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
or
☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934.
For the Transition period from to .
Commission File Number 001-34820
KKR & CO. INC.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
| Delaware | 26-0426107 | |||||||
| (State or other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) | |||||||
30 Hudson Yards
New York, New York 10001
Telephone: (212) 750-8300
(Address, zip code, and telephone number, including
area code, of registrant's principal executive office.)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class | Trading symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered | ||||||
| Common Stock | KKR | New York Stock Exchange | ||||||
6.00% Series C Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock | KKR PR C | New York Stock Exchange | ||||||
| 4.625% Subordinated Notes due 2061 of KKR Group Finance Co. IX LLC | KKRS | New York Stock Exchange | ||||||
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 ý No o
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes o No ý
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter periods that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ý No o
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 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ý No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, 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 ☒
The aggregate market value of common stock of the registrant held by non-affiliates as of June 30, 2021, was approximately $33.1 billion. As of February 24, 2022, the registrant had 591,145,410 shares of common stock outstanding.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
None
KKR & CO. INC.
FORM 10-K
For the Year Ended December 31, 2021
INDEX
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| Item 1. | ||||||||
| Item 1A. | ||||||||
| Item 1B. | ||||||||
| Item 2. | ||||||||
| Item 3. | ||||||||
| Item 4. | ||||||||
| Item 5. | ||||||||
| Item 6. | ||||||||
| Item 7. | ||||||||
| Item 7A. | ||||||||
| Item 8. | ||||||||
| Item 9. | ||||||||
| Item 9A. | ||||||||
| Item 9B. | ||||||||
| Item 9C. | ||||||||
| Item 10. | ||||||||
| Item 11. | ||||||||
| Item 12. | ||||||||
| Item 13. | ||||||||
| Item 14. | ||||||||
| Item 15. | ||||||||
| Item 16. | ||||||||
2
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), which reflect our current views with respect to, among other things, our operations and financial performance. You can identify these forward-looking statements by the use of words such as "outlook," "believe," "think," "expect," "potential," "continue," "may," "should," "seek," "approximately," "predict," "intend," "will," "plan," "estimate," "anticipate," the negative version of these words, other comparable words or other statements that do not relate strictly to historical or factual matters. Without limiting the foregoing, statements regarding the declaration and payment of dividends on common or preferred stock of KKR & Co. Inc.; the timing, manner and volume of repurchase of common stock pursuant to its repurchase program; expansion and growth opportunities and other synergies resulting from acquisitions, reorganizations or strategic partnerships; and the timing and completion of the transactions contemplated by the Reorganization Agreement (as defined below) may constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, there are or will be important factors that could cause actual outcomes or results to differ materially from those indicated in these statements or cause the anticipated benefits and synergies from transactions to not be realized. We believe these factors include those described under the section entitled "Risk Factors" in this report. These factors should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements that are included in this report and in our other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). We do not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as required by law.
CERTAIN TERMS USED IN THIS REPORT
In this report, references to "KKR," "we," "us" and "our" refer to KKR & Co. Inc. and its subsidiaries, including The Global Atlantic Financial Group LLC ("TGAFG" and, together with its subsidiaries, "Global Atlantic"), unless the context requires otherwise. On February 1, 2021, KKR completed its acquisition of Global Atlantic. KKR holds all of the voting interests in Global Atlantic and owns 61.5% of the economic equity interests in Global Atlantic, following the completion of certain post-closing purchase price adjustments in the second quarter of 2021. Accordingly, the results of Global Atlantic included in our consolidated results of operations are from February 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021. Global Atlantic conducts its insurance business through its subsidiaries that are regulated insurance companies.
For periods between July 1, 2018 and December 31, 2019, references to “common stock” refer to Class A common stock of KKR & Co. Inc., and references to “Series I preferred stock” and “Series II preferred stock” refer to Class B common stock and Class C common stock of KKR & Co. Inc., respectively. Prior to July 1, 2018, KKR & Co. Inc. was a limited partnership named KKR & Co. L.P. References to the “Series I preferred stockholder” or “KKR Management” are to KKR Management LLP, the holder of the sole outstanding share of our Series I preferred stock. References to our “senior principals” are to our senior employees who hold interests in the Series I preferred stockholder, including Mr. Henry Kravis and Mr. George Roberts (our "Co-Founders"). References to “non-employee operating consultants” for periods prior to January 1, 2020 refer to employees of KKR Capstone Americas LLC and its affiliates (“KKR Capstone”), which were then owned and controlled by their senior management and not subsidiaries or affiliates of KKR.
Unless otherwise indicated, references to equity interests in KKR’s business, or to percentage interests in KKR’s business, reflect the aggregate equity interests in KKR Group Partnership L.P. ("KKR Group Partnership"), which is the intermediate holding company that owns the entirety of KKR’s business, and are net of amounts that have been allocated to the holders of certain minority interests, including our principals and carry pool participants (who are explained further below). References to “KKR Group Partnership” for periods prior to January 1, 2020 refer to KKR Fund Holdings L.P., KKR Management Holdings L.P. and KKR International Holdings L.P., collectively, which were combined on that date to form KKR Group Partnership. References to a “KKR Group Partnership Unit” refer to (i) one Class A partner interest in each of KKR Fund Holdings L.P., KKR Management Holdings L.P. and KKR International Holdings L.P., collectively, for periods prior to prior to January 1, 2020, and (ii) one Class A partner interest in KKR Group Partnership for periods on and after January 1, 2020.
References to “principals” are to current and former employees who hold interests in KKR’s business through KKR Holdings L.P. (“KKR Holdings”). As of December 31, 2021, KKR Holdings owned, as a limited partner, 258,726,163 Group Partnership Units representing 30.2% of the then outstanding Group Partnership Units. References to “principals” also includes our current employees who hold interests in KKR’s business through KKR Holdings II L.P. KKR Holdings II L.P. is a subsidiary of KKR & Co. Inc. but has an equity ownership in KKR Group Partnership similar to KKR Holdings. As of December 31, 2021, KKR Holdings II L.P. owned, as a limited partner, less than 0.2% of the outstanding Group Partnership Units. References to “carry pool participants” are to our current and former employees who hold interests in our “carry pool,” which refers to the carried interest generated by KKR’s business that is allocated to KKR Associates Holdings L.P. (“KKR Associates Holdings”), in which carry pool participants are limited partners. Neither KKR Holdings nor KKR Associates Holdings is currently a subsidiary of KKR & Co. Inc.
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On October 8, 2021, KKR entered into a Reorganization Agreement (the "Reorganization Agreement") with KKR Holdings, KKR Management, KKR Associates Holdings, and the other parties thereto. Pursuant to the Reorganization Agreement, the parties agreed to undertake a series of integrated transactions to effect a number of transformative structural and governance changes, including (a) the acquisition by KKR of KKR Holdings and all of the KKR Group Partnership Units held by it, (b) the future elimination of voting control by KKR Management and the Series I preferred stock held by it, (c) the future establishment of voting rights for all common stock on a one vote per share basis, including with respect to the election of directors, and (d) the future control of the carry pool by KKR. For more information about the Reorganization Agreement, see "Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence—Reorganization Agreement" in this report.
In this report, the term "GAAP" refers to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
We disclose certain financial measures in this report that are calculated and presented using methodologies other than in accordance with GAAP, including after-tax distributable earnings, distributable operating earnings, fee related earnings ("FRE"), asset management segment revenues, book value and book value per adjusted share. We believe that providing these performance measures on a supplemental basis to our GAAP results is helpful to stockholders in assessing the overall performance of KKR's businesses. These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered as a substitute for similar financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. We caution readers that these non-GAAP financial measures may differ from the calculations of other investment managers, and as a result, may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other investment managers. Reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP, where applicable, are included under "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Reconciliations to GAAP Measures." This report also uses the terms assets under management ("AUM"), fee paying assets under management ("FPAUM") and capital invested. You should note that our calculations of these and other operating metrics may differ from the calculations of other investment managers and, as a result, may not be comparable to similar metrics presented by other investment managers. These non-GAAP and operating metrics are defined in the section "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Key Non-GAAP Performance Measures and Other Operating Measures."
References to our "funds" or our "vehicles" refer to investment funds, vehicles and accounts that are advised, managed or sponsored by one or more subsidiaries of KKR, including collateralized loan obligations ("CLOs") and commercial real estate mortgage-backed securities ("CMBS") vehicles, unless the context requires otherwise. They do not include investment funds, vehicles or accounts of any hedge fund or other manager with which we have formed a strategic partnership where we have acquired an ownership interest. References to “strategic investor partnerships” refers to separately managed accounts with certain investors, which have investment periods longer than our traditional funds and typically provide for investments across different investment strategies. References to “hedge fund partnerships” refers to strategic partnerships with third-party hedge fund managers in which KKR owns a minority stake.
Unless otherwise indicated, references in this report to our outstanding common stock on a fully exchanged and diluted basis reflect (i) actual shares of common stock outstanding, (ii) shares of common stock into which KKR Group Partnership Units held by KKR Holdings are exchangeable pursuant to the terms of the exchange agreement described elsewhere in this report, (iii) shares of common stock into which all outstanding shares of Series C Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock are convertible, and (iv) shares of common stock issuable pursuant to any equity awards actually granted from the Amended and Restated KKR & Co. Inc. 2010 Equity Incentive Plan (the "2010 Equity Incentive Plan") or the Amended and Restated KKR & Co. Inc. 2019 Equity Incentive Plan (the "2019 Equity Incentive Plan" and, together with the 2010 Equity Incentive Plan, our "Equity Incentive Plans"), including equity awards comprised of units in KKR Holdings II L.P. Our outstanding common stock on a fully exchanged and diluted basis does not include shares of common stock available for issuance pursuant to the Equity Incentive Plans for which equity awards have not yet been granted.
The use of any defined term in this report to mean more than one entity, person, security or other item collectively is solely for convenience of reference and in no way implies that such entities, persons, securities or other items are one indistinguishable group. For example, notwithstanding the use of the defined terms "KKR," "we" and "our" in this report to refer to KKR & Co. Inc. and its subsidiaries, each subsidiary of KKR & Co. Inc. is a standalone legal entity that is separate and distinct from KKR & Co. Inc. and any of its other subsidiaries. Any KKR entity (including any Global Atlantic entity) referenced herein is responsible for its own financial, contractual and legal obligations.
4
SUMMARY RISK FACTORS
The following is a summary of the risk factors associated with investing in our securities. You should read this summary together with a more detailed description of these risks in the "Risk Factors" section of this report and in other filings that we make from time to time with the SEC.
We are subject to risks related to our business, including risks involving:
•difficult market and economic conditions;
•disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic;
•changes in the debt financing markets;
•transition away from the London interbank offered rate ("LIBOR") as a benchmark reference for interest rates;
•significant liquidity requirements and sources of liquidity;
•"clawback" provisions in our governing agreements;
•increased risks related to strategic investor partnerships;
•use of the term perpetual capital;
•high variability in our earnings and cash flow;
•decline in the pace or size of investment by our funds;
•inability to raise additional or successor funds at all or at a comparable size to predecessor funds;
•less favorable economic terms of our future funds;
•intense competition in the investment management business;
•increasing focus by stakeholders on environmental, social and governance matters;
•changes in relevant tax laws, regulations and treaties or adverse interpretations by tax authorities;
•our dependence on our founders and other key personnel;
•recruiting, retaining and motivating our employees and other key personnel;
•operational risks, cyber-security failures and data security breaches;
•entering into new lines of business and expansion into new investment strategies, geographic markets and businesses;
•complexities of new investment strategies, markets and businesses;
•sponsoring a special purpose acquisition company ("SPAC");
•ability to syndicate the securities or indebtedness and realize returns on investments financed with our balance sheet;
•extensive regulation of our businesses;
•increased regulatory focus or legislative or regulatory change;
•complex regulations affecting capital raising activities;
•federal, state and foreign anti-corruption and trade sanctions laws;
•litigation allegations and negative publicity;
•certain types of investment vehicles with increased risk of litigation and regulatory scrutiny;
•misconduct of our employees, consultants or sub-contractors or by our portfolio companies;
•our capital markets activities; and
•use of third-party service providers.
We are subject to risks related to assets we manage, including risks involving:
•historical returns not being indicative of future results;
•valuation methodologies;
•various economic conditions and events outside our control;
•dependence on significant leverage in investments;
•limitation inherent in the due diligence process;
•investments in relatively high-risk, illiquid assets;
•risks inherent in our investments including risks specific to real assets and growth equity investments;
•investments in real assets, such as real estate, infrastructure and energy, and emerging and less established companies;
•failure to protect intellectual property rights;
•investments in high-yield, below investment grade or unrated debt or in companies in distress;
•investments involving business, regulatory, legal or other complexities;
•large size of our private equity and real assets investments;
•investments in companies that we do not control;
•investments in companies that are based outside of the United States;
•third-party investors' contractual obligation to fund capital calls;
•ranking of our equity and debt investments compared to investments made by others;
•hedging transactions and other risk management activities undertaken by us;
•concentration of investments by our funds or by our balance sheet;
5
•conflicts of interest between our businesses and our clients;
•redemption by fund investors in certain of our real asset funds;
•termination of our investment advisory arrangements; and
•our hedge fund partnerships.
We are subject to risks related to our common stock, including risks involving:
•significant voting power held by the Series I preferred stockholder;
•exemptions available to us as a "controlled company" under the NYSE corporate governance rules;
•exemptions from proxy rules under U.S. securities laws;
•provisions in our certificate of incorporation limiting the obligation and liability of the Series I preferred stockholder;
•exclusive forum provision included in our certificate of incorporation;
•volatility of market price and trading volume of our common stock;
•assets and revenues of our funds not being directly available to us or our common stockholders;
•large number of shares eligible for future sale or for exchange and issuable as grants or in acquisitions;
•ability to issue preferred stock may cause the price of our common stock to decline; and
•our right to repurchase all outstanding shares of common stock under specific circumstances.
We are subject to risks related to our organizational structure, including risks involving:
•potential conflicts of interest among the Series I preferred stockholder and our common stockholders;
•certain actions by our board of directors requiring the approval of the Series I preferred stockholder;
•limitations on our ability to pay periodic dividends;
•our obligations to pay under tax receivable agreement;
•potential application of restrictions under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "Investment Company Act");
•reorganizations undertaken by us; and
•anti-takeover provisions in our organizational documents.
We are subject to risks related to Global Atlantic, including risks involving:
•possibility of not achieving the intended benefit of the acquisition;
•inclusion of Global Atlantic as our consolidated subsidiary;
•interest rate fluctuations and sustained periods of low or high interest rates;
•use of derivative financial instruments in risk management strategy;
•competitiveness of the insurance industry;
•dependence on third-party service providers, including distribution partners and agents;
•guarantees within certain of Global Atlantic's products;
•volatility in its net income under GAAP;
•acceleration of amortization of deferred revenues and expenses;
•difference between policyholder behavior estimates, reserve assumptions and actual claim experience;
•estimates used in preparation of financial statements and models for insurance products;
•ability to execute Global Atlantic's growth strategies successfully;
•any gaps in Global Atlantic's risk management policies and procedures;
•Global Atlantic's actual or perceived financial strength and ratings of Global Atlantic and its insurance subsidiaries;
•failure to comply with covenants in credit facilities or agreements;
•lack of captive or proprietary distribution or direct sale;
•businesses Global Atlantic reinsures and business it cedes to reinsurers;
•natural and man-made disasters and other catastrophes;
•protection of confidentiality of client information;
•changes in accounting standards;
•ability to cover policyholder benefits, withdrawals, recaptures or collateralization requirements;
•reinsurance assets held in trust, which limits Global Atlantic's ability to invest those assets;
•reinsurance agreements that permit the reinsurance client to recapture some or all of the reinsurance portfolio;
•determination of the amount of impairments and allowances for credit losses;
•Global Atlantic's membership in Federal Home Loan Banks;
•repurchase and reverse repurchase transactions that subject Global Atlantic to liquidity risks;
•applicability of the U.S. federal income taxes, changes to U.S. tax laws or Global Atlantic's tax status in Bermuda; and
•insurance and other regulations, including those related to statutory accounting rules, reserves, guaranty association laws and licensing requirements, that apply to Global Atlantic and its insurance subsidiaries.
6
PART I
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
Overview
We are a leading global investment firm that offers alternative asset management as well as capital markets and insurance solutions. We aim to generate attractive investment returns by following a patient and disciplined investment approach, employing world-class people, and supporting growth in our portfolio companies and communities. We sponsor investment funds that invest in private equity, credit and real assets and have strategic partners that manage hedge funds. Our insurance subsidiaries offer retirement, life and reinsurance products under the management of Global Atlantic.
Our asset management business offers a broad range of investment management services to fund investors around the world. Throughout our history, we have consistently been a leader in the private equity industry, having completed more than 650 private equity investments in portfolio companies with a total transaction value in excess of $675 billion as of December 31, 2021. Since the inception of our firm in 1976, we have expanded our investment strategies and product offerings from traditional private equity to areas such as leveraged credit, alternative credit, infrastructure, energy, real estate, growth equity, core and impact investments. We also provide capital markets services for our firm, our portfolio companies and third parties. Our balance sheet provides a significant source of capital in the growth and expansion of our business, and it has allowed us to further align our interests with those of our fund investors. Building on these efforts and leveraging our industry expertise and intellectual capital have allowed us to capitalize on a broader range of the opportunities we source.
Our insurance business is operated by Global Atlantic, in which we acquired a majority controlling interest on February 1, 2021. Global Atlantic is a leading U.S. retirement and life insurance company that provides a broad suite of protection, legacy and savings products and reinsurance solutions to clients across individual and institutional markets. Global Atlantic primarily offers individuals fixed-rate annuities, fixed-indexed annuities and targeted life products through a network of banks, broker-dealers and independent marketing organizations. Global Atlantic provides its institutional clients customized reinsurance solutions, including block, flow and pension risk transfer reinsurance, as well as funding agreements. Global Atlantic primarily generates income by earning a spread between its investment income and the cost of policyholder benefits. As of December 31, 2021, Global Atlantic served approximately three million policyholders.
Our Firm
We seek to work proactively and collaboratively across business lines, departments, and geographies, as appropriate, to achieve what we believe are the best investment results for our clients and the firm. Through our offices around the world, we have a pre-eminent global integrated platform for sourcing transactions, raising capital and carrying out capital markets activities. We have multilingual and multicultural investment teams with local market knowledge and significant business, investment and operational experience in the countries in which we invest. We believe that our global capabilities and one-firm philosophy have helped us to raise capital, capture a greater number of investment opportunities, and assist our portfolio companies in their increasing reliance on global markets and sourcing, while enabling us to diversify our operations.
Though our operations span multiple continents and asset classes, our investment professionals are supported by an integrated infrastructure and operate under a common set of principles and business practices that are monitored by a variety of committees. Our investment teams operate with a single culture that rewards investment discipline, creativity, determination and patience and emphasizes the sharing of information, resources, expertise and best practices across offices and asset classes. When appropriate, we staff investment transactions across multiple offices and businesses in order to take advantage of the industry-specific expertise of our investment professionals, and we hold regular meetings in which investment professionals throughout our offices share their knowledge and experiences. We believe that the ability to draw on the local cultural fluency of our investment professionals while maintaining a centralized and integrated global infrastructure distinguishes us from other investment firms and has been a substantial contributing factor to our ability to raise funds, invest internationally and expand our businesses.
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Our Business
We operate in two segments, our asset management business and, beginning in the first quarter of 2021, our insurance business.
Asset Management
In our asset management business, we have four business lines: (1) Private Markets, (2) Public Markets, (3) Capital Markets, and (4) Principal Activities. Information about our business lines below should be read together with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report.
As an asset management firm, we earn fees, including incentive fees, and carried interest for providing investment management and other services to our funds, vehicles, CLOs, managed accounts and portfolio companies, and we generate transaction-specific income from capital markets transactions. We earn additional investment income by investing our own capital alongside that of our fund investors and from other assets on our balance sheet. Carried interest we receive from our funds and certain other investment vehicles entitles us to a specified percentage of investment gains that are generated on third-party capital that is invested.
Our investment teams have deep industry knowledge and are supported by a substantial and diversified capital base; an integrated global investment platform; the expertise of operating professionals, senior advisors and other advisors; and a worldwide network of business relationships that provide a significant source of investment opportunities, specialized knowledge during due diligence and substantial resources for creating and realizing value for stakeholders. These teams invest capital, a substantial portion of which is of a long duration or not subject to predetermined redemption requirements, which provides us with significant flexibility to grow investments and select exit opportunities. As of December 31, 2021, approximately 90% of our AUM consists of capital that is not subject to redemption for at least 8 years from inception and what we refer to as perpetual capital. For more information about the limitations of perpetual capital, please see "Risks Related to Our Business—AUM referred to as perpetual capital is subject to material reduction, including through withdrawal, redemption, or dividends, and termination." We believe that these aspects of our business help us continue to grow our asset management business and deliver strong investment performance in a variety of economic and financial conditions.
Since our inception, one of our fundamental investment philosophies has been to align the interests of the firm and our employees with the interests of our fund investors, portfolio companies and other stakeholders. We achieve this by putting our own capital behind our ideas. As of December 31, 2021, we and our employees and other personnel have approximately $26.9 billion invested in or committed to our own funds and portfolio companies, including $11.1 billion of capital funded from our balance sheet, $11.9 billion of additional capital committed by our balance sheet to our investment funds, $2.8 billion funded from personal investments, and $1.1 billion of additional capital commitments from personal investments.
Private Markets
Through our Private Markets business line, we manage and sponsor a group of private equity funds that invest capital for long-term appreciation, either through controlling ownership of a company or strategic minority positions. In addition to our traditional private equity funds that invest in large and mid-sized companies, we sponsor investment funds that invest in core equity, growth equity, and impact investments. We also manage and sponsor investment funds that invest capital in real assets, such as infrastructure, real estate, and energy. Our Private Markets business line includes separately managed accounts that invest in multiple strategies, which may include our credit strategies as well as our private equity and real assets strategies. These funds and accounts are managed by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P., an SEC-registered investment adviser. As of December 31, 2021, our Private Markets business line had $257.0 billion of AUM, consisting of $153.3 billion in private equity (including growth equity, core and impact investments), $83.3 billion in real assets (including infrastructure, real estate, and energy) and $20.4 billion in other related strategies.
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The following chart presents the growth in the AUM of our Private Markets business line from December 2005 through December 31, 2021.
Private Markets
Assets Under Management (1)
($ in billions)
(1) For the years 2006 through 2008, AUM are presented pro forma for the acquisition of the assets and liabilities of KKR & Co. (Guernsey) L.P. (formerly known as KKR Private Equity Investors, L.P.) on October 1, 2009, and therefore exclude the net asset value of that vehicle and its former commitments to our investment funds. In 2015 our definition of AUM was amended to include (i) KKR's pro rata portion of AUM managed by strategic partners in which KKR holds a minority stake and (ii) capital commitments for which we are eligible to receive fees or carried interest upon deployment of capital. AUM for all prior periods has been adjusted to include such changes.
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The table below presents information as of December 31, 2021, relating to our current private equity and real asset funds and other investment vehicles in our Private Markets business line for which we have the ability to earn carried interest. This data does not reflect acquisitions or disposals of investments, changes in investment values, or distributions occurring after December 31, 2021.
Investment Period (1) | Amount ($ in millions) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Start Date | End Date | Commitment (2) | Uncalled Commitments | Percentage Committed by General Partner | Invested | Realized | Remaining Cost (3) | Remaining Fair Value | Gross Accrued Carried Interest | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Private Equity Funds | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| North America Fund XIII | 6/2021 | 6/2027 | $ | 17,749 | $ | 17,749 | 6% | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||||||||
| Americas Fund XII | 1/2017 | 6/2021 | 13,500 | 1,937 | 6% | 12,039 | 4,198 | 10,986 | 26,586 | 2,816 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| North America Fund XI | 9/2012 | 1/2017 | 8,718 | 422 | 3% | 9,752 | 16,367 | 3,693 | 8,659 | 983 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
2006 Fund (4) | 9/2006 | 9/2012 | 17,642 | 247 | 2% | 17,309 | 34,744 | 1,649 | 2,781 | 278 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Millennium Fund (4) | 12/2002 | 12/2008 | 6,000 | — | 3% | 6,000 | 14,123 | — | 6 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| European Fund V | 3/2019 | 7/2025 | 6,356 | 2,597 | 2% | 3,828 | 361 | 3,707 | 5,225 | 257 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| European Fund IV | 12/2014 | 3/2019 | 3,515 | 66 | 6% | 3,577 | 4,519 | 1,935 | 3,103 | 220 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
European Fund III (4) | 3/2008 | 3/2014 | 5,509 | 150 | 5% | 5,360 | 10,604 | 669 | 175 | (20) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
European Fund II (4) | 11/2005 | 10/2008 | 5,751 | — | 2% | 5,751 | 8,507 | — | 34 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Asian Fund IV | 7/2020 | 7/2026 | 14,735 | 12,056 | 7% | 2,679 | — | 2,679 | 2,937 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Asian Fund III | 4/2017 | 7/2020 | 9,000 | 2,156 | 6% | 7,248 | 3,633 | 6,541 | 13,671 | 1,273 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Asian Fund II | 4/2013 | 4/2017 | 5,825 | 34 | 1% | 6,839 | 5,946 | 3,796 | 3,833 | 152 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Asian Fund (4) | 7/2007 | 4/2013 | 3,983 | — | 3% | 3,974 | 8,728 | 110 | 23 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
China Growth Fund (4) | 11/2010 | 11/2016 | 1,010 | — | 1% | 1,010 | 1,056 | 330 | 249 | (3) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Next Generation Technology Growth Fund II | 12/2019 | 12/2025 | 2,088 | 796 | 7% | 1,489 | 259 | 1,352 | 2,218 | 157 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Next Generation Technology Growth Fund | 3/2016 | 12/2019 | 659 | 4 | 22% | 666 | 810 | 359 | 1,529 | 128 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Health Care Strategic Growth Fund II | 5/2021 | 5/2027 | 3,789 | 3,789 | 4% | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Health Care Strategic Growth Fund | 12/2016 | 5/2021 | 1,331 | 522 | 11% | 939 | 196 | 834 | 1,261 | 62 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Global Impact Fund | 2/2019 | 2/2025 | 1,242 | 429 | 8% | 904 | 96 | 849 | 1,364 | 94 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Private Equity Funds | 128,402 | 42,954 | 89,364 | 114,147 | 39,489 | 73,654 | 6,402 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Co-Investment Vehicles and Other | Various | Various | 16,999 | 7,898 | Various | 9,524 | 7,144 | 6,228 | 9,260 | 1,434 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Private Equity Funds | 145,401 | 50,852 | 98,888 | 121,291 | 45,717 | 82,914 | 7,836 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Core Investment Vehicles | Various | Various | 24,239 | 13,379 | 31% | 11,361 | 516 | 11,163 | 18,343 | 345 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Real Assets | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Energy Income and Growth Fund II | 6/2018 | 8/2022 | 994 | 415 | 20% | 772 | 193 | 610 | 814 | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Energy Income and Growth Fund | 9/2013 | 6/2018 | 1,974 | — | 13% | 1,974 | 912 | 1,174 | 670 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Natural Resources Fund (4) | Various | Various | 887 | — | Various | 887 | 123 | 193 | 46 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Global Energy Opportunities | Various | Various | 915 | 62 | Various | 519 | 165 | 326 | 190 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Global Infrastructure Investors IV | 6/2021 | 6/2027 | 15,778 | 15,778 | 3% | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Global Infrastructure Investors III | 6/2018 | 6/2021 | 7,169 | 2,924 | 4% | 4,511 | 979 | 4,022 | 4,211 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Global Infrastructure Investors II | 10/2014 | 6/2018 | 3,040 | 124 | 4% | 3,163 | 4,239 | 1,281 | 1,757 | 47 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Global Infrastructure Investors | 9/2011 | 10/2014 | 1,040 | — | 5% | 1,050 | 2,228 | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Asia Pacific Infrastructure Investors | 1/2020 | 1/2026 | 3,792 | 2,738 | 7% | 1,311 | 258 | 1,161 | 1,302 | 33 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Diversified Core Infrastructure Fund | 12/2020 | (5) | 6,939 | 5,054 | 7% | 1,889 | 54 | 1,885 | 1,931 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Real Estate Partners Americas III | 12/2020 | 1/2025 | 4,253 | 3,167 | 5% | 1,086 | — | 1,086 | 1,196 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Real Estate Partners Americas II | 5/2017 | 12/2020 | 1,921 | 266 | 8% | 1,892 | 1,973 | 816 | 1,096 | 140 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Real Estate Partners Americas | 5/2013 | 5/2017 | 1,229 | 142 | 16% | 1,016 | 1,405 | 142 | 67 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Real Estate Partners Europe II | 12/2019 | 4/2024 | 2,083 | 1,117 | 10% | 966 | — | 966 | 1,107 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Real Estate Partners Europe | 9/2015 | 12/2019 | 710 | 141 | 10% | 648 | 576 | 292 | 360 | 15 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Asia Real Estate Partners | 6/2019 | 6/2023 | 1,682 | 1,415 | 15% | 267 | — | 267 | 343 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Real Estate Credit Opportunity Partners II | 4/2019 | 6/2022 | 950 | 507 | 5% | 443 | 65 | 443 | 479 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Real Estate Credit Opportunity Partners | 2/2017 | 4/2019 | 1,130 | 122 | 4% | 1,008 | 323 | 1,008 | 1,004 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Property Partners Americas | 12/2019 | (5) | 2,463 | 460 | 20% | 2,003 | 60 | 2,003 | 2,474 | 20 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Co-Investment Vehicles and Other | Various | Various | 4,880 | 715 | Various | 3,912 | 1,579 | 3,436 | 3,515 | 14 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Real Assets | 63,829 | 35,147 | 29,317 | 15,132 | 21,111 | 22,562 | 294 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Unallocated Commitments (6) | 1,994 | 1,994 | Various | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Private Markets Total | $ | 235,463 | $ | 101,372 | $ | 139,566 | $ | 136,939 | $ | 77,991 | $ | 123,819 | $ | 8,475 | ||||||||||||||||||
(1)The start date represents the date on which the general partner of the applicable fund commenced investment of the fund's capital or the date of the first closing. The end date represents the earlier of (i) the date on which the general partner of the applicable fund was or will be required by the fund's governing agreement to cease making investments (other than reserved amounts) on behalf of the fund, unless extended by a vote of the fund investors, and (ii) the date on which the last investment was made.
(2)The commitment represents the aggregate capital commitments to the fund, including capital commitments by third-party fund investors and the general partner. Foreign currency commitments have been converted into U.S. dollars based on (i) the foreign exchange rate at the date of purchase for each investment and (ii) the exchange rate that prevailed on December 31, 2021, in the case of uncalled commitments.
(3)The remaining cost represents the initial investment of the general partner and limited partners, reduced for returns of capital.
(4)The "Invested" and "Realized" columns do not include the amounts of any realized investments that restored the unused capital commitments of the fund investors, if any.
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(5)Open-ended fund.
(6)"Unallocated Commitments" represent unallocated commitments from our strategic investor partnerships.
Performance
We take a long-term approach to Private Markets investing and measure the success of our investments over a period of years rather than months. Given the duration of these investments, the firm focuses on realized multiples of invested capital and internal rates of return ("IRRs") when deploying capital in these transactions. We have doubled the value of capital that we have invested in our Private Markets investment funds, turning $141.5 billion of invested capital into $293.6 billion of value from our inception in 1976 to December 31, 2021.
Amount Invested and Total Value for
Private Markets Investment Funds
As of December 31, 2021
From our inception in 1976 through December 31, 2021, our investment funds with at least 24 months of investment activity generated a cumulative gross IRR of 25.6%, compared to the 12.1% and 9.5% gross IRR achieved by the S&P 500 Index and MSCI World Index, respectively, over the same period, despite the cyclical and sometimes challenging environments in which we have operated. The S&P 500 Index and MSCI World Index are unmanaged indices and their returns assume reinvestment of distributions and do not reflect any fees or expenses. Our past performance, however, may not be representative of performance in any period other than the period discussed above and is not a guarantee of future results. For additional information regarding impact of market conditions on the value and performance of our investments, see "Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business—Difficult market and economic conditions can adversely affect our business in many ways, including by reducing the value or performance of the investments that we manage or by reducing the ability of our funds to raise or deploy capital, each of which could negatively impact our net income and cash flow and adversely affect our financial prospects and condition" and "Risk Factors—Risks Related to the Assets We Manage—The historical returns attributable to our funds, including those presented in this report, should not be considered as indicative of the future results of our funds, our insurance subsidiaries or our balance sheet investments, of our future results or the performance of our common stock."
The tables below present information as of December 31, 2021, relating to the historical performance of certain of our Private Markets investment vehicles since inception, which we believe illustrates the benefits of our investment approach. This data does not reflect additional capital raised since December 31, 2021, or acquisitions or disposals of investments, changes in investment values, or distributions occurring after that date. The information presented below is not intended to be representative of any past or future performance for any particular period other than the period presented below. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
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| Amount | Fair Value of Investments | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Private Markets Investment Funds | Commitment (2) | Invested | Realized (4) | Unrealized | Total Value | Gross IRR (5) | Net IRR (5) | Gross Multiple of Invested Capital (5) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in millions) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Investments | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Legacy Funds (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1976 Fund | $ | 31 | $ | 31 | $ | 537 | $ | — | $ | 537 | 39.5 | % | 35.5 | % | 17.1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1980 Fund | 357 | 357 | 1,828 | — | 1,828 | 29.0 | % | 25.8 | % | 5.1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1982 Fund | 328 | 328 | 1,291 | — | 1,291 | 48.1 | % | 39.2 | % | 3.9 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1984 Fund | 1,000 | 1,000 | 5,964 | — | 5,964 | 34.5 | % | 28.9 | % | 6.0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1986 Fund | 672 | 672 | 9,081 | — | 9,081 | 34.4 | % | 28.9 | % | 13.5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1987 Fund | 6,130 | 6,130 | 14,949 | — | 14,949 | 12.1 | % | 8.9 | % | 2.4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1993 Fund | 1,946 | 1,946 | 4,143 | — | 4,143 | 23.6 | % | 16.8 | % | 2.1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1996 Fund | 6,012 | 6,012 | 12,477 | — | 12,477 | 18.0 | % | 13.3 | % | 2.1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Subtotal - Legacy Funds | 16,475 | 16,475 | 50,269 | — | 50,269 | 26.1 | % | 19.9 | % | 3.1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Included Funds | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| European Fund (1999) | 3,085 | 3,085 | 8,758 | — | 8,758 | 26.9 | % | 20.2 | % | 2.8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Millennium Fund (2002) | 6,000 | 6,000 | 14,123 | 6 | 14,129 | 22.0 | % | 16.1 | % | 2.4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| European Fund II (2005) | 5,751 | 5,751 | 8,507 | 34 | 8,541 | 6.1 | % | 4.5 | % | 1.5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2006 Fund (2006) | 17,642 | 17,309 | 34,744 | 2,781 | 37,525 | 12.0 | % | 9.4 | % | 2.2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Asian Fund (2007) | 3,983 | 3,974 | 8,728 | 23 | 8,751 | 18.9 | % | 13.7 | % | 2.2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| European Fund III (2008) | 5,509 | 5,360 | 10,604 | 175 | 10,779 | 16.5 | % | 11.4 | % | 2.0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| E2 Investors (Annex Fund) (2009) | 196 | 196 | 200 | — | 200 | 0.6 | % | 0.5 | % | 1.0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| China Growth Fund (2010) | 1,010 | 1,010 | 1,056 | 249 | 1,305 | 6.3 | % | 2.2 | % | 1.3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Natural Resources Fund (2010) | 887 | 887 | 123 | 46 | 169 | (27.3) | % | (29.2) | % | 0.2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Global Infrastructure Investors (2011) | 1,040 | 1,050 | 2,228 | — | 2,228 | 17.6 | % | 15.6 | % | 2.1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| North America Fund XI (2012) | 8,718 | 9,752 | 16,367 | 8,659 | 25,026 | 24.5 | % | 19.9 | % | 2.6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Asian Fund II (2013) | 5,825 | 6,839 | 5,946 | 3,833 | 9,779 | 10.3 | % | 7.2 | % | 1.4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Real Estate Partners Americas (2013) | 1,229 | 1,016 | 1,405 | 67 | 1,472 | 16.6 | % | 11.8 | % | 1.4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Energy Income and Growth Fund (2013) | 1,974 | 1,974 | 912 | 670 | 1,582 | (6.6) | % | (9.3) | % | 0.8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Global Infrastructure Investors II (2014) | 3,040 | 3,163 | 4,239 | 1,757 | 5,996 | 20.2 | % | 17.5 | % | 1.9 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| European Fund IV (2015) | 3,515 | 3,577 | 4,519 | 3,103 | 7,622 | 25.4 | % | 20.0 | % | 2.1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Real Estate Partners Europe (2015) | 710 | 648 | 576 | 360 | 936 | 14.9 | % | 10.4 | % | 1.4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Next Generation Technology Growth Fund (2016) | 659 | 666 | 810 | 1,529 | 2,339 | 44.6 | % | 38.6 | % | 3.5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Health Care Strategic Growth Fund (2016) | 1,331 | 939 | 196 | 1,261 | 1,457 | 31.6 | % | 19.7 | % | 1.6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Americas Fund XII (2017) | 13,500 | 12,039 | 4,198 | 26,586 | 30,784 | 50.1 | % | 41.9 | % | 2.6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Real Estate Credit Opportunity Partners (2017) | 1,130 | 1,008 | 323 | 1,004 | 1,327 | 9.1 | % | 8.0 | % | 1.3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Core Investment Vehicles (2017) | 24,239 | 11,361 | 516 | 18,343 | 18,859 | 27.5 | % | 26.0 | % | 1.7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Asian Fund III (2017) | 9,000 | 7,248 | 3,633 | 13,671 | 17,304 | 50.3 | % | 40.4 | % | 2.4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Real Estate Partners Americas II (2017) | 1,921 | 1,892 | 1,973 | 1,096 | 3,069 | 31.4 | % | 26.0 | % | 1.6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Global Infrastructure Investors III (2018) | 7,169 | 4,511 | 979 | 4,211 | 5,190 | 9.3 | % | 6.6 | % | 1.2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Global Impact Fund (2019) | 1,242 | 904 | 96 | 1,364 | 1,460 | 56.2 | % | 41.1 | % | 1.6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| European Fund V (2019) | 6,356 | 3,828 | 361 | 5,225 | 5,586 | 35.5 | % | 27.5 | % | 1.5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Energy Income and Growth Fund II (2019) | 994 | 772 | 193 | 814 | 1,007 | 20.1 | % | 17.5 | % | 1.3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Asia Real Estate Partners (2019) | 1,682 | 267 | — | 343 | 343 | 31.5 | % | 8.6 | % | 1.3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Next Generation Technology Growth Fund II (2019) | 2,088 | 1,489 | 259 | 2,218 | 2,477 | 64.7 | % | 51.5 | % | 1.7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Real Estate Credit Opportunity Partners II (2019) | 950 | 443 | 65 | 479 | 544 | 14.3 | % | 12.8 | % | 1.2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Asia Pacific Infrastructure Investors (2020) (3) | 3,792 | 1,311 | 258 | 1,302 | 1,560 | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Asian Fund IV (2020) (3) | 14,735 | 2,679 | — | 2,937 | 2,937 | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Real Estate Partners Americas III (2021) (3) | 4,253 | 1,086 | — | 1,196 | 1,196 | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Real Estate Partners Europe II (2021) (3) | 2,083 | 966 | — | 1,107 | 1,107 | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Health Care Strategic Growth Fund II (2021) (3) | 3,789 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Global Infrastructure Investors IV (2021) (3) | 15,778 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
North America Fund XIII (2021) (3) | 17,749 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Subtotal - Included Funds | 204,554 | 125,000 | 136,895 | 106,449 | 243,344 | 17.2 | % | 13.4 | % | 2.0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| All Funds | $ | 221,029 | $ | 141,475 | $ | 187,164 | $ | 106,449 | $ | 293,613 | 25.6 | % | 18.9 | % | 2.1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
(1)These funds were not contributed to KKR as part of the acquisition of the assets and liabilities of KKR & Co. (Guernsey) L.P. (formerly known as KKR Private Equity Investors, L.P.) on October 1, 2009.
(2)Where commitments are euro-denominated, such amounts have been converted into U.S. dollars based on (i) the foreign exchange rate at the date of purchase for each investment and (ii) the exchange rate prevailing on December 31, 2021, in the case of unfunded commitments.
(3)The gross IRR, net IRR and gross multiple of invested capital are calculated for our investment funds that made their first investment at least 24 months prior to December 31, 2021. We therefore have not calculated gross IRRs, net IRRs and gross multiples of invested capital with respect to these funds.
(4)An investment is considered realized when it has been disposed of or has otherwise generated disposition proceeds or current income that has been distributed by the relevant fund.
(5)IRRs measure the aggregate annual compounded returns generated by a fund's investments over a holding period. Net IRRs are calculated after giving effect to the allocation of realized and unrealized carried interest and the payment of any applicable management fees and organizational expenses. Gross IRRs are calculated before giving effect to the allocation of realized and unrealized carried interest and the payment of any applicable management fees and organizational expenses.
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The gross multiples of invested capital measure the aggregate value generated by a fund's investments in absolute terms. Each multiple of invested capital is calculated by adding together the total realized and unrealized values of a fund's investments and dividing by the total amount of capital invested by the fund. Such amounts do not give effect to the allocation of realized and unrealized carried interest or the payment of any applicable management fees or organizational expenses.
KKR's Private Markets funds may utilize third-party financing facilities to provide liquidity to such funds. The above net and gross IRRs are calculated from the time capital contributions are due from fund investors to the time fund investors receive a related distribution from the fund, and the use of such financing facilities generally decreases the amount of time that would otherwise be used to calculate IRRs, which tends to increase IRRs when fair value grows over time and decrease IRRs when fair value decreases over time. KKR's Private Markets funds also generally provide in certain circumstances, which vary depending on the relevant fund documents, for a portion of capital returned to investors to be restored to unused commitments as recycled capital. For KKR's Private Markets funds that have a preferred return, we take into account recycled capital in the calculation of IRRs and multiples of invested capital because the calculation of the preferred return includes the effect of recycled capital. For KKR's Private Markets funds that do not have a preferred return, we do not take recycled capital into account in the calculation of IRRs and multiples of invested capital. The inclusion of recycled capital generally causes invested and realized amounts to be higher and IRRs and multiples of invested capital to be lower than had recycled capital not been included. The inclusion of recycled capital would reduce the composite net IRR of all Included Funds by 0.1% and the composite net IRR of all Legacy Funds by 0.5% and would reduce the composite multiple of invested capital of Included Funds by less than 0.1 and the composite multiple of invested capital of Legacy Funds by 0.4.
For more information, see "Risk Factors—Risks Related to the Assets We Manage—The historical returns attributable to our funds, including those presented in this report, should not be considered as indicative of the future results of our funds, our insurance subsidiaries or our balance sheet investments, of our future results or the performance of our common stock."
Private Equity
We are a world leader in private equity, having raised over 30 private equity funds (including growth equity, core and impact investments). We invest in industry-leading franchises and attract world-class management teams. Our investment approach leverages our capital base, sourcing advantage, global network and industry knowledge. It also leverages a sizable team of operating professionals, as well as senior advisors and other advisors, many of whom are former chief executive officers and leaders of the business community.
Traditional Private Equity. Our traditional private equity investment strategy typically seeks to engage in management buyouts, build-ups, or other investments with a view to acquire control or have significant influence. We believe that the combination of our industry knowledge, investment experience and operational expertise provides KKR with the ability to identify and create value in investment opportunities. Through our portfolio company board oversight, we work closely and cooperatively with the management of our portfolio companies, which are assisted by having access to the resources of our global platform.
Growth Equity. Since 2016, we have offered growth equity funds that pursue growth equity investment opportunities in the technology, media and telecommunications (TMT) sector, primarily in the United States, Canada, Europe and Israel. Through this strategy, we focus on emerging, high-growth companies and invest across a variety of sub-sectors including software, security, semiconductors, consumer electronics, internet of things (IoT), information services, business services, internet, digital media, content and communications. Also since 2016, we have offered growth equity funds to pursue growth equity investment opportunities in the health care sector, primarily in the United States and Europe. Our health care growth strategy targets opportunities across various health care sub-sectors, including biopharmaceuticals, medical devices, diagnostics, life science tools, health care providers, healthcare information technology and other services.
Core Investments. Our core investments strategy targets investments with a longer holding period and a lower anticipated risk profile than our traditional private equity investments. Our core equity investments are made in companies that, among other things, we believe are more stable, and typically with lower average leverage over our holding period, than those in our traditional private equity funds. We closed our first core equity investment in 2017. Our core investment strategy also includes investments in infrastructure and real estate investments. See “ –Real Assets” below.
Global Impact. Since 2019, we have offered global impact funds, which are focused on identifying and investing behind opportunities across the Americas, Europe and Asia where financial performance and societal impact are intrinsically aligned. Our global impact funds aim to generate private equity-like risk-adjusted returns by investing in small to medium-sized companies that contribute toward one or more of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. From time to time, we refer to our growth equity strategy to include the investments from our impact strategy.
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Portfolio
The following chart presents information concerning the remaining value of traditional private equity funds by geography through December 31, 2021. We believe that this data illustrates the benefits of our business approach and our ability to source and invest in deals in multiple geographies.
As of December 31, 2021, our traditional private equity portfolio consisted of 109 companies with approximately $265 billion of annual revenues. These companies are headquartered in over 20 countries and operate in 20 general industries, which take advantage of our broad and deep industry and operating expertise. Many of these companies are leading franchises with global operations, strong management teams and attractive growth prospects, which we believe will provide benefits through a broad range of business conditions.
Investment Approach
Our approach to making private equity investments focuses on achieving multiples of invested capital and attractive risk-adjusted IRRs by selecting high-quality investments that may be made at attractive prices, applying rigorous standards of due diligence when making investment decisions, implementing strategic and operational changes that drive growth and value creation in acquired businesses, carefully monitoring investments, and making informed decisions when developing investment exit strategies.
We believe that we have achieved a leading position in the private equity industry by applying a disciplined investment approach and by building strong partnerships with highly motivated management teams who put their own capital at risk. When making private equity investments, we seek out strong business franchises, attractive growth prospects, leading market positions and the ability to generate attractive returns. In our private equity funds, we do not effect transactions that are "hostile," meaning a target company's board of directors makes an unfavorable recommendation with respect to the transaction or publicly opposes the consummation of the transaction.
Sourcing and Selecting Investments
We have access to significant opportunities for making private equity investments as a result of our sizable capital base, global platform, and relationships with leading executives from major companies, commercial and investment banks, and other investment and advisory institutions. Members of our global network contact us with new investment opportunities, including a substantial number of exclusive investment opportunities and opportunities that are made available to only a limited number of
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other firms. We also proactively pursue business development strategies that are designed to generate deals internally based on the depth of our industry knowledge and our reputation as a leading financial sponsor.
Due Diligence and the Investment Decision
When an investment team determines that an investment proposal is worth consideration, the proposal is formally presented to the applicable investment committee and the due diligence process commences, if appropriate. The objective of the due diligence process is to identify attractive investment opportunities based on the facts and circumstances surrounding an investment and to prepare a framework that may be used from the date of an acquisition to drive operational improvement and value creation. When conducting due diligence, investment teams evaluate a number of important business, financial, tax, accounting, environmental, social, governance, legal and regulatory issues in order to determine whether an investment is suitable. While the due diligence process differs depending on the type of investment we make, generally, in connection with the private equity due diligence process, investment professionals spend significant amounts of time meeting with a company's management and operating personnel, visiting plants and facilities, and where appropriate, speaking with other stakeholders interested in and impacted by the investment in order to understand the opportunities and risks associated with the proposed investment. Our investment professionals may also use the services of outside accountants, consultants, lawyers, investment banks and industry experts as appropriate to assist them in this process. Investment committees or portfolio managers, as applicable, monitor our due diligence practices and approve an investment before it is made.
Building Successful and Competitive Businesses
Portfolio management committees are responsible for working with our investment professionals from the date on which a private equity investment is made until the time it is exited in order to ensure that strategic and operational objectives are accomplished and that the performance of the investment is closely monitored. When investing in a private equity portfolio company, we partner with management teams to execute on our investment thesis, and we rigorously track performance through regular monitoring of detailed operational and financial metrics as well as appropriate environmental, social and governance issues. We have developed a global network of experienced managers and operating professionals who assist the private equity portfolio companies in making operational improvements and achieving growth. We augment these resources with operational guidance from operating professionals at KKR Capstone, senior advisors, other advisors and investment teams, and with "100-Day Plans" that focus the firm's efforts and drive our strategies. We seek to emphasize efficient capital management, top-line growth, R&D spending, geographical expansion, cost optimization and investment for the long-term.
Realizing Investments
We have developed substantial expertise for realizing private equity investments. From our inception through December 31, 2021, the firm has generated approximately $173.9 billion of cash proceeds from the sale of our private equity portfolio companies in initial public offerings and secondary offerings, dividends, and sales to strategic and financial buyers. When exiting private equity investments, our objective is to structure the exit in a manner that optimizes returns for fund investors and, in the case of publicly traded companies, minimizes the impact that the exit has on the trading price of the company's securities. We believe that our ability to successfully realize investments is attributable in part to the strength and discipline of our portfolio management committees and capital markets business, as well as the firm's longstanding relationships with corporate buyers and members of the investment banking and investing communities.
Private Equity Fund Structures
The private equity funds that we sponsor and manage typically have finite lives and investment periods. Each fund is typically organized as one or more partnerships, and each partnership is controlled by a general partner. Private equity fund investors are limited partners who agree to contribute a specified amount of capital to the fund from time to time for use in qualifying investments during the investment period, which generally lasts up to six years depending on how quickly capital is deployed. The investment period for certain funds may be terminated upon supermajority vote (based on capital commitment) of the fund's limited partners or by the fund's advisory committee. The term of our private equity funds generally last for 10 to 12 years and may last up to 15 years from the date of the fund's first or last investment, subject to a limited number of extensions with the consent of the limited partners or the applicable advisory committee. Given the length of the investment periods and terms of our private equity funds and the limited conditions under which such periods can be terminated and commitments may be withdrawn, the AUM of our private equity funds provide a long-term stable capital base.
Each private equity fund's general partner is generally entitled to a carried interest that allocates to it 20% of the net profits realized by the limited partners from the fund's investments. Our private equity funds since 2012 generally have a performance hurdle which requires that we return 7%, compounded annually, to limited partners in the fund prior to receiving our 20% share of net profits realized by limited partners. Such performance hurdles are subject to a catch-up allocation to the general partner after the hurdle has been reached. Our earlier private equity funds do not include a performance hurdle. The timing of receipt of
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carried interest in respect of investments of our private equity funds is dictated by the terms of the partnership agreements that govern such funds, and is distributed to the general partner of a private equity fund only after all of the following are met: (i) a realization event has occurred (e.g., sale of a portfolio company, dividend, etc.); (ii) the vehicle has achieved positive overall investment returns since its inception, in excess of performance hurdles where applicable, and is accruing carried interest; and (iii) with respect to investments with a fair value below cost, cost has been returned to fund investors in an amount sufficient to reduce remaining cost to the investments' fair value. For a fund that has a fair value above cost, overall, and is otherwise accruing carried interest, but has one or more investments where fair value is below cost, the shortfall between cost and fair value for such investments is referred to as a "netting hole." See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity—Sources of Liquidity" for a discussion of netting holes. Net realized profit or loss is not netted between or among funds. In addition, the agreements governing our private equity funds generally include a "clawback" provision that, if triggered, may give rise to a contingent obligation that may require the general partner to return or contribute amounts to the fund for distribution to fund investors at the end of the life of the fund. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Critical Accounting Policies—Recognition of Carried Interest in the Statement of Operations" and "Risk Factors—The 'clawback' provisions in our governing agreements may give rise to a contingent obligation that may require us to return or contribute amounts to our funds and fund investors."
We enter into management agreements with our private equity funds pursuant to which we receive management fees in exchange for providing the funds with management and other services. Gross management fees for our private equity funds generally range from 1% to 2% of committed capital during the fund's investment period and are generally 0.75% to 1.25% of invested capital after the expiration of the fund's investment period with subsequent reductions over time, which causes the fees to be reduced as investments are liquidated. In addition, in connection with the expiration of the investment period, a private equity fund may establish a reserve on its fund investors' capital commitments on which no fee is paid unless such capital is invested. Management fees are paid by private equity fund investors, who generally contribute capital to the fund in order to allow the fund to pay the fees to us. Our private equity funds generally require that the amount of management fees be subtracted from gains allocable to fund investors before a carried interest may be paid.
We also enter into monitoring agreements with our portfolio companies pursuant to which we receive periodic monitoring fees in exchange for providing them with management, consulting and other services, and we typically receive transaction fees for providing portfolio companies with financial, advisory and other services in connection with specific transactions. Monitoring agreements may provide for a termination payment following an initial public offering or change of control, if certain criteria are satisfied. In some cases, we may be entitled to other fees that are paid by an investment target upon closing of a transaction or when a potential investment is not consummated. Since 2014, our private equity fund agreements typically require us to share 100% of any monitoring, transaction and other fees that are allocable to a fund (after reduction for expenses incurred allocable to a fund from unconsummated transactions) with fund investors.
In addition, the agreements governing our private equity funds enable investors in those funds to reduce their capital commitments available for further investments, on an investor-by-investor basis, in the event one or more "key persons" (for example, investment professionals who are named as "key executives" for certain geographically or product focused funds) cease to be actively involved in the management of the fund. While these provisions do not allow investors in our funds to withdraw capital that has been invested or cause a fund to terminate, the occurrence of a "key person" event could cause disruption in our business, reduce the amount of capital that we have available for future investments, and make it more challenging to raise additional capital in the future.
Because private equity fund investors typically are unwilling to invest their capital in a fund unless the fund's manager also invests its own capital in the fund's investments, our private equity fund documents generally require the general partners of the funds to make minimum capital commitments to the funds. The amounts of these commitments, which are negotiated by fund investors, generally range from 2% to 8% of a fund's total capital commitments at final closing, but may be greater for certain funds (i) where we are pursuing newer strategies, (ii) where third party investor demand is limited, and (iii) where a larger commitment is consistent with our firm's asset allocation strategy. When investments are made, the general partner contributes capital to the fund based on its fund commitment percentage and acquires a capital interest in the investment that is not subject to a carried interest or management fees.
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Real Assets
Infrastructure
Our infrastructure platform seeks to achieve returns including current income through the acquisition and operational improvement of assets important to the functioning of the economy. We believe that the global infrastructure market provides an opportunity for the firm's private investment, operational improvement capabilities and stakeholder engagement. Through this platform we have made investments in power and utilities, midstream, alternative energy, transportation, asset leasing, water and wastewater, and telecommunications infrastructure. Our traditional infrastructure funds pursue infrastructure investment opportunities with an emphasis on investments in existing assets and businesses located in North America, Western Europe and Asia-Pacific. Our core infrastructure strategy seeks core infrastructure and infrastructure-related investment opportunities with a focus on investments with predominantly contracted or regulated cash flows in existing securities, properties and other assets principally located in North America and Western Europe.
Real Estate
Our real estate equity platform targets real estate investment opportunities globally, across the United States, Western Europe and Asia-Pacific. Our opportunistic equity investments include direct investments in real property, debt, special situations transactions and businesses with significant real estate holdings that can benefit from KKR's involvement and expertise. We seek to partner with real estate owners, lenders, operators, and developers to provide flexible capital to respond to transaction-specific needs, including the outright purchase or financing of existing assets or companies and the funding of future development or acquisition opportunities. Through this strategy, we have made real estate equity investments in residential and commercial assets. In addition, we have a core plus real estate strategy that seeks to pursue real estate primarily in the United States, primarily with the intent of influencing the real estate assets or companies in which it invests.
Our real estate credit platform also provides capital solutions for real estate transactions with a focus on commercial mortgage-backed securities, whole loans and subordinated debt. Our real estate credit platform includes KKR Real Estate Finance Trust Inc. (NYSE: KREF), a listed U.S. real estate investment trust ("KREF"), and our real estate credit funds which focus on commercial real estate lending and the risk retention tranches of CMBS transactions.
We also source real estate investments for our Global Atlantic insurance companies and KKR Real Estate Select Trust Inc., a closed-end investment company that is structured to qualify as a U.S. real estate investment trust ("KREST").
Energy
Our energy platform seeks attractive risk-adjusted investment returns and predictable cash flows across cycles with a focus on operated oil and gas assets and complemented by non‐operated assets, mineral and royalty interests and midstream infrastructure. Our energy platform targets real asset investment opportunities in key proven basins across the lower 48 U.S. states. Our first dedicated energy fund was launched in 2010. In addition, Crescent Energy Company (NYSE: CRGY), a publicly listed energy company (“Crescent Energy”), was formed in December 2021 to become KKR’s primary platform for pursuing upstream oil and natural gas opportunities.
Real Asset Investment Process
Our infrastructure real estate and energy vehicles have a similar investment process as that described under "—Private Equity." Investment teams for a particular real asset strategy formally present potential investments to the applicable strategy oriented investment committee or the portfolio manager, as applicable, which monitors our due diligence practices and approves an investment before it is made. Our real asset strategies also typically have a portfolio management team that works with our investment professionals from the date on which an investment is made until the time it is exited in order to ensure that strategic and operational objectives are accomplished and that the performance of the investment is closely monitored. In addition to leveraging the resources of the firm, our energy, infrastructure and real estate investment teams typically partner with technical experts and operators to manage our real asset investments.
Real Asset Fund Structures
Our traditional, infrastructure and real estate funds generally have investment periods of up to 6 years and generally have a fund term of up to 13 years. Management fees for such funds generally range from 0.75% to 1.5% on committed capital, invested capital or net asset value during the investment period and on invested capital or net asset value for investments thereafter, subject to certain adjustments. These funds generally have performance hurdles of 8% to 10% subject to a catch-up
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allocation to the general partner after the hurdle has been reached. Thereafter the general partners of such funds generally share in 10% to 20% of net profits realized by limited partners.
Our core real estate and infrastructure funds are open-ended and do not have a fixed termination date. They also do not have a specified termination date for making investments. Management fees for such funds generally range from 0.5% to 1.1% of net asset value, subject to certain adjustments. The general partners of such funds are also entitled to incentive fees ranging generally from 5% to 10% of cash flow or net asset value appreciation, subject to performance hurdles. We also provide investment management services to the publicly available entities in our real assets strategy, including KREF, KREST and Crescent Energy. These services are pursuant to a management agreement with specific KKR subsidiaries, which provide for the payment of management fees, generally ranging from 1.25% to 1.50% of their equity value or similar metric, as well as incentive fees.
Public Markets
Through our Public Markets business line, we report our credit and hedge funds platforms on a combined basis.
Our credit platform invests capital in a broad range of corporate debt and collateral-backed investments across asset classes and capital structures. Our credit strategies are managed by KKR Credit Advisors (US) LLC, which is an SEC-registered investment adviser, KKR Credit Advisors (Ireland) Unlimited Company, which is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland (“CBI”), KKR Credit Advisors (EMEA) LLP, which is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, and KKR Credit Advisors (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., which is regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore and also registered with the SEC. We also jointly own with a third party FS/KKR Advisor, LLC, which is the investment adviser for FS KKR Capital Corp. (NYSE: FSK), a publicly listed business development company (a “BDC”).
Our hedge funds platform consists of strategic partnerships with third-party hedge fund managers in which KKR owns a minority stake. Our hedge fund partnerships offer a range of alternative investment strategies, including long/short equity, hedge fund-of-funds and energy credit investments.
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The following chart presents the growth in the AUM of our Public Markets business line from the commencement of its operations in August 2004 through December 31, 2021.
Public Markets
Assets Under Management (1)
($ in billions)
(1) For years 2006 through 2008, AUM are presented pro forma for the acquisition of the assets and liabilities of KKR & Co. (Guernsey) L.P. (formerly known as KKR Private Equity Investors, L.P.) on October 1, 2009, and, therefore, exclude the net asset value of that vehicle and its former commitments to our investment funds. AUM of acquired businesses and pro rata AUM of hedge fund partnerships in which KKR has made an investment are included in the years on and after the completion of the respective acquisitions or transactions, as applicable. In 2015 our definition of AUM was amended to include (i) KKR's pro rata portion of AUM managed by third-party hedge fund managers in which KKR holds a minority stake and (ii) capital commitments for which we are eligible to receive fees or carried interest upon deployment of capital. AUM for all prior periods has been adjusted to include such changes.
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Credit
Our credit business pursues investments in two principal investment strategies: leveraged credit and alternative credit.
Leveraged Credit. Our leveraged credit strategy is principally directed at investing in leveraged loans, high-yield bonds, opportunistic credit, structured credit and revolving credit investments. Our opportunistic credit strategy seeks to deploy capital across investment themes that take advantage of credit market dislocations, spanning asset types and liquidity profiles. Our revolving credit strategy invests in senior secured revolving credit facilities.
Alternative Credit. Our alternative credit strategy consists of our private credit strategies and investments sourced by our credit platform’s strategic investments group (“SIG”).
•Private Credit. Our private credit strategies focus on privately or directly originated and negotiated transactions. These strategies include direct lending, mezzanine debt and asset-based finance. Through our direct lending strategy, we seek to make investments in primarily senior debt financings for middle-market companies. Through our mezzanine debt strategy, investments typically consist of subordinated debt, which generates a current yield, coupled with marginal equity exposure for additional upside potential. Our asset-based finance strategy focuses on portfolios of financial loans and loans backed by hard assets.
•SIG. Our SIG strategy seeks to pursue investments in corporate credit and asset or real estate-backed credit where market volatility or other investment themes have created the opportunity to generate outsized returns with downside-protected securities. These investments may include stressed or distressed investments (including post-restructuring equity), control-oriented opportunities, rescue financing (debt or equity investments made to address covenant, maturity or liquidity issues), debtor-in-possession or exit financing, and other event-driven investments in debt or equity.
Performance
The following table presents information regarding larger leveraged credit strategies managed by KKR from inception to December 31, 2021. The information presented below is not intended to be representative of any past or future performance for any particular period other than the period presented below. Past performance is no guarantee of any future result.
Leveraged Credit Strategies: Inception-to-Date Annualized Gross Performance vs. Benchmark by Strategy
| ($ in millions) | Inception Date | Gross Returns | Net Returns | Benchmark (1) | Benchmark Gross Returns | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bank Loans Plus High Yield | Jul 2008 | 7.38 | % | 6.78 | % | 65% S&P/LSTA Loan Index, 35% BoAML HY Master II Index (2) | 5.92 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Opportunistic Credit (3) | May 2008 | 11.35 | % | 9.62 | % | 50% S&P/LSTA Loan Index, 50% BoAML HY Master II Index (3) | 6.21 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bank Loans | Apr 2011 | 5.33 | % | 4.75 | % | S&P/LSTA Loan Index (4) | 4.27 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| High-Yield | Apr 2011 | 7.00 | % | 6.42 | % | BoAML HY Master II Index (5) | 6.28 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
European Leveraged Loans (6) | Sep 2009 | 4.67 | % | 4.14 | % | CS Inst West European Leveraged Loan Index (7) | 3.64 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
European Credit Opportunities (6) | Sept 2007 | 5.98 | % | 5.11 | % | S&P European Leveraged Loans (All Loans) (8) | 4.17 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1)The benchmarks referred to herein include the S&P/LSTA Leveraged Loan Index (the "S&P/LSTA Loan Index"), S&P/LSTA U.S. B/BB Ratings Loan Index (the "S&P/LSTA BB-B Loan Index"), the Bank of America Merrill Lynch High Yield Master II Index (the "BoAML HY Master II Index"), the BofA Merrill Lynch BB-B US High Yield Index (the "BoAML HY BB-B Constrained"), the Credit Suisse Institutional Western European Leveraged Loan Index (the "CS Inst West European Leveraged Loan Index"), and S&P European Leveraged Loans (All Loans). The S&P/LSTA Loan Index is a daily tradable index for the U.S. loan market that seeks to mirror the market-weighted performance of the largest institutional loans that meet certain criteria. The BoAML HY Master II Index is an index for high-yield corporate bonds. It is designed to measure the broad high-yield market, including lower-rated securities. The CS Inst West European Leveraged Loan Index contains only institutional loan facilities priced above 90, excluding TL and TLa facilities and loans rated CC, C or are in default. The S&P European Leveraged Loan Index reflects the market-weighted performance of institutional leveraged loan portfolios investing in European credits. While the returns of our leveraged credit strategies reflect the reinvestment of income and dividends, none of the indices presented in the chart above reflect such reinvestment, which has the effect of increasing the reported relative performance of these strategies as compared to the indices. Furthermore, these indices are not subject to management fees, incentive allocations, or expenses.
(2)Performance is based on a blended composite of Bank Loans Plus High Yield strategy accounts. The benchmark used for purposes of comparison for the Bank Loans Plus High Yield strategy is based on 65% S&P/LSTA Loan Index and 35% BoAML HY Master II Index.
(3)The Opportunistic Credit strategy invests in high-yield securities and corporate loans with no preset allocation. The benchmark used for purposes of comparison for the Opportunistic Credit strategy presented herein is based on 50% S&P/LSTA Loan Index and 50% BoAML HY Master II Index. Funds within this strategy may utilize third-party financing facilities to enhance investment returns. In cases where financing facilities are used, the amounts drawn on the facility are deducted from the assets of the fund in the calculation of net asset value, which tends to increase returns when net asset value grows over time and decrease returns when net asset value decreases over time.
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(4)Performance is based on a composite of portfolios that primarily invest in leveraged loans. The benchmark used for purposes of comparison for the Bank Loans strategy is based on the S&P/LSTA Loan Index.
(5)Performance is based on a composite of portfolios that primarily invest in high-yield securities. The benchmark used for purposes of comparison for the High Yield strategy is based on the BoAML HY Master II Index.
(6)The returns presented are calculated based on local currency.
(7)Performance is based on a composite of portfolios that primarily invest in higher quality leveraged loans. The benchmark used for purposes of comparison for the European Leveraged Loans strategy is based on the CS Inst West European Leveraged Loan Index.
(8)Performance is based on a composite of portfolios that primarily invest in European institutional leveraged loans. The benchmark used for purposes of comparison for the European Credit Opportunities strategy is based on the S&P European Leveraged Loans (All Loans) Index.
The following table presents information regarding our credit investment funds where investors are subject to capital commitments from inception to December 31, 2021. The information presented below is not intended to be representative of any past or future performance for any particular period other than the period presented below. Past performance is no guarantee of any future result.
Alternative Credit Strategies: Fund Performance
| Amount | Fair Value of Investments | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Public Markets Investment Funds | Inception Date | Commitment | Invested (1) | Realized (1) | Unrealized | Total Value | Gross IRR (2) | Net IRR (2) | Multiple of Invested Capital (3) | Gross Accrued Carried Interest | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in Millions) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dislocation Opportunities Fund | May 2020 | $ | 2,967 | $ | 1,990 | $ | 177 | $ | 2,202 | $ | 2,379 | N/A | N/A | N/A | $ | 46 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Special Situations Fund II | Dec 2014 | 3,525 | 3,241 | 1,590 | 2,492 | 4,082 | 7.0 | % | 5.1 | % | 1.3 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Special Situations Fund | Dec 2012 | 2,274 | 2,273 | 1,628 | 542 | 2,170 | (1.1) | % | (3.0) | % | 1.0 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mezzanine Partners | Mar 2010 | 1,023 | 990 | 1,097 | 248 | 1,345 | 10.0 | % | 6.9 | % | 1.4 | (20) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Private Credit Opportunities Partners II | Dec 2015 | 2,245 | 1,658 | 621 | 1,417 | 2,038 | 8.1 | % | 6.5 | % | 1.2 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lending Partners III | Apr 2017 | 1,498 | 741 | 301 | 807 | 1,108 | 16.3 | % | 13.5 | % | 1.5 | 28 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lending Partners II | Jun 2014 | 1,336 | 1,179 | 1,149 | 138 | 1,287 | 3.3 | % | 1.9 | % | 1.1 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lending Partners | Dec 2011 | 460 | 419 | 451 | 19 | 470 | 3.5 | % | 1.9 | % | 1.1 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lending Partners Europe II | Jun 2019 | 837 | 346 | 40 | 377 | 417 | 29.5 | % | 22.0 | % | 1.2 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lending Partners Europe | Mar 2015 | 848 | 664 | 375 | 265 | 640 | (1.2) | % | (3.8) | % | 1.0 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other Alternative Credit Vehicles | Various | 13,021 | 6,425 | 4,590 | 4,150 | 8,740 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 134 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| All Funds | $ | 30,034 | $ | 19,926 | $ | 12,019 | $ | 12,657 | $ | 24,676 | $ | 190 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1) Recycled capital is excluded from the amounts invested and realized.
(2) These credit funds utilize third-party financing facilities to provide liquidity to such funds, and in such event IRRs are calculated from the time capital contributions are due from fund investors to the time fund investors receive a related distribution from the fund. The use of such financing facilities generally decreases the amount of invested capital that would otherwise be used to calculate IRRs, which tends to increase IRRs when fair value grows over time and decrease IRRs when fair value decreases over time. IRRs measure the aggregate annual compounded returns generated by a fund's investments over a holding period and are calculated taking into account recycled capital. Net IRRs presented are calculated after giving effect to the allocation of realized and unrealized carried interest and the payment of any applicable management fees. Gross IRRs are calculated before giving effect to the allocation of carried interest and the payment of any applicable management fees.
(3) The multiples of invested capital measure the aggregate value generated by a fund's investments in absolute terms. Each multiple of invested capital is calculated by adding together the total realized and unrealized values of a fund's investments and dividing by the total amount of capital invested by the investors. The use of financing facilities generally decreases the amount of invested capital that would otherwise be used to calculate multiples of invested capital, which tends to increase multiples when fair value grows over time and decrease multiples when fair value decreases over time. Such amounts do not give effect to the allocation of any realized and unrealized returns on a fund's investments to the fund's general partner pursuant to a carried interest or the payment of any applicable management fees and are calculated without taking into account recycled capital.
For additional information regarding impact of market conditions on the value and performance of our investments, see "Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business—Difficult market and economic conditions can adversely affect our business in many ways, including by reducing the value or performance of the investments that we manage or by reducing the ability of our funds to raise or deploy capital, each of which could negatively impact our net income and cash flow and adversely affect our financial prospects and condition" and "Risk Factors—Risks Related to the Assets We Manage—The historical returns attributable to our funds, including those presented in this report, should not be considered as indicative of the future results of our funds, our insurance subsidiaries or our balance sheet investments, of our future results or the performance of our common stock."
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Investment Approach
Our approach to making credit investments focuses on creating investment portfolios that seek to generate attractive risk-adjusted returns by selecting investments that may be made at attractive prices, subjecting investments to regular monitoring and oversight, and, for more liquid investments, making buy and sell decisions based on relative value parameters. The firm employs both "top-down" and "bottom-up" analyses when making investments. Our top-down analysis involves, as appropriate, a macro analysis of relative asset valuations, long-term industry trends, business cycles, regulatory trends, interest rate expectations, credit fundamentals and technical factors to target specific industry sectors and asset classes in which to invest. From a bottom-up perspective, our investment decision is predicated on an investment thesis that is developed using our proprietary resources and knowledge and due diligence.
Sourcing and Selecting Investments
We source our credit investment opportunities through a variety of channels, including internal deal generation strategies and the firm's global network of contacts at major companies, corporate executives, commercial and investment banks, financial intermediaries, other private equity sponsors and other investment and advisory institutions. We are also provided with opportunities to invest, in certain strategies where appropriate, in the securities of KKR's private equity portfolio companies, though there are limitations across the platform on the availability and maximum size of such KKR-affiliated investments.
Due Diligence and the Investment Decision
Once a potential credit investment has been identified, our investment professionals screen the opportunity and make a preliminary determination concerning whether we should proceed with further diligence. When evaluating the suitability of an investment for our credit vehicles, we typically employ a relative value framework and subject the investment to due diligence. This review considers many factors including, as appropriate, expected returns, capital structure, credit ratings, historical and projected financial data, the issuer's competitive position, the quality and track record of the issuer's management team, margin stability, and industry and company trends. Investment professionals use the services of outside advisors and industry experts as appropriate to assist them in the due diligence process and, when relevant and permitted, leverage the knowledge and experience of our Private Markets investment professionals. Strategy-specific investment committees monitor our due diligence practices.
Monitoring Investments
We monitor our portfolios of investments using, as applicable, daily, quarterly and annual analyses. Daily analyses include morning market meetings, industry and company pricing runs, industry and company reports and discussions with the firm's Private Markets and Capital Markets investment professionals on an as-needed basis. Quarterly analyses include the preparation of quarterly operating results, reconciliations of actual results to projections and updates to financial models (baseline and stress cases). Annual analyses involve conducting internal audits, and testing compliance with monitoring and documentation requirements.
Credit Vehicles
We pursue leveraged credit and alternative credit investments across a range of vehicles, including investment funds and separately managed accounts, for which we receive a fee and in certain cases an incentive fee or carried interest.
We also manage structured credit vehicles in the form of CLOs that hold leveraged loans, high-yield bonds or a combination of both. CLOs are typically structured as special purpose investment vehicles that acquire, monitor and, to varying degrees, manage a pool of credit assets. CLOs generally serve as long-term financing for leveraged credit investments and as a way to reduce refinancing risk, reduce maturity risk and secure a fixed cost of funds over an underlying market interest rate. We typically receive a fee for managing CLOs.
We also serve as the investment adviser to registered investment companies and other vehicles that are available to public investors, including KKR Income Opportunities Fund (NYSE: KIO), KKR Credit Opportunities Portfolio (an interval fund), and KKR Credit Income Fund (an Australian listed investment trust; ASX: KKC) as well as FS KKR Capital Corp. (NYSE: FSK) through our joint ownership of its investment adviser. The management fees we are paid for managing registered investment companies are generally subject to contractual rights that require their board of directors to provide prior notice in order to terminate our investment management services.
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Hedge Funds
Our hedge fund platform consists of strategic partnerships with third-party hedge fund managers in which KKR owns a minority stake. This principally consists of a 39.6% interest in Marshall Wace LLP (together with its affiliates, "Marshall Wace"), a global alternative investment manager specializing in long/short equity products. We also own (i) a 39.9% interest in PAAMCO Prisma Holdings, LLC ("PAAMCO Prisma"), an investment manager focused on liquid alternative investment solutions, including hedge fund-of-fund portfolios, and (ii) a 24.9% interest in BlackGold Capital Management L.P. ("BlackGold"), a credit-oriented investment manager focused on energy and hard asset investments.
Public Markets AUM
As of December 31, 2021, our Public Markets business line had $213.5 billion of AUM, comprised of $106.8 billion of assets managed in our leveraged credit strategies, $69.7 billion of assets managed in our private credit strategy, and $8.7 billion of assets managed in our SIG strategy, $26.7 billion of assets managed through our hedge fund platform, and $1.6 billion of assets managed in other Public Markets strategies. We manage $101.3 billion of credit investments for our Global Atlantic insurance companies. Our BDC has approximately $16.6 billion in assets under management, which is reflected in the AUM of our leveraged credit and private credit strategies above. We report all of the assets under management of our BDC in our AUM, but we report only a pro rata portion of the assets under management of our hedge fund partnerships based on our percentage ownership in them.
The table below presents information as of December 31, 2021, based on the investment funds, vehicles or accounts offered by our Public Markets business line. Our funds, vehicles and accounts have been sorted based upon their primary investment strategies. However, the AUM and FPAUM presented for each line in the table includes certain investments from non-primary investment strategies, which are permitted by their investment mandates, for purposes of presenting the fees and other terms for such funds, vehicles and accounts.
| ($ in millions) | AUM | FPAUM | Typical Management Fee Rate | Incentive Fee / Carried Interest | Preferred Return | Duration of Capital | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Leveraged Credit: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Leveraged Credit SMAs/Funds | $ | 82,932 | $ | 81,169 | 0.15%-1.10% | Various (1) | Various (1) | Subject to redemptions | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| CLOs | 22,639 | 22,639 | 0.40%-0.50% | Various (1) | Various (1) | 10-14 Years (2) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Leveraged Credit | 105,571 | 103,808 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Alternative Credit: (3) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Private Credit | 55,831 | 50,662 | 0.30%-1.50% | 10.00-20.00% | 5.00-8.00% | 8-15 Years (2) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SIG | 8,802 | 4,761 | 0.50%-1.75% (4) | 10.00-20.00% | 7.00-12.00% | 7-15 Years (2) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Alternative Credit | 64,633 | 55,423 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hedge Funds (5) | 26,720 | 26,720 | 0.50%-2.00% | Various (1) | Various (1) | Subject to redemptions | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
BDCs (6) | 16,583 | 16,583 | 0.60% | 8.00% | 7.00% | Indefinite | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 213,507 | $ | 202,534 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1)Certain funds and CLOs are subject to a performance fee in which the manager or general partner of the funds share up to 20% of the net profits earned by investors in excess of performance hurdles (generally tied to a benchmark or index) and subject to a provision requiring the funds and vehicles to regain prior losses before any performance fee is earned.
(2)Duration of capital is measured from inception. Inception dates for CLOs were between 2013 and 2021 and for separately managed accounts and funds investing in alternative credit strategies from 2009 through 2021.
(3)Our alternative credit funds generally have investment periods of two to five years and our newer alternative credit funds generally earn management fees on invested capital throughout their lifecycle.
(4)Lower fees on uninvested capital in certain vehicles.
(5)Hedge Funds represent KKR's pro rata portion of AUM and FPAUM of our hedge fund partnerships.
(6)Consists of FS/KKR Capital Corp. (NYSE: FSK). We report all of the assets under management of this BDC in our AUM and FPAUM.
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Fundraising and Composition of Fund Investors
We have a Client & Partner Group that is responsible for raising capital for our asset management business globally across all products, expanding our investment advisory relationships across asset classes and across types of fund investors, developing products to meet our fund investors’ needs, and servicing existing fund investors and products. We also provide customized solutions for investors seeking diversified portfolios of investment funds and direct co-investments in privately negotiated investments. From time to time, we also provide fundraising services to certain third-party fund managers in our hedge fund partnerships. As of December 31, 2021, we had over 150 executives and professionals dedicated to our Client & Partner Group.
As of December 31, 2021, we had approximately 1,445 investors in funds across all our strategies, which reflect the addition of approximately 270 investors during the year. On average, a fund investor is invested in approximately two of our strategies as of December 31, 2021. The following charts detail our investor base by type and geography as of December 31, 2021.
Fund Investor Base by Type (1) Fund Investor Base by Geography (1)
(1) Based on the AUM of our Private Markets investment funds, Private Markets co-investment vehicles, and Public Markets separately managed accounts and Public Markets investment funds. These charts exclude general partner commitments, assets managed through CLOs, and assets managed by other asset managers with which KKR has formed strategic partnerships where KKR does not hold more than a 50% ownership interest. Allocations are assigned to a type or geographic region according to subscriptions received from a limited partner.
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Capital Markets
Our Capital Markets business line is comprised of our global capital markets business, which is integrated with KKR’s asset management business lines, and serves our firm, our portfolio companies and third-party clients by developing and implementing both traditional and non-traditional capital solutions for investments or companies seeking financing. These services include arranging debt and equity financing, placing and underwriting securities offerings, and providing other types of capital markets services that result in the firm receiving fees, including underwriting, placement, transaction and syndication fees, commissions, underwriting discounts, interest payments and other compensation, which may be payable in cash or securities, in respect of the activities described above.
Our capital markets business underwrites credit facilities and arranges loan syndications and participations. When we are sole arrangers of a credit facility, we may advance amounts to the borrower on behalf of other lenders, subject to repayment. When we underwrite an offering of securities on a firm commitment basis, we commit to buy and sell an issue of securities and generate revenue by purchasing the securities at a discount or for a fee. When we act in an agency capacity or best efforts basis, we generate revenue for arranging financing or placing securities with capital markets investors. We may also provide issuers with capital markets advice on security selection, access to markets, marketing considerations, securities pricing, and other aspects of capital markets transactions in exchange for a fee. Our capital markets business also provides syndication services in respect of co-investments in transactions participated in by KKR funds or third-party clients, which may entitle the firm to receive syndication fees, management fees and/or a carried interest.
The capital markets business has a global footprint, with local presence and licenses to carry out certain broker-dealer activities in various countries in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East. Our flagship capital markets subsidiary is KKR Capital Markets LLC, an SEC-registered broker-dealer and a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority ("FINRA").
Principal Activities
Through our Principal Activities business line, we manage the firm’s own assets on our firm’s balance sheet and deploy capital to support and grow our Private Markets, Public Markets and Credit Markets business lines.
Typically, the funds in our Private Markets and Public Markets business lines contractually require us, as general partner of the funds, to make sizable capital commitments. We believe making general partner commitments assists us in raising new funds from limited partners by demonstrating our conviction in a given fund’s strategy. Our commitments to fund capital also occurs where we are the holder of the subordinated notes or the equity tranche of investment vehicles that we sponsor, including structured transactions. We also use our balance sheet to bridge investment activity during fundraising, for example by funding investments for new funds and acquiring investments to establish a track record for new investment strategies. We also use our own capital to bridge capital selectively for our funds’ investments or finance strategic transactions, although the financial results of an acquired business may be reported in our other business lines.
Our Principal Activities business line also provides the required capital to fund the various commitments of our Capital Markets business line when underwriting or syndicating securities, or when providing term loan commitments for transactions involving our portfolio companies and for third parties. Our Principal Activities business line also holds assets that are utilized to satisfy regulatory requirements for our Capital Markets business line and risk retention requirements for certain investment vehicles.
We also make opportunistic investments through our Principal Activities business line, which include co-investments alongside our Private Markets and Public Markets funds as well as Principal Activities investments that do not involve our Private Markets or Public Markets funds.
We endeavor to use our balance sheet strategically and opportunistically to generate an attractive risk-adjusted return on equity in a manner that is consistent with our fiduciary duties, in compliance with applicable laws, and consistent with our one-firm approach.
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The chart below presents the holdings of our Principal Activities business line by asset class as of December 31, 2021.
Holdings by Asset Class (1)
(1)General partner commitments in our funds are included in the various asset classes shown above. Assets and revenues of other asset managers with which KKR has formed strategic partnerships where KKR does not hold more than 50% ownership interest are not included in our Principal Activities business line but are reported in the financial results of our other business lines. Private Equity includes KKR private equity funds, co-investments alongside such KKR-sponsored private equity funds, certain core equity investments, and other opportunistic investments. Equity investments in other asset classes, such as real estate, special situations and energy appear in these other asset classes. Other Credit consists of certain leveraged credit and specialty finance strategies.
Insurance
Our insurance business is operated by Global Atlantic, which we acquired on February 1, 2021. As of December 31, 2021, KKR owns a 61.5% economic interest in Global Atlantic with the balance of Global Atlantic owned by third-party investors and Global Atlantic employees. Following the Global Atlantic acquisition, Global Atlantic continues to operate as a separate business with its existing brands and management team. Since the first quarter of 2021, we have presented Global Atlantic's financial results as a separate reportable segment.
Global Atlantic is a leading retirement and life insurance company that provides a broad suite of protection, legacy and savings products to customers and reinsurance solutions to clients across individual and institutional markets. Global Atlantic focuses on target markets that it believes support issuing products that have attractive risk and return characteristics. These markets allow Global Atlantic to leverage its strength in distribution and to deploy shareholder capital opportunistically across various market environments.
Global Atlantic primarily offers individual customers fixed-rate annuities, fixed-indexed annuities, and targeted life products through a network of banks, broker-dealers, and insurance agencies. Global Atlantic provides its institutional clients customized reinsurance solutions, including block, flow and pension risk transfer ("PRT") reinsurance, as well as funding agreements. Global Atlantic’s assets generally increase when individual markets sales and reinsurance transactions exceed run-off of in-force policies. Global Atlantic primarily generates income by earning a spread between its investment income and the cost of policyholder benefits. As of December 31, 2021, Global Atlantic served approximately three million policyholders.
Global Atlantic operates in the following two complementary markets: individual and institutional.
Individual Markets. Global Atlantic seeks to reach individuals in the United States who are planning for, or are already in, retirement. Global Atlantic’s annuity products are distributed primarily through a network of distribution partners, including over 200 banks, broker-dealers and independent marketing organizations. Global Atlantic generated $7.5 billion of sales for the
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year ended December 31, 2021. Global Atlantic believes that focusing on banks and broker-dealers within the individual market provides attractive returns and helps maintain a competitive advantage. Global Atlantic's life products are distributed primarily through 195 independent marketing organizations and approximately 1,300 funeral homes.
•Fixed-Rate and Fixed-Indexed Annuities. With an annuity product, the policyholder provides Global Atlantic cash referred to as premium in exchange for earning interest on a tax deferred basis on and the ability based on the contract terms to take lump sum or periodic withdrawals of their account value. Global Atlantic’s annuity products typically also offer a death benefit that guarantees the full account value for the beneficiaries in the event of the death of the policyholder. Fixed-rate annuities offer policyholders reliable, tax-deferred savings accumulation and income based on a fixed rate that may be guaranteed for a period of time. Fixed-indexed annuities allow the policyholder to elect strategies where interest is credited based on the performance of a market index. This selection allows the policyholder to participate in the upside performance of the selected index, subject to limits and protection from downside market risks. Global Atlantic primarily generates income from annuity products by earning a spread between income earned on investments and the cost of providing benefits under the annuity contract.
•Targeted Life Products. Global Atlantic’s targeted life products primarily consist of indexed universal life and preneed life insurance. With universal life and preneed products, the policyholder provides Global Atlantic with a premium that funds the policyholder’s account in exchange for earning interest on the account and a death benefit. A universal life insurance account increases with premium payments from the policyholder and interest credited by Global Atlantic, and decreases based on charges, such as fees payable to Global Atlantic. Indexed universal life policies allow the policyholder to elect strategies where the interest is credited on a portion of their account based on the performance of a market index. This selection allows the policyholder to participate in the upside performance of the selected index, subject to limits and protection from downside market risks. With preneed products, the policyholder generally purchases the preneed product along with a contract with a funeral firm that guarantees the policyholder a pre-planned funeral, funded by proceeds from the preneed policy.
Institutional Markets. Global Atlantic provides its institutional clients customized reinsurance solutions to assist them in meeting their strategic, risk management and capital goals. In general, by reinsuring policies, the institutional client reduces or releases capital that it held for the reinsured business and may use such capital for its other business goals. Reinsurance solutions include block, flow, and PRT reinsurance, as well as funding agreements. Global Atlantic’s reinsurance solutions are offered through a client coverage effort focused on the top 50 retirement and life companies. Since Global Atlantic’s founding in 2004, it has executed multiple reinsurance transactions, including block, flow and PRT reinsurance, representing a total of $99.5 billion of assets as of December 31, 2021. For the year ended December 31, 2021, Global Atlantic generated $3.3 billion and $1.8 billion of flow and PRT reinsurance production, respectively. Global Atlantic participates in the funding agreement market, including through membership in Federal Home Loan Banks and as a provider of funding agreements in connection with a funding agreement backed notes ("FABN") program established in 2021.
•Block Reinsurance. Block reinsurance is a transaction in which an insurance company divests a block of insurance policies to Global Atlantic in exchange for Global Atlantic’s obligation to pay all or a portion of future insurance claims arising from that block. Global Atlantic operates in the block reinsurance market by offering solutions to its clients across various sizes of transactions and across multiple product types, including both retirement and life products. In block reinsurance transactions, Global Atlantic’s insurance company subsidiaries assume the obligation to pay the policy benefits from the cedant in exchange for a transfer of assets.
•PRT Transactions. PRT is a transaction in which a pension plan sponsor, such as a corporation, transfers the risk associated with the pension plan’s liabilities to an insurance company. Global Atlantic primarily operates in the PRT market through reinsurance relationships with insurance company clients that directly underwrite and assume corporate pension liabilities. Insurance company subsidiaries of Global Atlantic act as the reinsurer in respect of these PRT transactions, and Global Atlantic’s clients are the ceding companies.
•Flow Reinsurance. Flow reinsurance is an agreement in which an insurance company writes new retail policies and shares an economic portion of such newly issued policies with an insurance company subsidiary of Global Atlantic, as its reinsurer, on an ongoing basis. Global Atlantic's flow reinsurance business consists primarily of retirement products.
•Funding Agreements. Funding agreements, including those issued in connection with a FABN program, are a deposit-type contract issued by Global Atlantic’s insurance company subsidiaries. In general, a funding agreement provides its holder with a guaranteed return of principal and periodic interest payments.
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The following table represents Global Atlantic’s new business volumes by business and product for the year ended December 31, 2021:
| Year Ended December 31, 2021 | ||||||||
| ($ in millions) | ||||||||
| Individual channel: | ||||||||
| Fixed-rate annuities | $ | 4,044 | ||||||
| Fixed-indexed annuities | 3,166 | |||||||
| Variable annuities | 57 | |||||||
| Total retirement products | $ | 7,267 | ||||||
| Life insurance products | $ | 49 | ||||||
| Preneed life | $ | 230 | ||||||
| Institutional channel: | ||||||||
| Block | $ | 17,105 | ||||||
| Flow & pension risk transfer | 5,088 | |||||||
| Funding agreements | 2,800 | |||||||
| Total institutional channel | $ | 24,993 | ||||||
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Note: In Global Atlantic's individual channel, sales of annuities include all money paid into new and existing contracts. Individual channel sales of traditional life products are based on commissionable premium, a commonly used industry sales metric, and individual channel sales for preneed life are based on the face amount of insurance. Traditional life sales do not include the recurring premiums that policyholders may pay over time. New business volume from our institutional channel is based on the assets assumed, net of any ceding commission, and is before any retro cession to Ivy Re, a reinsurance entity sponsored by Global Atlantic.
As a retirement and life insurance business, a substantial portion of Global Atlantic’s earnings are derived from the investments backing its in-force policy liability base. Global Atlantic seeks to have a diversified set of policy liabilities in order to manage adverse developments across liability types. As of December 31, 2021, 50% of its reserves were in its individual market and 50% were in its institutional market.
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The table below represents a breakdown of Global Atlantic’s policy liabilities by business and product type as of December 31, 2021, separated by reserves originated through its individual and institutional markets.
| Reserves as of December 31, 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Individual market | Institutional market(4) | Total | Ceded | Total, net | Percentage of total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands, except percentages, if applicable) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fixed-rate annuity | $ | 22,081,352 | $ | 39,761,617 | $ | 61,842,969 | $ | (15,616,145) | $ | 46,226,824 | 46.8 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fixed-indexed annuity | 20,759,011 | 7,175,989 | 27,935,000 | (3,595,569) | 24,339,431 | 21.1 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Variable annuity | 3,431,588 | 3,945,759 | 7,377,347 | (644,349) | 6,732,998 | 5.6 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Indexed universal life | 12,133,840 | — | 12,133,840 | (73,449) | 12,060,391 | 9.2 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preneed life | 2,897,018 | — | 2,897,018 | — | 2,897,018 | 2.2 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other life insurance(1) | 2,068,903 | 10,435,145 | 12,504,048 | (3,769,293) | 8,734,755 | 9.5 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Funding agreements(2) | 2,229,203 | 3,785,351 | 6,014,554 | — | 6,014,554 | 4.6 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Closed block | — | 1,351,601 | 1,351,601 | (1,286,766) | 64,835 | 1.0 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other corporate(3) | — | 50,095 | 50,095 | (49,657) | 438 | — | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total reserves | $ | 65,600,915 | $ | 66,505,557 | $ | 132,106,472 | $ | (25,035,228) | $ | 107,071,244 | 100.0 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total general account | $ | 62,513,387 | $ | 64,006,657 | $ | 126,520,044 | $ | (25,035,228) | $ | 101,484,816 | 95.8 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total separate account | 3,087,528 | 2,498,900 | 5,586,428 | — | 5,586,428 | 4.2 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total reserves | $ | 65,600,915 | $ | 66,505,557 | $ | 132,106,472 | $ | (25,035,228) | $ | 107,071,244 | 100.0 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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(1)“Other life products” includes universal life, term and whole life insurance products.
(2)"Funding agreements” includes funding agreements associated with Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings and under our funding-agreement backed-notes program .
(3)“Other corporate” primarily includes accident & health reserves that we assumed as part of a reinsurance transaction in 2009.
(4)Institutional market reserves are sourced using customized reinsurance solutions such as block, flow and PRT. As of December 31, 2021, reserves sourced through for block, flow and PRT transactions were $49.2 billion, $5.4 billion, and $4.1 billion, respectively.
Underwriting and pricing
Global Atlantic’s underwriting and pricing functions have dedicated teams, who are supported by multiple corporate functions, including actuarial, finance, operations, compliance, investments and risk. These functions have guidelines and procedures designed to assess and quantify the risks of each product type originated through its individual or institutional markets.
Global Atlantic’s proprietary technology platform incorporates analytic models with customized third-party software and database technology, allowing Global Atlantic to dynamically analyze its asset and liability cash flow profile across a range of market and policyholder behavior scenarios. This proprietary platform allows Global Atlantic to integrate investment allocation decisions with product pricing, so that the terms of the liabilities it originates reflect its view of the investment environment. The committees responsible for underwriting and pricing are also aligned with other business functions and include representatives from actuarial, finance, operations, investments, risk and sales.
