NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

(All Amounts in Thousands, Except Unit, Per Unit Data, and Except Where Noted)

1. ORGANIZATION

 

KKR & Co. L.P. (NYSE: KKR), together with its consolidated subsidiaries (“KKR”), is a leading global investment firm that manages investments across multiple asset classes including private equity, energy, infrastructure, real estate, credit and hedge funds. KKR aims to generate attractive investment returns by following a patient and disciplined investment approach, employing world class people, and driving growth and value creation at the asset level. KKR invests its own capital alongside the capital it manages for fund investors and brings debt and equity investment opportunities to others through its capital markets business.

 

KKR & Co. L.P. was formed as a Delaware limited partnership on June 25, 2007 and its general partner is KKR Management LLC (the “Managing Partner”). KKR & Co. L.P. is the parent company of KKR Group Limited, which is the non-economic general partner of KKR Group Holdings L.P. (“Group Holdings”), and KKR & Co. L.P. is the sole limited partner of Group Holdings. Group Holdings holds a controlling economic interest in each of (i) KKR Management Holdings L.P. (“Management Holdings”) through KKR Management Holdings Corp., a Delaware corporation which is a domestic corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, (ii) KKR Fund Holdings L.P. (“Fund Holdings”) directly and through KKR Fund Holdings GP Limited, a Cayman Island limited company which is a disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and (iii) KKR International Holdings L.P. (“International Holdings”, and together with Management Holdings and Fund Holdings, the “KKR Group Partnerships”) directly and through KKR Fund Holdings GP Limited. Group Holdings also owns certain economic interests in Management Holdings through a wholly owned Delaware corporate subsidiary of KKR Management Holdings Corp. and certain economic interests in Fund Holdings through a Delaware partnership of which Group Holdings is the general partner with a 99% economic interest and KKR Management Holdings Corp. is a limited partner with a 1% economic interest. KKR & Co. L.P., through its indirect controlling economic interests in the KKR Group Partnerships, is the holding partnership for the KKR business.

 

KKR & Co. L.P. both indirectly controls the KKR Group Partnerships and indirectly holds Class A partner units in each KKR Group Partnership (collectively, “KKR Group Partnership Units”) representing economic interests in KKR’s business. The remaining KKR Group Partnership Units are held by KKR Holdings L.P. (“KKR Holdings”), which is not a subsidiary of KKR. As of September 30, 2015 , KKR & Co. L.P. held approximately 55% of the KKR Group Partnership Units and principals through KKR Holdings held approximately 45% of the KKR Group Partnership Units. The percentage ownership in the KKR Group Partnerships will continue to change as KKR Holdings and/or principals exchange units in the KKR Group Partnerships for KKR & Co. L.P. common units or when KKR & Co. L.P. otherwise issues new KKR & Co. L.P. common units.

2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

Basis of Presentation

 

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of KKR & Co. L.P. have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and the instructions to Form 10-Q. The condensed consolidated financial statements (referred to hereafter as the “financial statements”), including these notes, are unaudited and exclude some of the disclosures required in annual financial statements. Management believes it has made all necessary adjustments (consisting of only normal recurring items) such that the condensed consolidated financial statements are presented fairly and that estimates made in preparing the condensed consolidated financial statements are reasonable and prudent. The operating results presented for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for any other interim period or for the entire year. The December 31, 2014 condensed consolidated balance sheet data was derived from audited consolidated financial statements included in KKR’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 , which include all disclosures required by GAAP. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements included in KKR & Co. L.P.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).

 

KKR & Co. L.P. consolidates the financial results of the KKR Group Partnerships and their consolidated subsidiaries, which include (i) the accounts of KKR’s investment management and capital markets companies, (ii) the general partners of certain unconsolidated funds and vehicles, (iii) general partners of consolidated funds and their respective consolidated funds and (iv) certain other entities including CFEs.

References in the accompanying financial statements to “principals” are to KKR’s senior employees and non-employee operating consultants who hold interests in KKR’s business through KKR Holdings, and references to “Senior Principals” are to KKR’s senior employees who hold interests in the Managing Partner entitling them to vote for the election of the Managing Partner’s directors.

