LEASES
The Company enters into lease agreements for real estate that is primarily used for office space in the ordinary course of business. These leases are accounted for as operating leases, whereby lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. Most leases include an option to extend or renew the lease term. The exercise of the renewal is at the Company’s discretion. The operating lease liability includes lease payments related to options to extend or renew the lease term if the Company is reasonably certain of exercising those options. The Company, in determining the present value of lease payments utilizes either the rate implicit in the lease if that rate is readily determinable or the Company’s incremental secured borrowing rate commensurate with terms of the underlying lease.
Supplemental information related to operating leases is as follows for the periods indicated:
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Year Ended December 31, |
| (Dollars in millions) | 2025 | | 2024 |
| Lease expense incurred: | | | |
| Operating lease cost | $ | 36 | | | $ | 32 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| At December 31, |
| (Dollars in millions) | 2025 | | 2024 |
Operating lease right of use assets (1) | $ | 176 | | | $ | 108 | |
Operating lease liabilities (1) | 196 | | | 126 | |
(1) Operating lease right of use assets and operating lease liabilities are included within other assets and other liabilities on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets, respectively.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Year Ended December 31, |
| (Dollars in millions) | 2025 | | 2024 |
| Operating cash flows from operating leases | $ | (24) | | | $ | (24) | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| At December 31, |
| 2025 | | 2024 |
| Weighted average remaining operating lease term | 10.7 years | | 9.2 years |
| Weighted average discount rate on operating leases | 4.62 | % | | 4.14 | % |
Maturities of the existing lease liabilities are expected to occur as follows:
| | | | | |
| (Dollars in millions) | As of December 31, |
| 2026 | $ | 28 | |
| 2027 | 27 | |
| 2028 | 24 | |
| 2029 | 23 | |
| 2030 | 21 | |
| Thereafter | 125 | |
| Undiscounted lease payments | 247 | |
| Less: present value adjustment | 51 | |
| Total operating lease liability | $ | 196 | |
(Some amounts may not reconcile due to rounding.)
About Leases Disclosures
Lease disclosures under ASC 842 provide a comprehensive view of a company's leased asset portfolio, including the split between operating and finance leases, discount rates used to present-value future payments, and the maturity schedule of lease obligations. This section reveals a significant source of off-balance-sheet commitments that were largely hidden before the current standard.
Key signals: the weighted-average discount rate affects the size of recorded lease liabilities — a higher rate reduces the reported obligation, so compare the chosen rate against the company's incremental borrowing rate. The operating versus finance lease mix affects both EBITDA and operating income presentation. Watch the maturity table for concentration risk: large payment cliffs in specific years may create cash flow pressure. Variable lease payments excluded from the liability measurement represent real obligations that do not appear on the balance sheet. Compare total lease costs against prior-year operating lease expense to assess the true economic burden.