Global Atlantic also performs suitability reviews for new annuity sales. For sales through banks and broker-dealers, Global Atlantic generally delegates suitability reviews to these distribution partners.
When pricing reinsurance transactions in the institutional market, Global Atlantic performs asset and liability modeling of the block of business to be reinsured and typically re-underwrites the liability assumptions on the block using then-current market conditions, actuarial experience provided by the ceding company and its own experience from business Global Atlantic has originated. Reinsured blocks of business are integrated into Global Atlantic’s technology and infrastructure systems and monitored in the same manner used across the broader business, combining input from actuarial, risk, investment management and other functions.
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Investment management
Global Atlantic has an excellent track record of generating strong investment results, and since February 2021 KKR has been the investment manager of Global Atlantic’s assets. Global Atlantic believes that KKR's investment expertise, broad range of investment management services and strong origination capabilities are key to maintaining Global Atlantic's successful track record of identifying assets that are well-suited to the stable and long-dated nature of Global Atlantic's insurance liabilities.
Global Atlantic seeks to focus on investments that have the potential to generate stable, predictable, long-dated asset cash flows, are of high credit quality, and that focus on capital protection. These kinds of investments are expected to consist of corporate debt, asset-backed finance, specialty finance, transportation finance, securitizations, private loan facilities, and commercial and residential real estate investment opportunities. However, Global Atlantic’s investments are not limited to solely those asset classes.
Supplementing KKR’s role as an investment advisor, Global Atlantic has retained in-house certain investment origination and allocation functions with expertise in consideration of insurance company asset portfolios. These considerations include asset-liability matching, asset allocation, ongoing portfolio management and new business pricing across both Global Atlantic’s individual and institutional markets. Global Atlantic believes that matching asset and liability cash flows is key to protecting policyholders and achieving its target returns. Global Atlantic’s investment origination and allocation functions are closely integrated with its risk management team, and a group of its risk management professionals is dedicated to supporting investment decision-making. Global Atlantic uses a proprietary risk platform to develop a comprehensive view of the expected cash flow profile of its liabilities and determine the optimal profile of its asset cash flows. Global Atlantic is also capable of developing a bottoms-up view of the cash flows of investments that it considers. These processes help to identify the investments that offer a cash flow profile that is consistent with Global Atlantic’s risk tolerances.
Working within Global Atlantic’s cash flow matching framework as well as its regulatory and rating agency requirements, Global Atlantic has a flexible investment mandate, which allows it to pursue asset classes and investment types that it believes offer the best risk-adjusted returns. Global Atlantic believes that the integration of the analytics around its assets and liabilities and its flexible investment mandate enable Global Atlantic to respond dynamically to market conditions and make investment decisions that maximize risk adjusted returns while still protecting Global Atlantic’s policyholders.
As of December 31, 2021, Global Atlantic’s investment portfolio was comprised of the following:
| December 31, 2021 | ||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands, except percentages) | Carrying value | Percent of total | ||||||||||||
| Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale, at fair value | $ | 70,523,202 | 56.1 | % | ||||||||||
| Mortgage and other loan receivables | 28,876,759 | 23.0 | % | |||||||||||
| Fixed maturity securities, trading, at fair value | 14,048,969 | 11.2 | % | |||||||||||
| Other investments | 8,209,566 | 6.5 | % | |||||||||||
| Funds withheld receivable at interest | 2,999,448 | 2.4 | % | |||||||||||
| Policy loans | 765,310 | 0.6 | % | |||||||||||
| Equity securities at fair value | 289,133 | 0.2 | % | |||||||||||
| Total investments | $ | 125,712,387 | 100.0 | % | ||||||||||
Capital
Capital strength allows insurance companies to meet their future policyholder obligations and to support the growth of their businesses. Global Atlantic believes it has built a strong financial foundation to meet these objectives. Global Atlantic is well capitalized, and its capital position, combined with annual capital generation from its in-force book of business, helps it to fund new business volume growth. Global Atlantic takes a responsible and flexible capital approach to allocating capital to where it believes is the most attractive alternative available. Global Atlantic manages its capital and liquidity position with the objective of maintaining sufficient capital and liquidity to be able to capture investment opportunities as they arise and meet policyholder obligations, even in times of foreseeable stress.
Global Atlantic also sponsors unaffiliated co-investment vehicles for third-party capital to participate alongside Global Atlantic in reinsurance opportunities. In April 2020, Global Atlantic sponsored Ivy Co-Invest Vehicle LLC (together with its subsidiaries, “Ivy”). As of December 31, 2021, Ivy had deployed its $1.05 billion of third-party capital in reinsurance transactions with Global Atlantic.
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Competition
Our asset management business competes with other investment managers for both fund investors and investment opportunities. The firm's competitors consist primarily of sponsors of public and private investment funds, real estate development companies, BDCs, investment banks, commercial finance companies and operating companies acting as strategic buyers. We believe that competition for fund investors is based primarily on investment performance, investor liquidity and willingness to invest, investor perception of investment managers' drive, focus and alignment of interest, business reputation, duration of relationships, quality of services, pricing, fund terms including fees, and the relative attractiveness of the types of investments that have been or are to be made. We believe that competition for investment opportunities is based primarily on the pricing, terms and structure of a proposed investment and certainty of execution. In addition to these traditional competitors within the global investment management industry, we also face competition from local and regional firms, financial institutions and sovereign wealth funds in the various countries in which we invest. In certain emerging markets, local firms may have more established relationships with the companies in which we are attempting to invest. These competitors often fall into one of the aforementioned categories but in some cases may represent new types of fund investors, including high net worth individuals, family offices and state-sponsored entities.
There are numerous funds focused on private equity, real assets, credit and hedge fund strategies that compete for investor capital. Fund managers have also increasingly adopted investment strategies outside of their traditional focus. For example, funds focused on credit and equity strategies have become active in taking control positions in companies, while private equity funds have acquired minority equity or debt positions in publicly listed companies. This convergence heighten competition for investments. Furthermore, as institutional fund investors increasingly consolidate their relationships for multiple investment products with a few investment firms, competition for capital from such institutional fund investors may become more acute. However, such consolidation may also lead institutional fund investors to prefer more established investment firms, which could help us to compete against newer entrants or investment firms that are smaller in size or offer more limited types of investment strategies.
Some of the entities that we compete with as an investment firm may have greater financial, technical, marketing and other resources and more personnel than us and, in the case of some asset classes, longer operating histories, more established relationships or greater experience. Several of our competitors also have raised, or may raise, significant amounts of capital and have investment objectives that are similar to the investment objectives of our funds, which may create additional competition for investment opportunities. Some of these competitors may also have lower costs of capital and access to funding sources that are not available to us, which may create competitive advantages for them. In addition, some of these competitors may have higher risk tolerances, different risk assessments or lower return thresholds, which could allow them to consider a wider range of investments and to bid more aggressively than us for investments. Strategic buyers may also be able to achieve synergistic cost savings or revenue enhancements with respect to a targeted portfolio company, which may provide them with a competitive advantage in bidding for such investments.
Our capital markets business competes primarily with investment banks and independent broker-dealers in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East. We principally focus our capital markets activities on the firm, our portfolio companies and fund investors, but we also seek to service other third parties. While we generally target customers with whom we have existing relationships, those customers may have similar relationships with the firm's competitors, many of whom will have access to competing securities transactions, greater financial, technical or marketing resources or more established reputations than us.
Global Atlantic operates in highly competitive markets. Within individual markets, Global Atlantic faces a variety of large and small industry participants. Large, established insurers often operate with the benefit of well-known brands, entrenched distribution relationships or proprietary distribution. The insurance industry has also seen an influx of new entrants, particularly in retirement products, who may be able to price new business aggressively, with a higher investment risk tolerance, seeking to gain market share. All of these companies compete for individual markets sales. Global Atlantic’s flow reinsurance business may also be impacted by competition among insurers in individual markets. The competitiveness of Global Atlantic’s product offerings will depend on the actions of its competitors and Global Atlantic’s ability to actively manage its product offerings. In institutional markets, there have been many block reinsurance transactions as many insurers continue to reevaluate their commitment to business lines and seek reinsurance solutions as a way to deemphasize or divest non-core businesses, reduce risk, seek capital relief or improve profitability. The block reinsurance market is also experiencing competition due to new entrants, including entrants based outside of the United States. Increased competition may make it more difficult for Global Atlantic to identify transactions with terms that are commercially acceptable based on its risk tolerance and target return objectives.
Competition is also intense for the attraction and retention of qualified employees and consultants. Our ability to continue to compete effectively in our businesses will depend upon our ability to attract new investment professionals, other employees and consultants and retain and motivate our existing investment professionals, other employees and consultants. We are also
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impacted by Global Atlantic's ability to attract and retain insurance professionals in the United States and Bermuda, including wholesalers, actuaries, risk management professionals and agents.
Human Capital
We believe our people are the key to our success and are what sets our firm apart. We strive to create a workplace environment where employees thrive both professionally and personally. At KKR, our philosophy is to ensure we manage our investments in people – our human capital – as rigorously and effectively as we do our financial capital. Our key focuses include driving exceptional performance and enhancing our firm culture.
Our primary goal in human capital management is to develop and retain talent at KKR by providing meaningful and well-understood careers for our people. We therefore focus on employee training and professional development. Where appropriate, we offer workshops, mentoring and executive coaching to supplement on-the-job experiences and ongoing feedback and coaching to maximize performance. In addition, fostering a culture of physical, mental, and emotional health and wellness is a priority for KKR, and we offer tools and resources to our employees so they can make informed health care decisions themselves and their families.
We seek to have a well-rounded, inclusive workplace — one that is reflective of our shareholders, fund investors, Global Atlantic's policyholders, the clients and other stakeholders with whom we collaborate, and the communities in which we live and conduct our business. In 2014, KKR established the Inclusion & Diversity Council (the "IDC"), a committee led by senior leaders to seek to ensure that KKR is an entrepreneurial, vibrant, and innovative organization that values diverse teams and varied lifestyles and backgrounds. The IDC’s goal is to attract, develop, and retain the best possible talent, actively work to make KKR a more diverse and inclusive workplace with increased representation among women and underrepresented demographic groups, and improve mentoring programs firm-wide.
As of December 31, 2021, we employed approximately 3,200 people worldwide:
| Asset Management Investment Professionals and KKR Capstone | 695 | ||||
| Other Asset Management Employees | 1,245 | ||||
| Global Atlantic Professionals and Employees | 1,232 | ||||
Other(1) | 66 | ||||
| Total Employees | 3,238 | ||||
(1)"Other" includes employees of a company in which we own a majority of the common equity, who are not directly managed by KKR or Global Atlantic. Does not include Senior Advisors and Other Advisors.
Asset Management Investment Professionals
Our 604 investment professionals come from diverse backgrounds in private equity, real assets, credit and other asset classes and include executives with operations, strategic consulting, risk management, liability management and finance experience. As a group, these professionals provide us with a strong global team for identifying attractive investment opportunities, creating value and generating superior returns.
KKR Capstone
We have developed an institutionalized process for creating value in investments. As part of our effort, we utilize a team of 91 operating professionals at KKR Capstone, who work exclusively with our investment professionals and portfolio company management teams or our designees. With professionals in North America, Europe and the Asia-Pacific, KKR Capstone provides additional expertise for assessing investment opportunities and assisting managers of portfolio companies in defining strategic priorities and implementing operational changes.
Other Asset Management Employees
Our 1,245 other professionals come from diverse backgrounds in capital markets, operational, economics, capital raising, client services, public affairs, finance, tax, legal, compliance, human capital, and information technology. As a group, these professionals provide us with a strong team for overseeing investments and performing capital markets activities, servicing our existing fund investors and creating relationships with new fund investors globally. Additionally, a majority of these other professionals are responsible for supporting the global infrastructure of KKR.
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Global Atlantic Professionals and Employees
Global Atlantic employees include professionals with backgrounds in the insurance industry, including retail sales, reinsurance, investment origination and allocation, risk management, actuarial and support functions. Global Atlantic primarily employs individuals in the United States and in Bermuda, where a number of its reinsurance professionals are located.
Senior Advisors and Other Advisors
To complement the expertise of our investment professionals, we have a team of senior advisors and other advisors. While not KKR employees, they provide us with additional operational and strategic insights. The responsibilities of senior advisors and other advisors include serving on the boards of our portfolio companies, helping us source and evaluate individual investment opportunities and assisting portfolio companies with operational matters. These individuals include current and former chief executive officers, chief financial officers and chairpersons of major corporations and others holding leading positions of public agencies worldwide.
ESG Investment Management
When we make our investments, we seek to consider stakeholders of the portfolio companies in which we invest and their communities. We believe that thoughtfully approaching environmental, social, and governance ("ESG") issues in our investments has the potential to generate strong returns for our clients and investors while improving the impact of our portfolio companies on society.
Where appropriate, we incorporate business-relevant ESG, regulatory, geopolitical, and reputational considerations into KKR’s investment decision-making and management practices. This generally includes considering key risks and opportunities during the diligence process and, where applicable, during our ownership of the portfolio company.
KKR has been publicly committed to responsible investment since Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co L.P. became a signatory of the UN-supported Principles for Responsible Investment ("PRI") in 2009. We believe that we have a history of innovation and progress when it comes to thoughtfully integrating and managing ESG issues.
KKR generally takes a portfolio company-specific approach to ESG engagement, where we endeavor to understand the relevant risks and opportunities for long-term value creation. When conducting our investment due diligence, we look to the topics and industry-specific statements provided by the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board ("SASB") as a primary input when identifying ESG issues that may be relevant for the investment.
We are also committed to advancing transparency of our ESG reporting practices. KKR has a Responsible Investment Policy that describes our ESG integration and management processes, which is publicly available. We also periodically publish ESG-related reports, including our annual ESG Report, our Climate Action Report, aligned with the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures ("TCFD"), and our SASB-aligned Report.
In 2021, Global Atlantic formalized its ESG efforts, preparing its first annual ESG report and its Responsible Investment Statement. Working with KKR as its investment advisor, Global Atlantic also includes the consideration of ESG factors in its investments where appropriate.
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Organizational Structure
Current Structure
The following simplified diagram, which excludes multiple legal entities, illustrates our organizational structure as of February 24, 2022.
(1) KKR Management LLP is the sole holder of Series I preferred stock of KKR & Co. Inc. KKR Management LLP is owned by senior KKR employees.
(2) KKR Holdings L.P. is the holding vehicle through which certain of our current and former employees and other persons indirectly own their interest in KKR. KKR Group Partnership Units that are held by KKR Holdings are exchangeable for shares of our common stock on a one-for-one basis. As limited partner interests, these KKR Group Partnership Units are non-voting and do not entitle KKR Holdings to participate in the management of our business and affairs. As of December 31, 2021, KKR Holdings had approximately a 30.2% interest in our business indirectly through its limited partner interests in KKR Group Partnership. KKR Holdings also holds Series II preferred stock that entitles it to cast a number of votes equal to the number of KKR Group Partnership Units that it holds, with respect to the matters upon which our common stockholders are entitled to vote.
(3) Depending on the fund's vintage, 40%, 43% or 65% of the carried interest earned from our investment funds are allocated to KKR Associates Holdings L.P., which we refer to as the carry pool, from which carried interest is allocable to our current and former employees and other persons. In February 2021, upon receipt of the approval of a committee representing a majority of our independent directors, we amended the percentage of carried interest that is allocable to the carry pool to 65% for recently formed funds and future funds, while for older funds, it remains 40% or 43%, as applicable. The carry pool is not reflected in the organizational structure chart.
(4) Includes Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P., the SEC-registered investment adviser, which in turn is the parent company of KKR's other principal investment management subsidiaries, including KKR Credit Advisors (US) LLC, KKR Credit Advisors (Ireland) Unlimited Company, KKR Credit Advisors (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., and KKR Alternative Investment Management Unlimited Company. Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P. is also the parent company of KKR Capital Markets Holdings L.P., the holding company for KKR Capital Markets LLC, and KKR Capstone Holdings LLC, the holding company for KKR Capstone entities.
(5) Includes KKR Financial Holdings LLC and KKR Group Finance Co. Holdings Limited, which owns the issuers of KKR's outstanding senior notes.
(6) KKR holds all the voting rights and a 61.5% economic interest in Global Atlantic.
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Intermediate Structure After Completion of Merger Transactions Contemplated by Reorganization Agreement
The following simplified diagram, which excludes multiple legal entities, illustrates what we expect our organizational structure to be immediately following the merger transactions contemplated by the Reorganization Agreement, subject to the satisfaction of all conditions to closing such merger transactions.
(1) KKR Management LLP will remain the sole holder of Series I preferred stock of KKR & Co. Inc.
(2) Formerly KKR Holdings L.P.
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Final Structure After Completion of All Transactions Contemplated Reorganization Agreement
The following simplified diagram, which excludes multiple legal entities, illustrates what we expect our organizational structure to be immediately following the transactions to occur on the Sunset Date as defined in the Reorganization Agreement (which will be not later than December 31, 2026), subject to the satisfaction of all conditions to closing such transactions (including the completion of the merger transactions contemplated by the Reorganization Agreement).
(1) The Series I preferred stock of KKR & Co. Inc. will be redeemed and cancelled, and KKR & Co. Inc.'s common stock will become vested with all common voting powers on a one vote per share basis.
(2) Although not reflected in this organization structure chart, a wholly-owned subsidiary of KKR & Co. Inc. will acquire control of the carry pool by becoming the general partner of KKR Associates Holdings L.P.
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Regulation
Our operations are subject to regulation and supervision in a number of jurisdictions. The level of regulation and supervision to which we are subject varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction and is based on the type of business activity involved. We, in conjunction with our outside advisors and counsel, seek to manage our business and operations in compliance with such regulation and supervision. The regulatory and legal requirements that apply to our activities are subject to change from time to time and may become more restrictive, which may make compliance with applicable requirements more difficult or expensive or otherwise restrict our ability to conduct our business activities in the manner in which they are now conducted. Changes in applicable regulatory and legal requirements, including changes in their enforcement, could materially and adversely affect our business and our financial condition and results of operations. As a matter of public policy, the regulatory bodies that regulate our business activities are generally responsible for safeguarding the integrity of the securities, insurance and financial markets and protecting fund investors and policyholders who participate in those markets rather than protecting the interests of our stockholders.
United States
Regulation as an Investment Adviser
We conduct our advisory business through our investment adviser subsidiaries, including Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, KKR Credit Advisors (US) LLC, KKR Registered Advisor LLC and KKR Credit Advisors (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., each of which is registered as an investment adviser with the SEC under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the "Investment Advisers Act"). We also own half of FS/KKR Advisor, LLC and a majority of Global Atlantic's investment adviser, Global Atlantic Investment Advisors, LLC, each of which is registered with the SEC. The investment advisers are subject to the anti-fraud provisions of the Investment Advisers Act and to fiduciary duties derived from these provisions, which apply to our relationships with our advisory clients globally, including funds that we manage. These provisions and duties impose restrictions and obligations on us with respect to our dealings with our fund investors and our investments, including for example restrictions on agency cross and principal transactions. Our registered investment advisers are subject to periodic SEC examinations and other requirements under the Investment Advisers Act and related regulations primarily intended to benefit advisory clients. These additional requirements relate, among other things, to maintaining an effective and comprehensive compliance program, record-keeping and reporting requirements and disclosure requirements. The Investment Advisers Act generally grants the SEC broad administrative powers, including the power to limit or restrict an investment adviser from conducting advisory activities in the event it fails to comply with federal securities laws. Additional sanctions that may be imposed for failure to comply with applicable requirements include the prohibition of individuals from associating with an investment adviser, the revocation of registrations and other censures and fines.
KKR Credit Advisors (US) LLC, KKR Registered Advisor LLC and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P. are also subject to regulation under the Investment Company Act as an investment adviser to a registered investment company. Each of KKR Income Opportunities Fund, KKR Credit Opportunities Portfolio and KKR Real Estate Select Trust is a closed-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act. The Investment Company Act and the rules thereunder, among other things, regulate the relationship between a registered investment company and its investment adviser and prohibit or restrict principal transactions and joint transactions. FS/KKR Advisor serves as investment adviser to FS KKR Capital Corp., which is subject to regulations applicable to business development companies ("BDCs") under the Investment Company Act, including portfolio construction requirements and limitations on transactions with affiliates. Certain subsidiaries of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P. also serve as investment advisers to publicly listed companies, including KKR Real Estate Finance Trust and Crescent Energy.
Regulation as a Broker-Dealer
KKR Capital Markets LLC, one of our subsidiaries, is registered as a broker-dealer with the SEC under the Exchange Act and in all 50 U.S. States and U.S. territories, and is a member of the FINRA. Global Atlantic's distribution of insurance products that are regulated as securities is conducted by Global Atlantic Distributors, LLC, which is also registered as a broker-dealer with the SEC under the Exchange Act and in all 50 U.S. States and U.S. territories, and is also a member of the FINRA. As registered broker-dealers, KKR Capital Markets LLC and Global Atlantic Distributors, LLC are subject to periodic SEC and FINRA examinations and reviews. A broker-dealer is subject to legal requirements covering all aspects of its securities business, including sales and trading practices, public and private securities offerings, the suitability of investments, use and safekeeping of customers' funds and securities, capital structure, record-keeping and retention and the conduct and qualifications of directors, officers, employees and other associated persons. These requirements include the SEC's "uniform net capital rule," which specifies the minimum level of net capital that a broker-dealer must maintain, requires a significant part of the broker-dealer's assets to be kept in relatively liquid form, imposes certain requirements that may have the effect of
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prohibiting a broker-dealer from distributing or withdrawing its capital and subjects any distributions or withdrawals of capital by a broker-dealer to notice requirements. These and other requirements also include rules that limit a broker-dealer's ratio of subordinated debt to equity in its regulatory capital composition, constrain a broker-dealer's ability to expand its business under certain circumstances and impose additional requirements when the broker-dealer participates in securities offerings of affiliated entities. Violations of these requirements may result in censures, fines, the issuance of cease-and-desist orders, revocation of licenses or registrations, the suspension or expulsion from the securities industry of the broker-dealer or its officers or employees or other similar consequences by regulatory bodies.
Insurance Regulations
Global Atlantic's U.S. insurance subsidiaries are subject to regulation and supervision under U.S. federal and state laws. Each U.S. state, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories and possessions have insurance laws that apply to companies licensed to carry on an insurance business in the applicable jurisdiction. The primary regulator of an insurance company, however, is located in the insurance company's state of domicile. Both Commonwealth Annuity and Life Insurance Company ("CwA") and First Allmerica Financial Life Insurance Company ("FAFLIC") are organized and domiciled in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts; Accordia Life and Annuity Company ("Accordia") is organized and domiciled in the State of Iowa; and Forethought Life Insurance Company ("FLIC") is organized and domiciled in the State of Indiana (together, these four companies constitute Global Atlantic's "U.S. insurance subsidiaries"). Additionally, Global Atlantic's U.S. insurance subsidiaries are licensed to transact insurance business in, and are subject to regulation and supervision by, all 50 states of the United States and the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
State insurance authorities have broad administrative powers over each of Global Atlantic's U.S. insurance subsidiaries with respect to all aspects of the insurance business. Insurance subsidiaries must prepare financial statements on regulatory capital in accordance with statutory financial accounting, must report on their risk management and corporate governance and must receive regulatory approval for certain transactions, including transactions with affiliates. As part of their routine regulatory oversight process, state insurance departments conduct periodic detailed examinations of the books, records, accounts and operations of insurance companies that are domiciled in their states. Examinations are generally carried out in cooperation with the insurance departments of other, non-domiciliary states under guidelines promulgated by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (the "NAIC"). State insurance departments also regularly conduct regulatory inquiries of the insurance companies licensed in their states.
Global Atlantic also has special purpose financial captive insurance company subsidiaries domiciled in Vermont and Iowa that provide reinsurance to Accordia in order to facilitate the financing of redundant reserve requirements associated with the application of the NAIC Model Regulation entitled "Valuation of Life Insurance Policies Model Regulation" ("Regulation XXX") and NAIC Actuarial Guideline XXXVIII ("AG38"). The application of both Regulation XXX and AG38 requires Global Atlantic to maintain statutory reserves which may be in excess of reserves required under GAAP.
The rates, policy terms, and conditions of reinsurance agreements generally are not subject to regulation by any regulatory authority. However, the ability of a primary insurer to take credit for the reinsurance purchased from reinsurance companies is a significant component of reinsurance regulation. Typically, a primary insurer will only enter into a reinsurance agreement if it can obtain credit against its reserves on its statutory basis financial statements for the reinsurance ceded to the reinsurer.
Global Atlantic's U.S. insurance subsidiaries are subject to restrictions on the payment of dividends. Any proposed dividend in excess of the amount permitted by law is considered an "extraordinary dividend or distribution" and may not be paid until it has been approved, or a 30-day waiting period has passed during which it has not been disapproved, by the commissioner of the applicable domiciliary state of the U.S. insurance subsidiary. None of Global Atlantic’s special purpose financial captive insurance company subsidiaries may declare or pay dividends or distributions in any form to us other than in accordance with its transaction agreements and governing licensing order.
State insurance holding company laws and regulations generally provide that no person, corporation or other entity may acquire control of an insurance company, or a controlling interest in any parent company of an insurance company, without the prior approval of such insurance company's domiciliary state insurance regulator. Under the laws of each of Global Atlantic's U.S. insurance subsidiaries' domiciliary states, acquiring, directly or indirectly, 10% or more of the voting securities of an insurance company or its parent company is presumptively considered to have acquired control of the insurer, although such presumption may be rebutted by a showing that control does not in fact exist.
Finally, while the United States federal government in most contexts currently does not directly regulate the insurance business, the Federal Insurance Office (the "FIO") established by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the "Dodd-Frank Act") now has an oversight role in respect to insurance regulation.
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Ireland
We have a number of subsidiaries which are authorized and regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland (the "CBI"). The CBI is responsible for, among other things, regulating and supervising firms that provide financial services in Ireland, including broker-dealers and investment firms. The CBI also develops and maintains regulatory policies for Ireland's financial services sector. The CBI has the authority to approve applications from financial services providers in Ireland, monitor compliance with its standards, and take enforcement action for non-compliance. Violation of the CBI's requirements may result in administrative sanctions; investigations; refusal, revocation or cancellation of authorization or registrations; criminal prosecution; and/or reports to other agencies.
KKR Alternative Investment Management Unlimited Company, KKR Credit Advisors (Ireland) Unlimited Company and KKR Capital Markets (Ireland) Limited Company are regulated by the CBI. KKR Alternative Investment Management Unlimited Company is an authorized EU alternative investment manager permitted to conduct portfolio management, risk management and certain administrative activities. KKR Credit Advisors (Ireland) Unlimited Company is authorized to carry out a number of regulated activities under the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (“MiFID”), including receiving and transmitting orders, portfolio management and providing investment advice. KKR Credit Advisors (Ireland) Unlimited Company is also subject to limited regulatory supervision in Germany through KKR Credit Advisors Ireland Germany Branch and France through KKR Credit Advisors Ireland Paris Branch, where these entities operate under the MiFID Freedom of Establishment rules. KKR Capital Markets (Ireland) Limited Company is authorized to engage in a number of regulated activities regulated under MiFID, including dealing as principal or agent, making arrangements in relation to certain types of specified investments, and arranging the safeguarding and administration of assets. KKR Capital Markets (Ireland) Limited also benefits from a passport under the single market directives to offer services cross border into all countries in the European Economic Area.
United Kingdom
We have several subsidiaries which are authorized and regulated by the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority (the "FCA") under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 ("FSMA"). FSMA and related rules govern most aspects of investment business, including investment management, sales, research and trading practices, provision of investment advice, corporate finance, use and safekeeping of client funds and securities, regulatory capital, record-keeping, margin practices and procedures, approval standards for individuals, anti-money laundering, periodic reporting and settlement procedures. The FCA is responsible for administering these requirements and our compliance with the FSMA and related rules. Violations of these requirements may result in censures, fines, imposition of additional requirements, injunctions, restitution orders, revocation or modification of permissions or registrations, the suspension or expulsion from certain "controlled functions" within the financial services industry of officers or employees performing such functions or other similar consequences.
KKR Capital Markets Partners LLP has permission to engage in a number of regulated activities regulated under FSMA, including dealing as principal or agent and arranging deals in relation to certain types of specified investments and arranging the safeguarding and administration of assets. Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. Partners LLP has permission to engage in a number of regulated activities including advising on and arranging deals relating to corporate finance business in relation to certain types of specified investments. KKR Credit Advisors (EMEA) LLP has permission to engage in a number of regulated activities including managing, advising on and arranging deals in relation to certain types of specified investments.
Bermuda
Global Atlantic's subsidiaries organized in Bermuda, Global Atlantic Re and Global Atlantic Assurance, are subject to regulation and supervision by the Bermuda Monetary Authority ("BMA") and compliance with all applicable Bermuda laws and Bermuda insurance statutes and regulations, including but not limited to the Bermuda Insurance Act. The Bermuda Insurance Act grants to the BMA powers to supervise, investigate and intervene in the affairs of insurance companies and to approve any change or controllers. The Bermuda Insurance Act imposes solvency, capital and liquidity standards and auditing and reporting requirements on Bermuda insurance companies. The Bermuda Insurance Act prohibits our Bermuda insurance subsidiaries from declaring or paying any dividends during any financial year unless certain financial conditions are met or prior approval from the BMA is received. A Bermuda licensed insurer is required to maintain a sufficiently staffed principal office in Bermuda.
Other Jurisdictions
Certain other subsidiaries or funds that we advise are registered with, have been licensed by or have obtained authorizations to operate in their respective jurisdictions outside of the United States. These registrations, licenses or authorizations relate to providing investment advice, broker-dealer activities, marketing of securities and other regulated
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activities. Failure to comply with the laws and regulations governing these subsidiaries and funds that have been registered, licensed or authorized could expose us to liability and/or damage our reputation.
In Europe, we operate in accordance with the EU Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (the “AIFMD”), which establishes a comprehensive regulatory and supervisory framework for alternative investment fund managers (“AIFMs”) that manage or market alternative investment funds (“AIFs”) in the European Union.
In Canada, KKR Capital Markets LLC is also registered as an international dealer under the Securities Act (Ontario). This registration permits us to trade in non-Canadian equity and debt securities with certain types of investors located in Ontario, Canada.
In Japan, KKR Capital Markets Japan Ltd. is registered as a Type I and Type II Financial Instruments Business Operator (broker-dealer) under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act of Japan, and a money lender under the Money Lending Business Act of Japan.
In the United Arab Emirates, KKR MENA Limited, a Dubai International Financial Centre company, is licensed to arrange deals in investments, advise on financial products and arrange custody, and is regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority.
In Saudi Arabia, KKR Saudi Limited is licensed by the Capital Market Authority of Saudi Arabia and is authorized for the activity of arranging in the securities business.
In Australia, KKR Australia Pty Limited and KKR Australia Investment Management Pty Limited are Australian financial services licensed and are authorized to provide advice on and deal in financial products for wholesale clients, and are regulated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.
In Hong Kong, KKR Capital Markets Asia Limited is licensed by the Securities and Futures Commission in Hong Kong to carry on dealing in securities, advising on securities and asset management regulated activities.
In Singapore, KKR Singapore Pte. Ltd. and KKR Credit Advisors (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. each holds a capital markets services license to conduct fund management for institutional investors and accredited investors only and is regulated by Monetary Authority of Singapore.
In Mauritius, KKR Holdings Mauritius, Ltd. and KKR Account Adviser (Mauritius), Ltd. are unrestricted investment advisers authorized to manage portfolios of securities and give advice on securities transactions, and are regulated by the Financial Services Commission, Mauritius.
In India, KKR India Financial Services Limited and KKR India Asset Finance Limited are registered with the Reserve Bank of India as non-deposit taking non-banking financial companies and are authorized to undertake lending and financing activities. KKR Capital Markets India Private Limited is registered with the Securities Exchange Board of India ("SEBI") (i) as a merchant bank to execute capital market mandates, underwrite issues, offer investment advisory and other consultancy services in connection with securities, and (ii) as an investment manager and sponsor of alternative investment funds. In addition, certain of our funds are registered with SEBI as a foreign portfolio investor or a foreign venture capital investor to make investments in Indian securities. We also own companies in India that are authorized to act as the investment manager of an infrastructure investment trust registered with SEBI and to act as an investment manager and sponsor of alternative investment funds.
From time to time, one or more of our investment funds or their related investment vehicles may be regulated as a mutual fund by the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority, regulated as an investment limited partnership by CBI, listed on the Irish Stock Exchange, notified with the Financial Services Agency of Japan for sale pursuant to certain private placement exemptions and/or for investment pursuant to certain exemption, registered with the Financial Supervisory Service of the Republic of Korea, licensed by or granted in principal approval from SEBI, subject to the regulatory supervision of the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier of Luxembourg, notified with the Netherlands Authority for Financial Markets for sale pursuant to certain private placement exemptions, or registered under the Investment Company Act.
There are a number of legislative and regulatory initiatives in the United States and in Europe that could significantly affect our business. See "Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business—Extensive regulation of our businesses affects our activities and creates the potential for significant liabilities and penalties. The possibility of increased regulatory focus or legislative or regulatory changes could materially and adversely affect our business."
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Website and Availability of SEC Filings
Our website address is www.kkr.com. Information on our website is not incorporated by reference herein and is not a part of this report. We make available free of charge on our website or provide a link on our website to our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, and any amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, as soon as reasonably practicable after those reports are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. To access these filings, go to the "Stockholders (KKR & Co. Inc.)" section of our "Investor Center" page on our website, then click on "SEC Filings." In addition, these reports and the other documents we file with the SEC are available at a website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov.
From time to time, we may use our website as a channel of distribution of material information. Financial and other material information regarding our company is routinely posted on and accessible at www.kkr.com. Financial and other material information regarding Global Atlantic is routinely posted on and accessible at www.globalatlantic.com. In addition, you may automatically receive e-mail alerts and other information about our company by enrolling your e-mail address by visiting the "Email Alerts" section under the "Stockholders (KKR & Co. Inc.)" section of the "Investor Center" page at www.kkr.com.
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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
Investing in our securities involves risk. Persons investing in our securities should carefully consider the risks described below and the other information contained in this report and other filings that we make from time to time with the SEC, including our consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Any of the following risks could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations. Our business, financial condition or results of operations could also be materially and adversely affected by additional factors that apply to all companies generally, as well as other risks that are not currently known to us or that we currently view to be immaterial. In any such case, the trading price of our securities could decline and you may lose all or part of your original investment. While we attempt to mitigate known risks to the extent we believe to be practicable and reasonable, we can provide no assurance, and we make no representation, that our mitigation efforts will be successful.
Risks Related to Our Business
Difficult market and economic conditions can adversely affect our business in many ways, including by reducing the value or performance of the investments that we manage or by reducing the ability of our funds to raise or deploy capital, each of which could negatively impact our net income and cash flow and adversely affect our financial prospects and condition.
Our business and the businesses of the companies in which we invest are materially affected by financial markets and economic conditions or events throughout the world, such as interest rates, fiscal and monetary stimulus and withdrawal of stimulus, availability of credit, inflation rates, economic uncertainty, changes in laws (including laws relating to taxation), trade barriers, commodity prices, currency exchange rates and controls, national and international political circumstances (including wars, terrorist acts or security operations), and the continued global outbreak of the strain of coronavirus identified as SARS-CoV-2 and its different strains ("COVID-19") in 2021 and 2022. See “—COVID-19 continues to impact the United States and other countries throughout the world, and it has caused and may further cause disruptions to our business and adversely affect our financial results.” See also “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Business Environment” for a discussion of recent developments in market and business conditions that may affect our business.
Such financial markets and economic conditions are outside our control and may affect the level and volatility of securities prices and liquidity and as a result, the value of our investments and our financial results. In addition, we may not be able to or may choose not to manage our exposure to these conditions or events. If not otherwise offset, declines in equity markets (including but not limited to multiple contraction), debt markets or commodity markets would likely cause us to write down the valuations of our investments held by us or in our funds. For example, during the global financial crisis in 2008 and 2009, valuations of our private equity funds declined across all geographies, with investments in private equity funds marked down to as low as 67% of original cost and multiples of invested capital reaching as low as 0.5x, 0.6x, 0.7x and 0.8x for the European Fund II, European Fund III, 2006 Fund and Asian Fund, respectively, as of March 31, 2009. Our profitability may also be materially and adversely affected by our fixed costs and the possibility that we would be unable to scale back other costs within a time frame sufficient to match any decreases in net income relating to a downturn in market and economic conditions.
Unfavorable market and economic conditions may reduce opportunities for us and our funds to make, exit and realize value from our investments. Challenging market and economic conditions, including those caused by changes in tax laws and other regulatory restrictions, may make it difficult for us to find suitable investments or secure financing for investments on attractive terms. Such conditions may also result in reduced opportunities for us and our funds to exit and realize value from their existing investments and lower-than-expected returns on existing investments. Although the equity markets are not the only means by which we exit investments, in challenging equity markets, we and our funds may experience greater difficulty in realizing value from investments. In addition, when financing is not available or becomes too costly, it is difficult for potential buyers to raise sufficient capital to purchase our and our funds' investments. Consequently, we may earn lower-than-expected returns on investments, which could cause us to realize diminished or no carried interest.
We generally raise capital for a successor fund following the substantial and successful deployment of capital from the existing fund. In the event of poor performance by existing funds, our ability to raise new funds is impaired. Our fundraising may also be negatively impacted by any change in or rebalancing of fund investors' asset allocation policies. During periods of unfavorable fundraising conditions, fund investors may negotiate for lower fees, different fee sharing arrangements for transaction or other fees, and other concessions. The outcome of such negotiations could result in our agreement to terms that are materially less favorable to us than for prior funds we have managed. Our current funds, including all our current private equity funds, have performance hurdles, which require us to generate a specified return on investment prior to our right to receive carried interest. This requirement will likely be in all our future funds, and the hurdle rate could increase for our future funds. In addition, successor funds raised by us when such unfavorable circumstances described above exist would also likely result in smaller funds than our comparable predecessor funds. Fund investors may also seek to redeploy capital away from
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certain of our credit or other non-private equity investment vehicles, which permit redemptions on relatively short notice, in order to meet liquidity needs or invest in other asset classes or with other managers. Any of these developments could materially and adversely affect our future revenues, net income, cash flow, financial condition or ability to retain our employees. See "—Our inability to raise additional or successor funds (or raise successor funds of a comparable size as our predecessor funds) could have a material adverse impact on our business" and "—Our investors in future funds may negotiate to pay us lower management fees, reimburse us for fewer expenses or change the economic terms of our future funds, including with respect to transaction fees, management fees or monitoring fees, to be less favorable to us than those of our existing funds, which could materially and adversely affect our revenues or profitability."
During periods of difficult market or economic conditions or slowdowns (which may occur across one or more industries as well as various sectors or geographies), the various companies or assets in which we have investments may experience several issues, including decreased revenues, increased costs, credit rating downgrades, difficulty in obtaining financing and even severe financial losses or insolvency. For example, certain investments with floating interest rate loans may become unable to meet their debt service obligations if their benchmark interest rates were to rise materially, or if these investments' lenders or debt holders generally are unwilling to extend or refinance their loans or debt securities on similarly attractive terms. In addition, during periods of difficult market or economic conditions or slowdowns, our and our funds' portfolio companies may have difficulty in expanding their businesses and operations or become unable to pay their expenses or other obligations as they become due, including amounts payable to us. Negative financial results in our and our funds' portfolio companies may result in lower investment returns, which could materially and adversely affect our operating results and cash flow. To the extent the operating performance of such portfolio companies (as well as valuation multiples) deteriorate or do not improve, we or our funds may sell those assets at values that are less than we projected or even at a loss, thereby significantly affecting our respective performance and consequently our operating results and cash flow and resulting in lower or no carried interest being paid to us. Adverse conditions may also increase the risk of default with respect to private equity, real assets, credit and other investments that we manage or the bankruptcy, abandonment or foreclosure of our investments. Even if economic and market conditions do improve broadly, adverse conditions in particular sectors may also cause our performance to suffer. Finally, low interest rates related to monetary stimulus, economic stagnation or deflation may negatively impact expected returns on all types of investments as the demand for relatively higher return assets increases and the supply decreases.
In addition, our capital markets business generates fees through a variety of activities in connection with the issuance and placement of equity and debt securities, loans and credit facilities, with the size of fees generally correlated to overall transaction sizes. As a result, adverse conditions in financial markets as described above, as well as lower level of transaction activities involving our funds' investments, which can be unpredictable and outside our control, may negatively impact both the frequency and size of fees generated by our capital markets business.
Our insurance business is materially affected by market and economic conditions as well. Actual or perceived stressed conditions, volatility and disruptions in financial asset classes or various capital markets can have an adverse effect on Global Atlantic, both because such conditions may decrease the returns on, and value of, its investment portfolio and because Global Atlantic's benefit and claim liabilities are sensitive to changing market factors, in particular Global Atlantic's fixed-indexed annuity and indexed universal life products and products with guaranteed minimum withdrawal or surrender or secondary guarantee features. In times of economic hardship, Global Atlantic's policyholders may choose to defer paying insurance premiums, stop paying insurance premiums altogether or surrender their policies. In addition, actual or perceived difficult conditions in the capital markets may discourage individuals from making investment decisions and purchasing Global Atlantic's products. Global Atlantic has in the past experienced an elevated incidence of life insurance claims as a result of increased unemployment, which impacts policyholder health and life expectancy and has adversely impacted utilization of benefits relative to Global Atlantic’s assumptions. The estimated cost of providing guaranteed minimum withdrawal and death benefits of certain insurance products requires various assumptions about the overall performance of equity markets over the life of the product. Therefore, significant declines in equity markets could cause Global Atlantic to incur significant operating losses and capital increases due to, among other reasons, the impact of such decline on guarantees related to Global Atlantic's annuity products, including from increases in liabilities, increased capital requirements and/or collateral requirements associated with certain of Global Atlantic's agreements.
For a discussion of interest rate risks on our insurance business, see "—Risks Related to Global Atlantic–Interest rate fluctuations and sustained periods of low or high interest rates could adversely affect Global Atlantic’s business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, cash flows and prospects."
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COVID-19 continues to impact the United States and other countries throughout the world, and it has caused and may further cause disruptions to our business and adversely affect our financial results.
COVID-19 has caused, and continues to cause, severe disruptions to the U.S. and global economics. In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 to be a pandemic and the United States declared a national emergency due to the outbreak. In connection with these declarations, various governments around the world have instituted measures to slow the transmissions of COVID-19, which substantially restrict individual and business activities. These measures have included, for example, closures of non-essential businesses, limitations of crowd size, stay-at-home orders, quarantines, heightened border controls, limitations on travel, and vaccination and testing mandates. Governments in the United States and around the world have responded with fiscal and monetary stimuli that aim to provide emergency assistance to individuals and businesses negatively impacted by COVID-19, which may be withdrawn or allowed to expire. The outbreak of COVID-19 and the actions taken in response have had far reaching impact on the U.S. and global economies, which has contributed to significant volatility in the financial markets, resulting in increased volatility in equity prices (including our common stock), lower interest rates, supply chain disruptions, and an increase in inflationary pressures. The number of COVID-19 cases rebounded in many countries around the world throughout the year, including the United States, especially after more infectious strains of the virus have spread globally. Although a number of vaccines for COVID-19 have been developed, the effectiveness of widespread vaccination is uncertain, and these vaccines have been, and may in the future be, less effective against any new mutated strains of the virus.
We are monitoring developments relating to the global spread of COVID-19 and continuing to assess the potential for adverse impact on our business, including the investment funds we manage and the portfolio companies owned by us and our funds. In addition, we have implemented various initiatives intended to reduce the impact of COVID-19, such as mandatory vaccination and/or testing and ability to work remotely from home, while also seeking to maintain business continuity.
The scale and scope of the COVID-19 pandemic may heighten the potential adverse effects on our business, financial performance and operating results, which may be material and affect us in ways that we cannot foresee at this time. Many of the adverse ways in which COVID-19 may impact us have already materialized and adversely affected (or may in the future materialize and adversely affect) our stock price, our portfolio valuations, and the operations of our businesses and the businesses of our portfolio companies, as well as the businesses of entities of which we or our funds are creditors, and our and their other counterparties, including suppliers and customers. These risks may, in the future, become even more significant than is currently the case or than is currently anticipated. Although it is impossible to predict with certainty the potential full magnitude of the business and economic ramifications, COVID-19 has impacted, and may further impact, our business in various ways, including but not limited to:
•Difficult market and economic conditions may adversely impact the valuations of our and our funds' investments, particularly if the value of an investment is determined in whole or in part by reference to public equity markets. Valuations of our and our funds' investments are generally correlated to the performance of the relevant equity and debt markets, which have been affected by governmental actions, including fiscal and monetary stimulus and withdrawal of stimulus. Although valuations across our investments generally improved throughout 2021, driven by a strong rebound in equity and fixed income markets, financial markets experienced significant volatility in early 2022. The withdrawal of fiscal or monetary stimulus, or the failure to implement announced programs or withdrawals of stimulus as anticipated, could have material impacts to market and economic conditions, which may negatively affect the value of our investment portfolio in the future and adversely impact our financial results;
•COVID-19 significantly increases the challenges associated with business planning, strategy, execution, portfolio management, fundraising, and other aspects of our business operations, the operation of our portfolio companies' businesses, and the operation of entities with whom we or our funds have loaned money or otherwise do business, including through supply or customer relationships. None of us, our portfolio companies or our and their respective counterparties, vendors, or advisors have previously faced a situation that we view as comparable to the current COVID-19 crisis, which, among other factors, involves a major simultaneous supply and demand shock to global, regional and national economies and significant outsized effects on particular business sectors, including for example, severe supply chain disruptions. The future trajectory of the COVID-19 crisis is subject to a complex interplay of epidemiological, technological, social, psychological, economic and political factors that are generally beyond our ability to forecast or control. In this environment, historical comparisons may be of little or no value, while the risk and uncertainty associated with a large number of business decisions are materially increased;
•Future limitations on travel and social distancing requirements implemented in response to COVID-19 may challenge our ability to market new or successor funds or new insurance policies as anticipated prior to COVID-19, potentially resulting in reduced or delayed revenues. In addition, fund investors may become restricted by their asset allocation policies to invest in new or successor funds that we provide, because these policies often restrict the amount that they
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are permitted to invest in alternative assets like the strategies of our investment funds when there is a decline in public equity markets. Further, the COVID-19 crisis may cause fund investors or policyholders to change their investment strategies in manners that we cannot now foresee, and that may additionally and negatively affect our ability to raise funds or write new insurance policies from traditional or other sources;
•While the market dislocation caused by COVID-19 would expect to present attractive investment opportunities, due to increased volatility in the financial markets, we may not be able to complete those investments;
•Depending on the future impacts of COVID-19, we and our funds may have more limited opportunities to successfully exit existing investments, due to, among other reasons, lower valuations, decreased revenues and earnings, lack of potential buyers with financial resources to pursue an acquisition, or limited or no ability to conduct initial public offerings in equity capital markets, resulting in a reduced ability to realize value from such investments;
•Our portfolio companies are facing or may face in the future increased credit and liquidity risk due to volatility in financial markets, reduced revenue streams, and limited or higher cost of access to preferred sources of funding, which may result in potential impairment of our or our funds’ equity investments. Changes in the debt financing markets are impacting, or, if the volatility in the financial market continues, may in the future impact, the ability of our portfolio companies to meet their respective financial obligations. We and our funds may experience similar difficulties, and certain funds have been subject to margin calls when the value of securities that collateralize their margin loan decreased substantially;
•Borrowers of loans, notes and other credit instruments in our credit funds’ portfolio may become unable to meet their principal or interest payment obligations or satisfy financial covenants, and tenants leasing real estate properties owned by our funds may become more likely not to be able to pay rents in a timely manner or at all, resulting in a decrease in value of our funds' credit and real estate investments and lower than expected returns. In addition, for variable interest instruments, lower reference rates resulting from government stimulus programs in response to COVID-19 has and may continue to result in lower interest income for our credit funds;
•While the impact of COVID-19 on our portfolio companies has varied depending on the location and industry in which they operate, many of our portfolio companies operate in industries that have been, and continue to be, materially affected by COVID-19, including but not limited to healthcare, travel, entertainment, hospitality, housing, energy and retail industries. Many of these companies have faced operational and financial hardships resulting from the spread of COVID-19 and related governmental measures, such as the closure of stores, limitations on business operations, restrictions on travel, quarantines or stay-at-home orders. If the disruptions caused by COVID-19 worsen or if certain onerous restrictions are reinstated, the businesses of these portfolio companies could suffer materially or become insolvent, which would decrease the value of our funds’ investments;
•COVID-19 may generate workplace, consumer, insurance, contract and other forms of litigation that exposes us, our portfolio companies, suppliers, customers, debtors and other counterparties to risks and claims of a magnitude and nature that we cannot now anticipate;
•COVID-19 has impacted and may continue to impact mortality, morbidity and insurance policyholder behavior in unexpected ways. An increase in mortality and, in certain cases, morbidity rates could have a material adverse impact on Global Atlantic's liquidity, financial condition and operating results;
•As a result of the pandemic, Global Atlantic's customers may seek sources of liquidity and withdraw at rates greater than previously expected. If customer lapse and surrender rates significantly exceed Global Atlantic's expectations, or customers stop lapsing or withdrawing all together and the cost of providing benefits exceed Global Atlantic's expectations, Global Atlantic's business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows could suffer materially;
•Extended periods of remote working by our employees could strain our technology resources and introduce operational risks, including heightened cybersecurity risk. Remote working environments may be less secure and more susceptible to hacking attacks, including ransomware, phishing and social engineering attempts that seek to exploit the COVID-19 pandemic; and
•COVID-19 presents a significant threat to our employees' well-being and morale. While we have a business continuity plan to protect the health of our employees and have contingency plans in place for key employees or executive officers who may become sick or otherwise unable to perform their duties for an extended period of time, such plans cannot anticipate all scenarios, and we may experience potential loss of productivity or a delay in the roll out of certain
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strategic plans. We also may also experience more attrition by employees who unexpectedly resign, and we may have difficulty replacing them or hiring the new employees needed for our current business or the future growth of our business.
Given the ongoing nature of the outbreak, at this time we cannot reasonably predict the magnitude of the ultimate impact that COVID-19 will have on our business, financial performance and operating results. The effects caused by COVID-19 may extend beyond the timeframe of the pandemic itself. We believe COVID-19’s adverse impact on our business, financial performance and operating results will be significantly driven by a number of factors that we are unable to predict or control, including, for example: new strains of COVID-19 that cause the severity and duration of the pandemic to worsen or extend; the pandemic’s impact on the U.S. and global economies; the effectiveness of governmental responses to the pandemic, including the extension, amendment or withdrawal of any programs or initiatives established by governments; the timing and speed of economic recovery, including adverse economic pressures like rising inflation and less accommodative monetary stimulus; and the negative impact on our fund investors, vendors and other business partners that may indirectly adversely affect us. The impact of COVID-19 may also exacerbate the other risks discussed in this report.
Changes in the debt financing markets may negatively impact the ability of our investment funds, their portfolio companies and strategies pursued with our balance sheet assets to obtain attractive financing for their investments or to refinance existing debt and may increase the cost of such financing or refinancing if it is obtained, which could lead to lower-yielding investments and potentially decrease our net income.
In the event that our funds are unable to obtain committed debt financing for potential acquisitions or can only obtain debt at an increased interest rate or on unfavorable terms, our funds may have difficulty completing otherwise profitable acquisitions or may generate profits that are lower than would otherwise be the case, either of which could lead to a decrease in the investment income earned by us. Any failure by lenders to provide previously committed financing can also expose us to potential claims by sellers of businesses that we may have contracted to purchase. Similarly, certain of the strategies pursued with our balance sheet assets rely on the use of leverage, including the issuance of CLOs, and other secured and unsecured borrowings. Our ability to generate returns on these assets would be reduced to the extent that changes in market conditions, including one or more increases by the U.S. Federal Reserve of its benchmark interest rate or market driven changes to medium- or long-term interest rates, cause the cost of our financing to increase relative to the income that can be derived from the assets acquired and financed. Global Atlantic relies on access to lending and debt markets to provide capital and liquidity for its business. Changes in debt financing markets may impact Global Atlantic's access to capital and liquidity, in particular during times where Global Atlantic requires increased access to such financing. For example, calculations of required insurance capital may move with market movements and result in greater capital needs during economic downturns. Global Atlantic may also need additional liquidity to pay insurance liabilities in excess of its assumptions due to market impacts on policyholder behavior. Similarly, our portfolio companies regularly utilize the corporate debt markets in order to obtain financing for their operations. To the extent that credit markets render such financing difficult to obtain or more expensive, this may negatively impact the operating performance of those portfolio companies and our insurance subsidiaries and, therefore, the investment returns on our funds and our insurance subsidiaries. In addition, to the extent that conditions in the credit markets impair the ability of our portfolio companies to refinance or extend maturities on their outstanding debt, either on favorable terms or at all, the operating performance of those portfolio companies may be negatively impacted, which could impair the value of our investment in those portfolio companies and lead to a decrease in the investment income earned by us. In some cases, the inability of our portfolio companies to refinance or extend maturities may result in the inability of those companies to repay debt at maturity or pay interests when due, and may cause the companies to sell assets, undergo a recapitalization or seek bankruptcy protection, any of which would also likely impair the value of our investment and lead to a decrease in investment income earned by us.
Transition away from LIBOR as a benchmark reference for interest rates may affect the cost of capital and requires amending or restructuring existing debt instruments and related hedging arrangements for us, our investment funds and our portfolio companies, and may impact the value of floating rate securities or loans based on LIBOR that we or our investment funds have held, all of which may result in additional costs or adversely affect our or our funds’ liquidity, results of operations and financial condition.
A substantial portion of credit assets held by our investment funds and our insurance subsidiaries and long-term indebtedness incurred by us, our investment funds, our insurance subsidiaries and our portfolio companies bears interest at variable interest rates, primarily based on LIBOR. In July 2017, the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority (the authority that regulates ICE Benchmark Administration (IBA), the administrator of LIBOR) announced that it intends to stop compelling banks to submit rates for the calculation of LIBOR after 2021. The Alternative Reference Rates Committee, a steering committee of large U.S. financial institutions convened by the Federal Reserve Board and the New York Fed, identified the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) as its recommended alternative reference rate, which measures the cost of borrowing cash overnight collateralized by U.S. Treasury securities. In January 2021, International Swaps and Derivatives Association also amended the definitions used in derivative contracts to incorporate SOFR as the successor rate to LIBOR. On
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December 31, 2021, the following LIBOR currencies across all tenors ceased to be published: Sterling (GBP) LIBOR, Euro LIBOR, Japanese Yen (JPY) LIBOR and Swiss Franc (CHF) LIBOR. Additionally, one week and two month U.S. Dollar (USD) LIBOR tenors ceased to be published. It is expected that the remaining tenors of USD LIBOR will cease to be published and or no longer be representative on June 30, 2023 in the United States, and that SOFR will be the predominant replacement for LIBOR. At this time, it appears that SOFR will attain broad market acceptance as a replacement for LIBOR; however, there may be segments of the market that may opt to utilize other alternative reference rate as various industry organizations are evaluating alternatives to SOFR. As such, it is not possible to predict all potential effects of these changes on U.S. and global credit markets.
As of January, 1, 2022, global regulators have stated there can be no new LIBOR-linked origination and or issuance in any LIBOR currency and as such, remaining USD LIBOR tenors may only be referenced on a legacy basis for facilities that funded on or before December 31, 2021. Agreements governing our corporate revolving credit facility and our capital markets revolving credit facilities either mature before June 30, 2023 or contain “fallback” provisions providing for alternative rate calculations switches for all Non-USD LIBOR currencies as well as USD LIBOR. We, our investment funds and our portfolio companies have other LIBOR-based debt instruments and related hedging arrangements that may require amending or restructuring, which may be difficult, costly and time consuming. In addition, our credit funds extend loans based on LIBOR and invest in floating rate loans and investment securities whose interest rates are indexed to LIBOR. Replacing LIBOR with an alternative reference rate in the underlying agreements may require repricing of these loans and securities, which may have an adverse impact on our funds and us.
Transition from LIBOR to SOFR or to another reference rate may result in an increase or a decrease of the overall borrowing cost for us, our investment funds, our insurance subsidiaries and our portfolio companies. Even if the overall borrowing cost decreases, any savings that we realize from such decrease could be offset partially or entirely by lower overall interest income we receive from our credit assets. In addition, we and certain consolidated funds hold credit investments that generate interest income based on variable interest rates, and if we receive lower interest income, such funds may be adversely affected. If the transition from LIBOR results in an overall increase to the borrowing cost, higher interest expense could negatively affect the financial results and valuations of our portfolio companies. Transition to new reference rates also requires an upgrade to the software and systems we and our third-party vendors use to properly record and process loans and other instruments based on the new rates. Such upgrade may not become fully available in time or its implementation could be delayed because of the dynamic nature of the transition. Any failure to timely implement the necessary software or systems upgrade could adversely affect our business operations. Significant uncertainty still exists as to, for example, the successor reference rate that will be predominantly adopted in the market, emergence of credit sensitive rates, interpretation and or re-negotiation of agreements without clear LIBOR transition provisions, and the expected timing for the anticipated Federal legislative solution named H.R.4616 Adjustable Interest Rate (LIBOR) Act of 2021 to address tough legacy contracts to be signed into law. Such uncertainty could give rise to widespread disputes, including litigation, which can adversely affect us, and result in a sudden or prolonged increase or decrease in the value of LIBOR-based loans and securities, including those of other issuers we or our funds currently own or may in the future own. These changes in value may impact the availability and cost of hedging instruments and borrowings, potentially resulting in an increase to our and our funds’ interest expense and cost of capital. Any increased costs, lower interest income or reduced profits as a result of the foregoing may adversely affect our liquidity, results of operations and financial condition.
We have significant liquidity requirements, and adverse market and economic conditions may adversely affect our sources of liquidity, which could adversely affect our business operations in the future.
We expect that our primary liquidity needs, including those of Global Atlantic, will consist of cash required to:
•continue to grow our businesses, including seeding new strategies, funding our capital commitments made to existing and future funds, co-investments and any net capital requirements of our capital markets companies and otherwise supporting investment vehicles that we sponsor;
•warehouse investments in portfolio companies or other investments for the benefit of one or more of our funds, accounts or CLOs or other investment vehicles pending the contribution of committed capital by the investors in such vehicles, and advancing capital to them for operational or other needs;
•service debt obligations including the payment of obligations at maturity, on interest payment dates or upon redemption, as well as any contingent liabilities, including from litigation, that may give rise to future cash payments;
•fund cash operating expenses and contingencies, including for litigation matters;
•pay policyholders and amounts in our insurance business related to investment, reinvestment, reinsurance or funding agreement activity;
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◦pay amounts that may become due under our tax receivable agreement with KKR Holdings;
•pay cash dividends in accordance with our dividend policy for our common stock or the terms of our preferred stock;
•underwrite commitments, advance loan proceeds and fund syndication commitments within our capital markets business;
•acquire other assets for our Principal Activities business line, including other businesses, investments and assets, some of which may be required to satisfy regulatory requirements for our capital markets business or risk retention requirements for CLOs (to the extent they may apply);
•address capital needs of regulated and other subsidiaries; and
•repurchase shares of our common stock pursuant to the share repurchase program or repurchase or redeem other securities issued by us.
These liquidity requirements are significant and, in some cases, involve capital that will remain invested for extended periods of time. As of December 31, 2021, we have approximately $11.9 billion of remaining unfunded capital commitments to our investment funds and vehicles and approximately $1.2 billion of commitments to capital markets transactions. Our commitments to our funds and other businesses will require significant cash outlays over time, and there can be no assurance that we will be able to generate sufficient cash flows from realizations of investments to fund them. We have also used our balance sheet to provide credit support to our general partner's obligations to our funds, to provide certain guarantees in commercial real estate financing transactions, to support certain transactions by our funds and to facilitate capital markets transactions.
In addition, as of December 31, 2021, we had $38.6 billion of indebtedness outstanding under our credit facilities and debt securities on a GAAP basis and $6.8 billion of indebtedness outstanding under our credit facilities and debt securities on a non-GAAP basis (excluding Global Atlantic, which is reported net of assets and liabilities on a non-GAAP basis), and $10.0 billion of cash and cash equivalents on a GAAP basis and $4.9 billion of cash and short-term investments on a non-GAAP basis (excluding Global Atlantic, which is reported net of assets and liabilities on a non-GAAP basis). The non-GAAP based measures exclude the assets and liabilities of our investment funds, CLOs, and other consolidated entities that are not subsidiaries of KKR & Co. Inc., but include debt obligations of KKR Financial Holdings LLC (“KFN”), which as of December 31, 2021, consisted of $948.5 million. The debt obligations of KFN do not provide for recourse to KKR beyond the assets of KFN. Our $1.0 billion corporate revolving credit facility is scheduled to mature on August 4, 2026. Global Atlantic also has outstanding indebtedness of $1.9 billion as of December 31, 2021. Depending on market conditions, we may not be able to refinance or renew all or part of these senior notes or our corporate revolving credit facility, or find alternate sources of financing (including issuing equity), on commercially reasonable terms or at all. Furthermore, the incurrence of additional debt by us or our subsidiaries in the future could result in downgrades of our existing corporate credit ratings, which could limit the availability of future financing and increase our costs of borrowing.
In addition, the underwriting commitments for our capital markets business may require significant cash obligations, and these commitments may also put pressure on our liquidity. The holding company for our capital markets business has entered into a credit agreement that provides for revolving borrowings of up to $750 million, which can only be used in connection with the general corporate and working capital needs of our capital markets business, including placing and underwriting securities offerings, and a 364-day revolving credit agreement that provides for revolving borrowings of up to $750 million, which can only be used to facilitate the settlement of debt transaction syndicated by our capital markets business. To the extent we commit to buy and sell an issue of securities in firm commitment underwritings or otherwise, we may be required to borrow under these revolving credit facilities or from other sources of liquidity to fund such obligations, which, depending on the size and timing of the obligations, may limit our ability to enter into other underwriting arrangements or similar activities, service existing debt obligations or otherwise grow our business. Further, these facilities are scheduled to mature on March 20, 2025 and April 8, 2022, respectively, and depending on the market conditions, we may not be able to refinance or renew them on commercially reasonable terms or at all. Regulatory net capital requirements may also limit the ability of our broker-dealer subsidiaries to participate in underwriting or other transactions or to allocate our capital more efficiently across our businesses.
In the event that our liquidity requirements were to exceed available liquid assets for the reasons specified above or for any other reasons, we could be forced to sell assets or seek to raise debt or equity capital on unfavorable terms. For further discussion of our liquidity needs, see "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity."
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The "clawback" provisions in our governing agreements may give rise to a contingent obligation that may require us to return or contribute amounts to our funds and fund investors.
Carry distributions may give rise to clawback obligations. The partnership documents governing our carry-paying funds, including funds relating to private equity, credit and real assets investments, generally include a "clawback" provision that, if triggered, may give rise to a contingent obligation requiring the general partner to return amounts to the fund for distribution to the fund investors at the end of the life of the fund. Under a clawback obligation, upon the liquidation of a fund, the general partner is required to return, typically on an after-tax basis, previously distributed carry to the extent that, due to the diminished performance of later investments, the aggregate amount of carry distributions received by the general partner during the term of the fund exceed the amount to which the general partner was ultimately entitled, including the effects of any performance thresholds. We would continue to be subject to the clawback obligation even if carry has been distributed to current or former employees or other persons through our carry pool, and we would be required to seek other sources of liquidity to fund such an obligation if such carry is not returned to us by them. Not all carry may be recoverable from current or former employees and other persons once it has been distributed by us. As of December 31, 2021, $76.0 million of carried interest was subject to this clawback obligation, assuming that all applicable carry-paying funds were liquidated at their December 31, 2021 fair values. Had the investments in such carry-paying funds been liquidated at zero value, the clawback obligation would have been approximately $2.5 billion. See – “Strategic investor partnerships have longer investment periods and invest in multiple strategies, which may increase the possibility of a "netting hole," which will result in less carried interest for us, as well as clawback liabilities.”
Strategic investor partnerships have longer investment periods and invest in multiple strategies, which may increase the possibility of a "netting hole," which will result in less carried interest for us, as well as clawback liabilities.
We have entered into strategic investor partnerships with certain investors, generally through separately managed accounts, which have longer investment periods, often of 20 years or more, and provide for investments across different investment strategies. Compared to our traditional private equity fund structure, these partnerships may offer reduced fees for fund investors and may require netting across various funds in which they invest. For example, these strategic partnerships may net the returns across the various funds in which they invest, in effect potentially creating a "netting hole" across funds, which must be "filled" before any realized gains can be distributed to the general partner as carried interest. The longer investment period and cross-fund netting feature of the strategic investor partnerships increase the possibility of netting holes compared to our traditional private equity fund structure, which, if present, will reduce the carried interest we otherwise would earn. Similarly, the longer duration of these partnerships can increase the risk of clawback, because over a longer investment period, a period of reduced performance following periods of performance adequate to realize carried interest is more likely to occur. See "—The 'clawback' provisions in our governing agreements may give rise to a contingent obligation that may require us to return or contribute amounts to our funds and fund investors."
AUM referred to as perpetual capital is subject to material reduction, including through withdrawal, redemption or dividends, and termination.
We refer to a significant portion of our AUM from time to time as perpetual capital, because it has an indefinite term with no predetermined requirement to return invested capital to investors upon the realization of investments. This AUM includes the capital of our registered funds, certain unregistered funds, listed companies, and insurance companies, and it excludes our traditional private equity funds, similarly structured investment funds, and hedge fund partnerships. In addition to fluctuations based on the valuations of the underlying investments of the AUM, this capital is subject, however, to withdrawals, redemptions and periodic payments such as dividends. Perpetual capital may also be reduced through elections by investors to redeem their fund investment. In addition, we expect that the capital arising from KKR’s investment management agreements with Global Atlantic would, in general, be reduced if outflows to pay policyholder obligations under Global Atlantic's insurance policies and reinsurance agreements exceed inflow from writing new insurance policies or entering into new reinsurance transactions. Moreover, perpetual capital may be removed from our AUM under certain circumstances, because the underlying investment management agreement may be terminated by a client for specific reasons like poor investment performance, and perpetual capital may also be terminated by a client’s failure to renew our investment management agreement. Therefore, investors should not view this component of our AUM as being permanent without exception, because it can be subject to material reductions and even termination.
Many parts of our earnings and cash flow are highly variable due to the nature of our business and we generally do not intend to provide earnings guidance, each of which may cause the value of interests in our business to be volatile.
Many parts of our earnings are highly variable from quarter to quarter due to the volatility of investment returns of most of our funds, other investment vehicles and our balance sheet assets and the transaction and other fees earned from our businesses. We recognize earnings on investments in our funds based on our allocable share of realized and unrealized gains (or losses) reported by such funds and for certain of our recent funds, when a performance hurdle is achieved. During times of market volatility the fair value of our funds and our balance sheet assets are more variable, and as publicly traded equity securities
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currently represent a significant proportion of the assets of many of our funds and balance sheet assets, volatility in the equity markets may have a significant impact on our reported results. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Critical Accounting Policies—Fair Value Measurements" for a discussion of the impact of equity markets on the value of private equity investments. A decline in realized or unrealized gains, a failure to achieve a performance hurdle or an increase in realized or unrealized losses, would adversely affect our net income.
Fee income, which we recognize when contractually earned, can vary due to fluctuations in AUM, the number of investment transactions made by our funds, the number of portfolio companies we manage, the fee provisions contained in our funds and other investment products and transactions by our capital markets business. In any particular quarter, fee income may vary significantly due to the variances in size and frequency of monitoring fees (including termination payments), transaction fees or fees received by our capital markets business. Our total management, monitoring and transaction fees (net of fee credits) for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 were $2,524.5 million, $1,744.4 million and $1,504.6 million, respectively, on a GAAP basis, and $3,075.7 million, $2,074.0 million and $1,812.8 million, respectively, on a non-GAAP basis. We may create new funds or investment products or vary the terms of our funds or investment products (for example our funds now include performance hurdles), which may alter the composition or mix of our income from time to time. In particular, in our private equity and other funds raised since 2014, we credit all monitoring and transaction fees generated by the fund's investments against fund management fees, which results in a decrease of our monitoring and transaction fee income. We may also experience fluctuations in our results from quarter to quarter, including our revenue and net income, due to a number of other factors, including changes in the values of our funds' investments, changes in the amount of distributions or interest earned in respect of investments, changes in our operating expenses, the degree to which we encounter competition and general market and economic conditions. In addition, our earnings and cash flows are dependent in part on the performance of KKR Financial Holdings LLC ("KFN"), a specialty finance company that we acquired in 2014, and Global Atlantic, a retirement and life insurance company that we acquired in 2021, and are subject to the risks to these businesses as described elsewhere in the report. Although KFN and Global Atlantic are subsidiaries of KKR, KFN and Global Atlantic each has its own indebtedness outstanding. The terms of their respective indebtedness impose limitations on these companies' current and future operations and may restrict its ability to make distributions to KKR. In addition, Global Atlantic's insurance subsidiaries are also subject to regulatory restrictions that may restrict their ability to make distributions to KKR. For the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, our net income attributable to KKR & Co. Inc. Common Stockholders was $4,560.8 million, $1,946.0 million and $1,971.7 million, respectively, and our after-tax distributable earnings was $3,915.6 million, $1,768.8 million and $1,613.1 million, respectively. Such fluctuations may lead to variability in the value of interests in our business and cause our results for a particular period not to be indicative of our performance in future periods. It may be difficult for us to achieve steady growth in net income and cash flow on a quarterly basis, which could in turn lead to large adverse movements in the value of interests in our business.
The timing and receipt of carried interest from our investment funds are unpredictable and will contribute to the volatility of our cash flows. For example, with respect to our private equity funds, carried interest is distributed to the general partner of a private equity fund with a clawback provision only after all of the following are met: (i) a realization event has occurred (e.g., sale of a portfolio company, dividend, etc.); (ii) the fund has achieved positive overall investment returns since its inception, in excess of performance hurdles where applicable, and is accruing carried interest; and (iii) with respect to investments with a fair value below cost (which we refer to as a netting hole), cost has been returned to fund investors in an amount sufficient to reduce remaining cost to the investments' fair value. Carried interest payments from investments depend on our funds' performance and opportunities for realizing gains, which may be limited. It takes a substantial period of time to identify attractive investment opportunities, to raise all the funds needed to make an investment and then to realize the cash value (or other proceeds) of an investment through a sale, public offering or other exit. To the extent an investment is not profitable, no carried interest will be received from our funds with respect to that investment and, to the extent such investment remains unprofitable, we will only be entitled to a management fee on that investment. Furthermore, certain vehicles and separately managed accounts may not provide for the payment of any carried interest at all. Even if an investment proves to be profitable, it may be several years before any profits can be realized in cash. We cannot predict when, or if, any realization of investments will occur. In addition, if finance providers, such as commercial and investment banks, make it difficult for potential purchasers to secure financing to purchase companies in our investment funds' portfolio, it may decrease potential realization events and the potential to earn carried interest. A downturn in the equity markets would also make it more difficult to exit investments by selling equity securities. If we were to have a realization event in a particular quarter, the event may have a significant impact on our cash flows during the quarter that may not be replicated in subsequent quarters. A decline in realized or unrealized gains, or an increase in realized or unrealized losses, would adversely affect our investment income, which could further increase the volatility of our quarterly results.
The timing and receipt of carried interest also vary with the life cycle of certain of our funds. Our carry-paying funds that have completed their investment periods and are able to realize mature investments, sometimes referred to as being in a "harvesting period," are more likely to make larger distributions than our carry-paying funds that are in their fund raising or
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investment periods that precede the harvesting period. During times when a significant portion of our AUM is attributable to carry-paying funds that are not in their harvesting periods, we may receive substantially lower carried interest distributions.
In addition, we have formed strategic partnerships with third-party hedge fund managers in which KKR owns a minority stake (which we refer to as "hedge fund partnerships"). These third-party hedge fund managers offer a variety of investment strategies, including hedge fund-of-funds, equity hedge funds and credit hedge funds. As a result, we are indirectly exposed to the volatility and fluctuations in financial results of these hedge fund managers and could become exposed to lawsuits or other liabilities arising from their business and operations. For example, certain funds managed by the hedge fund managers have "high-water mark" provisions whereby if the funds have experienced losses in prior periods, the fund managers will not be able to earn incentive fees with respect to a fund investor's account until the net asset value of the fund investor's account exceeds the highest period end value on which incentive fees were previously paid. The incentive fees the hedge fund managers earn are therefore dependent on the net asset value of these funds, which could add to volatility in our quarterly results and cash flow.
A decline in the pace or size of investment by our funds would result in our receiving less revenue from fees.
The transaction and management or monitoring fees that we earn are driven in part by the pace at which our funds make investments and the size of those investments. Any decline in that pace or the size of investments would reduce our revenue from transaction and management or monitoring fees. Likewise, during an attractive selling environment, our funds may capitalize on increased opportunities to exit investments. Any increase in the pace at which our funds exit investments, if not offset by new commitments and investments, would reduce future management fees. Additionally, in certain of our funds that derive management fees only on the basis of invested capital, the pace at which we make investments, the length of time we hold such investment and the timing of disposition will directly impact our revenues. Many factors could cause such a decline in the pace of investment or the transaction and management or monitoring fees we receive, including:
•the inability of our investment professionals to identify attractive investment opportunities;
•competition for such opportunities among other potential acquirers;
•unfavorable market and economic conditions;
•decreased availability of capital or financing on attractive terms;
•our failure to consummate identified investment opportunities because of business, regulatory or legal complexities and adverse developments in the U.S. or global economy or financial markets;
•terms we may agree with or provide to our fund investors or investors in separately managed accounts with respect to fees such as increasing the percentage of transaction or other fees we may share with our fund investors; and
•new regulations, guidance or other actions provided or taken by regulatory authorities.
Our inability to raise additional or successor funds (or raise successor funds of a comparable size as our predecessor funds) could have a material adverse impact on our business.
Our current private equity funds and certain other funds and investment vehicles have a finite life and a finite amount of commitments from fund investors. Once a fund nears the end of its investment period, our success depends on our ability to raise additional or successor funds in order to keep making investments and, over the long term, earning management fees (although our funds and investment vehicles continue to earn management fees after the expiration of their investment periods, they are generally at a reduced rate). Even if we are successful in raising successor funds, to the extent we are unable to raise successor funds of a comparable size to our predecessor funds or the extent that we are delayed in raising such successor funds, our revenues may decrease as the investment period of our predecessor funds expire and associated fees decrease. For example, European Fund IV was smaller than its predecessor fund and North America Fund XI was smaller than its predecessor fund. The performance of our funds also impacts our ability to raise capital, and deterioration in the performance of our funds would result in challenges to future fundraising. The evolving preferences of our fund investors may necessitate that alternatives to the traditional investment fund structure, such as separately managed accounts, smaller funds and co-investment vehicles, become a larger part of our business going forward. This could increase our cost of raising capital at the scale we have historically achieved. Furthermore, in order to raise capital for new strategies and products without drawing capital away from our existing products, we will need to seek new sources of capital such as individual investors.
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Our ability to raise new funds could also be hampered if the general appeal of alternative asset investments were to decline. An investment in a limited partner interest in an alternative asset fund like private equity is less liquid than an exchange traded instrument and the returns on such investment may be more volatile than an investment in securities for which there is a more active and transparent market. Alternative asset investments could fall into disfavor as a result of concerns about liquidity and short-term or long-term performance. Institutional investors that have suffered from decreasing returns, liquidity pressure, increased volatility or difficulty maintaining target asset allocations may materially decrease or temporarily suspend making new investments in our investment funds. Such concerns could be exhibited, in particular, by public pension funds, which have historically been among the largest investors in alternative assets. Many public pension funds are significantly underfunded and their funding problems have been, and may in the future be, exacerbated by economic downturn. Concerns with liquidity could cause such public pension funds to reevaluate the appropriateness of alternative assets, and other institutional investors may reduce their overall portfolio allocations to alternative assets. This could result in a smaller overall pool of available capital in our industry. There is no assurance that the amount of commitments investors are making to alternative asset funds will continue at recent levels or that our ability to raise capital from investors will not be hampered.
In addition, the asset allocation rules or regulations or investment policies to which such third-party investors are subject could inhibit or restrict the ability of third-party investors to make investments in our investment funds. Coupled with a lack of distributions from their existing investment portfolios, many of these investors may have been left with disproportionately outsized remaining commitments to, and invested capital in, a number of investment funds, which may significantly limit their ability to make new commitments to third-party managed investment funds such as those advised by us.
Fund investors may also seek to redeploy capital away from certain of our credit or other non-private equity investment vehicles, which permit redemptions on relatively short notice in order to meet liquidity needs or invest in other asset classes. We believe that our ability to avoid excessive redemption levels primarily depends on our funds' continued satisfactory performance, although redemptions may also be driven by other factors important to our fund investors, including their need for liquidity and compliance with investment mandates, even if our performance is superior. Investors' liquidity needs tend to be more pronounced during periods of market volatility. Any such redemptions would decrease our AUM and revenues.
In addition, the Dodd-Frank Act, under what has become known as the “Volcker Rule,” broadly prohibits depository institution holding companies (including foreign banks with U.S. branches, agencies or commercial lending companies and certain insurance companies), insured depository institutions and their subsidiaries and controlled affiliates (“banking entities”) from investing in “covered funds,” including third-party alternative asset funds like ours. As a result, banking entities, subject to certain limited exemptions, had to conform their existing covered fund investments and relationships to the Volcker Rule, and are limited in their ability to undertake new contractual commitments to our investment funds. In addition to federal law, changes in state and local law may limit investment activities of state pension plans and insurance companies.
The number of funds raising capital varies from year to year, and in years where relatively few of our funds are raising capital, the growth of our AUM, FPAUM and associated fees may be significantly lower. There is no assurance that fundraises for new strategies or successor funds will experience similar success as our existing or predecessor funds in the future.
Our investors in future funds may negotiate to pay us lower management fees, reimburse us for fewer expenses or change the economic terms of our future funds, including with respect to transaction fees, management fees or monitoring fees, to be less favorable to us than those of our existing funds, which could materially and adversely affect our revenues or profitability.
In connection with raising new funds or securing additional investments in existing funds, we negotiate terms for such funds and investments with our fund limited partners. The outcome of such negotiations could result in our agreement to terms that are materially less favorable to us than the terms of prior funds we have advised or funds advised by our competitors. Such terms could restrict our ability to raise investment funds with investment objectives or strategies that compete with existing funds, reduce fee revenues we earn, reduce the percentage of profits on third-party capital in which we share, increase the performance hurdle required to be generated on investment prior to our right to receive carried interest, add expenses and obligations for us in managing the fund or increase our potential liabilities. Furthermore, as institutional investors increasingly consolidate their relationships with investment firms and competition becomes more acute, we may receive more requests to modify the terms in our new funds. Certain of our newer funds also include more favorable terms for fund investors that commit to early closes for our funds. Additionally, in certain funds, we have agreed to charge management fees based on invested capital or net asset value as opposed to charging management fees based on committed capital. In certain cases, we have provided "fee holidays" to certain investors during which we do not charge management fees for a fixed period of time (such as the first six months). Agreement to terms that are materially less favorable to us could result in a material decrease in our profitability.
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Certain institutional investors have also publicly criticized certain fund fee and expense structures, including monitoring fees and transaction fees. We have received and expect to continue to receive requests from a variety of fund investors and groups representing such investors to decrease fees and to modify our carried interest and incentive fee structures, which could result in a reduction or delay in the timing of receipt of the fees and carried interest and incentive fees we earn. The SEC has focused on certain fund fees and expenses, including whether such fees and expenses were appropriately disclosed to fund investors, and such focus may lead to increased publicity that could cause fund investors to further resist our receipt of certain fees and expense reimbursements. In our private equity funds and other funds since 2014, we have increased the percentage of transaction and monitoring fees that are credited against fund management fees to 100% of the amount of the transaction and monitoring fees attributable to that fund.
In addition, certain institutional investors, including sovereign wealth funds and public pension funds, have demonstrated an increased preference for alternatives to the traditional investment fund structure, such as separately managed accounts, specialized funds and co-investment vehicles. We also have entered into strategic investor partnerships with specific investors whereby we manage that investor's capital across a variety of our products on separately negotiated terms. There can be no assurance that such alternatives will be as profitable to us as the traditional investment fund structure, and the impact such a trend could have on our results of operations, if widely implemented, is unclear. Moreover, certain institutional investors are demonstrating a preference to in-source their own investment professionals and to make direct investments in alternative assets without the assistance of investment advisers like us. Such institutional investors may become our competitors and could cease to be our clients.
Any agreement to or changes in terms less favorable to us could materially and adversely affect our revenues and profitability.
The investment management business is intensely competitive, which could have a material adverse impact on our business.
We compete as an investment manager for both fund investors and investment opportunities. The investment management business is highly fragmented, with our competitors consisting primarily of sponsors of public and private investment funds, real estate development companies, business development companies, investment banks, commercial finance companies and operating companies acting as strategic buyers of businesses. We believe that competition for fund investors is based primarily on:
•investment performance;
•investor liquidity and willingness to invest;
•investor perception of investment managers' drive, focus and alignment of interest;
•business reputation;
•the duration of relationships with fund investors;
•the quality of services provided to fund investors;
•pricing;
•fund terms (including fees and expense reimbursement);
•the relative attractiveness of the types of investments that have been or will be made; and
•consideration for environmental, social and governance issues.
We believe that competition for investment opportunities is based primarily on the pricing, terms and structure of a proposed investment and certainty of execution.
A number of factors serve to increase our competitive risks:
•a number of our competitors in some of our businesses may have greater financial, technical, marketing and other resources and more personnel than we do, and, in the case of some asset classes or geographic regions, longer operating histories, more established relationships, greater expertise or better reputation;
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•fund investors may materially decrease their allocations in new funds due to their experiences following an economic downturn, the limited availability of capital, regulatory requirements or a desire to consolidate their relationships with investment firms;
•some of our competitors may have agreed to terms on their investment funds or products that are more favorable to fund investors than our funds or products, such as lower management fees, greater fee sharing or higher performance hurdles for carried interest, and therefore we may be forced to match or otherwise revise our terms to be less favorable to us than they have been in the past;
•some of our funds may not perform as well as competitors' funds or other available investment products;
•our competitors have raised or may raise significant amounts of capital, and many of them have similar investment objectives and strategies to our funds, which may create additional competition for investment opportunities and may reduce the size and duration of pricing inefficiencies that many alternative investment strategies seek to exploit;
•some of these competitors may also have a lower cost of capital and access to funding sources that are not available to us, which may create competitive disadvantages for us with respect to investment opportunities;
•some of our competitors may have higher risk tolerances, different risk assessments or lower return thresholds, which could allow them to consider a wider variety of investments and to bid more aggressively than us for investments;
•some of our competitors may be subject to less regulation or less regulatory scrutiny and accordingly may have more flexibility to undertake and execute certain businesses or investments than we do and/or bear less expense to comply with such regulations than we do;
•there are relatively few barriers to entry impeding the formation of new funds, including a relatively low cost of entering these businesses, and the successful efforts of new entrants into our various lines of business, including major commercial and investment banks and other financial institutions, have resulted in increased competition;
•some fund investors may prefer to invest with an investment manager that is not publicly traded, is smaller or manages fewer investment products; and
•other industry participants will from time to time seek to recruit our investment professionals and other employees away from us.
We may lose investment opportunities in the future if we do not match investment prices, structures and terms offered by competitors. Our competitors that are corporate buyers may be able to achieve synergistic cost savings in respect of an investment, which may provide them with a competitive advantage in bidding for an investment. Alternatively, we may experience decreased investment returns and increased risks of loss if we match investment prices, structures and terms offered by competitors. Moreover, as a result, if we are forced to compete with other investment firms on the basis of price, we may not be able to maintain our current fund fee, carried interest or other terms. There is a risk that fees and carried interest in the alternative investment management industry will decline, without regard to the historical performance of a manager. Fee or carried interest income reductions on existing or future funds, without corresponding decreases in our cost structure, could materially and adversely affect our revenues and profitability.
In addition, if interest rates were to rise or if market conditions for competing investment products become or are more favorable and such products begin to offer rates of return superior to those achieved by our funds, the attractiveness of our funds relative to investments in other investment products could decrease. This competitive pressure could materially and adversely affect our ability to make successful investments and limit our ability to raise future funds, either of which would adversely impact our business, results of operations and cash flow.
We are subject to increasing focus by our fund investors, our stockholders and regulators on environmental, social and governance ("ESG") matters.
Our fund investors, stockholders, regulators and other stakeholders are increasingly focused on ESG matters. Certain fund investors, including public pension funds, have considered our record of socially responsible investing and other ESG factors in determining whether to invest in our funds. Similarly, certain of our stockholders, particularly institutional investors, use third-party benchmarks or scores to measure our ESG practices, and decide whether to invest in our common stock or engage with us to require changes to our practices. If our ESG practices do not meet the standards set by these fund investors or stockholders, they may choose not to invest in our funds or exclude our common stock from their investments, and we may face reputational challenges by other stakeholders. The occurrence of any of the foregoing could have a material adverse impact on new
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fundraises and negatively affect the price of our stock. In addition, there has also been an increased regulatory focus on ESG-related practices by investment managers. In 2021, the SEC established an enforcement task force to look into ESG practices and disclosures by public companies and investment managers and may impose more stringent regulation of ESG funds and ESG-related claims. In addition, a new EU regulation on sustainability disclosure, which is intended to standardize the definition of environmentally sustainable investing, went into effect in March 2021. If regulators enact rules that govern ESG matters, such as climate change, or disagree with the procedures or standards we use for ESG investing, or new regulation or legislation requires a methodology of measuring or disclosing ESG impact that is different from our current practice, our business and reputation could be adversely affected. See “—Extensive regulation of our businesses affects our activities and creates the potential for significant liabilities and penalties. The possibility of increased regulatory focus or legislative or regulatory changes could materially and adversely affect our business.”
Changes in relevant tax laws, regulations or treaties or an adverse interpretation of these items by tax authorities could adversely impact our effective tax rate and tax liability.
Our effective tax rate and tax liability is based on the application of current income tax laws, regulations and treaties. These laws, regulations and treaties are complex, and the manner which they apply to us and our funds is sometimes open to interpretation. Significant management judgment is required in determining our provision for income taxes, our deferred tax assets and liabilities and any valuation allowance recorded against our net deferred tax assets. Although management believes its application of current laws, regulations and treaties to be correct and sustainable upon examination by the tax authorities, the tax authorities could challenge our interpretation resulting in additional tax liability or adjustment to our income tax provision that could increase our effective tax rate. Regarding the impact of our conversion to a corporation on our income taxes, see Note 18 "Income Taxes" in our financial statements.
Tax laws, regulations or treaties newly enacted or enacted in the future may cause us to revalue our net deferred tax assets and have a material change to our effective tax rate and tax liabilities. Final regulations relating to compensation for certain covered employees under Section 162(m) could meaningfully reduce the amount of tax deductions available to us in 2021 and in future years.
Additionally, foreign and state and local governments may enact tax laws that could result in further changes to foreign and state and local taxation and materially affect our financial position and results of operations.
There could be significant changes in U.S. tax law and regulations. While the likelihood and nature of any such legislation or regulations is uncertain, any such changes could materially increase the amount of taxes we or our portfolio companies are required to pay. Among other things, new laws could seek to increase the corporate tax rate or corporate tax base (for example, by way of a book minimum tax), limit further the deductibility of interest, and subject non-U.S. taxable income to a higher level of U.S. tax. Any such tax changes could materially increase the amount of taxes we, our portfolio companies and our investors would be required to pay directly or indirectly. For example, increases in the corporate tax rate may adversely impact the cash flow of our portfolio companies and result in our funds selling those assets at values that are less than we projected, which would in turn have negative impact to the investment fund’s performance and to the pace of realizations. Other changes that could be enacted in the future, including changes to tax laws enacted by state or local governments in jurisdictions in which we or our portfolio companies operate, could result in further changes to state and local taxation and materially adversely affect our financial position and results of operations.
The U.S. Congress, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (the "OECD") and other government agencies in jurisdictions in which we and our affiliates invest or do business have maintained a focus on issues related to the taxation of multinational companies, such as KKR. The OECD, which represents a coalition of member countries, is contemplating changes to numerous long-standing tax principles through its base erosion and profit shifting ("BEPS") project, which is focused on a number of issues, including profit shifting among affiliated entities in different jurisdictions, interest deductibility and eligibility for the benefits of double tax treaties. Several of the proposed measures, including measures covering treaty abuse (including an anti-abuse "principal purpose" test that would deny treaty benefits to the extent that obtaining such benefit was one of the principal purposes of any arrangement or transaction that resulted directly or indirectly in such benefit), the deductibility of interest expense, local nexus requirements, transfer pricing and hybrid mismatch arrangements are potentially relevant to some of our structures and could have an adverse tax impact on our funds, investors and/or our portfolio companies. Some member countries have been moving forward on the BEPS agenda but, because timing of implementation and the specific measures adopted will vary among participating states, significant uncertainty remains regarding the impact of BEPS proposals. If implemented, these and other proposals could result in a loss of tax treaty benefits and increased taxes on income from our investments. In addition, the OECD is working on a two pillar initiative, “BEPS 2.0”, which is aimed at (1) shifting taxing rights to the jurisdiction of the consumer (“Pillar One”) and (2) ensuring all companies pay a global minimum tax (“Pillar Two”). For countries other than the U.S., the OECD recommended model rules for Pillar Two in late 2021. For the U.S., the OECD is expected to complete its recommendation in early 2022 with the release of commentary on the interaction between the model rules and current U.S. tax law. Countries or jurisdictions may implement the recommended model rules as drafted, in a modified form, or not at all. Our business and our portfolio companies’ businesses could be
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significantly impacted if the model rules, or any future variation, are implemented in any of the countries in which our business, our portfolio companies’ businesses, or our investment structures are located. The timing and scope of any provisions remain subject to significant uncertainty.
We depend on our founders and other key personnel, the loss of whose services could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
We depend on the efforts, skills, reputations and business contacts of our employees, including our founders, Henry Kravis and George Roberts, and other key personnel, the information and deal flow they and others generate during the normal course of their activities and the synergies among the diverse fields of expertise and knowledge held by our professionals. Accordingly, our success depends on the continued service of these individuals, who are not obligated to remain employed with us. The loss of the services of any of them could have a material adverse effect on our revenues, net income and cash flows and could harm our ability to maintain or grow AUM in existing funds or raise additional funds in the future.
Our employees and other key personnel possess substantial experience and expertise and have strong business relationships with investors in our funds and other members of the business community. As a result, the loss of these personnel could jeopardize our relationships with investors in our funds and members of the business community and result in the reduction of AUM or fewer investment opportunities. For example, if any of our key personnel were to join or form a competing firm, our business, results of operations and financial condition could suffer. Global Atlantic's business similarly depends on the ability to attract and retain experienced insurance professionals. Global Atlantic does not have a captive distribution force and must attract and retain life insurance agents who may also sell products of other insurers. Global Atlantic's Bermuda business must maintain key personnel in Bermuda. As a result, if Global Atlantic is unable to recruit Bermudian employees, or obtain or renew work permits for current or prospective non-Bermudian employees, Global Atlantic's Bermuda insurance subsidiaries may not be able to maintain their operations and support growth in the business.
Furthermore, the agreements governing our committed capital funds generally provide that in the event certain "key persons" (for example, investment professionals who are named as "key executives" for certain geographically or product focused funds) cease to actively manage a fund or be substantially involved in KKR activities, investors in the fund will be entitled to reduce, in whole or in part, their capital commitments available for further investments on an investor-by-investor basis. In the case of certain of our fully paid-up funds, investors may be permitted to terminate their investment in the event a "key persons" provision is triggered, which could possibly lead to a liquidation of those funds. In addition, the occurrence of such a "key person" event could cause us to agree to less favorable ongoing terms with respect to the affected fund. Although we periodically engage in discussions with the limited partners of our funds regarding a waiver of such provisions with respect to executives involved in geographically or product focused funds whose departures have occurred or are anticipated, such waiver is not guaranteed, and our limited partners' refusal to provide a waiver may have a material adverse effect on our revenue, net income and cash flow.
If we cannot retain and motivate our employees and other key personnel and recruit, retain and motivate new employees and other key personnel, our business, results of operations and financial condition could be materially and adversely affected.