 

Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of fees, expenses and investment income (loss) during the reporting periods. Such estimates include but are not limited to the valuation of investments and financial instruments. Actual results could differ from those estimates, and such differences could be material to the financial statements.

 

Principles of Consolidation

 

The types of entities KKR assesses for consolidation include (i) subsidiaries, including management companies, broker-dealers and general partners of investment funds that KKR manages, (ii) entities that have all the attributes of an investment company, like investment funds, (iii) CFEs and (iv) other entities, including entities that employ non-employee operating consultants. Each of these entities is assessed for consolidation on a case by case basis depending on the specific facts and circumstances surrounding that entity.

 

Pursuant to its consolidation policy, KKR first considers whether an entity is considered a VIE and therefore whether to apply the consolidation guidance under the VIE model.  Entities that do not qualify as VIEs are generally assessed for consolidation as voting interest entities (“VOEs”) under the voting interest model.

 

The consolidation rules were revised effective January 1, 2010 which had the effect of changing the criteria for determining whether a reporting entity is the primary beneficiary of a VIE.  However, the adoption of these new consolidation rules was indefinitely deferred (the “Deferral”) for a reporting entity’s interests in certain entities. In particular, entities that have all the attributes of an investment company such as investment funds generally meet the conditions necessary for the Deferral. Entities that are securitization or asset-backed financing entities such as CFEs would generally not qualify for the Deferral. Accordingly, when making the assessment of whether an entity is a VIE, KKR considers whether the entity being assessed meets the conditions for the Deferral and therefore would be subject to the rules that existed prior to January 1, 2010.  Under both sets of rules, VIEs for which KKR is determined to be the primary beneficiary are consolidated and such VIEs generally include certain CFEs and entities that employ non-employee operating consultants.

 

An entity in which KKR holds a variable interest is a VIE if any one of the following conditions exist: (a) the total equity investment at risk is not sufficient to permit the legal entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial

support, (b) the holders of equity investment at risk (as a group) lack either the direct or indirect ability through voting rights or similar rights to make decisions about a legal entity’s activities that have a significant effect on the success of the legal entity or the obligation to absorb the expected losses or right to receive the expected residual returns, or (c) the voting rights of some investors are disproportionate to their obligation to absorb the expected losses of the legal entity, their rights to receive the expected residual returns of the legal entity, or both and substantially all of the legal entity’s activities either involve or are conducted on behalf of an investor with disproportionately few voting rights.

With respect to VIEs such as KKR’s investment funds that qualify for the Deferral and therefore apply the previous consolidation rules, KKR is determined to be the primary beneficiary if its involvement, through holding interests directly or indirectly in the VIE or contractually through other variable interests (e.g., carried interest), would be expected to absorb a majority of the VIE’s expected losses, receive a majority of the VIE’s expected residual returns, or both. In cases where two or more KKR related parties hold a variable interest in a VIE, and the aggregate variable interest held by those parties would, if held by a single party, identify that party as the primary beneficiary, then KKR is determined to be the primary beneficiary to the extent it is the party within the related party group that is most closely associated with the VIE.

 

Under the voting interest model, KKR consolidates those entities it controls through a majority voting interest or through other means, including those VOEs in which the general partner is presumed to have control. KKR does not consolidate those VOEs in which the presumption of control by the general partner has been overcome through either the granting of substantive rights to the unaffiliated fund investors to either dissolve the fund or remove the general partner (“kick-out rights”) or the granting of substantive participating rights.

 

The consolidation assessment, including the determination as to whether an entity qualifies as a VIE or VOE depends on the facts and circumstances surrounding each entity and therefore certain of KKR’s investment funds may qualify as VIEs whereas others may qualify as VOEs.

