Director
Date:		February 24, 2022
By:	/s/	Kimberley D. Harris
Name:		Kimberley D. Harris
Capacity:		Director
Date:		February 24, 2022
By:	/s/	Ellen J. Kullman
Name:		Ellen J. Kullman
Capacity:		Director
Date:		February 24, 2022

By:	/s/	Lakshmi N. Mittal
Name:		Lakshmi N. Mittal
Capacity:		Director
Date:		February 24, 2022
By:	/s/	Adebayo O. Ogunlesi
Name:		Adebayo O. Ogunlesi
Capacity:		Director
Date:		February 24, 2022
By:	/s/	Peter Oppenheimer
Name:		Peter Oppenheimer
Capacity:		Director
Date:		February 24, 2022
By:	/s/	Jan E. Tighe
Name:		Jan E. Tighe
Capacity:		Director
Date:		February 24, 2022
By:	/s/	Jessica R. Uhl
Name:		Jessica R. Uhl
Capacity:		Director
Date:		February 24, 2022
By:	/s/	David A. Viniar
Name:		David A. Viniar
Capacity:		Director
Date:		February 24, 2022
By:	/s/	Mark O. Winkelman
Name:		Mark O. Winkelman
Capacity:		Director
Date:		February 24, 2022
By:	/s/	Denis P. Coleman III
Name:		Denis P. Coleman III
Capacity:		Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)
Date:		February 24, 2022
By:	/s/	Sheara J. Fredman
Name:		Sheara J. Fredman
Capacity:		Chief Accounting Officer (Principal Accounting Officer)
Date:		February 24, 2022

234 Goldman Sachs 2021 Form 10-K