Our most important asset is our people, and our continued success is highly dependent upon the efforts of our employees and other key personnel, and to a substantial degree on our ability to retain and motivate our employees and other key personnel and to strategically recruit, retain and motivate new talented employees, including qualified investment professionals. However, we may not be successful in these efforts as the market for talented and qualified candidates is extremely competitive. Our ability to recruit, retain and motivate our employees is dependent on our ability to offer highly attractive incentive opportunities. Under the 2017 Tax Act, investments must be held for more than three years, rather than the prior requirement of more than one year, for carried interest to be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as capital gain. The longer holding period requirement may result in some of our carried interest being treated as ordinary income, which would materially increase the amount of taxes that our employees and other key personnel would be required to pay, thereby adversely affecting our ability to offer attractive incentive opportunities. In addition, the tax treatment of carried interest may continue to be an area of focus for policymakers and government officials, which could result in a further regulatory action by federal or state governments. For example, the current U.S. administration may seek to treat carried interest as ordinary income, and certain states, including New York and California, have proposed legislation to levy additional state tax on carried interest, which may also negatively affect our ability to attract and retain employees and key personnel. Similarly, changes in the United Kingdom with respect to the taxation of carried interest, including the treatment of certain carried interest returns as income, which became effective from April 6, 2016, may impact our ability to recruit, retain and motivate employees and key personnel in the United Kingdom. In addition, there have been proposed laws and regulations that sought to regulate the compensation of certain of our employees, including regulations to clawback their compensation in certain circumstances. See “—Extensive regulation of our business affects our activities and creates the potential for significant liabilities and penalties. The possibility of increased regulatory focus or legislative or regulatory changes could materially and adversely affect our business.” The loss of even a small number of our investment professionals could jeopardize the performance of our funds and other investment products, which would have a material adverse effect on our results of operations. Efforts to retain or attract employees, including our
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investment professionals, may result in significant additional expenses, which could materially and adversely affect our profitability.
Many of our employees hold interests in our carry pool through KKR Associates Holdings L.P. Currently 40%, 43% or 65%, as applicable, of the carried interest earned from our investment funds is allocated to our carry pool. There can be no assurance that the carry pool will have sufficient cash available to continue to make cash payments in the future and fluctuations from the distributions generated from the carry pool, if not offset by funds from other sources, including other performance-based income, could render the compensation that KKR pays to be less attractive. In any of these circumstances, a higher percentage of our revenue may be required to be paid as cash compensation, which could have a material adverse impact on our profit margins. We are not permitted under our certificate of incorporation to increase the percentage of carried interest allocable to the carry pool without the consent of a majority of our independent directors.
We have granted equity awards from our Equity Incentive Plans and expect to continue to grant equity awards from our 2019 Equity Incentive Plan, which has caused and will cause dilution. If we increase the use of equity awards in the future, expense associated with equity-based compensation may increase materially. For example, in 2021 we issued equity awards with respect to 24.5 million shares of common stock under our 2019 Equity Incentive Plan, of which 19.5 million represent market condition awards subject to both stock price target requirements and service requirements. In addition, KKR Holdings granted 2.3 million KKR Holdings units to certain senior employees. These KKR Holdings awards were granted from outstanding but previously unallocated units of KKR Holdings, and consequently these grants did not increase the number of KKR Holdings units outstanding or outstanding KKR common units on a fully-diluted basis. See "Executive Compensation—Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table and Grants of Plan-Based Awards—Terms of KKR Holdings Units" for the terms and conditions of such KKR Holdings units. The value of the KKR Holdings units and KKR common stock and may drop in value or be volatile, which may make our equity less attractive to our employees.
In July 2015, the SEC proposed rules, as mandated by the Dodd-Frank Act, requiring companies to develop and enforce recovery policies that in the event of an accounting restatement, “claw back” from current and former executive officers incentive-based compensation they would not have received based on the restatement. In April and May 2016, the SEC also issued for public comment revised proposed rules designed to prohibit certain incentive-based compensation arrangements deemed to encourage inappropriate risk taking by covered financial institutions by providing “excessive” compensation, fees or benefits or that could lead to material losses. Although the SEC has not adopted the proposed rules to date, in October 2021, the SEC re-opened the comment period on the proposed “claw back” rules for compensation, and depending on the outcome of the rule making process, the application of these rules to us could require us to substantially revise our compensation strategy, increase our compensation and other costs, and materially and adversely affect our ability to recruit and retain qualified employees. In addition, less carried interest from the carry pool may be allocated to certain of our employees, which may result in less cash payments to such employees. To the extent our equity incentive or carry pool programs are not effective, we may be limited in our ability to attract, retain and motivate talented employees and other key personnel and we may need to increase the level of cash compensation that we pay.
In addition, there is no guarantee that the confidentiality and restrictive covenant agreements to which our executives, employees and other key personnel are subject, together with our other arrangements with them, will prevent them from leaving us, joining our competitors or otherwise competing with us. Depending on which entity is a party to these agreements and/or the laws applicable to them, we may not be able to, or may choose not to, enforce them or become subject to lawsuits or other claims, and certain of these agreements might be waived, modified or amended at any time without our consent. Even when enforceable, these agreements expire after a certain period of time, at which point each of our executives, employees and other key personnel are free to compete against us and solicit our fund investors and employees. See “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence—Confidentiality and Restrictive Covenant Agreements.”
Furthermore, we also rely significantly on consultants and other contingent workers, and our failure to effectively manage this workforce could adversely affect our results of operations. Our ability to manage the costs associated with engaging a contingent workforce may also be impacted by more stringent labor rights laws in the future.
We strive to maintain a work environment that reinforces our culture of collaboration, inclusiveness, motivation and alignment of interests with fund investors. If we do not continue to develop and implement the right processes and tools to manage our changing enterprise and maintain our culture, our ability to compete successfully and achieve our business objectives could be impaired, which could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Operational risks may disrupt our businesses, result in losses or limit our growth.
We rely heavily on our financial, accounting and other data processing systems and on the systems of third parties who provide services to us. If any of these systems do not operate properly, are disabled or not appropriately updated, we could suffer financial loss, a disruption of our businesses, liability to our funds, regulatory intervention, fines, sanctions or reputational damage. In addition, we operate in businesses that are highly dependent on information systems and technology.
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For example, we face operational risk from errors made in the execution, confirmation or settlement of transactions and reliance on manual processes in certain circumstances. We also face operational risk from transactions not being properly recorded, evaluated or accounted for in our funds. In particular, our Public Markets business line is highly dependent on our ability to process and evaluate, on a daily basis, transactions across markets and geographies in a time-sensitive, efficient and accurate manner. Our and our third-party service providers' information systems and technology may not continue to be able to accommodate our growth, may not be able to adequately protect the information of our clients, may not be suitable for new products and strategies (including instruments using SOFR or another successor rate to LIBOR) and may be subject to security risks, and the cost of maintaining such systems and technology may increase from our current level. Such a failure to accommodate growth, or an increase in costs related to such information systems and technology, could have a material adverse effect on our business. We are also dependent on an increasingly concentrated group of third-party vendors that we do not control for hosting solutions and technologies. A disaster or a disruption in technology or infrastructure that supports our businesses, including a disruption involving electronic communications or other services used by us, our vendors or third parties with whom we conduct business, including paying agents and escrow agents, or directly affecting our principal offices, could have a material adverse impact on our ability to continue to operate our business without interruption. Our business continuation or disaster recovery programs may not be sufficient to mitigate the harm that may result from such a disaster or disruption. In addition, insurance and other safeguards might only partially reimburse us for our losses, if at all. Furthermore, most of our administrative personnel and our information system and technology infrastructure for the asset management business are located in our New York City office. Any disruption in the operation of, or inability to access, our New York City office could have a significant impact on our business, and such risk of disruption or inaccessibility could be heightened during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cyber-security failures and data security breaches may disrupt or have a material adverse impact on our businesses, operations and investments.
We rely on the secure processing, storage and transmission of confidential and other information in our computer systems and networks. We face various security threats on a regular basis, including ongoing cyber-security threats to and attacks on our information technology infrastructure that are intended to gain access to our proprietary information, destroy data or disable, degrade or sabotage our systems. Although we take protective measures and endeavor to modify them as circumstances warrant, our computer systems, software and networks may be vulnerable to unauthorized access, theft, misuse, computer viruses or other malicious code, and other events that could have a security impact. We may be exposed to a more significant risk if these acts are taken by state actors. We and our employees have been and expect to continue to be the target of fraudulent calls and emails, and the subject of impersonations and fraudulent requests for money, including attempts to redirect material payment amounts in a transaction to a fraudulent bank account, and other forms of activities. Cyber-criminals may attempt to redirect payments required to be paid at the closings of our investments to unauthorized accounts, which we or the services providers we retain, like paying agents and escrow agents, may not be able to detect or protect against. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated these risks due to heavier reliance on online communication and remote working environment, which are less secure, and a significant increase in ransomware and other hacking attempts by cyber-criminals. The costs related to cyber or other security threats or disruptions may not be fully insured or indemnified by others, including by our service providers.
Cyber-security has become a top priority for regulators around the world. Many jurisdictions in which we operate have laws and regulations relating to data privacy, cyber-security and protection of personal information, including the General Data Protection Regulation in the European Union that became effective in May 2018 and the California Consumer Privacy Act that became effective in January 2020. Some jurisdictions have also enacted laws requiring companies to notify individuals of data security breaches involving certain types of personal data. Global Atlantic, in particular, processes sensitive personal information of its policyholders, which exposes Global Atlantic to a heightened risk, as discussed in "—Risks Related to Global Atlantic—Business Risks Related to Global Atlantic—Any failure to protect the confidentiality of client information could adversely affect Global Atlantic's reputation and have a material adverse effect on its business, financial condition and results of operations." Breaches in security could potentially jeopardize our, our employees', our fund investors', Global Atlantic policyholders' or counterparties' confidential and other information processed and stored in, and transmitted through, our computer systems and networks, or otherwise cause interruptions or malfunctions in our, our employees', our fund investors', our policyholders', our counterparties' or third parties' operations, which could result in significant losses, increased costs, disruption of our business, liability to our fund investors and other counterparties, regulatory intervention or reputational damage. Furthermore, if we experience a cyber-security incident and fail to comply with the relevant laws and regulations, it could result in regulatory investigations and penalties, which could lead to negative publicity and may cause our fund investors and clients to lose confidence in the effectiveness of our security measures.
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We rely on third-party service providers for certain aspects of our business, including for certain information systems, escrow services, paying agent services, trustee services, insurance policy administration, legal services, technology, administration, tax, accounting and compliance matters. These third-party service providers could also experience any of the above cyber-security threats, fraudulent activities or security breaches, and as a result, unauthorized individuals could improperly gain access to our confidential data. Any interruption or deterioration in the performance of these third parties or cyber-security incidents involving these third parties could impair the quality of our and our funds' operations and could impact our reputation and materially and adversely affect our businesses and limit our ability to grow.
Our portfolio companies also rely on data processing systems and the secure processing, storage and transmission of information, including payment and health information. A disruption or compromise of these systems could have a material adverse effect on the value of these businesses. Our funds may invest in strategic assets having a national or regional profile or in infrastructure, the nature of which could expose them to a greater risk of being subject to a terrorist attack or security breach than other assets or businesses. Such an event may have material adverse consequences on our investment or assets of the same type or may require portfolio companies to increase preventative security measures or expand insurance coverage.
Our organizational documents do not limit our ability to enter into new lines of businesses, and we may expand into new investment strategies, geographic markets and businesses, each of which may result in additional risks and uncertainties in our businesses.
We intend, to the extent that market conditions warrant, to seek to grow our businesses by increasing AUM in existing businesses, pursuing new investment strategies (including investment opportunities in new asset classes), developing new types of investment structures and products (such as publicly listed vehicles, separately managed accounts and structured products), and expanding into new geographic markets and businesses. We have in the past opened many offices to conduct our asset management and capital markets businesses around the world in Europe, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific, which we intend to grow and expand. We have also launched a number of new investment initiatives in areas such as core plus real estate, real estate credit, core infrastructure, growth equity, core private equity, and impact investments. We also increasingly manage investment vehicles owned by retail investors, which subject us to additional risk. See also “—Certain types of investment vehicles may subject us to additional risk of litigation and regulatory scrutiny.” Introducing new types of investment structures and products could increase the complexities involved in managing such investments, including ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and terms of the investment. See “—We may not be successful in executing upon or managing the complexities of new investment strategies, markets and businesses, which could adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.”
Our organic growth strategy focuses on providing resources to foster the development of new product offerings and business strategies by our investment professionals and launching successor and related products, such that our new strategies achieve a level of scale and profitability. Given our diverse platform, these initiatives could create conflicts of interests with existing products, increase our costs and expose us to new market risks, and legal and regulatory requirements. The success of our organic growth strategy will also depend on, among other things, our ability to correctly identify and create products that appeal to the limited partners of our funds and vehicles. While we have made significant expenditures to develop these new strategies and products, there is no assurance that they will achieve a satisfactory level of scale and profitability. To raise new funds and pursue new strategies, we have and expect to continue to use our balance sheet to warehouse seed investments, which may decrease the liquidity available for other parts of our business. If a new strategy or fund does not develop as anticipated and such investments are not ultimately transferred to a fund, we may be forced to realize losses on these retained investments.
We have and may continue to pursue growth through acquisitions of other investment management companies, acquisitions of critical business partners, strategic partnerships or other strategic initiatives, which may include entering into new lines of business. In addition, we expect opportunities will arise to acquire other alternative or traditional investment managers. For example, we have expanded our European credit business with our acquisition of Avoca in 2014. We have also made minority investments in hedge fund managers, and we have entered into joint ventures with third parties to participate in new real estate investment strategies. In April 2018, we completed our transaction to form FS/KKR Advisor, a strategic partnership with FS Investments, to provide investment advisory services to our business development company. In February 2021, we expanded into the insurance business by acquiring Global Atlantic. To the extent we make strategic investments or acquisitions, undertake other strategic initiatives or enter into a new line of business, we will face numerous risks and uncertainties, including risks associated with:
•our ability to successfully negotiate and enter into beneficial arrangements with our counterparties;
•the required investment of capital and other resources;
•the incurrence of substantial transaction-related costs including non-recurring transaction-related costs;
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•delays or failure to complete an acquisition or other transaction in a timely manner or at all due to a failure to obtain shareholder or regulatory approvals or satisfy any other closing conditions, which may subject us to damages or require us to pay significant costs;
•lawsuits challenging an acquisition or unfavorable judgments in such lawsuits, which may prevent the closing of the transaction, cause delays, or require us to incur substantial costs including in costs associated with the indemnification of directors;
•the possibility that we have insufficient expertise to engage in such activities profitably or without incurring inappropriate amounts of risk or liability or have not appropriately planned for such activities;
•the possibility of diversion of management's time and attention from our core business;
•the possibility of disruption of our ongoing business;
•the failure to realize the anticipated benefits from an acquired business or strategic partnership in a timely manner, if at all;
•combining, integrating or developing operational and management systems and controls including an acquired business's internal controls and procedures;
•integration of the businesses including the employees of an acquired business;
•potential increase in concentration of the investors in our funds;
•disagreements with joint venture partners or other stakeholders in our hedge fund partnerships and our strategic partnerships;
•the additional business risks of the acquired business and the broadening of our geographic footprint, including the risks associated with conducting operations in foreign jurisdictions such as taxation;
•properly managing conflicts of interests;
•our ability to obtain requisite regulatory approvals and licenses without undue cost or delay and without being required to comply with material restrictions or material conditions that would be detrimental to us or to the combined organization;
•our ability to comply with new regulatory regimes; and
•regulatory scrutiny or litigation exposure due to the activities of the acquired business, hedge fund partners or joint venture partners.
Entry into new strategies or certain lines of business may subject us to new laws and regulations with which we are not familiar, or from which we are currently exempt, and may lead to increased litigation and regulatory risk and costs. If a new business generates insufficient revenues or if we are unable to efficiently manage our expanded operations, our results of operations will be adversely affected. Our strategic initiatives include joint ventures or the acquisition of minority interests in third parties, in which case we will be subject to additional risks and uncertainties in that we may be dependent upon, and subject to liability, losses or reputational damage relating to, systems, controls and personnel that are not under our control.
In addition, as an insurance company, Global Atlantic’s ability to grow is dependent on the sufficiency of its capital base to support that growth. Global Atlantic may need to seek additional capital to manage its growth, and Global Atlantic may not be able to maintain its current strong capital position as it grows. As Global Atlantic grows, it must invest additional assets. If Global Atlantic is unable to take advantage of investment opportunities and adequately manage its investments and capital, Global Atlantic’s financial condition and results of operations in the future could be less favorable than in historical periods. Growth may increase the risk of service problems with policyholder administration, and Global Atlantic may need to expend additional resources to provide consistent service. Any negative impact on the quality of customer service Global Atlantic provides may cause reputational harm. Global Atlantic also considers its operational capabilities, including at third-party administrators, when considering what products and solutions to offer and its ability to adjust terms on its products. Future growth will also impose added responsibilities on Global Atlantic’s management, including the need to identify, recruit, maintain and integrate additional employees, and to implement more complex organizational management structures. Growth may also introduce additional regulatory complexity. There is also a risk that Global Atlantic will not be able to manage its expenses effectively or scale its business as it grows. Global Atlantic’s ability to reinsure business to its Bermuda reinsurance
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subsidiaries may also be limited by law or regulation, and accordingly Global Atlantic may not realize any benefits from its efficient operating structure on this new business. Global Atlantic’s failure to manage growth effectively for the reasons discussed above could have a material adverse effect on its business, financial condition and results of operations.
If Global Atlantic’s businesses do not perform well and/or their estimated fair values decline, Global Atlantic may be required to recognize an impairment of goodwill, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.
We may not be successful in executing upon or managing the complexities of new investment strategies, investment products, markets and businesses, which could adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Our growth strategy is based, in part, on the expansion of our platform through selective investment in, and development or acquisition of, businesses, investment products and investment strategies complementary to our business. The expansion into new products and geographies has demanded greater management attention and dedication of resources to manage the increasing complexity of operations and regulatory compliance. For example, we developed and completed several structured transactions in which KKR provides subordinated or equity financing and third party investors provide senior financing to an investment vehicle that invests in our funds. In addition to the increased operational complexity and cost that arise from the structure and bespoke terms of these transactions, because of the subordinated nature of KKR's interests, we are at risk of losing all of our capital committed to these transactions ahead of any third party if the vehicle's investments do not perform as expected.
This growth strategy involves a number of risks, including the risk that: the expected synergies from a newly developed product or strategic alliance will not be realized; the expected results will not be achieved; new strategies are not appropriately planned for or integrated into the firm; the new strategies may conflict, detract from or compete against our existing businesses; the investment process, controls and procedures that we have developed around our existing platform will prove insufficient or inadequate; or our information systems and technology, including related security systems, may prove to be inadequate.
We have entered into strategic investor partnerships and established separately managed accounts, which lack the scale of our traditional funds and are more costly to administer. The prevalence of these accounts may also present conflicts and introduce complexity in the deployment of capital. The offering of investment products to retail investors, including any funds registered under the Investment Company Act and other publicly listed vehicles, may result in increased compliance and litigation costs. We may also incur significant charges in connection with such investments, which ultimately may result in significant losses and costs. Any such losses and costs could adversely impact our business, results of operations and financial condition, as well as harm our professional reputation. See also “—Adverse legal and regulatory developments against special purpose acquisition companies (“SPACs”) and their sponsors could adversely affect our business and reputation and result in significant losses and expenses."
Adverse legal and regulatory developments relating to special purpose acquisition companies (“SPACs”) and their sponsors could adversely affect our business and reputation and result in significant losses and expenses.
We have co-sponsored a SPAC, KKR Acquisition Holdings I Corp., and may in the future elect to sponsor or otherwise utilize SPACs or other blank check companies in connection with the operation of our business. Regulatory and legal scrutiny of SPACs and other blank check companies increased significantly in 2021 and has continued into 2022. For example, the SEC’s Chairman has publicly announced his intention to propose rules around the marketing practices, disclosure requirements and liability obligations for SPACs and their sponsors and, in 2021, the SEC’s staff issued statements relating to certain accounting classifications applicable to the financial statements prepared by SPACs, leading to many SPACs, including our sponsored SPAC, having to restate their financial statements. The SEC has also recently brought an enforcement action against a SPAC and its sponsor for misleading claims in advance of a proposed business combination. In addition, litigation challenging completed and pending acquisitions by SPACs has increased, and in such litigation it is possible that sponsors and/or their director designees may be held liable either for breaches of fiduciary duties owed to the SPAC’s public stockholders or for certain actions or omissions by the SPAC, including the failure by the SPAC to comply with applicable securities laws. Litigation has also arisen asserting that SPACs are violating federal securities laws by operating as unregistered investment companies. Any liabilities arising from these developments could adversely impact our business as well as harm our professional reputation. Moreover, we may lose all or a portion of our investment in any SPAC that we sponsor or become affiliated with if a business combination is not completed as contemplated or if the business combination is unsuccessful, which may also result in significant regulatory scrutiny, litigation costs and other expenses.
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If we are unable to syndicate the securities or indebtedness or realize returns on investments financed with our balance sheet assets, or if our structured transactions do not perform as expected, then our liquidity, business, results of operations and financial condition could be materially and adversely affected.
Our balance sheet assets provide us with a significant source of capital to grow and expand our business, increase our participation in our transactions and underwrite commitments in our capital markets business. We have used our balance sheet assets to underwrite loans, securities or other financial instruments, which we generally expect to syndicate to third parties. We also entered into arrangements with third parties that reduce our risk associated with holding unsold securities when underwriting certain debt transactions, which enables our capital markets business to underwrite a larger amount. To the extent that we are unable to syndicate our commitments to third parties or our risk reduction arrangement does not fully perform as anticipated, we may be required to sell such investments at a significant loss or hold them indefinitely. If we are required to retain investments on our balance sheet for an extended period of time, our results would be directly impacted by the performance of such investments and it would also impair our capital markets business’ ability to complete additional transactions, either of which could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. See also “—Underwriting, syndicating and securities placement activities expose us to risks, and our risk management strategy may not effective or sufficient”.
We generally have a larger balance sheet than many of our competitors, and consequently, the performance of these balance sheet assets has a greater impact on our results of operations. In particular, during a period when our balance sheet assets are concentrated in a limited number of investments, results from a small number of investments can have a significant impact on our balance sheet performance. Our success in deploying our balance sheet assets and generating returns on this capital will depend, among other things, on the availability of suitable opportunities after giving priority in investment opportunities to our advisory clients, the level of competition from other companies that may have greater financial resources and our ability to value potential development or acquisition opportunities accurately and negotiate acceptable terms for those opportunities. To the extent we are unsuccessful in deploying our balance sheet assets, our business and financial results may suffer.
Our balance sheet assets have been a significant source of capital for new strategies and products. To the extent that such strategies or products are not successful or our balance sheet assets cease to provide adequate liquidity, we would realize losses on our balance sheet investments or become limited in our ability to seed new businesses or support our existing business as effectively as contemplated. For example, we may acquire investments using our balance sheet capital and warehouse these investments while fundraising a particular fund. We expect our balance sheet capital to be returned to us if such fund has a successful fundraise. However, if the fundraising is not successful, or if fund investors are not willing to pay for these warehoused investments, then we may realize losses on these warehoused investments or otherwise suffer an adverse impact in our liquidity, business, results of operations and financial condition.
We have also developed and completed several structured transactions in which our balance sheet provides subordinated or equity financing and third party investors provide senior financing to an investment vehicle that invests in our funds and certain other investment assets. We have also entered into a similarly structured transaction where the cash flows of our balance sheet’s capital commitments to our funds have been effectively pledged as collateral for the investment vehicle. In addition to the increased operational complexity and cost that arise from the structure and bespoke terms of these transactions, because of the subordinated nature of KKR’s interests, we are at risk of losing all of our interests in these transactions ahead of any third party if the investments do not perform as expected. As of December 31, 2021, total balance sheet investments made by KKR in these structured transactions were approximately $1.5 billion, and, in addition, we have agreed to fund or otherwise be liable for a portion of up to a maximum of $116 million in investment losses and/or to provide liquidity upon certain termination events (the maximum amount of which is currently unknown. See “—We may not be successful in executing upon or managing the complexities of new investment strategies, markets and businesses, which could adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition” and Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity—Contractual Obligations, Commitments and Contingencies”.
Extensive regulation of our businesses affects our activities and creates the potential for significant liabilities and penalties. The possibility of increased regulatory focus or legislative or regulatory changes could materially and adversely affect our business.
Our business is subject to extensive regulation, including periodic examinations, inquiries and investigations by governmental and self-regulatory organizations in the jurisdictions in which we operate around the world. Many of these regulators, including U.S. federal and state and foreign government agencies and self-regulatory organizations, are empowered to impose fines, restrictions on activities, suspensions of personnel or other sanctions, including censure, the issuance of cease-and-desist orders or the suspension or expulsion of applicable licenses and memberships. Any of the foregoing may damage our relationships with existing and potential fund investors, impair our ability to raise capital for successor funds, impair our ability to carry out our investment strategies, impair Global Atlantic's ability to conduct its insurance business, or contravene provisions concerning compliance with law in agreements to which we are a party. Even if a sanction is not imposed or the
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sanction imposed against us or our personnel by a regulator were small in monetary amount, the adverse publicity relating to the regulatory activity or imposition of these sanctions could harm our reputation and cause us to lose existing fund investors or fail to gain new fund investors or to lose or fail to gain new policyholders or ceding parties.
The private equity industry has been and continues to be under intense regulatory and news media scrutiny with governmental officials and regulators, focusing on the private equity industry’s fees, the taxation of its investments, the business practices and operations of its portfolio companies, conflicts of interest, and other issues. In particular, the SEC’s past areas of focus on private equity firms have included, among others, conflicts of interest, allocation of investment opportunities, the allocation of fees and expenses, including the acceleration of monitoring fees and the allocation of broken-deal and other expenses, valuation practices, the disclosure, use and compensation of operating partners or consultants as well as third-party compliance or similar service providers, outside investment and business activities of firm principals and employees, group purchasing arrangements, disclosure of affiliated service providers, disclosure of conflicts of interest, electronic messaging, cyber-security, data privacy and protection, the use of purchased data, valuation, retail investors, foreign bribery and corruption, and policies covering custody, auditing, handling of material nonpublic information, insider trading, business continuity and transition planning.
Certain Recent and Potential Regulatory Changes
•In 2021, the SEC and its staff promulgated examination priorities and observations that specifically identified private fund managers as a priority and, in particular, highlighted the SEC’s focus on managers that have a greater impact on retail investors, controls with respect to the misuse of material non-public information, portfolio valuations, conflicts of interest including with respect to allocation of investment opportunities, relationships with clients, preferential liquidity rights, disclosure and compliance with requirements for cross trades, principal investments or distressed sales, calculation and other considerations with respect to fees and expenses, as well as managers’ supervisory, compliance and risk management systems related thereto and the use of affiliated service providers for clients.
•In 2021, the SEC proposed rules that would require any entity that establishes positions in security-based swaps above certain specified threshold levels to file reports with the SEC, which would become publicly available. This requirement could adversely affect aspects of our business by making it more costly and burdensome, and potentially impractical, to enter into security-based swap transactions.
•In 2021, the SEC established an enforcement task force to investigate ESG practices and disclosures by public companies and investment managers, and the SEC may propose and implement impose rules to regulate ESG funds and ESG-related claims. See "—We are subject to increasing focus by our fund investors, our stockholders and regulators on environmental, social and governance ("ESG") matters."
•On March 31, 2021, the Treasury Secretary and Chair of the Financial Stability Oversight Committee (“FSOC”) announced that the FSOC had re-established its hedge fund working group. The activities and potential recommendations of this working group could subject certain aspects of our business, including our hedge fund partnerships, and the hedge fund industry to heightened media and regulatory scrutiny.
•In early 2022, the SEC has proposed a number of significant changes that, if promulgated, will affect our business. On January 26, 2022, the SEC proposed significant changes to Form PF, including a requirement to report within one business day certain transactions and fund-level events and a requirement to disclose, among other things, details about the use of leverage by funds and portfolio companies and the capitalization and restructurings of portfolio companies. On February 9, 2022, the SEC proposed rules regarding the management of private funds like the funds we manage, the handling of cybersecurity risks, and trade clearance and settlement. The proposed rules regarding the management of private funds are significant and include, among other things, prohibiting certain preferential treatment to investors and providing transparency on other forms of preferential treatment; limitations on our ability to seek reimbursement, indemnification, exculpation, or limitation of liability for certain activities; charging certain fees and expenses to our funds or their portfolio companies, such as fees for unperformed services, which the SEC has proposed to include accelerated monitoring fees (which we have historically charged and which amounts have been financially significant for us in some historical periods) and fees associated with an examination or investigation of our affiliated investment advisers; reducing the amount of our clawback of carried interest by the amount of certain taxes; charging fees or expenses related to a portfolio investment on a non-pro rata basis; and borrowing or receiving an extension of credit from our private fund clients. On February 10, 2022, the SEC also proposed rules to amend how the beneficial ownership of securities is reported. These proposed changes, if they become effective, are expected to increase the costs of compliance, expose us to regulatory scrutiny, censure and penalties if we are unable to comply, and could in certain instances reduce our revenues.
•The SEC’s amended rules for investment adviser marketing will become effective in November 2022. The rule imposes more prescriptive requirements to our marketing, and will impact the marketing of our funds and our other
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investment advisory functions, as well as placement agent arrangements in the United States and outside the United States. Compliance with the new rule may result in higher compliance and operational costs and less overall flexibility in our marketing.
•On December 7, 2021, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners Financial Stability Task Force published for comment a list of “Regulatory Considerations Applicable (But Not Exclusive) to Private Equity (PE) Owned Insurers.” The considerations list 13 topics for review, including, identifying all control and affiliate relationships of private-equity owned insurers, including use of complex structures, offshore reinsurers and sidecars, scrutinizing the terms of investment management agreements and affiliate investments, and assessing operating, governance and market conduct practices, such as overreliance on third-party administrators. In addition, the FSOC 2021 annual report expressed concern that the acquisition of life insurers or assumption of life business through reinsurers owned by private equity firms may “increase interconnectivity” among non-bank lenders, insurers, and broader financial markets and the Federal Insurance Office 2021 annual report stated that private-equity owned insurers face greater conflicts and may have heightened credit and liquidity risk profiles and sensitivity to downturns. Our relationships with Global Atlantic and other insurers and reinsurers will be subject to additional scrutiny and potentially additional regulatory requirements, which may have a material impact on our business, reputation, results of operations and financial condition. See also "—Regulatory Risks Related to Global Atlantic—Global Atlantic's businesses are heavily regulated across numerous jurisdictions, and changes in regulation could reduce Global Atlantic's profitability."
•On November 25, 2021, the European Commission proposed a directive amending the European Union’s Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (the “AIFMD”) with respect to delegation arrangements, liquidity risk management, supervisory reporting, provision of depositary and custody services and loan origination by alternative investment funds. It is not currently clear what changes to the AIFMD could be implemented and what impact any such changes would have on us or our funds, which could be material.
•The European Union's Investment Firms Directive and the Investment Firms Regulation imposes a new prudential regime beginning on January 1, 2022 for investment firms in Europe, as well as various governance and remuneration obligations, the costs to comply with which may be material.
•On May 5, 2021, the European Commission adopted a proposal for a regulation to address distortions caused by foreign subsidies, expected to come into force in mid-2023, which, subject to certain thresholds, will require mandatory notification of acquisitions involving financial contributions by non-European Union governments. This may increase our notification obligations and increase costs when making or exiting investments involving the European Union.
•Following the exit of the United Kingdom from the European Union on January 31, 2020 ( “Brexit”), the United Kingdom and the European Union issued a Joint Declaration on Financial Services Regulatory Cooperation stating the intent to enter into a memorandum of understanding by March 2021 to establish the framework for regulatory cooperation on financial services. However, no such memorandum of understanding has yet been published, and there is no arrangement in place that allows broad market access between the United Kingdom and the European Union. Any material changes could materially increase the costs of our compliance in the United Kingdom or the European Union.
Any of these changes or potential changes in the regulatory framework applicable to our business (including any changes or potential changes that are not described above or that we are unaware of or that may arise from new leadership at regulators and in governments in the U.S. and abroad), as well as adverse news media attention, may: impose additional expenses or capital requirements on us; limit our fundraising for our investment products; result in limitations in the manner in which our business is conducted; have an adverse impact upon our results of operations, financial condition, reputation or prospects; impair employee retention or recruitment; and require substantial attention by senior management. It is impossible to determine the extent of the impact of any new laws, regulations, initiatives or regulatory guidance that may be proposed or may become law on our business or the markets in which we operate. If enacted, any new law, regulation, initiatives or regulatory guidance could negatively impact our funds and us in a number of ways, including: increasing our costs and the cost for our funds of investing, borrowing, hedging or operating; increasing the funds’ or our regulatory operating costs; imposing additional burdens on the funds’ or our staff; and potentially requiring the disclosure of sensitive information. Even if not enacted, evaluating and responding to new rulemaking proposals, which are expected to increase, could result in increased costs and require significant attention from management. In addition, we may be materially and adversely affected by changes in the interpretation or enforcement of existing laws and rules by these governmental authorities and self-regulatory organizations. New laws, regulations, initiatives or regulatory guidance could make compliance more difficult or more expensive, affect the manner in which we conduct business and divert significant management and operational resources and attention from our business. Moreover, an increase in regulatory investigations and new or enhanced reporting requirements of the trading and other investment activities of alternative investment management funds and firms, including our funds and us, is possible. Such investigations and reporting requirements could impose additional expenses on us, require the attention of senior management,
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increase the complexity of managing our business, or result in fines or other sanctions if we or any of our funds are deemed to have violated any law or regulations.
Other Financial Markets Regulation. Certain requirements imposed by regulators in the United States and abroad, as well by U.S. and non-U.S. legislation and proposed legislation, are designed primarily to ensure the integrity of the financial markets or other objectives and are not principally designed to protect our stockholders. These laws and regulations often serve to limit our activities.
U.S. federal bank regulatory agencies have issued leveraged lending guidance covering transactions characterized by a degree of financial leverage, although the status of this guidance is uncertain as the U.S. Government Accountability Office determined, in October 2017, that the guidance is subject to review under the U.S. Congressional Review Act. If applied by the U.S. federal bank regulatory agencies in its current form, such guidance would limit the amount or availability of debt financing available to borrowers and may increase the cost of financing we are able to obtain for our transactions and may cause the returns on our investments to suffer.
The SEC has adopted a rule that requires a U.S. broker-dealer, or a natural person who is an associated person of a broker-dealer, to act in the best interest of a retail customer when making a recommendation of any securities transaction or investment strategy involving securities, without placing the financial or other interest of the broker, dealer or natural person who is an associated person of a broker-dealer making the recommendation ahead of the interest of the retail customer (“Regulation Best Interest”). The term “retail customer” is defined as a natural person who uses such a recommendation primarily for personal, family or household purposes, without reference to investor sophistication or net worth. The “best interest” standard would be satisfied through compliance with certain disclosure, duty of care, conflict of interest mitigation and compliance obligations. Regulation Best Interest may impose additional costs to us if we continue to expand our product offerings and investment platforms to retail customers. For discussions of the risks posed by Regulation Best Interest and similar rules on Global Atlantic, see “—Risks Related to Global Atlantic—Regulatory Risks Related to Global Atlantic—Changes to comply with new and potential laws or regulations which impose fiduciary or best interest standards in connection with the sale of Global Atlantic’s products could materially increase Global Atlantic’s costs, decrease its sales and result in a material adverse impact on its business.”
The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the “CFTC”), and in certain cases the SEC, has proposed or adopted regulations governing futures and swaps, which may limit our trading activities and our ability to implement effective hedging strategies or increase the costs of compliance. In general, our subsidiaries have not registered as regulated entities with the CFTC, and our funds generally operate pursuant to exemptions from registration, but certain transactions in futures and swaps remain subject to regulatory requirements regardless of our registration status. Any changes in application or interpretation of the rules applicable to futures and swaps, including rules regarding registration, reporting, margin, capital requirements, and position limits, could result in significant costs for us and our funds.
In July 2019 and October 2021, a U.S. Senate bill titled “Stop Wall Street Looting Act” was introduced with the aim to regulate certain business practices by private funds (except venture capital funds) that directly, or through an affiliate, act as a “control person” by acquiring 20% or more of voting securities of a portfolio company. The bill, among other things, proposes to: require such private funds to be jointly and severally liable for debt and other obligations of a portfolio company; prohibit portfolio companies from paying dividends within 24 months of their acquisition by a private fund; impose 100% tax on any monitoring fee or transaction fee paid by portfolio companies to a private fund; apply an ordinary income tax rate, instead of a capital gains tax rate, on carried interest; and require an annual SEC disclosure of certain information about a private fund and its portfolio companies. Although the bill did not see further action after its introduction in 2019 and re-introduction in 2021, if it were to become law, our business would be materially adversely impacted, and we would be required to change various operational and investment practices, which would be costly, time-consuming and disruptive. In addition, potential changes in legislation or regulation may include higher corporate tax rate, greater scrutiny on the private equity industry or elimination of carried interest or limitations of the capital gains tax. See also “—Changes in relevant tax laws, regulations or treaties or an adverse interpretation of these items by tax authorities could adversely impact our effective tax rate and tax liability.”
Certain of the funds we manage and certain portfolio companies that engage in originating, lending and/or servicing loans, may consider investments that would subject us to U.S. state and federal regulation, borrower disclosure requirements, limits on fees and interest rates on some loans, state lender licensing requirements and other regulatory requirements in the conduct of their business. If our funds or portfolio companies engage in these activities, they may also be subject to consumer disclosures and substantive requirements on consumer loan terms and other federal regulatory requirements applicable to consumer lending that are administered by the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. These U.S. state and federal regulatory programs are designed to protect borrowers. There is a potential for increased risk of legislative and regulatory action that could adversely limit and affect our and our portfolio companies’ businesses relating to these activities.
U.S. state and federal regulators and other governmental entities have authority to bring administrative enforcement actions or litigation to enforce compliance with applicable lending or consumer protection laws, with remedies that can include fines and monetary penalties, restitution of borrowers, injunctions to conform to law, or limitation or revocation of licenses and other
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remedies and penalties. In addition, lenders and servicers may be subject to litigation brought by or on behalf of borrowers for violations of laws or unfair or deceptive practices. If we enter into transactions that subject us to these risks, failure to conform to applicable regulatory and legal requirements could be costly and have a detrimental impact on certain of our funds and ultimately on us.
In Europe and the Asia-Pacific, there are also laws and regulations that are designed to ensure the integrity of the financial markets or other objectives and are not principally designed to protect our stockholders. For example, our European subsidiaries are subject to various EU-wide regulations and their respective national implementing legislation, including:
•the Second Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID II), which imposes a range of compliance requirements on our business in areas such as transaction reporting, marketing infrastructure and securities and derivatives trading;
•the Market Abuse Regulation (MAR), which requires, among other things, systems and controls regarding inside information, record keeping and other prescribed procedures for market soundings, and conflicts of interest and other relevant disclosure when providing investment recommendations;
•the Investment Firms Directive and the Investment Firms Regulation, which imposes a prudential regime for investment firms, as well as various governance and remuneration obligations;
•other EU bank regulatory initiatives, including the Second Bank Recovery and Resolution Directive and the European Banking Authority’s guidelines on limits to exposures to shadow banking entities which carry out banking activities outside a regulated framework under EU law (including funds employing leverage on a substantial basis, within the meaning of AIFMD and its implementing rules, and credit funds);
•the European Market Infrastructure Regulation (EMIR) and EMIR Refit, which impose various reporting, margining and central clearing requirements on certain derivative transactions;
•the Securitization Regulation, which establishes due diligence, risk retention and disclosure regarding certain of our European investments, subsidiaries and CLOs;
•the Short Selling Regulation, which limits naked short selling of sovereign bonds and stocks;
•the Financial Conglomerates Directive, which establishes a prudential regime for financial conglomerates to address perceived risks associated with large cross-sector businesses, and could increase the costs of investing in insurance companies, investment firms and banks located in the European Union;
•the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation and Taxonomy Regulation, which impose sustainability risk assessment requirements and ESG-specific transparency disclosure and reporting requirements;
•the Securities Financing Transaction Regulation, which requires securities financing transactions to be reported to trade repositories, places additional reporting requirements on investment managers and introduces prior risk disclosures and written consent before assets are rehypothecated; and
•the General Data Protection Regulation, which imposes stringent data protection requirements and provides for significant penalties for noncompliance.
As noted above, any changes or potential changes in the regulatory framework applicable to our business may impose additional expenses or capital requirements on us; limit our fundraising for our investment products; result in limitations in the manner in which our business is conducted; have an adverse impact upon our results of operations, financial condition, reputation or prospects; impair employee retention or recruitment; and require substantial attention by senior management.
For regulatory risks specifically related to Global Atlantic, see "—Regulatory Risks Related to Global Atlantic".
Portfolio Company Legal and Regulatory Environment. We are subject to certain laws, such as certain environmental laws, takeover laws, anti-bribery, trade sanctions, trade control, anti-money laundering and anti-corruption laws, escheat or abandoned property laws, antitrust laws, data privacy and data protection laws and foreign direct investment laws that may impose requirements on us and our portfolio companies as an affiliated group. As a result, we could become jointly and severally liable for all or part of fines imposed on our portfolio companies or be fined directly for violations committed by portfolio companies, and such fines imposed directly on us could be greater than those imposed on the portfolio company. Moreover, portfolio companies may seek to hold us responsible if any fine imposed on them is increased because of their membership in a larger group of affiliated companies. For example, on January 27, 2021, the Court of Justice of the European Union (“CJEU”) affirmed the 2014 decision of the European Commission to fine 11 producers of underground and submarine
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high voltage power cables a total of 302 million euros for participation in a ten-year market and customer sharing cartel. Fines were also imposed, and confirmed by the CJEU, on parent companies of the producers involved, including Goldman Sachs, the former parent company of one of the cartel members. Similarly, on July 29, 2021, the United Kingdom Competition and Markets Authority announced that it had fined a pharmaceutical company and its former parent companies, two private equity firms, more than 100 million British pounds for abuse of dominance by charging excessive and unfair prices. In addition, the U.S. Department of Justice has increasingly named private equity sponsors as co-defendants in cases brought under the False Claims Act involving allegedly unlawful conduct by portfolio companies. In certain of those cases, private equity sponsors and portfolio companies have settled claims by agreeing to the payment of substantial monetary penalties. In addition, compliance with certain laws or contracts could also require us to commit significant resources and capital towards information gathering and monitoring thereby increasing our operating costs. For example, because we may indirectly hold voting securities in public utilities subject to regulation by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”), including entities that may hold FERC authorization to charge market-based rates for sales of wholesale power and energy, we may be subject to certain FERC regulations, including regulations requiring us and our portfolio companies to collect, report and keep updated substantial information concerning our ownership of such voting interests and voting interests in other related energy companies, corporate officers, and our direct and indirect investment in such utilities and related companies. Such rules may subject our portfolio companies and us to costly and burdensome data collection and reporting requirements.
In the United States, certain statutes may subject us or our funds to the liabilities of our portfolio companies. The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act ("CERCLA"), also referred to as the "Superfund," requires cleanup of sites from which there has been a release or threatened release of hazardous substances, and authorizes the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to take any necessary response action at Superfund sites, including ordering potentially responsible parties liable for the release to pay for such actions. Potentially responsible parties are broadly defined under CERCLA and could include us.
In addition, we or certain of our investment funds could potentially be held liable under U.S. Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 ("ERISA") for the pension obligations of one or more of our portfolio companies if we or the investment fund were determined to be a "trade or business" under ERISA and deemed part of the same "controlled group" as the portfolio company under such rules, and the pension obligations of any particular portfolio company could be material. On March 28, 2016, a Federal District Court judge in Massachusetts ruled that two private equity funds affiliated with Sun Capital were jointly and severally responsible for unfunded pension liabilities of a Sun Capital portfolio company. While neither fund held more than an 80% ownership interest of the portfolio company, the percentage required under existing regulations to find liability, the court found the funds had formed a partnership-in-fact conducting a trade or business and that as a result each fund was jointly and severally liable for the portfolio company's unfunded pension liabilities. While a federal appellate court only upheld certain aspects of the District Court holding, if the rationale of the District Court decision were to be applied by other courts, we or certain of our investment funds could be held liable under ERISA for certain pension obligations of portfolio companies. In addition, if the rationale of this decision were expanded to apply also for U.S. federal income tax purposes, then certain of our investors could be subject to increased U.S. income tax liability or filing obligations in certain contexts. Similar laws that could be applied with similar results also exist outside of the United States. Moreover, if the general accounts or separate accounts of one or more of Global Atlantic's insurance subsidiaries were to constitute "plan assets" for purposes of ERISA, in the absence of an exemption we could potentially have liability under the prohibited transaction provisions of ERISA and the Code as a result of any investment management activities by KKR with respect to, or transactions by KKR involving, such general account or separate account assets.
Similarly, our portfolio companies may be subject to contractual obligations which may impose obligations or restrictions on their affiliates. The interpretation of such contractual provisions will depend on local laws. Given that we do not control all of our portfolio companies and that our portfolio companies generally operate independently of each other, there is a risk that we could contravene one or more of such laws, regulations and contractual arrangements due to limited access and opportunities to monitor compliance. In addition, compliance with these laws or contracts could require us to commit significant resources and capital towards information gathering and monitoring thereby increasing our operating costs.
Because of our ownership interest in portfolio companies, attention on our portfolio companies can also result in attention on us. For example, in the past, heightened governmental scrutiny of the healthcare and educational industries has resulted in requests by a U.S. Congressional committee and members of Congress for information from us about our investments in portfolio companies that operate in these industries. Congressional scrutiny and other similar inquiries by governmental bodies may damage our reputation and may also result in potential legislation designed to further regulate portfolio companies or the industries in which they operate, which may materially and adversely affect our portfolio companies' businesses, which in turn could decrease the value of our investments.
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Similarly, our ownership interest in Global Atlantic exposes us to risks and developments in the insurance industry. As an insurance company, Global Atlantic is subject to extensive regulations in the United States and Bermuda. See "—Risks Related to Global Atlantic–Regulatory Risks Related to Global Atlantic."
Complex regulations may limit our ability to raise capital, increase the costs of our capital raising activities and may subject us to penalties.
We regularly rely on exemptions in the United States from various requirements of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, the Investment Company Act, the Commodity Exchange Act and ERISA in conducting our investment management activities. These exemptions are sometimes highly complex and may in certain circumstances depend on compliance by third parties whom we do not control. If for any reason these exemptions were to become unavailable to us, we could become subject to additional restrictive and costly registration requirements, regulatory action or third-party claims and our business could be materially and adversely affected. For example, in raising new funds, we typically rely on private placement exemptions from registration under the Securities Act, including Rule 506 of Regulation D. However, Rule 506 becomes unavailable to issuers (including our funds) if the issuer or any of its "covered persons" (certain officers and directors and also certain third parties including, among others, promoters, placement agents and beneficial owners of 20% of outstanding voting securities of the issuer) has been the subject of a "disqualifying event," which includes a variety of criminal, regulatory and civil matters (so-called "bad actor" disqualification). If our funds or any of the covered persons associated with our funds are subject to a disqualifying event, one or more of our funds could lose the ability to raise capital in a Rule 506 private offering for a significant period of time, which could significantly impair our ability to raise new funds, and, therefore, could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. In addition, if certain of our employees or any potential significant investor has been the subject of a disqualifying event, we could be required to reassign or terminate such an employee or we could be required to refuse the investment of such an investor, which could impair our relationships with investors, harm our reputation or make it more difficult to raise new funds. See "—Risks Related to Our Organizational Structure—If we were deemed to be an 'investment company' subject to regulation under the Investment Company Act, applicable restrictions could make it impractical for us to continue our business as contemplated and could have a material adverse effect on our business."
We are and will become further subject to additional regulatory and compliance burdens because our product offerings and investment platform include retail investors. For example, funds in our Public Markets business line are registered under the Investment Company Act as investment companies. These funds and their investment advisers, are subject to the Investment Company Act and the rules thereunder, which, among other things, regulate the relationship between a registered investment company and its investment adviser and prohibit or severely restrict principal transactions and joint transactions. In addition, one of our affiliates provides investment advisory services to a business development company (a "BDC"). BDCs are subject to certain restrictions and prohibitions under the Investment Company Act. If the entity fails to meet the requirements for a BDC, it may be regulated as a closed-end investment company under the Investment Company Act and become subject to substantially more regulatory restrictions, which could limit its operating flexibility and in turn result in decreased profitability for our affiliated advisor. As our business expands we may be required to make additional registrations under the Investment Company Act or similar laws, including in jurisdictions outside the United States. As an example, in 2019, we raised an Australian listed investment trust, which is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange and subject to the regulation of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission. Compliance with these and other U.S. and non-U.S. rules will increase our compliance costs and create potential for additional liabilities and penalties, which would divert management's attention from our business and investments.
Rule 206(4)-5 under the Investment Advisers Act regulates "pay to play" practices by investment advisers involving campaign contributions and other payments to elected officials or candidates for political office who are able to exert influence on government clients. Among other restrictions, the rule prohibits investment advisers from providing advisory services for compensation to a government client for two years, subject to very limited exceptions, after the investment adviser, its senior executives or its personnel involved in soliciting investments from government entities make contributions to certain candidates and officials in position to influence the hiring of an investment adviser by such government client. Advisers are required to implement compliance policies designed, among other matters, to track contributions by certain of the adviser's employees and engagements of third parties that solicit government entities and to keep certain records in order to enable the SEC to determine compliance with the rule. There has also been similar rule-making on a state-level regarding "pay to play" practices by investment advisers, including in California and New York. FINRA has released its own set of "pay to play" regulations that effectively prohibit the receipt of compensation from state or local government agencies for solicitation and distribution activities within two years of a prohibited contribution by a broker-dealer or one of its covered associates. Any failure on our part to comply with these rules could cause us to lose compensation for our advisory services or expose us to significant penalties and reputational damage.
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Other laws may also limit our ability to raise capital from non-U.S. persons. See "—Federal, state and foreign anti-corruption and trade sanctions laws and restrictions on foreign direct investment applicable to us and our portfolio companies create the potential for significant liabilities and penalties, the inability to complete transactions, imposition of significant costs and burdens, and reputational harm."
Federal, state and foreign anti-corruption and trade sanctions laws and restrictions on foreign direct investment applicable to us and our portfolio companies create the potential for significant liabilities and penalties, the inability to complete transactions, imposition of significant costs and burdens, and reputational harm.
We are subject to a number of laws and regulations governing payments and contributions to political persons or other third parties, including restrictions imposed by the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act ("FCPA"), as well as trade sanctions and trade control laws administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control ("OFAC"), the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. Department of State. The FCPA is intended to prohibit bribery of foreign governments and their officials and political parties, and requires public companies in the United States to keep books and records that accurately and fairly reflect those companies' transactions. OFAC, the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. Department of State administer and enforce various trade control laws and regulations, including economic and trade sanctions based on U.S. foreign policy and national security goals against targeted foreign states, organizations and individuals. These laws and regulations implicate a number of aspects of our business, including servicing existing fund investors, finding new fund investors, and sourcing new investments, as well as activities by the portfolio companies in our investment portfolio or other controlled investments. Some of these regulations provide that penalties can be imposed on us for the conduct of a portfolio company, even if we have not ourselves violated any regulation.
The Iran Threat Reduction and Syrian Human Rights Act of 2012 ("ITRA") expanded the scope of U.S. sanctions against Iran and requires public reporting companies to disclose in their annual or quarterly reports certain dealings or transactions the company or its affiliates "knowingly" engaged in during the previous reporting period involving Iran or other individuals and entities targeted by certain OFAC sanctions. In some cases, ITRA requires companies to disclose these types of dealings or transactions even if they are permissible under U.S. law or are conducted outside of the United States by a foreign affiliate. If any such activities are disclosed in a periodic report, we are required to separately file, concurrently with such report, a notice of such disclosure. The SEC is required to post this notice on its website and send the report to the U.S. President and certain U.S. Congressional committees. The U.S. President thereafter is required to initiate an investigation and, within 180 days of initiating such an investigation, to determine whether sanctions should be imposed. Disclosure of such activity, even if such activity is not subject to sanctions under applicable law, and any sanctions actually imposed on us or our affiliates as a result of these activities, could harm our reputation and have a negative impact on our business.
The U.S. government has also implemented and expanded a number of economic sanctions programs and export controls that target Chinese entities and nationals on national security grounds, and has imposed restrictions on acquiring and retaining interests in the securities of certain Chinese entities. These initiatives target, for example, China's response to political demonstrations in Hong Kong, China’s conduct concerning the treatment of Uighurs and other ethnic minorities in its Xinjiang province, and certain Chinese entities designated by the U.S. government as Communist Chinese military companies, among other things. In January 2021, China's Ministry of Commerce issued The Rules on Counteracting Unjustified Extraterritorial Application of Foreign Legislation and Other Measures to counteract the impact of foreign sanctions on Chinese persons by enabling Chinese citizens, legal persons, and other organizations to seek remedies as a result of prohibitions or restrictions on normal economic, trade, and related activities with persons of other countries. Furthermore, in June 2021, China enacted the Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law which authorizes the imposition of countermeasures in response to sanctions imposed on Chinese individuals or entities by foreign governments, such that a company that complies with U.S. sanctions against a Chinese entity may then face penalties in China.
Similar laws in non-U.S. jurisdictions, such as EU sanctions and blocking statutes, the U.K. Bribery Act, as well as other applicable anti-bribery, anti-corruption, anti-money laundering, or sanction or other export control, or related laws in the United States and abroad, may also impose stricter or more onerous requirements than the FCPA, OFAC, the U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. Department of State or U.S. Department of Treasury, and implementing them may disrupt our business or cause us to incur significantly more costs to comply with those laws. Different laws may also contain conflicting provisions, making compliance with all laws more difficult. For example, the European Union has adopted measures, such as Council Regulation (EC) No. 2271/96, the could restrict certain persons and entities subject to EU jurisdiction from complying with extra-territorial sanctions imposed by other jurisdictions, such as the U.S. If we fail to comply with these laws and regulations, we could be exposed to claims for damages, civil or criminal financial penalties, reputational harm, incarceration of our employees, restrictions on our operations and other liabilities, which could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. In addition, we may be subject to successor liability for FCPA violations or other acts of bribery, or violations of applicable sanctions, other export control or foreign direct investment laws committed by companies in which we or our funds invest or which we or our funds acquire.
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In addition, the U.S. and many non-U.S. countries that have laws designed to protect national security or to restrict foreign direct investment. For example, under the U.S. Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act ("FIRRMA"), the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States ("CFIUS") has the authority to review, block or impose conditions on investments by non-U.S. persons in U.S. companies or real assets deemed critical or sensitive to the United States. Many non-U.S. jurisdictions have similar laws, for example: the European Union has adopted an E.U.-wide mechanism to screen foreign investment on national security grounds; certain transactions in Australia are subject to review by the Foreign Investment Review Board; transactions in the United Kingdom must comply with the National Security and Investment Act 2021; and transactions in China must comply with the Measures for the Security Review of Foreign Investment. Beginning in February 2022, the United States and other countries began imposing meaningful sanctions targeting Russia as a result of actions taken by Russia in Ukraine. We and our portfolio companies will be required to comply with these and potentially additional sanctions imposed by the United States and by other countries, for which the full costs, burdens, and limitations on our and our portfolio companies' businesses and prospects are currently unknown and may become significant.
Under these laws, governments have the authority to impose a variety of actions, including requirements for the advance screening or notification of certain transactions, blocking or imposing conditions on certain transactions, limiting the size of foreign equity investments or control by foreign investors, and restricting the employment of foreigners as key personnel. These actions could limit our ability to find suitable investments, cause delays in consummating transactions, result in the abandonment of transactions, and impose burdensome operational requirements on our portfolio companies. These laws could also negatively impact our fundraising and syndication activities by causing us to exclude or limit certain investors in our funds or co-investors for our transactions. Moreover, these laws may make it difficult for us to identify suitable buyers for our investments that we want to exit and could constrain the universe of exit opportunities generally. Complying with these laws imposes potentially significant costs and complex additional burdens, and any failure by us or our portfolio companies to comply with them could expose us significant penalties, sanctions, loss of future investment opportunities, additional regulatory scrutiny, and reputational harm.
We face significant liabilities and damage to our professional reputation as a result of litigation allegations and negative publicity.
The activities of our businesses, including the investment decisions we make and the activities of our employees in connection with our funds, portfolio companies, insurance subsidiaries, publicly listed vehicles, or other investment vehicles like SPACs, may subject us and them to the risk of litigation by third parties, including fund investors dissatisfied with the performance or management of our funds, holders of our or our portfolio companies' debt or equity, Global Atlantic's policyholders, public stockholders, and investors in our SPAC and a variety of other potential litigants. See Note 24 "Commitments and Contingencies—Litigation" in our financial statements. For example, we, our funds and certain of our employees are each exposed to the risks of litigation relating to investment activities of our funds, insurance subsidiaries, publicly listed vehicles, and SPAC and actions taken by the officers and directors (some of whom may be KKR employees) of portfolio companies, such as lawsuits by other shareholders of our public portfolio companies or holders of debt instruments of companies in which we or our funds have significant investments. We are also exposed to risks of litigation, investigation or negative publicity in the event of any transactions that are alleged not to have been properly considered and approved under applicable law.
Although investors in our funds do not have legal remedies against us, the general partners of our funds, our funds, our employees or our affiliates solely based on their dissatisfaction with the investment performance of those funds, such investor may have remedies against us, the general partners of our funds, our funds, our employees or our affiliates to the extent any losses result from fraud, negligence, willful misconduct or other similar misconduct. While the general partners and investment advisers to our investment funds, including their directors, officers, employees and affiliates, are generally indemnified to the fullest extent permitted by law with respect to their conduct in connection with the management of the business and affairs of our investment funds, such indemnity generally does not extend to actions determined to have involved fraud, gross negligence, willful misconduct or other similar misconduct. If any civil or criminal lawsuits were brought against us and resulted in a finding of substantial legal liability or culpability, the lawsuit could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition or cause significant reputational harm to us, which could seriously impact our business.
Furthermore, the current rise of populist political movements has generated and may continue to generate a growing negative public sentiment toward globalization, free trade, capitalism and financial institutions, which could lead to heightened scrutiny and criticisms of our business and our investments. In addition, public sentiment could at any time focus on us, our industry and companies in which our funds are invested, which could result in governmental action or other adverse consequences. See “—Extensive regulation of our businesses affects our activities and creates the potential for significant liabilities and penalties. The possibility of increased regulatory focus or legislative or regulatory changes could materially and adversely affect our business.” The risk of reputational harm is elevated by the prevalence of Internet and social media usage and the increased public focus on behaviors and externalities of business activities, including those affecting stakeholder
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interests and ESG considerations. We depend to a large extent on our business relationships and our reputation for integrity and high-caliber professional services to attract and retain fund investors and qualified professionals and to pursue investment opportunities for our funds. As a result, allegations of improper conduct by private litigants or regulators, whether the ultimate outcome is favorable or unfavorable to us, as well as negative publicity and press speculation about us, our investment activities or the private equity industry in general, whether or not valid, may harm our reputation, which may be more damaging to our business than to other types of businesses.
With a workforce composed of many highly-paid professionals, we face the risk of litigation relating to claims for compensation or other damages, which may, individually or in the aggregate, be significant in amount. The cost of settling any such claims could negatively impact our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Certain types of investment vehicles may subject us to additional risk of litigation and regulatory scrutiny.
We have formed and may continue to form investment vehicles seeking investment from retail investors, which may subject us to additional risk of litigation and regulatory scrutiny. See "—Extensive regulation of our businesses affects our activities and creates the potential for significant liabilities and penalties. The possibility of increased regulatory focus or legislative or regulatory changes could materially and adversely affect our business." We have and expect to continue to distribute products through new channels, including through unaffiliated firms, and we may not be able to effectively monitor or control the manner of their distribution, which could result in litigation against us, including with respect to, among other things, claims that products distributed through such channels are distributed to customers for whom they are unsuitable or distributed in any other inappropriate manner. The distribution of products through new channels whether directly or through market intermediaries, including in the retail channel, could expose us to additional regulatory risk in the form of allegations of improper conduct and/or actions by state and federal regulators against us with respect to, among other things, product suitability, conflicts of interest and the adequacy of disclosure to customers to whom our products are distributed through those channels. Following the 2020 presidential and congressional elections in the United States, there is an increased risk of legislative and regulatory action that could adversely limit and affect our efforts to seek, or to manage vehicles that have investments from, retail investors.
In addition, our investment adviser subsidiaries or affiliates externally manage or advise a number of publicly listed vehicles, which are publicly traded on a stock exchange or are otherwise made available for investment by public investors, including KKR Real Estate Finance Trust (a REIT listed on the NYSE), KKR Income Opportunities Fund (a closed-end management investment company listed on the NYSE), KKR Credit Opportunities Portfolio (a closed-end management investment company operated as an interval fund), KKR Credit Income Fund (an Australian listed investment trust), FS KKR Capital Corp. (a BDC listed on the NYSE), and Crescent Energy Company (an energy company listed on the NYSE). We plan to enter into new investment management agreements with other publicly listed vehicles in the future. Publicly listed vehicles allow us to invest potentially more capital and potentially provide more stable fee streams, while providing liquidity to such vehicle’s equity investors. However, these vehicles are subject to the heightened regulatory requirements applicable to public companies or registered funds, including compliance with the laws and regulations of the SEC, the Exchange Act, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the national securities exchanges on which their securities are listed, among others. These requirements will place increased demands on senior employees, require administrative, operational and accounting resources, and incur significant expenses. Failure to comply with these requirements could result in civil lawsuits, regulatory penalties, enforcement actions, or potentially lead to suspension of trading, de-listing from an exchange, de-registration or liquidation. Furthermore, if the shareholders of these vehicles were to be dissatisfied with the investment performance or disagree with investment strategies employed by us, they may seek to cause the board of directors of the relevant vehicle to terminate the investment management agreement with us or change the terms of such agreement in a manner that is less favorable to us. As publicly listed vehicles, they also face significant additional litigation risks, including class actions and other shareholder lawsuits, which would distract our employees, including our investment professionals. Their board of directors and their stockholders could also seek recourse against KKR itself for any alleged mismanagement by our investment adviser subsidiaries or affiliates.
We are also a controlling stockholder and investment advisor to Global Atlantic, which is involved in litigation and regulatory actions in the ordinary course of business, and Global Atlantic’s U.S. insurance subsidiaries are subject to comprehensive regulation and supervision under U.S. federal and state laws. Therefore, following KKR’s acquisition of Global Atlantic, we are subject to additional risks of litigation and regulatory scrutiny that we may not have experienced before.
Misconduct of our employees, consultants or sub-contractors or by our portfolio companies could harm us by impairing our ability to attract and retain clients and subjecting us to significant legal liability and reputational harm.
There is a risk that our employees, consultants or sub-contractors could engage in misconduct that adversely affects our business. We are subject to a number of obligations and standards arising from our business and our authority over the assets we manage. The violation of these obligations and standards by any of our employees, consultants or sub-contractors would adversely affect our clients and us. We may also be adversely affected if there is misconduct by senior management of portfolio
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companies in which we invest, even though we may be unable to control or mitigate such misconduct. Such misconduct may also negatively affect the valuation of the investments in such portfolio companies. Our current and former employees, consultants or sub-contractors and those of our portfolio companies may also become subject to allegations of sexual harassment, racial and gender discrimination or other similar misconduct, which, regardless of the ultimate outcome, may result in adverse publicity that could significantly harm our and such portfolio company's brand and reputation. Furthermore, our business often requires that we deal with confidential matters of great significance to companies in which we may invest. If our employees, consultants or sub-contractors were improperly to use or disclose confidential information, we could suffer serious harm to our reputation, financial position and current and future business relationships, as well as face potentially significant litigation or investigation. It is not always possible to detect or deter such misconduct, and the precautions we take may not be effective in all cases. If any of our employees, consultants or sub-contractors or the employees of portfolio companies were to engage in misconduct or were to be accused of such misconduct, our business and our reputation could be materially and adversely affected.
Our capital markets activities expose us to risks, and our risk management strategy may not be effective or sufficient.
Through our broker-dealer subsidiaries and their related entities, we provide a broad range of capital markets services that include acting as an advisor or as an agent, principal, underwriter, syndicator, arranger or other form of intermediary in connection with securities transactions, debt or equity syndications, loan transactions, derivative transactions and other types of financings and financial arrangements. We rely upon our counterparties to consummate the transactions that they indicate or commit to enter into with us. However, we may incur significant losses in connection with our capital markets activities, including to the extent that, for any reason, (i) our counterparties fail to acquire or pay for the securities, debt, equity or loans that we expected to sell, place or syndicate to them, or (ii) we are unable to receive our anticipated payments for any other transaction or are otherwise unable to dispose of any financial exposure that we incur at the prices that we anticipated or at all. The incurrence of any such losses may cause a materially adverse impact to our results of operations, financial condition or liquidity. We also may be subject to potential underwriter liability or regulatory consequences for material misstatements or omissions in prospectuses or other offering documents relating to transactions in which we are involved. We conduct capital markets activities in connection with transactions in which our investment funds or insurance companies may participate as a purchaser or a seller of securities, which could constitute a conflict of interest or subject us to regulatory scrutiny, liabilities or reputational harm. See "—Extensive regulation of our businesses affects our activities and creates the potential for significant liabilities and penalties. The possibility of increased regulatory focus or legislative or regulatory changes could materially and adversely affect our business."
We employ derivative financial instruments and other types of strategies to hedge, manage or otherwise reduce certain risks that arise in connection our capital markets activities, such as interest rate risks, foreign currency risks and general market risks. The use of derivative financial instruments and these other risk management strategies may not be properly designed to hedge, manage or other reduce the risks as intended, may not be properly implemented as designed, or otherwise not effectively offset the risks we have identified. We may not have identified, or may not even be able to identify, all the material risks relevant for our capital markets activities, and we also may choose not to hedge, in whole or in part, any of the risks that have been identified. If our capital markets’ risk management strategy is ineffective or inefficient, we may experience a materially adverse impact to our results of operations, financial condition or liquidity. One part of our capital markets risk management strategy is to enter into arrangements with third parties that are designed to reduce our risk when underwriting certain debt transactions. As of December 31, 2021, we have entered into such arrangements representing a total notional amount of $4.0 billion. If these counterparties fail or refuse to meet their obligations under these underwriting arrangements, then we may experience a materially adverse impact to our results of operations, financial condition or liquidity. If such failure or refusal were to occur, or if these counterparties fail to renew their arrangements and we are unable to find suitable replacements, then our ability to continue to conduct large capital markets transactions in the future may be impaired.
We are subject to risks in using third-party service providers, including prime brokers, custodians, administrators and other agents.
Certain of our investment funds, finance vehicles and our principal trading activities depend on the services of third-party service providers, including prime brokers, custodians, escrow agents, placement agents, administrators and other agents, to carry out administrative or other services, including valuations, securities transactions, tax preparation, insurance policy administration and government filings. We are subject to risks of errors and mistakes made by these third parties, which may be attributed to us and subject us (including our insurance subsidiaries) or our fund investors to reputational damage, penalties or losses. We may be unsuccessful in seeking reimbursement or indemnification from these third-party service providers.
Furthermore, in the event of the insolvency of a prime broker and/or custodian, our funds may not be able to recover equivalent assets in full as they will rank among the prime broker's and custodian's unsecured creditors in relation to assets that
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the prime broker or custodian borrows, lends or otherwise uses. In addition, our and our funds' cash held with a prime broker or custodian may not be segregated from the prime broker's or custodian's own cash, and our funds therefore may rank as unsecured creditors in relation to that cash. The inability to recover assets from the prime broker or custodian could have a material adverse impact on the performance of our funds and our business, results of operations and financial condition. Counterparties have generally reacted to recent market volatility by tightening their underwriting standards and increasing their margin requirements for all categories of financing, which has the result of decreasing the overall amount of leverage available and increasing the costs of borrowing. Many of our funds have credit lines, and if a lender under one or more of these credit lines were to become insolvent, we may have difficulty replacing the credit line and one or more of our funds may face liquidity problems.
Default risk may arise from events or circumstances that are difficult to detect, foresee or evaluate. In addition, concerns about, or a default by, one large market participant could lead to significant liquidity problems for other market participants, which may in turn expose us to significant losses. We may not accurately anticipate the impact of market stress or counterparty financial condition, and as a result, we may not have taken sufficient action to reduce these risks effectively, which, if left unmitigated, could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
For discussions of the risks related to Global Atlantic's use third-party service providers, see "—Risks Related to Global Atlantic—Business Risks Related to Global Atlantic—Global Atlantic depends on the performance of its third-party service providers, including distribution partners and agents, and their failure to perform in a satisfactory manner could negatively affect Global Atlantic's business."
Risks Related to the Assets We Manage
As an investment manager, we sponsor and manage funds that make investments worldwide on behalf of third-party investors and, in connection with those activities, are required to deploy our own capital in those investments. The investments of these funds are subject to many risks and uncertainties which, to the extent they are material, are discussed below. In addition, we have investments on our balance sheet, which we manage for our own behalf. These risks, as they apply to our balance sheet investments, may have a greater impact on our results of operations and financial conditions as we directly bear the full risk of our balance sheet investments. As a result, the gains and losses on such assets are reflected in our net income and the risks set forth below relating to the assets that we manage will directly affect our operating performance.
The historical returns attributable to our funds, including those presented in this report, should not be considered as indicative of the future results of our funds, our insurance subsidiaries or our balance sheet investments, of our future results or the performance of our common stock.
We have presented in this report certain information relating to our investment returns, such as net and gross IRRs, multiples of invested capital and realized and unrealized investment values for funds that we have sponsored and managed. The historical and potential future returns of the funds that we manage are not directly linked to returns on KKR Group Partnership Units.
Moreover, historical returns of our funds may not be indicative of the future results that you should expect from our funds, our insurance subsidiaries or our balance sheet investments. In particular, the future results may differ significantly from their historical results for the following reasons, among others:
•the rates of returns of our funds reflect unrealized gains as of the applicable valuation date that may never be realized, which may adversely affect the ultimate value realized from those funds' investments;
•certain historical returns that we present in this report are based on the performance of our historical private equity funds, the results of which have already been realized and are significantly less relevant for raising capital for our future funds;
•the future performance of our funds will be affected by macroeconomic and other factors, including negative factors arising from disruptions in the global financial markets or tensions in global trade, which may not have been prevalent in the periods relevant to the historical return data included in this report;
•in some historical periods, the rates of return of some of our funds have been positively influenced by a number of investments that experienced a substantial decrease in the average holding period of such investments and rapid and substantial increases in value following the dates on which those investments were made; those trends and rates of return may not be repeated in the future as the actual or expected length of holding periods related to investments is likely longer than such historical periods;
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•our newly established funds may generate lower returns during the period that they take to deploy their capital, which may result in little or no carried interests due to performance hurdles;
•our funds' returns have benefited from investment opportunities and general market conditions in certain historical periods that may not repeat themselves, and there can be no assurance that our current or future funds will be able to avail themselves of comparable investment opportunities or market conditions; and
•we may create new funds and investment products in the future that reflect a different asset mix in terms of allocations among funds, investment strategies, geographic and industry exposure, vintage year and economic terms.
In addition, our historical rates of return reflect our historical cost structure, which has varied and may vary further in the future. Certain of our newer funds, for example, have lower fee structures and also have performance hurdles. Future returns will also be affected by the risks described elsewhere in this report, including risks of the industry sectors and businesses in which a particular fund invests and changes in laws. See "—Risks Related to Our Business—Difficult market and economic conditions can adversely affect our business in many ways, including by reducing the value or performance of the investments that we manage or by reducing the ability of our funds to raise or deploy capital, each of which could negatively impact our net income and cash flow and adversely affect our financial prospects and condition."
Valuation methodologies for certain assets in our funds, in our insurance subsidiaries and on our balance sheet can be subjective and the fair value of assets established pursuant to such methodologies may never be realized, which could result in significant losses for our funds and us.
There are no readily ascertainable market prices for a substantial majority of illiquid investments of our investment funds, our finance vehicles, insurance subsidiaries or other assets on our balance sheet. When determining fair values of investments, we use the last reported market price as of the statement of financial condition date for investments that have readily observable market prices. When an investment does not have a readily available market price, the fair value of the investment represents the value, as determined by us in good faith, at which the investment could be sold in an orderly disposition over a reasonable period of time between willing parties other than in a forced or liquidation sale. There is no single standard for determining fair value in good faith and in many cases fair value is best expressed as a range of fair values from which a single estimate may be derived. When making fair value determinations for our private equity investments, we typically use a market multiples approach that considers a specified financial measure (such as EBITDA) and/or a discounted cash flow analysis. Real asset investments in infrastructure, energy and real estate are valued using one or more of the discounted cash flow analysis, market comparables analysis and direct income capitalization, which in each case incorporates significant assumptions and judgments, and in certain cases, utilizes the services of independent valuation firms. Credit investments are valued using values obtained from dealers or market makers, and where these values are not available, credit investments are valued by us based on ranges of valuations determined by an independent valuation firm. For a majority of Global Atlantic's available-for-sale fixed maturity securities and other investments, the determination of fair value is based on valuation methodologies, securities Global Atlantic deems to be comparable and assumptions deemed appropriate based on market conditions specific to the security.
Each of these methodologies requires estimates of key inputs and significant assumptions and judgments. We also consider a range of additional factors that we deem relevant, including the applicability of a control premium or illiquidity discount, the presence of significant unconsolidated assets and liabilities, any favorable or unfavorable tax attributes, the method of likely exit, financial projections, estimates of assumed growth rates, terminal values, discount rates including risk free rates, capital structure, risk premiums, commodity prices and other factors, and determining these factors may involve a significant degree of our management's judgment and the judgment of management of our portfolio companies.
Because valuations, and in particular valuations of investments for which market quotations are not readily available, are inherently uncertain, may fluctuate over short periods of time and may be based on estimates, determinations of fair value may differ materially from the values that would have resulted if a ready market had existed. Even if market quotations are available for our investments, such quotations may not reflect the value that we would actually be able to realize because of various factors, including possible illiquidity associated with a large ownership position, subsequent illiquidity in the market for a company's securities, future market price volatility or the potential for a future loss in market value based on poor industry conditions or the market's view of overall company and management performance. Our stockholders' equity could be adversely affected if the values of investments that we record is materially higher than the values that are ultimately realized upon the disposal of the investments and changes in values attributed to investments from quarter to quarter may result in volatility in our AUM and such changes could materially affect the results of operations that we report from period to period. There can be no assurance that the investment values that we record from time to time will ultimately be realized and that we will be able to realize the investment values that are presented in this report.
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Because there is significant uncertainty in the valuation of, or in the stability of the value of, illiquid investments, the fair values of investments reflected in an investment fund's or vehicle's net asset value ("NAV") do not necessarily reflect the prices that would actually be obtained by us on behalf of the fund or finance vehicle when such investments are realized. For example, there may be liabilities such as unknown or uncertain tax exposures with respect to investments, especially those outside the United States, which may not be fully reflected in valuations. Realizations at values significantly lower than the values at which investments have been reflected in prior fund NAVs would result in losses for the applicable fund and the loss of potential carried interest and other fees. Also, if realizations of our investments produce values materially different than the carrying values reflected in prior fund NAVs, fund investors may lose confidence in us, which could in turn result in difficulty in raising capital for future funds.
In addition, because we value our entire portfolio only on a quarterly basis, subsequent events that may have a material impact on those valuations may not be reflected until the next quarterly valuation date.
Our investments are impacted by various economic conditions and events outside of our control that are difficult to quantify or predict, which may have a significant impact on the valuation of our investments and, therefore, on the investment income we realize and our results of operations and financial condition.
Our investments are impacted by various economic conditions and events outside of our control that are difficult to quantify or predict, which may have a significant impact on the valuation of our investments and, therefore, on the investment income we realize and our results of operations and financial condition. For example:
•Global equity markets, which have been and are expected to continue to be volatile, significantly impact the valuation of our portfolio companies and, therefore, the investment income that we recognize. If equity valuations decline (due to multiple contraction or otherwise), then our performance may be materially adversely impacted. For our investments that are publicly listed and thus have readily observable market prices, global equity markets have a direct impact on valuation. For other investments, these markets have an indirect impact on valuation as we typically utilize market multiples (i.e., stock price of comparable companies divided by earnings or cash flow) as a critical input to ascertain fair value of our investments that do not have readily observable market prices. In addition, the valuation for any particular period may not be realized at the time of disposition. For example, because our private equity funds often hold very large amounts of the securities of their portfolio companies, the disposition of these securities often takes place over a long period of time, which can further expose us to volatility risk. In addition, the receptivity of equity markets to initial public offerings, as well as subsequent secondary equity offerings by companies already public, impacts our ability to realize investment gains. Unfavorable market conditions, market volatility and other factors may also adversely impact our strategic partnerships with third-party hedge fund managers by influencing the level or pace of subscriptions or redemptions from the funds managed by our partners.
•Changes in credit markets can also impact valuations and may have offsetting results depending on the valuation methodology used. For example, we typically use a discounted cash flow analysis as one of the methodologies to ascertain the fair value of our investments that do not have readily observable market prices. If applicable interest rates rise, then the assumed cost of capital for those portfolio companies would be expected to increase under the discounted cash flow analysis, and this effect would negatively impact their valuations if not offset by other factors. Rising U.S. interest rates may also negatively impact certain foreign currencies that depend on foreign capital flows. Conversely, a fall in interest rates can positively impact valuations of certain portfolio companies if not offset by other factors. These impacts could be substantial depending upon the magnitude of the change in interest rates. In certain cases, the valuations obtained from the discounted cash flow analysis and the other primary methodology we use, the market multiples approach, may yield different and offsetting results. For example, the positive impact of falling interest rates on discounted cash flow valuations may offset the negative impact of the market multiples valuation approach and may result in less of a decline in value than for those investments that had a readily observable market price. Any adverse change to the cost of borrowing resulting from the LIBOR transition could also negatively impact the valuations of our investments and could result in us receiving lower interest income for our credit funds. Finally, low interest rates related to monetary stimulus and economic stagnation may also negatively impact expected returns on all investments, as the demand for relatively higher return assets increases and supply decreases.
•Foreign exchange rates can materially impact the valuations of our investments that are denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. For example, U.S. dollar appreciation relative to other currencies is likely to cause a decrease in the dollar value of non-U.S. investments to the extent unhedged.
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•Conditions in commodity markets impact the performance of our portfolio companies and other investments in a variety of ways, including through the direct or indirect impact on the cost of the inputs used in their operations as well as the pricing and profitability of the products or services that they sell. The price of commodities has historically been subject to substantial volatility, which among other things, could be driven by economic, monetary, political or weather related factors. If the operating partners for certain of our real asset funds or our portfolio companies are unable to raise prices to offset increases in the cost of raw materials or other inputs, or if consumers defer purchases of or seek substitutes for the products of our funds or such portfolio companies, our funds or such portfolio companies could experience lower operating income which may in turn reduce the valuation of such funds' investments or those portfolio companies. The value of energy investments generally increase or decrease with the increase or decrease, respectively, of energy commodity prices and in particular with long-term forecasts for such energy commodity prices. Given our investments in Crescent Energy and other oil and gas companies, assets, a portion of the investment income we realize is sensitive to oil and gas prices. The volatility of commodity prices also makes it difficult to predict commodity price movements. Apart from our energy investments, a number of our other investments may be dependent to varying degrees on the energy sector through, for example, the provision of equipment and services used in energy exploration and production. These companies may benefit from an increase or suffer from a decline in commodity prices.
•Political developments, natural disasters, war or threat of war, terrorist attacks, epidemic, pandemic or other public health crises and other events outside of our control can, and periodically do, materially and adversely impact our portfolio companies and other investments around the world. Our investment strategies target opportunities globally, across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East. Political instability and extremism, civil unrest and anti-government protests in any region where we have material business operations or investments can, and periodically does, have an adverse impact on our and our portfolio companies’ business results, reputation or license to operate. In addition, occurrence of war or hostilities involving a country in which we have investments or where our portfolio companies operate could adversely affect the operations and valuations of our portfolio companies and investments in such country. Natural disasters, such as extreme weather events, climate change, earthquakes, tsunamis or floods, can also have an adverse impact on certain of our portfolio companies and investments, especially our real asset investments and portfolio companies that rely on physical factories, plants or stores located in the affected areas. As the effects of climate change increase, we expect the frequency and impact of weather and climate related events and conditions to increase as well. For example, unseasonal or violent weather events can have a material impact to businesses or properties that focus on tourism or recreational travel. Public health crises, pandemics and epidemics, such as those caused by new strains of viruses such as H5N1 (avian flu), severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and the SARS-CoV-2 virus (COVID-19), can be expected to occur from time to time, which could directly and indirectly impact us and our portfolio companies in material respects by threatening our and their employees' well-being and morale, interrupting business activities, supply chains and transactional activities, disrupting travel, and negatively impacting the economies of the affected countries or regions.
Changes in these factors can have a significant effect on the results of the valuation methodologies used to value our portfolio, and our reported fair values for these assets could vary materially if these factors from prior quarters were to change significantly. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Business Environment."
Global and regional economic conditions have a substantial impact on the value of investments. See "—Risks Related to Our Business—Difficult market and economic conditions can adversely affect our business in many ways, including by reducing the value or performance of the investments that we manage or by reducing the ability of our funds to raise or deploy capital, each of which could negatively impact our net income and cash flow and adversely affect our financial prospects and condition" and "—Risks Related to Our Business–COVID-19 continues to impact the United States and other countries throughout the world, and it has caused and may further cause disruptions to our business and adversely affect our financial results."
Dependence on significant leverage in investments by our funds and our balance sheet assets could adversely affect our ability to achieve attractive rates of return on those investments.
Because many of our funds' investments and our balance sheet investments often rely heavily on the use of leverage, our ability to achieve attractive rates of return will depend on our continued ability to access sufficient sources of indebtedness at attractive rates. For example, our credit funds use varying degrees of leverage when making investments. Similarly, in many private equity investments, indebtedness may constitute more than 70% of a portfolio company's total debt and equity capitalization, including debt that may be incurred in connection with the investment, and a portfolio company's indebtedness may also increase in recapitalization transactions subsequent to the company's acquisition. The absence of available sources of
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sufficient debt financing for extended periods of time could therefore materially and adversely affect our funds and our portfolio companies. U.S. federal bank regulatory agencies and the European Central Bank have issued leveraged lending guidance covering transactions characterized by a degree of financial leverage. Such guidance may limit the amount or availability of debt financing and may increase the cost of financing we are able to obtain for our transactions and may cause the returns on our investments to suffer. See "—Risks Related to Our Business—Extensive regulation of our businesses affects our activities and creates the potential for significant liabilities and penalties. The possibility of increased regulatory focus or legislative or regulatory changes could materially and adversely affect our business."
An increase in either the general levels of interest rates or in the risk spread demanded by sources of indebtedness would make it more expensive to finance those investments. In addition, increases in interest rates could decrease the value of fixed-rate debt investments that our balance sheet assets, finance vehicles or our funds make. Increases in interest rates could also make it more difficult to locate and consummate private equity and other investments because other potential buyers, including operating companies acting as strategic buyers, may be able to bid for an asset at a higher price due to a lower overall cost of capital or their ability to benefit from a higher amount of cost savings following the acquisition of the asset. In addition, a portion of the indebtedness used to finance private equity investments often includes high-yield debt securities issued in the capital markets. Capital markets are volatile, and there may be times when we might not be able to access those markets at attractive rates, or at all, when completing an investment.
Investments in highly leveraged entities are also inherently more sensitive to declines in revenues, increases in expenses and interest rates and adverse economic, market and industry developments. The incurrence of a significant amount of indebtedness by an entity could, among other things:
•subject the entity to a number of restrictive covenants, terms and conditions, any violation of which would be viewed by creditors as an event of default and could materially impact our ability to realize value from our investment;
•allow even moderate reductions in operating cash flow to render it unable to service its indebtedness;
•give rise to an obligation to make mandatory prepayments of debt using excess cash flow, which might limit the entity's ability to respond to changing industry conditions to the extent additional cash is needed for the response, to make unplanned but necessary capital expenditures or to take advantage of growth opportunities;
•limit the entity's ability to adjust to changing market conditions, thereby placing it at a competitive disadvantage compared to its competitors who have relatively less debt;
•limit the entity's ability to engage in strategic acquisitions that might be necessary to generate attractive returns or further growth; and
•limit the entity's ability to obtain additional financing or increase the cost of obtaining such financing, including for capital expenditures, working capital or other general corporate purposes.
A leveraged company's income and equity also tend to increase or decrease at a greater rate than would otherwise be the case if money had not been borrowed. As a result, the risk of loss associated with a leveraged company is generally greater than for comparable companies with comparatively less debt. For example, leveraged companies could default on their debt obligations due to a decrease in revenues and cash flow precipitated by an economic downturn or by poor relative performance at such a company. Similarly, the leveraged nature of some of our investments in real assets increases the risk that a decline in the fair value of the underlying real asset will result in their abandonment or foreclosure. For example, if the property-level debt on a particular investment has reached its maturity and the underlying asset value has declined below its debt-level, we may, in absence of cooperation by the lender in regards to a partial debt-write-off, be forced to put the investment into liquidation. In addition, the 2017 Tax Act partially limits the tax deductibility of interest, which could have a material adverse effect on our funds' investment activities and on operations of a leveraged company.
When our existing portfolio investments reach the point when debt incurred to finance those investments matures in significant amounts and must be either repaid or refinanced, those investments may materially suffer if they have generated insufficient cash flow to repay maturing debt and there is insufficient capacity and availability in the financing markets to permit them to refinance maturing debt on satisfactory terms, or at all. If the financing for such purposes were to be unavailable or uneconomic when significant amounts of the debt incurred to finance our existing portfolio investments start to come due, these investments could be materially and adversely affected. In the event of default or potential default under applicable financing arrangements, one or more of our portfolio companies may go bankrupt, which could give rise to substantial investment losses, adverse claims or litigation against us or our employees and damage to our reputation.
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Among the sectors particularly challenged by downturns in the global credit markets are the CLO and leveraged finance markets. We have significant exposure to these markets through our CLO vehicles. As of December 31, 2021, we indirectly hold below investment grade corporate loans and securities with a $22.1 billion estimated fair market value through our CLO vehicles. Each of these vehicles is a special purpose company that issued to us and other investors notes secured by a pool of collateral consisting primarily of corporate leveraged loans. In most cases, our CLO holdings are deeply subordinated, representing the CLO vehicle's substantial leverage, which increases both the opportunity for higher returns as well as the magnitude of losses when compared to holders or investors that rank more senior to us in right of payment. These loans and bonds also generally involve a higher degree of risk than investment grade rated debt, including the risks described in the paragraphs above. Our CLO vehicles have historically experienced an increase in downgrades, depreciations in market value and defaults in respect of leveraged loans in their collateral during downturns in credit markets. The CLOs' portfolio profile tests set limits on the amount of discounted obligations a CLO can hold. During any time that a CLO issuer exceeds such a limit, the ability of the CLO's manager to sell assets and reinvest available principal proceeds into substitute assets is restricted. In such circumstances, CLOs may fail certain over-collateralization tests, which would cause diversions of cash flows away from us as holders of the more junior CLO, which may impact our cash flows. The ability of the CLOs to make interest payments to the holders of the senior notes of those structures is highly dependent upon the performance of the CLO collateral. If the collateral in those structures were to experience a significant decrease in cash flow due to an increased default level, payment of all principal and interest outstanding may be accelerated as a result of an event of default or by holders of the senior notes. There can be no assurance that market conditions giving rise to these types of consequences will not occur, re-occur, subsist or become more acute in the future. Because our CLO structures involve complex collateral and other arrangements, the documentation for such structures is complex, is subject to differing interpretations and involves legal risk. These CLOs have served as long-term, non-recourse financing for debt investments and as a way to reduce refinancing risk, reduce maturity risk and secure a fixed cost of funds over an underlying market interest rate. An inability to continue to utilize CLOs or other similar financing vehicles successfully could limit our ability to fund future investments, grow our business or fully execute our business strategy and our results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.
Our CLO vehicles regularly use significant leverage to finance their assets. An inability of such vehicles to continue to raise or utilize leverage, to refinance or extend the maturities of their outstanding indebtedness or to maintain adequate levels of collateral under the terms of their CLOs could limit their ability to grow their business, reinvest principal cash, distribute cash to us or fully execute their business strategy, and our results of operations may be materially and adversely affected. If these vehicles are unable to maintain their operating results and access to capital resources, they could face substantial liquidity problems and might be required to dispose of material assets or operations to meet debt service and other obligations. These CLO strategies and the value of the assets of such CLO vehicles are also sensitive to changes in interest rates because these strategies rely on borrowed money and because the value of the underlying portfolio loans can fall when interest rates rise. If interest rates on CLO borrowings increase and the interest rates on the portfolio loans do not also increase, the CLO strategy is unlikely to achieve its projected returns. Also, if interest rates increase in the future, our CLO portfolio will likely experience a reduction in value because it would hold assets receiving below market rates of interest.
Our credit-oriented funds and CLOs may choose to use leverage as part of their respective investment programs and regularly borrow a substantial amount of their capital. The use of leverage poses a significant degree of risk and enhances the possibility of a significant loss in the value of the investment portfolio. A fund may borrow money from time to time to purchase or carry securities or debt obligations or may enter into derivative transactions (such as total return swaps) with counterparties that have embedded leverage. The interest expense and other costs incurred in connection with such borrowing may not be recovered by appreciation in the securities or debt obligations purchased or carried and will be lost—and the timing and magnitude of such losses may be accelerated or exacerbated—in the event of a decline in the market value of such securities or debt obligations. Gains realized with borrowed funds may cause the fund's NAV to increase at a faster rate than would be the case without borrowings. However, if investment results fail to cover the cost of borrowings, the fund's NAV could also decrease faster than if there had been no borrowings.
Any of the foregoing circumstances could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition and cash flow.
The due diligence process that we undertake in connection with our investments may not reveal all facts that may be relevant in connection with an investment.
Before making our investments, we conduct due diligence that we believe to be reasonable and appropriate based on the facts and circumstances applicable to each investment. The objective of the due diligence process is to identify attractive investment opportunities based on the facts and circumstances surrounding an investment, to identify possible risks associated with that investment and, in the case of private equity investments, to prepare a framework that may be used from the date of an acquisition to drive operational achievement and value creation. When conducting due diligence, we typically evaluate a
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number of important business, financial, tax, accounting, ESG, technological, cyber-security, regulatory and legal issues in determining whether or not to proceed with an investment. Outside consultants, legal advisors, accountants and investment banks are involved in the due diligence process in varying degrees depending on the type of investment. Nevertheless, when conducting due diligence and making an assessment regarding an investment, we rely on resources available to us, including information provided by the target of the investment and, in some circumstances, third-party investigations. The due diligence process may at times be subjective with respect to newly organized companies or carve-out transactions for which only limited information is available.
Instances of bribery, fraud, accounting irregularities and other improper, illegal or corrupt practices can be difficult to detect, and fraud and other deceptive practices can be widespread in certain jurisdictions. Several of our funds invest in emerging market countries that may not have established laws and regulations that are as stringent as in more developed nations, or where existing laws and regulations may not be consistently enforced. For example, our funds invest throughout jurisdictions that have material perceptions of corruption according to international rating standards (such as Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index) such as China, India, Indonesia, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa. Due diligence on investment opportunities in these jurisdictions is frequently more complicated because consistent and uniform commercial practices in such locations may not have developed. Bribery, fraud, accounting irregularities and corrupt practices can be especially difficult to detect in such locations.
The due diligence conducted for certain of our credit strategies, as well as certain private equity and real asset investments, is limited to publicly available information. Accordingly, we cannot be certain that the due diligence investigation that we will carry out with respect to any investment opportunity will reveal or highlight all relevant facts (including fraud, bribery and other illegal activities and contingent liabilities) that may be necessary or helpful in evaluating such investment opportunity, including the existence of contingent liabilities. We also cannot be certain that our due diligence investigations will result in investments being successful or that the actual financial performance of an investment will not fall short of the financial projections we used when evaluating that investment.
Our investment management activities involve investments in relatively high-risk, illiquid assets, and we may fail to realize any profits from these activities for a considerable period of time or lose some or all of the capital invested.
Many of our funds and our balance sheet may hold investments in securities that are not publicly traded. In many cases, our funds or we may be prohibited by contract or by applicable securities laws from selling such securities at many points in time. Our funds or we will generally not be able to sell these securities publicly unless their sale is registered under applicable securities laws, or unless an exemption from such registration is available, and then only at such times when we do not possess material nonpublic information. The ability of many of our funds or us to dispose of investments is heavily dependent on the capital markets and in particular the public equity markets. For example, the ability to realize any value from an investment may depend upon the ability to complete an initial public offering of the portfolio company in which such investment is made. Even if the securities are publicly traded, large holdings of securities can often be disposed of only over a substantial length of time, exposing our investment returns to risks of downward movement in market prices during the intended disposition period. Moreover, because the investment strategy of many of our funds, particularly our private equity funds, often entails having representation on our funds' public portfolio company boards, our funds may be restricted in their ability to effect such sales during certain time periods. In addition, market conditions and regulatory environment can also delay our funds' ability to exit and realize value from their investments. For example, rising interest rates and challenging credit markets may make it difficult for potential buyers to raise sufficient capital to purchase our funds' investments. Government policies regarding certain regulations, such as antitrust law, national security or restrictions on foreign investment in certain of our funds' portfolio companies or assets can also limit our funds' exit opportunities. See "—Risks Related to Our Business—Extensive regulation of our businesses affects our activities and creates the potential for significant liabilities and penalties. The possibility of increased regulatory focus or legislative or regulatory changes could materially and adversely affect our business." As many of our funds have a finite term, we could also be forced to dispose of investments sooner than otherwise desirable. Accordingly, under certain conditions, our funds may be forced to either sell their investments at lower prices than they had expected to realize or defer sales that they had planned to make, potentially for a considerable period of time. Moreover, we may determine that we may be required to sell our balance sheet assets alongside our funds' investments at such times. We have made and expect to continue to make significant capital investments in our current and future funds and other strategies. Contributing capital to these funds is risky, and we may lose some or all of the principal amount of our investments.