 

With respect to KKR’s consolidated funds that are not CFEs, KKR meets the criteria for the Deferral and therefore applies the consolidation rules that existed prior to January 1, 2010.  For these funds, KKR generally has operational discretion and control, and fund investors have no substantive rights to impact ongoing governance and operating activities of the fund, including the ability to remove the general partner, also known as kick-out rights. As a result, a fund should be consolidated unless KKR has a nominal level of equity at risk. To the extent that KKR commits a nominal amount of equity to a given fund and has no obligation to fund any future losses, the equity at risk to KKR is not considered substantive and the fund is typically considered a VIE. In these cases, the fund investors are generally deemed to be the primary beneficiaries, and KKR does not consolidate the fund. In cases when KKR’s equity at risk is deemed to be substantive, the fund is generally considered to be a VOE and KKR generally consolidates the fund under the VOE model.

 

With respect to CFEs, which are generally VIEs, the criteria for the Deferral are not met and therefore KKR applies the consolidation rules issued on January 1, 2010.  

With respect to CLOs, in its role as collateral manager, KKR generally has the power to direct the activities of the CLO entities that most significantly impact the economic performance of the entity.  In some, but not all cases, KKR, through both its residual interest in the CLO and the potential to earn an incentive fee, may have variable interests that represent an obligation to absorb losses of, or a right to receive benefits from, the CLO that could potentially be significant to the CLO.  In cases where KKR has both (a) the power to direct the activities of the CLO that most significantly impact the CLOs economic performance and (b) the obligation to absorb losses of the CLO or the right to receive benefits from the CLO that could potentially be significant to the CLO, KKR consolidates the CLO.

With respect to consolidated CMBS vehicles, KKR holds unrated and non-investment grade rated securities issued by the CMBS, which are the most subordinate tranche of the CMBS vehicle. The economic performance of the CMBS is most significantly impacted by the performance of the underlying assets. Thus, the activities that most significantly impact the CMBS economic performance are the activities that most significantly impact the performance of the underlying assets. The special servicer has the ability to manage the CMBS assets that are delinquent or in default to improve the economic performance of the CMBS. KKR generally has the right to unilaterally appoint and remove the special servicer for the CMBS and as such is considered the controlling class of the CMBS vehicle. These rights give KKR the ability to direct the activities that could most significantly impact the economic performance of the CMBS. Additionally, as the holder of the most subordinate tranche, KKR is in a first loss position and has the right to receive benefits, including the actual residual returns of the CMBS, if any. In these cases, KKR is deemed to be the primary beneficiary and consolidates the CMBS.

 

Certain of KKR’s funds and CFEs are consolidated by KKR notwithstanding the fact that KKR has only a minority economic interest in those funds and CFEs. KKR’s financial statements reflect the assets, liabilities, fees, expenses, investment income (loss) and cash flows of the consolidated KKR funds and CFEs on a gross basis. With respect to KKR's consolidated funds, the majority of the economic interests in those funds, which are held by fund investors or other third parties, are attributed to noncontrolling interests in the accompanying financial statements. All of the management fees and certain other amounts earned by KKR from those funds are eliminated in consolidation. However, because the eliminated amounts are earned from and funded by noncontrolling interests, KKR’s attributable share of the net income (loss) from those funds is increased by the amounts eliminated. Accordingly, the elimination in consolidation of such amounts has no effect on net income (loss) attributable to KKR or KKR partners’ capital. With respect to consolidated CFEs, interests held by third party investors are recorded in debt obligations.

 

KKR’s funds are, for GAAP purposes, investment companies and therefore are not required to consolidate their investments in portfolio companies even if majority-owned and controlled. Rather, the consolidated funds and vehicles reflect their investments at fair value as described below in “Fair Value Measurements”.

 

All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated.

 

Business Combinations

 

Acquisitions are accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting. The purchase price of an acquisition is allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed using the estimated fair values at the acquisition date. Transaction costs are expensed as incurred.

 

Intangible Assets

 

Intangible assets consist primarily of contractual rights to earn future fee income, including management and incentive fees, and are recorded in Other Assets in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of financial condition. Identifiable finite-lived intangible assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives and amortization expense is included within General, Administrative and Other in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations. Intangible assets are reviewed for impairment when circumstances indicate impairment may exist. KKR does not have any indefinite-lived intangible assets.

