Finally, if AIG had defaulted, Goldman Sachs would have been forced to bear the risk of further
declines in the
market value of the approximately $ 4.3 billion in CDOs that it transferred to the Maiden Lane III
portfolio as well as approximately $ 5.5 billion for its credit default swaps that were not part of the Maiden Lane III
portfolio; Maiden Lane III removed any risk for the $ 4.3 billion within that
portfolio, and continued Government backing of AIG provided Goldman Sachs with ongoing protection
against an AIG default on the remaining $ 5.5 billion.