Our investments are subject to a number of inherent risks.
Our results are highly dependent on our continued ability to generate attractive returns from our investments. Investments made by our private equity, credit or other investments in companies involve a number of significant risks inherent to private equity, credit and other investment in companies, including the following:
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•companies in which investments are made may have limited financial resources and may be unable to meet their obligations under their securities, which may be accompanied by a deterioration in the value of their equity securities or any collateral or guarantees provided with respect to their debt;
•companies in which investments are made are more likely to depend on the management talents and efforts of a small group of persons and, as a result, the death, disability, resignation or termination of one or more of those persons could have a material adverse impact on their business and prospects;
•companies in which private equity investments are made may be businesses or divisions acquired from larger operating entities that may require a rebuilding or replacement of financial reporting, information technology, operational and other functions;
•companies in which investments are made may from time to time be parties to litigation, may be engaged in rapidly changing businesses with products subject to a substantial risk of obsolescence and may require substantial additional capital to support their operations, finance expansion or maintain their competitive position;
•instances of bribery, fraud and other deceptive practices committed by senior management of portfolio companies in which our funds or we invest may undermine our due diligence efforts with respect to such companies, and if such bribery, fraud or other deceptive practices are discovered, negatively affect the valuation of a fund's investments as well as contribute to overall market volatility that can negatively impact a fund's or our investment program;
•our funds may make investments that they do not advantageously dispose of prior to the date the applicable fund is dissolved, either by expiration of such fund's term or otherwise, resulting in a lower than expected return on the investments and, potentially, on the fund itself;
•our portfolio companies generally have capital structures established on the basis of financial projections based primarily on management's judgments and assumptions, and general economic conditions and other factors may cause actual performance to fall short of these financial projections, which could cause a substantial decrease in the value of our equity holdings in the portfolio company and cause our funds' or our performance to fall short of our expectations;
•executive officers, directors and employees of an equity sponsor may be named as defendants in litigation involving a company in which an investment is made or is being made, and we or our funds may indemnify such executive officers, directors or employees for liability relating to such litigation;
•we advise funds that invest in businesses that operate in a variety of industries that are subject to extensive domestic and foreign regulation (including companies that supply services to governmental agencies), such as the financial services industry, telecommunications industry, the defense and government services industry, the healthcare industry, oil and gas industry, the waste management industry and the food industry, which may involve greater risk due to rapidly changing market and governmental conditions in those sectors;
•our transactions involve complex tax structuring that could be challenged or disregarded, which may result in losing treaty benefits or would otherwise adversely impact our investments; and
•significant failures of our portfolio companies to comply with laws and regulations applicable to them could affect the ability of our funds or us to invest in other companies in certain industries in the future and could harm our reputation.
For additional risks that rise from the types of investment vehicles used in an investment, see "—Risks Related to Our Business—Certain types of investment vehicles may subject us to additional risk of litigation and regulatory scrutiny."
Our investments in real assets such as real estate, infrastructure and energy may expose us to increased risks and liabilities and may expose our stockholders to adverse consequences.
Investments in real assets, which may include real estate, infrastructure, oil and gas properties and other energy assets, may expose us to increased risks and liabilities that are inherent in the ownership of real assets in addition to the kinds of risks and liabilities described above or investments in companies. For example:
•Ownership of real assets in our funds or vehicles may increase our risk of liability under environmental laws that impose, regardless of fault, joint and several liability for the cost of remediating contamination and compensation for damages. In addition, changes in environmental laws or regulations or the environmental condition of an investment
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may create liabilities that did not exist at the time of acquisition that would not have been foreseen. Even in cases where we are indemnified by a seller with respect to an investment against liabilities arising out of violations of environmental laws and regulations, there can be no assurance as to the financial viability of the seller to satisfy such indemnities or our ability to achieve enforcement of such indemnities;
•Ownership of real assets may also present additional risk of liability for personal and property injury or impose significant operating challenges and costs, for example with respect to compliance with zoning, environmental or other applicable laws;
•Real asset investments may face construction risks, including without limitation: (i) labor disputes, shortages of material and skilled labor, or work stoppages; (ii) slower than projected construction progress and the unavailability or late delivery of necessary equipment; (iii) less than optimal coordination with public utilities in the relocation of their facilities; (iv) adverse weather conditions and unexpected construction conditions; (v) accidents or the breakdown or failure of construction equipment or processes; (vi) catastrophic events such as explosions, fires and terrorist activities, and other similar events and (vii) risks associated with holding direct or indirect interests in undeveloped land or underdeveloped real property. These risks could result in substantial unanticipated delays or expenses (which may exceed expected or forecasted budgets) and, under certain circumstances, could prevent completion of construction activities once undertaken. Certain real asset investments may remain in construction phases for a prolonged period and, accordingly, may not be cash generative for a prolonged period. Recourse against the contractor may be subject to liability caps or may be subject to default or insolvency on the part of the contractor;
•The operation of real assets is exposed to potential unplanned interruptions caused by significant catastrophic or force majeure events. These risks could, among other effects, adversely impact the cash flows available from investments in real assets, cause personal injury or loss of life, damage property, or instigate disruptions of service. In addition, the cost of repairing or replacing damaged assets could be considerable. Repeated or prolonged service interruptions may result in permanent loss of customers, litigation, or penalties for regulatory or contractual non-compliance. Force majeure events that are incapable of, or too costly to, cure may also have a permanent adverse effect on an investment;
•The management of the business or operations of a real asset may be contracted to a third-party management company unaffiliated with us. Although it would be possible to replace any such operator, the failure of such an operator to adequately perform its duties or to act in ways that are in the best interest of the investment, or the breach by an operator of applicable agreements or laws, rules and regulations, including instances of bribery, fraud or other deceptive practices, could have an adverse effect on the investment's results of operations and financial condition. Real asset investments may involve the subcontracting of design and construction activities in respect of projects, and as a result our investments are subject to the risk that contractual provisions passing liabilities to a subcontractor could be ineffective, the subcontractor fails to perform services that it has agreed to provide and, in cases where a single subcontractor provides services to various investments, the subcontractor becomes insolvent;
•Technology advances may decrease the value of our current investments; and
•Certain investments are susceptible to risks of defaults under, or cancellation of contracts with, third parties.
Without limiting the foregoing risks, we note that investments that we hold and may make in the future in the oil and gas industry may present specific environmental, safety and other inherent risks. Such investments are subject to stringent and complex foreign, federal, state and local laws, ordinances and regulations specific to oil and gas industries, including, for example, those governing transportation, exploration and production of oil and natural gas. There are also various conservation laws and regulations applicable to oil and natural gas production and related operations, in addition to regulations governing occupational health and safety, the discharge of materials into the environment and other practices relating to environmental protection. Failure to comply with applicable laws, ordinances and regulations may result in the assessment of administrative, civil and criminal penalties, the imposition of remedial obligations and the issuance of orders enjoining some or all of our operations in affected areas. These laws, ordinances and regulations may also restrict the rate of oil and natural gas production below the rate that would otherwise be possible and increase the cost of production, thereby reducing profitability. Our oil and gas investments are subject to other risks, such as:
•Volatility in the prices of oil and gas properties may make it difficult to ensure that our acquisition of interest in such properties is at appropriate prices;
•Currently unforeseen environmental incidents may occur or past non-compliance with environmental laws or regulations may be discovered making it difficult to predict the future costs or impact of compliance;
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•The oil and gas industries present inherent risk of personal and property injury, for which we may not be fully insured or indemnified;
•There may be unforeseen or increased regulatory and environmental risks stemming from the use of new technologies, including hydraulic fracturing;
•Our estimated oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids reserve quantities and future production rates are based on many assumptions that may prove to be inaccurate. Any material inaccuracies in these reserve estimates or the underlying assumptions will materially affect the quantities and value of our reserves;
•The performance of our energy investments depend on the skill, ability and decisions of third-party operators. The success of our investment will depend on their exploitation, development, construction and drilling activities and the timing and cost of drilling, completing and operating wells. Failure of such operators to comply with applicable laws, rules and regulations could result in liabilities to us, reduce the value of our interest in the oil and natural gas properties, and materially and adversely affect our cash flows and results of operations; and
•If commodity prices decline and remain depressed for a prolonged period, a significant portion of our development projects may become uneconomic and cause write-downs of the value of our oil and gas properties, which may reduce the value of our energy investments, have a negative impact on our ability to use these investments as collateral or otherwise have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.
Investments in real estate are subject to the risks inherent in the ownership and operation of real estate and real estate-related businesses and assets. These risks include those associated with the burdens of ownership of real property; general and local economic conditions; changes in supply of and demand for competing properties in an area (as a result, for instance, of overbuilding); fluctuations in the average occupancy (including as a result of social distancing requirement and remote working environment during the COVID-19 pandemic); the financial resources of tenants; changes in building, environmental and other laws; energy and supply shortages; various uninsured or uninsurable risks; natural disasters; changes in government regulations (such as rent control); changes in real property tax rates; changes in interest rates; the reduced availability of mortgage funds that may render the sale or refinancing of properties difficult or impracticable; negative developments in the economy that depress travel activity; environmental liabilities; contingent liabilities on disposition of assets; and terrorist attacks, war and other factors that are beyond our control. Our real estate investments are also subject to additional risks, including but not limited to the following:
•The success of certain investments will depend on the ability to restructure and effect improvements in the operations of the applicable properties, and there is no assurance that we will be successful in identifying or implementing such restructuring programs and improvements.
•If we acquire direct or indirect interests in undeveloped land or underdeveloped real property, which may often be non-income producing, they will be subject to the risks normally associated with such assets and development activities, including risks relating to the availability and timely receipt of zoning and other regulatory or environmental approvals, the cost and timely completion of construction (including risks beyond the control of us or our fund, such as weather or labor conditions or material shortages) and the availability of both construction and permanent financing on favorable terms.
•The strategy of our real estate funds may be based, in part, on the availability for purchase of assets at favorable prices followed by the continuation or improvement of market conditions or on the availability of refinancing. No assurance can be given that the real estate businesses or assets can be acquired or disposed of at favorable prices or that refinancing will be available.
•Lenders in commercial real estate financing customarily will require a "bad boy" guarantee, which typically provides that the lender can recover losses from the guarantors for certain bad acts, such as fraud or intentional misrepresentation, intentional waste, willful misconduct, criminal acts, misappropriation of funds, voluntary incurrence of prohibited debt and environmental losses sustained by lender. For our acquisitions, "bad boy" guarantees would generally be extended by our funds, our balance sheet or a combination of both depending on the ownership of the relevant asset. In addition, "bad boy" guarantees typically provide that the loan will be a full personal recourse obligation of the guarantor, for certain actions, such as prohibited transfers of the collateral or changes of control and voluntary bankruptcy of the borrower. It is expected that commercial real estate financing arrangements generally will require "bad boy" guarantees and in the event that such a guarantee is called, a fund's or our assets could be materially and adversely affected. Moreover, "bad boy" guarantees could apply to actions of the joint venture partners associated
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with the investments, and in certain cases the acts of such joint venture partner could result in liability to our funds or us under such guarantees.
•The acquisition, ownership and disposition of real properties carry certain specific litigation risks. Litigation may be commenced with respect to a property acquired in relation to activities that took place prior to the acquisition of such property. In addition, at the time of disposition, other potential buyers may bring claims related to the asset or for due diligence expenses or other damages. After the sale of a real estate asset, buyers may later sue our funds or us for losses associated with latent defects or other problems not uncovered in due diligence.
•Our funds or we may be subject to certain risks associated with investments in particular assets. REITs may be affected by changes in the value of their underlying properties and by defaults by borrowers or tenants. REITs depend on their ability to generate cash flow to make distributions and may be impacted by changes in tax laws or by a failure to qualify for tax-free pass through income. Investments in real estate debt investments may be unsecured and subordinated to a substantial amount of indebtedness. Such debt investments may not be protected by financial covenants. Non-performing real estate loans may require a substantial amount of workout negotiations and/or restructuring, which may entail, among other things, a substantial reduction in the interest rate and a substantial write-down of the principal of such loan. Investments in commercial mortgage loans are subject to risks of delinquency, foreclosure and loss of principal. In the event of any default under a mortgage loan held directly by our fund or us, our fund or we will bear a risk of loss of principal to the extent of any deficiency between the value of the collateral and the principal and accrued interest of the loan. Investments in assets or businesses that are distressed may have little or no near-term cash flow and involve a high degree of risk. Such investments subject to bankruptcy or insolvency could be subordinated or disallowed.
Infrastructure investments often involve an ongoing commitment to a municipal, state, federal or foreign government or regulatory agencies. The nature of these obligations exposes the owners of infrastructure investments to a higher level of regulatory control than typically imposed on other businesses. They may also rely on complex government licenses, concessions, leases or contracts, which may be difficult to obtain or maintain. Infrastructure investments may require operators to manage such investments, and such operators' failure to comply with laws, including prohibitions against bribing of government officials, may materially and adversely affect the value of such investments and cause us serious reputational and legal harm. Revenues for such investments may rely on contractual agreements for the provision of services with a limited number of counterparties, and are consequently subject to heightened counterparty default risk. The operations and cash flow of infrastructure investments are also more sensitive to inflation and, in certain cases, commodity price risk. Furthermore, services provided by infrastructure investments may be subject to rate regulations by government entities that determine or limit prices that may be charged. Similarly, users of applicable services, or government entities in response to such users, may react negatively to any adjustments in rates, which may reduce the profitability of such infrastructure investments.
Our growth equity strategy invests in emerging and less established companies that are heavily dependent on new technologies.
Our growth equity funds may make investments in companies that are in a conceptual or early stage of development. These companies are often characterized by short operating histories, new technologies and products, quickly evolving markets, management teams that may have limited experience working together and in many cases, negative cash flow, all of which enhance the difficulty of evaluating these investment opportunities and the ultimate success of such investments. Other substantial operational risks to which such companies are subject include: uncertain market acceptance of the company's products or services; a high degree of regulatory risk for new or untried or untested business models, products and services; high levels of competition among similarly situated companies; new competing products and technology; lower barriers to entry and downward pricing pressure; lower capitalizations and fewer financial resources; the potential for rapid organizational or strategic change; and susceptibility to personal misconduct by or departure of key executives or founders. In addition, growth equity companies may be more susceptible to macroeconomic effects and industry downturns, and their valuations may be more volatile depending on the achievement of milestones, such as receiving a governmental license or approval.
Growth equity companies generally depend heavily on intellectual property rights, including patents, trademarks and proprietary products or processes. The ability to effectively enforce patent, trademark and other intellectual property laws in a cost-effective manner will affect the value of many of these companies. The presence of patents or other intellectual property rights belonging to other parties may lead to the termination of the research and development of a portfolio company's particular product. In addition, if a portfolio company infringes on third-party patents or other intellectual property rights, it could be prevented from using certain third-party technologies or forced to acquire licenses in order to obtain access to such technologies at a high cost.
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Failure to protect our intellectual property rights adequately may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations or our ability to compete.
Although we use a broad range of measures to protect their respective intellectual property rights, third parties may infringe or misappropriate our intellectual property, and we cannot provide any assurances that these protections will be adequate to prevent competitors from copying or reverse-engineering our services or independently developing and marketing services that are substantially equivalent to or superior to ours. Moreover, third parties may be able to successfully challenge, oppose, invalidate, render unenforceable, dilute, misappropriate or circumvent our trademarks, copyrights, patent and other intellectual property rights.
We may fail to maintain or be unable to obtain adequate protections for our intellectual property in the U.S. or foreign countries. Further, our intellectual property rights may not receive the same degree of protection in foreign countries as they would in the United States because of the differences in foreign trademark, copyright, patent and other laws concerning proprietary rights. Such failure or inability to obtain or maintain adequate protection of our intellectual property rights for any reason could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. Monitoring and protecting intellectual property rights can be challenging and costly. From time to time, we may be required to initiate litigation or other action to enforce its intellectual property rights or to establish their validity and enforceability. Such action could result in substantial cost and diversion of resources and management attention, and we cannot provide any assurances that any such action will be successful.
Certain of our investment vehicles, and our firm through our balance sheet, hold high-yield, below investment grade or unrated debt, or securities of companies that are experiencing significant financial or business difficulties, which generally entail greater risk, and if those risks are realized, it could materially and adversely affect our results of operations, financial condition and cash flow.
Certain of our funds, CLOs and other investment vehicles, and our firm through our balance sheet, invest in high-yield, below investment grade or unrated debt, including corporate loans and bonds, each of which generally involves a higher degree of risk than investment grade rated debt, and may be less liquid. Issuers of high yield, below investment grade or unrated debt may be highly leveraged, and their relatively high debt-to-equity ratios create increased risks that their operations might not generate sufficient cash flow to service their debt obligations. As a result, high yield, below investment grade or unrated debt is often less liquid than investment grade rated debt. Also, investments may be made in loans and other forms of debt that are not marketable securities and therefore are not liquid. In the absence of appropriate hedging measures, changes in interest rates generally will also cause the value of fixed rate debt investments to vary inversely to such changes. The obligor of a debt security or instrument may not be able or willing to pay interest or to repay principal when due in accordance with the terms of the associated agreement and collateral may not be available or sufficient to cover such liabilities. Commercial bank lenders and other creditors may be able to contest payments to the holders of other debt obligations of the same obligor in the event of default under their commercial bank loan agreements. Sub-participation interests in syndicated debt may be subject to certain additional risks as a result of having no direct contractual relationship with underlying borrowers. Debt securities and instruments may be rated below investment grade by recognized rating agencies or unrated and face ongoing uncertainties and exposure to adverse business, financial or economic conditions and the issuer's failure to make timely interest and principal payments.
Certain of our investment funds, especially in our strategic credit strategy, and our firm through our balance sheet may hold interests in business enterprises involved in work-outs, liquidations, reorganizations, bankruptcies and similar transactions and may purchase high-risk receivables. An investment in such business enterprises entails the risk that the transaction in which such business enterprise is involved either will be unsuccessful, will take considerable time or will result in a distribution of cash or a new security the value of which will be less than the purchase price to the fund of the security or other financial instrument in respect of which such distribution is received. In addition, if an anticipated transaction does not in fact occur, we or the fund may be required to sell the investment at a loss. Investments in troubled companies may also be adversely affected by U.S. federal and state and non-U.S. laws relating to, among other things, fraudulent conveyances, voidable preferences, lender liability and a bankruptcy court's discretionary power to disallow, subordinate or disenfranchise particular claims. Investments in securities and private claims of troubled companies made in connection with an attempt to influence a restructuring proposal or plan of reorganization in a bankruptcy case may also involve substantial litigation, which has the potential to adversely impact us or unrelated funds or portfolio companies. Companies that were not in financial distress at the time we or our funds made investments may in the future require work-outs, liquidations, reorganizations, bankruptcies or similar transactions, and as a result, become subject to the same risks described above. Because there is substantial uncertainty concerning the outcome of transactions involving financially troubled companies, there is a potential risk of loss of the entire investment in such company. Such investments involve a substantial degree of risk, and a decline in value of the assets would have a material adverse effect on our financial performance.
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We often pursue investment opportunities that involve business, regulatory, legal or other complexities.
As an element of our investment style, we often pursue complex investment opportunities. This can often take the form of substantial business, regulatory or legal complexity that would deter other investment managers. Our tolerance for complexity presents risks, as such transactions can be more difficult, expensive and time consuming to finance and execute; it can be more difficult to manage or realize value from the assets acquired in such transactions; and such transactions sometimes entail a higher level of regulatory scrutiny, the application of complex tax laws or a greater risk of contingent liabilities. Our transactions involve complex tax structures that are costly to establish, monitor and maintain, and as we pursue a larger number of transactions across multiple assets classes and in multiple jurisdictions, such costs will increase and the risk that a tax matter is overlooked or inadequately or inconsistently addressed will increase. Consequently, we may fail to achieve the desired tax benefit or otherwise decrease the returns of our investments or damage the reputation of our firm. Changes in law and regulation and in the enforcement of existing law and regulation, such as antitrust laws and tax laws, also add complexity and risk to our business. Further, we, directly or through our funds, may acquire an investment that is subject to contingent liabilities, which could be unknown to us at the time of acquisition or, if they are known to us, we may not accurately assess or protect against the risks that they present. Acquired contingent liabilities could thus result in unforeseen losses for us or our funds. In addition, in connection with the disposition of an investment in a portfolio company, we or a fund may be required to make representations about the business and financial affairs of such portfolio company typical of those made in connection with the sale of a business. We or a fund may also be required to indemnify the purchasers of such investment to the extent that any such representations are inaccurate. These arrangements may result in the incurrence of contingent liabilities by us or a fund, even after the disposition of an investment. Any of these risks could harm the performance of us or our funds.
We make large private equity and real assets investments, which involves certain complexities and risks that are not encountered in small- and medium-sized investments.
Our private equity funds make investments in companies with relatively large capitalizations, which involves certain complexities and risks that are not encountered in small- and medium-sized investments. For example, larger transactions may be more difficult to finance and exiting larger deals may present incremental challenges. In addition, larger transactions may pose greater challenges in implementing changes in the company's management, culture, finances or operations, and may entail greater scrutiny by regulators, interest groups and other third parties. These constituencies may be more active in opposing larger investments by certain private equity firms.
In some transactions, the amount of equity capital that is required to complete a large capitalization private equity or real asset transaction may be significant and may require significantly more capital than is then available for investment by our investment funds. We sometimes structure these kinds of transactions as “consortium transactions.” A consortium transaction involves an equity investment in which two or more firms serve together or collectively as equity sponsors. Consortium transactions generally entail a reduced level of control by our firm over the investment because governance rights must be shared with the other consortium investors. Accordingly, we may not be able to control decisions relating to a consortium investment, including decisions relating to the management and operation of the company and the timing and nature of any exit, which could result in the risks described in “—We and our funds have made investments in companies that we do not control, exposing us to the risk of decisions made by others with which we may not agree.” Any of these factors could increase the risk that our larger investments could be less successful. The consequences to our investment funds of an unsuccessful larger investment could be more severe given the size of the investment. Moreover, we could committee significant amounts of our capital to such large investments. More recently, instead of consortium transactions, we have sought to syndicate a portion of our capital commitment in larger private equity and real asset transactions that we believe may exceed appropriately sized investments for our funds. A syndication transaction involves KKR seeking third parties to commit equity to our investments, typically as passive co-investors, so that our firm can retain a level of control over the investment. However, if we are unable to syndicate all or part of such commitment, or if such co-investors fails to fund their commitments, we may be required to fund the remaining commitment amount from our balance sheet. If we are required to keep on our balance sheet a large portion of the capital commitment that could not be syndicated to third parties, poor performance of such large investment may have a material adverse impact on our financial results. See “—Risks Related to Our Business—If we are unable to syndicate the securities or indebtedness or realize returns on investments financed with our balance sheet assets, our liquidity, business, results of operations and financial condition could be materially and adversely affected” and “—Our funds and our firm through our balance sheet may make a limited number of investments, or investments that are concentrated in certain issuers, geographic regions or asset types, which could negatively affect our performance or the performance of our funds to the extent those concentrated assets perform poorly.”
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We and our funds have made investments in companies that we do not control, exposing us to the risk of decisions made by others with which we may not agree.
We and our funds hold investments that include debt instruments and equity securities of companies that we do not control, and such investments may comprise an increasing part of our business. Such instruments and securities may be acquired by our funds through trading activities or through purchases of securities from the issuer or we may purchase such instruments and securities on a principal basis. In addition, our funds may acquire minority equity interests, particularly when making private equity investments in Asia, making growth equity investments or sponsoring investments as part of an investor consortium or through many of our credit funds. Our funds may also dispose of a portion of their majority equity investments in portfolio companies over time in a manner that results in the funds retaining a minority investment. We and our funds, including our newer private equity funds, have made certain minority investments in publicly traded companies.
We have also made minority investments in companies including hedge fund and real estate managers on our balance sheet. For example, we have investments in Marshall Wace, BlackGold, PAAMCO Prisma and Drawbridge.
Transactions made by companies we do not control could be viewed as unwanted, damage our reputation, and consequently impair our ability to source transactions in the future. Those investments will be subject to the risk that the company in which the investment is made may make business, financial or management decisions with which we do not agree or that the majority stakeholders or the management of the company may take risks or otherwise act in a manner that does not serve our interests. These companies may be subject to complex regulatory requirements and instances of non-compliance by them may subject us to reputational harm or in certain cases, liability. We are also reliant on the systems and processes of these companies for, among other, financial information and valuations of our investments in or with them, including hedge fund managers and their funds, but we do not control the decisions and judgments made during such processes. Our investments in hedge fund managers may subject us to additional regulatory complexities or scrutiny if we are deemed to control the company for regulatory purposes, despite our minority interest. These asset managers may also be dependent on their founders and other key persons, and the loss of these key personnel could adversely impact our investment. If any of the foregoing were to occur, the value of the investments held by our funds or by us could decrease and our results of operations, financial condition and cash flow could be materially and adversely affected.
We make investments in companies that are based outside of the United States, which may expose us to additional risks not typically associated with investing in companies that are based in the United States.
Many of our funds invest or have the flexibility to invest a significant portion of their assets in the equity, debt, loans or other securities of issuers that are based outside of the United States. A substantial amount of these investments consist of private equity investments made by our private equity funds. For example, as of December 31, 2021, approximately 53% of the capital invested in those funds was attributable to non-U.S. investments. Investing in companies that are based or have significant operations in countries outside of the United States and, in particular, in emerging markets such as China and India, Eastern Europe, South and Southeast Asia, Latin America and Africa, involves risks and considerations that are not typically associated with investments in companies established in the United States. These risks may include the following:
•the possibility of restrictions on foreign direct investment and exchange control regulations;
•restrictions on repatriation of profit on investments or of capital invested;
•the imposition of non-U.S. taxes or withholding taxes on income or gain with respect to certain assets and/or changes in tax law;
•differences in the legal and regulatory environment, such as the recognition of information barriers, or enhanced legal and regulatory compliance;
•greater levels of corruption and potential exposure to the FCPA and other laws that prohibit improper payments or offers of payments to foreign governments, their officials and other third parties;
•violations of trade sanctions or trade control regimes and the potential for the imposition of new or additional tariffs;
•limitations on borrowings to be used to fund acquisitions or dividends;
•limitations on the deductibility of interest and other financing costs and expense for income tax purposes in certain jurisdictions;
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•limitations on permissible counterparties in our transactions or consolidation rules that effectively restrict the types of businesses in which we may invest;
•political risks generally, including political and social instability, nationalization, expropriation of assets or political hostility to investments by foreign or private equity investors;
•less liquid markets;
•reliance on a more limited number of commodity inputs, service providers or distribution mechanisms;
•adverse fluctuations in currency exchange rates and costs associated with conversion of investment principal and income from one currency into another;
•higher rates of inflation;
•less available current information about an issuer;
•higher transaction costs;
•less government supervision of exchanges, brokers and issuers;
•less developed bankruptcy and other laws;
•greater application of concepts like equitable subordination, which may, in bankruptcy or insolvency, result in the subordination of debt or other senior interests held by our investment funds, vehicles or accounts in companies in which our investment funds, vehicles or accounts also hold equity interests;
•difficulty in enforcing contractual obligations;
•lack of uniform or robust accounting, auditing, financial reporting standards, practices and disclosure requirements and less government supervision and regulation;
•less stringent requirements relating to fiduciary duties;
•fewer investor protections; and
•greater price volatility.
Although we expect that much of the capital commitments of our funds will be denominated in U.S. dollars, our investments and capital commitments that are denominated in a foreign currency, such as euro, will be subject to the risk that the value of a particular currency will change in relation to one or more other currencies. A depreciation of foreign currencies against the U.S. dollar, if not adequately hedged, would reduce the value of our investments in the relevant region, which could adversely impact our financial results. Factors that may affect currency values include trade balances, the ability of countries to pay their national debt, levels of short-term interest rates, differences in relative values of similar assets in different currencies, long-term opportunities for investment and capital appreciation and political developments. We may employ hedging techniques to reduce these risks, but we can offer no assurance that such strategies will be effective or even available at all. If we engage in hedging transactions, we may be exposed to additional risks associated with such transactions. See "—Risk management activities may adversely affect the return on our investments” and “—Risks Related to Our Business—Extensive regulation of our businesses affects our activities and creates the potential for significant liabilities and penalties. The possibility of increased regulatory focus or legislative or regulatory changes could materially and adversely affect our business.” In addition, various countries and regulatory bodies may implement controls on foreign exchange and outbound remittances of currency, which could impact not only the timing and amount of capital contributions that are required to be made to our funds but also the value, in U.S. dollars, of our investments and investment proceeds. See "—Risks Related to Our Business—Difficult market and economic conditions can adversely affect our business in many ways, including by reducing the value or performance of the investments that we manage or by reducing the ability of our funds to raise or deploy capital, each of which could negatively impact our net income and cash flow and adversely affect our financial prospects and condition" and "—Risks Related to Our Business—Extensive regulation of our businesses affects our activities and creates the potential for significant liabilities and penalties. The possibility of increased regulatory focus or legislative or regulatory changes could materially and adversely affect our business." Generally, see also "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results
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of Operations—Business Environment" for a discussion of recent developments in market and business conditions that may affect our business.
Third-party investors in our funds with commitment-based structures may not satisfy their contractual obligation to fund capital calls when requested by us, which could adversely affect a fund's operations and performance.
Investors in certain of our funds make capital commitments to those funds that the funds are entitled to call from those investors at any time during prescribed periods. We depend on fund investors fulfilling their commitments when we call capital from them in order for such funds to consummate investments and otherwise pay their obligations (for example, management fees) when due. Any fund investor that did not fund a capital call would generally be subject to several possible penalties, including having a significant amount of existing investment forfeited in that fund. However, the impact of the penalty is directly correlated to the amount of capital previously invested by the investor in the fund and if an investor has invested little or no capital, for instance early in the life of the fund, then the forfeiture penalty may not be as meaningful. Investors may in the future also negotiate for lesser or reduced penalties at the outset of the fund, thereby inhibiting our ability to enforce the funding of a capital call. If our fund investors were to fail to satisfy a significant amount of capital calls for any particular fund or funds, the operation and performance of those funds could be materially and adversely affected.
Our equity investments and many of our debt investments often rank junior to investments made by others, exposing us to greater risk of losing our investment.
In many cases, the companies in which we or our funds invest have, or are permitted to have, outstanding indebtedness or equity securities that rank senior to our or our fund's investment. By their terms, such instruments may provide that their holders are entitled to receive payments of distributions, interest or principal on or before the dates on which payments are to be made in respect of our or our fund's investment. Also, in the event of insolvency, liquidation, dissolution, reorganization or bankruptcy of a company in which an investment is made, holders of securities ranking senior to our investment would typically be entitled to receive payment in full before distributions could be made in respect of our investment. In addition, debt investments made by us or our funds in our portfolio companies may be equitably subordinated to the debt investments made by third parties in our portfolio companies. After repaying senior security holders, the company may not have any remaining assets to use for repaying amounts owed in respect of our investment. To the extent that any assets remain, holders of claims that rank equally with our investment would be entitled to share on an equal and ratable basis in distributions that are made out of those assets. Also, during periods of financial distress or following insolvency, the ability of us or our funds to influence a company's affairs and to take actions to protect an investment may be substantially less than that of the senior creditors.
Risk management activities may adversely affect the return on our investments.
When managing exposure to market risks, we employ hedging strategies or certain forms of derivative instruments to limit our exposure to changes in the relative values of investments that may result from market developments, including changes in prevailing interest rates, currency exchange rates and commodity prices. The scope of risk management activities undertaken by us is selective and varies based on the level and volatility of interest rates, prevailing foreign currency exchange rates, the types of investments that are made and other changing market conditions. We do not seek to hedge our exposure in all currencies or all investments, which means that our exposure to certain market risks are not limited. Where applicable, we use hedging transactions and other derivative instruments to reduce the effects of a decline in the value of a position, but they do not eliminate the possibility of fluctuations in the value of the position or prevent losses if the value of the position declines. However, such activities can establish other positions designed to gain from those same developments, thereby offsetting the decline in the value of the position. Such transactions may also limit the opportunity for gain if the value of a position increases. Moreover, it may not be possible to limit the exposure to a market development that is so generally anticipated that a hedging or other derivative transaction cannot be entered into at an acceptable price.
The success of any hedging or other derivative transactions that we enter into generally will depend on our ability to correctly predict market changes. As a result, while we may enter into such transactions in order to reduce our exposure to market risks, unanticipated market changes may result in poorer overall investment performance than if the hedging or other derivative transaction had not been executed. In addition, the degree of correlation between price movements of the instruments used in connection with hedging activities and price movements in a position being hedged may vary. Moreover, for a variety of reasons, we may not seek or be successful in establishing a perfect correlation between the instruments used in hedging or other derivative transactions and the positions being hedged. An imperfect correlation could prevent us from achieving the intended result and could give rise to a loss. In addition, it may not be possible to fully or perfectly limit our exposure against all changes in the value of its investments, because the value of investments is likely to fluctuate as a result of a number of factors, some of which will be beyond our control or ability to hedge.
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While hedging arrangements may reduce certain risks, such arrangements themselves may entail certain other risks. These arrangements may require the posting of cash collateral, including at a time when a fund has insufficient cash or illiquid assets such that the posting of the cash is either impossible or requires the sale of assets at prices that do not reflect their underlying value. Moreover, these hedging arrangements may generate significant transaction costs, including potential tax costs, that reduce the returns generated by a fund. Various regulators have proposed or adopted regulations governing futures and swaps, which may limit our trading activities and our ability to implement effective hedging strategies or increase the costs of compliance. See "Risks Related to Our Business—Extensive regulation of our businesses affects our activities and creates the potential for significant liabilities and penalties. The possibility of increased regulatory focus or legislative or regulatory changes could materially and adversely affect our business."
Our funds and our firm through our balance sheet may make a limited number of investments, or investments that are concentrated in certain issuers, geographic regions or asset types, which could negatively affect our performance or the performance of our funds to the extent those concentrated assets perform poorly.
The governing agreements of our funds contain only limited investment restrictions and only limited requirements as to diversification of fund investments, either by geographic region or asset type. Our private equity funds generally permit up to 20% of the fund to be invested in a single company. We also advise funds that invest in a single industry such as growth equity, infrastructure or real estate or funds that focus on particular geographic region. During periods of difficult market conditions or slowdowns in these sectors or geographic regions, decreased revenues, difficulty in obtaining access to financing and increased funding costs may be exacerbated by this concentration of investments, which would result in lower investment returns. Because a significant portion of a fund's capital may be invested in a single investment or portfolio company, a loss with respect to such investment or portfolio company could have a material adverse impact on such fund's capital. Accordingly, a lack of diversification on the part of a fund could materially and adversely affect a fund's performance and therefore, our results of operations and financial condition.
Similarly, our balance sheet has significant exposures to certain issuers, industries or asset classes. Because we hold interests in some of our portfolio companies both through our balance sheet investments in our private equity funds and direct co-investments, fluctuation in the fair values of these portfolio companies may have a disproportionate impact on the investment income earned by us as compared to other portfolio companies. In these circumstances, as was the case with energy investments beginning in late 2014 through and into 2018, losses may have an even greater impact on our results of operations and financial condition, as we would directly bear the full extent of such losses. Our balance sheet also has significant exposures to a small group of companies, with our investments in PetVet Care Centers, LLC (health care sector) and USI, Inc. (financial services sector) representing approximately 6.8% and 6.2%, respectively, and our top five investments representing approximately 25.1% of our balance sheet's total investments as of December 31, 2021. As a result, our investment income is subject to greater volatility depending on such companies' operating results and other idiosyncratic factors specific to such companies, and in the case of publicly traded companies, our operating results would be impacted by volatility in the public markets generally and in the stock price of such companies. See "—Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Analysis of Non-GAAP Performance Measures —Non-GAAP Balance Sheet Measures" for information on significant investments held on our balance sheet.
Our business activities may give rise to a conflict of interest with our clients.
As we have expanded and as we continue to expand the number and scope of our businesses, we increasingly confront potential conflicts of interest relating to investment activities among our various funds and also our own account. For example:
•In pursuing the interest of our fund investors, we may take actions that could reduce our AUM or our profits that we could otherwise realize in the short term;
•We may be required to allocate investment opportunities among investment vehicles that may have overlapping investment objectives, including vehicles that may have different fee structures, and among KKR co-investment vehicles (including vehicles in which KKR employees may investment) and third-party co-investors;
•We may, on behalf of our funds or KKR itself, buy, sell, hold or otherwise deal with securities or other investments that may be purchased, sold or held by our other funds or that are otherwise issued by a portfolio company in which our funds invest. Conflicts of interest may arise between a fund, on one hand, and KKR on the other or among our funds including but not limited to those relating to the purchase or sale of investments, the structuring of, or exercise of rights with respect to investment transactions and the advice we provide to our funds. For example we may sell an investment at a different time or for different consideration than our funds;
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•We may invest on behalf of our fund or for our own account in a portfolio company of one fund that is a competitor, service provider, supplier, customer, or other counterparty with respect to a portfolio company of another fund;
•We may structure an investment in a manner that may be attractive to fund investors from a tax perspective even though KKR is required to pay corporate taxes;
•A decision to acquire material non-public information about a company while pursuing an investment opportunity for a particular fund or our own account may result in our having to restrict the ability of other funds to take any action with regards to that company or its securities;
•Our fiduciary obligations to our fund investors may preclude us from pursuing attractive proprietary investment opportunities, in particular as we enter into strategic relationships with broad investment mandates similar to the investments we make with our balance sheet. Notwithstanding the foregoing, we also allocate certain investments that we believe are not suitable for our funds to our balance sheet;
•Conflicts may arise in allocating investments, time, services, expenses or resources among the investment activities of our funds, KKR, other KKR-affiliated entities and the employees of KKR;
•Our employees have made personal investments in a variety of our investment funds, which may result in conflicts of interest among investors of our funds or stockholders regarding investment decisions for these funds;
•The general partner's entitlement to receive carried interest from many of our funds may create an incentive for that general partner to make riskier and more speculative investments on behalf of a fund than would be the case in the absence of such an arrangement. In addition, for our funds that pay carried interest based on accrued rather than realized gains, the amount of carried interest to which the general partner is entitled and the timing of its receipt of carried interest will depend on the valuation by the general partner of the fund's investment;
•Under the 2017 Tax Act, investments must be held for more than three years, rather than the prior requirement of more than one year, for carried interest to be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as capital gain, which may create a conflict of interest between the limited partner investors (whose investments would receive such capital gain treatment after a holding period of only one year) and the general partner on the execution, closing or timing of sales of a fund's investments in connection with the receipt of carried interest;
•From time to time, one of our funds or other investment vehicles (including CLOs) may seek to effect a purchase or sale of an investment with one or more of our other funds or other investment vehicles in a so-called "cross transaction," or we as a principal may seek to effect a purchase or sale of our investment with one or more of our funds or other investment vehicles in a so-called "principal transaction";
•A dispute may arise between our portfolio companies, and if such dispute is not resolved amicably or results in litigation, it could cause significant reputational harm to us, and our fund investors may become dissatisfied with our handling of the dispute;
•The investors in our investment vehicles are based in a wide variety of jurisdictions and take a wide variety of forms, and consequently have diverging interests among themselves from a regulatory, tax or legal perspective or with respect to investment policies and target risk/return profiles; and
•We or our affiliates, including our capital markets business, may receive fees or other compensation in connection with specific transactions or different clients that may give rise to conflicts. The decision to take on an opportunity in one of our businesses may, as a practical matter, also limit the ability of one or our other businesses to take advantage of other related opportunities.
In addition, our funds also invest in a broad range of asset classes throughout the corporate capital structure. These investments include investments in corporate loans and debt securities, preferred equity securities and common equity securities. In certain cases, we may manage separate funds that invest in different parts of the same company's capital structure. For example, our credit funds may invest in different classes of the same company's debt and may make debt investments in a company that is owned by one of our private equity funds. In those cases, the interests of our funds may not always be aligned, which could create actual or potential conflicts of interest or the appearance of such conflicts. For example, one of our private equity funds could have an interest in pursuing an acquisition, divestiture or other transaction that, in its judgment, could enhance the value of the private equity investment, even though the proposed transaction would subject one of our credit fund's debt investments to additional or increased risks. Finally, our ability to effectively implement a public securities strategy may
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be limited to the extent that contractual obligations entered into in the ordinary course of our private equity business impose restrictions on our engaging in transactions that we may be interested in otherwise pursuing.
We may also cause different investment funds to invest in a single portfolio company, for example, where the fund that made an initial investment no longer has capital available to invest. Conflicts may also arise where our insurance subsidiaries make investments, we make balance sheet investments for our own account or we permit employees to invest alongside our funds or our balance sheet for their own account. In certain cases, we may require that a transaction or investment be approved by fund investors or their advisory committees, be approved by a committee of independent directors of Global Atlantic, be approved by an independent valuation expert, be subject to a fairness opinion, be based on arm's-length pricing data or be calculated in accordance with a formula provided for in a fund's governing documents prior to the completion of the relevant transaction or investment to address potential conflicts of interest. Such instances include principal transactions where we or our affiliates warehouse an investment in a portfolio company for the benefit of one or more of our funds pending the contribution of committed capital by the investors in such funds, follow-on investments by a fund other than a fund that made an initial investment in a company, or transactions in which we arrange for one of our funds to buy a security from, or sell a security to, another one of our funds.
In addition to the foregoing, we may also encounter conflicts of interest with our insurance subsidiaries and with Global Atlantic generally. For example, we try to mitigate conflicts of interests when transactions may be suitable for both our insurance subsidiaries and our investment funds. We also try to mitigate conflicts of interest or when transactions may be suitable for both our insurance subsidiaries and our own balance sheet. However, we may be unsuccessful in such mitigation efforts, or we may be obliged to take an action or refrain from taking an action that would be advantageous to us as a firm. To the extent we are unable to effectively manage these conflicts of interest, our reputation, business and financial results may be adversely affected.
Appropriately dealing with actual or perceived conflicts of interest is complex and difficult and we could suffer reputational damage or potential liability if we fail, or appear to fail, to deal appropriately with conflicts as they arise. Regulatory scrutiny on, or litigation in connection with, conflicts of interest could have a material adverse effect on our reputation which could in turn materially and adversely affect our business in a number of ways, including as a result of an inability to raise additional funds, an inability or unwillingness to enter into or establish new insurance business with Global Atlantic without material restrictions or at all, and a reluctance of counterparties to do business with us.
Investors in our real assets core funds in our Private Markets business line may redeem their investments in these funds.
Unlike investors in our traditional real estate and infrastructure funds, which in general do not permit redemptions of their fund interests until the liquidation of the funds upon their scheduled dates to terminate, our core real estate and infrastructure funds permit their investors to redeem their funds interests from time to time. Substantial redemptions could be triggered by a number of events, including unsatisfactory fund performance, events in the markets, significant change in our personnel, our removal or replacement as the investment manager of the fund, legal or regulatory issues that investors perceive to have a bearing on the fund, or other events. While the general partner of such funds has no obligation to take any actions to satisfy redemption requests other than out of available cash in the fund, actions taken to meet substantial redemption requests could result in material adverse effect to the fund's investments, ability to make new investments, or otherwise be able to achieve its investment objects, which could negatively impact our financial results.
Certain of our investment advisory arrangements may be terminated with minimal notice.
Investors in our funds in certain of our leveraged credit investment vehicles may generally submit redemptions to redeem their investments on a quarterly or monthly basis following the expiration of a specified period of time or in certain cases capital may be withdrawn earlier subject to a fee, in each case subject to the applicable fund's specific redemption provisions. Factors that could result in investors leaving our funds include changes in interest rates that make other investments more attractive, changes in or rebalancing due to investors' asset allocation policy, changes in investor perception regarding our focus or alignment of interest, unhappiness with a fund's performance or investment strategy, changes in our reputation, departures or changes in responsibilities of key investment professionals, and performance and liquidity needs of fund investors. In a declining market or period of economic disruption or uncertainty, the pace of redemptions and consequent reduction in our AUM could accelerate. The decrease in revenues that would result from significant redemptions from our funds or other similar investment vehicles could have a material adverse effect on our business, revenues, net income and cash flows.
A portion of assets invested in our funds in the Public Markets business line are managed through separately managed accounts or entities structured for investment by one investor or related investors whereby we earn management and incentive fees, and we intend to continue to seek additional separately managed account or single entity mandates. The investment
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management agreements we enter into in connection with managing separately managed accounts or entities on behalf of certain clients may be terminated by such clients on as little as 30 days' prior written notice, or less in certain prescribed circumstances. In addition, we provide sub-advisory services to other investment advisers and managers. Such investment advisers and managers could terminate our sub-advisory agreements on as little as 30 days' prior written notice. In the case of any such terminations, the management and incentive fees we earn in connection with managing such account or company would immediately cease, which could result in a material adverse impact on our revenues.
In addition, certain funds in our Public Markets business line are registered under the Investment Company Act as management investment companies. These funds and KKR Credit Advisors (US) LLC, which serves as their investment adviser, are subject to the Investment Company Act and the rules thereunder. The management fees we and our affiliate receive for managing registered investment companies and our BDC will generally be subject to contractual rights the company’s board of directors or the investment adviser has to terminate KKR’s or our affiliate’s management of an account on as short as 60 days’ prior notice. Termination of these agreements would reduce the fees we earn from the relevant funds, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.
Finally, certain of our investment management agreements with clients, including our agreements with KREF, Crescent energy and Global Atlantic, may be terminated by the client based on the terms stated in those agreements, which include the possibility to terminate due to materially poor investment management.
Our stakes in our hedge fund partnerships subject us to numerous additional risks.
Our stakes in our hedge fund partnerships subject us to numerous additional risks applicable to hedge funds and funds of funds, including the following:
•Generally, there are few limitations on the execution of investment strategies of a hedge fund or fund of funds, which are subject to the sole discretion of the management company or the general partner of such funds;
•A fund of funds is subject to risks related to the limited rights it has to withdraw, redeem, transfer or otherwise liquidate its investments from the underlying hedge funds or other funds in which it invests. It may be impossible or costly for hedge funds or such other funds to liquidate positions rapidly in order to meet margin calls, withdrawal requests, redemption requests or otherwise, particularly if there are other market participants seeking to dispose of similar assets at the same time or the relevant market is otherwise moving against a position or in the event of trading halts or daily price movement limits on the market or otherwise. In addition, terms of the governing documents of the relevant portfolio funds may limit withdrawal, redemption, transfer or liquidation of investments, including restrictions on the redemption of capital for an initial period, restrictions on the amount of redemptions and the frequency with which redemptions can be made and investment minimums that must be maintained. Portfolio funds also typically reserve the right to reduce ("gate") or suspend redemptions, to set aside ("side pocket") capital that cannot be redeemed for so long as an event or circumstance has not occurred or ceased to exist, respectively, and to satisfy redemptions by making distributions in-kind, under certain circumstances. Moreover, these risks may be exacerbated for funds of funds. For example, if a fund of funds were to invest a significant portion of its assets in two or more hedge funds that each had illiquid positions in the same issuer, the illiquidity risk for such fund of funds would be compounded.
•Hedge funds may engage in short selling, which is subject to theoretically unlimited loss, in that the price of the underlying security could theoretically increase without limit, thus increasing the cost of buying those securities to cover the short position. There can be no assurance that the security necessary to cover a short position will be available for purchase. Purchasing securities to close out the short position can itself cause the prices of the securities to rise further, thereby exacerbating the loss;
•Hedge funds may enter into CDS as investments or hedges. CDS involve greater risks than investing in the reference obligation directly. In addition to general market risks, CDS are subject to risks related to changes in interest rates, credit spreads, credit quality and expected recovery rates of the underlying credit instrument;
•Hedge funds are exposed to the risk that a counterparty will not settle a transaction in accordance with its terms and conditions because of a dispute over the terms of the contract (whether or not bona fide) or because of a credit or liquidity problem, thus causing the fund to suffer a loss. Counterparty risk is accentuated for contracts with longer maturities where events may intervene to prevent settlement, or where the fund has concentrated its transactions with a single or small group of counterparties. Generally, hedge funds are not restricted from dealing with any particular counterparty or from concentrating any or all of their transactions with one counterparty. Moreover, the fund's internal
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consideration of the creditworthiness of their counterparties may prove insufficient. The absence of a regulated market to facilitate settlement may increase the potential for losses;
•The efficacy of investment and trading strategies depends largely on the ability to establish and maintain an overall market position in a combination of financial instruments. A hedge fund's trading orders may not be executed in a timely and efficient manner due to various circumstances, including systems failures or human error. In such event, the funds might only be able to acquire some but not all of the components of the position, or if the overall position were to need adjustment, the funds might not be able to make such adjustment. As a result, the funds would not be able to achieve the market position selected by the management company or general partner of such funds, and might incur a loss in liquidating their position;
•Hedge funds may make investments that they do not advantageously dispose of prior to the date the applicable fund is dissolved, either by expiration of such fund's term or otherwise. Although we generally expect that investments will be disposed of prior to dissolution or be suitable for in-kind distribution at dissolution, these funds may have to sell, distribute or otherwise dispose of investments at a disadvantageous time as a result of dissolution. This would result in a lower than expected return on the investments and, perhaps, on the fund itself;
•Hedge funds may rely on computer programs, internal infrastructure and services, quantitative models (both proprietary models and those supplied by third parties) and information and data provided by third parties to trade, clear and settle securities and other transactions, among other activities, that are critical to the oversight of certain funds' activities. If any such models, information or data prove to be incorrect or incomplete, any decisions made in reliance thereon could expose the funds to potential risks. Any hedging based on faulty models, information or data may prove to be unsuccessful and adversely impact a fund's profits; and
•Hedge fund investments are also subject to risks relating to investments in commodities, futures, options and other derivatives, the prices of which are highly volatile and may be subject to the theoretically unlimited risk of loss in certain circumstances, including if the fund writes a call option. Price movements of commodities, futures and options contracts and payments pursuant to swap agreements are influenced by, among other things, interest rates, changing supply and demand relationships, trade, fiscal, monetary and exchange control programs and policies of governments and national and international political and economic events and policies. The value of futures, options and swap agreements also depends upon the price of the commodities underlying them. In addition, hedge funds' assets are subject to the risk of the failure of any of the exchanges on which their positions trade or of their clearinghouses or counterparties. Most U.S. commodities exchanges limit fluctuations in certain commodity interest prices during a single day by imposing "daily price fluctuation limits" or "daily limits," the existence of which may reduce liquidity or effectively curtail trading in particular markets. Hedge funds and funds of these hedge funds may also be subject to extensive regulations, including those of CFTC.
To the extent the financial condition of Marshall Wace, PAAMCO Prisma or one or more other third-party hedge fund managers with which we have hedge fund partnerships is adversely affected by these risks, our revenues, AUM and FPAUM may also decline.
Risks Related to Our Common Stock
The Series I preferred stockholder's significant voting power limits the ability of holders of our common stock to influence our business.
Holders of our common stock are entitled to vote with respect to:
•Any amendment of our certificate of incorporation to change the par value of our common stock or the powers, preferences or special rights of our common stock in a way that would affect our common stock adversely;
•A conversion of the legal entity form of KKR & Co. Inc.; and
•A transfer, domestication or continuance of KKR & Co. Inc. to a foreign jurisdiction.
•A sale, exchange or disposition of all or substantially all of our assets;
•A merger, consolidation or other business combination;
•An increase in the number of authorized shares of Series I preferred stock; and
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•Certain amendments to our certificate of incorporation that would have a material adverse effect on our common stock relative to the other classes of our stock.
Furthermore, holders of our common stock have the right to vote on the adoption of a new equity compensation plan any material amendment to an existing equity compensation plan, and an issuance of common stock if, based on the number of shares or the voting power outstanding before such issuance, more than 1% of our common stock is issued to our affiliates and other related parties or more than 20% of our common stock is issued in any transaction, subject to certain limited exemptions.
In general, any matters that are subject to a vote of the holders of our common stock will require the approval of a majority in voting power of all our common stock and Series II preferred stock, voting together as a single class. As a result, KKR Holdings, the holder of our Series II preferred stock, will vote together with the holders of our common stock. As of February 24, 2022, there were 591,145,410 shares of common stock and 258,726,163 shares of Series II preferred stock issued and outstanding, giving holders of common stock 69.4% and KKR Holdings 30.4% of the total combined voting power on matters for which they are entitled to vote together as a single class. Because our Co-Executive Chairmen, when acting together, jointly control the general partner of KKR Holdings and thereby the vote of the shares of our Series II preferred stock held by KKR Holdings, our Co-Executive Chairmen are expected to be able to substantially influence the outcome of any matter submitted to a vote of our common stock. In addition, our Co-Executive Chairmen, when acting together, jointly control the Series I preferred stockholder and thereby the vote of the Series I preferred stock held by it. The vote of our Series I preferred stock will determine the outcome of all matters that are not listed above as being subject to a vote by our common stock.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws contain additional provisions affecting the holders of our common stock, including limitations on the calling of meetings of the stockholders and procedures for submitting proposals for business to be considered at meetings of the stockholders. In addition, any person that beneficially acquires 20% or more of any class of stock then outstanding without the consent of our board of directors (other than the Series I preferred stockholder or KKR Holdings L.P.) is unable to vote such stock on any matter submitted to such stockholders.
For a more detailed description of our common stock, Series I preferred stock and Series II preferred stock, see "Description of Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934," which is filed as an exhibit to this report.
In connection with the closing of the merger transactions contemplated by the Reorganization Agreement, our Series II preferred stock will be eliminated. Following such merger transactions, but not later than December 31, 2026, we agreed in the Reorganization Agreement to (i) eliminate our Series I preferred stock and (ii) establish voting rights for our common stock on a one vote per share basis for all matters subject to a common stockholders’ vote under Delaware corporate law, including with respect to the election of directors. For more information about the transactions contemplated by the Reorganization Agreement, see "Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence—Reorganization Agreement."
As a "controlled company," we qualify for some exemptions from the corporate governance and other requirements of the NYSE.
Because KKR Management holds our Series I preferred stock, we are a "controlled company" within the meaning of the corporate governance standards of the NYSE. As a "controlled company" we have elected not to comply with certain corporate governance requirements of the NYSE, including the requirements: (i) that the listed company have a nominating and corporate governance committee that is composed entirely of independent directors, (ii) that the listed company have a compensation committee that is composed entirely of independent directors and (iii) that the compensation committee be required to consider certain independence factors when engaging compensation consultants, legal counsel and other committee advisers. Accordingly, holders of our common stock do not have the same protections afforded to stockholders of companies that are subject to all of the corporate governance requirements of the NYSE. Following the elimination of our Series I preferred stock on or before December 31, 2026 pursuant to the Reorganization Agreement, we will no longer be able to rely on the control of our company by the Series I preferred stockholder to be exempted from the corporate governance requirements of the NYSE. For more information about the transactions contemplated by the Reorganization Agreement, see "Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence—Reorganization Agreement."
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We are not required to comply with certain provisions of U.S. securities laws relating to proxy statements and other annual meeting materials.
We are not required to file proxy statements or information statements under Section 14 of the Exchange Act, unless a vote of holders of our common stock is required. Accordingly, legal causes of action and remedies under Section 14 of the Exchange Act for inadequate or misleading information in proxy statements will not be generally available to holders of our common stock. In addition, we will generally not be subject to the "say-on-pay" and "say-on-frequency" provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act. As a result, our stockholders will not have an opportunity to provide a non-binding vote on the compensation of our named executive officers. Moreover, holders of our common stock will be unable to bring matters before our annual meeting of stockholders or nominate directors at such meeting, nor can they generally submit stockholder proposals under Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act. Following the elimination of our Series I preferred stock on or before December 31, 2026 pursuant to the Reorganization Agreement, we expect to be required to comply with the foregoing provisions of the U.S. securities laws. For more information about the transactions contemplated by the Reorganization Agreement, see "Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence—Reorganization Agreement."
Our certificate of incorporation states that the Series I preferred stockholder is under no obligation to consider the separate interests of the other stockholders and contains provisions limiting the liability of the Series I preferred stockholder.
Subject to applicable law, our certificate of incorporation contains provisions limiting the duties owed by the Series I preferred stockholder and contains provisions allowing the Series I preferred stockholder to favor its own interests and the interests of its controlling persons over us and the holders of our common stock. Our certificate of incorporation contains provisions stating that the Series I preferred stockholder is under no obligation to consider the separate interests of the other stockholders (including the tax consequences to such stockholders) in deciding whether or not to authorize us to take (or decline to authorize us to take) any action as well as provisions stating that the Series I preferred stockholder shall not be liable to the other stockholders for damages or equitable relief for any losses, liabilities or benefits not derived by such stockholders in connection with such decisions. See "—Potential conflicts of interest may arise among the Series I preferred stockholder and the holders of our common stock."
The Series I preferred stockholder will not be liable to KKR or holders of our common stock for any acts, or omissions unless there has been a final and non-appealable judgment determining that the Series I preferred stockholder acted in bad faith or engaged in fraud or willful misconduct and we have also agreed to indemnify the Series I preferred stockholder to a similar extent.
Even if there is deemed to be a breach of the obligations set forth in our certificate of incorporation, our certificate of incorporation provides that the Series I preferred stockholder will not be liable to us or the holders of our common stock for any acts or omissions unless there has been a final and non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that the Series I preferred stockholder or its officers and directors acted in bad faith or engaged in fraud or willful misconduct. These provisions are detrimental to the holders of our common stock because they restrict the remedies available to stockholders for actions of the Series I preferred stockholder.
In addition, we have agreed to indemnify the Series I preferred stockholder and its affiliates and any member, partner, tax matters partner (as defined in U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), as in effect prior to 2018), partnership representative (as defined in the Code), officer, director, employee agent, fiduciary or trustee of any of KKR or its subsidiaries, KKR Group Partnership, the Series I preferred stockholder or any of our or the Series I preferred stockholder’s affiliates and certain other specified persons (collectively, "Indemnitees"), to the fullest extent permitted by law, against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, joint or several, expenses (including legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines, penalties, interest, settlements or other amounts incurred by any Indemnitee. We have agreed to provide this indemnification unless there has been a final and non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that the Indemnitee acted in bad faith or engaged in fraud or willful misconduct. We have also agreed to provide this indemnification for criminal proceedings.
The provision of our certificate of incorporation requiring exclusive venue in the state and federal courts located in the State of Delaware or federal district courts of the United States for certain types of lawsuits may have the effect of discouraging lawsuits against us and our directors, officers and stockholders.
Our certificate of incorporation requires that (i) any derivative action, suit or proceeding brought on behalf of KKR, (ii) any action, suit or proceeding asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any current or former director, officer, employee or stockholder of KKR to KKR or KKR's stockholders, (iii) any action, suit or proceeding asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law ("DGCL"), our certificate of incorporation or our bylaws
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or as to which the DGCL confers jurisdiction on the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or (iv) any action, suit or proceeding asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine may only be brought in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or, if such court does not have subject matter jurisdiction thereof, the federal district court located in the State of Delaware. In addition, the federal district courts of the United States is the exclusive forum for the resolution of any action, suit or proceeding asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act. This provision may have the effect of discouraging lawsuits against us and our directors, officers and stockholders.
The market price and trading volume of our common stock may be volatile, which could result in rapid and substantial losses for our common stockholders.
The market price of our common stock may be highly volatile, could be subject to wide fluctuations and could decline significantly in the future. In addition, the trading volume in our common stock may fluctuate and cause significant price variations to occur. If the market price of our common stock declines significantly, you may be unable to sell your shares at an attractive price, if at all. Some of the factors that could negatively affect the price of our common stock or result in fluctuations in the price or trading volume of our common stock include:
•variations in our quarterly operating results, including the accrual and payment of corporate taxes following our conversion to a corporation, which may be substantial;
•changes in the amount of our dividends or our dividend policy;
•taking a long-term perspective on making investment, operational and strategic decisions, which may result in significant and unpredictable variations in our quarterly returns;
•failure to meet analysts' earnings estimates or any publicly disclosed goals or targets;
•publication of research reports about us or the investment management industry or the failure of securities analysts to cover our common stock sufficiently;
•additions or departures of our key management and investment personnel;
•adverse market reaction to any acquisitions, joint ventures, reorganizations and other transactions, including incurrence of debt or issuance of securities in the future;
•changes in market valuations of similar companies;
•speculation in the press or investment community;
•changes or proposed changes in laws or regulations or differing interpretations thereof affecting our business or enforcement of these laws and regulations, or announcements relating to these matters;
•a concentrated ownership of our common stock or ownership by short-term investors;
•a lack of liquidity in the trading of our common stock;
•adverse publicity about the investment management or private equity industry generally or individual scandals, specifically; and
•general market and economic conditions.
An investment in our common stock is not an investment in any of our funds or other businesses operated by our subsidiaries, and the assets and revenues of our funds are not directly available to us.
Our common stock is only securities of KKR & Co. Inc., the holding company of the KKR business. While our historical consolidated financial statements include financial information, including assets and revenues, of certain funds on a consolidated basis, and our future financial statements will continue to consolidate certain of these funds, such assets and revenues are available to the fund and not to us except to a limited extent through management fees, carried interest or other incentive income, distributions and other proceeds arising from agreements with funds, as discussed in more detail in this report. Additionally, given our holding company structure, an investment in our common stock is not an investment in any other
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businesses that may be operated by our subsidiaries. See "Business—Organizational Structure" and "—Risks Related to Our Organizational Structure—We intend to pay periodic dividends to the holders of our common stock and preferred stock, but our ability to do so may be limited by our holding company structure and contractual restrictions."
Our common stock price may decline due to the large number of shares eligible for future sale or for exchange, and issued or issuable pursuant to our equity incentive plans or as consideration in acquisitions.
The market price of our common stock could decline as a result of sales of a large number of shares in the market or the perception that such sales could occur. These sales, or the possibility that these sales may occur, also might make it more difficult for us to sell shares of common stock in the future at a time and at a price that we deem appropriate. As of February 24, 2022, we have 591,145,410 shares of common stock outstanding, which amount excludes shares beneficially owned by KKR Holdings in the form of KKR Group Partnership Units discussed below and shares available for future issuance under our 2019 Equity Incentive Plan.
As of February 24, 2022, KKR Holdings owns 258,726,163 KKR Group Partnership Units that may be exchanged, on a quarterly basis, for shares of our common stock on a one-for-one basis, subject to customary conversion rate adjustments for stock splits, stock distributions and reclassifications. The market price of our common stock could decline as a result of the exchange or the perception that an exchange may occur of a large number of KKR Group Partnership Units for shares of our common stock. These exchanges, or the possibility that these exchanges may occur, also might make it more difficult for holders of our common stock to sell shares of our common stock in the future at a time and at a price that they deem appropriate.
In addition, we will continue to issue additional shares of our common stock pursuant to our 2019 Equity Incentive Plan. See "Risks Related to Our Business—If we cannot retain and motivate our employees and other key personnel and recruit, retain and motivate new employees and other key personnel, our business, results of operations and financial condition could be materially and adversely affected." As of December 31, 2021, 70,812,698 shares of common stock were available for issuance in respect of outstanding awards and the grant of future awards, representing 15% of the aggregate number of shares of common stock and KKR Group Partnership Units (excluding KKR Group Partnership Units held by KKR & Co. Inc. or its subsidiaries) outstanding (together, "Diluted Common Shares") at the close of business on December 31, 2021, minus the number of shares underlying any outstanding equity awards granted under our 2019 Equity Incentive Plan that have not yet been delivered upon vesting. Under the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan, on the first day of each fiscal year, the number of shares of common stock available for issuance of future awards under our 2019 Equity Incentive Plan will be adjusted upwards to 15% of the aggregate number of Diluted Common Shares outstanding at the close of business on the last day of the immediately preceding fiscal year, minus the number of shares underlying any outstanding equity awards granted under our 2019 Equity Incentive Plan that have not yet been delivered upon vesting. In addition, previously issued awards that were canceled or are canceled in the future, or in certain cases, withheld in respect of tax withholding obligations, are or will become available for further grant under the terms of our 2019 Equity Incentive Plan. See "Executive Compensation—KKR & Co. Inc. Equity Incentive Plan." In the past, we have issued and sold our common stock to generate cash proceeds to pay withholding taxes, social benefit payments or similar payments payable by us in respect of awards granted pursuant to our Equity Incentive Plans or the amount of cash delivered in respect of awards granted pursuant to our Equity Incentive Plans that are settled in cash instead of shares of common stock. We may issue and sell shares of our common stock in the future for similar purposes or for any other purpose we deem to be appropriate.
We have used and in the future may continue to use our common stock or securities convertible, exchangeable or exercisable into our common stock as consideration in acquisitions and strategic investments. For example, in connection with the Global Atlantic acquisition, we issued 23.0 million shares of Series C Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock; in connection with KKR's acquisition of KFN, we issued the equivalent of approximately 104.3 million shares of our common stock; in connection with KKR's acquisition of Avoca, we issued the equivalent of approximately 4.9 million shares of our common stock; and in connection with KKR's initial acquisition and subsequent increase in ownership of Marshall Wace, we issued the equivalent of approximately 23.0 million shares of our common stock. In addition, in connection with other investments, we may make certain future contingent payments in the form of common stock. If our valuations of these transactions are not accurate or if the value of these acquisitions and investments is not realized, the value of our common stock as well as our dividend per share of common stock may decline.
Our issuance of preferred stock may cause the price of our common stock to decline, which may negatively impact our common stockholders.
Our board of directors is authorized to issue series of shares of preferred stock without any action on the part of our stockholders and, with respect to each such series, fix, without stockholder approval (except as may be required by our
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certificate of incorporation or any certificate of designation relating to any outstanding series of preferred stock), the designation of such series, the powers (including voting powers), preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, of such series of preferred stock and the number of shares of such series. Any series of preferred stock we may issue in the future will rank senior to all of our common stock with respect to the payment of dividends or upon our liquidation, dissolution, or winding-up. If we issue cumulative preferred stock in the future that has preference over our common stock with respect to the payment of dividends or upon our liquidation, dissolution, or winding up, or if we issue preferred stock with voting rights that dilute the voting power of our common stockholders in the instances in which they have the right to vote, the market price of our common stock could decrease. Similarly, the limited partnership agreement of KKR Group Partnership authorizes the general partner of KKR Group Partnership to issue an unlimited number of additional securities of KKR Group Partnership with such designations, preferences, rights, powers and duties that are different from, and may be senior to, those applicable to the KKR Group Partnership Units, and which may be exchangeable for KKR Group Partnership Units. For example, in March and June of 2016, KKR issued 13,800,000 Series A preferred units (which have subsequently been converted to shares of Series A Preferred Stock) and 6,200,000 Series B preferred units (which have subsequently been converted to shares of Series B Preferred Stock), respectively, and in August of 2020, KKR issued 23,000,000 shares of Series C Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, and in connection with such issuances, KKR Group Partnership issued preferred units with economic terms designed to mirror KKR's respective preferred units.
Our certificate of incorporation also provides us with a right to acquire all of the then outstanding shares of common stock under specified circumstances, which may adversely affect the price of our common stock and the ability of holders of our common stock to participate in further growth in our stock price.
Our certificate of incorporation provides that, if at any time, either (i) less than 10% of the total shares of any class our stock then outstanding (other than Series I preferred stock, Series II preferred stock and other series of preferred stock) is held by persons other than the Series I preferred stockholder and its affiliates or (ii) we are subjected to registration under the provisions of the Investment Company Act, we may exercise our right to call and purchase all of the then outstanding shares of common stock held by persons other than the Series I preferred stockholder or its affiliates or assign this right to the Series I preferred stockholder or any of its affiliates. As a result, a stockholder may have his or her shares of our common stock purchased from him or her at an undesirable time or price and in a manner which adversely affects the ability of a stockholder to participate in further growth in our stock price.
Risks Related to Our Organizational Structure
Potential conflicts of interest may arise among the Series I preferred stockholder and the holders of our common stock.
Our Co-Founders, who also serve as our Co-Executive Chairmen, jointly control the Series I preferred stockholder when acting together. As a result, conflicts of interest may arise among the Series I preferred stockholder and its controlling persons, on the one hand, and us and the holders of our common stock, on the other hand.
The Series I preferred stockholder has the ability to appoint and remove members of our board of directors and has the right to approve certain corporate actions as specified in our certificate of incorporation (in addition to approval by our board of directors). See “—Certain actions by our board of directors require the approval of the Series I preferred stockholder, which is controlled by our Co-Executive Chairmen when acting together.” If the holders of our common stock are dissatisfied with the performance of our board of directors, they have no ability to remove any of our directors, with or without cause.
Through its ability to elect our board of directors and its approval rights over certain corporate transactions, the Series I preferred stockholder may be deemed to control our business and affairs, including influence over the amount and timing of KKR Group Partnership's investments and dispositions, indebtedness and cash expenditures (including those relating to compensation, issuances of additional partner interests, tax liabilities and amounts of reserves), each of which can affect the amount of cash that is available for distribution to holders of KKR Group Partnership Units.
In addition, conflicts may arise relating to the selection, structuring and disposition of investments and other transactions, declaring dividends and other distributions and other matters due to the fact that our senior principals indirectly hold KKR Group Partnership Units through KKR Holdings, which is a pass-through entity that is not subject to corporate income taxation.
Under the Reorganization Agreement, our Co-Founders have agreed not to transfer the joint control of the Series I preferred stockholder prior to the Sunset Date (which is defined in the Reorganization Agreement to be a date not later than December 31, 2026), except that their control may transfer to the then Chief Executive Officer or Co-Chief Executive Officers at the time of their earlier death or permanent disability. In addition, the Series I preferred stockholder has agreed not to
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transfer its ownership of the sole share of Series I preferred stock prior to the Sunset Date. If ownership of the sole share of Series I preferred stock were to be transferred, the new owner of the sole share of Series I preferred stock and the directors they appoint to our board of directors could have a different philosophy for the management of our business, which could have a material adverse impact on our business, operations or prospects.
Certain actions by our board of directors require the approval of the Series I preferred stockholder, which is controlled by our Co-Executive Chairmen when acting together.
Although the affirmative vote of a majority of our directors is required for any action to be taken by our board of directors, certain specified actions will also require the approval of the Series I preferred stockholder, which is controlled by our Co-Executive Chairmen when acting together. These actions consist of the following:
•the entry into a debt financing arrangement by us in an amount in excess of 10% of our then existing long-term indebtedness (other than the entry into certain intercompany debt financing arrangements);
•the issuance by us or our subsidiaries of any securities that would (i) represent, after such issuance, or upon conversion, exchange or exercise, as the case may be, at least 5% on a fully diluted, as converted, exchanged or exercised basis, of any class of our or their equity securities or (ii) have designations, preferences, rights, priorities or powers that are more favorable than those of our common stock;
•the adoption by us of a shareholder rights plan;
•the amendment of our certificate of incorporation, certain provisions of our bylaws relating to our board of directors and officers or the operating agreement of KKR Group Partnership;
•the exchange or disposition of all or substantially all of our assets or the assets of KKR Group Partnership;
•the merger, sale or other combination of our company or KKR Group Partnership with or into any other person;
•the transfer, mortgage, pledge, hypothecation or grant of a security interest in all or substantially all of the assets of KKR Group Partnership;
•the appointment or removal of our Chief Executive Officer or a Co-Chief Executive Officer;
•the termination of our employment of any of our officers or the officers of any of our subsidiaries or the termination of the association of a partner with any of our subsidiaries, in each case, without cause;
•the liquidation or dissolution of us or KKR Group Partnership; and
•the withdrawal, removal or substitution of any person as the general partner of KKR Group Partnership or the transfer of beneficial ownership of all or any part of a general partner interest in KKR Group Partnership to any person other than a wholly-owned subsidiary.
We intend to pay periodic dividends to the holders of our common stock and preferred stock, but our ability to do so may be limited by our holding company structure and contractual restrictions.
We intend to pay cash dividends on a quarterly basis. We are a holding company and have no material assets other than the KKR Group Partnership Units that we hold through a wholly-owned subsidiary and have no independent means of generating income. Accordingly, we intend to cause KKR Group Partnership to make distributions on KKR Group Partnership Units in order to provide us with sufficient amounts to fund dividends we may declare. If KKR Group Partnership makes such distributions, other holders of KKR Group Partnership Units, including KKR Holdings, will be entitled to receive equivalent distributions pro rata based on their KKR Group Partnership Units.
The declaration and payment of dividends to our stockholders will be at the sole discretion of our board of directors, and our dividend policy may be changed at any time. The declaration and payment of dividends is subject to legal, contractual and regulatory restrictions on the payment of dividends by us or our subsidiaries, including restrictions contained in our debt agreements, the terms of our certificate of incorporation, and such other factors as the board of directors considers relevant including, among others: our available cash and current and anticipated cash needs, including funding of investment commitments and debt service and future debt repayment obligations; general economic and business conditions; our strategic plans and prospects; our results of operations and financial condition; and our capital requirements. Under Section 170 of the DGCL, our board of directors may only declare and pay dividends either out of our surplus (as defined in DGCL) or in case there is no such surplus, out of our net profits for the fiscal year in which the dividend is declared and/or the preceding fiscal year. However, dividends may not be declared out of net profits if our capital, computed in accordance with DGCL, shall have
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been diminished by depreciation in the value of our property, or by losses, or otherwise, to an amount less than the aggregate amount of the capital represented by the issued and outstanding stock of all classes having a preference upon the distribution of assets. Furthermore, by paying cash dividends rather than investing that cash in our businesses, we risk slowing the pace of our growth, or not having a sufficient amount of cash to fund our operations, new investments or unanticipated capital expenditures, should the need arise.
Our preferred stock ranks senior to our common stock with respect to the payment of dividends. Unless all accumulated and unpaid dividends on the Series C Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock for all preceding dividend periods have been declared and paid or declared and set apart for payment, we may not declare or pay or set apart payment for dividends on any class of stock of KKR & Co. Inc. that are junior to the Series C Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, including our common stock, and we may not repurchase any such junior stock.
Dividends on the Series C Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock are discretionary and cumulative. Holders of preferred stock will only receive dividends on their shares of preferred stock when, as and if declared by our board of directors. If dividends on the Series C Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock have not been declared and paid for the equivalent of six or more quarterly dividend periods, whether or not consecutive, holders of such preferred stock, together as a class with holders of any other series of parity stock with like voting rights, will be entitled to vote for the election of two additional directors to our board of directors. When quarterly dividends have been declared and paid or declared and set apart for payment, in the case of the Series C Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, in full, the right of the holders of preferred stock and such parity stock to elect these two additional directors will cease, the terms of office of these two directors will forthwith terminate and the number of directors constituting our board of directors will be reduced accordingly. Additional risks related to the Series C Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock are contained in the prospectus supplement relating to the securities.
We will be required to pay our principals for most of the benefits relating to our use of tax attributes we receive from prior and certain future exchanges of our common stock for KKR Group Partnership Units and related transactions, and the timing and value of these tax attributes differ from those of our restricted stock units.
We are required to acquire KKR Group Partnership Units from time to time pursuant to our exchange agreement with KKR Holdings. Certain of these exchanges are expected to result in an increase in our share of the tax basis of the tangible and intangible assets of KKR Group Partnership, primarily attributable to a portion of the goodwill inherent in our business that would not otherwise have been available. This increase in tax basis may increase (for tax purposes) depreciation and amortization and therefore reduce the amount of income tax we would otherwise be required to pay in the future. This increase in tax basis may also decrease gain (or increase loss) on future dispositions of certain capital assets to the extent tax basis is allocated to those capital assets.
We have entered into a tax receivable agreement with KKR Holdings. Except as provided in the Reorganization Agreement that we entered into in October 2021, as discussed further below, the tax receivable agreement requires us to pay to an affiliate of KKR Holdings and to current and former principals who have exchanged KKR Holdings units for shares of common stock as transferees of KKR Group Partnership Units, 85% of the amount of cash tax savings, if any, in U.S. federal, state and local income tax that we realize as a result of this increase in tax basis, as well as 85% of the amount of any such savings we actually realize as a result of increases in tax basis that arise due to future payments under the agreement. These payment obligations are obligations of KKR & Co. Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiary and not of KKR Group Partnership. The tax receivable agreement does not apply to the restricted holdings units that are issued under our 2019 Equity Incentive Plan. These restricted holdings units are not related to KKR Holdings. While the tax receivable agreement does not apply to restricted holdings units issued under our 2019 Equity Incentive Plan (and therefore we will receive 100% of any tax benefits arising from the exchange of restricted holdings units for shares of our common stock), any tax benefits we realize from the exchange of KKR Holdings units or restricted holdings units would be deferred until the holders thereof elect to exchange such units for shares of our common stock. The timing of the tax benefit is different with respect to our restricted stock units issued under our Equity Incentive Plans, where we realize any tax benefit at the time of vesting, which is generally earlier than the time of exchange of KKR Holdings units or restricted holdings units. As a result, the actual increase in tax basis and the amount of tax savings in any given year will vary depending upon a number of factors, including the timing of exchanges, the number of units exchanged, the price of our common stock at the time of the exchange, the extent to which such exchanges are taxable and the amount and timing of our taxable income. We expect that the payments that we may be required to make to an affiliate of KKR Holdings or to our current or former principals under the tax receivable agreement could be substantial.
We recorded $399.2 million in our consolidated statements of financial condition as of December 31, 2021, representing the estimated aggregate future payment amount, on an undiscounted basis, under the tax receivable agreement as of such date for previously exchanged KKR Holdings units. See "Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity—Other Liquidity Needs—Contractual Obligations, Commitments and Contingencies."
Following the announcement of the Reorganization Agreement in October 2021, 12.3 million KKR Holdings units were exchanged in December 2021, which realized aggregate cash tax savings of $195.2 million, of which KKR benefited from 15%
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of the aggregate cash savings and 85% was recorded in our financial statements as an amount due to KKR Holdings under the tax receivable agreement. As of December 31, 2021, there are 258.7 million KKR Holdings units that remain available for exchange into shares of our common stock, and none of the 185 million KKR Holdings units beneficially owned by our executive officers were submitted for exchange following the announcement of the Reorganization Agreement. The Reorganization Agreement provides that, subject to the completion of the mergers contemplated by the Reorganization Agreement, there will be no further exchanges of KKR Holdings units following the completion of such mergers, which is expected to occur in 2022, subject to the receipt of all requisite regulatory approvals. Following the completion of such mergers, any KKR Holdings units that have not been previously exchanged will no longer be eligible for payments under the tax receivable agreement. Any KKR Holdings units that were exchanged prior to the completion of such mergers will continue to be entitled to receive payments pursuant to the tax receivable agreement.
We may need to incur debt to finance payments under the tax receivable agreement to the extent our cash resources are insufficient to meet our obligations under the tax receivable agreement as a result of timing discrepancies or otherwise.
Payments under the tax receivable agreement will be based upon the tax reporting positions that we will determine. We are not aware of any issue that would cause the IRS to challenge a tax basis increase. However, neither KKR Holdings nor our current or former principals will reimburse us for any payments previously made under the tax receivable agreement if such tax basis increase, or the tax benefits we claim arising from such increase, is successfully challenged by the IRS. As a result, in certain circumstances, payments to KKR Holdings or our current or former principals under the tax receivable agreement could be in excess of our cash tax savings. Our ability to achieve benefits from any tax basis increase, and the payments to be made under the tax receivable agreement, will depend upon a number of factors, as discussed above, including the timing and amount of our future income.
If we were deemed to be an "investment company" subject to regulation under the Investment Company Act, applicable restrictions could make it impractical for us to continue our business as contemplated and could have a material adverse effect on our business.
A person will generally be deemed to be an "investment company" for purposes of the Investment Company Act if:
•it is or holds itself out as being engaged primarily, or proposes to engage primarily, in the business of investing, reinvesting or trading in securities; or
•absent an applicable exemption, it owns or proposes to acquire investment securities having a value exceeding 40% of the value of its total assets (exclusive of U.S. government securities and cash items) on an unconsolidated basis.
We regard ourselves as an investment management firm. We are engaged primarily in the business of providing investment management services and, through Global Atlantic, the insurance business, and not in the business of investing, reinvesting or trading in securities. Accordingly, we do not believe that we are an "orthodox" investment company as defined in Section 3(a)(1)(A) of the Investment Company Act and described in the first bullet point above.
With regard to the provision described in the second bullet point above, we have no material assets other than our equity interests in our sole subsidiary, which in turn has no material assets other than general partner interests in KKR Group Partnership. Through these interests, we indirectly are vested with all management and control over KKR Group Partnership. We do not believe our equity interests in our subsidiary are investment securities, and we believe that the capital interests of the general partners of our funds in their respective funds are neither securities nor investment securities. Accordingly, based on our determination, less than 40% of our total assets (exclusive of U.S. government securities and cash items) on an unconsolidated basis are comprised of assets that could be considered investment securities. However, our subsidiaries have a significant number of investment securities, and we expect to make investments in other investment securities from time to time. We monitor these holdings regularly to confirm our continued compliance with the 40% test described in the second bullet point above. The need to comply with this 40% test may cause us to restrict our business and subsidiaries with respect to the assets in which we can invest and/or the types of securities we may issue, sell investment securities, including on unfavorable terms, acquire assets or businesses that could change the nature of our business or potentially take other actions that may be viewed as adverse by the holders of our common stock, in order to ensure conformity with exceptions provided by, and rules and regulations promulgated under, the Investment Company Act.
The Investment Company Act and the rules and regulations thereunder contain detailed parameters for the organization and operation of investment companies. Among other things, the Investment Company Act and the rules and regulations thereunder limit or prohibit transactions with affiliates, impose limitations on the issuance of debt and equity securities, generally prohibit the issuance of options and impose certain governance requirements. We intend to conduct our operations so that we will not be deemed to be an investment company under the Investment Company Act. If anything were to happen which would cause us to
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be deemed to be an investment company under the Investment Company Act, requirements imposed by the Investment Company Act, including limitations on our capital structure, ability to transact business with affiliates and ability to compensate key employees, would make it impractical for us to continue our business as currently conducted, impair the agreements and arrangements between and among us, including KKR Group Partnership, and KKR Holdings, and materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. In addition, we may be required to limit the amount of investments that we make as a principal, potentially divest of our investments or otherwise conduct our business in a manner that does not subject us to the registration and other requirements of the Investment Company Act.
With respect to our subsidiary Global Atlantic, we believe it is not and does not propose to be primarily engaged in the business of investing, reinvesting or trading in securities, and we do not believe that Global Atlantic has held itself out as such. Global Atlantic is primarily engaged through its wholly-owned insurance company subsidiaries in the business of writing insurance, and on an unconsolidated basis Global Atlantic expects that in excess of 65% of Global Atlantic's gross income will be derived from its wholly-owned insurance company subsidiaries. Global Atlantic's holding companies do not own or propose to own investment securities in excess of the 40% test. Global Atlantic's insurance company subsidiaries intend to operate so that in excess of 65% of their business is derived from insurance business, meaning such entities are exempt from designation as an investment company under Section 3(c)(6) of the Investment Company Act. If Global Atlantic were deemed an investment company, restrictions imposed by the Investment Company Act, including limitations on capital structure and ability to transact with affiliates, will likely make it impractical for Global Atlantic to continue its business operations as currently conducted. Global Atlantic may need to take significant actions to avoid registration as an investment company.
With respect to our subsidiary KKR Financial Holdings ("KFN"), we believe it is not and does not propose to be primarily engaged in the business of investing, reinvesting or trading in securities, and we do not believe that KFN has held itself out as such. KFN conducts its operations primarily through its majority-owned subsidiaries, each of which is either outside of the definition of an investment company as defined in the Investment Company Act or excepted from such definition under the Investment Company Act. KFN monitors its holdings regularly to confirm its continued compliance with the 40% test described in the second bullet point above, and restricts its subsidiaries with respect to the assets in which each of them can invest and/or the types of securities each of them may issue in order to ensure conformity with exceptions provided by, and rules and regulations promulgated under, the Investment Company Act. If the SEC were to disagree with KFN's treatment of one or more of its subsidiaries as being excepted from the Investment Company Act, with its determination that one or more of its other holdings are not investment securities for purposes of the 40% test, or with its determinations as to the nature of its business or the manner in which it holds itself out, KFN and/or one or more of its subsidiaries could be required either (i) to change substantially the manner in which it conducts its operations to avoid being subject to the Investment Company Act or (ii) to register as an investment company. Either of these would likely have a material adverse effect on KFN, its ability to service its indebtedness and to make distributions on its shares, and on the market price of its securities, and could thereby materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
In 2011, the SEC published an advance notice of proposed rulemaking regarding Rule 3a-7 under the Investment Company Act and a concept release seeking information on Section 3(c)(5)(C) of the Investment Company Act, two provisions with which KKR's subsidiaries, including KFN, must comply under the 40% test described above. Among the issues for which the SEC has requested comment is whether Rule 3a-7 should be modified so that parent companies of subsidiaries that rely on Rule 3a-7 should treat their interests in such subsidiaries as investment securities for purposes of the 40% test. The SEC is also seeking information about the nature of entities that invest in mortgages and mortgage-related pools and how the SEC staff's interpretive positions in connection with Section 3(c)(5)(C) affect these entities. Although no further action has been taken by the SEC, any guidance or action from the SEC or its staff, including changes that the SEC may ultimately propose and adopt to the way Rule 3a-7 applies to entities or new or modified interpretive positions related to Section 3(c)(5)(C), could further inhibit KKR's ability, or the ability of any of its subsidiaries, including KFN, to pursue its current or future operating strategies, which could have a material adverse effect on us.
We may from time to time undertake internal reorganizations that may adversely impact our business and results of operations.
In October 2021, we announced the transactions contemplated by the Reorganization Agreement. On July 1, 2018, we converted from a Delaware limited partnership to a Delaware corporation, and on January 1, 2020, we completed an internal reorganization to, among other changes, combine KKR Management Holdings L.P. and KKR International Holdings L.P., which were former intermediate holdings companies for KKR's business, with another intermediate holding company, KKR Fund Holdings L.P., which changed its name to KKR Group Partnership L.P. From time to time, we may undertake other internal reorganizations or make other changes in an effort to simplify our organizational structure, streamline our operations, increase our stockholder base or for other operational reasons. These reorganizations or changes could be disruptive to our
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business, result in significant expense, require regulatory approvals, and may not be successful in achieving its objectives or fail to result in the intended or expected benefits, any of which could adversely impact our business and results of operations.
Anti-takeover provisions in our organizational documents could delay or prevent a change of control.
Certain provisions in our certificate of incorporation and bylaws may discourage, delay or prevent a merger or acquisition that a stockholder may consider favorable by, for example:
•permitting our board of directors to issue one or more series of preferred stock;
•requiring advance notice for stockholder proposals and nominations if they are ever permitted by applicable law; and
•placing limitations on convening stockholder meetings.
These provisions may also discourage acquisition proposals or delay or prevent a change in control. See "Description of Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934," which is filed as an exhibit to this report.
Risks Related to Global Atlantic
Business Risks Related to Global Atlantic
The Global Atlantic acquisition may not achieve its intended benefits, and certain difficulties, costs or expenses may outweigh such intended benefits.
We may be unable to realize all of the anticipated benefits of the Global Atlantic acquisition, which closed on February 1, 2021. Achieving the anticipated benefits, including the acquisition's continued impact on KKR’s AUM, FPAUM, book value, fee related earnings and after-tax distributable earnings, remains subject to a number of uncertainties, including whether the Global Atlantic business will continue to operate and grow in the manner we anticipate in 2022 and in the future.
While Global Atlantic has operated, and is expected to continue to operate as a separate business, the acquisition may result in material difficulties, costs, and expenses, including:
•incremental operating costs arising from the integration of certain standards, controls, procedures and policies, including Global Atlantic's obligations to provide financial reporting as a subsidiary of a public company;
•unknown potential liabilities of Global Atlantic, including those for which we may become responsible or take responsibility; and
•potential liabilities arising from claims by roll-over investors or co-investors of Global Atlantic, who owned approximately 40% of Global Atlantic prior to KKR's acquisition of Global Atlantic.
Importantly, a significant portion of the benefit of the acquisition is anticipated to come from KKR’s role as investment adviser for Global Atlantic’s insurance subsidiaries. Prior to KKR's acquisition of Global Atlantic, KKR had not managed the entirety of the investment assets of an insurance company or assets of insurance companies at this scale, and we may not achieve our respective objectives. In addition, our investment management will require the assistance of Global Atlantic employees, with whom we have not worked prior to the acquisition.
Many of the foregoing factors will be outside of our control and any one of them could result in increased costs, decreases in the amount of expected revenues and diversion of management's time and energy, which could adversely affect our and Global Atlantic's business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, other events outside of our control, including, but not limited to, political climate, the severity and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic, and regulatory or legislative changes, could also adversely affect our ability to realize the anticipated benefits from the acquisition. As a result of these risks, we may fail to realize some or all of the anticipated benefits of the acquisition or in an amount sufficient to offset the potential difficulties, costs and expenses arising from the acquisition. Accordingly, stockholders and potential investors should not place undue reliance on our expectation of the anticipated benefits from the acquisition.
In addition, while we expect Global Atlantic to continue to operate as a separate business with its existing brands and management team, Global Atlantic adds significantly to the scale and scope of KKR's overall business and operations. Although KKR has owned insurance companies as investments in its funds in the past, KKR has never previously owned an insurance company as a majority-owned subsidiary. Acquiring Global Atlantic changed the risks to which we are subject and may give rise to new and unexpected operational risks that could offset some of the benefits we expected from the acquisition.
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Inclusion of Global Atlantic's business as a consolidated subsidiary of KKR results in certain incremental risks to KKR, which risks are material and could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition. The addition of Global Atlantic’s business may also exacerbate certain existing risks to KKR's business.
Global Atlantic operates its business as a consolidated subsidiary of KKR. Prior to the acquisition of Global Atlantic, KKR had not engaged in a business similar to Global Atlantic, and Global Atlantic's business and structure pose incremental risks to KKR, many of which may be material. These risks include, but are not limited to:
•business operational risks, including macroeconomic changes, interest rate and credit spread fluctuations and the impact of such changes on interest-sensitive products, the competitive nature of the insurance and reinsurance industry, use of derivative instruments within its risk management strategy, the illiquidity of certain investment assets and the potential difficulty of selling and/or realizing full value on such assets if necessary, the performance of third-party service providers, the use of distribution partners rather than captive or proprietary distribution or direct sales, differences between policyholder behavior estimates, reserve assumptions and actual claims experience, volatility in net income under GAAP due to Global Atlantic's funds withheld coinsurance transactions and expected increased volatility in its GAAP financial statements due to the implementation of long-duration targeted improvements in 2023;
•risks related to Global Atlantic's growth strategy, which includes reinsurance of insurance obligations written by unaffiliated insurance companies, the ability to identify attractive insurance markets, reinsurance opportunities, or investments with returns as favorable as those obtained historically, and ability to effectively manage its growth;
•regulatory risks relating to the insurance and reinsurance industries, including capital regulations, laws or regulations which impose meaningful limitations on its business, fiduciary or best interest standards in connection with the sale of Global Atlantic's products, regulations relating to reserves and obligations to pay assessments through guaranty associations, changes in statutory accounting principles, heightened privacy regulations, and uncertainty regarding future changes in regulations;
•litigation and regulatory risks, relating to the insurance and reinsurance industries;
•tax risks, including those associated with The Global Atlantic Financial Group LLC's status as a non-U.S. taxpayer and challenges to such status and tax risks associated with Global Atlantic's corporate structure, including risks to retaining its non-U.S. taxpayer companies' exemption from corporate taxation in Bermuda;
•risks related to guarantees within certain of Global Atlantic's insurance products;
•any gaps in Global Atlantic's risk management policies and procedures, which may leave it exposed to unidentified or unanticipated risk;
•risks associated with the business Global Atlantic reinsures and business it cedes to reinsurers; and
•risks associated with not owning 100% of the economic interests of a subsidiary while owning 100% of its voting interests.
Each of these risks could have material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.
In addition, the Global Atlantic acquisition may heighten the potential adverse effects on our business, operating results, cash flows or financial condition described in other risk factors contained in this report, including, but not limited to:
•risks related to changes in general, economic, market and political conditions, and interest rates;
•risks related to adverse capital and credit market conditions;
•risks related to the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on our business, as well as to other natural and man-made disasters and catastrophes;
•risks related to collection and retention of confidential information and compliance with related regulations; and
•regulatory risks across numerous jurisdictions.
Interest rate fluctuations and sustained periods of low or high interest rates could adversely affect Global Atlantic’s business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, cash flows and prospects.
Interest rate risk is a significant market risk for Global Atlantic, as fluctuations in market interest rates can expose Global Atlantic to the risk of reduced income in respect of its investment portfolio, increases in the cost of acquiring or maintaining its insurance liabilities, increases in the cost of hedging, or other fluctuations in Global Atlantic's financial, capital and operating
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profile which materially and adversely affect the business. Global Atlantic defines interest rate risk as the risk of a loss due to changes in interest rates. This risk arises from Global Atlantic's holdings in interest rate-sensitive assets and liabilities, which includes annuity products and long-duration life insurance policies, derivative contracts with payments linked to the level of interest rates or with market values which fluctuate based on the level of interest rates, and the fixed income assets Global Atlantic owns in its investment portfolio. Interest rate risk also includes adverse changes in customer behavior that may occur as a result of changes in interest rates. Both rising and declining interest rates can negatively affect Global Atlantic's business.