 

Goodwill

 

Goodwill represents the excess of acquisition cost over the fair value of net tangible and intangible assets acquired in connection with an acquisition. Goodwill is assessed for impairment annually or more frequently if circumstances indicate impairment may have occurred. Goodwill is recorded in Other Assets in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of financial condition.

 

Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests

 

Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests represent noncontrolling interests of certain investment vehicles and funds that are subject to periodic redemption by fund investors following the expiration of a specified period of time (typically between one and three years ), or may be withdrawn subject to a redemption fee during the period when capital may not be otherwise withdrawn. Fund investors interests subject to redemption as described above are presented as Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of financial condition and presented as Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations.

 

When redeemable amounts become legally payable to fund investors, they are classified as a liability and included in Accounts Payable, Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of financial condition. For all consolidated investment vehicles and funds in which redemption rights have not been granted, noncontrolling interests are presented within Equity in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of financial condition as noncontrolling interests.

 

Noncontrolling Interests

 

Noncontrolling interests represent (i) noncontrolling interests in consolidated entities and (ii) noncontrolling interests held by KKR Holdings.

 

Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Entities

 

Noncontrolling interests in consolidated entities represent the non-redeemable ownership interests in KKR that are held primarily by:

 

 

Noncontrolling Interests held by KKR Holdings

 

Noncontrolling interests held by KKR Holdings include economic interests held by principals in the KKR Group Partnerships. Such principals receive financial benefits from KKR’s business in the form of distributions received from KKR Holdings and through their direct and indirect participation in the value of KKR Group Partnership Units held by KKR Holdings. These financial benefits are not paid by KKR and are borne by KKR Holdings.

 

The following table presents the calculation of noncontrolling interests held by KKR Holdings:

Net income (loss) attributable to KKR & Co. L.P. after allocation to noncontrolling interests held by KKR Holdings, with the exception of certain tax assets and liabilities that are directly allocable to KKR Management Holdings Corp., is attributed based on the percentage of the weighted average KKR Group Partnership Units held by KKR and KKR Holdings, each of which hold equity of the KKR Group Partnerships. However, primarily because of the (i) contribution of certain expenses

borne entirely by KKR Holdings, (ii) the periodic exchange of KKR Holdings units for KKR & Co. L.P. common units pursuant to the exchange agreement and (iii) the contribution of certain expenses borne entirely by KKR associated with the KKR & Co. L.P. 2010 Equity Plan (“Equity Incentive Plan”), equity allocations shown in the condensed consolidated statement of changes in equity differ from their respective pro-rata ownership interests in KKR’s net assets.

The following table presents net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests held by KKR Holdings:

 

Investments

 

Investments consist primarily of private equity, real assets, credit, investments of consolidated CFEs, and other investments. Investments are carried at their estimated fair values, with unrealized gains or losses resulting from changes in fair value reflected as a component of Net Gains (Losses) from Investment Activities in the condensed consolidated statements of operations. Investments denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are valued based on the spot rate of the respective currency at the end of the reporting period with changes related to exchange rate movements reflected as a component of Net Gains (Losses) from Investment Activities in the condensed consolidated statements of operations. Security and loan transactions are recorded on a trade date basis. Further disclosure on investments is presented in Note 4, “Investments.”

 

The following describes the types of securities held within each investment class.

 

Private Equity — Consists primarily of equity investments in operating businesses.

 

Real Assets — Consists primarily of investments in (i) energy related assets, principally oil and natural gas producing properties held through consolidated investment vehicles, (ii) infrastructure assets, and (iii) real estate, principally residential and commercial real estate assets and businesses.

 

Credit — Consists primarily of investments in below investment grade corporate debt securities (primarily high yield bonds and syndicated bank loans), distressed and opportunistic debt and interests in unconsolidated CLOs.

 

Investments of Consolidated CFEs — Consists primarily of (i) investments in below investment grade corporate debt securities (primarily high yield bonds and syndicated bank loans) held directly by the consolidated CLOs and (ii) investments in newly originated, fixed-rate mortgage loans held directly by the consolidated CMBS vehicles.