Higher interest rates may result in increased surrenders on interest-sensitive products, such as annuity contracts and certain life insurance policies, which may adversely affect Global Atlantic's earnings related to those products. This risk is present across most of Global Atlantic's insurance products, which can typically be surrendered for the cash value, less any applicable surrender charge, at any time. Higher policyholder surrenders may occur in response to rising interest rates as higher crediting rate investments might become available to policyholders in a higher rate environment. This increase in surrender outflows may create cash flow mismatches between cash received from Global Atlantic's investments versus cash needed to make policyholder liability payments. This mismatch could result in losses if assets must be liquidated at a loss to meet the increased policyholder obligations. An increase in surrenders or withdrawals also may cause Global Atlantic to accelerate the amortization of deferred acquisition costs ("DAC") and value of business acquired ("VOBA"), resulting in a decline in net income. Additionally, an increase in market interest rates could also have a material adverse effect on the value of Global Atlantic's investment portfolio by, for example, decreasing the fair values of the fixed income securities and other interest rate-sensitive securities within Global Atlantic's investment portfolio at a time when we may be forced to liquidate investments.
During periods of falling interest rates, Global Atlantic may face cash flow mismatches between interest earned on its investment portfolio and policy liabilities that may be crediting higher rates. Global Atlantic has the discretion, subject to contractual limitations and minimums, to reset the crediting rates on the majority of its general account products. However, Global Atlantic's ability to lower crediting rates is subject to several constraints. For instance, minimum crediting rates are filed with and approved by state regulators, and certain products contain interest rate guarantee periods and other characteristics that restrict this ability, among other restrictions. In addition, competition and other factors, including the potential for increases in surrenders and withdrawals, may limit Global Atlantic's ability to adjust or maintain crediting rates at levels necessary to avoid decreases in earnings under certain conditions. Continued low interest rates could challenge product development and product attractiveness, and may also result in Global Atlantic earning lower margins on new business volumes than Global Atlantic has historically earned. Lower interest rates may reduce the demand for Global Atlantic's insurance products, leading to lower sales. In addition, lower interest rates may make the reinsurance solutions Global Atlantic is able to offer more expensive to potential clients, decreasing their interest in executing reinsurance transactions with Global Atlantic. In a period of declining interest rates, Global Atlantic's investment earnings may decline because new investments will likely bear lower interest rates, and Global Atlantic may not be able to fully offset the decline in investment earnings with lower liability costs on the products these investments support. In addition, the yield on Global Atlantic's floating rate assets will decline as interest rates decline, reducing Global Atlantic's investment income. During periods of declining interest rates, life insurance and annuity products also may be relatively more attractive to consumers due to minimum guarantees, resulting in a higher percentage of contracts remaining in force than originally estimated, causing greater claims costs and asset/liability cash flow mismatches. Conversely, management actions to reduce rates on inforce contracts in response to declining interest rates may result in greater surrenders than originally estimated, which may adversely affect Global Atlantic's earnings related to those products. While Global Atlantic seeks to cash-flow match its assets to its policy liabilities, greater market volatility and uncertainty has made matching more difficult. To the extent that Global Atlantic does not or is unsuccessful in cash-flow matching, Global Atlantic will face the risk of having to reinvest in lower-yielding assets, reducing investment income. Moreover, certain of Global Atlantic's life insurance policies have a longer duration than available investment assets, and, in a declining rate environment, as assets backing these policies mature, the proceeds may have to be reinvested in lower-yielding assets, reducing investment income.
The difference between shorter-term and longer-term rates (also known as the yield curve) may also impact Global Atlantic's business. Global Atlantic's investments are typically in longer-duration assets. Accordingly, the crediting rates offered on Global Atlantic's products typically appear more appealing when the yield curve is steeper, and Global Atlantic is better able to differentiate its products from shorter-term alternatives.
Global Atlantic's use of derivative financial instruments within its risk management strategy may not be effective or sufficient.
As part of Global Atlantic's risk management strategy, it employs derivative instruments to hedge certain market risks, including interest rate risk and equity price risk. Global Atlantic offers a variety of products that are exposed to market risks, such as fixed-indexed annuities, indexed universal life and variable annuities, in particular, products with guaranteed benefits. Global Atlantic's risk management hedge program seeks to mitigate economic impacts relating to its insurance products primarily from interest rate and equity price movements, while taking into consideration accounting and capital impacts by purchasing derivative financial instruments. Hedging to mitigate economic impacts may result in additional volatility in Global
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Atlantic's GAAP results or in adverse impacts on the level of statutory capital and the risk-based capital ("RBC") ratios of its insurance subsidiaries.
Hedging using derivative financial instruments may not effectively offset changes in the carrying value of insurance reserves due to, among other things, the time lag between changes in the value of such reserves and the changes in the value of the derivative financial instruments purchased by Global Atlantic, extreme changes in credit and/or equity market and/or interest rate levels or volatility, policyholder behavior that differs from expectations, and divergence between the performance of the underlying funds of such variable annuity products with guaranteed benefit features and the indexes utilized by Global Atlantic in estimating exposure to such guarantees.
Global Atlantic may also choose not to hedge, in whole or in part, risks it has identified, due to, for example, the availability and/or cost of a suitable derivative financial instrument or Global Atlantic's view of credit, equity and/or interest rate market levels or volatility. Additionally, the estimates and assumptions made in connection with Global Atlantic's use of any derivative financial instrument may fail to reflect or correspond to actual long-term exposure in respect of identified risks. In addition, Global Atlantic may fail to identify risks, or the magnitude thereof, to which it is exposed. Global Atlantic is also exposed to the risk that its use of derivative financial instruments within its risk management strategy may not be properly designed or may not be properly implemented as designed.
Global Atlantic is also subject to the risk that its derivative counterparties or clearinghouse may fail or refuse to meet their obligations to Global Atlantic under derivative financial instruments. If Global Atlantic's derivative counterparties or clearinghouse fail, refuse to meet their obligations in this regard or there is insufficient collateral to cover potential obligations, Global Atlantic's efforts to mitigate risks to which it is subject may prove to be ineffective or inefficient.
Global Atlantic operates in a highly competitive industry that includes a number of companies, many of which are larger and more well-known, which could limit Global Atlantic's ability to increase or maintain market share and/or margins.
Global Atlantic operates in highly competitive markets and competes with large and small industry participants. Global Atlantic faces intense competition, based upon price, terms and conditions, relationships, quality of service and execution certainty, capital and perceived financial strength (including third-party ratings), technology, innovation, ease of use, capacity, product breadth, reputation, experience, and brand recognition.
Global Atlantic's competitors include other insurers, reinsurers and other financial institutions that offer investment products. Many of Global Atlantic's competitors are large and well-established, and some have greater market share or breadth of distribution, assume a greater level of risk while maintaining financial strength ratings, or have higher financial strength, claims-paying or credit ratings than Global Atlantic does or benefit, by offering various lines of insurance, from diversification of risks and possible positive impacts on capital requirements. Global Atlantic's competitors may also have lower operating costs than Global Atlantic, which may allow them to price insurance products, reinsurance solutions or acquisitions more competitively. Furthermore, Global Atlantic may face greater operational complexity when compared to competitors who offer a more limited range of products due to the breadth of Global Atlantic's product offering.
Competition in the industry could result in increased pressure on the pricing of certain of Global Atlantic's products and services, and could harm Global Atlantic's ability to maintain or increase profitable growth. For example, fixed annuity sales are materially impacted by the crediting rate offered on Global Atlantic's fixed annuities compared to that offered by its competitors. There can be no guarantee that Global Atlantic will be able or choose to set crediting rates at competitive levels, which may impact sales. Moreover, sales to fiduciaries may be materially impacted by Global Atlantic's ability and willingness to offer one of the most competitive crediting rates.
Global Atlantic believes that there is also increased competition with respect to service quality and ease of use of new business paperwork and processing and ongoing policy administration services. Poor service quality, including by Global Atlantic's third-party administrators, may impact its reputation and relationships and consequently Global Atlantic's sales, persistency and renewals. Global Atlantic is working to address this competition by expanding its digital capabilities. Global Atlantic's transition to digital, such as providing electronic statements or using online application processes, may be disruptive to Global Atlantic's operations. If such disruption negatively impacts policyholder experience or the receipt of accurate data, it could have a material adverse effect on Global Atlantic's reputation, business, results of operations and financial condition.
In addition, Global Atlantic is aware that non-traditional firms have been entering the institutional channel, and traditional reinsurers have been expanding their areas of expertise, both of which could have a significant effect on competition in Global Atlantic's industry, as future opportunities in the reinsurance market may be more competitive due to the number of new entrants and their capital and investment management resources. Global Atlantic expects to face competition from insurers with deeper experience and brand recognition as it expands its presence in adjacent markets.
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Because of the highly competitive nature of the insurance industry, there can be no assurance that Global Atlantic will maintain or grow its market share, continue to identify attractive opportunities in either the individual or institutional markets, or that competitive pressure will not have a material adverse effect on Global Atlantic's business, results of operations and financial condition.
Global Atlantic depends on the performance of its third-party service providers, including distribution partners and agents, and their failure to perform in a satisfactory manner could negatively affect Global Atlantic's business.
A number of elements of Global Atlantic's operations are managed on an outsourced basis. These arrangements create performance risks for Global Atlantic's business and, to a lesser extent, create the risk that Global Atlantic's operating expenses will increase. Failure in or poor performance by Global Atlantic's third-party service providers, including, for example, if the third party fails to meet contractual requirements, fails to comply with applicable laws and regulations, suffers a cyber-attack or other security breach, fails to provide Global Atlantic or its policyholders with timely and accurate information or fails to maintain adequate internal controls, could have a material adverse effect on Global Atlantic's business, results of operations and financial condition. If Global Atlantic elects to replace any of these third-party service providers, Global Atlantic may incur costs or business disruptions in connection with finding, retaining and operationalizing suitable new providers. In addition, the time and attention of senior management may be diverted away from ongoing business operations. Global Atlantic has settled policyholder and agent class action litigation matters and a number of regulatory matters stemming from service disruptions caused by its third-party administrator for life insurance policies Alliance-One Service, Inc. ("Alliance-One"). Global Atlantic and Alliance-One have agreed to amend Global Atlantic's administration contract with Alliance-One to mitigate the risk of other disruptions in the future, but there can be no guarantee these mitigation efforts will be successful. Global Atlantic may continue to experience reputational impacts and heightened regulatory scrutiny as a result of these matters.
With respect to third-party service providers who perform policy administration and compliance services for Global Atlantic's registered investment adviser and broker-dealer subsidiaries, failures in, or poor performance by, these third-party administrators could result in an increase in customer complaints and regulatory intervention. Poor performance by third-party administrators may also have a negative impact on Global Atlantic’s wholesaler, agent and distribution partner relationships. If any of these third-party administrators or their employees are found to have made material misrepresentations to Global Atlantic's policyholders, violated applicable insurance, privacy or other laws and regulations or otherwise engaged in misconduct, Global Atlantic could be held liable for their actions, which could adversely affect Global Atlantic's reputation and business prospects, may lead to regulatory sanctions or litigation and could result in financial harm. The precautions Global Atlantic takes to prevent and detect this activity may not be effective in all cases. Although Global Atlantic employs controls and procedures designed to monitor agents and vendors and to prevent the taking of excessive or inappropriate risks, agents and employees of Global Atlantic's vendors may take such risks regardless of such controls and procedures.
Because Global Atlantic’s products are distributed through unaffiliated distribution partners, Global Atlantic does not have direct supervision or control over the manner in which its products are solicited, resulting in compliance and operational risks. Global Atlantic relies on these intermediaries to appropriately describe and explain its products to potential policyholders and ensure that any product recommendations are appropriate based on consumer needs and objectives. If such intermediaries are deemed to have acted on Global Atlantic’s behalf, any intentional or unintentional misrepresentation of Global Atlantic’s products and services could result in liability for Global Atlantic and have an adverse effect on its reputation and business prospects, and may lead to regulatory actions or litigation. State insurance regulators have enacted regulations which dictate the obligations and duties of insurers and producers with respect to the suitability of annuity sales so that the insurance needs and financial objectives of consumers are effectively addressed. Regulators have initiated regulatory actions in situations where annuity sales have been deemed to be unsuitable for certain consumers who have purchased annuity products. If Global Atlantic’s products are solicited and sold by third parties in an inappropriate manner, or to policyholders for whom such products are not suitable, Global Atlantic may suffer material adverse reputational and financial harm. For example, Global Atlantic and the broader life insurance industry have from time to time experienced, and may experience in the future, agents engaging in unlawful practices in the sale of life insurance policies, resulting in lower than anticipated profitability on such policies.
In addition, if any of Global Atlantic's service providers fails to provide Global Atlantic with timely and accurate data, the accuracy of Global Atlantic's financial reporting may be impacted. Global Atlantic also includes in its financial statements financial data received from third parties relating to certain investments accounted for under the equity method. Global Atlantic also relies on other providers for valuations related to its investment portfolio. Should any service provider fail to accurately record information pertaining to Global Atlantic’s investment portfolio, Global Atlantic may inadvertently include inaccurate information in its financial statements.
In many of Global Atlantic's reinsurance agreements, Global Atlantic relies on the ceding companies to whom it provides reinsurance, or the third-party administrators with whom they contract, to provide policy administration and policyholder services and to provide timely and accurate financial and operating information. Global Atlantic may experience inaccuracies in
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its earnings as a result of erroneous or untimely reporting from its reinsurance company clients or the third-party administrators with whom they contract. Global Atlantic cannot provide any assurances that erroneous information received from third parties will be identified and resolved such that the information is included without error, which may impact Global Atlantic's business and servicing quality.
Guarantees within certain of Global Atlantic's products may decrease Global Atlantic's earnings, increase the volatility of Global Atlantic's results, result in higher risk costs for Global Atlantic and expose Global Atlantic to increased counterparty risk.
Certain of Global Atlantic's retirement and life products include guaranteed minimum death benefits, guaranteed minimum income benefits or no-lapse guarantees. These guarantees are designed to protect policyholders against significant downturns in securities markets and interest rates, or to provide certain minimum levels of coverage. Changes in markets may result in the requirement to hold additional reserves with respect to these policies, which may negatively impact Global Atlantic's liquidity or require it to raise additional capital. Periods of significant and sustained downturns in securities markets, increased equity volatility, reduced interest rates, or deviations in expected policyholder behavior could result in an increase in the valuation of Global Atlantic's liabilities associated with those products. Global Atlantic conducts a review of the assumptions used to value its liabilities in the third quarter of each year. An increase in these liabilities would result in a decrease in Global Atlantic's net income. For example, Global Atlantic has reinsured and previously issued universal life policies, for which Global Atlantic provides a secondary, no-lapse guarantee to the policyholder. Global Atlantic holds an additional reserve in connection with these guarantees, which is calculated over a range of economic scenarios to incorporate the variability in the obligation that may occur under different environments. Market movements or changes in the demographics of Global Atlantic's no-lapse guarantee policyholders may cause quarterly volatility, which may be significant, in Global Atlantic's calculation of these reserves.
In addition, declining equity market prices, increasing equity market volatility and declining interest rates can result in an increase in the cost of providing variable annuity policy benefits and can increase required reserves, reducing Global Atlantic's profitability. Declining market values for fixed income investments and equities also reduce the account balances of Global Atlantic's variable annuity contracts, which can have the effect of reducing Global Atlantic's profitability because it collects fees and risk charges based on these account balances. Lower variable annuity account balances also impact the profitability of variable annuity contracts that include a guaranteed minimum withdrawal feature that entitles the contract owner to withdraw a contractually determined amount each year that is a percentage of his or her benefit base or total guaranteed amount.
Global Atlantic uses risk management strategies, including hedging, to manage the economic exposure to interest rates and equity markets, with consideration of accounting and capital impacts. These strategies involve the use of reinsurance and derivatives, which may not be completely effective. For example, in the event that reinsurers or derivative counterparties are unable or unwilling to pay, Global Atlantic remains liable for the guaranteed benefits. In addition, hedging instruments may not effectively offset the costs of guarantees or may otherwise be insufficient in relation to Global Atlantic's obligations. Increased market volatility or implied volatility, declining equity market prices and other changes in capital markets may also subject Global Atlantic to increased hedging costs. Furthermore, Global Atlantic is subject to the risk that changes in policyholder behavior or mortality, combined with adverse market events, produce economic losses not addressed by the risk management techniques employed. These, individually or collectively, could have a material adverse effect on Global Atlantic's business, financial condition and results of operations.
Global Atlantic may experience volatility in its net income under GAAP due to accounting standards for derivatives.
Pursuant to current accounting guidance (Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Accounting Standard Codification Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging), Global Atlantic's derivative instruments, including certain derivative instruments embedded in other contracts (such as policyholder or reinsurance contracts), are generally recognized on the balance sheet at their fair values and changes in fair value are recognized immediately in earnings. This affects certain revenues and expenses Global Atlantic reports for its business as described below. These fair values are sensitive to various factors including, but not limited to, interest rate movements, credit spreads, and various other factors. Because of this, changes in these fair values may cause increased levels of volatility in Global Atlantic's financial statements.
In particular, Global Atlantic must mark to market the options and other derivative instruments purchased or sold to hedge Global Atlantic's business based upon quoted market prices from counterparties, which incorporate many market factors. Global Atlantic records the change in fair value of these instruments as a component of Global Atlantic's revenues. The change in fair value of derivatives includes the gains or losses recognized at expiration of any instrument or upon its early termination and changes in fair value for open positions.
Global Atlantic's fixed-indexed annuity, variable annuity and indexed universal life products contain equity-indexed features, which are accounted for as embedded derivatives and are required to be measured at fair value. Global Atlantic calculates the embedded derivative as the present value of future projected benefits in excess of the projected guaranteed
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benefits. In addition, the fair value of the embedded derivative is reduced to reflect the risk of non-performance on Global Atlantic's obligation, referred to as Global Atlantic's own credit risk. The fair value of this embedded derivative component includes assumptions about future interest rates and interest rate structures, future costs for options used to hedge the contract obligations, projected withdrawal and surrender activity, and the level and limits on contract participation in any future increases in market indexes such as the S&P 500 Index. The fair value of the embedded derivative component of variable annuities with guaranteed minimum withdrawal benefits includes assumptions about contract values, performance of market indexes such as the S&P 500 Index, expectations of benefit utilization and timing of election, and expected survivorship. Changes in interest rates, future index credits, Global Atlantic's own credit risk, projected withdrawal and surrender activity, and mortality on fixed-indexed annuity and indexed universal life contracts can have a significant impact on the value of the embedded derivative. For example, to the extent that the market indexes such as the S&P 500 Index experiences high returns over a given time period, Global Atlantic would be required to increase reserves for its liabilities linked to that index. Accordingly, the application of this accounting guidance may cause substantial volatility in Global Atlantic's reported net income.
We may be required to accelerate the amortization of deferred revenues and expenses, including DAC and VOBA.
Global Atlantic incurs significant costs in connection with acquiring new and renewal insurance business. DAC consists of commissions and other costs that are directly related to (1) the successful acquisition of new or renewal insurance contracts and (2) the acquisition of blocks of business via reinsurance transactions. Deferrable sales inducements ("DSI") are generated by annuities that offer enhanced crediting rates or bonus payments to policyholders. VOBA represents the difference between the carrying value of the purchased in-force insurance contract liabilities at the time of the business combination and the estimated fair value of insurance and reinsurance contracts. Global Atlantic establishes an unearned revenue reserve ("URR") liability for revenues from certain universal life insurance products that are deferred to future periods and an unearned front-end load ("UFEL") for gross premium in excess of the benefit reserve plus additional insurance liability for certain preneed contracts. For limited pay contracts, a deferred revenue liability ("DRL") that represents the gross premium less the net premium and the liability offset to the deferred gain arising from the amendment, respectively, is established. Each of DAC, VOBA, URR, UFEL and DRL requires significant estimates to establish and amortize. In conjunction with the Global Atlantic acquisition, purchase accounting required Global Atlantic to write-down intangibles including DAC and VOBA, and then reestablish the new VOBA at the fair value for Global Atlantic. These purchase accounting adjustments will impact Global Atlantic’s emergence of earnings in the future.
Global Atlantic periodically revises the key assumptions used in the calculation of the amortization of DAC, VOBA, URR, UFEL and DSI as part of the assumption review process. If estimates of future gross profits or margins are revised down, then the amortization of deferred revenues and expenses will be accelerated in the period of the change and will result in a charge to income, which could have a material adverse effect on Global Atlantic's profitability.
Differences between Global Atlantic's policyholder behavior estimates, reserve assumptions and actual claims experience, in particular with respect to the timing and magnitude of claims and surrenders, may adversely affect Global Atlantic's results of operations or financial condition.
Global Atlantic holds reserves to pay future policy benefits and claims. Global Atlantic's reserves are estimated based on data and models that include many assumptions and projections, which are inherently uncertain and involve significant judgment, including assumptions as to the levels and/or timing of receipt or payment of premiums, benefits, claims, expenses, interest credits, investment results (including equity and other market returns), mortality, morbidity, longevity and persistency.
While Global Atlantic periodically reviews the adequacy of its reserves and the assumptions underlying those reserves. Global Atlantic cannot determine with precision the amounts that Global Atlantic will pay for, or the timing of payment of, actual benefits, claims and expenses or whether the assets supporting policy liabilities, together with future premiums, will grow to the level assumed prior to the payment of benefits or claims. For Global Atlantic's directly issued fixed-rate annuities reserves are equal to policyholder account balances before applicable surrender charges, and lapse, surrender rates and persistency assumptions are important assumptions used in calculating these reserves and drivers of profitability with respect to these products. Advances in technology, including predictive medical technology that enables consumers to select products better matched to their individual longevity or mortality risk profile and other medical breakthroughs that extend lives, could cause Global Atlantic's future experience to deviate significantly from actuarial assumptions, which could adversely impact the level of reserves and profitability. The resulting acceleration of expense amortization, reduced spread or increased payments could have a material adverse effect on Global Atlantic's business, financial condition and results of operations.
If actual experience differs significantly from assumptions or estimates, certain balances included in Global Atlantic's balance sheet, may not be adequate, particularly DAC, VOBA, policy reserves and other actuarial balances. If Global Atlantic concludes that its reserves, together with future premiums, are insufficient to cover future policy benefits and claims, Global Atlantic would be required to increase its reserves and incur income statement charges for the period in which it makes the
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determination, which could have a material adverse effect on Global Atlantic's business, financial condition and results of operations. The increase in the statutory reserves of Global Atlantic's operating subsidiaries may negatively affect liquidity and capitalization.
Estimates used in the preparation of financial statements and models for insurance products may differ materially from actual experience.
GAAP requires the application of accounting guidance and policies that often involve a significant degree of judgment when accounting for insurance products. These estimates include, but are not limited to, premium persistency, future policy benefits and related expenses, valuation of embedded derivatives, valuation and impairment of investments and amortization of deferred revenues and expenses. These accounting estimates require the use of assumptions, some of which are highly uncertain at the time of estimation. These estimates are based on judgment, current facts and circumstances and, when applicable, internally developed models. Therefore, actual results could differ from these estimates, possibly in the near term. Inaccuracies could result in, among other things, an increase in policyholder benefit reserves or acceleration of the amortization of deferred revenues and expenses, such as DAC and VOBA, which would result in a charge to earnings, a restatement of Global Atlantic's historical financial statements or other material adjustments. Additionally, the potential for unforeseen developments, including changes in laws, regulations or accounting standards, may result in losses and loss expenses materially different from the reserves initially established.
In addition, Global Atlantic employs models to price products, calculate reserves and value assets, as well as evaluate risk and determine capital requirements, among other uses. These models rely on estimates and projections that are inherently uncertain, may use incomplete, outdated or incorrect data or assumptions and may not operate properly. As Global Atlantic's businesses continue to expand and evolve, the number and complexity of models it employs has grown, increasing exposure to error in the design, implementation or use of models, including the associated data input, controls and assumptions, and the controls in place to mitigate their risk may not be effective in all cases.
Global Atlantic's growth strategy includes reinsurance of insurance obligations written by unaffiliated insurance companies, and its ability to consummate these transactions on acceptable terms is uncertain. Even if Global Atlantic executes transactions on acceptable terms, the ability to realize the anticipated financial benefits from reinsurance transactions is uncertain.
Global Atlantic has grown and intends to continue growing its business through block reinsurance transactions, flow reinsurance, pension risk transfer and the issuance of funding agreements. Global Atlantic routinely reviews potential reinsurance transactions, some of which may be material. To the extent Global Atlantic is unable to consummate suitable reinsurance transaction opportunities on acceptable terms, its future growth may be negatively impacted. Even if Global Atlantic does find suitable opportunities on commercially acceptable terms, Global Atlantic may not be able to consummate these transactions because of the regulatory approvals required or other considerations. There is no assurance Global Atlantic will continue to be successful in these institutional markets.
Global Atlantic has experienced increased competition in the reinsurance market. In addition, competition in the reinsurance market, in particular with respect to transaction pricing, is making it more difficult to identify transactions with terms that are commercially acceptable based on Global Atlantic’s objectives and analyses. Moreover, the NAIC is considering, and certain states have enacted, insurance business transfer laws that permit insurers to transfer blocks of business to other insurers by operation of law. Such transfers could become a viable alternative structure to block reinsurance transactions and consequently may materially and adversely impact Global Atlantic’s ability to identify and enter into new block reinsurance transactions.
If Global Atlantic enters into a reinsurance transaction, there can be no assurance that the transaction will achieve the results expected at the time the transaction is executed. Factors that can cause Global Atlantic’s actual experience to vary from its estimates include, but are not limited to, macroeconomic, asset performance, business growth, demographic, policyholder behavior, regulatory and political conditions. In addition, Global Atlantic faces risks associated with managing reinsured blocks, such as maintaining adequate personnel and operational systems to manage such blocks. If, in connection with a reinsurance transaction, Global Atlantic converts a reinsured block of business to a new system, there could be disruption of servicing for policyholders. As a result of any such disruption, Global Atlantic may experience customer complaints, regulatory intervention, or other adverse impacts. As a result of the foregoing, Global Atlantic may realize materially less than the anticipated financial benefits from reinsurance transactions, or Global Atlantic’s reinsurance transactions may be unprofitable or result in losses.
With respect to additional future reinsurance transactions, there can be no assurance that opportunities will persist, and even if opportunities do persist, there can be no assurance that Global Atlantic will have sufficient capital available, or to the extent it does have sufficient capital, that such capital will be available in the necessary entities, to continue growing this part of Global Atlantic's business. In order to enter into reinsurance arrangements through Global Atlantic's Bermuda insurance
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subsidiaries, Global Atlantic needs sufficient capital to be held by such subsidiaries. Global Atlantic's ability to move capital to its Bermuda insurance subsidiaries without adverse consequence may be limited by regulatory restrictions on dividends from Global Atlantic's U.S. insurance subsidiaries, restrictions on intercompany transactions more generally, tax consequences or other considerations.
Global Atlantic sponsors co-investment vehicles (“Co-Invest Vehicles”), including Ivy Co-Invest Vehicle LLC, that have capital committed to invest alongside Global Atlantic in certain block reinsurance, pension risk transfer and other reinsurance transactions that Global Atlantic enters into during their investment period. Global Atlantic prices and bids for transactions assuming such Co-Invest Vehicles will meet their participation obligations for such transactions. However, Global Atlantic does not control the Co-Invest Vehicles, and Global Atlantic is subject to the risk that the Co-Invest Vehicles fail or refuse to fund their portion of a particular transaction, in which case Global Atlantic would have contractual remedies against the defaulting Co-Invest Vehicles but not directly against their shareholders or lenders. Global Atlantic is also subject to the risk that a Co-Invest Vehicle fails to meet its obligations under any funds withheld reinsurance arrangements with Global Atlantic.
Global Atlantic’s historical growth rates may not be indicative of its future growth, and Global Atlantic may not be able to identify attractive insurance markets, reinsurance opportunities or investments with returns that are as favorable as Global Atlantic’s historical returns and grow new business volumes at historical levels.
Global Atlantic’s historical growth rates may not reflect its future growth rates. While Global Atlantic anticipates that it will continue to grow by deepening existing and adding new distribution relationships in Global Atlantic's individual market, pursuing attractive reinsurance opportunities and further expanding its funding agreement business in the institutional market, taking advantage of investment opportunities to support Global Atlantic's growth, developing new products and entering new markets and maintaining Global Atlantic's positive in-force earnings dynamic, Global Atlantic may not be able to identify opportunities to do so. With future growth, there can be no guarantee that Global Atlantic's net underwriting return will be as favorable as its historic returns. Weaker margins may challenge Global Atlantic's ability to grow profitably or at the returns targeted. Further, in order to maintain or increase investment returns, it may be necessary to expand the scope of Global Atlantic's investing activities to asset classes in which Global Atlantic historically has not invested, which may increase the risk of Global Atlantic's investment portfolio. If Global Atlantic is unable to find profitable growth opportunities, it will be more difficult for Global Atlantic to continue to grow, and could negatively affect its results of operations and financial condition.
In addition, Global Atlantic's future growth depends on its ability to continue to offer and sell products that Global Atlantic's customers find attractive. Consumer preferences regarding annuities and life insurance are subject to change. In particular, due to market risks, consumers may not continue to view annuities as an attractive retirement savings product, which would impact Global Atlantic's ability to sell such products to its target consumers. In addition, there is no guarantee that younger generations will use life insurance products at the same rate as previous generations as a result of changes in savings habits and demographic shifts. Global Atlantic’s historical growth has been largely concentrated in fixed-rate annuities, fixed-indexed annuities and indexed universal life products. However, sales of these products may not continue to grow or be reinsured at historical levels, and there can be no assurance that consumers will continue to prefer these products. Moreover, continued future growth depends on its ability to offer competitive pricing and attractive terms. For example, one factor impacting sales of fixed-rate annuities is the crediting rate Global Atlantic offers compared to that offered by its competitors. Global Atlantic sets its crediting rates based on expected investment returns, policyholder behavior assumptions and other factors that may be beyond Global Atlantic's control. Global Atlantic expects that overall sales of fixed-rate annuities will continue to be sensitive to changes in pricing, including when compared to pricing on comparable products such as bank certificates of deposit. If consumer preferences for Global Atlantic's products change, Global Atlantic's revenues and results of operations may be materially adversely impacted.
Gaps in Global Atlantic's risk management policies and procedures may leave it exposed to unidentified or unanticipated risk, which could negatively affect Global Atlantic's business.
Global Atlantic has devoted significant resources to develop its Enterprise Risk Management ("ERM") framework to identify, monitor and manage financial and nonfinancial risks effectively, but Global Atlantic cannot guarantee that this framework will allow it to efficiently price, identify and predict future risks. Developing an effective framework for assessing and managing risks is complex. No framework or strategy can completely insulate Global Atlantic from all risks, and Global Atlantic may be unable to identify all risks and limit its exposures based on its assessments. Furthermore, there can be no assurance that Global Atlantic can effectively review and monitor all risks or that all of Global Atlantic's employees will follow its risk management policies and procedures.
As part of Global Atlantic's ERM framework, Global Atlantic utilizes models, including its asset-liability cash flow matching platform, to assess risks believed to be applicable to Global Atlantic's business. In addition, Global Atlantic uses its ERM framework to manage strategic, operational and legal and compliance risks. However, Global Atlantic will need to continuously update these models, systems and its ERM framework based on Global Atlantic's business strategy, risk limits, the
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regulatory and capital environment, and other external and internal factors that may impact Global Atlantic's strategy, the market or industry environment in which Global Atlantic operates and realized or observed behavior. Many of Global Atlantic's methods for managing risk and exposures are based upon the use of observed historical market behavior to model or project potential future exposure. Models used by Global Atlantic's business are based on assumptions and projections. These models may not operate properly or Global Atlantic's inputs and assumptions may be inaccurate. A lack of controls and processes or failures in such controls and processes with respect to Global Atlantic's models may impair the integrity and reliability of these models and their outputs. As a result, these methods may not fully predict future exposures, which can be significantly greater than historical measures indicate. If Global Atlantic's processes, analysis and risk management do not accurately predict and appropriately respond to future risk exposures, such risks could have a material adverse effect on Global Atlantic's business, results of operations and financial condition.
Global Atlantic's actual or perceived financial strength impacts its ability to sell its products, and a downgrade in Global Atlantic's ratings or in the ratings of its insurance subsidiaries could materially adversely affect Global Atlantic's ability to compete, raise equity or issue debt.
Financial strength ratings are published by various nationally recognized statistical rating organizations ("NRSROs") and similar entities not formally recognized as NRSROs. Rating organizations periodically review the financial performance and condition of insurers, including Global Atlantic's insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries. Rating organizations assign ratings based upon several factors. While most of the factors considered relate to the rated company, some of the factors relate to general economic conditions and other circumstances outside the rated company's control. The various rating agencies periodically review and evaluate Global Atlantic's capital adequacy in accordance with their established guidelines and capital models, which may themselves be subject to modification over time. Rating agencies change their standards from time to time. S&P Global Ratings expects to change significantly its capital model for insurers in 2022 and anticipates these changes to have an impact on a significant percentage of insurers. There can be no assurance that Global Atlantic’s ratings will not be negatively impacted by the proposed changes if and once implemented.
If Global Atlantic's capital levels are deemed insufficient, Global Atlantic could be required to reduce its risk profile in order to maintain its current ratings, by, for example, reinsuring and/or retroceding some of Global Atlantic's business, materially altering its business and sales plans or by raising additional capital. Any such action could have a material adverse effect on Global Atlantic's business, results of operations and financial condition.
Global Atlantic's business depends in part on strong financial strength ratings to compete effectively. Global Atlantic's clients and counterparties use its insurance financial strength ratings as one source to assess the financial strength and quality of Global Atlantic's insurance subsidiaries. Downgrades in Global Atlantic's credit ratings or changes to its rating outlook, or downgrades or changes in outlook to the financial strength ratings of Global Atlantic's insurance subsidiaries, could have a material adverse effect on Global Atlantic's business, results of operations and financial condition in many ways, including limiting access to distributors, restricting Global Atlantic's ability to generate sales, decreasing profitability, increasing policy lapse activity, limiting access to capital markets and potentially increasing the cost of debt, which could adversely affect liquidity. For example, Global Atlantic believes that a downgrade in the A.M. Best rating of Global Atlantic's U.S. insurance subsidiaries could materially impact their sales and access to new distribution relationships as Global Atlantic's distribution partners often view the A.M. Best rating as a key measure of an insurer's financial position. The ability of Global Atlantic's subsidiaries to engage in reinsurance transactions—and to do so absent substantial obligations to collateralize performance of their respective obligations—may depend in part on their financial condition and is influenced by their ratings. If an independent rating agency downgrades or withdraws any of Global Atlantic's ratings, Global Atlantic could be limited in, or prevented from, writing any new insurance and reinsurance contracts; some existing contracts may be terminated or may require Global Atlantic to enhance certain credit terms; the pricing terms Global Atlantic can obtain may be adversely affected; and Global Atlantic's ability to access the capital markets could be materially adversely impacted. Downgrades in credit or financial strength ratings may increase the regulatory scrutiny to which Global Atlantic and its insurance subsidiaries are subjected. There is no guarantee that Global Atlantic will be able to maintain its ratings in the future, and Global Atlantic cannot provide any assurances that actions taken by ratings agencies would not result in a material adverse effect on Global Atlantic's business, results of operations and financial condition.
Global Atlantic's failure to comply with covenants contained in its current or future credit facilities or agreements could trigger prepayment obligations, which could materially adversely affect Global Atlantic's business, results of operations and financial condition.
Global Atlantic's revolving credit facility and term loan agreement require Global Atlantic to comply with certain covenants, which include requirements to maintain a consolidated debt to total capitalization ratio, as defined under the agreements, of 35% or less and to maintain consolidated net worth determined in accordance with GAAP of no less than 70% of Global Atlantic’s net worth as of June 30, 2021, plus 50% of Global Atlantic's net income since June 30, 2021. Global Atlantic's failure to comply with these covenants could result in an event of default which, if not cured or waived within any
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applicable grace period, could result in the acceleration of amounts outstanding under the facility and of the term loan. In addition, if Global Atlantic defaults on its senior notes or subordinated debentures, any other debt with a principal amount of at least $75 million or any swap contract with a termination value in excess of $75 million, then Global Atlantic will also be in default under its revolving credit facility and on the term loan. Any default under these agreements, and any resulting acceleration of Global Atlantic's outstanding indebtedness, would have a material adverse effect on Global Atlantic’s business, results of operations and financial condition. Default by Global Atlantic under these agreements may also cause a cross default under KKR's corporate revolving credit facility, which, if not cured or waived, could have a material adverse effect on KKR's business, results of operations and financial condition.
Global Atlantic does not have captive or proprietary distribution or engage in direct sales, and if Global Atlantic's products are not retained on or added to the platforms of its distribution partners, sales of Global Atlantic's products may be reduced.
Global Atlantic relies on banks, broker-dealers, insurance agencies and independent agents to distribute its retirement and traditional life insurance products, including preneed. Global Atlantic's distribution partners are not captive and may sell retirement and life insurance products of Global Atlantic's competitors. If Global Atlantic's competitors offer products that are more attractive, pay higher commission rates to the sales representatives or offer a better service experience, these representatives may concentrate their efforts in selling Global Atlantic’s competitors' products instead of Global Atlantic's products.
Global Atlantic competes with other insurance companies to place products with distribution partners. Key distribution partners may merge, change their business models in ways that affect how Global Atlantic's products are sold, or terminate their distribution contracts with Global Atlantic, or new distribution channels could emerge and adversely impact the effectiveness of Global Atlantic's distribution efforts. Distribution partners, in particular banks and broker-dealers, typically have limited availability for multiple similar products from several insurance companies. An increase in bank and broker-dealer consolidation activity may result in Global Atlantic's products being dropped from a platform, increase competition for access to distributors and impair Global Atlantic's ability to market products through these channels. Consolidation of distributors and/or other industry changes may also increase the likelihood that distributors will try to renegotiate the terms of any existing selling agreements to terms less favorable to Global Atlantic. Distribution partners may also stop offering one or more of Global Atlantic's products, for a period of time or permanently, for a variety of reasons, including Global Atlantic's financial strength pricing or servicing. If any one of such distributors were to terminate its relationship with Global Atlantic or reduce the amount of sales which it produces, Global Atlantic's results of operations may be adversely affected.
In addition, some of Global Atlantic's distribution partners and potential partners use proprietary or third-party scoring systems in determining which products to sell. These ratings are primarily based on an insurance company's statutory filings and provide a quantitative comparison of one insurance company against another. If Global Atlantic's scores fall to levels unacceptable to its distribution partners, they may no longer distribute Global Atlantic's products to their customers, which would have a negative impact on Global Atlantic's business and results of operations. Other distributors use proprietary scoring systems that typically incorporate NRSRO credit or financial strength ratings or other industry ratings, and Global Atlantic's ability to access distribution channels may be impacted if it does not have a certain score under those proprietary methods. If Global Atlantic is unable to place its products or retain its products on the platforms of distribution partners, Global Atlantic's business, results of operations and liquidity may be negatively affected.
Global Atlantic faces risks associated with business it reinsures and business it cedes to reinsurers and which could cause a material adverse effect on Global Atlantic's business, results of operations and financial condition.
As part of Global Atlantic's overall risk management strategy, it cedes business to other insurance companies through reinsurance. Global Atlantic's inability to collect from its reinsurers (including reinsurance clients in transactions where Global Atlantic reinsures business net of ceded reinsurance) on its reinsurance claims could have a material adverse effect on Global Atlantic's business, results of operations and financial condition. Although reinsurers are liable to Global Atlantic to the extent of the reinsurance coverage it acquires, Global Atlantic remains primarily liable as the direct insurer on all risks that it writes; therefore, Global Atlantic's reinsurance agreements do not eliminate its obligation to pay claims. As a result, Global Atlantic is subject to the risk that it may not recover amounts due from reinsurers. The risk could arise primarily in two situations: (1) Global Atlantic's reinsurers may dispute some of its reinsurance claims based on contract terms, and, as a result, Global Atlantic may receive partial or no payment or (2) Global Atlantic's reinsurers may default on their obligations. While Global Atlantic may manage these risks through transaction-related diligence, contract terms, collateral requirements, hedging, and other oversight mechanisms, Global Atlantic's efforts may not be successful. A reinsurer's insolvency, or its inability or unwillingness to make payments due to Global Atlantic under the terms of the relevant reinsurance agreements, could have a material adverse effect on Global Atlantic's business, results of operations and financial condition.
Global Atlantic also bears the risk that the companies that reinsure its mortality risk on a yearly renewable term, where the reinsurer may reset the premium and other terms each year, increase the premiums they charge to levels Global Atlantic deems
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unacceptable. If that occurs, Global Atlantic will either need to pay such increased premiums, which will affect margins and financial results, or alternatively, Global Atlantic will need to limit or potentially terminate reinsurance, which will increase the risks that Global Atlantic retains.
Conversely, certain of Global Atlantic's insurance subsidiaries assume liabilities from other insurance companies. Changes in the ratings, creditworthiness or market perception of such ceding companies or in the administration of policies reinsured to Global Atlantic could cause policyholders of contracts reinsured to Global Atlantic to surrender or lapse their policies in unexpected amounts. In addition, to the extent such ceding companies do not perform their obligations under the relevant reinsurance agreements, Global Atlantic may not achieve the results intended and could suffer unexpected losses. In either case, Global Atlantic has exposure to its subsidiaries' reinsurance clients, which could materially and adversely affect Global Atlantic's business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Global Atlantic is exposed to risks related to natural and man-made disasters and catastrophes, diseases, epidemics, pandemics, malicious acts, war, cyber-attacks, terrorist acts and climate change, which could adversely affect Global Atlantic’s business and financial results.
A natural or man-made disaster or catastrophe, including a severe weather or geological event such as a storm, tornado, fire, flood or earthquake, disease, epidemic, pandemic (such as COVID-19), malicious act, cyber-attack, terrorist act, or the occurrence of climate change, could adversely affect Global Atlantic's mortality, morbidity or other experience, adversely affect Global Atlantic’s investment portfolio (for example by damaging or destroying physical assets in which Global Atlantic invests or impact in the financial performance of loans or securities collateralized by loans) and have a significant negative impact on Global Atlantic's operations and results. In addition, claims arising from the occurrence of such events or conditions could have a material adverse effect on Global Atlantic's business, results of operations and financial condition. Such events or conditions could also have an adverse effect on lapses and surrenders of existing policies, as well as sales of new policies. In addition, such events or conditions could result in significant physical damage and destruction to, and a decrease or halt in economic activity in, large geographic areas, adversely affecting Global Atlantic's business within such geographic areas and/or the general economic climate. Such events or conditions could also result in additional regulation or restrictions on the conduct of Global Atlantic's business. Furthermore, certain of these events could cause Global Atlantic’s workforce, or those of its third-party administrators, to be unable to engage in operations at one or more facilities or result in short- or long-term interruptions in Global Atlantic’s business operations. Global Atlantic's risk management efforts, insurance and other precautionary plans and activities may not adequately predict or offset the impact of such events on Global Atlantic's business, results of operations and financial condition.
Any failure to protect the confidentiality of client information could adversely affect Global Atlantic’s reputation and have a material adverse effect on its business, financial condition and results of operations.
Pursuant to federal and state laws, various government agencies have established rules protecting the privacy and security of personal information. In addition, most states have enacted laws, which vary significantly from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, to safeguard the privacy and security of personal information. The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 imposes privacy requirements on financial institutions, including obligations to protect and safeguard consumers' nonpublic personal information and records, and limits the ability to share and reuse such information. Global Atlantic is also subject to the New York State Department of Financial Services cybersecurity regulation, to a limited extent the California Consumer Privacy Act and other privacy laws and regulations. Many regulators have indicated an intention to take more aggressive enforcement actions regarding cybersecurity and data privacy matters, and private litigation resulting from such matters is increasing and resulting in progressively larger judgments and settlements.
Many of Global Atlantic's employees have access to, and routinely process, personal information of clients through a variety of media, including information technology systems. Global Atlantic relies on various internal processes and controls to protect the confidentiality of client information that is accessible to, or in the possession of, Global Atlantic and its employees. It is possible that an employee could, intentionally or unintentionally, disclose or misappropriate confidential client information or Global Atlantic's data could be the subject of a cybersecurity attack. Global Atlantic's third-party administrators and their employees also have access to, and routinely process, personal information of clients, and Global Atlantic is also dependent on such third parties and their systems to protect such data. Global Atlantic is aware of instances in which one of its employees or one of its third-party administrators' employees unintentionally shared confidential client information. While Global Atlantic offered remediation, such as credit monitoring, to the impacted clients, and trained the individuals involved in the situations it was aware of, if Global Atlantic fails to maintain adequate internal controls or if its employees fail to comply with Global Atlantic's policies and procedures, misappropriation or intentional or unintentional inappropriate disclosure or misuse of client information could occur. Such internal control inadequacies or noncompliance could materially damage Global Atlantic's reputation or lead to civil or criminal penalties. Global Atlantic's third-party service providers, including third parties to whom Global Atlantic outsources certain functions, are also subject to the risks outlined above, any one of which could result in damage to Global Atlantic's reputation, Global Atlantic incurring substantial costs and other negative consequences. If Global
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Atlantic or any of its third-party service providers fails to protect the confidentiality of client information, it could have a material adverse effect on Global Atlantic's business, financial condition and results of operations.
In addition, Global Atlantic analyzes customer data to better manage its business. There has been increased scrutiny, including from regulators, regarding the use of "big data," such as using "big data" to set product pricing. Global Atlantic's ability to use data to gain insights into and manage its business may be limited in the future by regulatory scrutiny regarding "big data." Global Atlantic cannot predict what, if any, actions may be taken with regard to "big data," but such inquiries could cause reputational harm and could have a material adverse effect on Global Atlantic's business, results of operations and financial condition.
Changes in accounting standards could adversely impact Global Atlantic's reported results of operations and reported financial condition.
Global Atlantic's financial statements are subject to the application of GAAP, which is periodically revised, reinterpreted and/or expanded. Accordingly, from time to time Global Atlantic is required to adopt new guidance or interpretations, or could be subject to existing guidance as Global Atlantic enters into new transactions or business lines, which may have a material effect on Global Atlantic's results of operations and financial condition that is either unexpected or has a greater impact than expected. Upon the closing of the acquisition of Global Atlantic by KKR, Global Atlantic established a new accounting basis for purchase accounting, under which all identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed were measured and recorded at fair value as of the date of the closing. In addition, certain accounting standards applicable to public entities became applicable to Global Atlantic.
In August 2018, the FASB issued new guidance for insurance companies that issue or reinsure long-duration contracts such as life insurance and annuities. The objective of this guidance is to improve, simplify, and enhance the financial reporting of long-duration contracts by providing financial statement users with useful information in a timely and transparent manner. The new guidance is effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Global Atlantic is currently preparing for the adoption of this standard and continuing to evaluate the impact on its consolidated financial statements. Based on Global Atlantic's preparation to date, Global Atlantic believes that the new standard will increase volatility in its consolidated financial statements, in particular due to the requirement to measure market risk benefits at fair value.
In June 2016, FASB issued new guidance on the measurement of credit losses on financial instruments, including reinsurance recoverables, under GAAP. This guidance replaced the incurred loss impairment methodology with a requirement to reflect current expected credit losses in amortized cost instead of recognizing losses as incurred. Following the closing of the Global Atlantic acquisition, this standard became applicable to Global Atlantic and required increases in expected credit losses on financial instruments measured at amortized cost including loan receivables and reinsurance recoverables which are recognized as a charge to earnings.
The changes for long-duration contracts, the measurement of credit losses on financial instruments, application of purchase accounting in connection with the closing of the Global Atlantic acquisition or other changes in accounting standards could affect the way Global Atlantic accounts for and reports significant areas of its business, could impose special demands on Global Atlantic in the areas of governance, employee training, internal controls and disclosure, and will likely affect how Global Atlantic manages its business. As a result, the required adoption of future accounting standards could have a material adverse impact on Global Atlantic's results of operations and financial condition.
The NAIC has approved Statutory Accounting Principles for U.S. insurance companies that have been implemented by the domiciliary states of Global Atlantic's U.S. insurance subsidiaries. The NAIC from time to time considers amendments to the Statutory Accounting Principles and is currently considering various amendments to the Statutory Accounting Principles that impact investment transactions, including, for example, definitions of affiliated and related party transactions and capital charge determinations for loan-backed and structured securities. In addition, the NAIC has expressed concerns and is considering changes related to filing exempt status for certain securities or loans, which generally allows the use of an NRSRO rating for purposes of capital assessment as opposed to requiring review by the Securities Valuation Office. The NAIC adopted, and is considering additional, changes to the NAIC ratings assigned to privately rated securities. These changes and future changes raise uncertainty with respect to the NAIC ratings of, and consequently capital required to be held for, certain investments.
In addition, the NAIC Accounting Practices and Procedures Manual, or the "Accounting Manual," provides that state insurance departments may permit insurance companies domiciled therein to depart from the Statutory Accounting Principles by granting them permitted accounting practices. Global Atlantic makes use of permitted practices today and may seek approval to use additional permitted practices in the future. Permitted practices do not preempt legislative or regulatory changes to the Statutory Accounting Principles. Accordingly, there is a risk that Global Atlantic may not be able to continue to use a previously granted permitted practice. In addition, Global Atlantic cannot predict whether or when the insurance departments of the states of domicile of its competitors may permit Global Atlantic's competitors to utilize advantageous accounting practices
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that depart from the Statutory Accounting Principles, the use of which is not permitted by the insurance departments of the states of domicile of Global Atlantic's U.S. insurance subsidiaries. Any change in the Statutory Accounting Principles or permitted practices could have a material adverse impact on the capital Global Atlantic is required to hold in its business and consequently on its profitability and ability to grow.
Global Atlantic’s Bermuda insurance subsidiaries are licensed to conduct insurance business by the BMA. In 2016, the BMA made significant changes to Bermuda’s regulatory and supervisory regimes, to achieve equivalence with the European Union’s Directive 2009/138EC, as amended (Solvency II). On March 24, 2016, and (retroactively) effective as of January 1, 2016, a number of changes were instituted for commercial insurers and insurance groups to enhance statutory and prudential reporting requirements. In that regard, the BMA implemented the Economic Balance Sheet ("EBS") framework ("EBS Framework"), which is now used as the basis to determine an insurer’s enhanced capital requirement ("ECR"). Bermuda-licensed commercial insurers are required to prepare prescribed statutory financial statements. Global Atlantic’s Bermuda insurance subsidiaries’ financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP act as the basis on which statutory financial statements are prepared, subject to application of certain prudential filters. These statutory financial statements, in turn, form the starting basis for the preparation of the EBS. The statutory financial statements also form the basis for assessing each Bermuda insurance subsidiary’s ordinary dividend capacity, Minimum Margin of Solvency and class of registration as an insurer in Bermuda. The EBS Framework and statutory financial statements are embedded in the BMA’s legislative and regulatory regime.
Global Atlantic can give no assurances that (1) the impact of purchase accounting, (2) future changes to GAAP or any interpretation thereof, (3) future changes to SAP or components of SAP or any interpretations thereof, (4) the grant of permitted accounting practices to Global Atlantic's competitors or (5) future changes to Bermuda legal, accounting or financial regimes, including changes to the EBS Framework, will not have a negative impact or material adverse effect on Global Atlantic.
Global Atlantic may experience volatility in its net income under GAAP due to its funds withheld and modified coinsurance transactions.
Funds withheld coinsurance and modified coinsurance differ from coinsurance and certain other forms of reinsurance in that the assets equal to the net statutory reserves are withheld and legally owned by the ceding company, while the related investment risk is transferred to the reinsurer. Under GAAP accounting these funds withheld and modified coinsurance contracts create embedded derivatives for both the ceding company and the reinsuring company, and each embedded derivative must be measured at fair value. The valuation of an embedded derivative is sensitive to the market environment, including credit spreads of the assets held by the ceding insurer, and can generate significant volatility depending on market conditions. Changes in the fair value of embedded derivatives are recorded in investment related gains/(losses) on the consolidated statements of income.
Global Atlantic assumes certain policy risks written by other insurance companies via reinsurance that may be on a funds withheld or modified coinsurance basis. In these arrangements, Global Atlantic is subject to the investment performance on the withheld assets, although Global Atlantic does not directly control them. Global Atlantic helps to set, and monitor compliance with, the investment guidelines followed by the applicable ceding company. However, to the extent that such investment guidelines are not appropriate, or to the extent that the ceding companies do not adhere to such guidelines, Global Atlantic's risk of loss could increase, which could materially adversely affect its GAAP results, financial condition and results of operations. Global Atlantic also cedes certain policy risks to third party reinsurers on a funds withheld coinsurance basis. These arrangements may generate significant volatility in Global Atlantic’s net income under GAAP.
We could be forced to sell investments at a loss to cover policyholder benefits, withdrawals, recaptures or collateralization requirements of Global Atlantic’s reinsurance commitments or other events.
Many of the products in Global Atlantic's in-force book allow policyholders to withdraw their funds under defined circumstances. In addition, certain of Global Atlantic's reinsurance agreements include provisions requiring that under certain circumstances Global Atlantic provides collateral to support performance of its reinsurance commitments, including trust balances. Global Atlantic's operating subsidiaries manage their liabilities and configure their investment portfolios to provide and maintain sufficient liquidity to support anticipated withdrawal demands, contract benefits and maturities.
While Global Atlantic's operating subsidiaries own a significant amount of liquid assets, a portion of their assets are considered less liquid. Unanticipated withdrawal or surrender activity or liquidity demands in connection with recaptures or collateralization requirements could, under some circumstances, require Global Atlantic's operating subsidiaries to dispose of assets on unfavorable terms, which could have a material adverse effect on Global Atlantic's business, results of operations and financial condition. Moreover, reinsurance agreements may provide for recapture rights on the part of Global Atlantic's ceding company clients, and a substantial portion of Global Atlantic's reinsurance agreements require that Global Atlantic hold or provide collateral to support performance of Global Atlantic's reinsurance commitments. See "—Certain of Global Atlantic's reinsurance agreements contain triggers that permit the reinsurance client to recapture some or all of the reinsured portfolio,
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which, if triggered, may have a material adverse effect on Global Atlantic's business, results of operations and financial condition." We may be forced to sell investments as a result of a recapture of its reinsurance business or as a result of the need to hold additional collateral that meets the associated investment guidelines.
Global Atlantic holds a significant portion of its reinsurance assets in trust, which may restrict Global Atlantic's ability to invest those assets and also may permit the ceding company to withdraw those assets from the trust in certain circumstances.
In certain reinsurance transactions where Global Atlantic is the reinsurer, it must provide collateral to the ceding company. State regulation and the ability of Global Atlantic insurance subsidiaries to obtain regulatory designation as a certified or reciprocal jurisdiction reinsurer impact the amount of collateral Global Atlantic must provide. A significant portion of the collateral that Global Atlantic provides to its reinsurance clients is provided in the form of assets held in a trust for the benefit of the counterparty. Global Atlantic's investment of assets held in trust is restricted based on the terms of the trust agreement and associated investment guidelines. As such, Global Atlantic may not have flexibility to invest such assets as it otherwise might, and Global Atlantic's investment returns on such assets may therefore be less than if they were not held in trust. In addition, in certain circumstances the ceding company may be allowed to withdraw assets from the trust if Global Atlantic fails to pay amounts due under the applicable reinsurance agreement.
Certain of Global Atlantic's reinsurance agreements contain triggers that permit the reinsurance client to recapture some or all of the reinsured portfolio, which, if triggered, may have a material adverse effect on Global Atlantic's business, results of operations and financial condition.
Certain of Global Atlantic's reinsurance agreements contain triggers that if breached may result in the reinsured party having the right to recapture the reinsured business or also to terminate the reinsurance agreement. A recapture trigger permits the ceding company to reassume under certain circumstances all or a portion of the risk ceded to Global Atlantic. For reinsurance transactions in which the ceding company cedes all or a portion of the risk to Global Atlantic, Global Atlantic's reinsurance agreements typically include a recapture right that is triggered if, for example, Global Atlantic fails to maintain certain minimum levels of capitalization or certain minimum levels of reserves to support the business reinsured. These reinsurance agreements also typically include provisions that provide for termination of the agreement and recapture of the business upon the occurrence of insolvency, rehabilitation, non-payment of amounts due, material breach of contract provisions or failure to provide the ceding company with the ability to take reserve credit. The economic, financial and liquidity impact from the loss of the recaptured business, in addition to Global Atlantic's economic hardships at the time of recapture, may have a material adverse effect on Global Atlantic’s business, results of operations and financial condition.
The determination of the amount of impairments and allowances for credit losses recognized on Global Atlantic's investments is highly subjective and could materially affect its results of operations or financial condition.
The determination of the amount of impairments and allowances for credit losses is based upon Global Atlantic's periodic evaluation and assessment of known and inherent risks associated with the respective asset class and the specific investment being reviewed. Such evaluations and assessments are revised as conditions change and new information becomes available. Management updates its evaluations regularly and reflects changes in allowances and impairments in its financial results as such evaluations are revised. Impairments result in a non-cash charge to earnings during the period in which the impairment charge is taken. Changes in allowances for credit losses can result in either a charge or credit to earnings.
For example, an allowance is recognized on Global Atlantic's fixed maturity securities when the fair value of the security is less than its amortized cost basis and credit related losses are deemed to have occurred. The determination of the allowance requires assessment of the security's expected future cash flows, which depend on a variety of macroeconomic factors and security-specific considerations. Similarly, the determination of the allowance on Global Atlantic's mortgage and other loan receivables requires an assessment of expected credit losses that considers current, historical and forecasted macroeconomic data and loan-specific factors. As expectations change based on macroeconomic data and individual investment considerations, the associated allowance for credit losses can be adjusted, up or down.
There can be no assurance that management has accurately determined the amount of impairments and allowances for credit losses recognized in Global Atlantic's financial statements and their potential impact on regulatory capital. Furthermore, additional impairments and allowance provisions may be taken in the future.
Global Atlantic's membership in Federal Home Loan Banks subjects Global Atlantic to potential liquidity and other risks.
Global Atlantic's insurance subsidiaries Accordia, FLIC and CwA are members of the Federal Home Loan Banks of Des Moines, Indianapolis and Boston, respectively, which allows those companies to borrow against certain of their investments, such as commercial mortgage loans, eligible under the applicable Federal Home Loan Bank definition to be posted as collateral. If those sources of borrowing by those companies were to no longer be available to them, for example, because the Federal Home Loan Banks change their definition of eligible collateral, the value of the collateral pledged for these borrowings declines
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due to changes in interest rates or credit ratings and the companies need to post additional collateral in the form of cash or other eligible securities or if the Federal Home Loan Banks issue a capital call on the preferred shares owned by Global Atlantic's insurance companies, the liquidity of such insurance subsidiaries could be materially adversely affected. Additionally, if the applicable insurance subsidiary's creditworthiness falls below the minimum required or if legislative or other political actions cause changes to the Federal Home Loan Bank mandate or to the eligibility of life insurance companies to be members of the Federal Home Loan Bank system, Global Atlantic may lose access to this funding and be required to find other sources to replace it.
From time to time, Global Atlantic participates in repurchase and reverse repurchase transactions that subject Global Atlantic to liquidity risks.
Global Atlantic currently has a committed repurchase facility and from time to time participates in a repurchase transaction. Under these repurchase agreements, Global Atlantic may sell fixed income securities to third-party counterparties, primarily major brokerage firms and commercial banks, with a concurrent agreement to repurchase those same securities at a determined future date.
These repurchase agreements are required to be secured by collateral. Throughout the term of the repurchase agreement, Global Atlantic must post cash or securities as collateral to its counterparties equal to Global Atlantic's repurchase obligation plus any applicable over-collateralization amount. On the maturity date of the applicable repurchase agreement, Global Atlantic must pay the repurchase price, or Global Atlantic and its counterparty must agree to extend the applicable repurchase agreement by entering into a new repurchase agreement. If the value of the securities posted as collateral declines below the repurchase price plus any applicable over-collateralization amount, Global Atlantic will need to post additional cash or securities as collateral. Global Atlantic's ability to enter into a new repurchase agreement instead of settling a repurchase transaction on the repurchase date may be limited by market conditions. Therefore, Global Atlantic's liquidity may be negatively impacted when it is required to post additional collateral or when it is unable to extend an expiring repurchase agreement by entering into a new repurchase agreement.
In addition, Global Atlantic invests in securities the cash it receives from its repurchase counterparties. Those securities may decline in value during the term of the repurchase agreements. If Global Atlantic sells those securities at a loss, Global Atlantic may not have enough cash to fund the obligation that it has to its counterparties under the repurchase agreements. Under adverse capital market and economic conditions, liquidity may broadly deteriorate, further restricting Global Atlantic's ability to sell the securities and fund the obligation that it has to its counterparties.
Global Atlantic may also from time to time participate in reverse repurchase agreements whereby Global Atlantic purchases fixed income securities from third parties in exchange for cash, with a concurrent obligation by such third parties to repurchase those same securities from Global Atlantic at a determined future date. In the case of default by such third party in a reverse repurchase agreement, Global Atlantic runs the risk that such third party may not repurchase the security when required. In the event of the bankruptcy or other default of such third party in a repurchase agreement, Global Atlantic could experience both delays in liquidating the underlying security and losses, including but not limited to (1) a possible decline in the value of the collateral received from Global Atlantic's counterparties during the period while Global Atlantic seeks to enforce its rights therein, (2) possible subnormal levels of income and lack of access to income during this period and (3) expenses of enforcing Global Atlantic's rights.
Tax Risks Related to Global Atlantic
Unless the context otherwise requires, the term "Bermuda insurance subsidiaries" as used in "—Tax Risks Related to Global Atlantic" refers to (1) Global Atlantic Assurance Limited and (2) Global Atlantic Re Limited with respect to any period ending prior to January 1, 2018, the effective date of the election made pursuant to Section 953(d) of the Code to treat Global Atlantic Re as a U.S. corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
The IRS could contend that Global Atlantic or its non-U.S. subsidiaries are or were engaged in trade or business within the United States and subject to U.S. federal income taxes.
Certain Global Atlantic subsidiaries, including Global Atlantic Financial Limited ("GAFL") and its Bermuda insurance subsidiaries, are non-U.S. companies that are treated as corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes. GAFL and its Bermuda insurance subsidiaries have conducted and intend to conduct substantially all of their operations outside the United States and to limit their U.S. contacts with the intention that GAFL and its Bermuda insurance subsidiaries not be treated as engaged in trade or business within the United States. However, there is considerable uncertainty as to when a non-U.S. corporation is engaged in trade or business within the United States, and there can be no assurance that the IRS will not contend that GAFL or its Bermuda insurance subsidiaries, are or were engaged in trade or business within the United States. If GAFL, or any of its Bermuda insurance subsidiaries, were considered to be engaged in trade or business within the United States, such company could be subject to U.S. corporate income taxes and branch profits taxes on the portion of its earnings and profits that
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is or was effectively connected to such trade or business within the United States. If the IRS were to contend successfully that GAFL, its Bermuda insurance subsidiaries, Global Atlantic or any of its other non-U.S. subsidiaries are or were engaged in trade or business within the United States, Global Atlantic’s results of operations and financial condition could be materially adversely affected.
There is U.S. federal income tax risk associated with reinsurance transactions, intercompany transactions and distributions between U.S. companies and their affiliates.
The 2017 Tax Act introduced the Base Erosion and Anti-Abuse Tax (the "BEAT") on certain U.S. companies that make deductible payments to related non-U.S. companies in taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017. The BEAT is imposed at a rate of 5% for 2018, 10% through 2025 and 12.5% thereafter. Under the terms of 2017 Tax Act, the BEAT applies to "any premium or other consideration" paid or accrued to a related foreign reinsurer. To mitigate the effect of the BEAT, Global Atlantic Re Limited filed an election under Section 953(d) of the Code to treat Global Atlantic Re Limited as a U.S. corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes effective as of January 1, 2018. The BEAT applies only to related-party transactions with non-U.S. persons and hence would not apply to Global Atlantic's U.S. insurance subsidiaries' affiliate reinsurance transactions with Global Atlantic Re Limited. There can be no assurances that Global Atlantic Re Limited will continue to meet the requirements for an effective 953(d) election or that Global Atlantic will otherwise be successful in mitigating the effect of the BEAT.
In addition, the Code permits the IRS to reallocate, recharacterize, or adjust items of income, deduction or certain other items related to a reinsurance agreement between related parties to reflect the proper "amount, source or character" for each item. Further, the tax treatment of certain aspects of reinsurance ceded to a non-U.S. reinsurer on a funds withheld coinsurance basis is uncertain. If the IRS were successfully to challenge Global Atlantic’s intercompany reinsurance arrangements between its subsidiaries or Global Atlantic’s tax treatment of funds withheld coinsurance with non-U.S. reinsurers (including Global Atlantic's insurance subsidiaries), Global Atlantic's financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected.
There are significant cross-border transactions in place among Global Atlantic's affiliates, some of which Global Atlantic treats as loans or swaps for tax purposes, and Global Atlantic may expand the scope of its cross-border intercompany transactions in the future. If the IRS were successfully to challenge these transactions, or if legislation were enacted, or administrative guidance promulgated, that altered the expected tax treatment of such transactions, Global Atlantic's financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected.
Dividends paid by GAFL's direct subsidiaries Global Atlantic Re Limited and Global Atlantic (Fin) Company ("FinCo") to GAFL will be subject to a 30% U.S. federal withholding tax. Therefore, Global Atlantic may be limited in its ability to move cash efficiently between FinCo (and its subsidiaries) and Global Atlantic Re Limited and GAFL.
Changes in U.S. tax law could affect the products that Global Atlantic's subsidiaries sell.
Many of the products Global Atlantic's subsidiaries sell benefit from one or more forms of tax-favored status under current U.S. federal and state income tax regimes. For example, Global Atlantic's subsidiaries sell and reinsure annuity contracts that allow the policyholders to defer the recognition of taxable income earned within the contract. In addition, current U.S. federal income tax law permits the exclusion from taxation of death benefits paid under life insurance contracts. Changes in U.S. tax laws that alter the tax benefits or treatment of certain products could result in a material reduction in demand for Global Atlantic's subsidiaries' products and could affect policyholder behavior with respect to existing annuity products in ways that are difficult to predict, for example increasing the expected lapse rate or, if the treatment of existing contracts is grandfathered, reducing the rate at which existing contracts are surrendered or rolled over.
The IRS may successfully challenge GAFL's status as a non-U.S. corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Under U.S. federal income tax law, a corporation is generally considered for U.S. federal income tax purposes to be a tax resident of the jurisdiction of its organization or incorporation. Because GAFL is a Bermuda-incorporated exempted entity, it would generally be classified as a non-U.S. corporation (and, therefore, a non-U.S. tax resident) under these rules. However, Section 7874 of the Code ("Section 7874") provides an exception to this general rule under which a non-U.S. incorporated entity may, in certain circumstances, be treated as a U.S. corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
On April 1, 2016, Global Atlantic completed a reorganization of GAFL (the "GAFL Reorganization"). Under Section 7874, if GAFL's direct parent owned (within the meaning of Section 7874) 80% or more (by vote or value) of GAFL's common shares after the GAFL Reorganization (the "Section 7874 ownership percentage"), GAFL would be treated as a U.S. corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Based on the terms of the GAFL Reorganization and the rules for determining share ownership under Section 7874, Global Atlantic does not believe that GAFL's direct parent received 80% or more of GAFL's common shares (either by vote or value).
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However, the rules under Section 7874 are relatively complex and there is limited guidance regarding their application. In particular, ownership for purposes of Section 7874 is subject to various adjustments under the Code and the U.S. Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder, and there is limited guidance regarding Section 7874. As a result, the determination of the Section 7874 ownership percentage is complex and is subject to uncertainty. There can be no assurance that the IRS will agree with the position that GAFL should not be treated as a U.S. corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
If GAFL were to be treated as a U.S. corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes under Section 7874 or for any other reason, GAFL would be subject to substantial additional historic and future U.S. federal income tax liability, including current taxation of all of Global Atlantic’s Bermuda insurance subsidiaries’ subpart F income and global intangible low-taxed income, as defined under Section 951A(b) of the Code, which could have a material adverse effect on Global Atlantic’s financial condition and results of operations.
Section 7874 may limit Global Atlantic's ability to utilize certain U.S. tax attributes or otherwise adversely affect GAFL's tax position and may limit GAFL's flexibility to engage in acquisition transactions.
As a result of the GAFL Reorganization, Section 7874 will limit the ability of Global Atlantic's U.S. holding company and its U.S. affiliates to utilize certain U.S. tax attributes (including net operating losses and certain tax credits) to offset, during the ten-year period following the GAFL Reorganization, their U.S. taxable income, or related income tax liability, resulting from certain (1) transfers to related foreign persons of stock or other properties of Global Atlantic's U.S. holding company and its U.S. affiliates, and (2) licensing to related foreign persons of any property by Global Atlantic's U.S. holding company and its U.S. affiliates.
Future potential changes to the tax laws could result in the application of certain adverse U.S. federal income tax rules to GAFL and its U.S. affiliates as a result of the GAFL Reorganization. Any changes could have prospective or retroactive application, and may apply even though the GAFL Reorganization has been consummated. In addition, U.S. Treasury regulations could limit GAFL's flexibility to engage in acquisition transactions involving U.S. targets.
The effect of Bermuda's commitment to the OECD to eliminate harmful tax practices is uncertain and could adversely affect Global Atlantic's tax status in Bermuda.
The effect of Bermuda's commitment to the OECD to eliminate harmful tax practices is uncertain and could adversely affect Global Atlantic's tax status in Bermuda. The OECD has published reports and launched a global dialogue among member and non-member countries on measures to limit harmful tax competition. These measures are largely directed at counteracting the effects of income tax havens and preferential income tax regimes in countries around the world. According to the OECD, Bermuda is a jurisdiction that has substantially implemented the internationally agreed tax standard and as such is listed on the OECD "white list." However, Global Atlantic is not able to predict whether any future changes will be made to this "white list" classification or whether any such changes will subject Global Atlantic and its Bermuda-domiciled subsidiaries to additional taxes. See "—Risks Related to Our Business—Changes in relevant tax laws, regulations or treaties or an adverse interpretation of these items by tax authorities could adversely impact our effective tax rate and tax liability" for discussions of the OECD's BEPS project.
Global Atlantic is subject to the risk that Bermuda tax laws may change and that GAFL may become subject to new Bermuda taxes following the expiration of current exemptions after 2035.
The Bermuda Minister of Finance, under Bermuda's Exempted Undertakings Tax Protection Act 1966, as amended, has provided written assurance that if any legislation is enacted in Bermuda that would impose tax on profits or income, or computed on any capital asset, gain or appreciation, or any tax in the nature of estate duty or inheritance tax, then the imposition of any such tax will not be applicable to GAFL or any of its operations or common shares, debentures or other obligations until March 31, 2035, except insofar as such tax applies to persons ordinarily resident in Bermuda or to any taxes payable by GAFL in respect of real property owned or leased by GAFL in Bermuda. Similar assurances have been provided to each of GAFL's Bermuda-domiciled subsidiaries. Given the limited duration of the Bermuda Minister of Finance's assurances, Global Atlantic cannot provide any assurances that GAFL or its Bermuda-domiciled subsidiaries will not be subject to any Bermuda tax after March 31, 2035.
Regulatory Risks Related to Global Atlantic
Global Atlantic's businesses are heavily regulated across numerous jurisdictions and changes in regulation could reduce Global Atlantic's profitability.
Global Atlantic's insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries are highly regulated by, among others, insurance regulators in the United States and Bermuda, and changes in regulations affecting Global Atlantic's businesses may reduce Global Atlantic's profitability and limit its growth.
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Global Atlantic has insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries that operate in all 50 U.S. states, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the District of Columbia, as well as Bermuda. The insurance and reinsurance industry is generally heavily regulated and Global Atlantic's operations in each of these jurisdictions are subject to varying degrees of regulation and supervision. The laws and regulations of the jurisdictions in which Global Atlantic's insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries are domiciled or deemed to be commercially domiciled may require these companies to, among other things, maintain minimum levels of statutory capital, surplus and liquidity, meet solvency standards, submit to periodic examinations of their financial condition, and restrict payments of dividends and distributions of capital. Global Atlantic's insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries also are subject to laws and regulations that may restrict the ability of these companies to write insurance and reinsurance policies, make certain types of investments and distribute funds. With respect to investments, Global Atlantic's insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries must comply with applicable regulations regarding the type and concentration of investments it may make. These restrictions are set forth in investment guidelines that KKR's investment management subsidiary must comply with when providing investment management to these Global Atlantic entities. These restrictions may limit Global Atlantic's ability to invest and KKR's ability to earn fees on those investments. In addition, Global Atlantic’s insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries are subject to laws and regulations governing affiliate transactions. The investment management agreements between the KKR investment manager and Global Atlantic entities were approved by applicable insurance regulators, and any changes of such agreements, including with respect to fees, must receive applicable approval. These affiliate transaction rules are particularly important to Global Atlantic given (1) its relationship with KKR and (2) the fact that its business strategy involves reinsuring business among its subsidiaries.
In connection with the conduct of Global Atlantic's various businesses, Global Atlantic believes it is crucial to establish and maintain good working relationships with the various regulatory authorities having jurisdiction over its businesses. If those relationships and that reputation were to deteriorate, Global Atlantic's businesses could be materially adversely affected. For example, Global Atlantic requires various consents and approvals from its regulators, both with respect to transactions Global Atlantic enters into and in the ordinary course of the conduct of its businesses. If Global Atlantic fails to maintain good working relationships with its regulators, it may become more difficult or impossible for Global Atlantic to obtain those consents and approvals, either on a timely basis or at all.
In addition to the regulations of the jurisdictions where Global Atlantic's insurance subsidiaries are domiciled, Global Atlantic also must obtain licenses to sell insurance in other states and U.S. jurisdictions. Global Atlantic Re Limited is a certified reinsurer in Indiana, Iowa and Massachusetts, and therefore must comply with U.S. state laws governing certified reinsurer status. Most state regulatory authorities are granted broad discretion in connection with their decisions to grant, renew or revoke licenses and approvals that are subject to state statutes. If Global Atlantic is unable to renew the requisite licenses and obtain the necessary approvals or otherwise does not comply with applicable regulatory requirements, the insurance regulatory authorities could stop, or temporarily suspend Global Atlantic from conducting some or all of its operations as well as impose fines.
At the United States federal level, the Dodd-Frank Act established the Federal Insurance Office ("FIO") within the U.S. Department of the Treasury to monitor all aspects of the insurance industry and of lines of business other than certain health insurance, certain long-term care insurance and crop insurance. Although the FIO currently does not directly regulate the insurance industry, FIO does monitor and scrutinize developments in the industry. As required under the Dodd-Frank Act, the Director of the FIO has submitted a report to Congress regarding how to modernize and improve the system of insurance regulation in the United States, another report on the impact of Part II of the Nonadmitted and Reinsurance Reform Act of 2010, and a third report on the global reinsurance market and the regulation of reinsurance. Moreover, FIO’s 2021 annual report identifies potential risks related to private equity ownership of life insurers. Such reports could ultimately lead to changes in the regulation of insurers and reinsurers in the United States, which could negatively impact Global Atlantic's business and financial results.
In addition, under the Dodd-Frank Act, the FIO may determine that a covered agreement, an agreement between the United States and one or more foreign governments, authorities or regulatory entities, regarding prudential measures with respect to insurance or reinsurance, preempts comparable state law. The United States has signed covered agreements relating to reinsurance with the European Union and the United Kingdom. U.S. states have until September 1, 2022 to adopt reinsurance reforms removing reinsurance collateral requirements for reinsurers that meet the prescribed minimum conditions set forth in the applicable covered agreement or state laws imposing reinsurance collateral requirements will be subject to federal preemption. In 2019, the NAIC adopted revisions to the Credit for Reinsurance Model Law and Model Regulation that if adopted into law by state legislatures implement the removal of reinsurance collateral requirements for reinsurers that are designated as reciprocal jurisdiction reinsurers. These revisions have not yet been adopted in all states. Global Atlantic cannot predict the impact of the removal of collateral requirements for reciprocal jurisdiction reinsurers in certain states may have on Global Atlantic’s business, including its competitiveness in reinsurance transactions, or when or if Global Atlantic insurance subsidiaries may be designated as reciprocal jurisdiction reinsurers that do not need to post collateral for their client to receive credit for reinsurance in the United States.
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Regulations applicable to Global Atlantic and interpretations and enforcement of such regulations may change. Insurance regulators have increased their scrutiny of the insurance regulatory framework in the United States, and some state legislatures have considered or enacted laws that alter, and in many cases increase, state authority to regulate insurance holding companies and insurance and reinsurance companies. The NAIC and state insurance regulators are increasingly focused on the relationships between private equity firms and insurers. In December 2021, an NAIC task force released a list of 13 regulatory considerations applicable to private equity–owned insurers and asked an NAIC working group to coordinate review of such considerations. These actions signify increased scrutiny of insurance companies owned by private equity firms and the potential for additional regulation. Global Atlantic is unable to predict whether, when or in what form and what impact regulatory changes will have on its business.
In February 2020, Bermuda was moved to the European Union’s "whitelist" of cooperative tax jurisdictions having delivered on the commitments made to the European Union in 2019 to further enhance its regulatory and transparency framework. The European Commission has proposed sanctions against non-cooperative tax jurisdictions, including restrictions on certain European sovereign wealth funds channeling funds through entities domiciled in non-cooperative jurisdictions. If, in the future, Bermuda's classification changes and Bermuda is included on the European Union's noncooperative jurisdictions list, the ability of certain European sovereign wealth funds (and the willingness of other European members) to invest in Global Atlantic's business may be limited as a result of such sanctions. In the future, individual E.U. member states may also apply sanctions against non-cooperative jurisdictions. If, in the future, Bermuda's classification changes and Bermuda is included on the non-cooperative jurisdictions list and these or other sanctions are implemented in the future, Global Atlantic cannot guarantee that such sanctions will not have a material and adverse impact on Global Atlantic's business.
The cost of compliance with existing laws and regulations is high and the cost of compliance with any new regulatory requirements could have a significant and negative effect on Global Atlantic's business. Global Atlantic may not be able to comply fully with, or obtain desired exemptions from, any such new laws and regulations that govern the conduct of Global Atlantic's business. Failure to comply with, or to obtain desired authorizations and/or exemptions under, any applicable laws could result in restrictions on Global Atlantic's ability to do business or undertake activities that are regulated in one or more of the jurisdictions in which Global Atlantic operates, could impact Global Atlantic's potential growth and could subject Global Atlantic to fines and other sanctions. In addition, changes in the laws or regulations to which Global Atlantic's insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries are subject, or in the interpretations thereof by enforcement or regulatory agencies, could have a material adverse effect on Global Atlantic's business, results of operations and financial condition.
Capital regulations applicable to Global Atlantic's insurance subsidiaries may impose meaningful limitations on Global Atlantic's business.
All of Global Atlantic's insurance subsidiaries are subject to minimum capital and surplus requirements. In the United States, Global Atlantic's insurance subsidiaries are subject to RBC standards and other minimum capital and surplus requirements imposed by state laws. The RBC standards are based upon the Risk-Based Capital for Insurers Model Act promulgated by the NAIC as adopted by Global Atlantic's domiciliary insurance regulators. Global Atlantic's Bermuda insurance subsidiaries are subject to Bermuda Solvency Capital Requirements ("BSCR") standards and other minimum capital and surplus requirements imposed by the BMA. See "—Global Atlantic’s Bermuda insurance subsidiaries are subject to regulation by the BMA that may restrict their operations." Any failure to meet applicable requirements or minimum statutory capital requirements could subject Global Atlantic to examination or corrective action by regulators, including limitations on Global Atlantic's writing additional business or engaging in finance activities, supervision, receivership or liquidation. New statutory accounting guidance or change or clarifications in interpretations of existing guidance may adversely impact Global Atlantic's insurance subsidiaries or cause them to increase their required capital.
RBC ratios of U.S. retirement and life companies like Global Atlantic are impacted by factors beyond Global Atlantic's control, such as the statutory federal tax rate. Future changes in federal corporate tax rates could similarly impact RBC ratios. In addition, the NAIC from time to time considers changes to factors used in calculating RBC. It is also considering potential changes to RBC formulas to reflect longevity risk and reinsurance ceded to unauthorized reinsurers not supported by collateral. The NAIC has also developed a group capital calculation. It is unclear how the group capital calculation will interact with existing capital requirements for insurance companies in the United States and with international capital standards and it is also unclear how being a subsidiary of KKR will impact the determination of Global Atlantic's "group." It is possible that Global Atlantic may be required to hold additional capital as a result of these developments. In Bermuda, the revised BSCR became effective January 1, 2019 and the BMA continues to consider further revisions. Global Atlantic cannot predict the likelihood of future changes to the BSCR, whether such changes will have an impact on RBC ratios or whether Global Atlantic will need to raise additional capital in response to such changes. If such further revisions materially increase the ECR, it could materially and adversely affect Global Atlantic's BSCR ratio and, correspondingly, Global Atlantic's capital in excess of BMA requirements. An increase in RBC or minimum capital requirements may require Global Atlantic to increase its statutory capital levels, which Global Atlantic might be unable to meet.
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Moreover, the determination of RBC is based on the NAIC designation of the assets in which Global Atlantic invests. NAIC designation for certain investments depends on the applicable NRSRO rating. If there are changes in an NRSRO's methodology that impacts the rating of a certain type of asset, Global Atlantic's ability to invest in such assets may be impacted and Global Atlantic's investment results may be adversely impacted or Global Atlantic may need to increase its required capital.
Changes to comply with new and potential laws or regulations which impose fiduciary or best interest standards in connection with the sale of Global Atlantic's products could materially increase Global Atlantic's costs, decrease its sales and result in a material adverse impact on its business.
Regulators continue to propose or adopt fiduciary rules, best interest standards and other similar laws and regulations applicable to the sale of retirement and life insurance products. These rules, standards, laws and regulations generally require advisers providing investment recommendations to act in the client's best interest or put the client's interest ahead of their own interest. Global Atlantic faces uncertainty regarding the adoption of these rules and regulations, including that the SEC, Department of Labor and state insurance departments may adopt potentially conflicting or overlapping standards. These new and proposed regulations may fundamentally change the way financial advisors, agents, and financial institutions do business. These rules may impact the way in which Global Atlantic's products are marketed and offered by its distribution partners, which could have an impact on customer demand, impact the margins Global Atlantic makes on its products or increase compliance costs and burdens.
These rules and potential rules could cause a material decline in sales of Global Atlantic's products in the individual channel, such as variable annuities and fixed-indexed annuities. Regulators in enforcement actions and private litigants could also find it easier to attempt to extend fiduciary status to, or to claim fiduciary or contractual breach by, advisors who would not be deemed fiduciaries under current regulations. Such laws and regulations may have a material adverse impact on the industry and may have a material adverse impact on Global Atlantic's business.
Global Atlantic's Bermuda insurance subsidiaries are subject to regulation by the BMA that may restrict their operations.
The BMA regulates and supervises each of Global Atlantic's Bermuda insurance subsidiaries on a stand-alone basis in Bermuda. The Bermuda Insurance Act and the policies of and/or other codes issued by the BMA relevant to insurers require each of Global Atlantic's Bermuda reinsurance subsidiaries to, among other requirements, to maintain a minimum level of capital and surplus, comply with restrictions on dividends, make financial statement filings, prepare a financial condition report, maintain a head office in Bermuda from which each of Global Atlantic's Bermuda insurance subsidiaries' insurance business will be directed and managed and allow for the performance of certain periodic examinations of its financial condition.
These statutes and regulations may restrict Global Atlantic's ability to write insurance and reinsurance policies, distribute funds and pursue its investment strategy. Global Atlantic's Bermuda insurance subsidiaries will be exposed to any changes in the political environment in Bermuda.
The Bermuda insurance and reinsurance regulatory framework is subject to scrutiny from many jurisdictions. As a result of such overseas scrutiny, the BMA has implemented and imposed additional requirements on the licensed insurance companies it regulates to achieve equivalence under Solvency II, the solvency regime applicable to the E.U. insurance sector. As such, Bermuda's reinsurance industry operates in a legal and regulatory environment that is deemed to be equivalent with that of the European Union. The BMA's additional requirements resulting from Solvency II equivalence include enhanced solvency and governance requirements imposed on insurers and reinsurers. As part of the additional requirements, the BMA has also established a group solvency framework that could further enhance the required capital and solvency requirements if the BMA is deemed to be the group regulator. There is a risk that if Solvency II were amended in any way, Bermuda may be required to amend its regulatory regime to maintain its equivalence under Solvency II, which could lead to changes in the regulatory regime administered by the BMA.
The BMA continues to consider further revisions to the Bermuda capital ratio, called BSCR, and may propose further updates, to certain aspects of the EBS Framework. If any such updates materially increase the capital Global Atlantic's Bermuda insurance subsidiaries must hold.
Global Atlantic may not be able to mitigate the reserve strain associated with statutory accounting rules, potentially resulting in a negative impact on Global Atlantic's capital position or in a need to increase prices and/or reduce sales of term or universal life products.
The application of certain statutory accounting rules for term life insurance policies with long-term premium guarantees and universal life policies with secondary guarantees requires Global Atlantic to maintain reserves at a level that exceeds what Global Atlantic's insurance subsidiaries' actuarial assumptions for the applicable business would otherwise require. Global Atlantic has special purpose financial captive insurance company subsidiaries ("captives") domiciled in Vermont and Iowa that
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provide reinsurance to Accordia in order to facilitate the financing of the redundant reserve requirements associated with these statutory accounting rules. These arrangements are subject to review by state insurance regulators and rating agencies.
Further changes in such statutory accounting rules will likely make it difficult for Global Atlantic to establish new captive financing arrangements on a basis consistent with its current captives. As a result of these restrictions on financing redundant reserves, the implementation of new captive structures in the future may be less capital-efficient, may lead to lower product returns and/or increased product pricing, or may result in reduced sales of certain products.
Certain of the reserve financing facilities Global Atlantic has put in place will mature prior to the run-off of the liabilities they support. As a result, Global Atlantic cannot provide any assurances that it will be able to continue to implement actions either to mitigate the strain of redundant reserves on future sales of term and universal life insurance products or maintain collateral support related to Global Atlantic's captives or existing third-party reinsurance arrangements to which one of Global Atlantic's captive reinsurance subsidiaries is a party. If Global Atlantic is unable to continue to implement those actions or maintain existing collateral support, it may be required to increase statutory reserves or incur higher operating costs than currently anticipated.
It is also unclear what additional actions and regulatory changes will result from the continued scrutiny of captive reinsurers and reform efforts by the NAIC and other regulatory bodies. The NAIC is evaluating changes to accounting rules regarding surplus notes with linked assets, a structure used in certain captive reserve financing transactions, and Global Atlantic is monitoring for any changes that may impact its statutory financial statements. If state insurance regulators determine to restrict Global Atlantic's use of captive reinsurers, it could require Global Atlantic to increase statutory reserves, incur higher operating or tax costs or reduce sales. If Global Atlantic is unsuccessful or unable to finance these noneconomic reserves, its competitiveness, capital and financial position and results of operations may be adversely affected.
Insurance supervisors in the United States or elsewhere may review Global Atlantic's activities and assert that its Bermuda insurance subsidiaries are subject to additional licensing requirements.
Global Atlantic's Bermuda insurance subsidiaries are subject to regulation and supervision in Bermuda by the BMA. In general, Bermuda insurance statutes, regulations and the policies of the BMA are less restrictive than U.S. insurance statutes and regulations. Global Atlantic cannot provide any assurances that insurance supervisors in the United States or elsewhere will not review Global Atlantic's activities and assert that its Bermuda insurance subsidiaries are subject to a U.S. jurisdiction's licensing requirements. In addition, Global Atlantic's Bermuda insurance subsidiaries may be subject to indirect regulatory requirements imposed by jurisdictions that may limit Global Atlantic's ability to provide reinsurance. For example, Global Atlantic's Bermuda insurance subsidiaries' ability to write reinsurance may be subject, in certain cases, to arrangements satisfactory to applicable supervisory bodies, and proposed legislation and regulations may have the effect of imposing additional requirements upon, or restricting the market for, non-U.S. reinsurers such as Global Atlantic. Reinsurance between Global Atlantic's U.S. and Bermuda insurance subsidiaries is subject to approval by the applicable U.S. domiciliary state insurance department, and there can be no guarantee such approval will be obtained. Furthermore, Global Atlantic Re Limited reinsures substantially all of Global Atlantic's variable annuity business. If Global Atlantic Re Limited were no longer able to reinsure such business or if Global Atlantic had to recapture variable annuity business reinsured to Global Atlantic Re Limited due to changes in laws or regulations applicable to Global Atlantic Re Limited, Global Atlantic would likely experience increased fluctuations in its RBC ratio attributable to the sensitivity of variable annuities to changes in equity and interest rate markets.
If in the future Global Atlantic's Bermuda insurance subsidiaries were to become subject to regulation under the laws of any state in the United States or the laws of the United States or of any other country, Global Atlantic may consider various alternatives to or restructuring of its operations. If Global Atlantic attempts to license its Bermuda insurance subsidiaries in another jurisdiction, for instance, Global Atlantic may not be able to do so and the modification of the conduct of its business or the noncompliance with insurance statutes and regulations could significantly and negatively affect Global Atlantic's business and results of operations.
Changes in regulations relating to reserves, such as implementation of principle-based reserving and implementation of revised mortality tables, could adversely impact Global Atlantic's results of operations.
Under principle-based reserving, reserves for life insurance products are no longer required to remain constant and may be updated over time. As a result, principle-based reserving may cause fluctuations to the amount of statutory reserves held. Global Atlantic implemented principle-based reserving for term and universal life with secondary guarantee products sold after January 1, 2017, which resulted in a reduction in the reserves required for these products. Global Atlantic implemented principle-based reserving for all other universal life products effective as of January 1, 2020. Global Atlantic also implemented the 2017 CSO Table, the standard mortality table, to calculate reserves on all products issued on or after January 1, 2020. The NAIC is developing a new principle-based approach for fixed annuities that, if implemented, could result in higher statutory
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reserves and may cause greater fluctuations in the amount of statutory reserves held. There can be no guarantee as to whether these changes will be implemented or their impact on Global Atlantic’s reserves.
Failures elsewhere in the insurance industry could obligate Global Atlantic to pay assessments through guaranty associations, and proposed changes to life insurance guaranty associations could result in increased assessments.
All 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands have insurance guaranty association laws that require insurance companies doing business in the state to participate in various types of guaranty associations or other similar arrangements. The laws are designed to protect policyholders from losses under insurance policies issued by insurance companies that become impaired or insolvent. Typically, these associations levy assessments, up to prescribed limits, on member insurers on the basis of the member insurer's proportionate share of the business in the relevant jurisdiction in the lines of business in which the impaired or insolvent insurer is engaged. Some jurisdictions permit member insurers to recover assessments that they paid through full or partial premium tax offsets, usually over a period of years. It is possible that a large insolvency could require extraordinary assessments on Global Atlantic's insurance subsidiaries. Global Atlantic cannot predict the amount, nature or timing of any future assessments or legislation, any of which could have a material and adverse impact on Global Atlantic’s results of operations and financial condition.
For purposes of guaranty association assessments, long-term care insurance is typically classified as a health insurance product. In December 2017, the NAIC adopted amendments to the Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Association Model Act to provide a fifty-fifty split between life and health insurers for future long-term care insolvencies. A number of states are now considering, or have adopted, legislation to codify the NAIC changes into law, and more states are expected to propose legislation. If these changes become law, the effect may be an increase in future assessments against life insurers such as Global Atlantic’s insurance subsidiaries.
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ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None.
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
On January 1, 2021, we relocated our principal executive offices to 30 Hudson Yards, New York, New York. We also lease space for our other offices in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia. We consider these facilities to be suitable and adequate for the management and operations of our business.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.
For a discussion of KKR's legal proceedings, see the section entitled "Litigation" appearing in Note 24 "Commitments and Contingencies" in our financial statements included elsewhere in this report, which is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES.
Not applicable.
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PART II
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES.
Shares of our common stock are listed on the NYSE under the symbol "KKR."
The number of holders of record of our common stock as of February 24, 2022 was 24. This does not include the number of stockholders that hold shares in "street-name" through banks or broker-dealers.
Dividend Policy
Under our current dividend policy for common stock that we announced on February 8, 2022, we expect to pay our common stockholders an annualized dividend of $0.62 per share of common stock, equal to a quarterly dividend of $0.155 per share of common stock, beginning with the dividend to be declared with respect to the first quarter of 2022. On February 8, 2022, we declared a regular dividend of $0.145 per share of common stock under our prior dividend policy for the quarter ended December 31, 2021.
Because we make our investment in our business through a holding company structure and the applicable holding companies do not own any material cash-generating assets other than their direct and indirect holdings in KKR Group Partnership Units, dividends are expected to be funded in the following manner:
•First, KKR Group Partnership will make distributions to holders of KKR Group Partnership Units, which consists of our wholly-owned corporate subsidiary (which acts as the general partner of KKR Group Partnership), KKR Holdings (which is not a subsidiary of ours) and KKR Holdings II L.P. ("KKR Holdings II," which is our subsidiary that provides for restricted holdings units under our 2019 Equity Incentive Plan), in proportion to their percentage interests in KKR Group Partnership;
•Second, our wholly-owned corporate subsidiary will distribute to us the amount of any distributions that it receives from KKR Group Partnership, after deducting any applicable taxes; and
•Third, we will distribute to holders of our common stock and Series C Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock the amount of dividends declared by our board of directors from the distributions that we receive from our wholly-owned corporate subsidiary.
The limited partnership agreement of KKR Group Partnership provides for cash distributions, which are referred to as "tax distributions," to the partners of the partnership if we determine that the taxable income of the partnership will give rise to taxable income for its partners, including KKR Holdings and KKR Holdings II. KKR Group Partnership may make tax distributions in the future, from time to time, to provide distributions to pay for the U.S. or non-U.S. tax liabilities of the partners of KKR Holdings and KKR Holdings II.
The declaration and payment of any dividends to holders of our common stock or Series C Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock are subject to the discretion of our board of directors, which may change our dividend policy at any time or from time to time, and the terms of our certificate of incorporation. There can be no assurance that dividends will be made as intended or at all or that any particular dividend policy will be maintained. When KKR & Co. Inc. receives distributions from the KKR Group Partnership (the intermediate holding company of the KKR business), KKR Holdings and KKR Holdings II receives their pro rata share of such distributions from KKR Group Partnership. Furthermore, the declaration and payment of distributions and dividends is subject to legal, contractual and regulatory restrictions on the payment of dividends and distributions by us or our subsidiaries, including restrictions contained in our debt agreements, the terms of our preferred stock, and such other factors as the board of directors considers relevant including, among others: our available cash and current and anticipated cash needs, including funding of investment commitments and debt service and future debt repayment obligations; general economic and business conditions; our strategic plans and prospects; our results of operations and financial condition; and our capital requirements. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity—Sources of Cash." In addition, under Section 170 of the DGCL, our board of directors may only declare and pay dividends either out of our surplus (as defined in DGCL) or in case there is no such surplus, out of our net profits for the fiscal year in which the dividend is declared and/or the preceding fiscal year.
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Common Stock Repurchases in the Fourth Quarter of 2021
On December 27, 2021, KKR announced an increase to the total available amount under its repurchase program to $500 million. Prior to this increase, there was approximately $37 million remaining under the program. As of February 24, 2022, there is approximately $163 million remaining under the program.
Under our current repurchase program, KKR is authorized to repurchase its common stock from time to time in open market transactions, in privately negotiated transactions or otherwise. The timing, manner, price and amount of any common stock repurchases will be determined by KKR in its discretion and will depend on a variety of factors, including legal requirements, price and economic and market conditions. KKR expects that the program, which has no expiration date, will be in effect until the maximum approved dollar amount has been used. The program does not require KKR to repurchase any specific number of shares of common stock, and the program may be suspended, extended, modified or discontinued at any time.
In addition to the repurchases of common stock described above, subsequent to May 3, 2018, the repurchase program has been used for the retirement (by cash settlement or the payment of tax withholding amounts upon net settlement) of equity awards issued pursuant to our Equity Incentive Plans representing the right to receive shares of common stock. From October 27, 2015 through December 31, 2021, KKR has paid approximately $573 million in cash to satisfy tax withholding and cash settlement obligations in lieu of issuing shares of common stock or its equivalent upon the vesting of equity awards representing 22.5 million shares of common stock. Of these amounts, equity awards representing 11.0 million shares of common stock or its equivalent were retired for $190 million prior to May 3, 2018 and did not count against the amounts remaining under the repurchase program.
The table below sets forth the information with respect to repurchases made by or on behalf of KKR & Co. 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. During the fourth quarter of 2021, 1.8 million shares of common stock were repurchased and 1.0 million equity awards were retired. From inception of the repurchase program through December 31, 2021, we have repurchased or retired a total of approximately 68.3 million shares of common stock under the program at an average price of approximately $23.45 per share.
Unregistered Sale of Equity Securities
Following the closing of the Global Atlantic acquisition, on February 2, 2021, KKR & Co. Inc. issued 0.96 million newly issued shares of its common stock for an aggregate purchase price equal to $38.5 million to certain members of Global Atlantic's senior management who agreed to invest a portion of their proceeds from the acquisition into KKR & Co. Inc. common stock. These members of Global Atlantic's senior management agreed not to transfer the shares received in this issuance for a three-year period following the acquisition, subject to certain exceptions, and to continue to own at least 25% of such shares so long as such person is employed with Global Atlantic. These shares were issued in a private placement exempt from registration under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.
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Other Equity Securities
During the fourth quarter of 2021, 12,301,588 KKR Group Partnership Units were exchanged by KKR Holdings for an equal number of shares of our common stock. This resulted in an increase in our ownership of the KKR Group Partnership and a corresponding decrease in the ownership of the KKR Group Partnership by KKR Holdings. As of February 24, 2022, there are no pending elections to exchange any KKR Group Partnership Units held by KKR Holdings into shares of our common stock, although elections to make exchanges may be made after this date.
ITEM 6. [Reserved]
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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements of KKR & Co. Inc., together with its consolidated subsidiaries, and the related notes included elsewhere in this report. The historical consolidated financial data discussed below reflects the historical results and financial position of KKR and does not reflect the Global Atlantic acquisition. In addition, this discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements and involves numerous risks and uncertainties, including those described under "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements" and "Risk Factors." Actual results may differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements.
Business Environment
Economic and Market Conditions
Impact of COVID-19. The outbreak of COVID-19 continues to impact the United States and other countries throughout the world. For a description of the impact that COVID-19 had and may in the future have on our business, see "Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business—COVID-19 continues to impact the United States and other countries throughout the world, and it has caused and may further cause disruptions to our business and adversely affect our financial results" and "Risk Factors—Risks Related to the Assets We Manage—Our investments are impacted by various economic conditions and events outside of our control that are difficult to quantify or predict, which may have a significant impact on the valuation of our investments and, therefore, on the investment income we realize and our results of operations and financial condition".
Economic Conditions. As a global investment firm, we are affected by financial and economic conditions globally. Global and regional economic conditions, including those caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, have substantial impact on our financial condition and results of operations, impacting the values of the investments we make, our ability to exit these investments profitably, our ability to raise capital from investors, and our ability to make new investments. Financial and economic conditions in the United States, European Union, Japan, China, and other major economies are significant contributors to the global economy.
In 2021, the United States showed signs of economic improvement driven primarily by government fiscal and monetary support, consumer savings and vaccine rollouts. Inflation, however, is on the rise, driven by multiple factors, including supply chain disruptions, consumer demand, employment levels, and residential vacancy rates. In the United States, real GDP is estimated to have expanded by 5.6% for the year ended December 31, 2021, compared to a contraction of 3.4% in the prior year; the U.S. unemployment rate was 3.9% as of December 31, 2021, from 6.7% as of December 31, 2020; the U.S. core consumer price index rose 5.5% on a year-over-year basis as of December 31, 2021, up from 1.6% on a year-over-year basis as of December 31, 2020; and the effective federal funds rate set by the U.S. Federal Reserve was 0.1% as of December 31, 2021, flat from 0.1% as of December 31, 2020.
In January 2022, the U.S. Federal Reserve signaled its intention to be more aggressive at the start of the tightening cycle to dampen inflation running broadly through the U.S. economy, leading to significant market volatility. In February 2022, actions taken by Russia in the Ukraine have also led to uncertainty and volatility. As of February 24, 2022, the VIX ended at 30.3, compared to 17.2 as of December 31, 2021, an increase of 76.1%. The pan-European Stoxx 600 closed down more than 21% since the start of the year; and Brent crude oil prices topped $100 for the first time since 2014.
In 2021, the Euro Area rebounded into expansion as real GDP is estimated to have risen by 5.1% for the year ended December 31, 2021 compared to a contraction of 6.4% in the prior year; the Euro Area unemployment is estimated to have been 7.2% as of December 31, 2021, down from 8.1% as of December 31, 2020; Euro Area core inflation was 2.6% on a year-over-year basis as of December 31, 2021, up from 0.2% on a year-over-year basis as of December 31, 2020; and the short-term benchmark interest rate set by the European Central Bank was 0.0% as of December 31, 2021, unchanged from December 31, 2020.
In 2021, policymakers in China introduced a campaign for “common prosperity” focused on promoting a balance among growth, inclusion, and national security considerations, which could weigh on the outlook for economic growth over the medium term. Also, China’s zero COVID tolerance policies may further impact growth over the near term as outbreaks occur. Estimated real GDP in China grew by 8.0% for the year ended December 31, 2021, compared to growth of 2.2% reported for the year ended December 31, 2020. Estimated core inflation in China was 1.0% on a year-over-year basis as of December 31, 2021, down from 2.5% on a year-over-year basis as of December 31, 2020. In Japan, the economy has begun to embark on post-pandemic economic recovery. In Japan, real GDP growth for the year ended December 31, 2021 is estimated to be 1.8%, up from -4.6% for the year ended December 31, 2020. Core inflation on a year-over-year basis in Japan is estimated to have been -0.2% as of December 31, 2021, down from 0% on a year-over-year basis as of December 31, 2020. In Japan, the short-term benchmark interest rate set by the Bank of Japan was -0.1% as of December 31, 2021, unchanged from December 31, 2020.
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These and other key issues could have repercussions across regional and global financial markets, which could adversely affect the valuations of our investments. In particular, in response to persistent inflationary pressure, short- and medium-term interest rates may rise, which may adversely impact equity and credit markets and in turn both increase volatility in equity and debt markets and reduce economic growth. As noted above, the U.S. Federal Reserve has indicated that it is prepared to take action to manage inflation, including raising interests rates, tapering its asset purchases and shrinking the size of its balance sheet. In addition, commodity prices are generally expected to rise in inflationary environments, and foreign exchange rates are often affected by countries monetary and fiscal responses to inflationary trends. The Russian-Ukraine conflict, including the sanctions imposed in response to Russia's actions in February 2022, may exacerbate these issues and trends. Other key issues include (i) further developments regarding COVID-19, including the spread of variants such as Delta and Omicron, which may prolong the adverse economic impact of the pandemic on the U.S. and global economies, including supply chain disruptions that promote cost inflation for critical goods and labor shortages, (ii) geopolitical uncertainty such as U.S.-China relations, (iii) political uncertainty caused by, among other things, economic nationalist sentiments, tensions surrounding socioeconomic inequality issues, and partisan sentiments in the United States, all of which have potentially global ramifications with regards to policy, (iv) regulatory changes regarding, for example, taxation, international trade, cross-border investments, immigration, stimulus programs and rising levels of debt, (v) increased volatility and/or downturn in equity or credit markets, (vi) unexpected shifts in central banks' monetary policies, and (vii) technological advancements and innovations that may disrupt marketplaces and businesses. For a further discussion of how market conditions may affect our businesses, see "Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business—Difficult market and economic conditions can adversely affect our business in many ways, including by reducing the value or performance of the investments that we manage or by reducing the ability of our funds to raise or deploy capital, each of which could negatively impact our net income and cash flow and adversely affect our financial condition." In addition, the U.S. Congress is proposing (and after the date of this report may propose other) various significant changes in tax law, including significant changes in the way U.S. corporations like ourselves and many of our U.S. portfolio companies are taxed. If enacted, these changes could materially increase the amount of taxes we and our portfolio companies are required to pay. See “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business—Changes in relevant tax laws, regulations or treaties or an adverse interpretation of these items by tax authorities could adversely impact our effective tax rate and tax liability.”
Equity and Credit Markets. Global equity and credit markets have a substantial effect on our financial condition and results of operations. In general, a climate of reasonable interest rates and high levels of liquidity in the debt and equity capital markets provide a positive environment for us to generate attractive investment returns, which also impacts our ability to generate incentive fees and carried interest. Periods of volatility and dislocation in the capital markets raise substantial risks, but also can present us with opportunities to invest at reduced valuations that position us for future growth and investment returns. Low interest rates related to monetary stimulus and economic stagnation may negatively impact expected returns on all types of investments. Higher interest rates in conjunction with slower growth or weaker currencies in some emerging market economies have caused, and may further cause, the default risk of these countries to increase, and this could impact the operations or value of our investments that operate in these regions. Areas that have ongoing central bank quantitative easing campaigns and comparatively low interest rates relative to the United States could potentially experience further currency volatility and weakness relative to the U.S. dollar.
With respect to our insurance business, fluctuations in market interest rates can expose Global Atlantic to the risk of reduced income in respect of its investment portfolio, increases in the cost of acquiring or maintaining its insurance liabilities, increases in the cost of hedging, or other fluctuations in Global Atlantic's financial, capital and operating profile which materially and adversely affect the business. Higher interest rates, periods of changes in rates and lower rates each may result in differing impacts on Global Atlantic’s business. See "Risk Factors—Risks Related to Global Atlantic— Interest rate fluctuations and sustained periods of low or high interest rates could adversely affect Global Atlantic’s business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, cash flows and prospects."
In our asset management business, many of our investments are in equities, so a change in global equity prices or in market volatility directly impacts the value of our investments and our profitability as well as our ability to realize investment gains and the receptiveness of fund investors to our investment products. For the year ended December 31, 2021, global equity markets were positive, with the S&P 500 up 29.5% and the MSCI World Index up 22.5% on a total return basis including dividends. Equity market volatility as evidenced by the Chicago Board Options Exchange Market Volatility Index (VIX), a measure of volatility, ended at 17.2 as of December 31, 2021, decreasing from 22.8 as of December 31, 2020. See above for volatility that occurred after the year-end. For a discussion of our valuation methods, see “Risk Factors—Risks Related to the Assets We Manage—Our investments are impacted by various economic conditions and events outside of our control that are difficult to quantify or predict, which may have a significant impact on the valuation of our investments and, therefore, on the investment income we realize and our results of operations and financial condition” and see also “—Critical Accounting Policies—Fair Value Measurements—Level III Valuation Methodologies.” In our insurance business, a change in equity prices also impacts Global Atlantic’s equity-sensitive annuity and life insurance products, including with respect to hedging costs related to and fee-income earned on those products.
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Many of our investments, particularly in asset management, are in non-investment grade credit instruments, and, particularly in insurance, in investment grade credit instruments. Our funds, our portfolio companies and Global Atlantic also rely on credit financing and the ability to refinance existing debt. Consequently, any decrease in the value of credit instruments that we have invested in or any increase in the cost of credit financing reduces our returns and decreases our net income.
Due in part to holdings of credit instruments such as CLOs on our balance sheet, the performance of the credit markets has had an amplified impact on our financial results, as we directly bear the full extent of losses from credit instruments on our balance sheet. Credit markets can also impact valuations because a discounted cash flow analysis is generally used as one of the methodologies to ascertain the fair value of our investments that do not have readily observable market prices. In addition, with respect to our credit instruments, tightening credit spreads are generally expected to lead to an increase, and widening credit spreads are generally expected to lead to a decrease, in the value of these credit investments, if not offset by hedging or other factors. In addition, the significant widening of credit spreads is also typically expected to negatively impact equity markets, which in turn would negatively impact our portfolio and us as noted above. Conversely, widening credit spreads may have a positive impact on our insurance business, as the margin Global Atlantic is able to earn between crediting rates offered on its insurance products and the investment income it earns from its credit investments should increase, and tightening credit spreads may negatively impact the pricing and therefore competitiveness of Global Atlantic’s products, adversely impacting sales and growth, or may negatively impact the margins that Global Atlantic earns on sales and transactions.
During the year ended December 31, 2021, U.S. investment grade corporate bond spreads (BofA Merrill Lynch US Corporate Index) tightened by 5 basis points and U.S. high-yield corporate bond spreads (BofAML HY Master II Index) tightened by 77 basis points. In response to the U.S. Federal Reserve's change in tone and heightened geopolitical tensions in relation to Russia and Ukraine, these trends reversed in 2022 to date through February 24, with U.S. investment grade corporate bond spreads (BofA Merrill Lynch US Corporate Index) widening by 34 basis points and the U.S. high-yield corporate bond spreads (BofAML HY Master II Index) widening by 83 basis points. The non-investment grade credit indices were up during the year ended December 31, 2021, with the S&P/LSTA Leveraged Loan Index up 5.2% and the BAML US High Yield Index up 5.4%. During the year ended December 31, 2021, 10-year government bond yields rose 60 basis points in the United States, rose 77 basis points in the United Kingdom, rose 39 basis points in Germany, fell 37 basis points in China, and rose 5 basis points in Japan. For a further discussion of how market conditions may affect our businesses, see “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business—Difficult market and economic conditions can adversely affect our business in many ways, including by reducing the value or performance of the investments that we manage or by reducing the ability of our funds to raise or deploy capital, each of which could negatively impact our net income and cash flow and adversely affect our financial condition” and “Risk Factors—Risks Related to the Assets We Manage—Our investments are impacted by various economic conditions and events outside of our control that are difficult to quantify or predict, which may have a significant impact on the valuation of our investments and, therefore, on the investment income we realize and our results of operations and financial condition.”
For further discussion of the impact of global credit markets on our financial condition and results of operations, see "Risk Factors—Risks Related to the Assets We Manage—Changes in the debt financing markets may negatively impact the ability of our investment funds, their portfolio companies and strategies pursued with our balance sheet assets to obtain attractive financing for their investments or to refinance existing debt and may increase the cost of such financing or refinancing if it is obtained, which could lead to lower-yielding investments and potentially decrease our net income," "Risk Factors—Risks Related to the Assets We Manage—Our investments are impacted by various economic conditions and events outside of our control that are difficult to quantify or predict, which may have a significant impact on the valuation of our investments and, therefore, on the investment income we realize and our results of operations and financial condition," "Risk Factors—Risks Related to the Assets We Manage—Our funds and our firm through our balance sheet may make a limited number of investments, or investments that are concentrated in certain issuers, geographic regions or asset types, which could negatively affect our performance or the performance of our funds to the extent those concentrated assets perform poorly" and "Risk Factors—Risks Related to Global Atlantic—Interest rate fluctuations and sustained periods of low or high interest rates could adversely affect Global Atlantic’s business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, cash flows and prospects." For a further discussion of our valuation methods, see "—Critical Accounting Policies—Fair Value Measurements—Level III Valuation Methodologies."
Foreign Exchange Rates. Foreign exchange rates have a substantial impact on the valuations of our investments that are denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. Currency volatility can also affect our businesses and investments that deal in cross-border trade. The appreciation or depreciation of the U.S. dollar is expected to contribute to a decrease or increase, respectively, in the U.S. dollar value of our non-U.S. investments to the extent unhedged. In addition, an appreciating U.S. dollar would be expected to make the exports of U.S. based companies less competitive, which may lead to a decline in their export revenues, if any, while a depreciating U.S. dollar would be expected to have the opposite effect. Moreover, when selecting investments for our investment funds that are denominated in U.S. dollars, an appreciating U.S. dollar may create opportunities to invest at more attractive U.S. dollar prices in certain countries outside of the United States, while a depreciating U.S. dollar would be expected to have the opposite effect. For our investments denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, the depreciation in such currencies will generally contribute to the decrease in the valuation of such investments, to the extent unhedged, and adversely affect the U.S. dollar equivalent revenues of portfolio companies with substantial revenues
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denominated in such currencies, while the appreciation in such currencies would be expected to have the opposite effect. For the year ended December 31, 2021, the euro fell 6.9%, the British pound fell 1.0%, the Japanese yen fell 10.3%, and the Chinese renminbi rose 2.7%, respectively, relative to the U.S. dollar. For additional information regarding our foreign exchange rate risk, see “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk—Exchange Rate Risk.”
Commodity Markets. Our Private Markets portfolio contains energy real asset investments, and certain of our other Private Markets and Public Markets strategies have investments in or related to the energy sector. The value of these investments is heavily influenced by the price of natural gas and oil. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the 3-year forward price of WTI crude oil increased approximately 37%, and the 3-year forward price of natural gas increased approximately 17%. The 3-year forward price of WTI crude oil increased from approximately $46 per barrel to $63 per barrel, and the 3-year forward price of natural gas increased from approximately $2.47 per mcf to $3.13 per mcf as of December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2021, respectively.
As noted above, the actions taken by Russia in the Ukraine in February 2022 have also caused volatility in the commodities markets. As of February 24, 2022, the 3-year forward price of WTI crude oil increased approximately 16%, to $73 per barrel, and the 3-year forward price of natural gas increased approximately 11% to $3.47 per mcf. Additionally, the front month contract for WTI crude oil settled at $92 per barrel, also a level not seen since 2014.
When commodity prices decline or if a decline is not offset by other factors, we would expect the value of our energy real asset investments to be adversely impacted, to the extent unhedged. In general, we expect downward price movements to have a negative impact on the fair value of our energy portfolio, all other things being equal, given those commodity prices are an input in our valuation models. The reverse is true for upward price movements. However, because we typically use near-term commodity derivative transactions to hedge our exposures, we expect long-term oil and natural gas prices to be a more significant driver of the valuation of our energy investments in asset management than spot prices. In addition, to the extent energy real asset investments are directly held by our balance sheet, price movements can have an amplified impact on our financial results, as we would directly bear the full extent of such gains or losses, subject to hedging. However, as of December 31, 2021, energy investments in oil and gas assets made up only approximately 1% of our assets under management, 1% of our total GAAP assets and 1% of our total segment assets. For additional information regarding our energy real assets, see "—Critical Accounting Policies—Fair Value Measurements—Level III Valuation Methodologies—Real Asset Investments" and see also "Risk Factors—Risks Related to the Assets We Manage—Our funds and our firm through our balance sheet may make a limited number of investments, or investments that are concentrated in certain issuers, geographic regions or asset types, which could negatively affect our performance or the performance of our funds to the extent those concentrated assets perform poorly."
Business Conditions
Our operating revenues consist of fees, performance income and investment income.
Our ability to grow our revenues depends in part on our ability to attract new capital and investors, our successful deployment of capital including from our balance sheet and our ability to realize investments at a profit.
Our ability to attract new capital and investors. Our ability to attract new capital and investors in our funds is driven, in part, by the extent to which they continue to see the alternative asset management industry generally, and our investment products specifically, as attractive means for capital appreciation or income. In addition, our ability to attract new capital and investors in our insurance business is driven, in part, by the extent to which they continue to see the life and annuity insurance industry generally, and in certain cases our re-insurance vehicles, as attractive means for capital appreciation or income. Since 2010, we have expanded into strategies such as real assets, credit, core, impact and, through hedge fund partnerships, hedge funds, and insurance. In several of our asset management strategies, our first time funds have begun raising successor funds, and we expect the cost of raising such successor funds to be lower. We have also reached out to new fund investors, including retail and high net worth investors. However, fundraising continues to be competitive. While our Asian Fund IV, European Fund V, North America Fund XIII, Real Estate Partners Americas III, Real Estate Partners Europe II, Global Infrastructure Investors IV, Next Generation Technology Growth Fund II and Health Care Strategic Growth Fund II exceeded the size of their respective predecessor funds, there is no assurance that fundraises for our other flagship investment funds or vehicles or for our newer strategies and their successor funds will experience similar success. If we are unable to successfully raise comparably sized or larger funds, our AUM, FPAUM, and associated fees attributable to new capital raised in future periods may be lower than in prior years. See "Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business—Our inability to raise additional or successor funds (or raise successor funds of a comparable size as our predecessor funds) could have a material adverse impact on our business."
Our ability to successfully deploy capital. Our ability to maintain and grow our revenue base is dependent upon our ability to successfully deploy the capital available to us as well as our participation in capital markets transactions. Greater competition, high valuations, increased overall cost of credit and other general market conditions may impact our ability to
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identify and execute attractive investments. Additionally, because we seek to make investments that have an ability to achieve our targeted returns while taking on a reasonable level of risk, we may experience periods of reduced investment activity. We have a long-term investment horizon and the capital deployed in any one quarter may vary significantly from the capital deployed in any other quarter or the quarterly average of capital deployed in any given year. Reduced levels of transaction activity also tends to result in reduced potential future investment gains, lower transaction fees and lower fees for our capital markets business line, which may earn fees in the syndication of equity or debt. In our insurance business, we deploy capital by investing in assets that are anticipated to generate net investment income in excess of the net cost of insurance. If we are unable to originate or source attractive investments, the success and growth in revenues of our insurance business will be adversely impacted. See “Risk Factors—Risks Related to the Assets We Manage—Changes in the debt financing markets may negatively impact the ability of our investment funds, their portfolio companies and strategies pursued with our balance sheet assets to obtain attractive financing for their investments or to refinance existing debt and may increase the cost of such financing or refinancing if it is obtained, which could lead to lower-yielding investments and potentially decrease our net income.”
Our ability to realize investments. Challenging market and economic conditions may adversely affect our ability to exit and realize value from our investments and result in lower-than-expected returns. Although the equity markets are not the only means by which we exit investments from our funds, the strength and liquidity of the U.S. and relevant global equity markets generally, and the initial public offering market specifically, affect the valuation of, and our ability to successfully exit, our equity positions in the portfolio companies of our funds in a timely manner. We may also realize investments through strategic sales. When financing is not available or becomes too costly, it may be more difficult to find a buyer that can successfully raise sufficient capital to purchase our investments. In addition, volatile debt and equity markets may also make the exit of our investments more difficult to execute. In our insurance business, we depend on the ability of our investments to generate their anticipated returns, through the payment of interest and dividends and interest as well as return of principal, in the amounts and at the times that we expect them to be made in order to manage our obligations to make payments to our policyholders. If policyholder behavior differs from our expectations, we may be forced to sell our investments earlier than we anticipated and during market conditions where we may realize losses on the investment. In addition, material delays in payments or impairments to our anticipated investment returns could have material adverse effects to our results of operations. For additional information about how business environment and market conditions affect Global Atlantic, see "—Global Atlantic's Investment Portfolio."
Basis of Accounting
We consolidate the financial results of KKR Group Partnership and its consolidated entities, which include the accounts of our investment advisers, broker-dealers, Global Atlantic’s insurance companies, the general partners of certain unconsolidated investment funds, general partners of consolidated investment funds and their respective consolidated investment funds and certain other entities including collateralized financing entities ("CFEs").
When an entity is consolidated, we reflect the accounts of the consolidated entity, including its assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses, investment income, cash flows and other amounts, on a gross basis. While the consolidation of an investment fund or entity does not have an effect on the amounts of Net Income Attributable to KKR or KKR's stockholders' equity that KKR reports, the consolidation does significantly impact the financial statement presentation under GAAP. This is due to the fact that the accounts of the consolidated entities are reflected on a gross basis while the allocable share of those amounts that are attributable to third parties are reflected as single line items. The single line items in which the accounts attributable to third parties are recorded are presented as noncontrolling interests on the consolidated statements of financial condition and net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests on the consolidated statements of operations.
The presentation in the financial statements reflect the significant industry diversification of KKR by its acquisition of Global Atlantic. Global Atlantic operates an insurance business, and KKR operates an asset management business, each of which possess distinct characteristics. As a result, KKR developed a two-tiered presentation approach for the financial statements in this Management's Discussion and Analysis. KKR believes that these separate presentations provide a more informative view of the consolidated financial position and results of operations than traditional aggregated presentations. KKR believes that reporting Global Atlantic’s insurance operations separately is appropriate given, among other factors, the relative significance of Global Atlantic’s policy liabilities, which are not obligations of KKR (other than the insurance companies that issued them). If a traditional aggregated presentation were to be used, KKR would expect to eliminate or combine several identical or similar captions, which would condense the presentations but would reduce transparency. KKR also believes that using a traditional aggregated presentation would result in no new line items compared to the two-tier presentation included in the financial statements in this report. We acquired Global Atlantic on February 1, 2021; accordingly, the results of Global Atlantic's insurance operations included in our consolidated results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2021 are from February 1, 2021 (the closing date of the acquisition) through December 31, 2021.
All the intercompany transactions have been eliminated.
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For a further discussion of our consolidation policies, see Note 2 "Summary of Significant Accounting Policies" in our financial statements. The summary of the significant accounting policies has been organized considering the two-tiered approach described above and includes a section for common accounting policies and an accounting policy section for each of the two tiers when a policy is specific to one of the tiers.
Key Financial Measures Under GAAP - Asset Management
The following discussion of key financial measures under GAAP is based on KKR's asset management business as of December 31, 2021.
Revenues
Fees and Other
Fees and other consist primarily of (i) management and incentive fees from providing investment management services to unconsolidated funds, CLOs, other vehicles, and separately managed accounts; (ii) transaction fees earned in connection with successful investment transactions and from capital markets activities; (iii) monitoring fees from providing services to portfolio companies; (iv) expense reimbursements from certain investment funds and portfolio companies; (v) revenue earned by oil and gas entities that are consolidated; and (vi) consulting fees. These fees are based on the contractual terms of the governing agreements and are recognized when earned, which coincides with the period during which the related services are performed and in the case of transaction fees, upon closing of the transaction. Monitoring fees may provide for a termination payment following an initial public offering or change of control. These termination payments are recognized in the period when the related transaction closes.
Capital Allocation-Based Income (Loss)
Capital allocation-based income (loss) is earned from those arrangements whereby KKR serves as general partner and includes income or loss from KKR's capital interest as well as "carried interest" which entitles KKR to a disproportionate allocation of investment income or loss from an investment fund's limited partners.
For a further discussion of our revenue policies, see Note 2 "Summary of Significant Accounting Policies" in our financial statements included elsewhere in this report.
Expenses
Compensation and Benefits
Compensation and Benefits expense includes (i) base cash compensation consisting of salaries and wages, (ii) benefits, (iii) carry pool allocations, (iv) equity-based compensation, and (v) discretionary cash bonuses.
To supplement base cash compensation, benefits, carry pool allocations, and equity-based compensation, we typically pay discretionary cash bonuses, which are included in Compensation and Benefits expense in the consolidated statements of operations, based principally on the level of (i) management fees and other fee revenues (including incentive fees), (ii) realized carried interest and (iii) realized investment income earned during the year. The amounts paid as discretionary cash bonuses, if any, are at our sole discretion and vary from individual to individual and from period to period, including having no cash bonus. We accrue discretionary cash bonuses when payment becomes probable and reasonably estimable which is generally in the period when we make the decision to pay discretionary cash bonuses and is based upon a number of factors, including the recognition of fee revenues, realized carried interest, realized investment income and other factors determined during the year.
Beginning in 2021, we expect to pay our employees by assigning a percentage range to each component of asset management segment revenues. Based on the current components and blend of our asset management segment revenues on an annual basis, we expect to use approximately: (i) 20‐25% of fee related revenues, (ii) 60‐70% of realized carried interest and incentive fees not included in fee related performance revenues or earned from our hedge fund partnerships, and (iii) 10‐20% of realized investment income and hedge fund partnership incentive fees to pay our asset management employees. Because these ranges are applied to applicable distributable revenue components independently, and on an annual basis, the amount paid as a percentage of total distributable revenues will vary and will, for example, likely be higher in a period with relatively higher realized carried interest and lower in a period with relatively lower realized carried interest. We decide whether to pay a discretionary cash bonus and determine the percentage of applicable revenue components to pay compensation only upon the
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occurrence of the realization event. There is no contractual or other binding obligation that requires us to pay a discretionary cash bonus to the asset management employees, except in limited circumstances.
Assuming that we had accrued compensation of (i) 65% of the unrealized carried interest earned by the funds that allocate 40% and 43% to the carry pool and (ii) 15% of the unrealized net gains in our Principal Activities business line (in each case at the mid-point of the ranges above), KKR & Co. Inc. Stockholders’ Equity – Series I and II Preferred, Common Stock as of December 31, 2021 would have been reduced by approximately $2.66 per share, compared to our reported $27.64 per share on such date, and our book value as of December 31, 2021 would have been reduced by approximately $2.58 per adjusted share, compared to our reported book value of $28.77 per adjusted share on such date.
Carry Pool Allocation
With respect to our funds that provide for carried interest, we allocate a portion of the realized and unrealized carried interest that we earn to a carry pool established at KKR Associates Holdings L.P., which is not a KKR subsidiary, from which our asset management employees and certain other carry pool participants are eligible to receive a carried interest allocation. The allocation is determined based upon a fixed arrangement between KKR Associates Holdings and us, and we do not exercise discretion on whether to make an allocation to the carry pool upon a realization event. These amounts are accounted for as compensatory profit sharing arrangements in Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities within the accompanying consolidated statements of financial condition in conjunction with the related carried interest income and are recorded as compensation expense. Upon a reversal of carried interest income, the related carry pool allocation, if any, is also reversed. Accordingly, such compensation expense is subject to both positive and negative adjustments.
In February 2021, with the approval of a majority of our independent directors, KKR amended the percentage of carried interest that is allocable to the carry pool to 65% for (i) current investment funds for which no or de minimis amounts of carried interest was accrued as of December 31, 2020 and (ii) all future funds. For all other funds, the percentage of carried interest remains 40% or 43%, as applicable. The percentage of carried interest allocable to the carry pool may be increased above 65% only with the approval of a majority of our independent directors. To account for the difference in the carry pool allocation percentages, we expect to use a portion of realized carried interest from the older funds equal to the difference between 65% and 40% or 43%, as applicable, to supplement the carry pool and to pay amounts as discretionary cash bonus compensation as described above to our asset management employees. The amounts paid as discretionary cash bonuses, if any, are at our discretion and vary from individual to individual and from period to period, including having no cash bonus at all for certain employees. See "—Critical Accounting Policies - Asset Management—Recognition of Carried Interest in the Statement of Operations" and "—Key Financial Measures Under GAAP - Asset Management—Expenses—Compensation and Benefits."
On the Sunset Date (as defined in the Reorganization Agreement), KKR will acquire control of KKR Associates Holdings and will commence making decisions regarding the allocation of carry proceeds pursuant to the limited partnership agreement of KKR Associates Holdings. Until the Sunset Date, our Co-Founders will continue to make decisions regarding the allocation of carry proceeds to themselves and others, pursuant to the limited partnership agreement of KKR Associates Holdings, provided that any allocation of carry proceeds to the Co-Founders will be on a percentage basis consistent with past practice.
Equity-based Compensation
In addition to the cash-based compensation and carry pool allocations as described above, employees receive equity awards under our Equity Incentive Plans, most of which are subject to service-based vesting typically over a three to five-year period from the date of grant, and some of which are also subject to the achievement of market-based conditions. Certain of these awards are subject to post-vesting transfer restrictions and minimum retained ownership requirements.
General, Administrative and Other
General, administrative and other expense consists primarily of professional fees paid to legal advisors, accountants, advisors and consultants, insurance costs, travel and related expenses, communications and information services, depreciation and amortization charges, expenses incurred by oil and gas entities, CLOs and investment funds that are consolidated, costs incurred in connection with pursuing potential investments that do not result in completed transactions ("broken-deal expenses"), expense reimbursements, placement fees and other general operating expenses. A portion of these general administrative and other expenses, in particular broken-deal expenses, are borne by fund investors.
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Investment Income (Loss)
Net Gains (Losses) from Investment Activities
Net gains (losses) from investment activities consist of realized and unrealized gains and losses arising from our investment activities as well as income earned from certain equity method investments. Fluctuations in net gains (losses) from investment activities between reporting periods is driven primarily by changes in the fair value of our investment portfolio as well as the realization of investments. The fair value of, as well as the ability to recognize gains from, our investments is significantly impacted by the global financial markets, which, in turn, affects the net gains (losses) from investment activities recognized in any given period. Upon the disposition of an investment, previously recognized unrealized gains and losses are reversed and an offsetting realized gain or loss is recognized in the current period. Since our investments are carried at fair value, fluctuations between periods could be significant due to changes to the inputs to our valuation process over time. For a further discussion of our fair value measurements and fair value of investments, see "—Critical Accounting Policies - Combined—Fair Value Measurements."
Dividend Income
Dividend income consists primarily of distributions that we and our consolidated investment funds receive from portfolio companies or real assets investments in which we and our consolidated investment funds invest. Dividend income is recognized primarily in connection with (i) dispositions of operations by portfolio companies, (ii) distributions of cash generated from operations from portfolio investments or real assets investments, and (iii) other significant refinancings undertaken by portfolio investments.
Interest Income
Interest income consists primarily of interest that is received on our credit instruments in which we and our consolidated investment funds, CLOs and other entities invest as well as interest on our cash and other investments.
Interest Expense
Interest expense is incurred from (i) debt issued by KKR, including debt issued by KFN, (ii) credit facilities entered into by KKR, (iii) debt securities issued by consolidated CFEs, (iv) financing arrangements at our majority owned investment vehicles that have been funded with borrowings that are collateralized by the investments and assets they own and (v) financing arrangements at our consolidated funds entered into primarily with the objective of managing cash flow. KFN's debt obligations are non-recourse to KKR beyond the assets of KFN. Debt securities issued by consolidated CFEs are supported solely by the investments held at the CFE and are not collateralized by assets of any other KKR entity. Our obligations under financing arrangements at our consolidated investment funds are generally limited to our pro rata equity interest in such funds. However, in some circumstances, we may provide limited guarantees of the obligations of our general partners in an amount equal to its pro rata equity interest in such funds. Our management companies bear no obligations with respect to financing arrangements at our consolidated funds. We also may provide other kinds of guarantees. See "—Liquidity."
Key Financial Measures Under GAAP - Insurance
The following discussion of key financial measures under GAAP is based on KKR's insurance business as conducted by Global Atlantic as of December 31, 2021.
Revenues
Premiums
Premiums primarily relate to payout annuities with life contingencies and whole life and term life insurance policies, recognized when due from the policyholders. Premiums are reported net of premiums ceded under reinsurance agreements.
Policy fees
Policy fees include charges assessed against policyholder account balances for mortality, administration, separate account, benefit rider and surrender fees.
Net investment income
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Net investment income reflects the income earned on our investments, net of any associated investment expenses (including management fees charged by the asset management segment) and net of ceded amounts under reinsurance agreements. Net investment income includes, amongst other things (i) interest earned on our fixed income available-for-sale and fixed-income trading investments, (ii) interest income and other related fees from our mortgage and other loan receivables, (iii) interest on funds withheld at interest receivables, (iv) proportional share of income from equity-method investments and (v) income from physical assets, such as renewable energy plants, railcars, and airplanes (net of depreciation and operating expenses).
Net investment-related gains
Net investment-related gains primarily consists of (i) realized gains and losses from the disposal of investments, including realized gains and losses on the disposal of investments not related to asset/liability matching strategies (“variable investment income”), (ii) unrealized gains and losses from investments held for trading, or fair value remeasurements recognized in earnings as a result of the election of a fair-value option, (iii) unrealized gains and losses on funds withheld at interest receivable and payable, (iv) unrealized gains and losses from derivatives not designated in an hedging relationship and (v) allowances for credit losses, and other impairments of investments.
Other income
Other income is primarily comprised of expense allowances on ceded reinsurance, administration, management fees and distribution fees.
Expenses
Policy benefits and claims
Policy benefits and claims represent the current period expense associated with providing insurance benefits to policyholders, including claims and benefits paid, interest credited to policyholders, changes in policy liability reserves (including fair value reserves), amortization of cost of reinsurance liabilities, and amortization of deferred sales inducements.
Amortization of policy acquisition costs
Amortization of policy acquisition costs primarily consist on amortization of value of business acquired and deferred policy acquisition costs.
Insurance expense
Insurance expenses are primarily comprised of commissions expense, net of amounts capitalized, reinsurance ceding allowances, premium taxes, amortization of acquired intangibles and captive financing charges.
Interest expense
Interest expense is incurred from insurance segment debt issued, including related interest rate swaps, credit facilities and other financing agreements.
General, administrative and other
General, administrative and other expenses are primarily comprised of employee compensation and benefit expenses, third-party administrator, or "TPA," policy servicing fees, administrative and professional services, and other operating expenses.
Other Key Financial Measures Under GAAP
Income Taxes
KKR & Co. Inc. is a domestic corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes and is subject to U.S. federal, state and local income taxes at the entity level on its share of taxable income. In addition, KKR Group Partnership and certain of its subsidiaries operate as partnerships for U.S. federal tax purposes but as taxable entities for certain state, local or non-U.S. tax purposes. Moreover, certain corporate subsidiaries of KKR, including certain Global Atlantic subsidiaries, are domestic corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes and are subject to U.S. federal, state, and local income taxes.
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Tax laws are complex and subject to different interpretations by the taxpayer and respective governmental taxing authorities. Significant judgment is required in determining tax expense and in evaluating tax positions including evaluating uncertainties. We review our tax positions quarterly and adjust our tax balances as new information becomes available.
For a further discussion of our income tax policies, see Note 2 "Summary of Significant Accounting Policies" and Note 18 "Income Taxes" in our financial statements.
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests primarily represents the ownership interests that certain third parties hold in entities that are consolidated in the financial statements as well as the ownership interests in KKR Group Partnership that are held by KKR Holdings (and holders of other exchangeable securities). The allocable share of income and expense attributable to these interests is accounted for as net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests. Given the consolidation of certain of our investment funds and the significant ownership interests in KKR Group Partnership held by KKR Holdings, we expect a portion of net income (loss) will continue to be attributed to noncontrolling interests in our business.
For a further discussion of our noncontrolling interests policies, see Note 22 "Equity" in the financial statements.
Key Segment and Non-GAAP Performance Measures
The following key segment and non-GAAP performance measures are used by management in making operational and resource deployment decisions as well as assessing the performance of KKR's businesses. They include certain financial measures that are calculated and presented using methodologies other than in accordance with GAAP. These performance measures as described below are presented prior to giving effect to the allocation of income (loss) between KKR & Co. Inc. and KKR Holdings L.P. (and holders of other exchangeable securities) and as such represent the entire KKR business in total. In addition, these performance measures are presented without giving effect to the consolidation of the investment funds and collateralized financing entities (“CFEs”) that KKR manages.
We believe that providing these segment and non-GAAP performance measures on a supplemental basis to our GAAP results is helpful to stockholders in assessing the overall performance of KKR's business. These non-GAAP measures should not be considered as a substitute for financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. Reconciliations of these non-GAAP measures to the most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP, where applicable are included under "—Reconciliations to GAAP Measures."
After-tax Distributable Earnings
After-tax distributable earnings is a non-GAAP performance measure of KKR’s earnings, which is derived from KKR’s reported segment results. After-tax distributable earnings is used to assess the performance of KKR’s business operations and measures the earnings potentially available for distribution to its equity holders or reinvestment into its business. After-tax distributable earnings is equal to Distributable Operating Earnings less Interest Expense, Series A and B Preferred Stock dividends (which have been redeemed), Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests and Income Taxes Paid. Series C Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock dividends have been excluded from After-tax Distributable Earnings, because the definition of Adjusted Shares used to calculate After-tax Distributable Earnings per Adjusted Share assumes that all shares of Series C Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock have been converted to shares of common stock. Income Taxes Paid represents the implied amount of income taxes that would be paid assuming that all pre-tax distributable earnings were allocated to KKR & Co. Inc. and taxed at the same effective rate, which assumes that all units in KKR Holdings L.P. and other exchangeable securities were exchanged for common stock of KKR & Co. Inc. Income Taxes Paid includes amounts paid pursuant to the tax receivable agreement and the benefit of tax deductions arising from equity-based compensation, which reduces income taxes paid or payable during the period. Equity-based compensation expense is excluded from After-tax Distributable Earnings, because (i) KKR believes that the cost of equity awards granted to employees does not contribute to the earnings potentially available for distributions to its equity holders or reinvestment into its business and (ii) excluding this expense makes KKR’s reporting metric more comparable to the corresponding metric presented by other publicly traded companies in KKR’s industry, which KKR believes enhances an investor’s ability to compare KKR’s performance to these other companies. If tax deductions from equity-based compensation were to be excluded from Income Taxes Paid, KKR’s After-tax Distributable Earnings would be lower and KKR’s effective tax rate would appear to be higher, even though a lower amount of income taxes would have actually been paid or payable during the period. KKR separately discloses the amount of tax deduction from equity-based compensation for the period reported and the effect of its inclusion in After-tax Distributable Earnings for the period. KKR makes these adjustments when calculating After-tax Distributable Earnings in order to more
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accurately reflect the net realized earnings that are expected to be or become available for distribution to KKR’s equity holders or reinvestment into KKR’s business. However, After-tax Distributable Earnings does not represent and is not used to calculate actual dividends under KKR’s dividend policy, which is a fixed amount per period, and After-tax Distributable Earnings should not be viewed as a measure of KKR’s liquidity.
Book Value
Book Value is a non‐GAAP performance measure of the net assets of KKR and is used by management primarily in assessing the unrealized value of KKR’s net assets presented on a basis that (i) deconsolidates KKR’s investment funds and CFEs that KKR manages, (ii) includes the net assets that are attributable to KKR Holdings L.P., and (iii) includes KKR’s ownership of the net assets of Global Atlantic. We believe this measure is useful to stockholders as it provides additional insight into the net assets of KKR excluding those net assets that are allocated to the investors of KKR funds and other noncontrolling interest holders and to the holders of preferred stock. KKR's book value includes (x) the net impact of KKR's tax assets and liabilities as prepared under GAAP and (y) the implied amount of (1) tax assets and liabilities attributable to KKR Holdings L.P. as if it was subject to corporate income taxes and (2) the recognition of deferred tax liabilities relating to certain assets of KKR Group Partnership L.P. that is expected to occur upon the completion of the mergers contemplated by the Reorganization Agreement. Series C Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock has been included in book value, because the definition of adjusted shares used to calculate book value per adjusted share assumes that all shares of Series C Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock have been converted to shares of common stock. To calculate Global Atlantic book value and to make it more comparable with the corresponding metric presented by other publicly traded companies in Global Atlantic’s industry, Global Atlantic book value excludes (i) accumulated other comprehensive income and (ii) accumulated change in fair value of reinsurance balances and related assets, net of income tax.
In the second quarter of 2021, the definition of book value was amended to include the implied amount of tax assets and liabilities attributable to KKR Holdings L.P. as if it was subject to corporate income taxes. This change is useful to management and investors in assessing book value because the definition now includes the anticipated impacts that the payment of tax liabilities by KKR would have on book value. Prior periods have not been adjusted for this change, although it is expected to have had the effect of reducing book value reported for prior periods.
Starting in the third quarter of 2021, the definition of book value was amended to include the anticipated recognition of deferred tax liabilities relating to certain assets of KKR Group Partnership L.P. that is expected to occur upon the completion of the mergers contemplated by the Reorganization Agreement. This change is useful to management and investors in assessing book value because the definition now includes the anticipated impacts that the mergers contemplated by the Reorganization Agreement, which are expected to be completed in 2022, would have on book value.
Distributable Operating Earnings
Distributable operating earnings is a non-GAAP performance measure that KKR believes is useful to stockholders as it provides a supplemental measure of our operating performance without taking into account items that KKR does not believe arise from or relate directly to KKR's operations. Distributable Operating Earnings is presented prior to giving effect to the allocation of income (loss) among KKR & Co. Inc., KKR Holdings L.P. and other exchangeable securities, and the consolidation of the investment funds, vehicles and accounts that KKR advises, manages or sponsors (including collateralized financing entities). Distributable Operating Earnings excludes: (i) equity-based compensation charges, (ii) amortization of acquired intangibles, (iii) strategic corporate transaction-related charges and (iv) non-recurring items, if any. Strategic corporate transaction-related items arise from corporate actions and consist primarily of (i) impairments, (ii) non-monetary gains or losses on divestitures, (iii) transaction costs from strategic acquisitions, and (iv) depreciation on real estate that KKR owns and occupies. Inter-segment transactions are not eliminated from segment results when management considers those transactions in assessing the results of the respective segments. These transactions include (i) management fees earned by KKR as the investment adviser for Global Atlantic insurance companies and (ii) interest income and expense based on lending arrangements where one or more KKR subsidiaries borrow from a Global Atlantic insurance subsidiary. Inter-segment transactions are recorded by each segment based on the definitive documents that contain arms’ length terms and comply with applicable regulatory requirements. Distributable Operating Earnings represents operating earnings of KKR’s Asset Management and Insurance segments, which are comprised of the following:
•Asset Management Segment Operating Earnings is the segment profitability measure used to make operating decisions and to assess the performance of the Asset Management segment and is comprised of: (i) Fee Related Earnings, (ii) Realized Performance Income, (iii) Realized Performance Income Compensation, (iv) Realized Investment Income, and (v) Realized Investment Income Compensation. Asset Management Segment Operating Earnings excludes (i) unrealized carried interest, (ii) net unrealized gains (losses) on investments, and (iii) related unrealized performance income compensation. Management fees earned by KKR as the adviser, manager or sponsor for its investment funds,
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vehicles and accounts, including management fees paid to KKR by Global Atlantic's insurance companies and management fees paid to Global Atlantic by reinsurance investment vehicles, are included in Asset Management Segment Operating Earnings.
•Insurance Segment Operating Earnings is the segment profitability measure used to make operating decisions and to assess the performance of the Insurance segment and is comprised of: (i) Net Investment Income, (ii) Net Cost of Insurance, (iii) General, Administrative, and Other Expenses, (iv) Income Taxes, and (v) Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests. The non-operating adjustments made to derive Insurance Segment Operating Earnings eliminate the impact of: (i) realized (gains) losses related to asset/liability matching investments strategies, (ii) unrealized investment (gains) losses, (iii) changes in the fair value of derivatives, embedded derivatives, and fair value liabilities for fixed-indexed annuities, indexed universal life contracts and variable annuities, and (iv) the associated income tax effects of all exclusions from Insurance Segment Operating Earnings except for equity-based compensation expense. Insurance Segment Operating Earnings includes (i) realized gains and losses not related to asset/liability matching investments strategies and (ii) the investment management fee expenses that are earned by KKR as the investment adviser of the Global Atlantic insurance companies.
Fee Related Earnings ("FRE")
Fee related earnings is a performance measure used to assess the Asset Management segment’s generation of profits from revenues that are measured and received on a recurring basis and are not dependent on future realization events. KKR believes this measure is useful to stockholders as it provides additional insight into the profitability of KKR’s fee generating asset management and capital markets businesses and other recurring revenue streams. FRE equals (i) Management Fees, including fees paid by the Insurance segment to the Asset Management segment and fees paid by certain insurance co-investment vehicles, (ii) Transaction and Monitoring Fees, Net and (iii) Fee Related Performance Revenues, less (x) Fee Related Compensation, and (y) Other Operating Expenses.
•Fee Related Performance Revenues refers to the realized portion of Incentive Fees from certain AUM that has an indefinite term and for which there is no immediate requirement to return invested capital to investors upon the realization of investments. Fee-related performance revenues consists of performance fees (i) to be received from our investment funds, vehicles and accounts on a recurring basis, and (ii) that are not dependent on a realization event involving investments held by the investment fund, vehicle or account.
•Fee Related Compensation refers to the compensation expense, excluding equity-based compensation, paid from (i) Management Fees, (ii) Transaction and Monitoring Fees, Net, and (iii) Fee Related Performance Revenues.
•Other Operating Expenses represents the sum of (i) occupancy and related charges and (ii) other operating expenses.
Other Terms and Capital Metrics
Adjusted Shares
Adjusted shares represents shares of common stock of KKR & Co. Inc. outstanding under GAAP adjusted to include shares issuable upon exchange of all units of KKR Holdings L.P. and other exchangeable securities and the number of shares of common stock assumed to be issuable upon conversion of the Series C Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock. Weighted average adjusted shares is used in the calculation of After-tax Distributable Earnings per Adjusted Share, and Adjusted Shares is used in the calculation of Book Value per Adjusted Share.
Assets Under Management ("AUM")
Assets under management represent the assets managed, advised or sponsored by KKR from which KKR is entitled to receive management fees or performance income (currently or upon a future event), general partner capital, and assets managed, advised or sponsored by our strategic BDC partnership and the hedge fund and other managers in which KKR holds an ownership interest. We believe this measure is useful to stockholders as it provides additional insight into the capital raising activities of KKR and its hedge fund and other managers and the overall activity in their investment funds and other managed or sponsored capital. KKR calculates the amount of AUM as of any date as the sum of: (i) the fair value of the investments of KKR's investment funds and the Global Atlantic insurance companies; (ii) uncalled capital commitments from these funds, including uncalled capital commitments from which KKR is currently not earning management fees or performance income; (iii) the fair value of investments in KKR's co-investment vehicles; (iv) the par value of outstanding CLOs; (v) KKR's pro rata
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portion of the AUM of hedge fund and other managers in which KKR holds an ownership interest; (vi) all AUM of KKR's strategic BDC partnership; and (vii) the fair value of other assets managed or sponsored by KKR. The pro rata portion of the AUM of hedge fund and other managers is calculated based on KKR’s percentage ownership interest in such entities multiplied by such entity’s respective AUM. KKR's definition of AUM (i) is not based on any definition of AUM that may be set forth in the governing documents of the investment funds, vehicles, accounts or other entities whose capital is included in this definition, (ii) includes assets for which KKR does not act as an investment adviser, and (iii) is not calculated pursuant to any regulatory definitions.
Capital Invested
Capital invested is the aggregate amount of capital invested by (i) KKR’s investment funds and Global Atlantic's insurance companies, (ii) KKR's Principal Activities business line as a co-investment, if any, alongside KKR’s investment funds, and (iii) KKR's Principal Activities business line in connection with a syndication transaction conducted by KKR's Capital Markets business line, if any. Capital invested is used as a measure of investment activity at KKR during a given period. We believe this measure is useful to stockholders as it provides a measure of capital deployment across KKR’s business lines. Capital invested includes investments made using investment financing arrangements like credit facilities, as applicable. Capital invested excludes (i) investments in certain leveraged credit strategies, (ii) capital invested by KKR’s Principal Activities business line that is not a co-investment alongside KKR’s investment funds, and (iii) capital invested by KKR’s Principal Activities business line that is not invested in connection with a syndication transaction by KKR’s Capital Markets business line. Capital syndicated by KKR's Capital Markets business line to third parties other than KKR’s investment funds or Principal Activities business line is not included in capital invested.
Fee Paying AUM ("FPAUM")
Fee paying AUM represents only the AUM from which KKR is entitled to receive management fees. We believe this measure is useful to stockholders as it provides additional insight into the capital base upon which KKR earns management fees. FPAUM is the sum of all of the individual fee bases that are used to calculate KKR's and its hedge fund and BDC partnership management fees and differs from AUM in the following respects: (i) assets and commitments from which KKR is not entitled to receive a management fee are excluded (e.g., assets and commitments with respect to which it is entitled to receive only performance income or is otherwise not currently entitled to receive a management fee) and (ii) certain assets, primarily in its private equity funds, are reflected based on capital commitments and invested capital as opposed to fair value because fees are not impacted by changes in the fair value of underlying investments.
Uncalled Commitments
Uncalled commitments is the aggregate amount of unfunded capital commitments that KKR’s investment funds and carry-paying co-investment vehicles have received from partners to contribute capital to fund future investments. We believe this measure is useful to stockholders as it provides additional insight into the amount of capital that is available to KKR’s investment funds and carry paying co-investment vehicles to make future investments. Uncalled commitments are not reduced for investments completed using fund-level investment financing arrangements or investments we have committed to make but remain unfunded at the reporting date.
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Consolidated Results of Operations (GAAP Basis)
The following is a discussion of our consolidated results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020. You should read this discussion in conjunction with the financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this report. See " Business Environment" for more information about factors that may affect our business, financial performance, operating results and valuations.
| Year Ended | |||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | Change | |||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||
| Revenues | |||||||||||||||||
| Asset Management | |||||||||||||||||
| Fees and Other | $ | 2,850,154 | $ | 2,006,791 | $ | 843,363 | |||||||||||
| Capital Allocation-Based Income (Loss) | 6,842,414 | 2,224,100 | 4,618,314 | ||||||||||||||
| 9,692,568 | 4,230,891 | 5,461,677 | |||||||||||||||
| Insurance | |||||||||||||||||
| Net Premiums | 2,226,078 | — | 2,226,078 | ||||||||||||||
| Policy Fees | 1,147,913 | — | 1,147,913 | ||||||||||||||
| Net Investment Income | 2,845,623 | — | 2,845,623 | ||||||||||||||
| Net Investment-Related Gains | 203,753 | — | 203,753 | ||||||||||||||
| Other Income | 120,213 | — | 120,213 | ||||||||||||||
| 6,543,580 | — | 6,543,580 | |||||||||||||||
| Total Revenues | 16,236,148 | 4,230,891 | 12,005,257 | ||||||||||||||
| Expenses | |||||||||||||||||
| Asset Management | |||||||||||||||||
| Compensation and Benefits | 4,428,743 | 2,152,490 | 2,276,253 | ||||||||||||||
| Occupancy and Related Charges | 69,084 | 72,100 | (3,016) | ||||||||||||||
| General, Administrative and Other | 959,077 | 708,542 | 250,535 | ||||||||||||||
| 5,456,904 | 2,933,132 | 2,523,772 | |||||||||||||||
| Insurance | |||||||||||||||||
| Policy Benefits and Claims | 5,055,709 | — | 5,055,709 | ||||||||||||||
| Amortization of Policy Acquisition Costs | (65,949) | — | (65,949) | ||||||||||||||
| Interest Expense | 61,661 | — | 61,661 | ||||||||||||||
| Insurance Expenses | 358,878 | — | 358,878 | ||||||||||||||
| General, Administrative and Other | 555,321 | — | 555,321 | ||||||||||||||
| 5,965,620 | — | 5,965,620 | |||||||||||||||
| Total Expenses | 11,422,524 | 2,933,132 | 8,489,392 | ||||||||||||||
| Investment Income (Loss) - Asset Management | |||||||||||||||||
| Net Gains (Losses) from Investment Activities | 7,720,923 | 3,642,804 | 4,078,119 | ||||||||||||||
| Dividend Income | 698,800 | 352,563 | 346,237 | ||||||||||||||
| Interest Income | 1,485,470 | 1,403,440 | 82,030 | ||||||||||||||
| Interest Expense | (1,070,368) | (969,871) | (100,497) | ||||||||||||||
| Total Investment Income (Loss) | 8,834,825 | 4,428,936 | 4,405,889 | ||||||||||||||
| Income (Loss) Before Taxes | 13,648,449 | 5,726,695 | 7,921,754 | ||||||||||||||
| Income Tax Expense (Benefit) | 1,353,270 | 609,097 | 744,173 | ||||||||||||||
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| Year Ended | |||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | Change | |||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||
| Net Income (Loss) | 12,295,179 | 5,117,598 | 7,177,581 | ||||||||||||||
| Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests | 4,060 | — | 4,060 | ||||||||||||||
| Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests | 7,624,643 | 3,115,089 | 4,509,554 | ||||||||||||||
| Net Income (Loss) Attributable to KKR & Co. Inc. | 4,666,476 | 2,002,509 | 2,663,967 | ||||||||||||||
| Series A Preferred Stock Dividends | 23,656 | 23,288 | 368 | ||||||||||||||
| Series B Preferred Stock Dividends | 12,991 | 10,076 | 2,915 | ||||||||||||||
| Series C Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock Dividends | 69,000 | 23,191 | 45,809 | ||||||||||||||
| Net Income (Loss) Attributable to KKR & Co. Inc. Common Stockholders | $ | 4,560,829 | $ | 1,945,954 | $ | 2,614,875 | |||||||||||
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Consolidated Results of Operations (GAAP Basis) - Asset Management
Revenues
For the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, revenues consisted of the following:
| Year Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | Change | ||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Management Fees | $ | 1,301,975 | $ | 965,664 | $ | 336,311 | ||||||||||||||
| Fee Credits | (464,594) | (299,415) | (165,179) | |||||||||||||||||
| Transaction Fees | 1,552,621 | 950,205 | 602,416 | |||||||||||||||||
| Monitoring Fees | 134,472 | 127,907 | 6,565 | |||||||||||||||||
| Incentive Fees | 55,701 | 10,404 | 45,297 | |||||||||||||||||
| Expense Reimbursements | 178,572 | 149,522 | 29,050 | |||||||||||||||||
| Oil and Gas Revenue | — | 21,054 | (21,054) | |||||||||||||||||
| Consulting Fees | 91,407 | 81,450 | 9,957 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total Fees and Other | 2,850,154 | 2,006,791 | 843,363 | |||||||||||||||||
| Carried Interest | 5,388,354 | 1,719,527 | 3,668,827 | |||||||||||||||||
| General Partner Capital Interest | 1,454,060 | 504,573 | 949,487 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total Capital Allocation-Based Income (Loss) | 6,842,414 | 2,224,100 | 4,618,314 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total Revenues - Asset Management | $ | 9,692,568 | $ | 4,230,891 | $ | 5,461,677 | ||||||||||||||
Fees and Other
Total Fees and Other for the year ended December 31, 2021 increased compared to the year ended December 31, 2020 primarily as a result of the increase in transaction fees and management fees.
For a more detailed discussion of the factors that affected our transaction fees during the period, see "—Analysis of Asset Management Segment Operating Earnings."
The increase in management fees was primarily attributable to management fees earned from (i) North America Fund XIII, Global Infrastructure Investors IV, and Health Care Strategic Growth Fund II, all of which entered their investment periods in 2021 and (ii) Asian Fund IV, which entered its investment period in the third quarter of 2020. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in management fees earned from Asian Fund III, Americas Fund XII, and Global Infrastructure Investors III as a result of entering their post-investment periods in the third quarter of 2020, second quarter of 2021 and second quarter of 2021, respectively, with all three investment funds now earning fees based on capital invested rather than capital committed and at a lower fee rate for Asian Fund III and Americas Fund XII.
Management fees due from consolidated investment funds and other vehicles are eliminated upon consolidation under GAAP. However, because these amounts are funded by, and earned from, noncontrolling interests, KKR's allocated share of the net income from the consolidated investment funds and other vehicles is increased by the amount of fees that are eliminated. Accordingly, the elimination of these fees does not impact the net income (loss) attributable to KKR or KKR stockholders' equity. For a more detailed discussion on the factors that affect our management fees during the period, see "—Analysis of Asset Management Segment Operating Earnings."
Fee credits increased compared to the prior period as a result of a higher level of transaction fees in our Private Markets and Public Markets business lines. Fee credits owed to consolidated investment funds are eliminated upon consolidation under GAAP. However, because these amounts are owed to noncontrolling interests, KKR's allocated share of the net income from the consolidated investment funds is decreased by the amount of fee credits that are eliminated. Accordingly, the elimination of these fee credits does not impact the net income (loss) attributable to KKR or KKR stockholders' equity. Transaction and monitoring fees earned from KKR portfolio companies are not eliminated upon consolidation because those fees are earned
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from companies which are not consolidated. Furthermore, transaction fees earned in our Capital Markets business line are not shared with fund investors. Accordingly, certain transaction fees are reflected in revenues without a corresponding fee credit.
Capital Allocation-Based Income (Loss)
The increase in carried interest and general partner capital interest during the year ended December 31, 2021 compared to the prior period was due primarily to a higher level of net appreciation in the value of our investment portfolio as compared to the year ended December 31, 2020. Capital Allocation-Based Income (Loss) for the year ended December 31, 2021 was positive primarily due to the net appreciation of the underlying investments at our carry earning investment funds, most notably Americas Fund XII, Asian Fund III and North America Fund XI. Capital Allocation-Based Income (Loss) for the year ended December 31, 2020 was positive due to the net appreciation of the underlying investments at our carry earning investment funds, most notably Americas Fund XII, Asian Fund III and North America Fund XI.
KKR generally calculates the carried interest that would be due to KKR for each investment fund, pursuant to the fund agreements, as if the fair value of the underlying investments were realized as of the reporting date, irrespective of whether such amounts have been realized. Since the fair value of the underlying investments varies between reporting periods, it is necessary to make adjustments to the amounts recorded as carried interest to reflect either (a) positive performance resulting in an increase in the carried interest allocated to the general partner or (b) negative performance that would cause the amount due to KKR to be less than the amount previously recognized, resulting in a negative adjustment to carried interest allocated to the general partner. In each case, it is necessary to calculate the carried interest on cumulative results compared to the carried interest recorded to date and to make the required positive or negative adjustments.
Investment Income (Loss) - Asset Management
Net Gains (Losses) from Investment Activities for the year ended December 31, 2021
The net gains from investment activities for the year ended December 31, 2021 were comprised of net realized gains of $2,382.2 million and net unrealized gains of $5,338.7 million.
Investment gains and losses relating to our general partner capital interest in our unconsolidated funds are not reflected in our discussion and analysis of Net Gains (Losses) from Investment Activities. Our economics associated with these gains and losses are reflected in Capital Allocation-Based Income (Loss) as described above. For a discussion and analysis of the investment gains or losses relating to the investments in our unconsolidated funds, see "—Analysis of Asset Management Segment Operating Results."
Realized Gains and Losses from Investment Activities
For the year ended December 31, 2021, net realized gains related primarily to the sales of our investments held by KKR and certain consolidated funds, the most significant of which were in FanDuel Inc. (technology sector), Mr. Cooper Group Inc. (NASDAQ: COOP), and Darktrace Limited (LSE: DARK). Partially offsetting these realized gains were realized losses, the most significant of which were realized losses from certain investments held in our consolidated credit funds and realized losses on certain hedging instruments.
Unrealized Gains and Losses from Investment Activities
For the year ended December 31, 2021, net unrealized gains related primarily to mark-to-market gains from our investments held by KKR and certain consolidated funds, the most significant of which were PetVet Care Centers, LLC (health care sector), Heartland Dental LLC (health care sector) and OutSystems Holdings S.A. (technology sector). Partially offsetting these unrealized gains were unrealized losses, the most significant of which are (i) the reversal of previously recognized unrealized gains relating to the realization activity described above and (ii) an unrealized loss on BridgeBio Pharma, Inc. (NASDAQ: BBIO).
For a discussion of other factors that affected KKR's realized investment income, see "—Analysis of Asset Management Segment Operating Results" and Note 4 "Net Gains (Losses) from Investment Activities - Asset Management" in our financial statements.
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Net Gains (Losses) from Investment Activities for the year ended December 31, 2020
The net losses from investment activities for the year ended December 31, 2020 were comprised of net realized gains of $162.9 million and net unrealized gains of $3,479.9 million.
Realized Gains and Losses from Investment Activities
For the year ended December 31, 2020, net realized gains related primarily to (i) the sale of our investment in The Hut Group Limited (LSE: THG), (ii) partial sales of our investment in Fiserv, Inc. (NASDAQ: FISV), and (iii) the sale of our investment in Ivalua SAS (technology sector). Partially offsetting these realized gains were realized losses primarily relating to (i) an $88.3 million impairment charge taken on one of our investments that is accounted for under the equity method of accounting, (ii) a realized loss on the partial sale of our investment in LCI Helicopters Limited (financial services sector) and (iii) realization of losses on certain investments held through consolidated CLOs and alternative credit funds.
Unrealized Gains and Losses from Investment Activities
For the year ended December 31, 2020, net unrealized gains were driven primarily by (i) mark-to-market gains in our growth equity and core investments held by KKR and certain consolidated entities, the most significant of which were BridgeBio Pharma, Inc., FanDuel Inc., and PetVet Care Centers, LLC. Partially offsetting these unrealized gains were unrealized losses relating to (i) the reversal of previously recognized unrealized gains relating to the realization activity described above, (ii) mark-to-market losses on our investment in Fiserv, Inc., which is held both in our funds and as a co-investment by KKR, and (iii) mark-to-market losses on certain investments held through consolidated alternative credit and real estate funds.
For a discussion of other factors that affected KKR's realized investment income, see "—Analysis of Asset Management Segment Operating Results" in our report and Note 4 "Net Gains (Losses) from Investment Activities - Asset Management" in our financial statements.
Dividend Income
During the year ended December 31, 2021, the most significant dividends received included (i) $215.5 million from our consolidated real estate funds, (ii) $138.7 million from our investment in Viridor Limited (infrastructure), and (iii) $70.9 million from our investment in Arnott's Biscuits Limited (consumer products sector). During the year ended December 31, 2020, the most significant dividends received included $152.4 million from our consolidated real estate funds, $62.5 million from our investment in Fiserv, Inc. part of which is held as a co-investment by KKR, and $48.9 million from our investment in Epicor Software Corporation (technology sector).
Significant dividends from portfolio companies and consolidated funds are generally not recurring quarterly dividends, and while they may occur in the future, their size and frequency are variable. For a discussion of other factors that affected KKR's dividend income, see "—Analysis of Asset Management Segment Operating Results."
Interest Income
The increase in interest income during the year ended December 31, 2021 compared to the year ended December 31, 2020 was primarily due to (i) a higher level of interest income from certain of our consolidated credit funds, primarily related to an increase in the amount of capital deployed, and (ii) the impact of closing additional CLOs that are consolidated subsequent to December 31, 2020. Partially offsetting these increases was a lower level of reported interest income from investments at KREF as a result of the deconsolidation of KREF in the fourth quarter of 2021. For a discussion of other factors that affected KKR's interest income, see "—Analysis of Asset Management Segment Operating Results."
Interest Expense
The increase in interest expense during the year ended December 31, 2021 compared to the year ended December 31, 2020 was primarily due to (i) the impact of issuances of our senior notes, (ii) an increase in the amount of borrowings outstanding from the financing arrangements of consolidated investment funds and other vehicles, and (iii) impact of closing additional CLOs that are consolidated subsequent to December 31, 2020. Partially offsetting these increases was a lower level of reported interest expense on debt obligations at KREF as a result of the deconsolidation of KREF in the fourth quarter of 2021. For a discussion of other factors that affected KKR's interest expense, see "—Analysis of Non-GAAP Performance Measures."
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Expenses - Asset Management
Compensation and Benefits Expenses
The increase in compensation and benefits expenses during the year ended December 31, 2021 compared to the prior period was primarily due to (i) a higher level of accrued carried interest compensation resulting from a higher level of carried interest from the appreciation in the value of our investment portfolio in the current period, (ii) a higher level of accrued discretionary compensation and benefits resulting from a higher level of fee revenue, realized performance income and realized investment income in the current period, and (iii) a higher level of equity-based compensation.
The number of equity-based compensation awards granted in 2021 is higher than in 2020, which combined with a higher stock price than the prior period will result in a higher equity-based compensation expense in the coming years. Based on equity awards made through December 31, 2021, and assuming no additional grants and no forfeitures, equity-based compensation for the year ended December 31, 2022 would be comprised of $211.9 million of expense associated with time-based vesting awards and $237.5 million of expense associated with performance-based vesting awards. Additional grants made in 2022 or forfeitures of existing grants during 2022 would increase and decrease these numbers, respectively.
General, Administrative and Other
The increase in general, administrative and other expenses during the year ended December 31, 2021 compared to the prior period was primarily due to (i) a higher level of expenses at our consolidated CLOs, investment funds and other vehicles, (ii) a higher level of broken-deal expenses, (iii) a higher level of expenses reimbursable by our investment funds, and (iv) placement fees incurred related to capital raising activities.
The level of broken-deal expenses can vary significantly period to period based upon a number of factors, the most significant of which are the number of potential investments being pursued for our investment funds, the size and complexity of investments being pursued and the number of investment funds currently in their investment period. Also, in periods of significant fundraising and to the extent that we use third parties to assist in our capital raising efforts, our General, Administrative and Other may increase accordingly. Similarly, our General, Administrative and Other may increase as a result of professional and other fees incurred as part of due diligence related to strategic acquisitions and new product development.
148
Consolidated Results of Operations (GAAP Basis) - Insurance
For the year-ended December 31, 2021, the results of Global Atlantic's insurance operations included in our consolidated results of operations are from the acquisition date, February 1, 2021, through December 31, 2021.
Assumption review
The assumptions on which reserves, deferred revenue and expenses are based are intended to represent an estimation of the benefits that are expected to be payable to, and fees or premiums that are expected to be collectible from, policyholders in future periods. Global Atlantic reviews the adequacy of its reserves, deferred revenue and expenses and the assumptions underlying those items at least annually, usually in the third quarter. As Global Atlantic analyzes its assumptions, to the extent Global Atlantic chooses to update one or more of those assumptions, there may be an “unlocking” impact. Generally, favorable unlocking means the change in assumptions required a reduction in reserves, or in deferred revenue liabilities or an increase in deferred expenses, and unfavorable unlocking means the change in assumptions required an increase in reserves or in deferred revenue liabilities, or a reduction in deferred expenses.
The following table reflects the impact on net income by financial statement line item and to insurance segment adjusted operating earnings from Global Atlantic’s assumption review:
| Year Ended | ||||||||
| December 31, 2021 | ||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | ||||||||
| Impacts of assumption review, by statement of income line item: | ||||||||
| Policy fees | $ | 182 | ||||||
| Policy benefits and claims | 20,904 | |||||||
| Amortization of policy acquisition costs | (2,119) | |||||||
| Income tax impact | (3,983) | |||||||
| Total assumption review impact on net income | $ | 14,984 | ||||||
| Assumption review impact on adjustments to derive insurance segment adjusted operating earnings | (97) | |||||||
| Total assumption review impact on insurance segment adjusted operating earnings | $ | 14,887 | ||||||
For the year ended December 31, 2021, the net favorable unlocking impact on net income and insurance segment adjusted operating earnings was primarily due to favorable mortality experience.
Revenues
For the year ended December 31, 2021, revenues consisted of the following:
| Year Ended | ||||||||
| December 31, 2021 | ||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | ||||||||
| Net Premiums | $ | 2,226,078 | ||||||
| Policy Fees | 1,147,913 | |||||||
| Net Investment Income | 2,845,623 | |||||||
| Net Investment-Related Gains | 203,753 | |||||||
| Other Income | 120,213 | |||||||
| Total Insurance Revenues | $ | 6,543,580 | ||||||
Net Premiums
Net premiums were primarily driven by initial premiums related to new reinsurance transactions with life contingencies assumed during the year ended December 31, 2021. These initial premiums are wholly offset by a comparable increase in policy reserves reported within policy benefits and claims (as discussed below).
149
Policy fees
Policy fees were primarily driven by cost of insurance, administrative, and rider fees during the year ended December 31, 2021.
Net investment income
Net investment income was primarily driven by insurance segment investments and the effective book yield (as determined, in part, by the allocated fair value of the investment portfolio as determined as of the GA Acquisition Date). Average insurance segment investments were primarily driven by net inflows of assets from the individual markets and institutional channels. In addition to the impact of higher asset balances, net investment income was also positively impacted by income from bond call and loan prepayment activity.
Net investment-related gains
The components of net investment-related gains were as follows:
| Year Ended | ||||||||
| December 31, 2021 | ||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | ||||||||
| Equity index options | $ | 549,987 | ||||||
| Funds withheld payable embedded derivatives | 49,491 | |||||||
| Funds withheld receivable embedded derivatives | 31,740 | |||||||
| Equity future contracts | (263,637) | |||||||
| Interest rate contracts | (146,920) | |||||||
| Foreign currency forwards | 2,484 | |||||||
| Credit risk contracts | (400) | |||||||
| Net gains on derivative instruments | 222,745 | |||||||
| Net other investment losses | (18,992) | |||||||
| Net investment-related gains | $ | 203,753 | ||||||
Net gains on derivative instruments
The increase in the fair value of equity index options were primarily driven by the performance of the indexes upon which call options are based. Global Atlantic purchases equity index options to hedge the market risk of embedded derivatives in indexed universal life and fixed-indexed annuity products (the change for which is accounted for in policy benefits and claims). The majority of Global Atlantic's equity index call options are based on the S&P 500 index, which increased during the year ended December 31, 2021.
The decrease in the fair value of equity futures and interest rate contracts were driven primarily by the performance of equity markets and interest rates. Global Atlantic purchases equity futures primarily to hedge the market risk in our variable annuity products which are accounted for in policy benefits and claims. The majority of Global Atlantic's equity futures are based on the S&P 500 Index, which increased during the year ended December 31, 2021, resulting in a loss on equity futures contracts. Market interest rates increased during the year ended December 31, 2021, resulting in a loss on interest rate contracts.
The increase in the fair value of embedded derivatives on funds withheld at interest payable and receivable were primarily driven by the change in fair value of the underlying investments in the respective funds withheld payable and receivable portfolios.
150
Net other investment losses
The components of net other investment losses were as follows:
| Year Ended | ||||||||
| December 31, 2021 | ||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | ||||||||
| Realized gains (losses) on investments not supporting asset-liability matching strategies | $ | 527,788 | ||||||
| Realized gains (losses) on available-for-sale fixed maturity debt securities | (201,411) | |||||||
| Credit loss allowances | (249,338) | |||||||
| Unrealized gains (losses) on fixed maturity securities classified as trading | (118,714) | |||||||
| Unrealized gains (losses) on investments classified as trading or accounted under a fair-value option | 75,176 | |||||||
| Realized gains (losses) on funds withheld at interest payable portfolio | (30,015) | |||||||
| Realized gains (losses) on funds withheld at interest receivable portfolio | 12,418 | |||||||
| Other | (34,896) | |||||||
| Net investment-related gains | $ | (18,992) | ||||||
Net other investment losses for the year ended December 31, 2021 were primarily due to (i) the recognition of a credit loan loss allowances as a result of the application of the current expected credit loss accounting standard adopted concurrent with the GA Acquisition, (ii) losses on the sale of available-for-sale ("AFS") securities as a result of portfolio rotation strategies, and (iii) net unrealized losses on trading fixed maturity securities underlying a portion of the funds withheld payable at interest portfolio due to an increase in market interest rates. These losses were almost wholly offset by realized gains (losses) on investments not supporting asset-liability matching strategies, including in particular a gain from the disposition of Origis USA, LLC, a utility-scale renewable energy developer.
Other income
Other income is mainly driven by expense allowances on ceded reinsurance, administration, management fees and distribution fees.
Expenses
Policy benefits and claims
Policy benefits and claims were primarily driven by (i) initial reserves related to new reinsurance transactions with life contingencies during the year ended December 31, 2021, (ii) an increase in the value of embedded derivatives in Global Atlantic's indexed universal life and fixed indexed annuity products, as a result of higher equity market returns (as discussed above under "Revenues—Total Insurance Revenues—Net gains on derivative instruments," Global Atlantic purchases equity index options in order to hedge this risk, the fair value changes of which are accounted for in gains on derivative instruments, and generally offsetting the change in embedded derivative fair value reported in policy benefits and claims), and (iii) an increase in net flows in the institutional and individual channels, all offset by a decrease in variable annuity reserves primarily due to higher equity market returns and market interest rates.
Amortization of policy acquisition costs
Amortization of policy acquisition costs during the year ended December 31, 2021 was primarily driven by the amortization of insurance intangibles recognized as part of purchase accounting of the Global Atlantic acquisition. Amortization is negative (that is, a reduction to expense) as a result of the net negative value-of-business-acquired insurance intangible recognized as part of the aforementioned purchase accounting.
Interest expense
Interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2021 reflects a net increase in debt outstanding due to the issuance of new senior and subordinated notes partially offset by the pay-down of other debt, offset in part by the favorable impact to interest expense as a result of the lower average coupon due on new debt added at lower interest rates.
Insurance expenses
Insurance expenses were primarily driven by (i) commission expense related to sales, and (ii) reinsurance ceding expense allowances paid for policy administration services during the year ended December 31, 2021.
151
General, administrative and other
General, administrative and other expenses were driven primarily by (i) employee compensation and benefits related expenses, (ii) third-party administrator ("TPA") policy servicing fees, (iii) technology hardware and software related charges, and (iv) professional fees during the year ended December 31, 2021.
Other Consolidated Results of Operations (GAAP Basis)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)
For the year ended December 31, 2021, income tax expense was $1,353.3 million compared to $609.1 million in the prior period. The increase in the income tax expense was primarily due to (i) a higher level of fees, capital allocation-based income and investment income as described above earned from asset management operations and (ii) the inclusion of income taxes relating to Global Atlantic's insurance operations. Our effective tax rate under GAAP for the year ended December 31, 2021 was 9.9%. For a discussion of factors that impacted KKR's tax provision, see Note 18 "Income Taxes" in our financial statements. The amount of U.S. corporate income taxes we pay in future periods may be materially increased if adverse tax laws become enacted. See also “—Business Environment—Economic and Market Conditions” in this report.
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests
Net Income (Loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests for the year ended December 31, 2021 relates primarily to net income (loss) attributable to (i) interests of KKR Holdings and other exchangeable securities representing ownership interests in KKR Group Partnership, (ii) third-party limited partner interests in consolidated investment funds and (iii) interests that co-investors and rollover investors hold in Global Atlantic. Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests for the year ended December 31, 2021 increased compared to the prior period primarily due to a higher level of net income generated during the year ended December 31, 2021, allocable to the holders of the noncontrolling interests.
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to KKR & Co. Inc.
Net Income (loss) attributable to KKR & Co. Inc. for the year ended December 31, 2021 increased compared to the prior period primarily due to (i) a higher level of net gains from investment activities, capital allocation-based income, and fees earned from the asset management operations during the year ended December 31, 2021 as described above and (ii) the acquisition of Global Atlantic, which was completed in February 2021. These increases were partially offset by accrued carried interest compensation and income tax expense, each as described above.
152
Consolidated Results of Operations (GAAP Basis)
The following is a discussion of our consolidated results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019. You should read this discussion in conjunction with the financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this report. See also "—Business Environment" for more information about factors that may affect our business, financial performance, operating results and valuations.
| Year Ended | |||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2020 | December 31, 2019 | Change | |||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||
| Revenues | |||||||||||||||||
| Asset Management | |||||||||||||||||
| Fees and Other | $ | 2,006,791 | $ | 1,790,475 | $ | 216,316 | |||||||||||
| Capital Allocation-Based Income (Loss) | 2,224,100 | 2,430,425 | (206,325) | ||||||||||||||
| 4,230,891 | 4,220,900 | 9,991 | |||||||||||||||
| Insurance | |||||||||||||||||
| Net Premiums | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Policy Fees | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Net Investment-Related Gains (Losses) | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Other Income | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| — | — | — | |||||||||||||||
| Total Revenues | 4,230,891 | 4,220,900 | 9,991 | ||||||||||||||
| Expenses | |||||||||||||||||
| Asset Management | |||||||||||||||||
| Compensation and Benefits | 2,152,490 | 2,116,890 | 35,600 | ||||||||||||||
| Occupancy and Related Charges | 72,100 | 62,728 | 9,372 | ||||||||||||||
| General, Administrative and Other | 708,542 | 728,813 | (20,271) | ||||||||||||||
| 2,933,132 | 2,908,431 | 24,701 | |||||||||||||||
| Insurance | |||||||||||||||||
| Policy Benefits and Claims | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Amortization of Policy Acquisition Costs | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Interest Expense | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Insurance Expenses | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| General, Administrative and Other | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| — | — | — | |||||||||||||||
| Total Expenses | 2,933,132 | 2,908,431 | 24,701 | ||||||||||||||
| Investment Income (Loss) - Asset Management | |||||||||||||||||
| Net Gains (Losses) from Investment Activities | 3,642,804 | 3,161,884 | 480,920 | ||||||||||||||
| Dividend Income | 352,563 | 318,972 | 33,591 | ||||||||||||||
| Interest Income | 1,403,440 | 1,418,516 | (15,076) | ||||||||||||||
| Interest Expense | (969,871) | (1,043,551) | 73,680 | ||||||||||||||
| Total Investment Income (Loss) | 4,428,936 | 3,855,821 | 573,115 | ||||||||||||||
| Income (Loss) Before Taxes | 5,726,695 | 5,168,290 | 558,405 | ||||||||||||||
| Income Tax Expense (Benefit) | 609,097 | 528,750 | 80,347 | ||||||||||||||
153
| Year Ended | |||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2020 | December 31, 2019 | Change | |||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||
| Net Income (Loss) | 5,117,598 | 4,639,540 | 478,058 | ||||||||||||||
| Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests | 3,115,089 | 2,634,491 | 480,598 | ||||||||||||||
| Net Income (Loss) Attributable to KKR & Co. Inc. | 2,002,509 | 2,005,049 | (2,540) | ||||||||||||||
| Series A Preferred Stock Dividends | 23,288 | 23,288 | — | ||||||||||||||
| Series B Preferred Stock Dividends | 10,076 | 10,076 | — | ||||||||||||||
| Series C Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock Dividends | 23,191 | — | 23,191 | ||||||||||||||
| Net Income (Loss) Attributable to KKR & Co. Inc. Common Stockholders | $ | 1,945,954 | $ | 1,971,685 | $ | (25,731) | |||||||||||
154
Consolidated Results of Operations (GAAP Basis) - Asset Management
Revenues
For the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, revenues consisted of the following:
| Year Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2020 | December 31, 2019 | Change | ||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Management Fees | $ | 965,664 | $ | 824,903 | $ | 140,761 | ||||||||||||||
| Fee Credits | (299,415) | (340,900) | 41,485 | |||||||||||||||||
| Transaction Fees | 950,205 | 914,329 | 35,876 | |||||||||||||||||
| Monitoring Fees | 127,907 | 106,289 | 21,618 | |||||||||||||||||
| Incentive Fees | 10,404 | — | 10,404 | |||||||||||||||||
| Expense Reimbursements | 149,522 | 169,415 | (19,893) | |||||||||||||||||
| Oil and Gas Revenue | 21,054 | 47,153 | (26,099) | |||||||||||||||||
| Consulting Fees | 81,450 | 69,286 | 12,164 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total Fees and Other | 2,006,791 | 1,790,475 | 216,316 | |||||||||||||||||
| Carried Interest | 1,719,527 | 2,041,847 | (322,320) | |||||||||||||||||
| General Partner Capital Interest | 504,573 | 388,578 | 115,995 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total Capital Allocation-Based Income (Loss) | 2,224,100 | 2,430,425 | (206,325) | |||||||||||||||||
| Total Revenues - Asset Management | $ | 4,230,891 | $ | 4,220,900 | $ | 9,991 | ||||||||||||||
Fees and Other
Total Fees and Other for the year ended December 31, 2020 increased compared to the year ended December 31, 2019 primarily as a result of (i) an increase in management fees, (ii) a reduction in fee credits and (iii) an increase in transaction fees.
The increase in management fees was primarily due to management fees earned from Asian Fund IV, Next Generation Technology Growth Fund II, and Asia Pacific Infrastructure Investors which entered their investment periods subsequent to December 31, 2019. These increases were partially offset by (i) a decrease in management fees earned from Asian Fund III as it entered its post investment period in the third quarter of 2020, in which it pays fees based on capital invested rather than capital committed and pays fees at a lower rate and (ii) a decrease in management fees earned from European Fund IV as it entered its post investment period in the second quarter of 2019, in which it pays fees based on capital invested rather than remaining commitments and capital invested during the investment period.
Transaction fees increased overall primarily from a higher level of transaction fees earned in our Capital Markets business line. Partially offsetting this increase was a decrease in transaction fees earned in our Private Markets business line, and to a lesser extent, our Public Markets business line. For a more detailed discussion of the factors that affected our transaction fees during the period, see "—Analysis of Asset Management Segment Operating Earnings."
Fee credits decreased compared to the prior period as a result of a lower level of transaction fees in our Private Markets and
Public Markets business lines.
Fee credits owed to consolidated investment funds are eliminated upon consolidation under GAAP. Transaction fees earned from KKR portfolio companies are not eliminated upon consolidation because those fees are earned from companies which are not consolidated. Furthermore, transaction fees earned in our Capital Markets business line are not shared with fund investors. Accordingly, certain transaction fees are reflected in revenues without a corresponding fee credit.
155
Capital Allocation-Based Income (Loss)
Capital Allocation-Based Income (Loss) for the year ended December 31, 2020 decreased compared to the year ended December 31, 2019 primarily due to lower carried interest allocations from 2006 Fund and Asia Fund II. These decreases were partially offset by an increase in carried interest allocations from Americas Fund XII and Global Infrastructure Investors II.
KKR generally calculates the carried interest that would be due to KKR for each investment fund, pursuant to the fund agreements, as if the fair value of the underlying investments were realized as of the reporting date, irrespective of whether such amounts have been realized. As the fair value of underlying investments varies between reporting periods, it is necessary to make adjustments to amounts recorded as carried interest to reflect either (a) positive performance resulting in an increase in the carried interest allocated to the general partner or (b) negative performance that would cause the amount due to KKR to be less than the amount previously recognized, resulting in a negative adjustment to carried interest allocated to the general partner. In each case, it is necessary to calculate the carried interest on cumulative results compared to the carried interest recorded to date and to make the required positive or negative adjustments.
Investment Income (Loss) - Asset Management
Net Gains (Losses) from Investment Activities for the year ended December 31, 2020
The net gains from investment activities for the year ended December 31, 2020 were comprised of net realized gains of $162.9 million and net unrealized gains of $3,479.9 million.
Investment gains and losses relating to our general partner capital interest in our unconsolidated funds are not reflected in our discussion and analysis of Net Gains (Losses) from Investment Activities. Our economics associated with these gains and losses are reflected in Capital Allocation-Based Income (Loss) as described above. For a discussion and analysis of the primary investment gains or losses relating to individual investments in our unconsolidated funds, see "— Analysis of Non-GAAP Performance Measures."
Realized Gains and Losses from Investment Activities
For the year ended December 31, 2020, net realized gains related primarily to (i) the sale of our investment in The Hut Group Limited, (ii) partial sales of our investment in Fiserv, Inc., and (iii) the sale of our investment in Ivalua SAS. Partially offsetting these realized gains were realized losses primarily relating to (i) an $88.3 million impairment charge taken on one of our investments that is accounted for under the equity method of accounting, (ii) a realized loss on the partial sale of our investment in LCI Helicopters Limited and (iii) realization of losses on certain investments held through consolidated CLOs and alternative credit funds.
Unrealized Gains and Losses from Investment Activities
For the year ended December 31, 2020, net unrealized gains were driven primarily by (i) mark-to-market gains in our growth equity and core investments held by KKR and certain consolidated entities, the most significant of which were BridgeBio Pharma, Inc., FanDuel Inc., and PetVet Care Centers, LLC. Partially offsetting these unrealized gains were unrealized losses relating to (i) the reversal of previously recognized unrealized gains relating to the realization activity described above (ii) mark-to-market losses on our investment in Fiserv, Inc., which is held both in our funds and as a co-investment by KKR, and (iii) mark-to-market losses on certain investments held through consolidated alternative credit and real estate funds.
For a discussion of other factors that affected KKR's realized investment income, see "—Analysis of Asset Management Segment Operating Results" and Note 4 "Net Gains (Losses) from Investment Activities - Asset Management" in our financial statements.
Net Gains (Losses) from Investment Activities for the year ended December 31, 2019
The net gains from investment activities for the year ended December 31, 2019 were comprised of net realized gains of $497.3 million and net unrealized gains of $2,664.5 million.
156
Realized Gains and Losses from Investment Activities
For the year ended December 31, 2019, net realized gains related primarily to realized gains on (i) the sale of our investment in Trainline PLC (LSE: TRN), (ii) the sales of assets in our consolidated real estate funds, (iii) the sale of our investment in Sedgwick Claims Management Services, Inc. (financial services sector) and (iv) the sales of assets in our consolidated special situations funds. Partially offsetting these realized gains were realized losses, the most significant of which related to the sale of investments held by our consolidated CLOs and the sale of our investment in DoubleDutch, Inc. (technology sector).
Unrealized Gains and Losses from Investment Activities
For the year ended December 31, 2019, net unrealized gains were driven primarily by (i) mark-to-market gains on the growth equity investments held by KKR and certain consolidated entities, the most significant of which was BridgeBio Pharma, Inc., (ii) mark-to-market gains in portfolio companies in our core investment strategy, the most significant of which were PetVet Care Centers, LLC, Heartland Dental, LLC, and USI, Inc. (financial services sector) and (iii) mark-to-market gains on our investment in Fiserv, Inc., which is held both in our funds and as a balance sheet co-investment by KKR. Partially offsetting the unrealized gains above were unrealized losses relating to (i) mark-to-market losses in our energy investments held through certain consolidated entities, (ii) mark-to-market losses on investments held at our consolidated special situations funds, (iii) mark-to-market losses on investments held at our India debt financing company and (iv) the reversal of previously recognized unrealized gains relating to the realization activity described above.
For a discussion of other factors that affected KKR's realized investment income, see "—Analysis of Asset Management Segment Operating Results" and Note 4 "Net Gains (Losses) from Investment Activities - Asset Management" in our financial statements.
Dividend Income
During the year ended December 31, 2020, the most significant dividends received included $152.4 million from our consolidated real estate funds, $62.5 million from our investment in Fiserv, Inc. part of which is held as a co-investment by KKR and $48.9 million from our investment in Epicor Software Corporation. During the year ended December 31, 2019, the most significant dividends received included $195.3 million from our investment in Fiserv, Inc., $36.0 million from our consolidated real estate funds, $29.1 million from our consolidated special situations funds, $14.1 million from infrastructure investments held by KKR and $12.7 million from our consolidated energy funds. Significant dividends from portfolio companies and consolidated funds are generally not recurring quarterly dividends, and while they may occur in the future, their size and frequency are variable. For a discussion of other factors that affected KKR's dividend income, see "—Analysis of Asset Management Segment Operating Results."
Interest Income
The decrease in interest income during the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to the year ended December 31, 2019 was primarily due to a lower level of interest earned from (i) investments held at our consolidated special situations funds and (ii) loans held by KREF, a listed REIT. These decreases were partially offset by (i) the impact of closing additional consolidated CLOs subsequent to December 31, 2019 and (ii) an increase in interest income from certain of our consolidated direct lending funds, primarily related to an increase in the amount of capital deployed. For a discussion of other factors that affected KKR's interest income, see "—Analysis of Non-GAAP Performance Measures."