 

Other — Consists primarily of (i) investments in common stock, preferred stock, warrants and options of companies that are not private equity, real assets, credit or investments of consolidated CFEs and (ii) equity method investments.

Energy Investments Held Through Consolidated Investment Vehicles

Certain energy investments are made through KKR’s consolidated investment funds, including investments in working and royalty interests in oil and natural gas producing properties as well as investments in operating companies that operate in the energy industry. Since these investments are held through investment funds, such investments are reflected at fair value as of the end of the reporting period. 

Investments in operating companies that are held through KKR’s investment funds are generally classified within private equity investments and investments in working and royalty interests in oil and natural gas producing properties are generally classified as real asset investments. See also "Energy Investments held directly by KKR" within this footnote.

Equity Method

 

Equity method investments include (i) certain investments in private equity funds, real assets funds and credit funds, which are not consolidated, and (ii) certain investments in operating companies in which KKR is deemed to exert significant influence. Under the equity method of accounting, KKR’s share of earnings (losses) from equity method investments is reflected as a component of Net Gains (Losses) from Investment Activities in the condensed consolidated statements of operations. Because the underlying investments of unconsolidated investment funds are reported at fair value, the carrying value of these equity method investments representing KKR’s interests in unconsolidated funds approximates fair value. The carrying value of equity method investments in certain operating companies, which KKR is determined to exert significant influence, is determined based on the amounts invested by KKR, adjusted for the equity in earnings or losses of the investee allocated based on KKR’s respective ownership percentage, less distributions. In some cases, KKR has elected the fair value option to account for certain of these equity method investments.

 

Fair Value Measurements

 

Investments and other financial instruments are measured and carried at fair value. The majority of investments and other financial instruments are held by the consolidated funds and vehicles. KKR’s funds are, for GAAP purposes, investment companies and reflect their investments and other financial instruments at fair value. KKR has retained the specialized accounting for the consolidated funds and vehicles in consolidation. Accordingly, the unrealized gains and losses resulting from changes in fair value of the investments held by KKR’s funds are reflected as a component of Net Gains (Losses) from Investment Activities in the condensed consolidated statements of operations.

 

For investments and other financial instruments that are not held in a consolidated fund or vehicle, KKR has elected the fair value option since these investments and other financial instruments are similar to those in the consolidated funds and vehicles. Such election is irrevocable and is applied on an investment by investment basis at initial recognition. Unrealized gains and losses resulting from changes in fair value are reflected as a component of Net Gains (Losses) from Investment Activities in the condensed consolidated statements of operations. The methodology for measuring the fair value of such investments and other financial instruments is consistent with the methodologies applied to investments and other financial instruments that are held in consolidated funds and vehicles. In addition, KKR has elected the fair value option for the investments of consolidated CFEs.

 

The carrying amounts of Other Assets, Accounts Payable, Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities recognized on the condensed consolidated statements of financial condition (excluding fixed assets, goodwill, intangible assets, oil & gas assets, net, contingent consideration and certain debt obligations) approximate fair value due to their short term maturities. Further information on KKR’s debt obligations are presented in Note 9, “Debt Obligations.”

 

Fair value is the price 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. Where available, fair value is based on observable market prices or parameters or derived from such prices or parameters. Where observable prices or inputs are not available, valuation techniques are applied. These valuation techniques involve varying levels of management estimation and judgment, the degree of which is dependent on a variety of factors. See Note 5, “Fair Value Measurements” for further information on KKR’s valuation techniques that involve unobservable inputs. Assets and liabilities recorded at fair value in the statements of financial condition are categorized based upon the level of judgment associated with the inputs used to measure their fair value. Hierarchical levels, as defined under GAAP, are directly related to the amount of subjectivity associated with the inputs to the valuation of these assets and liabilities. The hierarchical levels defined under GAAP are as follows:

 

Level I

 

Inputs are unadjusted, quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities at the measurement date. The type of investments and other financial instruments included in this category are publicly-listed equities, debt and securities sold short.