Interest Expense
The decrease in interest expense during the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to the year ended December 31, 2019 was primarily due to a lower level of interest expense on debt obligations of the consolidated CLOs and KREF due to a decrease in interest rates subsequent to December 31, 2019 and (ii) the redemption of our $500 million aggregate principal amount of 6.375% Senior Notes due 2020 in the third quarter of 2019. These decreases were partially offset by the impact of multiple issuances of senior notes subsequent to December 31, 2019, which included: (i) $500 million aggregate principal amount of 3.625% Senior Notes due 2050, (ii) $250 million aggregate principal amount of $3.750% Senior Notes due 2029 and (iii) $750 million aggregate principal amount of 3.500% Senior Notes due 2050. For a discussion of other factors that affected KKR's interest expense, see "—Analysis of Non-GAAP Performance Measures."
157
Expenses - Asset Management
Compensation and Benefits Expenses
The increase in compensation and benefits expenses during the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to the prior period was primarily due to (i) a higher level of cash compensation resulting from a higher level of fees earned and (ii) a higher level of equity-based compensation resulting from certain equity awards that were granted in the fourth quarter of 2020, of which a portion vested immediately. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in carried interest compensation resulting from a lower level of carried interest generated in the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to the prior period.
General, Administrative and Other
The decrease in general, administrative and other expenses during the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to the prior period was primarily due to (i) a decrease in capital raising costs and (ii) a decrease in corporate travel-related expenses as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Partially offsetting these decreases were corporate transaction-related charges incurred in connection with the acquisition of Global Atlantic.
Other Unaudited Consolidated Results of Operations (GAAP Basis)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)
For the year ended December 31, 2020, income tax expense was $609.1 million compared to $528.8 million for the prior period. Our effective tax rate under GAAP for the year ended December 31, 2020 was 10.6%. For a discussion of factors that impacted KKR's tax provision, see Note 18 "Income Taxes" in our financial statements. See also “—Business Environment” in this report.
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests
Net Income (Loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests for the year ended December 31, 2020 related primarily to net income attributable to KKR Holdings representing its ownership interests in KKR Group Partnership as well as third-party limited partner interests in those investment funds that we consolidate. The increase from the prior period is due primarily to an increase in the number of consolidated funds, partially offset by a decrease in net income attributable to KKR Holdings.
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to KKR & Co. Inc.
For the year ended December 31, 2020, Net Income (Loss) attributable to KKR & Co. Inc. was $25.7 million lower compared to the year ended December 31, 2019 primarily due to (i) a lower level of accrued carried interest and (ii) Series C Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock dividends in each case in 2020. These decreases were partially offset by (i) lower accrued carried interest compensation, (ii) lower level of General, Administrative and Other expenses and (iii) an increase in management fees, in each case in 2020 and as described above.
158
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition (GAAP Basis)
The following table provides the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition on a GAAP basis as of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020.
| (Amounts in thousands, except per share amounts) | ||||||||||||||
| As of | As of | |||||||||||||
| December 31, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | |||||||||||||
| Assets | ||||||||||||||
| Asset Management | ||||||||||||||
| Cash and Cash Equivalents | $ | 6,699,668 | $ | 6,507,874 | ||||||||||
| Investments | 88,775,514 | 69,274,715 | ||||||||||||
| Other Assets | 4,244,894 | 4,023,913 | ||||||||||||
| 99,720,076 | 79,806,502 | |||||||||||||
| Insurance | ||||||||||||||
| Cash and Cash Equivalents | 3,391,934 | — | ||||||||||||
| Investments | 123,763,675 | — | ||||||||||||
| Other Assets | 37,409,755 | — | ||||||||||||
| 164,565,364 | — | |||||||||||||
| Total Assets | $ | 264,285,440 | $ | 79,806,502 | ||||||||||
| Liabilities and Equity | ||||||||||||||
| Asset Management | ||||||||||||||
| Debt Obligations | $ | 36,669,755 | $ | 33,423,596 | ||||||||||
| Other Liabilities | 8,359,619 | 5,582,990 | ||||||||||||
| 45,029,374 | 39,006,586 | |||||||||||||
| Insurance | ||||||||||||||
| Debt Obligations | 1,908,006 | — | ||||||||||||
| Other Liabilities | 159,208,840 | — | ||||||||||||
| 161,116,846 | — | |||||||||||||
| Total Liabilities | $ | 206,146,220 | $ | 39,006,586 | ||||||||||
| Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests | 82,491 | — | ||||||||||||
| Stockholders' Equity | ||||||||||||||
| KKR & Co. Inc. Stockholders' Equity - Series A and B Preferred Stock | — | 482,554 | ||||||||||||
| KKR & Co. Inc. Stockholders' Equity - Series C Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock | 1,115,792 | 1,115,792 | ||||||||||||
| KKR & Co. Inc. Stockholders' Equity - Series I and II Preferred Stock, Common Stock | 16,466,372 | 12,118,472 | ||||||||||||
| Noncontrolling Interests | 40,474,565 | 27,083,098 | ||||||||||||
| Total Equity | 58,056,729 | 40,799,916 | ||||||||||||
| Total Liabilities and Equity | $ | 264,285,440 | $ | 79,806,502 | ||||||||||
| KKR & Co. Inc. Stockholders' Equity - Common Stock Per Outstanding Share of Common Stock | $ | 27.64 | $ | 21.15 | ||||||||||
KKR & Co. Inc. Stockholders’ Equity - Common Stock per Outstanding Share of Common Stock was $27.64 as of December 31, 2021, up from $21.15 as of December 31, 2020. The increase was primarily due to the net income attributable to KKR & Co. Inc. common stockholders during the year ended 2021, partially offset by (i) dividends to common stockholders and (ii) repurchases of common stock.
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Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (GAAP Basis)
The following is a discussion of our consolidated cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020. You should read this discussion in conjunction with the financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this report.
The consolidated statements of cash flows include the cash flows of our consolidated entities, which include certain consolidated investment funds, CLOs and certain variable interest entities formed by Global Atlantic notwithstanding the fact that we may hold only a minority economic interest in those investment funds and CFEs. The assets of our consolidated investment funds and CFEs, on a gross basis, can be substantially larger than the assets of our business and, accordingly, could have a substantial effect on the cash flows reflected in our consolidated statements of cash flows. The primary cash flow activities of our consolidated funds and CFEs involve: (i) capital contributions from fund investors; (ii) using the capital of fund investors to make investments; (iii) financing certain investments with indebtedness; (iv) generating cash flows through the realization of investments; and (v) distributing cash flows from the realization of investments to fund investors. Because our consolidated funds are treated as investment companies for accounting purposes, certain of these cash flow amounts are included in our cash flows from operations.
Net Cash Provided (Used) by Operating Activities
Our net cash provided (used) by operating activities was $(7.2) billion and $(6.0) billion during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. These amounts primarily included: (i) investments purchased (asset management), net of proceeds from investments (asset management) of $(10.6) billion and $(5.9) billion during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, (ii) net realized gains (losses) on asset management investments of $2,382.2 million and $162.9 million during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, (iii) change in unrealized gains (losses) on asset management investments of $5.3 billion and $3.5 billion during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, (iv) capital allocation-based income (loss) of $6.8 billion and $2.2 billion during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively and (v) net realized gains (losses) on insurance operations of $(860.2) million during the year ended December 31, 2021. Investment funds are investment companies under GAAP and reflect their investments and other financial instruments at fair value.
Net Cash Provided (Used) by Investing Activities
Our net cash provided (used) by investing activities was $(9.6) billion and $(0.2) billion during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Our investing activities included: (i) investments purchased (insurance), net of proceeds from investments (insurance) of $(9.1) billion during the year ended December 31, 2021, (ii) acquisitions, net of cash acquired of $(473.8) million during the year ended December 31, 2021, (iii) the purchase of fixed assets of $(102.0) million and $(142.3) million during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively and (iv) development of oil and natural gas properties of $(11.1) million for the year ended December 31, 2020.
Net Cash Provided (Used) by Financing Activities
Our net cash provided (used) by financing activities was $20.4 billion and $9.8 billion during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Our financing activities primarily included: (i) contributions by, net of distributions to, our noncontrolling and redeemable noncontrolling interests of $6.4 billion and $4.1 billion during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, (ii) proceeds received net of repayment of debt obligations of $8.9 billion and $5.3 billion during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, (iii) additions to, net of withdrawals from contractholder deposit funds of $5.9 billion during the year ended December 31, 2021, (iv) common stock dividends of $(331.4) million and $(297.3) million during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively; (v) net delivery of common stock of $(166.8) million and $(78.3) million during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively; (vi) repurchases of common stock of $(269.7) million and $(246.2) million during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively; (vii) Series A and B Preferred Stock dividends of $(19.2) million and $(33.4) million during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively; (viii) Series C Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock dividends of $(69.0) million and $(23.2) million during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020; (ix) private placement share issuance of $38.5 million during the year ended December 31, 2021 and (x) redemption of Series A and B Preferred Stock of $(500.0) million during the year ended December 31, 2021.
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Analysis of Segment Operating Results
The following is a discussion of the results of our business on a segment basis for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019. You should read this discussion in conjunction with the information included under "—Key Segment and Non-GAAP Performance Measures and Other Terms and Operating Metric" and the financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this report. See "—Business Environment" for more information about factors that may impact our business, financial performance, operating results and valuations.
In connection with our acquisition of Global Atlantic on February 1, 2021, management reevaluated the manner in which we manage and assess the performance of our business and allocate resources. As a result, we introduced a new Insurance segment in 2021 and report segment results for two operating and reportable segments: Asset Management and Insurance. See Note 21 “Segment Reporting” in our financial statements.
Analysis of Asset Management Segment Operating Results
The following tables set forth information regarding KKR's Asset Management segment operating results and certain key capital metrics as of and for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020.
| Year Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | Change | ||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Management Fees | $ | 2,071,440 | $ | 1,441,578 | $ | 629,862 | ||||||||||||||
| Transaction and Monitoring Fees, Net | 1,004,241 | 632,433 | 371,808 | |||||||||||||||||
| Fee Related Performance Revenues | 45,852 | 39,555 | 6,297 | |||||||||||||||||
| Fee Related Compensation | (702,387) | (486,481) | (215,906) | |||||||||||||||||
| Other Operating Expenses | (449,155) | (346,558) | (102,597) | |||||||||||||||||
| Fee Related Earnings | 1,969,991 | 1,280,527 | 689,464 | |||||||||||||||||
| Realized Performance Income | 2,141,596 | 1,165,699 | 975,897 | |||||||||||||||||
| Realized Performance Income Compensation | (1,239,177) | (697,071) | (542,106) | |||||||||||||||||
| Realized Investment Income | 1,613,244 | 644,659 | 968,585 | |||||||||||||||||
| Realized Investment Income Compensation | (241,994) | (106,830) | (135,164) | |||||||||||||||||
| Asset Management Segment Operating Earnings | $ | 4,243,660 | $ | 2,286,984 | $ | 1,956,676 | ||||||||||||||
Management Fees
The following table presents management fees by business line for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020:
| Year Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | Change | ||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Management Fees | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Private Markets | $ | 1,404,140 | $ | 976,607 | $ | 427,533 | ||||||||||||||
| Public Markets | 667,300 | 464,971 | 202,329 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total Management Fees | $ | 2,071,440 | $ | 1,441,578 | $ | 629,862 | ||||||||||||||
The increase in Private Markets management fees was primarily attributable to management fees earned from (i) North America Fund XIII, Global Infrastructure Investors IV, and Health Care Strategic Growth Fund II, all of which entered their investment periods in 2021 and (ii) Asian Fund IV, which entered its investment period in the third quarter of 2020. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in management fees earned from Asian Fund III, Americas Fund XII and Global Infrastructure Investors III as a result of entering their post-investment periods in the third quarter of 2020, second quarter of 2021, and second quarter of 2021, respectively, with all three investment funds now earning fees based on capital invested rather than capital committed and at a lower fee rate for Asian Fund III and Americas Fund XII.
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The increase in Public Markets management fees was primarily attributable to (i) management fees earned from Global Atlantic during the period February 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021, (ii) the issuance of new CLOs subsequent to December 31, 2020, (iii) higher overall FPAUM at our hedge fund partnerships from investment appreciation and, to a lesser extent, net capital inflows and (iv) net capital inflows in certain leveraged credit strategy accounts.
Transaction and Monitoring Fees, Net
The following table presents transaction and monitoring fees, net by business line for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020:
| Year Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | Change | ||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Transaction and Monitoring Fees, Net | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Private Markets | $ | 143,165 | $ | 148,407 | $ | (5,242) | ||||||||||||||
| Public Markets | 14,181 | 3,543 | 10,638 | |||||||||||||||||
| Capital Markets | 846,895 | 480,483 | 366,412 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total Transaction and Monitoring Fees, Net | $ | 1,004,241 | $ | 632,433 | $ | 371,808 | ||||||||||||||
Our Capital Markets business line earns transaction fees, which are not shared with fund investors. The increase in transaction fees was primarily due to an increase in the number of capital markets transactions for the year ended December 31, 2021, compared to the year ended December 31, 2020. Overall, we completed 358 capital markets transactions for the year ended December 31, 2021, of which 60 represented equity offerings and 298 represented debt offerings, as compared to 193 transactions for the year ended December 31, 2020, of which 36 represented equity offerings and 157 represented debt offerings. We earned fees in connection with underwriting, syndication and other capital markets services. While each of the capital markets transactions that we undertake in this business line is separately negotiated, our fee rates are generally higher with respect to underwriting or syndicating equity offerings than with respect to debt offerings, and the amount of fees that we earn for similar transactions generally correlates with overall transaction sizes.
Our capital markets fees are generated in connection with our Private Markets and Public Markets business lines as well as from third-party companies. For the year ended December 31, 2021, approximately 23% of our transaction fees in our Capital Markets business line were earned from unaffiliated third parties as compared to approximately 18% for the year ended December 31, 2020. Our transaction fees are comprised of fees earned from North America, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region. For the year ended December 31, 2021, approximately 38% of our transaction fees were generated outside of North America as compared to approximately 58% for the year ended December 31, 2020. Our Capital Markets business line is dependent on the overall capital markets environment, which is influenced by equity prices, credit spreads, and volatility. Our Capital Markets business line does not generate monitoring fees.
Our Private Markets and Public Markets business lines separately earn transaction and monitoring fees from portfolio companies, and under the terms of the management agreements with certain of our investment funds, we are required to share all or a portion of such fees with our fund investors.
The decrease in Private Markets transaction and monitoring fees, net was primarily attributable to the write-off of outstanding monitoring fee receivables for two portfolio companies, partially offset by an increase in net transaction fees. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there were 99 transaction fee-generating investments that paid an average fee of $5.9 million compared to 76 transaction fee-generating investments that paid an average fee of $5.2 million during the year ended December 31, 2020. For the year ended December 31, 2021, approximately 55% of these transaction fees were paid by companies in North America, 25% were paid from companies in Europe, and 20% were paid from companies in the Asia-Pacific region. Transaction fees vary by investment based upon a number of factors, the most significant of which are transaction size, the particular agreements as to the amount of the fees, the complexity of the transaction, and KKR's role in the transaction. Additionally, transaction fees are generally not earned with respect to energy and real estate investments.
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Fee Related Performance Revenues
The following table presents fee related performance revenues by business line for the year ended December 31, 2021 and 2020:
| Year Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | Change | ||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Fee Related Performance Revenues | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Private Markets | $ | 9,068 | $ | 4,797 | $ | 4,271 | ||||||||||||||
| Public Markets | 36,784 | 34,758 | 2,026 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total Fee Related Performance Revenues | $ | 45,852 | $ | 39,555 | $ | 6,297 | ||||||||||||||
Fee related performance revenues earned in our Private Markets and Public Markets business lines represent realized incentive fees that are (i) measured and received on a recurring basis, and (ii) not dependent on realization events from the underlying investments. These incentive fees are primarily earned from our business development company, FS KKR Capital Corp. ("FSK") in our Public Markets business line and our real estate credit investment trust, KKR Real Estate Finance Trust Inc. ("KREF") in our Private Markets business line. The increase was primarily due to a higher level of investment income at these entities during the year ended December 31, 2021 as compared to the prior period.
Fee Related Compensation
The increase in fee related compensation for the year ended December 31, 2021 compared to the prior period is primarily due to a higher level of compensation recorded in connection with the higher level of revenues included within fee related earnings.
Other Operating Expenses
The increase in other operating expenses for the year ended December 31, 2021 compared to the prior period is primarily due to a higher level of (i) professional fees and other administrative costs in connection with the overall growth of the firm and (ii) placement fees related to capital raising activities.
Fee Related Earnings
The increase in fee related earnings for the year ended December 31, 2021 compared to the prior period is primarily due to a higher level of management fees in our Private Markets and Public Markets business lines and transaction fees from our Capital Markets business line, partially offset by a higher level of fee related compensation and other operating expenses, as described above.
Realized Performance Income
The following table presents realized performance income by business line for the year ended December 31, 2021 and 2020:
| Year Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | Change | ||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Realized Performance Income | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Private Markets | $ | 1,776,065 | $ | 1,015,865 | $ | 760,200 | ||||||||||||||
| Public Markets | 365,531 | 149,834 | 215,697 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total Realized Performance Income | $ | 2,141,596 | $ | 1,165,699 | $ | 975,897 | ||||||||||||||
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| Year Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | Change | ||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Private Markets | ||||||||||||||||||||
| North America Fund XI | $ | 433,708 | $ | 203,606 | $ | 230,102 | ||||||||||||||
| Asian Fund III | 387,863 | 46,347 | 341,516 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2006 Fund | 219,737 | 181,899 | 37,838 | |||||||||||||||||
| Americas Fund XII | 207,559 | — | 207,559 | |||||||||||||||||
| European Fund IV | 186,476 | 139,948 | 46,528 | |||||||||||||||||
| Co-Investment Vehicles and Other | 93,588 | 93,650 | (62) | |||||||||||||||||
| Core Investment Vehicles | 80,937 | 57,484 | 23,453 | |||||||||||||||||
| Global Infrastructure Investors II | 72,862 | 148,882 | (76,020) | |||||||||||||||||
| Next Generation Technology Growth Fund | 32,544 | 13,964 | 18,580 | |||||||||||||||||
| Real Estate Partners Europe | 18,200 | — | 18,200 | |||||||||||||||||
| Global Infrastructure Investors | 2,967 | 54,729 | (51,762) | |||||||||||||||||
| European Fund III | 353 | — | 353 | |||||||||||||||||
| Asian Fund II | — | 60,647 | (60,647) | |||||||||||||||||
| Real Estate Partners Americas | — | 4,977 | (4,977) | |||||||||||||||||
| Asian Fund | — | 431 | (431) | |||||||||||||||||
Total Realized Carried Interest (1) | 1,736,794 | 1,006,564 | 730,230 | |||||||||||||||||
| Incentive Fees | 39,271 | 9,301 | 29,970 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total Realized Performance Income | $ | 1,776,065 | $ | 1,015,865 | $ | 760,200 | ||||||||||||||
| Year Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | Change | ||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Public Markets | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Other Alternative Credit Vehicles | $ | 15,336 | $ | 25,740 | $ | (10,404) | ||||||||||||||
| Mezzanine Partners | — | 9,900 | (9,900) | |||||||||||||||||
Total Realized Carried Interest (1) | 15,336 | 35,640 | (20,304) | |||||||||||||||||
| Incentive Fees | 350,195 | 114,194 | 236,001 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total Realized Performance Income | $ | 365,531 | $ | 149,834 | $ | 215,697 | ||||||||||||||
(1)The above tables exclude any funds for which there was no realized carried interest during both of the periods presented.
Realized performance income includes (i) realized carried interest from our carry earning funds and (ii) incentive fees not included in Fee Related Performance Revenues.
Realized carried interest in our Private Markets business line for the year ended December 31, 2021 consisted primarily of realized proceeds from the sales of our investments in The Bountiful Company (consumer products sector), Ingersoll Rand Inc. (NYSE: IR), Academy Sports & Outdoors Inc. (NASDAQ: ASO), Kokusai Electric Corporation (manufacturing sector) and Endeavor Group Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: EDR).
Realized carried interest in our Private Markets business line for the year ended December 31, 2020 consisted primarily of realized proceeds from the sales of our investments in Deutsche Glasfaser (telecom sector), Privilege Underwriters, Inc. (financial services sector), LGC Science Group Limited (health care sector), Epicor Software Corporation, The Hut Group Limited and Fiserv, Inc.
Realized carried interest in our Public Markets business line decreased for the year ended December 31, 2021 compared to the prior period as a result of a lower level of realization activity at certain alternative credit investment funds, from which we are eligible to take cash carry.
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Incentive fees earned in our Private Markets business line consist primarily of incentive fees earned from assets we manage under a sub-advisory agreement with a U.K. investment fund. The increase in incentive fees for year ended December 31, 2021 compared to the prior period was primarily attributable to a higher level of investment appreciation.
Incentive fees earned in our Public Markets business line consist primarily of incentive fees earned from our hedge fund partnerships and certain incentive fee eligible leveraged credit accounts. The increase in incentive fees for the year ended December 31, 2021 compared to the prior period was primarily attributable to a higher level of incentive fees earned from Marshall Wace.
Realized Performance Income Compensation
The increase in realized performance income compensation for the year ended December 31, 2021 compared to the prior period is primarily due to a higher level of compensation recorded in connection with the higher level of realized performance income.
Realized Investment Income
The following table presents realized investment income from our Principal Activities business line for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020:
| Year Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | Change | ||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Realized Investment Income | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Net Realized Gains (Losses) | $ | 1,199,414 | $ | 284,521 | $ | 914,893 | ||||||||||||||
| Interest Income and Dividends | 413,830 | 360,138 | 53,692 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total Realized Investment Income | $ | 1,613,244 | $ | 644,659 | $ | 968,585 | ||||||||||||||
The increase in realized investment income is due to a higher level of net realized gains and, to a lesser extent, a higher level of interest income and dividends. The amount of realized investment income depends on the transaction activity of our funds and our subsidiaries, which can vary from period to period.
For the year ended December 31, 2021, net realized gains were comprised of realized gains primarily from the sale of our investments in FanDuel Inc., Mr. Cooper Group Inc., Fiserv, Inc., The Bountiful Company, and BridgeBio Pharma Inc. Partially offsetting these realized gains were realized losses, the most significant of which were realized losses on certain hedging instruments.
For the year ended December 31, 2020, net realized gains were comprised of realized gains primarily from the sale of our investments in The Hut Group Limited, Deutsche Glasfaser, Ivalua SAS, Fiserv, Inc. and BridgeBio Pharma, Inc. Partially offsetting these realized gains were realized losses, the most significant of which were realized losses on our investment in LCI Helicopters Limited, Yorktown Center (real estate) and various alternative credit strategy investments.
For the year ended December 31, 2021, interest income and dividends were comprised of (i) $261.3 million of dividend income primarily from our real estate investments, including our investment in KREF, as well as our investments in Viridor Limited ($42.2 million), Kokusai Electric Corporation ($25.4 million), and Arnott's Biscuits Limited ($19.0 million) and (ii) $152.5 million of interest income primarily from our investments in CLOs and, to a lesser extent, our other credit investments.
For the year ended December 31, 2020, interest income and dividends were comprised of (i) $225.4 million of dividend income from our investments in Fiserv, Inc. ($62.5 million), Epicor Software Corporation ($27.3 million) and our real assets investments, including our investment in KREF and (ii) $134.7 million of interest income from our investments in CLOs, other credit investments and, to a lesser extent, our cash balances. See "—Analysis of Non-GAAP Performance Measures—Non-GAAP Balance Sheet Measures."
Prior to the acquisition of KKR Capstone on January 1, 2020, (i) KKR Capstone's financial results were consolidated in KKR's financial results in accordance with GAAP, and as such the fees and expenses attributable to KKR Capstone were included in KKR's consolidated revenues and expenses, and (ii) KKR Capstone's financial results were excluded from KKR's segment and non-GAAP financial measures, because KKR presented its segment and non-GAAP financial measures prior to
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giving effect to the consolidation of certain entities that were not subsidiaries of KKR. Following the acquisition of KKR Capstone on January 1, 2020, after-tax distributable earnings includes the net income (loss) from KKR Capstone within realized investment income (loss). For the year ended December 31, 2021, total fees attributable to KKR Capstone were $91.4 million, total expenses attributable to KKR Capstone were $94.6 million, and income taxes and other income attributable to Capstone were $(2.4) million. For KKR Capstone-related adjustments in reconciling Asset Management segment revenues to GAAP revenues see "—Analysis of Non-GAAP Performance Measures—Reconciliations to GAAP Measures".
We expect realized performance income and realized investment income to be greater than $700 million in the first quarter of 2022 relating to realized carried interest and realized investment income from completed, or signed and expected to be completed sales, partial sales or secondary sales subsequent to December 31, 2021 with respect to certain private equity portfolio companies and other investments. Some of these transactions are not complete, and are subject to the satisfaction of closing conditions, including but not limited to regulatory approvals; there can be no assurance if or when any of these transactions will be completed.
Realized Investment Income Compensation
The increase in realized investment income compensation for the year ended December 31, 2021 compared to the prior period is primarily due to a higher level of compensation recorded in connection with the higher level of realized investment income.
Other Operating and Capital Measures
The following table presents certain key operating and capital metrics as of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020:
| As of | ||||||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | Change | ||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in millions) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Assets Under Management | $ | 470,555 | $ | 251,679 | $ | 218,876 | ||||||||||||||
| Fee Paying Assets Under Management | $ | 357,389 | $ | 186,217 | $ | 171,172 | ||||||||||||||
| Uncalled Commitments | $ | 111,822 | $ | 66,960 | $ | 44,862 | ||||||||||||||
The following table presents one of our key capital metrics for the year ended December 31, 2021 and 2020:
| Year Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | Change | ||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in millions) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Capital Invested | $ | 73,318 | $ | 29,517 | $ | 43,801 | ||||||||||||||
Assets Under Management
Private Markets
The following table reflects the changes in our Private Markets AUM from December 31, 2020 to December 31, 2021:
| ($ in millions) | |||||
| December 31, 2020 | $ | 148,689 | |||
| New Capital Raised | 83,859 | ||||
Acquisition of Global Atlantic (1) | 12,012 | ||||
| Distributions and Other | (23,889) | ||||
| Change in Value | 36,377 | ||||
| December 31, 2021 | $ | 257,048 | |||
(1)Reflects the AUM of Global Atlantic at February 1, 2021.
AUM for the Private Markets business line was $257.0 billion at December 31, 2021, an increase of $108.3 billion, compared to $148.7 billion at December 31, 2020.
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The increase was primarily attributable to (i) new capital raised from North America Fund XIII, Global Infrastructure Investors IV, our core investment strategy, and our European private equity strategy, (ii) an increase in investment value from Americas Fund XII, Asian Fund III and our core investment strategy, and (iii) assets we now manage under our investment management agreements with Global Atlantic's insurance companies. Partially offsetting these increases were distributions to our fund investors, primarily as a result of realized proceeds, most notably from Americas Fund XII, North America Fund XI, and Asian Fund III.
For the year ended December 31, 2021, the value of our traditional private equity investment portfolio increased by 46%. This was comprised of a 71% increase in share prices of various publicly held or publicly indexed investments and a 37% increase in value of our privately held investments. See "—Business Environment" for more information about the factors that may impact our business, financial performance, operating results and valuations.
The most significant increases in value of our publicly held investments across our Private Markets business line were increases in AppLovin Corporation (NASDAQ: APP), Max Healthcare Institute Limited (NSE: MAXHEALTH), and J.B. Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals Limited (NSE: JBCP). These increases were partially offset by decreases in share prices of various publicly held investments, the most significant of which was BridgeBio Pharma, Inc., PHC Holdings Corporation (TYO: 6523) and Fiserv, Inc. Generally speaking, the prices of publicly held investments have experienced volatility and downward pressure subsequent to December 31, 2021.
The most significant increases in value of our privately held investments across our Private Markets business line were increases in Internet Brands, Inc. (technology sector), Kokusai Electric Corporation, and PetVet Care Centers, LLC. These increases in value on our privately held investments were partially offset by decreases in value relating primarily to Magneti Marelli (industrial sector), Envision Healthcare Corporation (health care sector), and Upfield (consumer products sector). The increased valuations of individual companies in our privately held investments, in the aggregate, generally related to (i) individual company performance, (ii) an increase in the value of market comparables, and (iii) with respect to Kokusai Electric Corporation, an increase in valuation reflecting an agreement to sell a minority stake in the company. The decreased valuations of individual companies in our privately held investments, in the aggregate, generally related to (i) an unfavorable business outlook and (ii) a decrease in the value of market comparables, both influenced by the impact of COVID-19 on the economic outlook and overall market environment.
For the year ended December 31, 2020, the value of our traditional private equity investment portfolio increased 17%. This was comprised of a 21% increase in value of our privately held investments and a 6% increase in share prices of various publicly held or publicly indexed investments. See "—Business Environment" for more information about the factors that may impact our business, financial performance, operating results and valuations.
The most significant increases in value of our privately held investments across our Private Markets businesses line were increases in AppLovin Corporation, Kokusai Electric Corporation, and Internet Brands, Inc. These increases in value on our privately held investments were partially offset by decreases in value relating primarily to Envision Healthcare Corporation, Magneti Marelli, and Emerald Media (media sector). The increased valuations of individual companies in our privately held investments, in the aggregate, generally related to (i) an increase in the value of market comparables, (ii) individual company performance, and (iii) with respect to Kokusai Electric Corporation, an increase in valuation reflecting an agreement to exit the investment. The decreased valuations of individual companies in our privately held investments, in the aggregate, generally related to (i) an unfavorable business outlook and (ii) a decrease in the value of market comparables, both influenced by the impact of COVID-19 on the economic outlook and overall market environment.
The most significant increases in value of our publicly held investments across our Private Markets business line were increases in Academy Sports & Outdoor Inc., Hensoldt AG (FRA: HAG), and Max Healthcare Institute Limited. These increases were partially offset by decreases in share prices of various publicly held investments, the most significant of which were Fiserv, Inc., Laureate Education, Inc. (NASDAQ: LAUR) and BrightView Holdings Inc. (NYSE: BV). The prices of publicly held investments may experience volatile changes following the reporting period.
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Public Markets
The following table reflects the changes in our Public Markets AUM from December 31, 2020 to December 31, 2021:
| ($ in millions) | |||||
| December 31, 2020 | $ | 102,990 | |||
| New Capital Raised | 36,706 | ||||
Acquisition of Global Atlantic (1) | 85,491 | ||||
| Distributions and Other | (11,271) | ||||
| Redemptions | (8,196) | ||||
| Change in Value | 7,788 | ||||
| December 31, 2021 | $ | 213,507 | |||
(1)Reflects the AUM of Global Atlantic at February 1, 2021.
AUM in our Public Markets business line totaled $213.5 billion at December 31, 2021, an increase of $110.5 billion compared to AUM of $103.0 billion at December 31, 2020.
The increase was primarily attributable to (i) assets we now manage under our investment management agreements with Global Atlantic's insurance companies, (ii) new capital raised from Global Atlantic since February 1, 2021, CLO issuances, and our hedge fund partnerships and (iii) to a lesser extent, an increase in investment value across our leveraged and alternative credit portfolios and at our hedge fund partnerships. Partially offsetting these increases were (i) payments made to Global Atlantic to satisfy its obligations to policyholders, (ii) redemptions at our hedge fund partnerships and leveraged credit separately managed accounts and (iii) distributions to fund investors as a result of realized proceeds at certain leveraged and alternative credit funds.
See also "—Business Environment" for more information about the factors that may impact our business, financial performance, operating results and valuations.
Fee Paying Assets Under Management
Private Markets
The following table reflects the changes in our Private Markets FPAUM from December 31, 2020 to December 31, 2021:
| ($ in millions) | |||||
| December 31, 2020 | $ | 94,196 | |||
| New Capital Raised | 65,264 | ||||
Acquisition of Global Atlantic (1) | 12,012 | ||||
| Distributions and Other | (11,692) | ||||
| Net Changes in Fee Base of Certain Funds | (5,398) | ||||
| Change in Value | 473 | ||||
| December 31, 2021 | $ | 154,855 | |||
(1)Reflects the FPAUM of Global Atlantic at February 1, 2021.
FPAUM in our Private Markets business line was $154.9 billion at December 31, 2021, an increase of $60.7 billion, compared to $94.2 billion at December 31, 2020.
The increase was primarily attributable to (i) new capital raised from North America Fund XIII, Global Infrastructure Investors IV, and Global Atlantic since February 1, 2021 and (ii) assets we now manage under our investment management agreements with Global Atlantic. Partially offsetting these increases were (i) distributions to fund investors, primarily as a result of realized proceeds, most notably from 2006 Fund, Global Infrastructure Investors II and North America Fund XI and (ii) net changes in the fee base for Global Infrastructure Investors III, Americas Fund XII and Health Care Strategic Growth Fund I as a result of these funds entering their post-investment periods, during which we earn fees on invested capital rather than committed capital.
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Public Markets
The following table reflects the changes in our Public Markets FPAUM from December 31, 2020 to December 31, 2021:
| ($ in millions) | |||||
| December 31, 2020 | $ | 92,021 | |||
| New Capital Raised | 38,644 | ||||
Acquisition of Global Atlantic (1) | 85,491 | ||||
| Distributions and Other | (12,989) | ||||
| Redemptions | (6,590) | ||||
| Change in Value | 5,957 | ||||
| December 31, 2021 | $ | 202,534 | |||
(1)Reflects the FPAUM of Global Atlantic at February 1, 2021.
FPAUM in our Public Markets business line was $202.5 billion at December 31, 2021, an increase of $110.5 billion compared to $92.0 billion at December 31, 2020.
The increase was primarily attributable to (i) assets we now manage under our investment management agreements with Global Atlantic's insurance companies, (ii) new capital raised from Global Atlantic since February 1, 2021, CLO issuances, and our alternative credit funds and (iii) to a lesser extent, an increase in investment value at our hedge fund partnerships and from leveraged credit investments we manage under our investment management agreements with Global Atlantic's insurance companies. Partially offsetting these increases were (i) payments made to Global Atlantic policyholders, (ii) redemptions at our hedge fund partnerships and leveraged credit separately managed accounts and (iii) distributions to fund investors as a result of realized proceeds at certain leveraged and alternative credit funds.
See "—Business Environment" for more information about the factors that may impact our business, financial performance, operating results and valuations.
Uncalled Commitments
Private Markets
As of December 31, 2021, our Private Markets business line had $101.5 billion of remaining uncalled capital commitments that could be called for investments in new transactions as compared to $56.6 billion as of December 31, 2020. The increase was primarily attributable to new capital commitments from fund investors, which were partially offset by capital called from fund investors to make investments during the period.
Public Markets
As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, our Public Markets business line had $10.3 billion of remaining uncalled capital commitments that could be called for investments in new transactions. Uncalled commitments remained flat against the comparable period as new capital commitments from fund investors were offset by capital called from fund investors to make investments during the period.
Capital Invested
Private Markets
For the year ended December 31, 2021, $38.9 billion of capital was invested by our Private Markets business line, as compared to $19.2 billion for the year ended December 31, 2020. The increase was driven primarily by a $16.6 billion increase in capital invested in our real assets strategies, and a $1.9 billion increase in capital invested in our core investment and private equity strategies. During the year ended December 31, 2021, 57% of capital deployed in private equity, growth equity (including impact) and core investments was in transactions in North America, 23% was in Europe, and 20% was in the Asia-Pacific region. Generally, the portfolio companies acquired through our private equity and core funds have higher transaction values and result in higher capital invested relative to transactions in our real assets funds. The number of large private equity and core investments made in any quarterly or year-to-date period is volatile and, consequently, a significant amount of capital invested in one period or a few periods may not be indicative of a similar level of capital deployment in future periods.
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Public Markets
For the year ended December 31, 2021, $34.4 billion of capital was invested by our Public Markets business line, as compared to $10.3 billion for the year ended December 31, 2020. The increase was primarily due to (i) capital deployed under our investment management agreements with Global Atlantic's insurance companies and (ii) a higher level of capital deployed across our direct lending and SIG strategies. During the year ended December 31, 2021, 90% of capital deployed was in transactions in North America, 9% was in Europe and 1% was in the Asia-Pacific region.
Analysis of Insurance Segment Operating Results
As discussed above, our Insurance segment consists solely of the operations of Global Atlantic, which was acquired on February 1, 2021. Accordingly, prior periods have been excluded for Insurance segment results. For the year-ended December 31, 2021, the results of our Insurance segment is from the acquisition date, February 1, 2021, through December 31, 2021.
The following tables set forth information regarding KKR's insurance segment operating results and certain key operating metrics as of and for the year ended December 31, 2021:
| Year Ended | ||||||||
| December 31, 2021 | ||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | ||||||||
| Net Investment Income | $ | 3,329,570 | ||||||
| Net Cost of Insurance | (1,566,681) | |||||||
| General, Administrative and Other | (500,410) | |||||||
| Pre-tax Insurance Operating Earnings | 1,262,479 | |||||||
| Income Taxes | (199,095) | |||||||
| Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests | (410,833) | |||||||
| Insurance Segment Operating Earnings | $ | 652,551 | ||||||
Insurance segment operating earnings
Insurance segment operating earnings were primarily driven by net investment income and stable net cost of insurance.
Net investment income
Net investment income was primarily driven by (i) insurance segment investments and the effective book yield (as determined, in part, by the allocated fair value of the investment portfolio as of the closing date of the Global Atlantic), and (ii) variable investment income from net realized gains from the sale of investments not related to asset/liability matching strategies, including in particular the disposition of Origis USA, LLC, a utility-scale renewable energy developer. Average insurance segment investments were primarily driven by net inflows of assets from the individual markets and institutional channels. In addition to the impact of higher asset balances, net investment income was also impacted by income from bond call and loan prepayment activity.
Net cost of insurance
Net cost of insurance was driven primarily by stable liability performance across in-force and new business, including favorable adjustments to reserves and policy acquisition costs resulting from higher reserves and insurance intangibles established as part of the purchase accounting for the GA Acquisition and the impact of assumption review (as described in “ –Consolidated Results of Operations (GAAP Basis) – Insurance (Unaudited)” above).
General, administrative and other expenses
General and administrative expenses were driven by (i) employee compensation and benefits related expenses, (ii) policy servicing fees, (iii) technology-related charges and (iv) consulting and professional fees.
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Income taxes
Insurance segment income tax expense reflects the effective tax rate for the insurance segment on an operating basis, including the benefit of investment tax credits.
Net Income attributable to non-controlling interests
Income attributable to non-controlling interests represent the portion of the insurance segment adjusted operating earnings attributable to rollover and co-investors in Global Atlantic.
Analysis of Non-GAAP Performance Measures
The following is a discussion of our Non-GAAP performance measures for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020:
| Year Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | Change | ||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Asset Management Segment Operating Earnings | $ | 4,243,660 | $ | 2,286,984 | $ | 1,956,676 | ||||||||||||||
| Insurance Segment Operating Earnings | 652,551 | — | 652,551 | |||||||||||||||||
| Distributable Operating Earnings | 4,896,211 | 2,286,984 | 2,609,227 | |||||||||||||||||
| Interest Expense | (250,183) | (211,037) | (39,146) | |||||||||||||||||
| Preferred Dividends | (19,201) | (33,364) | 14,163 | |||||||||||||||||
| Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests | (23,664) | (7,842) | (15,822) | |||||||||||||||||
| Income Taxes Paid | (687,572) | (265,950) | (421,622) | |||||||||||||||||
| After-tax Distributable Earnings | $ | 3,915,591 | $ | 1,768,791 | $ | 2,146,800 | ||||||||||||||
As discussed in the Analysis of Segment Operating Results, following the acquisition of Global Atlantic, we re-evaluated our operating structure and the manner by which we manage and assess the performance of our businesses and allocates our resources. In the first quarter of 2021 we changed the presentation of our non-GAAP performance measures principally to reflect how we evaluate our business following the Global Atlantic acquisition. We also believe that this revised presentation improves the comparability of our non-GAAP financial information with that provided by other publicly traded companies in the alternative asset management industry.
Distributable Operating Earnings
The increase in distributable operating earnings for the year ended December 31, 2021 compared to the prior period is primarily due to a higher level of Asset Management segment operating earnings and the addition of our Insurance segment operating earnings in connection with the Global Atlantic acquisition. For a discussion of the Asset Management and Insurance segment operating earnings, see "—Analysis of Asset Management Segment Operating Results and Analysis of Insurance Segment Operating Results."
Interest Expense
For the year ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, interest expense relates primarily to the interest expense from our senior notes outstanding for KKR and KFN.
The increase in interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2021 compared to the prior period is primarily attributable to new note issuances.
Preferred Dividends
The decrease in preferred dividends for the year ended December 31, 2021 compared to the prior period was attributable to the redemption of all of our Series A and B preferred stock outstanding during the year ended December 31, 2021.
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Income Taxes Paid
The increase in income taxes paid for the year ended December 31, 2021 compared to the prior period was primarily due to a higher level of distributable operating earnings.
After-tax Distributable Earnings
The increase in after-tax distributable earnings for the year ended December 31, 2021 compared to the prior period was primarily due to a higher level of distributable operating earnings, partially offset by an increase in income taxes paid and interest expense, as discussed above.
For the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, the amount of the tax benefit from equity-based compensation included in income taxes paid was $123.1 million and $59.1 million, respectively. The inclusion of the tax benefit from equity-based compensation in After-tax Distributable Earnings had the effect of increasing this measure by 3% for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020.
Analysis of Asset Management Segment Operating Results
The following tables set forth information regarding KKR's Asset Management segment operating results for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019:
| Year Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2020 | December 31, 2019 | Change | ||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Management Fees | $ | 1,441,578 | $ | 1,248,517 | $ | 193,061 | ||||||||||||||
| Transaction and Monitoring Fees, Net | 632,433 | 564,259 | 68,174 | |||||||||||||||||
| Fee Related Performance Revenues | 39,555 | 53,024 | (13,469) | |||||||||||||||||
| Fee Related Compensation | (486,481) | (431,973) | (54,508) | |||||||||||||||||
| Other Operating Expenses | (346,558) | (353,565) | 7,007 | |||||||||||||||||
| Fee Related Earnings | 1,280,527 | 1,080,262 | 200,265 | |||||||||||||||||
| Realized Performance Income | 1,165,699 | 1,083,020 | 82,679 | |||||||||||||||||
| Realized Performance Income Compensation | (697,071) | (698,145) | 1,074 | |||||||||||||||||
| Realized Investment Income | 644,659 | 685,773 | (41,114) | |||||||||||||||||
| Realized Investment Income Compensation | (106,830) | (108,385) | 1,555 | |||||||||||||||||
| Asset Management Segment Operating Earnings | $ | 2,286,984 | $ | 2,042,525 | $ | 244,459 | ||||||||||||||
Management Fees
The following table presents management fees by business line for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019:
| Year Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2020 | December 31, 2019 | Change | ||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Management Fees | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Private Markets | $ | 976,607 | $ | 800,068 | $ | 176,539 | ||||||||||||||
| Public Markets | 464,971 | 448,449 | 16,522 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total Management Fees | $ | 1,441,578 | $ | 1,248,517 | $ | 193,061 | ||||||||||||||
The increase in Private Markets management fees was primarily attributable to management fees earned from Asian Fund IV, Next Generation Technology Growth Fund II, and Asia Pacific Infrastructure Investors which entered their investment periods subsequent to December 31, 2019. These increases were partially offset by (i) a decrease in management fees earned from Asian Fund III as it entered its post-investment period in the third quarter of 2020, in which it pays fees based on capital invested rather than capital committed and pays fees at a lower rate, and (ii) a decrease in management fees earned from
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European Fund IV as it entered its post investment period in the second quarter of 2019, in which it pays fees based on capital invested rather than remaining commitments and capital invested during the investment period.
The increase in Public Markets management fees was primarily attributable to management fees earned from new capital raised within the leveraged credit strategy, the issuance of new CLOs and greater overall FPAUM at our direct lending and asset-based finance strategies, partially offset by a lower level of management fees earned in certain alternative credit strategies, most notably special situations.
Transaction and Monitoring Fees, Net
The following table presents transaction and monitoring fees, net by business line for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019:
| Year Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2020 | December 31, 2019 | Change | ||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Transaction and Monitoring Fees, Net | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Private Markets | $ | 148,407 | $ | 150,103 | $ | (1,696) | ||||||||||||||
| Public Markets | 3,543 | 4,101 | (558) | |||||||||||||||||
| Capital Markets | 480,483 | 410,055 | 70,428 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total Transaction and Monitoring Fees, Net | $ | 632,433 | $ | 564,259 | $ | 68,174 | ||||||||||||||
Our Capital Markets business line earns transaction fees, which are not shared with fund investors. The increase in transaction fees was primarily due to an increase in the size of capital markets transactions for the year ended December 31, 2020, compared to the year ended December 31, 2019. Overall, we completed 193 capital markets transactions for the year ended December 31, 2020, of which 36 represented equity offerings and 157 represented debt offerings, as compared to 192 transactions for the year ended December 31, 2019, of which 28 represented equity offerings and 164 represented debt offerings. We earned fees in connection with underwriting, syndication and other capital markets services. While each of the capital markets transactions that we undertake in this business line is separately negotiated, our fee rates are generally higher with respect to underwriting or syndicating equity offerings than with respect to debt offerings, and the amount of fees that we earn for similar transactions generally correlates with overall transaction sizes.
Our capital markets fees are generated in connection with our Private Markets and Public Markets business lines as well as from third-party companies. For the year ended December 31, 2020, approximately 18% of our transaction fees in our Capital Markets business line were earned from unaffiliated third parties as compared to approximately 23% for the year ended December 31, 2019. Our transaction fees are comprised of fees earned from North America, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region. For the year ended December 31, 2020, approximately 58% of our transaction fees were generated outside of North America as compared to approximately 61% for the year ended December 31, 2019. Our Capital Markets business line is dependent on the overall capital markets environment, which is influenced by equity prices, credit spreads, and volatility. Our Capital Markets business line does not generate monitoring fees.
Our Private Markets and Public Markets business lines separately earn transaction and monitoring fees from portfolio companies, and under the terms of the management agreements with certain of our investment funds, we are required to share all or a portion of such fees with our fund investors.
The decrease in Private Markets transaction and monitoring fees, net was primarily attributable to a decrease in net transaction fees. During the year ended December 31, 2020, there were 76 transaction fee-generating investments that paid an average fee of $5.2 million compared to 59 transaction fee-generating investments that paid an average fee of $7.1 million during the year ended December 31, 2019. For the year ended December 31, 2020, approximately 36% of these transaction fees were paid by companies in North America, 34% were paid from companies in Europe, and 30% of these transaction fees were paid from companies in the Asia-Pacific region. Transaction fees vary by investment based upon a number of factors, the most significant of which are transaction size, the particular agreements as to the amount of the fees, the complexity of the transaction, and KKR's role in the transaction. Additionally, transaction fees are generally not earned with respect to energy and real estate investments.
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Partially offsetting the decrease in net transaction fees was an increase in net monitoring fees. The increase in net monitoring fees was primarily due to an increase in recurring monitoring fees compared to the prior period, as well as higher termination payments. Recurring monitoring fees increased $10.5 million, which was primarily the result of an increase in the number of portfolio companies paying monitoring fees. For the year ended December 31, 2020, we had 66 portfolio companies that were paying an average monitoring fee of $1.7 million compared with 59 portfolio companies that were paying an average monitoring fee of $1.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. For the year ended December 31, 2020, we received termination payments of $13.2 million in connection with the IPOs of Academy Sports & Outdoors, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASO) and Calisen PLC (LSE: CLSN LN) compared to $2.1 million of termination payments received in the year ended December 31, 2019 relating to the IPO of Trainline PLC. These termination payments may occur in the future; however, they are infrequent in nature and are generally correlated with the IPO and other realization activity in our private equity portfolio.
Fee Related Performance Revenues
The following table presents fee related performance revenues by business line for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019:
| Year Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2020 | December 31, 2019 | Change | ||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Fee Related Performance Revenues | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Private Markets | $ | 4,797 | $ | 2,316 | $ | 2,481 | ||||||||||||||
| Public Markets | 34,758 | 50,708 | (15,950) | |||||||||||||||||
| Total Fee Related Performance Revenues | $ | 39,555 | $ | 53,024 | $ | (13,469) | ||||||||||||||
Fee related performance revenues earned in our Private Markets and Public Markets business lines represent realized incentive fees that are (i) measured and received on a recurring basis, and (ii) not dependent on realization events from the underlying investments. These incentive fees are primarily earned from our business development companies in our Public Markets business line and our real estate credit investment trust, KKR Real Estate Finance Trust Inc. ("KREF") in our Private Markets business line. The decrease was primarily due to a lower level of investment income at our business development companies during the year ended December 31, 2020 as compared to the prior period.
Fee Related Compensation
The increase in fee related compensation for the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to the prior period was primarily due to a higher level of compensation recorded in connection with the higher level of revenues included within fee related earnings.
Other Operating Expenses
The decrease in other operating expenses for the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to the prior period was primarily due to a decrease in travel related expenses as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. These decreases were partially offset by a higher level of professional fees and other administrative costs in connection with the growth of the firm.
Fee Related Earnings
The increase in fee related earnings for the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to the prior period was primarily due to a higher level of management fees and transaction fees from our Capital Markets business line, partially offset by a higher level of fee related compensation and a lower level of fee related performance revenues, as described above.
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Realized Performance Income
The following table presents realized performance income by business line for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019:
| Year Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2020 | December 31, 2019 | Change | ||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Realized Performance Income | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Private Markets | $ | 1,015,865 | $ | 1,046,038 | $ | (30,173) | ||||||||||||||
| Public Markets | 149,834 | 36,982 | 112,852 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total Realized Performance Income | $ | 1,165,699 | $ | 1,083,020 | $ | 82,679 | ||||||||||||||
| Year Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2020 | December 31, 2019 | Change | ||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Private Markets | ||||||||||||||||||||
| North America Fund XI | $ | 203,606 | $ | 341,602 | $ | (137,996) | ||||||||||||||
| 2006 Fund | 181,899 | 143,692 | 38,207 | |||||||||||||||||
| Global Infrastructure Investors II | 148,882 | — | 148,882 | |||||||||||||||||
| European Fund IV | 139,948 | 221,222 | (81,274) | |||||||||||||||||
| Co-Investment Vehicles and Other | 93,650 | 70,179 | 23,471 | |||||||||||||||||
| Asian Fund II | 60,647 | 126,039 | (65,392) | |||||||||||||||||
| Core Investment Vehicles | 57,484 | 14,449 | 43,035 | |||||||||||||||||
| Global Infrastructure Investors | 54,729 | — | 54,729 | |||||||||||||||||
| Asian Fund III | 46,347 | 36,707 | 9,640 | |||||||||||||||||
| Next Generation Technology Growth Fund | 13,964 | — | 13,964 | |||||||||||||||||
| Real Estate Partners Americas | 4,977 | 7,439 | (2,462) | |||||||||||||||||
| Asian Fund | 431 | 10,913 | (10,482) | |||||||||||||||||
| European Fund III | — | 65,700 | (65,700) | |||||||||||||||||
| European Fund II | — | 5,058 | (5,058) | |||||||||||||||||
| China Growth Fund | — | 3,038 | (3,038) | |||||||||||||||||
Total Realized Carried Interest (1) | 1,006,564 | 1,046,038 | (39,474) | |||||||||||||||||
| Incentive Fees | 9,301 | — | 9,301 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total Realized Performance Income | $ | 1,015,865 | $ | 1,046,038 | $ | (30,173) | ||||||||||||||
| Year Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2020 | December 31, 2019 | Change | ||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Public Markets | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Other Alternative Credit Vehicles | $ | 25,740 | $ | 14,850 | $ | 10,890 | ||||||||||||||
| Mezzanine Partners | 9,900 | 9,900 | — | |||||||||||||||||
Total Realized Carried Interest (1) | 35,640 | 24,750 | 10,890 | |||||||||||||||||
| Incentive Fees | 114,194 | 12,232 | 101,962 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total Realized Performance Income | $ | 149,834 | $ | 36,982 | $ | 112,852 | ||||||||||||||
(1)The above tables exclude any funds for which there was no realized carried interest during both of the periods presented.
Realized performance income included (i) realized carried interest from our carry earning funds and (ii) incentive fees not included in Fee Related Performance Revenues.
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Realized carried interest in our Private Markets business line for the year ended December 31, 2020 consisted primarily of realized proceeds from the sales of our investments in Deutsche Glasfaser, Privilege Underwriters, Inc., LGC Science Group Limited, Epicor Software Corporation, The Hut Group Limited, and Fiserv, Inc.
Realized carried interest in our Private Markets business line for the year ended December 31, 2019 consisted primarily of realized proceeds from the sales of our investments in Sedgwick Claims Management Services, Inc. and Trainline PLC and dividends received from our investment in Fiserv, Inc.
Realized carried interest in our Public Markets business line increased for the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to the prior period as a result of a higher level of realization activity at certain alternative credit investment funds, which we are eligible to take cash carry.
Incentive fees earned in our Public Markets business line consisted primarily of incentive fees earned from our hedge fund partnerships and certain incentive fee eligible leveraged credit accounts. The increase in incentive fees for the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to the prior period was primarily attributable to a higher level of incentive fees earned from our hedge fund partnership, Marshall Wace.
Realized Performance Income Compensation
The decrease in realized performance income compensation for the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to the prior period was primarily due to a lower level of compensation recorded in connection with the higher level of realized performance income.
Realized Investment Income
The following table presents realized investment income from our Principal Activities business line for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019:
| Year Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2020 | December 31, 2019 | Change | ||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Realized Investment Income | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Net Realized Gains (Losses) | $ | 284,521 | $ | 189,858 | $ | 94,663 | ||||||||||||||
| Interest Income and Dividends | 360,138 | 495,915 | (135,777) | |||||||||||||||||
| Total Realized Investment Income | $ | 644,659 | $ | 685,773 | $ | (41,114) | ||||||||||||||
The decrease in realized investment income was due to a lower level of interest income and dividends, partially offset by a higher level of net realized gains. The amount of realized investment income depends on the transaction activity of our funds and our subsidiaries, which can vary from period to period.
For the year ended December 31, 2020, interest income and dividends were comprised of (i) $225.4 million of dividend income from our investment in Fiserv, Inc. ($62.5 million), Epicor Software Corporation ($27.3 million) and our real assets investments, including our real estate investment in KREF and (ii) $134.7 million of interest income from our investments in CLOs, other credit investments, and to a lesser extent our cash balances.
For the year ended December 31, 2019, interest income and dividends were comprised of (i) $336.7 million of dividend income from our investment in Fiserv, Inc. and our real assets investments, including our real estate investment in KREF and (ii) $159.2 million of interest income which consists primarily of interest from our investments in CLOs, other credit investments, and our cash balances. See "—Analysis of Non-GAAP Performance Measures—Non-GAAP Balance Sheet Measures."
For the year ended December 31, 2020, net realized gains were comprised of realized gains primarily from the sale of our investments in The Hut Group Limited, Deutsche Glasfaser, Ivalua SAS, Fiserv, Inc. and BridgeBio Pharma, Inc. Partially offsetting these realized gains were realized losses, the most significant of which were realized losses on our investment in LCI Helicopters Limited, Yorktown Center and various alternative credit strategy investments.
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For the year ended December 31, 2019, net realized gains were comprised of realized gains primarily from the sale of our investments in Trainline PLC, GEG German Estate Group AG (financial services sector), and Sedgwick Claims Management Services, Inc., and the sale of certain investments in our special situations funds. Partially offsetting these realized gains were realized losses, the most significant of which was a realized loss on the sale of our investment in DoubleDutch, Inc. See "—Analysis of Non-GAAP Performance Measures—Non-GAAP Balance Sheet Measures."
Prior to the acquisition of KKR Capstone on January 1, 2020, (i) KKR Capstone's financial results were consolidated in KKR's financial results in accordance with GAAP, and as such the fees and expenses attributable to KKR Capstone were included in KKR's consolidated revenues and expenses, and (ii) KKR Capstone's financial results were excluded from KKR's segment and non-GAAP financial measures, because KKR presented its segment and non-GAAP financial measures prior to giving effect to the consolidation of certain entities that were not subsidiaries of KKR. Following the acquisition of KKR Capstone on January 1, 2020, after-tax distributable earnings includes the net income (loss) from KKR Capstone within realized investment income (loss). For the year ended December 31, 2020, total fees attributable to KKR Capstone were $81.5 million, total expenses attributable to KKR Capstone were $65.7 million, and income taxes and other income attributable to Capstone were $(1.5) million. For KKR Capstone-related adjustments in reconciling Asset Management segment revenues to GAAP revenues see "—Analysis of Non-GAAP Performance Measures—Reconciliations to GAAP Measures".
Realized Investment Income Compensation
The decrease in realized investment income compensation for the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to the prior period was primarily due to a lower level of compensation recorded in connection with the lower level of realized investment income.
Analysis of Non-GAAP Performance Measures
The following is a discussion of our Non-GAAP performance measures for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019:
| Year Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2020 | December 31, 2019 | Change | ||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Asset Management Segment Operating Earnings | $ | 2,286,984 | $ | 2,042,525 | $ | 244,459 | ||||||||||||||
| Insurance Segment Operating Earnings | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||
| Distributable Operating Earnings | 2,286,984 | 2,042,525 | 244,459 | |||||||||||||||||
| Interest Expense | (211,037) | (183,682) | (27,355) | |||||||||||||||||
| Preferred Dividends | (33,364) | (33,364) | — | |||||||||||||||||
| Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests | (7,842) | (4,907) | (2,935) | |||||||||||||||||
| Income Taxes Paid | (265,950) | (207,479) | (58,471) | |||||||||||||||||
| After-tax Distributable Earnings | $ | 1,768,791 | $ | 1,613,093 | $ | 155,698 | ||||||||||||||
Distributable Operating Earnings
The increase in distributable operating earnings for the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to the prior period was primarily due to a higher level of fee related earnings and realized performance income, partially offset by a lower level of realized investment income. For a discussion of the Asset Management, see "—Analysis of Asset Management Segment Operating Results."
Interest Expense
For the year ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, interest expense related primarily to the interest expense from our senior notes outstanding for KKR and KFN.
The increase in interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to the prior period was primarily attributable to new note issuances.
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Income Taxes Paid
The increase in income taxes paid for the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to the prior period was primarily due to a higher level of distributable operating earnings.
After-tax Distributable Earnings
The increase in after-tax distributable earnings for the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to the prior period was primarily due to a higher level of distributable operating earnings, partially offset by an increase in income taxes paid and interest expense, as discussed above.
Non-GAAP Balance Sheet Measures
Book Value
The following table presents our calculation of book value as of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020:
| As of | |||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||
| (+) | Cash and Short-term Investments | $ | 4,869,203 | $ | 5,961,083 | ||||||||||||
| (+) | Investments | 17,763,542 | 14,991,914 | ||||||||||||||
| (+) | Net Unrealized Carried Interest (1) | 4,967,401 | 2,625,935 | ||||||||||||||
| (+) | Other Assets (2) | 4,706,108 | 4,198,641 | ||||||||||||||
| (+) | Global Atlantic Book Value | 3,372,498 | — | ||||||||||||||
| (-) | Debt Obligations - KKR (excluding KFN and Global Atlantic) | 5,836,267 | 4,688,460 | ||||||||||||||
| (-) | Debt Obligations - KFN | 948,517 | 948,517 | ||||||||||||||
| (-) | Tax Liabilities, Net | 2,697,317 | 485,966 | ||||||||||||||
| (-) | Other Liabilities | 774,711 | 857,764 | ||||||||||||||
| (-) | Noncontrolling Interests | 33,058 | 29,510 | ||||||||||||||
| (-) | Preferred Stock | — | 500,000 | ||||||||||||||
| Book Value | $ | 25,388,882 | $ | 20,267,356 | |||||||||||||
| Book Value Per Adjusted Share | $ | 28.77 | $ | 23.09 | |||||||||||||
| Adjusted Shares | 882,589,036 | 877,613,164 | |||||||||||||||
(1)The following table provides net unrealized carried interest by business line:
| As of | ||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | |||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | ||||||||||||||
| Private Markets Business Line | $ | 4,856,843 | $ | 2,560,101 | ||||||||||
| Public Markets Business Line | 110,558 | 65,834 | ||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 4,967,401 | $ | 2,625,935 | ||||||||||
(2)Other Assets include KKR's ownership interest in FS/KKR Advisor and minority ownership interests in hedge fund partnerships.
Book value per adjusted share increased 25% from December 31, 2020. The increase was primarily attributable to (i) the net appreciation in the value of our investment portfolio, including investment income from investments held by KKR as well as carried interest from investments held through investment funds, especially KKR's private equity, real assets and alternative credit funds, where KKR is entitled to earn carried interest, and (ii) after-tax distributable earnings during the period. Partially offsetting this increase was (i) the payment of dividends and the repurchases of our common stock during the period and (ii) an adjustment to book value to reflect the implied amount of (1) tax assets and liabilities attributable to KKR Holdings L.P. as if it was subject to corporate income taxes (although this adjustment was not applied to prior periods, had this adjustment been made as of December 31, 2020, book value would have been reduced by $459 million as of such date) and (2) the recognition of deferred tax liabilities relating to certain assets of KKR Group Partnership L.P. that is expected to occur upon the completion of the mergers contemplated by the Reorganization Agreement. The impact of this adjustment was a reduction to book value of $1,396 million as of December 31, 2021.
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With respect to book value relating to the Asset Management business, for the year ended December 31, 2021, the value of the Asset Management segment balance sheet portfolio increased 28% and KKR's traditional private equity portfolio increased by 46%. The increases in KKR's Asset Management segment balance sheet portfolio and net unrealized carried interest was primarily due to mark-to-market net investment gains. For a further discussion, see "—Unaudited Consolidated Results of Operations (GAAP Basis) - Asset Management—Unrealized Gains and Losses from Investment Activities." For a discussion of the changes in KKR's private equity portfolio, see "—Analysis of Asset Management Segment Operating Results—Assets Under Management." For a discussion of factors that impacted KKR's after-tax distributable earnings, see "—Analysis of Non-GAAP Performance Measures— After-tax Distributable Earnings" and for more information about the factors that may impact our business, financial performance, operating results and valuations, see "—Business Environment."
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The following table presents the holdings of our investments in the Asset Management segment by asset class as of December 31, 2021. To the extent investments are realized at values below their cost in future periods, after-tax distributable earnings would be adversely affected by the amount of such loss, if any, during the period in which the realization event occurs.
| As of December 31, 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Investments (1) | Cost | Fair Value | Fair Value as a Percentage of Total Investments | |||||||||||||||||
| Private Equity | $ | 1,990,714 | $ | 4,839,547 | 27.2 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Core Private Equity | 2,521,080 | 5,207,969 | 29.3 | % | ||||||||||||||||
| Growth | 263,181 | 990,325 | 5.6 | % | ||||||||||||||||
| Private Equity, Core & Growth Total | 4,774,975 | 11,037,841 | 62.1 | % | ||||||||||||||||
| Energy | 814,317 | 677,019 | 3.8 | % | ||||||||||||||||
| Real Estate | 1,705,863 | 2,036,752 | 11.5 | % | ||||||||||||||||
| Infrastructure | 624,035 | 748,470 | 4.2 | % | ||||||||||||||||
| Real Assets Total | 3,144,215 | 3,462,241 | 19.5 | % | ||||||||||||||||
| Leveraged Credit | 995,956 | 1,007,327 | 5.7 | % | ||||||||||||||||
| Alternative Credit | 807,445 | 921,920 | 5.2 | % | ||||||||||||||||
| Credit Total | 1,803,401 | 1,929,247 | 10.9 | % | ||||||||||||||||
| Other | 1,357,922 | 1,334,213 | 7.5 | % | ||||||||||||||||
| Total Investments | $ | 11,080,513 | $ | 17,763,542 | 100.0 | % | ||||||||||||||
| As of December 31, 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Significant Investments: (2) | Cost | Fair Value | Fair Value as a Percentage of Total Investments | |||||||||||||||||
| PetVet Care Centers, LLC | $ | 243,211 | $ | 1,216,055 | 6.8 | % | ||||||||||||||
| USI, Inc. | 531,425 | 1,094,073 | 6.2 | % | ||||||||||||||||
| Fiserv, Inc. (NASDAQ: FISV) | 370,766 | 853,584 | 4.8 | % | ||||||||||||||||
| Heartland Dental, LLC | 320,656 | 833,705 | 4.7 | % | ||||||||||||||||
| Exact Holding B.V. | 213,362 | 459,828 | 2.6 | % | ||||||||||||||||
| Total Significant Investments | 1,679,420 | 4,457,245 | 25.1 | % | ||||||||||||||||
| Other Investments | 9,401,093 | 13,306,297 | 74.9 | % | ||||||||||||||||
| Total Investments | $ | 11,080,513 | $ | 17,763,542 | 100.0 | % | ||||||||||||||
(1)Investments is a term used solely for purposes of financial presentation of a portion of KKR's balance sheet and includes majority ownership of subsidiaries that operate KKR's asset management and insurance businesses, including the general partner interests of KKR's investment funds. Investments presented are principally the assets measured at fair value that are held by KKR's asset management segment, which, among other things, does not include the underlying investments held by Global Atlantic and Marshall Wace.
(2)Significant Investments include the top five investments based on their fair values as of December 31, 2021. Significant Investments exclude (i) investments expected to be syndicated, (ii) investments expected to be transferred in connection with a new fundraising, and (iii) investments in funds and other entities that are owned by one or more third parties and established for the purpose of making investments. Accordingly, this list of Significant Investments should not be relied upon as a substitute for information about the asset class exposure of KKR's balance sheet. For information about the asset class exposure of KKR's balance sheet see "—Our Business—Principal Activities" for the "Holdings by Asset Class" pie chart. The fair value figures include the co-investment and the limited partner and/or general partner interests held by KKR in the underlying investment, if applicable.
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With respect to KKR's book value relating to its insurance business, KKR includes Global Atlantic's book value, which consists of KKR's pro rata equity interest in Global Atlantic on a GAAP basis, excluding (i) accumulated other comprehensive income and (ii) accumulated change in fair value of reinsurance embedded derivative balances and related assets, net of deferred acquisition costs and income tax. KKR believes this presentation of Global Atlantic's book value is comparable with the corresponding metric presented by other publicly traded companies in Global Atlantic's industry. As of December 31, 2021, KKR's pro rata interest in Global Atlantic's book value was $3.4 billion. For more information about the composition and credit quality of Global Atlantic's investments on a consolidated basis, please see "--Global Atlantic's Investment Portfolio" below.
Global Atlantic's Investment Portfolio
As of December 31, 2021, 97% and 87% of Global Atlantic's AFS fixed maturity securities were considered investment grade under ratings from the Securities Valuation Office of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners ("NAIC") and nationally recognized statistical rating organizations ("NRSROs"), respectively. Securities where a rating by an NRSRO was not available are considered investment grade if they have an NAIC designation of “1” or “2.” The three largest asset categories in Global Atlantic's AFS fixed-maturity security portfolio as of December 31, 2021 were Corporate, RMBS and CMBS securities, comprising 34%, 6% and 5% of Global Atlantic's investment portfolio, respectively. Within these categories, 95%, 96% and 99% of Global Atlantic's Corporate, RMBS and CMBS securities, respectively, were investment grade according to NAIC ratings and 95%, 38% and 62% of its Corporate, RMBS and CMBS securities, respectively, were investment grade according to NRSRO ratings as of December 31, 2021. NRSRO and NAIC ratings have different methodologies. Global Atlantic believes the NAIC ratings methodology, which considers the likelihood of recovery of amortized cost as opposed to the recovery of all contractual payments including the principal at par, as the more appropriate way to view the ratings quality of its AFS fixed maturity portfolio since a large portion of its holdings were purchased at a significant discount to par value. The portion of Global Atlantic's AFS fixed maturity portfolio consisting of floating rate assets was 36% as of December 31, 2021.
Within the funds withheld receivable at interest portfolio, 96% of the fixed maturity securities were investment grade by NAIC designation as of December 31, 2021.
Global Atlantic also maintains a $13.8 billion fixed maturity securities portfolio classified as trading which underlie the funds withheld payable at interest obligation from certain reinsurance transactions. The investment performance from the fixed maturity securities in this trading portfolio is ceded to reinsurers under the terms of their reinsurance agreements.
Credit quality of AFS fixed maturity securities
The Securities Valuation Office of the NAIC evaluates the AFS fixed maturity security investments of insurers for regulatory reporting and capital assessment purposes and assigns securities to one of six credit quality categories called “NAIC designations.” Using an internally developed rating is permitted by the NAIC if no rating is available. These designations are generally similar to the credit quality designations of NRSROs for marketable fixed maturity securities, except for certain structured securities as described below. NAIC designations of “1,” highest quality, and “2,” high quality, include fixed maturity securities generally considered investment grade by NRSROs. NAIC designations “3” through “6” include fixed maturity securities generally considered below investment grade by NRSROs.
Consistent with the NAIC Process and Procedures Manual, an NRSRO rating was assigned based on the following criteria: (i) the equivalent S&P rating where the security is rated by one NRSRO; (ii) the equivalent S&P rating of the lowest NRSRO when the security is rated by two NRSROs; and (iii) the equivalent S&P rating of the second lowest NRSRO if the security is rated by three or more NRSROs. If the lowest two NRSROs’ ratings are equal, then such rating will be the assigned rating. NRSROs’ ratings available for the periods presented were S&P, Fitch, Moody’s, DBRS, Inc. and Kroll Bond Rating Agency, Inc. If no rating is available from a rating agency, then an internally developed rating is used.
Substantially all of the AFS fixed maturity securities portfolio, 97% as of December 31, 2021, was invested in investment grade assets with a NAIC rating of 1 or 2.
The portion of the AFS fixed maturity securities portfolio that was considered below investment grade by NAIC designation was 3% as of December 31, 2021. Pursuant to Global Atlantic's investment guidelines, it actively monitors the percentage of its portfolio that is held in investments rated NAIC 3 or lower and must obtain an additional approval from Global Atlantic's management investment committee before making a significant investment in an asset rated NAIC 3 or lower.
As of December 31, 2021, the non-rated AFS fixed-maturity securities include $118.8 million of private placement securities for which Global Atlantic has not sought individual ratings from the NRSROs.
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Corporate fixed maturity securities
Global Atlantic maintains a diversified portfolio of corporate fixed maturity securities across industries and issuers. As of December 31, 2021, 60% of the AFS fixed maturity securities portfolio was invested in corporate fixed maturity securities.
As of December 31, 2021, 95% of the total fair value of corporate fixed maturity securities is rated NAIC investment grade, and 95% is rated NRSROs investment grade.
Residential mortgage-backed securities
As of December 31, 2021, 11% of the AFS fixed maturity securities portfolio was invested in RMBS. RMBS are securities constructed from pools of residential mortgages and backed by payments from those pools. Excluding limitations on access to lending and other extraordinary economic conditions, we would expect prepayments of principal on the underlying loans to accelerate with decreases in market interest rates and diminish with increases in market interest rates.
The NAIC designations for RMBS, including prime, sub-prime, alt-A, and adjustable rate mortgages with variable payment options ("Option ARM"), are based upon a comparison of the bond’s amortized cost to the NAIC’s loss expectation for each security. Accordingly, an investment in the same security at a lower cost may result in a higher quality NAIC designation in recognition of the lower likelihood the investment would result in a realized loss. Prime residential mortgage lending includes loans to the most creditworthy borrowers with high quality credit profiles. Alt-A is a classification of mortgage loans where the risk profile of the borrower is between prime and sub-prime. Sub-prime mortgage lending is the origination of residential mortgage loans to borrowers with weak credit profiles.
As of December 31, 2021, 93% of RMBS securities that are below investment grade as rated by the NRSRO, carry an NAIC 1 ("highest quality") designation. As of December 31, 2021, Alt-A, Option ARM, Re-Performing and Sub-prime represent 33%, 30%, 14% and 12% of the total RMBS portfolio ($7.7 billion), respectively.
Unrealized gains and losses for AFS fixed maturity securities
Global Atlantic's investments in AFS fixed maturity securities are reported at fair value with changes in fair value recorded in other comprehensive income as unrealized gains or losses, net of taxes and offsets. Unrealized gains and losses can be created by changes in interest rates or by changes in credit spreads.
As of December 31, 2021, Global Atlantic had gross unrealized losses on below investment grade AFS fixed maturity securities of $80.3 million based on NRSRO rating and $13.5 million based on NAIC ratings.
Mortgage and other loan receivables - Credit quality indicators
Mortgage and other loan receivables consist of commercial and residential mortgage loans, and other loan receivables. As of December 31, 2021, 23% of Global Atlantic's total investments consisted of mortgage and other loan receivables. Global Atlantic invests in U.S. mortgage loans, comprised of first lien and mezzanine real estate loans, residential mortgage loans, consumer loans, and other loan receivables.
Global Atlantic's commercial mortgage loans may also be rated based on NAIC designations, with designations “CM1” and “CM2” considered to be investment grade. As of December 31, 2021, 96% of the commercial mortgage loan portfolio was rated investment grade based on NAIC designation. 100% of the commercial mortgage loan portfolio is in current status.
As of December 31, 2021, 96% of the residential mortgage loan portfolio is in current status, and approximately $202.7 million is over 90 days past due (representing 2% of the total residential mortgage portfolio).
The loan-to-value ratio is expressed as a percentage of the current amount of the loan relative to the value of the underlying collateral. Approximately 83% of the commercial mortgage loans has a loan-to-value ratio of 70% or less and a 0.3% has loan-to-value ratio over 90%.
Changing economic conditions affect Global Atlantic’s valuation of commercial mortgage loans. Changing vacancies and rents are incorporated into the discounted cash flow analysis that Global Atlantic performs for monitored loans and may contribute to the establishment of (or increase or decrease in) a commercial mortgage loan valuation allowance for losses. In addition, Global Atlantic continuously monitors its commercial mortgage loan portfolio to identify risk. Areas of emphasis are properties that have exposure to specific geographic events, or have deteriorating credit.
The weighted average loan-to-value ratio for residential mortgage loans was 68% as of December 31, 2021.
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Global Atlantic's residential mortgage loan portfolio is comprised mainly of re-performing loans that were purchased at a discount after they were modified and returned to performing status, as well as prime jumbo loans and mortgage loans backed by single family rental properties. Global Atlantic has also extended financing to counterparties in the form of repurchase agreements secured by mortgage loans, including performing and non-performing mortgage loans.
Global Atlantic’s consumer loan portfolio is primarily comprised of home improvement loans, solar panel loans, student loans and auto loans.
Reconciliations to GAAP Measures
The following tables reconcile the most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP to KKR's non-GAAP financial measures for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019:
Revenues
| Year Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | December 31, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Total GAAP Revenues | $ | 16,236,148 | $ | 4,230,891 | $ | 4,220,900 | ||||||||||||||
| Impact of Consolidation and Other | 808,174 | 461,244 | 256,972 | |||||||||||||||||
| Asset Management Adjustments: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Capital Allocation-Based Income (GAAP) | (6,842,414) | (2,224,100) | (2,430,425) | |||||||||||||||||
| Realized Carried Interest | 1,752,130 | 1,042,204 | 1,070,788 | |||||||||||||||||
| Realized Investment Income | 1,613,244 | 644,659 | 685,773 | |||||||||||||||||
| Capstone Fees | (91,407) | (81,452) | — | |||||||||||||||||
| Expense Reimbursements | (178,572) | (149,522) | (169,415) | |||||||||||||||||
| Insurance Adjustments: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Premiums | (2,226,078) | — | — | |||||||||||||||||
| Policy Fees | (1,147,913) | — | — | |||||||||||||||||
| Other Income | (120,213) | — | — | |||||||||||||||||
| Investment Gains and Losses | 544,357 | — | — | |||||||||||||||||
| Derivative Gains and Losses | (141,513) | — | — | |||||||||||||||||
Total Segment Revenues (1) | $ | 10,205,943 | $ | 3,923,924 | $ | 3,634,593 | ||||||||||||||
(1)Total Segment Revenues is comprised of (i) Management Fees, (ii) Transaction and Monitoring Fees, Net, (iii) Fee Related Performance Revenues, (iv) Realized Performance Income, (v) Realized Investment Income, and (vi) Net Investment Income.
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Net Income (Loss) Attributable to KKR & Co. Inc. Common Stockholders
| Year Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | December 31, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Net Income (Loss) Attributable to KKR & Co. Inc. Common Stockholders (GAAP) | $ | 4,560,829 | $ | 1,945,954 | $ | 1,971,685 | ||||||||||||||
| Preferred Stock Dividends | 105,647 | 56,555 | 33,364 | |||||||||||||||||
| Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests | 7,628,703 | 3,115,089 | 2,634,491 | |||||||||||||||||
| Income Tax Expense (Benefit) | 1,353,270 | 609,097 | 528,750 | |||||||||||||||||
| Income (Loss) Before Tax (GAAP) | $ | 13,648,449 | $ | 5,726,695 | $ | 5,168,290 | ||||||||||||||
| Impact of Consolidation and Other | (5,189,459) | (1,704,739) | (1,038,398) | |||||||||||||||||
| Equity-based Compensation - KKR Holdings | 161,283 | 80,739 | 91,296 | |||||||||||||||||
| Preferred Stock Dividends | (19,201) | (33,364) | (33,364) | |||||||||||||||||
| Income Taxes Paid | (687,572) | (265,950) | (207,479) | |||||||||||||||||
| Asset Management Adjustments: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Unrealized Carried Interest | (4,043,135) | (1,070,803) | (1,263,046) | |||||||||||||||||
| Net Unrealized (Gains) Losses | (2,590,280) | (1,697,740) | (1,854,867) | |||||||||||||||||
| Unrealized Carried Interest Compensation (Carry Pool) | 1,751,912 | 467,485 | 520,033 | |||||||||||||||||
| Strategic Corporate Transaction-Related Charges | 25,153 | 20,073 | — | |||||||||||||||||
| Equity-based Compensation | 183,100 | 236,199 | 201,095 | |||||||||||||||||
| Equity-based Compensation - Performance based | 78,230 | 10,196 | 6,694 | |||||||||||||||||
Non-recurring items (1) | — | — | 22,839 | |||||||||||||||||
| Insurance Adjustments: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Net (Gains) Losses from Investments and Derivatives | 658,975 | — | — | |||||||||||||||||
| Strategic Corporate Transaction-Related Charges | 25,711 | — | — | |||||||||||||||||
| Equity-based and Other Compensation | 95,344 | — | — | |||||||||||||||||
| Amortization of Acquired Intangibles | 16,176 | — | — | |||||||||||||||||
| Income Taxes | (199,095) | — | — | |||||||||||||||||
| After-tax Distributable Earnings | $ | 3,915,591 | $ | 1,768,791 | $ | 1,613,093 | ||||||||||||||
| Interest Expense | 250,183 | 211,037 | 183,682 | |||||||||||||||||
| Preferred Stock Dividends | 19,201 | 33,364 | 33,364 | |||||||||||||||||
| Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests | 23,664 | 7,842 | 4,907 | |||||||||||||||||
| Income Taxes Paid | 687,572 | 265,950 | 207,479 | |||||||||||||||||
| Distributable Operating Earnings | $ | 4,896,211 | $ | 2,286,984 | $ | 2,042,525 | ||||||||||||||
| Insurance Segment Operating Earnings | (652,551) | — | — | |||||||||||||||||
| Realized Performance Income | (2,141,596) | (1,165,699) | (1,083,020) | |||||||||||||||||
| Realized Performance Income Compensation | 1,239,177 | 697,071 | 698,145 | |||||||||||||||||
| Realized Investment Income | (1,613,244) | (644,659) | (685,773) | |||||||||||||||||
| Realized Investment Income Compensation | 241,994 | 106,830 | 108,385 | |||||||||||||||||
| Fee Related Earnings | $ | 1,969,991 | $ | 1,280,527 | $ | 1,080,262 | ||||||||||||||
| Insurance Segment Operating Earnings | 652,551 | — | — | |||||||||||||||||
| Realized Performance Income | 2,141,596 | 1,165,699 | 1,083,020 | |||||||||||||||||
| Realized Performance Income Compensation | (1,239,177) | (697,071) | (698,145) | |||||||||||||||||
| Realized Investment Income | 1,613,244 | 644,659 | 685,773 | |||||||||||||||||
| Realized Investment Income Compensation | (241,994) | (106,830) | (108,385) | |||||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and Amortization | 25,940 | 18,626 | 17,653 | |||||||||||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 4,922,151 | $ | 2,305,610 | $ | 2,060,178 | ||||||||||||||
(1) Represents a $22.8 million non-recurring make-whole premium associated with KKR's refinancing of its 6.375% Senior Notes due 2020 during the year ended December 31, 2019.
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KKR & Co. Inc. Stockholders' Equity - Common Stock
| As of | |||||||||||
| December 31, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | ||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | |||||||||||
| KKR & Co. Inc. Stockholders' Equity - Series I and II Preferred Stock, Common Stock | $ | 16,466,372 | $ | 12,118,472 | |||||||
| Series C Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock | 1,115,792 | 1,115,792 | |||||||||
Impact of Consolidation and Other (1) | (1,048,569) | 520,710 | |||||||||
| KKR Holdings and Other Exchangeable Securities | 8,595,510 | 6,512,382 | |||||||||
| Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (AOCI) and Other (Insurance) | 259,777 | — | |||||||||
| Book Value | $ | 25,388,882 | $ | 20,267,356 | |||||||
(1) Includes an adjustment to book value to reflect the implied amount of (1) tax assets and liabilities attributable to KKR Holdings L.P. as if it was subject to corporate income taxes and (2) the recognition of deferred tax liabilities relating to certain assets of KKR Group Partnership L.P. that is expected to occur upon the completion of the mergers contemplated by the Reorganization Agreement. The impact of this adjustment was a reduction to book value of $1,396 million as of December 31, 2021.
The following table provides reconciliations of KKR's GAAP Shares of Common Stock Outstanding to Adjusted Shares:
| As of | |||||||||||
| December 31, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | ||||||||||
| GAAP Shares of Common Stock Outstanding | 595,663,618 | 572,893,738 | |||||||||
| Adjustments: | |||||||||||
| KKR Holdings Units | 258,726,163 | 275,626,493 | |||||||||
Other Exchangeable Securities (1) | 1,376,655 | — | |||||||||
Common Stock - Series C Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock (2) | 26,822,600 | 29,092,933 | |||||||||
Adjusted Shares (3) | 882,589,036 | 877,613,164 | |||||||||
Unvested Shares of Common Stock and Other Exchangeable Securities (4) | 39,000,561 | 23,892,201 | |||||||||
(1)Consists of vested restricted holdings units granted under our 2019 Equity Incentive Plan, which are exchangeable for shares of KKR & Co. Inc. common stock on a one-for-one basis.
(2)Assumes that all shares of Series C Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock have been converted to shares of KKR & Co. Inc. common stock on December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020.
(3)Amounts exclude unvested equity awards granted under our Equity Incentive Plans.
(4)Represents equity awards granted under our Equity Incentive Plans. The issuance of common stock of KKR & Co. Inc. pursuant to equity awards under our Equity Incentive Plans dilutes KKR common stockholders and KKR Holdings pro rata in accordance with their respective ownership interests in the KKR business. Excludes market condition awards that did not meet their market-price based vesting conditions as of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020.
Liquidity
We manage our liquidity and capital requirements by (i) focusing on our cash flows before the consolidation of our funds and CFEs and the effect of changes in short term assets and liabilities, which we anticipate will be settled for cash within one year, and (ii) seeking to maintain access to sufficient liquidity through various sources. The overall liquidity framework and cash management approach of our insurance business are also based on seeking to build an investment portfolio that is cash flow matched, providing cash inflows from insurance assets that meet our insurance companies' expected cash outflows to pay their liabilities. Our primary cash flow activities typically involve: (i) generating cash flow from operations; (ii) generating income from investment activities, by investing in investments that generate yield (namely interest and dividends), as well as through the sale of investments and other assets; (iii) funding capital commitments that we have made to, and advancing capital to, our funds and CLOs; (iv) developing and funding new investment strategies, investment products, and other growth initiatives, including acquisitions of other investments, assets, and businesses; (v) underwriting and funding commitments in our capital markets business; (vi) distributing cash flow to our stockholders and holders of our preferred stock; and (vii) paying borrowings, interest payments, and repayments under credit agreements, our senior and subordinated notes, and other borrowing arrangements. See "—Liquidity—Liquidity Needs—Dividends."
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See "—Business Environment" for more information on factors that may impact our business, financial performance, operating results and valuations.
Sources of Liquidity
Our primary sources of liquidity consist of amounts received from: (i) our operating activities, including the fees earned from our funds, portfolio companies, and capital markets transactions; (ii) realizations on carried interest from our investment funds; (iii) interest and dividends from investments that generate yield, including our investments in CLOs; (iv) in our insurance business, cash inflows in respect of new premiums, policyholder deposits, reinsurance transactions and funding agreements, including through memberships in Federal Home Loan Banks; (v) realizations on and sales of investments and other assets, including the transfers of investments or other assets for fund formations (including CLOs and other investment vehicles); and (vi) borrowings, including advances under our revolving credit facilities, debt offerings, committed repurchase agreements, uncommitted financing, and other borrowing arrangements. In addition, we may generate cash proceeds from issuances of our equity securities.
Many of our investment funds provide carried interest. With respect to our private equity funds, carried interest is distributed to the general partner of a private equity fund with a clawback provision only after all of the following are met: (i) a realization event has occurred (e.g., sale of a portfolio company, dividend, etc.); (ii) the vehicle has achieved positive overall investment returns since its inception, in excess of performance hurdles where applicable, and is accruing carried interest; and (iii) with respect to investments with a fair value below cost, cost has been returned to fund investors in an amount sufficient to reduce remaining cost to the investments' fair value. As of December 31, 2021, certain of our funds had met the first and second criteria, as described above, but did not meet the third criteria. In these cases, carried interest accrues on the consolidated statement of operations, but will not be distributed in cash to us as the general partner of an investment fund upon a realization event. For a fund that has a fair value above cost, overall, and is otherwise accruing carried interest, but has one or more investments where fair value is below cost, the shortfall between cost and fair value for such investments is referred to as a "netting hole." When netting holes are present, realized gains on individual investments that would otherwise allow the general partner to receive carried interest distributions are instead used to return invested capital to our funds' limited partners in an amount equal to the netting hole. Once netting holes have been filled with either (a) return of capital equal to the netting hole for those investments where fair value is below cost or (b) increases in the fair value of those investments where fair value is below cost, then realized carried interest will be distributed to the general partner upon a realization event. A fund that is in a position to pay cash carry refers to a fund for which carried interest is expected to be paid to the general partner upon the next material realization event, which includes funds with no netting holes as well as funds with a netting hole that is sufficiently small in size such that the next material realization event would be expected to result in the payment of carried interest. Strategic investor partnerships with fund investors may require netting across the various funds in which they invest, which may reduce the carried interest we otherwise would have earned if such fund investors were to have invested in our funds without the existence of the strategic investor partnership. See "Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business—Strategic investor partnerships have longer investment periods and invest in multiple strategies, which may increase the possibility of a 'netting hole,' which will result in less carried interest for us, as well as clawback liabilities" in this report.
As of December 31, 2021, netting holes in excess of $50 million existed at one of our private equity funds, which was Asian Fund II of $415 million. In accordance with the criteria set forth above, other funds currently have and may in the future develop netting holes, and netting holes for those and other funds may otherwise increase or decrease in the future.
We have access to funding under various credit facilities, other borrowing arrangements and other sources of liquidity that we have entered into with major financial institutions or which we receive from the capital markets.
For a discussion of our debt obligations, including our debt securities, revolving credit agreements and loans, see Note 16 "Debt Obligations" in our financial statements.
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Liquidity Needs
We expect that our primary liquidity needs will consist of cash required to:
•continue to support and grow our business lines, including funding our capital commitments made to existing and future funds, pay the costs related to fundraising and launching of new strategies, and otherwise supporting investment vehicles which we sponsor;
•seed or warehouse investments for the benefit of new strategies or funds, including CLOs, pending the contribution of committed capital by the investors in such funds, and advancing capital to our funds for operational or other needs;
•pay interest expense;
•service debt obligations, including the payment of obligations upon maturity or redemption, as well as any contingent liabilities that may give rise to future cash payments, including funding requirements to levered investment vehicles or structured transactions;
•fund cash operating expenses and contingencies, including litigation matters and guarantees;
•pay corporate income taxes and other taxes;
•pay policyholders and amounts in our insurance business related to investment, reinvestment, reinsurance or funding agreement activity;
•pay amounts that may become due under our tax receivable agreement with KKR Holdings;
•pay cash dividends in accordance with our dividend policy for our common stock or the terms of our preferred stock;
•underwrite commitments, advance loan proceeds and fund syndication commitments within our capital markets business, and fund any net capital or regulatory requirements of our capital markets companies;
•post or return collateral in respect of derivative contracts;
•support and acquire other assets for our Principal Activities business line, including other businesses, investments and assets, some of which may be required to satisfy risk retention requirements for CLOs (to the extent they may apply); and
•repurchase KKR's common stock or retire equity awards pursuant to the share repurchase program or repurchase or redeem other securities issued by KKR.
For a discussion of KKR's share repurchase program, see Note 22 "Equity" in our financial statements.
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Capital Commitments
The agreements governing our active investment funds generally require the general partners of the funds to make minimum capital commitments to such funds, which generally range from 2% to 8% of a fund's total capital commitments at final closing, but may be greater for certain funds (i) where we are pursuing newer strategies, (ii) where third party investor demand is limited, and (iii) where a larger commitment is consistent with the asset allocation strategy for our Principal Activities business line, including core investments and exposure to the Asia-Pacific region.
The following table presents our uncalled commitments to our active investment funds and other vehicles as of December 31, 2021:
| Uncalled Commitments | |||||
| Private Markets | ($ in millions) | ||||
| Core Investment Vehicles | $ | 4,202 | |||
| North America Fund XIII | 1,115 | ||||
| Asian Fund IV | 818 | ||||
| Real Estate Partners Americas III | 532 | ||||
| Global Infrastructure Investors IV | 523 | ||||
| Real Estate Partners Europe II | 268 | ||||
| Health Care Strategic Growth Fund II | 262 | ||||
| Diversified Core Infrastructure Fund | 250 | ||||
| Asia Real Estate Partners | 209 | ||||
| Asia Pacific Infrastructure Investors | 172 | ||||
| Asian Fund III | 154 | ||||
| Global Infrastructure Investors III | 136 | ||||
| Americas Fund XII | 111 | ||||
| Energy Income and Growth Fund II | 83 | ||||
| Next Generation Technology Growth II | 76 | ||||
| European Fund V | 67 | ||||
| Health Care Strategic Growth Fund | 59 | ||||
| Global Impact Fund | 34 | ||||
| Real Estate Credit Opportunity Partners II | 27 | ||||
| Real Estate Partners Americas II | 26 | ||||
| Other Private Markets Vehicles | 1,706 | ||||
| Total Private Markets Commitments | 10,830 | ||||
| Public Markets | |||||
| Dislocation Opportunities Fund | 140 | ||||
| Lending Partners Europe II | 33 | ||||
| Special Situations Fund II | 25 | ||||
| Lending Partners III | 13 | ||||
| Private Credit Opportunities Partners II | 12 | ||||
| Lending Partners Europe | 9 | ||||
| Other Public Markets Vehicles | 884 | ||||
| Total Public Markets Commitments | 1,116 | ||||
| Total Uncalled Commitments | $ | 11,946 | |||
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Other Commitments
In addition to the uncalled commitments to our investment funds as shown above, KKR has entered into contractual commitments primarily with respect to underwriting transactions, debt financing, revolving credit facilities, and syndications in our capital markets business line. As of December 31, 2021, these commitments amounted to $1.2 billion.
Whether these amounts are actually funded, in whole or in part, depends on the contractual terms of such commitments, including the satisfaction or waiver of any conditions to closing or funding. Our capital markets business has arrangements with third parties, which reduce our risk under certain circumstances when underwriting certain debt transactions, and thus our unfunded commitments as of December 31, 2021 have been reduced to reflect the amount to be funded by such third parties. In the case of purchases of investments or assets in our Principal Activities business line, the amount to be funded includes amounts that are intended to be syndicated to third parties, and the actual amounts to be funded may be less. For more information about our capital markets business line's risks, see "Risks Related to Our Business—Our capital markets activities expose us to risks, and our risk management strategy may not be effective or sufficient."
On January 14, 2020, KKR had committed to invest up to an additional $150 million in our India debt finance company to support its alternative credit business in India. No amounts were contributed by KKR, and on September 8, 2021, the commitment was terminated. During the third quarter of 2021, our India debt finance company entered into a transaction to merge with Incred Finance, the consummation of which is still pending.
Tax Receivable Agreement
We are required to acquire KKR Group Partnership Units from time to time pursuant to our exchange agreement with KKR Holdings, which is expected to result in an increase in our tax basis of the assets of KKR Group Partnership at the time of an exchange of KKR Group Partnership Units. We have entered into a tax receivable agreement with KKR Holdings, which requires us to pay to KKR Holdings, or to current and former limited partners who have exchanged KKR Holdings units for KKR's common stock as transferees of KKR Group Partnership Units, 85% of the amount of cash savings, if any, in U.S. federal, state and local income tax that we realize as a result of the increase in tax basis described above, as well as 85% of the amount of any such savings we realize as a result of increases in tax basis that arise due to future payments under the tax receivable agreement. As of December 31, 2021, an undiscounted payable of $399.2 million has been recorded in due to affiliates in the financial statements representing management's best estimate of the amounts currently expected to be owed under the tax receivable agreement. As of December 31, 2021, approximately $50.2 million of cumulative cash payments have been made under the tax receivable agreement.
Following the closing of the merger transactions contemplated by the Reorganization Agreement, there will be no more exchanges of KKR Group Partnership Units held by KKR Holdings. Additionally, the tax receivable agreement will terminate upon the closing of the mergers contemplated by the Reorganization Agreement, except that the obligations of KKR to make payments under the tax receivable agreement will remain outstanding until paid in full for certain exchanges that took place prior to the termination of the tax receivable agreement. Although our employees who hold restricted holdings units under our 2019 Equity Plan (which includes limited partner interests in KKR Holdings II) will be entitled to exchange those interests for common stock pursuant to the exchange agreement, there will be no payments due for any of those exchanges under the tax receivable agreement.
Dividends
A dividend of $0.145 per share of our common stock has been declared for the quarter ended December 31, 2021, which will be paid on March 4, 2022 to holders of record of our common stock as of the close of business on February 18, 2022.
A dividend of $0.75 per share of Series C Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock has been declared and set aside for payment on March 15, 2022 to holders of record of Series C Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock as of the close of business on March 1, 2022.
When KKR & Co. Inc. receives distributions from KKR Group Partnership, other equityholders in KKR Group Partnership including KKR Holdings receive their pro rata share of such distributions from KKR Group Partnership.
The declaration and payment of dividends to our common stockholders will be at the sole discretion of our board of directors, and our dividend policy may be changed at any time. We announced on February 8, 2022 that our current dividend policy will be to pay dividends to holders of our common stock in an annual aggregate amount of $0.62 per share (or a quarterly dividend of $0.155 per share) beginning with the dividend to be announced with the results for the first quarter of 2022. The declaration of dividends is subject to the discretion of our board of directors based on a number of factors, including KKR’s
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future financial performance and other considerations that the board deems relevant, and compliance with the terms of KKR & Co. Inc.'s certificate of incorporation and applicable law. For U.S. federal income tax purposes, any dividends we pay (including dividends on our preferred stock) generally will be treated as qualified dividend income for U.S. individual stockholders to the extent paid out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes. There can be no assurance that future dividends will be made as intended or at all or that any particular dividend policy for our common stock will be maintained. Furthermore, the declaration and payment of distributions by KKR Group Partnership and our other subsidiaries may also be subject to legal, contractual and regulatory restrictions, including restrictions contained in our debt agreements and the terms of the preferred units of KKR Group Partnership.
Preferred Stock
For a discussion of KKR's equity, including our preferred stock, see Note 22 "Equity" in our financial statements.
Other Liquidity Needs
From time to time, we fund various underwriting, syndication and fronting commitments in our capital markets business in connection with the arranging or underwriting of loans, securities or other financial instruments, for which we may draw all or substantially all of our availability for borrowings under our available credit facilities. We generally expect these borrowings by our capital markets business to be repaid promptly as these commitments are syndicated to third parties or otherwise fulfilled or terminated, although we may in some instances elect to retain a portion of the commitments for our own investment. For more information about our capital markets business line's risks, see "Risks Related to Our Business—Our capital markets activities expose us to risks, and our risk management strategy may not be effective or sufficient."
Contractual Obligations, Commitments and Contingencies
In the ordinary course of business, we (including Global Atlantic) and our consolidated funds and CFEs enter into contractual arrangements that may require future cash payments. Contractual arrangements include (1) commitments to fund the purchase of investments or other assets (including obligations to fund capital commitments as the general partner of our investment funds) or to fund collateral for derivative transactions or otherwise, (2) obligations arising under our senior notes, subordinated notes, and other indebtedness, (3) commitments by our capital markets business to underwrite transactions or to lend capital, (4) obligations arising under insurance policies written, (5) other contractual obligations, including servicing agreements with third-party administrators for insurance policy administration, and (6) commitments to fund the business, operations or investments of our subsidiaries.
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The following table sets forth information relating to anticipated future cash payments as of December 31, 2021 excluding consolidated funds and CFEs with a reconciliation of such amounts to anticipated future cash payments by us (including Global Atlantic) and our consolidated funds and CFEs.
| Payments due by Period | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Types of Contractual Obligations | <1 Year | 1-3 Years | 3-5 Years | >5 Years | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in millions) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Asset Management | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Uncalled commitments to investment funds (1) | $ | 11,946.0 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 11,946.0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Debt payment obligations (2) | — | 217.3 | 43.5 | 6,524.0 | 6,784.8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Interest obligations on debt payment obligations (3) | 309.6 | 513.6 | 512.8 | 4,177.6 | 5,513.6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Underwriting commitments (4) | 499.5 | — | — | — | 499.5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Lending commitments (5) | 249.8 | — | — | — | 249.8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Purchase commitments (6) | 449.7 | — | — | — | 449.7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lease obligations | 31.6 | 61.0 | 45.9 | 107.1 | 245.6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Insurance (7) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Policy liabilities (8) | 11,113.1 | 26,030.0 | 21,512.8 | 99,688.7 | 158,344.6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Debt payment obligations (9) | — | — | — | 1,900.0 | 1,900.0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Interest obligations on debt payment obligations (10) | 80.0 | 160.0 | 160.0 | 1,106.0 | 1,506.0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Purchase and lease commitments (11) | 59.6 | 93.8 | 55.9 | 358.3 | 567.6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Contractual Obligations of KKR | $ | 24,738.9 | $ | 27,075.7 | $ | 22,330.9 | $ | 113,861.7 | $ | 188,007.2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
(+) Uncalled commitments of consolidated funds (12) | 22,539.8 | — | — | — | 22,539.8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(+) Debt payment obligations of consolidated funds, CFEs and Other (13) | 4,390.8 | 718.9 | 348.9 | 24,671.0 | 30,129.6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(+) Corporate real estate borrowings (14) | 490.0 | — | — | — | 490.0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(+) Interest obligations of consolidated funds, CFEs and Other (15) | 686.7 | 1,029.4 | 1,015.0 | 2,456.8 | 5,187.9 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Consolidated Contractual Obligations | $ | 52,846.2 | $ | 28,824.0 | $ | 23,694.8 | $ | 140,989.5 | $ | 246,354.5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
(1)These uncalled commitments represent amounts committed by us to fund a portion of the purchase price paid for each investment made by our investment funds which are actively investing. Because capital contributions are due on demand, the above commitments have been presented as falling due within one year. However, given the size of such commitments and the pace at which our investment funds make investments, we expect that the capital commitments presented above will be called over a period of several years. See "—Revolving Credit Agreements, Senior Notes, KFN Debt Obligation, KFN Securities and Real Estate Financing—Liquidity Needs."
(2)Amounts include senior notes and subordinated notes issued by KKR and its subsidiaries. KFN's debt obligations are non-recourse to KKR beyond the assets of KFN.
(3)These interest obligations on debt represent estimated interest to be paid over the term of the related debt obligation, which has been calculated assuming the debt outstanding at December 31, 2021 is not repaid until its maturity. Future interest rates are assumed to be those in effect as of December 31, 2021, including both variable and fixed rates, as applicable, provided for by the relevant debt agreements. The amounts presented above include accrued interest on outstanding indebtedness.
(4)Represents various commitments in our capital markets business in connection with the underwriting of loans, securities and other financial instruments. These commitments are shown net of amounts syndicated.
(5)Represents obligations in our capital markets business to lend under various revolving credit facilities.
(6)Represents commitments of KKR's asset management business line including KFN to fund the purchase of various investments.
(7)Global Atlantic has other obligations related to collateral payable held for derivative instruments ($1.1 billion) and outstanding commitments to make investments in commercial mortgage loans, other lending facilities and other investments ($2.0 billion) which have not been included in the above table as the exact timing of these payments cannot be estimated. Global Atlantic's debt obligations are non-recourse to KKR beyond the assets of Global Atlantic.
(8)Policy liabilities for insurance obligations consist of amounts required to meet future obligations for future policy benefits and policy account balances. Amounts presented in the table represent estimated cash payments under such contracts, including significant assumptions related to the receipt of future premiums, mortality, lapse, renewal, withdrawal, and annuitization comparable with actual experience. These assumptions also include market growth and policy crediting consistent with assumptions used in amortizing DAC. All estimated cash payments are not discounted to present value. Accordingly, the total of cash flows presented for all years of $158.3 billion significantly exceeds total policy liabilities of $126.5 billion recorded on the statements of financial condition as of December 31, 2021. Estimated cash payments are also presented gross of reinsurance. Due to the significance of the assumptions used, the amounts presented could differ materially from actual results.
(9)The payments due by period for debt obligations reflects the contractual maturities of principal.
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(10)Reflects estimated future interest payments. Future interest on variable rate debt (which includes borrowing under our revolving credit facility and the subordinated debentures) was computed using prevailing rates as of December 31, 2021 and, as such, does not consider the impact of future rate movements. Future interest on fixed rate debt was computed using the stated rate on the obligations.
(11)Reflects operational servicing agreements with third-party administrators for policy administration.
(12)Represents uncalled commitments of our consolidated funds excluding KKR's portion of uncalled commitments as the general partner of the respective funds. Because capital contributions are due on demand, the above commitments have been presented as falling due within one year. However, given the size of such commitments and the pace at which our investment funds make investments, we expect that the capital commitments presented above will be called over a period of several years. See "—Revolving Credit Agreements, Senior Notes, KFN Debt Obligation, KFN Securities and Real Estate Financing—Liquidity Needs."
(13)Amounts include (i) financing arrangements entered into by our consolidated funds with the objective of providing liquidity to the funds of $6.9 billion, (ii) debt securities issued by our consolidated CLOs of $21.3 billion and (iii) borrowings collateralized by fund investments, fund co-investments and other assets held by levered investment vehicles of $1.9 billion. Debt securities issued by consolidated CLO entities are supported solely by the investments held at the CLO vehicles and are not collateralized by assets of any other KKR entity. Borrowings by levered investment vehicles are supported solely by the investments held at the investment vehicles and are not collateralized by assets of any other KKR entity. Obligations under financing arrangements entered into by our consolidated funds are generally limited to our pro rata equity interest in such funds. Our management companies bear no obligations to repay any financing arrangements at our consolidated funds.
(14)Represents a debt obligation in connection with the ownership of KKR office space.
(15)The interest obligations on debt of our CFEs and other borrowings represent estimated interest to be paid over the term of the related debt obligation, which has been calculated assuming the debt outstanding at December 31, 2021 is not repaid until its maturity. Future interest rates are assumed to be those in effect as of December 31, 2021, including both variable and fixed rates, as applicable, provided for by the relevant debt agreements. The amounts presented above include accrued interest on outstanding indebtedness.
The commitment table above excludes contractual amounts owed under the tax receivable agreement because the ultimate amount and timing of the amounts due are not presently known. See "—Liquidity Needs—Tax Receivable Agreement" in this report and "Risk Factors—We will be required to pay our principals for most of the benefits relating to our use of tax attributes we receive from prior and future exchanges of our common stock for KKR Group Partnership Units and related transactions, and the timing and value of these tax attributes differ from those of our restricted stock units" in this report.
We may incur contingent liabilities for claims that may be made against us in the future. We enter into contracts that contain a variety of representations, warranties and covenants, including indemnifications. For example, certain of our investment funds and KKR have provided certain indemnities relating to environmental and other matters and have provided non-recourse carve-out guarantees for violations of bankruptcy remoteness restrictions and for fraud, willful misconduct and other wrongful acts, each in connection with the financing of (i) certain real estate investments that we have made, including KKR's corporate real estate, and (ii) certain investment vehicles we manage or sponsor. KKR has also (i) provided credit support regarding repayment and funding obligations to third-party lenders to certain of its employees, excluding its executive officers, in connection with their personal investments in KKR investment funds and a levered investment vehicle and (ii) provided credit support to one of our hedge fund partnerships. We have also indemnified employees and non-employees against potential liabilities in connection with their services, including as described under "Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence—Indemnification of Directors, Officers and Others" in this report. In addition, we have also provided credit support to certain of our subsidiaries' obligations in connection with certain investment vehicles or partnerships that we manage. For example, KKR has guaranteed the obligations of a general partner to post collateral on behalf of its investment vehicle in connection with such vehicle's derivative transactions. We expect to continue to guarantee the obligations of one or more of our subsidiaries’ funding obligations to one or more of our investment vehicles, from time to time. KKR has also agreed to cause various of its general partners to fund their capital commitments to their funds and to be liable for such general partners' compliance with certain covenants, including limitations on their incurrence of certain kinds of indebtedness. In addition, we have also agreed for certain of our investment vehicles to fund or otherwise be liable for a portion of certain investment losses, if any, (up to a maximum of approximately $116 million) and/or to provide them with liquidity upon certain termination events (the maximum amount of which is unknown until the scheduled termination date of the investment vehicle).
The partnership documents governing our carry-paying funds generally include a "clawback" provision that, if triggered, may give rise to a contingent obligation requiring the general partner to return amounts to the fund for distribution to the fund investors at the end of the life of the fund. See Note 24 "Commitments and Contingencies—Contingent Repayment Guarantees" in our financial statements for further information on KKR's potential clawback obligations.
Off Balance Sheet Arrangements
We do not have any off-balance sheet financings or liabilities other than contractual commitments and other legal contingencies incurred in the normal course of our business.
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Critical Accounting Policies
The preparation of our financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires our management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities, and reported amounts of fees, expenses and investment income. Our management bases these estimates and judgments on available information, historical experience and other assumptions that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances. However, these estimates, judgments and assumptions are often subjective and may be impacted negatively based on changing circumstances or changes in our analyses. If actual amounts are ultimately different from those estimated, judged or assumed, revisions are included in the financial statements in the period in which the actual amounts become known. We believe our critical accounting policies could potentially produce materially different results if we were to change underlying estimates, judgments or assumptions.
The following discusses certain aspects of our critical accounting policies. For a full discussion of these and all critical accounting policies, see Note 2 "Summary of Significant Accounting Policies" in our financial statements.
Critical Accounting Policies - Asset Management
Recognition of Investment Income
Investment income consists primarily of the net impact of: (i) realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments; (ii) dividends; (iii) interest income; (iv) interest expense and (v) foreign exchange gains and losses relating to mark-to-market activity on foreign exchange forward contracts, foreign currency options, foreign denominated debt and debt securities issued by consolidated CFEs.
Certain of our investment funds are consolidated. When a fund is consolidated, the portion of our funds' investment income that is allocable to our carried interests and capital investments is not shown in the consolidated statements of operations. For funds that are consolidated, all investment income (loss), including the portion of a funds' investment income (loss) that is allocable to KKR's carried interest, is included in investment income (loss) on the consolidated statements of operations. The carried interest that KKR retains in net income (loss) attributable to KKR & Co. Inc. is reflected as an adjustment to net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests. However, because certain of our funds remain consolidated and because we hold a minority economic interest in these funds' investments, our share of the investment income is less than the total amount of investment income presented in the consolidated statements of operations for these consolidated funds.
Recognition of Carried Interest in the Statement of Operations
Carried interest entitles the general partner of a fund to a greater allocable share of the fund's earnings from investments relative to the capital contributed by the general partner and correspondingly reduces noncontrolling interests' attributable share of those earnings. Carried interest is earned by the general partner of those funds to the extent that cumulative investment returns are positive and where applicable, preferred return thresholds have been met. If these investment returns decrease or turn negative in subsequent periods, recognized carried interest will be reversed and reflected as losses in the statement of operations. For funds that are not consolidated, amounts earned pursuant to carried interest are included in capital allocation-based income (loss) in the consolidated statements of operations. Amounts earned pursuant to carried interest at consolidated funds are eliminated upon consolidation of the fund and are included as investment income (loss) in net gains (losses) from investment activities along with all of the other investment gains and losses at the consolidated fund.
Carried interest is recognized in the statement of operations based on the contractual conditions set forth in the agreements governing the fund as if the fund were terminated and liquidated at the reporting date and the fund's investments were realized at the then estimated fair values. Due to the extended durations of our private equity and other funds, we believe that this approach results in income recognition that best reflects our periodic performance in the management of those funds. Amounts earned pursuant to carried interest are earned by the general partner of those funds to the extent that cumulative investment returns are positive and where applicable, preferred return thresholds have been met. If these investment amounts earned decrease or turn negative in subsequent periods, recognized carried interest will be reversed and to the extent that the aggregate amount of carry distributions received by the general partner during the term of the fund exceed the amount to which the general partner was ultimately entitled, a clawback obligation would be recorded. For funds that are not consolidated, this clawback obligation, if any, is reflected as a reduction of our investment balance as this is where carried interest is initially recorded. For funds that are consolidated, this clawback obligation, if any, is reflected as an increase in noncontrolling interests in the consolidated statements of financial condition.
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Before carried interest is distributed, KKR calculates whether a preferred return has been achieved based on an amount that includes (i) capital contributions for investments, (ii) net realized investment gains, and (iii) management fees and fund expenses paid by the limited partners. To the extent the fund has exceeded the preferred return at the time of a realization event, and subject to any other conditions that would preclude payment of carried interest to the general partner (e.g. netting holes), carried interest is distributed to the general partner. Until the preferred return is achieved, no carried interest is recorded. Thereafter, the general partner is entitled to a catch up allocation such that the general partner's carried interest is paid in respect of all of the fund's net gains until the general partner has received the full percentage amount of carried interest that the general partner is entitled to under the terms of the fund. The amount ultimately distributed to the general partner as carried interest is calculated as net gains applicable to our limited partners, less all management fees and fund expenses paid to date, multiplied by the applicable carry rate. In general, investment funds that entitle the management company to receive an incentive fee have a preferred return and are calculated on a similar basis that takes into account management fees and expenses paid.
Critical Accounting Policies - Insurance
Policy liabilities
Policy liabilities (collectively, "reserves,") are the portion of past premiums or assessments received that are set aside to meet future policy and contract obligations as they become due. Interest accrues on the reserves and on future premiums, which may also be available to pay for future obligations. Global Atlantic establishes reserves to pay future policy benefits, claims, and certain expenses for its life policies and annuity contracts.
Global Atlantic's reserves are estimated based on models that include many actuarial assumptions and projections. These assumptions and projections, which are inherently uncertain, involve significant judgment, including assumptions as to the levels and/or timing of premiums, benefits, claims, expenses, interest credits, investment results (including equity market returns), mortality, longevity, and persistency.
The assumptions on which reserves are based are intended to represent an estimation of experience for the period that policy benefits are payable. Global Atlantic reviews the adequacy of its reserves and the assumptions underlying those reserves at least annually. Global Atlantic cannot, however, determine with precision the amount or the timing of actual benefit payments. If actual experience is better than or equal to the assumptions, then reserves would be adequate to provide for future benefits and expenses. If experience is worse than the assumptions, additional reserves may be required to meet future policy and contract obligations. This would result in a charge to our net income during the period in which excess benefits are paid or an increase in reserves occurs.
For a majority of Global Atlantic's in-force policies, including its universal life policies and most annuity contracts, the base policy reserve is equal to the account value. For these products, the account value represents its obligation to repay to the policyholder the amounts held on deposit. However, there are several significant blocks of business where policy reserves, in addition to the account value, are explicitly calculated, including variable annuities, fixed-indexed annuities, universal life products with secondary guarantees, indexed universal life and preneed policies.
Guaranteed minimum death benefits ("GMDB")
Some of Global Atlantic's variable annuity and fixed-indexed annuity contracts contain a GMDB feature that provides a guarantee that the benefit received at death will be no less than a prescribed minimum amount, even if the account balance is reduced to zero. This amount is based on either the net deposits paid into the contract, the net deposits accumulated at a specified rate, the highest historical account value on a contract anniversary, or sometimes a combination of these values. If the GMDB is higher than the current account value at the time of death, Global Atlantic incurs a cost equal to the difference.
Guaranteed minimum withdrawal benefits ("GMWB")
Global Atlantic issues fixed-indexed annuity and variable annuity contracts with a guaranteed minimum withdrawal feature. GMWB are an optional benefit where the contract owner is entitled to withdraw a maximum amount of their benefit base each year.
Once exercised, living benefit features provide annuity policyholders with a minimum guaranteed stream of income for life. A policyholder’s annual income benefit is generally based on an annual withdrawal percentage multiplied by the benefit base. The benefit base is defined in the policy and is generally the initial premium, reduced by any partial withdrawals and increased by a defined percentage, formula or index credits. Any living benefit payments are first deducted from the account value. Global Atlantic is responsible for paying any excess guaranteed living benefits still owed after the account value has reached zero.
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The ultimate cost of these benefits will depend on the level of market returns and the level of contractual guarantees, as well as policyholder behavior, including surrenders, withdrawals, and benefit utilization. For fixed-indexed annuity products, costs also include certain non-guaranteed terms that impact the ultimate cost, such as caps on crediting rates that Global Atlantic can, in its discretion, reset annually.
GMDB and GMWB sensitivities
As of December 31, 2021, the GMDB and GMWB liability balance totaled $1.1 billion. As of December 31, 2021, the liability balances for GMDB were $26.7 million for fixed-indexed annuities and $21.6 million for variable annuities. As of December 31, 2021, the liability balances for GMWB were $1.0 billion for fixed-indexed annuities. The increase (decrease) to the GMDB and GMWB liability balance as a result of hypothetical changes in projected assessments, equity market prices, and annual equity growth is summarized in the table below. This sensitivity considers the direct effect of such changes only and not changes in any other assumptions used in or items considered in the measurement of such balances.
| December 31, 2021 | ||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | ||||||||
| Balance | $ | 1,059,108 | ||||||
| Hypothetical change: | ||||||||
'+10% future assessments(1) | (20,373) | |||||||
'-10% future assessments(1) | 22,718 | |||||||
| +10% equity market prices | (17,752) | |||||||
| -10% equity market prices | 15,041 | |||||||
| 1% lower annual equity growth | 5,428 | |||||||
Note: Hypothetical changes to the liability balance do not reflect the impact of related hedges.
(1)The assessments used to accrue liabilities are generally based on investment yields, realized gains and losses, rider charges, surrender charges, and asset-based fees, such as mortality and expense fees.
Embedded derivatives
Global Atlantic's fixed-indexed annuity, variable annuity and indexed universal life products contain equity-indexed features, which are considered embedded derivatives and are required to be measured at fair value.
The embedded derivative is calculated as the present value of future projected benefits in excess of the projected guaranteed benefits, using an option budget as the indexed account value growth rate. In addition, the fair value of the embedded derivative is reduced to reflect the risk of non-performance on Global Atlantic's obligations (i.e., own credit risk).
Changes in interest rates, future index credits, Global Atlantic's own credit risk, projected withdrawal and surrender activity, and mortality on fixed-indexed annuity and indexed universal life contracts can have a significant impact on the value of the embedded derivative.
Valuation of embedded derivatives – Fixed-indexed annuities
Fixed-indexed annuity contracts allow the policyholder to elect a fixed interest rate of return or a market indexed strategy where interest credited is based on the performance of an index, such as the S&P 500 Index, or other indexes. The market indexed strategy is an embedded derivative, similar to a call option. The fair value of the embedded derivative is computed as the present value of benefits attributable to the excess of the projected policy contract values over the projected minimum guaranteed contract values. The projections of policy contract values are based on assumptions for future policy growth, which include assumptions for expected index credits, future equity option costs, volatility, interest rates, and policyholder behavior. The projections of minimum guaranteed contract values include the same assumptions for policyholder behavior as are used to project policy contract values. The embedded derivative cash flows are discounted using a risk-free interest rate increased by a non-performance risk spread tied to Global Atlantic's own credit rating.
Valuation of embedded derivatives – Indexed universal life
Indexed universal life products allow a policyholder’s account value to grow based on the performance of certain equity indexes, which result in an embedded derivative similar to a call option. The embedded derivative related to the index is
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bifurcated from the host contract and measured at fair value. The valuation of the embedded derivative is the present value of future projected benefits in excess of the projected guaranteed benefits, using the option budget as the indexed account value growth rate and the guaranteed interest rate as the guaranteed account value growth rate. Present values are based on discount rate curves determined at the valuation or issue date as well as assumed lapse and mortality rates. The discount rate equals the forecast treasury rate plus a non-performance risk spread tied to Global Atlantic’s own credit rating. Changes in discount rates and other assumptions such as spreads and/or option budgets can have a substantial impact on the embedded derivative.
Valuation of embedded derivatives – Variable annuities
Variable annuity contracts offered and assumed by Global Atlantic provide the contractholder with GMDB and/or GMWB. The liabilities for these benefits are included in policy liabilities in the consolidated statement of financial condition. The change in the liabilities for these benefits is included in policy benefits and claims in the consolidated statements of operation.
Global Atlantic has issued variable annuity contracts with GMDB features. Global Atlantic elected the fair value option to measure the liability for certain of these variable annuity contracts, valued at $519.5 million as December 31, 2021. Fair value is calculated as the present value of the estimated death benefits less the present value of the GMDB fees, using 1,000 risk neutral scenarios. Global Atlantic discounts the cash flows using U.S. Treasury rates plus an adjustment for its own company credit risk.
Global Atlantic also issues variable annuity contracts with a GMWB. The GMWB feature represents an embedded derivative. The embedded derivative is required to be bifurcated and measured at fair value. This liability is calculated as the present value of the excess GMWB claims less the present value of GMWB fees, using 1,000 risk neutral scenarios. Global Atlantic discounts the cash flows using U.S. Treasury rates plus an adjustment for its own company credit risk.
As of December 31, 2021, the embedded derivative liability balance totaled $1,856.1 million for fixed-indexed annuities, $557.3 million for indexed universal life and $127.8 million for variable annuities. As of December 31, 2021, variable annuities accounted for using the fair value option was $519.5 million. The increase (decrease) to the embedded derivatives on fixed-indexed annuity, indexed universal life, and variable annuity products and the increase (decrease) in the reserves for variable annuities accounted for using the fair value option as a result of hypothetical changes in interest rates, non-performance risk premium, and equity market prices is summarized in the table below. This sensitivity considers the direct effect of such changes only and not changes in any other assumptions used in or items considered in the measurement of such balances.
| December 31, 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FIA | IUL | VA | VA (FVO) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance | $ | 1,856,139 | $ | 557,276 | $ | 127,810 | $ | 519,454 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Hypothetical change: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| +50 bps interest rates | (43,529) | (6,460) | (68,075) | (34,122) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| -50 bps interest rates | 46,062 | 6,788 | 78,527 | 37,211 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
'+50bps non-performance risk premium | (43,529) | (6,460) | (31,583) | (23,038) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
'-50bps non-performance risk premium | 46,062 | 6,788 | 38,304 | 24,666 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| +10% equity market prices | 387,062 | 48,486 | (48,097) | (21,193) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| -10% equity market prices | (300,615) | (76,930) | 64,420 | 25,869 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Note: Hypothetical changes to the liability balances do not reflect the impact of related hedges.
Valuation of embedded derivatives in modified coinsurance or funds withheld
Global Atlantic's reinsurance agreements include modified coinsurance and coinsurance with funds withheld arrangements that include terms that require payment by the ceding company of a principal amount plus a return that is based on a proportion of the ceding company’s return on a designated portfolio of assets. Because the return on the funds withheld receivable or payable is not clearly and closely related to the host insurance contract, these contracts are deemed to contain embedded derivatives, which are measured at fair value. Global Atlantic is exposed to both the market risk and the credit risk of the assets. Changes in discount rates and other assumptions can have a significant impact on this embedded derivative. The fair value of the embedded derivatives is included in the funds withheld receivable at interest and funds withheld payable at interest line
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items on the consolidated statement of financial condition. The change in the fair value of the embedded derivatives is recorded in net investment-related gains (losses) in the consolidated statement of operations.
As of December 31, 2021, the embedded derivative balance for modified coinsurance or funds withheld arrangements was a $81.3 million net asset ($42.2 million in funds withheld receivables at interest, and $(39.1) million in funds withheld payable at interest). The increase (decrease) to the balance as a result of hypothetical changes in credit spreads and interest rates is summarized in the table below. This sensitivity considers the direct effect of such changes only and not changes in any other factors that impact the embedded derivative balance for modified coinsurance or funds withheld arrangements.
| December 31, 2021 | ||||||||||||||
Embedded derivative on funds withheld receivable at interest | Embedded derivative on funds withheld payable at interest | |||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | ||||||||||||||
| Balance | $ | 42,175 | $ | (39,056) | ||||||||||
| Hypothetical change: | ||||||||||||||
| +50 bps credit spreads | (65,584) | (767,972) | ||||||||||||
| -50 bps credit spreads | 65,584 | 843,494 | ||||||||||||
| +50 bps interest rates | (31,776) | (807,582) | ||||||||||||
| -50 bps interest rates | 41,578 | 883,104 | ||||||||||||
Note: Hypothetical changes to the funds withheld receivable and payable embedded derivative balances do not reflect the impact of related hedges or trading assets which back the funds withheld at interest.
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Critical Accounting Policies - Combined
Fair Value Measurements
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 under current market conditions.
GAAP establishes a hierarchical disclosure framework which prioritizes and ranks the level of market price observability used in measuring financial instruments at fair value. Investments and other financial instruments measured and reported at fair value are classified and disclosed based on the observability of inputs used in the determination of fair values, as follows:
Level I
Pricing inputs are unadjusted, quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities as of the measurement date.
Level II
Pricing inputs are other than quoted prices in active markets, which are either directly or indirectly observable as of the measurement date, and fair value is determined through the use of models or other valuation methodologies.
Level III
Pricing inputs are unobservable for the financial instruments and include situations where there is little, if any, market activity for the financial instrument. The inputs into the determination of fair value require significant management judgment or estimation. The valuation of our Level III investments at December 31, 2021 represents management's best estimate of the amounts that we would anticipate realizing on the sale of these investments in an orderly transaction at such date.
In certain cases, the inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement in its entirety falls has been determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety.
Level III Valuation Methodologies
Our investments and financial instruments are impacted by various economic conditions and events outside of our control that are difficult to quantify or predict, which may have a significant impact on the valuation of our investments and, therefore, on the carried interest and investment income we realize. Additionally, a change in interest rates could have a significant impact on valuations.
Across the total Level III private equity investment portfolio (including core equity investments), and including investments in both consolidated and unconsolidated investment funds, approximately 50% of the fair value is derived from investments that are valued based exactly 50% on market comparables and 50% on a discounted cash flow analysis. Less than 5% of the fair value of this Level III private equity investment portfolio is derived from investments that are valued either based 100% on market comparables or 100% on a discounted cash flow analysis. As of December 31, 2021, the overall weights ascribed to the market comparables methodology, the discounted cash flow methodology, and a methodology based on pending sales for this portfolio of Level III private equity investments were 37%, 50%, and 13%, respectively.
There is inherent uncertainty involved in the valuation of Level III investments, and there is no assurance that, upon liquidation, KKR will realize the values reflected in our valuations. Our valuations may differ significantly from the values that would have been used had an active market for the investments existed, and it is reasonably possible that the difference could be material. See "—Business Environment" for more information on factors that may impact our business, financial performance, operating results and valuations.
Key unobservable inputs that have a significant impact on our Level III valuations as described above are included in Note 9 "Fair Value Measurements" in our financial statements.
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Level III Valuation Process
The valuation process involved for Level III measurements is completed on a quarterly basis and is designed to subject the valuation of Level III investments to an appropriate level of consistency, oversight, and review.
For Private Markets investments classified as Level III, investment professionals prepare preliminary valuations based on their evaluation of financial and operating data, company specific developments, market valuations of comparable companies and other factors. KKR begins its procedures to determine the fair values of its Level III assets approximately one month prior to the end of a reporting period, and KKR follows additional procedures to ensure that its determinations of fair value for its Level III assets are appropriate as of the relevant reporting date. These preliminary valuations are reviewed by an independent valuation firm engaged by KKR to perform certain procedures in order to assess the reasonableness of KKR's valuations annually for all Level III investments in Private Markets and quarterly for investments other than certain investments, which have values less than preset value thresholds and which in the aggregate comprise less than 1% of the total value of KKR's Level III Private Markets investments. The valuations of certain real asset investments are determined solely by independent valuation firms without the preparation of preliminary valuations by our investment professionals, and instead such independent valuation firms rely on valuation information available to it as a broker or valuation firm. For credit investments in Public Markets, an independent valuation firm is generally engaged by KKR to assist with the valuations of most investments classified as Level III. The valuation firm either provides a value, provides a valuation range from which KKR's investment professionals select a point in the range to determine the valuation, or performs certain procedures in order to assess the reasonableness of KKR's valuations. After reflecting any input from the independent valuation firm, the valuation proposals are submitted for review and approval by KKR's valuation committees. As of December 31, 2021, less than 5% of the total value of our Level III credit investments were not valued with the engagement of an independent valuation firm.
For Level III investments in Asset Management, KKR has a global valuation committee that is responsible for coordinating and implementing the firm's valuation process to ensure consistency in the application of valuation principles across portfolio investments and between periods. The global valuation committee is assisted by the asset class-specific valuation committees that exist for private equity (including core equity investments and certain impact investments), growth equity (including certain impact investments), real estate, energy, infrastructure and credit. The asset class-specific valuation committees are responsible for the review and approval of all preliminary Level III valuations in their respective asset classes on a quarterly basis. The members of these valuation committees are comprised of investment professionals, including the heads of each respective strategy, and professionals from business operations functions such as legal, compliance and finance, who are not primarily responsible for the management of the investments. All Level III valuations for investments in Asset Management are also subject to approval by the global valuation committee, which is comprised of senior employees including investment professionals and professionals from business operations functions, and includes one of KKR's Co-Chief Executive Officers and its Chief Financial Officer, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer. When valuations are approved by the global valuation committee after reflecting any input from it, the valuations of Level III investments, as well as the valuations of Level I and Level II investments, are presented to the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of KKR & Co. Inc. and are then reported to the Board of Directors.
Level III investments held by Global Atlantic are valued on the basis of pricing services, reputable broker-dealers or internal models. Global Atlantic performs a quantitative and qualitative analysis and review of the information and prices received from independent pricing services as well as broker-dealers to verify that it represents a reasonable estimate of fair value. For all the internally developed models, Global Atlantic seeks to verify the reasonableness of fair values by analyzing the inputs and other assumptions used. As of December 31, 2021, approximately 62% of these investments were priced via external sources, while approximately 38% were valued on the basis of internal models. When valuations are approved by Global Atlantic's management, the valuations of its Level III investments, as well as the valuations of Level I and Level II investments, are presented to the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of KKR & Co. Inc. and are then reported to the Board of Directors.
As of December 31, 2021, upon completion by, where applicable, independent valuation firms of certain limited procedures requested to be performed by them on certain Level III investments, the independent valuation firms concluded that the fair values, as determined by KKR (including Global Atlantic), of those investments reviewed by them were reasonable. The limited procedures did not involve an audit, review, compilation or any other form of examination or attestation under generally accepted auditing standards and were not conducted on all Level III investments. We are responsible for determining the fair value of investments in good faith, and the limited procedures performed by an independent valuation firm are supplementary to the inquiries and procedures that we are required to undertake to determine the fair value of the commensurate investments.
There were no changes made to our Level III valuation process as a result of COVID-19.
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As described above, Level II and Level III investments were valued using internal models with significant unobservable inputs, and our determinations of the fair values of these investments may differ materially from the values that would have resulted if readily observable inputs had existed. Additional external factors may cause those values, and the values of investments for which readily observable inputs exist, to increase or decrease over time, which may create volatility in our earnings and the amounts of assets and stockholders' equity that we report from time to time.
Changes in the fair value of investments impacts the amount of carried interest that is recognized as well as the amount of investment income that is recognized for investments held directly in Asset Management and through our consolidated funds as described below. We estimate that an immediate 10% decrease in the fair value of investments held directly and through consolidated investment funds generally would result in a commensurate change in the amount of net gains (losses) from investment activities for investments held directly and through investment funds and a more significant impact to the amount of carried interest recognized, regardless of whether the investment was valued using observable market prices or management estimates with significant unobservable pricing inputs. With respect to consolidated investment funds, the impact that the consequential decrease in investment income would have on net income attributable to KKR would generally be significantly less than the amount described above, given that a majority of the change in fair value of our consolidated funds would be attributable to noncontrolling interests and therefore we are only impacted to the extent of our carried interest and our balance sheet investments. With respect to Insurance, a decrease in investment income for certain assets where investment gains and losses are recognized through the statement of operations would impact KKR only to the extent of our economic ownership interest in Global Atlantic.
As of December 31, 2021, there were no investments which represented greater than 5% of total investments on a GAAP basis. On a non-GAAP basis, as of December 31, 2021, investments which represented greater than 5% of total non-GAAP investments consisted of PetVet Care Centers, LLC and USI, Inc. valued at $1,216.1 million and $1,094.1 million, respectively. Our investment income on a GAAP basis and our book value can be impacted by volatility in the public markets related to our holdings of publicly traded securities, including our sizable holdings of Fiserv, Inc. and BridgeBio Pharma Inc. See "—Business Environment" for a discussion of factors that may impact the valuations of our investments, financial results, operating results and valuations, and "—Non-GAAP Balance Sheet Measures" for additional information regarding our largest holdings on a non-GAAP basis.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
For a full discussion of recently issued accounting pronouncements, see Note 2 "Summary of Significant Accounting Policies" in our financial statements.
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ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Our exposure to market risks primarily relates to movements in the fair value of investments, including the effect that those movements have on our management fees, carried interest, and net gains from investment activities. The fair value of investments may fluctuate in response to changes in the values of investments, foreign currency exchange rates, and interest rates. Additionally, interest rate movements can adversely impact the amount of interest income we receive on credit instruments bearing variable rates and could also impact the amount of interest that we pay on debt obligations bearing variable rates. Following our acquisition of Global Atlantic, we expect to be affected by market risks arising from Global Atlantic’s business. Global Atlantic has material exposure to market volatility in interest rates, credit spreads and equity prices through its insurance liabilities, many of which are structured to have exposure to market level changes, its investment portfolio and its hedge program. The quantitative information provided in this section was prepared using estimates and assumptions that management believes are appropriate. The actual impact of a hypothetical adverse movement in these risks could be materially different from the amounts shown below.
Management of Market Risk
The firm uses various committees to help manage market risk and general business risks.
Asset Management
When we commit capital from our Principal Activities business line to investments or transactions, a balance sheet committee of senior employees, including our Co-Executive Chairmen, one of our Co-Chief Executive Officers, and the Chief Financial Officer, must approve the investment or transaction before it may be made. The committee has delegated authority to other senior employees to approve certain investments or transactions, subject to maximum commitment sizes or other limitations determined by the committee. In addition, this committee supervises activities governing KKR's capital structure, liquidity, and the composition of our balance sheet.
Certain securities transactions by our capital markets business are subject to risk tolerance limits, regulatory capital requirements, and the review and approval of one or more committees in compliance with rules applicable to broker-dealers pursuant to the Exchange Act. When our capital is committed to capital markets transactions after diligence is conducted, such transactions are subject to the review and approval of a capital markets underwriting committee. These transactions are also subject to risk tolerance limits. The risk tolerance limits establish the level of investment we may make in a single company or type of transaction, for example, and are designed to avoid undue concentration and risk exposure. Regulatory capital requirements also place limits on the size of securities underwritings the capital markets business can conduct based on quantitative measure of assets, liabilities, and certain off-balance-sheet items. Aggregate balance sheet risk and capital deployed for transactions are monitored on an ongoing basis by the balance sheet committee referenced above.
With respect to the funds and other investment vehicles through which we make investments for our fund investors, KKR manages risk by subjecting transactions to the review and approval of an applicable investment committee or portfolio manager; a portfolio management committee (or other designated senior employees) then regularly monitors these investments. Before making an investment, investment professionals identify risks in due diligence, evaluating, among other things, business, financial, legal and regulatory issues, financial data, and other information relevant to a particular investment. An investment team presents the investment and its identified risks to an investment committee or a portfolio manager, which must approve each investment before it may be made. If an investment is made, a portfolio management committee (or other designated senior employees) is responsible for working with our investment professionals to monitor the investment on an ongoing basis.
Insurance
The board of directors of TGAFG, which is the holding company for Global Atlantic, has established a risk committee that has primary oversight of market risk at Global Atlantic. This risk committee has adopted Global Atlantic’s risk appetite principles that form the foundation of Global Atlantic’s enterprise risk management program. The risk appetite principles include: (1) protect policyholders by seeking to maintain adequate capital and liquidity resources to honor its obligations to policyholders under situations reflecting stress scenarios calibrated to the worst modern economic cycles; (2) deliver value by remaining in a position of strength during periods of adverse market conditions, and (3) protect the franchise by identifying and cost-effectively managing risks that could adversely and materially impact franchise value. The Global Atlantic enterprise risk management program formalizes the review of financial and non-financial risks and establishes risk management controls. Global Atlantic monitors risks on an aggregate, legal entity and product basis, monitoring different factors, including financial and insurance, investment, hedge management, operational, and legal, compliance and regulatory risks to confirm that its risks remain within established risk limits and tolerances.
For a discussion of Global Atlantic's hedge program, see "—Insurance Segment Market Risks—Hedge Program".
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Management of General Business Risk
Asset Management
KKR has an investment management and distribution committee comprised of senior employees across our Asset Management business lines, and it includes our Co-Chief Executive Officers and Chief Financial Officer. The investment management and distribution committee focuses on coordinating investment and distribution activities across the firm.
KKR has a risk and operations committee comprised of senior employees from across our Asset Management business and operations, and it includes our Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer, General Counsel, and Chief Compliance Officer. The risk and operations committee focuses on KKR's operations and enterprise risk management. This committee is aided by various other committees focused on the oversight of risks to our business, including a global conflicts and compliance committee and a technology and information security committee.
KKR's global conflicts and compliance committee is responsible for analyzing and addressing new or potential conflicts of interest that may arise in KKR's business, including conflicts relating to specific transactions as well as potential conflicts involving the overall activities of KKR and its various businesses. This committee also reviews and monitors certain compliance matters. Our Chief Financial Officer, General Counsel, and Chief Compliance Officer are included as members of this committee.
KKR's technology and information security committee is responsible for reviewing and monitoring global technology risks including information security, business disruption and fraud related risks.
Insurance
The TGAFG board of directors is responsible for oversight and the overall governance of Global Atlantic's business and operations. The TGAFG board includes among its members our Co-Chief Executive Officers. To assist with its oversight of Global Atlantic, the TGAFG board of directors has established an audit, risk, investment, operations & technology, nominating & governance, compensation and special transaction review committee.
Asset Management Segment Market Risks
The following is a discussion of the significant market risk exposures for KKR's Asset Management business.
Changes in Fair Value
The majority of our investments as of December 31, 2021, are reported at fair value. Net changes in the fair value of investments impact the net gains (losses) from investment activities in our consolidated statements of operations. Based on investments held as of December 31, 2021, we estimate that an immediate 10% decrease in the fair value of investments generally would result in a commensurate change in the amount of net gains (losses) from investment activities (except that carried interest would likely be more significantly impacted), regardless of whether the investment was valued using observable market prices or management estimates with significant unobservable pricing inputs. The impact that the consequential decrease in investment income would have on net income attributable to KKR & Co. Inc. would generally be significantly less than the amount described above, given that a significant portion of the change in fair value would be attributable to noncontrolling interests and therefore we are only impacted to the extent of our carried interest and our balance sheet investments and to a lesser extent our management fees. Because of this, the quantitative information that follows represents the impact that a reduction to each of the income streams shown below would have on net income attributable to KKR & Co. Inc. before income taxes. The actual impact to individual line items within the consolidated statements of operations would differ from the amounts shown below as a result of (i) the inclusion of amounts attributable to KKR Holdings in individual line items within the consolidated statement of operations, (ii) the elimination of management fees and carried interest as a result of the consolidation of certain investment funds and CFEs, and (iii) the gross-up of net gains (losses) from investment activities, in each case as a result of the consolidation of certain investment funds and CFEs.
Based on the fair value of investments as of December 31, 2021, we estimate that an immediate, hypothetical 10% decline in the fair value of investments would result in declines in net income attributable to KKR & Co. Inc. before income taxes in 2022 from reductions in the following items, if not offset by other factors:
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| Management Fees | Carried Interest, Net of Carry Pool Allocation | Net Gains/(Losses) From Investment Activities Including General Partner Capital Interest | |||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
10% Decline in Fair Value of Investments (1) | $ | 33,959 | (2) | $ | 685,824 | (3) | $ | 1,236,343 | (3) | ||||||||||||||
(1)An immediate, hypothetical 10% decline in the fair value of investments would also impact our ability to earn incentive fees. Since the majority of our incentive fees are earned at December 31st or September 30th of each calendar year and are not subject to clawback, a 10% decline in fair value would generally result in the recognition of no incentive fees on a prospective basis and result in lower net income relative to prior years where such incentive fees may have been earned.
(2)Represents an annualized reduction in management fees.
(3)Decrease would impact our statement of operations in a single quarter. With respect to carried interest, for purposes of this analysis the impact of preferred returns are ignored.
Management Fees
Our management fees in our Private Markets business line are generally calculated based on the amount of capital committed or invested by a fund, as described under "Business—Our Business Lines—Private Markets." Accordingly, movements in the fair value of investments do not significantly affect the amount of fees we may charge in Private Markets funds. Management fees in our infrastructure funds are calculated based on the net asset value ("NAV") of the fund and, in some cases, we additionally earn management fees on the fund's remaining commitment.
In the case of our Public Markets business line, management fees are often calculated based on the average NAV of the fund for that particular period, although certain funds in our Public Markets business line have management fees based on the amount of capital invested. In the case of our CLO vehicles, management fees are calculated based on the collateral of the vehicle. The collateral is based on the par value of the investments and cash on hand.
To the extent that management fees are calculated based on the NAV of the fund's investments, the amount of fees that we may charge will increase or decrease in direct proportion to the effect of changes in the fair value of the fund's investments. The proportion of our management fees that are based on NAV depends on the number and type of funds in existence. For the year ended December 31, 2021, the fund management fees that were recognized based on the NAV of the applicable funds was approximately 24%.
Publicly Traded Securities
Our investment funds and KKR's balance sheet hold certain investments in portfolio companies whose securities are publicly traded. The market prices of securities may be volatile and are likely to fluctuate due to a number of factors beyond our control. These factors include actual or anticipated fluctuations in the quarterly and annual results of such companies or of other companies in the industries in which they operate, market perceptions concerning the availability of additional securities for sale, general economic, social or political developments, industry conditions, changes in government regulation, shortfalls in operating results from levels forecasted by securities analysts, the general state of the securities markets and other material events, such as significant management changes, re-financings, acquisitions, and dispositions. In addition, although a substantial portion of our investments are comprised of investments in portfolio companies whose securities are not publicly traded, the value of these privately held investments may also fluctuate as our Level III investments are valued in part using a market comparables analysis. Consequently, due to similar factors beyond our control as described above for portfolio companies whose securities are publicly traded, the value of these Level III investments may fluctuate with market prices. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Business Environment."
Exchange Rate Risk
Our investment funds, CLO vehicles, and KKR's balance sheet hold investments denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. Those investments expose us and our fund investors to the risk that the value of the investments will be affected by changes in exchange rates between the currency in which the investments are denominated and the currency in which the investments are made. Additionally, a portion of our management fees are denominated in non-U.S. dollar currencies. Our policy is to reduce these risks by employing hedging techniques, including using foreign currency options and foreign exchange forward contracts to reduce exposure to future changes in exchange rates when a meaningful amount of capital has been invested in currencies other than the currencies in which the investments are denominated.
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Our primary exposure to exchange rate risk relates to movements in the value of exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and other currencies in which our investments are denominated (including euros, British pounds, Japanese yen, among others), net of the impact of foreign exchange hedging strategies. The quantitative information that follows represents the impact that a reduction to each of the income streams shown below would have on net income attributable to KKR & Co. Inc. before income taxes. The actual impact to individual line items within the statements of operations would differ from the amounts shown below as a result of (i) the inclusion of amounts attributable to KKR Holdings in individual line items within the consolidated statement of operations, (ii) the elimination of carried interest as a result of the consolidation of certain investment funds, and (iii) the gross-up of net gains (losses) from investment activities, in each case as a result of the consolidation of certain investment funds and CLO vehicles.
We estimate that an immediate, hypothetical 10% decline in the exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and all of the major foreign currencies in which our investments were denominated as of December 31, 2021 (i.e., an increase in the value of the U.S. dollar against these foreign currencies) would result in declines in net income attributable to KKR & Co. Inc. before income taxes in 2022 from reductions in the following items, net of the impact of foreign exchange hedging strategies, if not offset by other factors:
| Carried Interest, Net of Carry Pool Allocation | Net Gains/(Losses) From Investment Activities Including General Partner Capital Interest | ||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||
10% Decline in Foreign Currencies Against the U.S. Dollar (1) | $ | 183,349 | (2) | $ | 151,497 | (2) | |||||||||||
(1)An immediate, hypothetical 10% decline in exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and all of the major foreign currencies in which our investments were denominated would not be expected to materially impact our management fees or incentive fees. The majority of our funds in which we are entitled to earn incentive fees are denominated in U.S. dollars. Additionally, our management fees that are denominated in non-U.S. dollar currencies are generally hedged.
(2)Decrease would impact our statement of operations in a single quarter. With respect to carried interest, for purposes of this analysis the impact of preferred returns are ignored.
Interest Rate Risk
Valuation of Investments
Changes in credit markets and in particular, interest rates, can impact investment valuations, particularly our Level III investments, and may have offsetting results depending on the valuation methodology used. For example, we typically use a discounted cash flow analysis as one of the methodologies to ascertain the fair value of our investments that do not have readily observable market prices. If applicable interest rates rise, then the assumed cost of capital for those portfolio companies would be expected to increase under the discounted cash flow analysis, and this effect would negatively impact their valuations if not offset by other factors. Conversely, a fall in interest rates can positively impact valuations of certain portfolio companies if not offset by other factors. These impacts could be substantial depending upon the magnitude of the change in interest rates. In certain cases, the valuations obtained from the discounted cash flow analysis and the other primary methodology we use, the market multiples approach, may yield different and offsetting results. For example, the positive impact of falling interest rates on discounted cash flow valuations may offset the negative impact of the market multiples valuation approach and may result in less of a decline in value than for those investments that had a readily observable market price. Finally, low interest rates related to monetary stimulus and economic stagnation may also negatively impact expected returns on all investments, as the demand for relatively higher return assets increases and supply decreases.
Interest Income
We and certain consolidated funds, including CLOs, hold credit investments that generate interest income based on variable interest rates. We are exposed to interest rate risk relating to investments that generate yield since a meaningful portion of credit investments held by us and our consolidated funds, including CLOs, earn income based on variable interest rates. However, the contractual interest rate structure for a large portion of our credit investments bearing variable rates have "floors," which establish a minimum rate of interest that will be earned. In the current low interest rate environment, a large portion of the credit investments held by us and our consolidated funds, including CLOs, are earning interest marginally above the contractual floor and therefore, for these investments, a decrease in variable interest rates would not materially impact the amount of interest income earned. The impact on net income attributable to KKR & Co. Inc. resulting from a decrease of a hypothetical 100 basis points in variable interest rates used in the recognition of interest income would not be expected to be material since (i) many variable rate credit investments are subject to floors as described above and (ii) a substantial portion of this decrease would be attributable to noncontrolling interests.
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Interest Expense
We and certain consolidated funds, including CLOs, have debt obligations that include revolving credit agreements, certain investment financing arrangements and debt securities issued by CLO vehicles that accrue interest at variable rates. Changes in these rates would affect the amount of interest payments that our consolidated funds, including CLOs, would have to make. With respect to consolidated funds and CLOs, the impact on net income attributable to KKR & Co. Inc. resulting from an increase of a hypothetical 100 basis points in variable interest rates used in the recognition of interest expense would not be expected to be material since a substantial portion of this increase would be attributable to noncontrolling interests. With respect to debt obligations held by KKR and not in the consolidated funds or CLOs, as of December 31, 2021, KKR had debt obligations outstanding with an aggregate principal amount of approximately $258.5 million that accrues interest at a variable rate. Our policy is to reduce these risks by employing hedging techniques, including using interest rate swaps. The impact on net income attributable to KKR & Co. Inc. resulting from an increase of a hypothetical 100 basis points in variable interest rates used in the recognition of interest expense, net of the impact of interest rate hedging strategies, would not be expected to be material.
Credit Risk
We are party to agreements providing for various financial services and transactions that contain an element of risk in the event that the counterparties are unable to meet the terms of such agreements. In these agreements, we depend on these counterparties to make payment or otherwise perform. We generally endeavor to reduce our risk of exposure by limiting the counterparties with which we enter into financial transactions to reputable financial institutions. In addition, availability of financing from financial institutions may be uncertain due to market events, and we may not be able to access these financing markets.
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Insurance Segment Market Risks
The following is a discussion of the significant market risk exposures for Global Atlantic.
Hedge Program
To manage market risk, Global Atlantic established a hedge program that seeks to mitigate economic impacts primarily from interest rate and equity price movements, while taking into consideration accounting and capital impacts. For Global Atlantic's fixed-indexed annuity and indexed universal life policies, Global Atlantic generally seeks to use static hedges to offset the exposure primarily created by changes in embedded derivative balances. For Global Atlantic's variable policies, including variable annuity policies and variable universal life policies, Global Atlantic generally seeks to dynamically hedge its exposure to changes in the value of the guarantee Global Atlantic provides to policyholders. In the context of specific reinsurance or other transactions in Global Atlantic's institutional channel or strategic acquisitions, Global Atlantic may also enters into hedges which are designed to limit short-term market risks to the economic value of the target assets. From time to time, Global Atlantic also enters into hedges designed to limit the volatility associated with changes in the value of its general account assets or changes to net investment income as a result of interest rate or credit spread movements, while also taking into consideration economic impacts. While not the primary focus of its hedging strategy, Global Atlantic also enters into currency swaps and forwards to manage foreign exchange rate risks with respect to certain investments denominated in foreign currencies. Global Atlantic also enters into inflation swaps to manage inflation risk associated with inflation-indexed preneed policies. Where Global Atlantic has derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as accounting hedges, these derivative instruments receive hedge accounting.
Global Atlantic's hedge program is not designed to, and may not be effective in, offsetting all impacts to net income, assets under management, statutory capital or economic values. Movements in market variables other than interest rates and equity market prices that are not explicitly hedged can also cause net income volatility. See "Risk Factors—Risks Related to Global Atlantic—Global Atlantic's use of derivative financial instruments within its risk management strategy may not be effective or sufficient." and "Risk Factors—Risks Related to Global Atlantic—Global Atlantic may experience volatility in its net income under GAAP due to its funds withheld coinsurance transactions" in this report.
Sensitivities
Global Atlantic evaluates the sensitivity of net income to specific changes in interest rates, credit spreads and equity prices projected using internal models. All of the estimated sensitivities assume that all other factors remain constant and reflect the impact of related hedges assuming no hedge rebalancing in Global Atlantic's dynamic program, as explained further below.
Global Atlantic's internal models project impacts as of a specific date, and are measured relative to a starting level reflecting its assets and liabilities at that date and the actuarial factors, investment activity, and assumed investment returns associated with insurance liabilities. The models measure the impact of changing one factor at a time and assume that all other factors remain unchanged. Actual results can differ significantly from these estimates for a variety of reasons, including the interaction among these factors when more than one changes, discretionary actions by management in response to such changes, differences between the return of the underlying fund and the return on the index being hedged, actual experience differing from the assumptions, changes in business mix, effective tax rates and other market factors, and limitations inherent in the use of models. For these reasons, the sensitivities should only be viewed as directional estimates of the impacts on Global Atlantic's net income and shareholders’ equity, excluding accumulated other comprehensive income ("AOCI"), and actual changes in response to such scenarios may differ materially from estimates provided.
For the dynamic portion of the hedge program, Global Atlantic primarily uses interest rate and equity futures to hedge liabilities which have option-like embedded derivatives. As such, Global Atlantic's program requires frequent rebalancing as markets move to ensure that the hedges are being re-sized to the new liability exposure. In addition, certain of the underlying variable annuity separate account funds are managed volatility funds, so Global Atlantic's market exposures may change substantially after sharp market moves. The point-in-time estimates provided in this section assume no hedge rebalancing and, as such, the impact on Global Atlantic's consolidated net income may be different from what is shown below.
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Interest rate risk
Global Atlantic is exposed to interest rate risk as a result of changes in the level and volatility of interest rates. Changes in the level and volatility of interest rates primarily impacts the fair value reported in our consolidated financial statements of the following:
•embedded derivatives associated with modified coinsurance and coinsurance with funds withheld payables or receivables;
•embedded derivatives associated with variable annuities, fixed-indexed annuities and indexed universal life products;
•policy liabilities accounted under the fair value option, and
•financial instruments held in Global Atlantic's investment portfolio and used in its hedge program.
Changes in fair value of the foregoing are generally recorded as gains or losses in the consolidated statement of operations. For specific derivatives designated as cash flow hedges of forecasted bond purchases and receiving hedge accounting treatment, gains or losses are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income and reclassified to net investment income following the qualifying purchases of available-for-sale securities, as an adjustment to the yield earned over the life of the purchased securities, using the effective interest method.
Due to the dynamic lapse sensitivities within Global Atlantic's models, market volatility in interest rates also impacts the reserves and deferred acquisition costs of certain fixed annuity products, changes in which are recorded in the consolidated statement of operations.
In periods following interest rate moves, Global Atlantic will also recognize a change in the income earned on certain of its floating-rate assets and the cost of funding on certain of Global Atlantic's liabilities recorded in the consolidated statement of operations.
Effect of interest rate sensitivity
In the table below, Global Atlantic estimates the impact of a 50 basis point increase/(decrease) in interest rates, from a parallel shift in the yield curve, from levels as of December 31, 2021 to its net income and shareholders’ equity, excluding AOCI. These sensitivities include the impact of related hedges and adjustments to DAC attributable to interest rate changes.
| December 31, 2021 | ||||||||||||||
Hypothetical change(1) | ||||||||||||||
| +50 Basis points | -50 Basis points | |||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | ||||||||||||||
| Total estimated net income and shareholders’ equity excluding AOCI sensitivity (point in time) | $ | 107,211 | $ | (90,201) | ||||||||||
Total estimated net income and shareholders’ equity excluding AOCI sensitivity (over 12 months)(2) | $ | 25,779 | $ | (25,779) | ||||||||||
1.The point in time and over 12 months total estimated impacts reflect the impact of hedges within Global Atlantic's liability hedging program, as well as hedges designed to limit surplus volatility resulting from interest rate movements.
2.Excludes point in time impact. Estimated sensitivity to a hypothetical change over 12 months does not take into account any management actions that may be taken to mitigate actual impacts.
The estimated point in time impact is driven by a net decrease/(increase) in the value of the embedded derivatives associated with Global Atlantic's modified coinsurance and coinsurance with funds withheld payables and receivables and the embedded derivatives associated with its variable annuity, fixed-indexed annuity and indexed universal life products, and largely offset by a loss/(gain) in financial instruments used in its hedging program, investments classified as trading, and loans designated under the fair value option, based on balances in place at quarter end. These estimated changes include the impact of related amortization of deferred revenue and expenses and related income tax impacts. In addition, the point in time impact includes a decrease/(increase) in the value of the reserve and (decrease)/increase in the deferred acquisition cost balance of certain fixed annuity blocks of business due to the dynamic lapse sensitivities within Global Atlantic's models.
The impact over 12 months is driven by an increase/(decrease) in the income earned on Global Atlantic's floating rate assets, and partially offset by an increase/(decrease) in the cost of its floating-rate liabilities.
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In the table below we estimate the impact of a 50 basis point increase/(decrease) in interest rates, for a parallel shift in the yield curve, from levels as of December 31, 2021 to Global Atlantic's AOCI.
| December 31, 2021 | ||||||||||||||
Hypothetical change(1) | ||||||||||||||
| +50 Basis points | -50 Basis points | |||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | ||||||||||||||
| Total estimated AOCI sensitivity (point in time) | $ | (1,767,222) | $ | 1,768,655 | ||||||||||
The estimated point in time impact is driven by a net (decrease)/increase in the value of Global Atlantic's available-for-sale fixed maturity securities which are carried at fair value with unrealized gains and losses, net of certain offsets, reported in AOCI. The estimated changes include the impact of related amortization of deferred revenue and expenses and related income tax impacts.
Credit spread risk
Global Atlantic is exposed to credit spread risk as a result of changes in the spread between the yields on its funds withheld payables and receivables at interest and yields on comparable U.S. Treasury securities. Global Atlantic's reinsurance agreements include modified coinsurance and funds withheld coinsurance arrangements. Such arrangements are deemed to contain embedded derivatives, which are measured at fair value, and are therefore impacted by the mark-to-market value of the related assets. Changes in the credit spreads associated with the assets impact the mark-to-market value of the assets. There is additional credit spread risk exposure inherent in Global Atlantic's own credit spread used in valuing embedded derivative liabilities, which serves to mitigate net credit exposure. Global Atlantic may choose to enter into hedge positions to manage credit spread risk. As of December 31, 2021, Global Atlantic had a $1.5 million credit derivative position.
Effect of credit spread sensitivity
In the table below, Global Atlantic estimates the impact of a 50 basis points increase/(decrease) in credit spreads from levels as of December 31, 2021 to its net income and shareholders’ equity, excluding AOCI.
| December 31, 2021 | ||||||||||||||
| Hypothetical change | ||||||||||||||
| +50 Basis points | -50 Basis points | |||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | ||||||||||||||
| Total estimated net income and shareholders’ equity excluding AOCI sensitivity (point in time) | $ | 140,900 | $ | (154,580) | ||||||||||
These estimated changes include the impact of related amortization of deferred revenues and expenses and related income tax impacts and include impacts on Global Atlantic's own credit spread used in valuing embedded derivative liabilities.
Equity price risk
Global Atlantic is exposed to equity price risk as a result of changes in the level and volatility of equity prices.
Changes in the level and volatility of equity prices primarily impacts the fair value reported in the consolidated financial statements of the following:
•embedded derivatives and policy liabilities associated with Global Atlantic's variable annuities, fixed-indexed annuities and indexed universal life products;
•financial instruments held in Global Atlantic's investment portfolio and used in its hedge program; and
•certain of Global Atlantic's alternative assets.
Changes in fair value of the foregoing are recorded as gains or losses in our consolidated statements of operations.
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In addition, certain of the fees Global Atlantic earns in its variable annuity and variable universal life blocks are calculated on the account values, which are exposed to equity price risk. These changes impact our net income over the periods following equity price moves.
Effect of equity price sensitivity
In the table below, Global Atlantic estimates the impact of a 10% increase/(decrease) in equity prices from levels as of December 31, 2021 to its net income and shareholders’ equity, excluding AOCI. These sensitivities include the impact of related hedges but exclude the potential impact of alternative assets, because the fair value of these investments do not necessarily move directly in line with movements in public equity markets.
| December 31, 2021 | ||||||||||||||
Hypothetical change(1) | ||||||||||||||
| +10% Equity Prices | -10% Equity Prices | |||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | ||||||||||||||
| Total estimated net income and shareholders’ equity excluding AOCI sensitivity (point in time) | $ | (20,066) | $ | 8,415 | ||||||||||
Total estimated net income and shareholders’ equity excluding AOCI sensitivity (over 12 months)(2) | $ | 3,391 | $ | (3,890) | ||||||||||
_________________
(1)From time to time, Global Atlantic may choose to enter into additional hedges to mitigate economic exposure to equity markets. Sensitivities as of December 31, 2021 include a macro equity hedge position established in December 2018.
(2)Excludes point in time impact. Estimated sensitivity to a hypothetical change over 12 months does not take into account any management actions that may be taken to mitigate actual impacts.
The estimated point-in-time impact is driven by an increase/(decrease) in the value of the embedded derivatives associated with Global Atlantic's fixed-indexed annuity and indexed universal life products, and largely offset by a decrease / (increase) in Global Atlantic's variable annuity embedded derivatives and policy benefits, and gains or losses on financial instruments used in Global Atlantic's hedging program. These estimated changes include the impact of related amortization of deferred revenue and expenses and related income tax impacts.
For a discussion of current market conditions, see "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Business Environment."
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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
| Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | |||||
| Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition as of December 31, 2021 and 2020 | |||||
| Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Years Ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 | |||||
| Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the Years Ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 | |||||
| Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity for the Years Ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 | |||||
| Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 | |||||
| Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements | |||||
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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of KKR & Co. Inc.:
Opinions on the Financial Statements and Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We have audited the accompanying consolidated statement of financial condition of KKR & Co. Inc. and its subsidiaries (the "Company") as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income (loss), changes in equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2021, and the related notes and the schedule listed in the Index at Item 15 (collectively referred to as the "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 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 COSO.
Basis for Opinions
The Company’s management is responsible for these 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 the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and an opinion 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 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 financial statements included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures to respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the 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 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.
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 (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) 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 (3) 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.
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Critical Audit Matters
The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current-period audit of the financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the 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.
Fair Value—Level III Investments—Refer to Notes 2, 7, and 9 to the financial statements
Critical Audit Matter Description
KKR & Co. Inc. (“the Company”) and the funds it sponsors and manages have Level III Investments reported at fair value. The fair values of certain investments are determined based on unobservable pricing inputs. These Level III investments have limited observable market activity and the inputs used in the determination of fair value require significant management judgment or estimation.
In addition, the Company recognizes carried interest from vehicles and accounts that are advised, sponsored or managed by one or more of its subsidiaries (“investment funds”) based on cumulative fund performance to date. At the end of each reporting period, the Company calculates the carried interest that would be due to the Company for each investment fund, pursuant to the fund agreements. Certain of the funds’ investments contain unobservable inputs that are classified as level III in the fair value hierarchy. The change in the fair value of the underlying Level III Investments held by the funds is a significant input into the determination of carried interest for each reporting period. As the fair value of underlying investments varies between reporting periods, it is necessary to make adjustments to amounts recorded as carried interest. Accrued but unpaid carried interest as of the reporting date is reflected in investments in the consolidated statements of financial condition.
We identified certain Level III Investments as a critical audit matter because of the unobservable pricing inputs management used to estimate fair value, and changes in the fair value of these investments directly impacts the amount of unrealized carried interest the Company accrues for the period as well as unrealized investment income recorded during the period.
Performing audit procedures to evaluate the appropriateness of these inputs required a high degree of auditor judgment and an increased extent of effort, including the need to involve our fair value specialists who possess significant investment valuation expertise.
How the Critical Audit Matter Was Addressed in the Audit
Our audit procedures related to the unobservable pricing inputs used by management to estimate the fair values of Level III Investments included the following, among others:
•We involved more senior, more experienced audit team members to perform audit procedures.
•We tested the design, implementation, and operating effectiveness of controls over the determination of the fair value of Level III Investments.
•With the assistance of our fair value specialists, we evaluated management’s process for Level III Investments valuation, including their determination of the unobservable pricing inputs used to estimate fair value.
•We assessed the consistency by which management applied its process.
•We evaluated the Company’s historical ability to accurately estimate fair value of Level III Investments by comparing previous estimates of fair value to market transactions with third parties.
Global Atlantic Acquisition - Identifiable Intangible Assets – Refer to Note 3 to the financial statements
Critical Audit Matter Description
On February 1, 2021, KKR completed the acquisition of The Global Atlantic Financial Group LLC (“Global Atlantic”) for approximately $4.7 billion. The Global Atlantic acquisition was accounted for as a business combination under Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 805, Business Combinations. The purchase price has
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been allocated to Global Atlantic’s assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on estimates of their fair values as of February 1, 2021, including intangible assets for the value of business acquired (VOBA), for $1,025 million and additional policy liabilities for the negative VOBA of $1,273 million. VOBA represents the difference between the carrying value of the purchased in-force insurance contract liabilities at the time of the business combination and the estimated fair value of insurance and reinsurance contracts. VOBA can be either positive or negative. Positive VOBA is recorded in insurance intangibles. Negative VOBA is recorded in the same financial statement line in the consolidated statement of financial condition as the associated policy liabilities.
We identified the valuation of VOBA and negative VOBA as a critical audit matter because the fair value determination required management to apply significant judgment and make significant assumptions. Principal assumptions used by management in their determination of VOBA and negative VOBA included discount rates, mortality, persistency, and policyholder behavior.
Performing audit procedures to evaluate the reasonableness of these estimates and appropriateness of assumptions required a high degree of auditor judgment and an increased extent of effort, including the need to involve our actuarial and fair value specialists.
How the Critical Audit Matter Was Addressed in the Audit
Our audit procedures related to the valuation of VOBA and negative VOBA acquired as part of the Global Atlantic acquisition included the following, among others:
•We involved more senior, more experienced audit team members to perform audit procedures.
•We tested the design, implementation, and operating effectiveness of controls over the determination of the assumptions, including controls over the underlying data used in the valuation of VOBA and negative VOBA.
•We assessed the knowledge, skill, ability, and objectivity of management’s actuarial specialists and evaluated the work performed.
•With the assistance of our actuarial and fair value specialists, we evaluated management’s process in determining the valuation of VOBA and negative VOBA, including the inputs and assumptions used to estimate fair value.
•With the assistance of our actuarial and fair value specialists, we evaluated the judgements applied by management in the determination of principal assumptions used in the valuation of VOBA and negative VOBA, specifically discount rate, mortality, persistency, and policyholder behavior.
Policy Liabilities — Valuation of Policy Liabilities Associated with Certain Annuity Products — Refer to Notes 2, 8, 9, and 17 to the financial statements
Critical Audit Matter Description
Global Atlantic’s products include fixed-indexed annuity and variable annuity products, which contain equity indexed features that are considered embedded derivatives and are required to be measured at fair value. Management’s estimate of embedded derivative liabilities in policy liabilities was $2.0 billion as of December 31, 2021. In addition, certain fixed-indexed annuity contracts and variable annuity contracts are issued with guaranteed minimum withdrawal benefits (“GMWBs”). Management’s estimate of GMWB policy liabilities was $1.0 billion as of December 31, 2021. Management has also elected the fair value option to measure the policy liabilities for certain variable annuity contracts and management’s estimate was $0.5 billion as of December 31, 2021.
Management applies significant judgment in selecting assumptions used to estimate the value of embedded derivative liabilities associated with annuity products, GMWB policy liabilities, and variable annuity policy liabilities measured at fair value. Changes in market conditions or variations in certain assumptions could result in significant fluctuations in these estimates. Principal assumptions include lapse, withdrawal, benefit utilization, mortality, option budgets, future index credits, equity
213
market return, interest rates, and nonperformance risk assumptions. Furthermore, the valuation of variable annuity policy liabilities measured at fair value is also based on complex calculations.
We identified the valuation of embedded derivative liabilities associated with annuity products, GMWB policy liabilities, and variable annuity liabilities measured at fair value as a critical audit matter because of the inherent uncertainty in selecting assumptions. In addition, we have determined management’s valuation of variable annuity policy liabilities measured at fair value is also a critical audit matter because of the complexity of the calculation.
Performing audit procedures to evaluate the judgments made and the reasonableness of assumptions and models used in the valuations required a high degree of auditor judgment and an increased extent of auditor effort. The audit effort included the use of professionals with specialized skill and knowledge, including our valuation, modeling, and actuarial specialists, to assist in performing these procedures and evaluating the audit evidence obtained from these procedures.
How the Critical Audit Matter Was Addressed in the Audit
Our audit procedures related to the valuation of embedded derivative liabilities associated with annuity products, GMWB policy liabilities, and the valuation of variable annuity policy liabilities measured at fair value included the following, among others:
•We involved more senior, more experienced audit team members to perform audit procedures.
•We tested the design, implementation, and operating effectiveness of controls over the assumptions, including controls over the underlying data used in the valuation of these liabilities.
•We tested the design, implementation, and operating effectiveness of controls over the methodology and model used for the valuation of variable annuity policy liabilities measured at fair value.
•With the assistance of our valuation, modeling, and actuarial specialists, we:
◦Evaluated the methods and judgments applied by management in the determination of principal assumptions used in the valuation of embedded derivative liabilities associated with annuity products, GMWB policy liabilities, and variable annuity policy liabilities measured at fair value, and evaluated the results of underlying experience studies, capital market projections, and judgments applied by management in setting the assumptions.
◦Evaluated the methods, models, and judgments applied by management in the calculation of variable annuity policy liabilities measured at fair value.
◦Developed an independent estimate of embedded derivative liabilities associated with annuity products, GMWB policy liabilities, and variable annuity policy liabilities measured at fair value, on a sample basis, and evaluated differences.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
New York, New York
February 28, 2022
We have served as the Company's auditor since 2006.
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KKR & CO. INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
(Amounts in Thousands, Except Share and Per Share Data)
| December 31, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | ||||||||||
| Assets | |||||||||||
| Asset Management | |||||||||||
| Cash and Cash Equivalents | $ | 6,699,668 | $ | 6,507,874 | |||||||
| Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents | 134,298 | 485,583 | |||||||||
| Investments | 88,775,514 | 69,274,715 | |||||||||
| Due from Affiliates | 1,224,283 | 872,994 | |||||||||
| Other Assets | 2,886,313 | 2,665,336 | |||||||||
| 99,720,076 | 79,806,502 | ||||||||||
| Insurance | |||||||||||
| Cash and Cash Equivalents | $ | 3,391,934 | $ | — | |||||||
| Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents | 300,404 | — | |||||||||
| Investments | 123,763,675 | — | |||||||||
| Reinsurance Recoverable | 25,062,256 | — | |||||||||
| Insurance Intangible Assets | 1,407,149 | — | |||||||||
| Other Assets | 5,053,518 | — | |||||||||
| Separate Account Assets | 5,586,428 | — | |||||||||
| 164,565,364 | — | ||||||||||
| Total Assets | $ | 264,285,440 | $ | 79,806,502 | |||||||
| Liabilities and Equity | |||||||||||
| Asset Management | |||||||||||
| Debt Obligations | $ | 36,669,755 | $ | 33,423,596 | |||||||
| Due to Affiliates | 462,722 | 325,177 | |||||||||
| Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities | 7,896,897 | 5,257,813 | |||||||||
| 45,029,374 | 39,006,586 | ||||||||||
| Insurance | |||||||||||
| Policy Liabilities | $ | 126,520,044 | $ | — | |||||||
| Debt Obligations | 1,908,006 | — | |||||||||
| Funds Withheld Payable at Interest | 23,460,253 | — | |||||||||
| Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities | 3,263,566 | — | |||||||||
| Reinsurance Liabilities | 378,549 | — | |||||||||
| Separate Account Liabilities | 5,586,428 | — | |||||||||
| 161,116,846 | — | ||||||||||
| Total Liabilities | 206,146,220 | 39,006,586 | |||||||||
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| December 31, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | ||||||||||
| Commitments and Contingencies (See Note 24) | |||||||||||
| Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests | $ | 82,491 | $ | — | |||||||
| Stockholders' Equity | |||||||||||
Series A Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value. 0 and 13,800,000 shares, issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. Series B Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value. 0 and 6,200,000 shares, issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020. | $ | — | $ | 482,554 | |||||||
Series C Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value. 23,000,000 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020. | 1,115,792 | 1,115,792 | |||||||||
Series I Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value. 1 share authorized, 1 share issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020. | — | — | |||||||||
Series II Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value. 499,999,999 shares authorized, 258,726,163 and 275,626,493 shares, issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. | 2,587 | 2,756 | |||||||||
Common Stock, $0.01 par value. 3,500,000,000 shares authorized, 595,663,618 and 572,893,738 shares, issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. | 5,957 | 5,729 | |||||||||
| Additional Paid-In Capital | 8,997,435 | 8,687,817 | |||||||||
| Retained Earnings | 7,670,182 | 3,440,782 | |||||||||
| Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) | (209,789) | (18,612) | |||||||||
| Total KKR & Co. Inc. Stockholders' Equity | 17,582,164 | 13,716,818 | |||||||||
| Noncontrolling Interests | 40,474,565 | 27,083,098 | |||||||||
| Total Equity | 58,056,729 | 40,799,916 | |||||||||
| Total Liabilities and Equity | $ | 264,285,440 | $ | 79,806,502 | |||||||
See notes to financial statements.
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KKR & CO. INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION (Continued)
(Amounts in Thousands)
The following presents the portion of the consolidated balances presented in the consolidated statements of financial condition attributable to consolidated variable interest entities ("VIEs"). As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, KKR's consolidated VIEs consist primarily of (i) certain collateralized financing entities ("CFEs") holding collateralized loan obligations ("CLOs"), (ii) certain investment funds, and (iii) certain VIEs formed by Global Atlantic. The noteholders, creditors and equity holders of these VIEs have no recourse to the assets of any other KKR entity.
With respect to consolidated CLOs and certain investment funds, the following assets may only be used to settle obligations of these consolidated VIEs and the following liabilities are only the obligations of these consolidated VIEs and not generally to KKR. Additionally, KKR has no right to the benefits from, nor does KKR bear the risks associated with, the assets held by these VIEs beyond KKR's beneficial interest therein and any income generated from the VIEs. There are neither explicit arrangements nor does KKR hold implicit variable interests that would require KKR to provide any material ongoing financial support to the consolidated VIEs, beyond amounts previously committed to them, if any.
With respect to certain other VIEs consolidated by Global Atlantic, Global Atlantic has formed certain VIEs to hold investments, including fixed maturity securities, consumer and other loans, renewable energy, transportation and real estate. These VIEs issue beneficial interests primarily to Global Atlantic’s insurance companies.
| December 31, 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Consolidated CLOs | Consolidated Funds | Other VIEs | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Assets | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Asset Management | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash and Cash Equivalents | $ | 1,215,992 | $ | 1,085,958 | $ | — | $ | 2,301,950 | |||||||||||||||
| Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents | — | 90,255 | — | 90,255 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Investments | 22,076,809 | 46,780,595 | — | 68,857,404 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Other Assets | 173,329 | 641,946 | — | 815,275 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 23,466,130 | 48,598,754 | — | 72,064,884 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Insurance | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash and Cash Equivalents | — | — | 1,406,974 | 1,406,974 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Investments | — | — | 20,043,016 | 20,043,016 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Accrued investment income | — | — | 100,693 | 100,693 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Other Assets | — | — | 506,777 | 506,777 | |||||||||||||||||||
| — | — | 22,057,460 | 22,057,460 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Assets | $ | 23,466,130 | $ | 48,598,754 | $ | 22,057,460 | $ | 94,122,344 | |||||||||||||||
| Liabilities | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Asset Management | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Debt Obligations | $ | 21,271,084 | $ | 6,291,292 | $ | — | $ | 27,562,376 | |||||||||||||||
| Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities | 1,367,778 | 691,288 | — | 2,059,066 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 22,638,862 | 6,982,580 | — | 29,621,442 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Insurance | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities | — | — | 594,946 | 594,946 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total Liabilities | $ | 22,638,862 | $ | 6,982,580 | $ | 594,946 | $ | 30,216,388 | |||||||||||||||
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| December 31, 2020 | |||||||||||||||||
| Consolidated CLOs | Consolidated Funds | Total | |||||||||||||||
| Assets | |||||||||||||||||
| Asset Management | |||||||||||||||||
| Cash and Cash Equivalents | $ | 749,395 | $ | 263,024 | $ | 1,012,419 | |||||||||||
| Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents | — | 59,490 | 59,490 | ||||||||||||||
| Investments | 17,706,976 | 32,699,562 | 50,406,538 | ||||||||||||||
| Other Assets | 161,621 | 150,696 | 312,317 | ||||||||||||||
| Total Assets | $ | 18,617,992 | $ | 33,172,772 | $ | 51,790,764 | |||||||||||
| Liabilities | |||||||||||||||||
| Asset Management | |||||||||||||||||
| Debt Obligations | $ | 17,372,740 | $ | 4,253,645 | $ | 21,626,385 | |||||||||||
| Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities | 782,056 | 412,410 | 1,194,466 | ||||||||||||||
| Total Liabilities | $ | 18,154,796 | $ | 4,666,055 | $ | 22,820,851 | |||||||||||
See notes to financial statements.
218
KKR & CO. INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Amounts in Thousands, Except Share and Per Share Data)
| Years Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |||||||||||||||
| Revenues | |||||||||||||||||
| Asset Management | |||||||||||||||||
| Fees and Other | $ | 2,850,154 | $ | 2,006,791 | $ | 1,790,475 | |||||||||||
| Capital Allocation-Based Income (Loss) | 6,842,414 | 2,224,100 | 2,430,425 | ||||||||||||||
| 9,692,568 | 4,230,891 | 4,220,900 | |||||||||||||||
| Insurance | |||||||||||||||||
| Net Premiums | 2,226,078 | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Policy Fees | 1,147,913 | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Net Investment Income | 2,845,623 | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Net Investment-Related Gains (Losses) | 203,753 | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Other Income | 120,213 | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| 6,543,580 | — | — | |||||||||||||||
| Total Revenues | 16,236,148 | 4,230,891 | 4,220,900 | ||||||||||||||
| Expenses | |||||||||||||||||
| Asset Management | |||||||||||||||||
| Compensation and Benefits | 4,428,743 | 2,152,490 | 2,116,890 | ||||||||||||||
| Occupancy and Related Charges | 69,084 | 72,100 | 62,728 | ||||||||||||||
| General, Administrative and Other | 959,077 | 708,542 | 728,813 | ||||||||||||||
| 5,456,904 | 2,933,132 | 2,908,431 | |||||||||||||||
| Insurance | |||||||||||||||||
| Policy Benefits and Claims | 5,055,709 | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Amortization of Policy Acquisition Costs | (65,949) | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Interest Expense | 61,661 | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Insurance Expenses | 358,878 | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| General, Administrative and Other | 555,321 | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| 5,965,620 | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Total Expenses | 11,422,524 | — | 2,933,132 | 2,908,431 | |||||||||||||
| Investment Income (Loss) - Asset Management | |||||||||||||||||
| Net Gains (Losses) from Investment Activities | 7,720,923 | 3,642,804 | 3,161,884 | ||||||||||||||
| Dividend Income | 698,800 | 352,563 | 318,972 | ||||||||||||||
| Interest Income | 1,485,470 | 1,403,440 | 1,418,516 | ||||||||||||||
| Interest Expense | (1,070,368) | (969,871) | (1,043,551) | ||||||||||||||
| Total Investment Income (Loss) | 8,834,825 | 4,428,936 | 3,855,821 | ||||||||||||||
219
| Years Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |||||||||||||||
| Income (Loss) Before Taxes | 13,648,449 | 5,726,695 | 5,168,290 | ||||||||||||||
| Income Tax Expense (Benefit) | 1,353,270 | 609,097 | 528,750 | ||||||||||||||
| Net Income (Loss) | 12,295,179 | 5,117,598 | 4,639,540 | ||||||||||||||
| Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests | 4,060 | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests | 7,624,643 | 3,115,089 | 2,634,491 | ||||||||||||||
| Net Income (Loss) Attributable to KKR & Co. Inc. | 4,666,476 | 2,002,509 | 2,005,049 | ||||||||||||||
| Series A Preferred Stock Dividends | 23,656 | 23,288 | 23,288 | ||||||||||||||
| Series B Preferred Stock Dividends | 12,991 | 10,076 | 10,076 | ||||||||||||||
| Series C Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock Dividends | 69,000 | 23,191 | — | ||||||||||||||
| Net Income (Loss) Attributable to KKR & Co. Inc. Common Stockholders | $ | 4,560,829 | $ | 1,945,954 | $ | 1,971,685 | |||||||||||
| Net Income (Loss) Attributable to KKR & Co. Inc. Per Share of Common Stock | |||||||||||||||||
| Basic | $ | 7.83 | $ | 3.45 | $ | 3.62 | |||||||||||
| Diluted | $ | 7.31 | $ | 3.37 | $ | 3.54 | |||||||||||
| Weighted Average Shares of Common Stock Outstanding | |||||||||||||||||
| Basic | 582,258,984 | 562,812,883 | 545,096,999 | ||||||||||||||
| Diluted | 633,092,865 | 583,685,352 | 557,687,512 | ||||||||||||||
See notes to financial statements.
220
KKR & CO. INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
(Amounts in Thousands)
| Years Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |||||||||||||||
| Net Income (Loss) | $ | 12,295,179 | $ | 5,117,598 | $ | 4,639,540 | |||||||||||
| Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax: | |||||||||||||||||
| Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Available-For-Sale Securities and Other | (387,338) | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments | (39,521) | 32,658 | (3,398) | ||||||||||||||
| Comprehensive Income (Loss) | 11,868,320 | 5,150,256 | 4,636,142 | ||||||||||||||
| Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests | 4,060 | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests | 7,381,242 | 3,123,188 | 2,632,151 | ||||||||||||||
| Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to KKR & Co. Inc. | $ | 4,483,018 | $ | 2,027,068 | $ | 2,003,991 | |||||||||||
See notes to financial statements.
221
KKR & CO. INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
(Amounts in Thousands, Except Share and Per Share Data)
| Year Ended December 31, 2021 | |||||||||||
| Amounts | Shares | ||||||||||
| Series A and B Preferred Stock | |||||||||||
| Beginning of Period | $ | 482,554 | 20,000,000 | ||||||||
| Redemption of Series A Preferred Stock | (332,988) | (13,800,000) | |||||||||
| Redemption of Series B Preferred Stock | (149,566) | (6,200,000) | |||||||||
| End of Period | — | — | |||||||||
| Series C Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock | |||||||||||
| Beginning of Period | 1,115,792 | 23,000,000 | |||||||||
| End of Period | 1,115,792 | 23,000,000 | |||||||||
| Series I Preferred Stock | |||||||||||
| Beginning of Period | — | 1 | |||||||||
| End of Period | — | 1 | |||||||||
| Series II Preferred Stock | |||||||||||
| Beginning of Period | 2,756 | 275,626,493 | |||||||||
| Cancellation of Series II Preferred Stock | (169) | (16,900,330) | |||||||||
| End of Period | 2,587 | 258,726,163 | |||||||||
| Common Stock | |||||||||||
| Beginning of Period | 5,729 | 572,893,738 | |||||||||
| Private Placement Share Issuance | 9 | 964,871 | |||||||||
| Exchange of KKR Holdings Units | 169 | 16,900,330 | |||||||||
| Net Delivery of Common Stock | 95 | 9,383,733 | |||||||||
| Clawback of Transfer Restricted Shares | — | (16,521) | |||||||||
| Repurchases of Common Stock | (45) | (4,462,533) | |||||||||
| End of Period | 5,957 | 595,663,618 | |||||||||
| Additional Paid-In Capital | |||||||||||
| Beginning of Period | 8,687,817 | ||||||||||
| Private Placement Share Issuance | 38,454 | ||||||||||
| Exchange of KKR Holdings Units | 530,194 | ||||||||||
| Tax Effects - Exchange of KKR Holdings Units and Other | 6,929 | ||||||||||
| Net Delivery of Common Stock | (166,939) | ||||||||||
| Repurchases of Common Stock | (269,665) | ||||||||||
| Equity-Based Compensation | 170,645 | ||||||||||
| End of Period | 8,997,435 | ||||||||||
| Retained Earnings | |||||||||||
| Beginning of Period | 3,440,782 | ||||||||||
| Net Income (Loss) Attributable to KKR & Co. Inc. | 4,666,476 | ||||||||||
Series A Preferred Stock Dividends ($0.843750 per share) | (11,644) | ||||||||||
| Redemption of Series A Preferred Stock | (12,012) | ||||||||||
Series B Preferred Stock Dividends ($1.218750 per share) | (7,557) | ||||||||||
| Redemption of Series B Preferred Stock | (5,434) | ||||||||||
Series C Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock Dividends ($3.00 per share) | (69,000) | ||||||||||
Common Stock Dividends ($0.57 per share) | (331,429) | ||||||||||
| End of Period | 7,670,182 | ||||||||||
| Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (net of tax) | |||||||||||
| Beginning of Period | (18,612) | ||||||||||
| Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) | (183,458) | ||||||||||
| Exchange of KKR Holdings Units | (7,719) | ||||||||||
| End of Period | (209,789) | ||||||||||
| Total KKR & Co. Inc. Stockholders' Equity | 17,582,164 | ||||||||||
| Noncontrolling Interests (See Note 22) | 40,474,565 | ||||||||||
| Total Equity | $ | 58,056,729 | |||||||||
| Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests (See Note 23) | $ | 82,491 | |||||||||
222
KKR & CO. INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY (Continued) (Amounts in Thousands, Except Share and Per Share Data) | |||||||||||
| Year Ended December 31, 2020 | |||||||||||
| Amounts | Shares | ||||||||||
| Series A and B Preferred Stock | |||||||||||
| Beginning of Period | $ | 482,554 | 20,000,000 | ||||||||
| End of Period | 482,554 | 20,000,000 | |||||||||
| Series C Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock | |||||||||||
| Beginning of Period | — | — | |||||||||
| Issuance of Series C Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock (net of issuance costs) | 1,115,792 | 23,000,000 | |||||||||
| End of Period | 1,115,792 | 23,000,000 | |||||||||
| Series I Preferred Stock | |||||||||||
| Beginning of Period | — | 1 | |||||||||
| End of Period | — | 1 | |||||||||
| Series II Preferred Stock | |||||||||||
| Beginning of Period | 2,904 | 290,381,345 | |||||||||
| Cancellation of Series II Preferred Stock | (148) | (14,754,852) | |||||||||
| End of Period | 2,756 | 275,626,493 | |||||||||
| Common Stock | |||||||||||
| Beginning of Period | 5,600 | 560,007,579 | |||||||||
| Exchange of KKR Holdings Units | 148 | 14,754,852 | |||||||||
| Net Delivery of Common Stock | 83 | 8,355,264 | |||||||||
| Clawback of Transfer Restricted Shares | — | (14,284) | |||||||||
| Repurchases of Common Stock | (102) | (10,209,673) | |||||||||
| End of Period | 5,729 | 572,893,738 | |||||||||
| Additional Paid-In Capital | |||||||||||
| Beginning of Period | 8,565,919 | ||||||||||
| Exchange of KKR Holdings Units | 293,057 | ||||||||||
| Tax Effects - Exchange of KKR Holdings Units and Other | (9,167) | ||||||||||
| Net Delivery of Common Stock | (78,400) | ||||||||||
| Repurchases of Common Stock | (246,058) | ||||||||||
| Equity-Based Compensation | 193,750 | ||||||||||
| Transfer of Interests Under Common Control | 14,385 | ||||||||||
| Transfer of Oil and Gas Interests (See Note 2) | (45,669) | ||||||||||
| End of Period | 8,687,817 | ||||||||||
| Retained Earnings | |||||||||||
| Beginning of Period | 1,792,152 | ||||||||||
| Net Income (Loss) Attributable to KKR & Co. Inc. | 2,002,509 | ||||||||||
Series A Preferred Stock Dividends ($1.687500 per share) | (23,288) | ||||||||||
Series B Preferred Stock Dividends ($1.625000 per share) | (10,076) | ||||||||||
Series C Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock Dividends ($1.008300 per share) | (23,191) | ||||||||||
Common Stock Dividends ($0.53 per share) | (297,324) | ||||||||||
| End of Period | 3,440,782 | ||||||||||
| Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (net of tax) | |||||||||||
| Beginning of Period | (41,639) | ||||||||||
| Foreign Currency Translation | 24,559 | ||||||||||
| Exchange of KKR Holdings Units | (1,532) | ||||||||||
| End of Period | (18,612) | ||||||||||
| Total KKR & Co. Inc. Stockholders' Equity | 13,716,818 | ||||||||||
| Noncontrolling Interests (See Note 22) | 27,083,098 | ||||||||||
| Total Equity | $ | 40,799,916 | |||||||||
223
KKR & CO. INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY (Continued)
(Amounts in Thousands, Except Share and Per Share Data)
| Year Ended December 31, 2019 | |||||||||||
| Amounts | Shares | ||||||||||
| Series A and B Preferred Stock | |||||||||||
| Beginning of Period | $ | 482,554 | 20,000,000 | ||||||||
| End of Period | 482,554 | 20,000,000 | |||||||||
| Series I Preferred Stock | |||||||||||
| Beginning of Period | — | 1 | |||||||||
| End of Period | — | 1 | |||||||||
| Series II Preferred Stock | |||||||||||
| Beginning of Period | 2,991 | 299,081,239 | |||||||||
| Cancellation of Series II Preferred Stock | (87) | (8,699,894) | |||||||||
| End of Period | 2,904 | 290,381,345 | |||||||||
| Common Stock | |||||||||||
| Beginning of Period | 5,349 | 534,857,237 | |||||||||
| Exchange of KKR Holdings Units | 87 | 8,699,894 | |||||||||
| Net Delivery of Common Stock | 101 | 10,135,649 | |||||||||
| Repurchases of Common Stock | (29) | (2,859,452) | |||||||||
| Common Stock Issued in Connection with the Purchase of Investments | 92 | 9,174,251 | |||||||||
| End of Period | 5,600 | 560,007,579 | |||||||||
| Additional Paid-In Capital | |||||||||||
| Beginning of Period | 8,106,408 | ||||||||||
| Exchange of KKR Holdings Units | 162,761 | ||||||||||
| Tax Effects - Exchange of KKR Holdings Units and Other | 4,190 | ||||||||||
| Net Delivery of Common Stock | (91,067) | ||||||||||
| Repurchases of Common Stock | (72,095) | ||||||||||
| Equity-Based Compensation | 207,789 | ||||||||||
| Common Stock Issued in Connection with the Purchase of Investments | 247,933 | ||||||||||
| End of Period | 8,565,919 | ||||||||||
| Retained Earnings | |||||||||||
| Beginning of Period | 91,953 | ||||||||||
| Net Income (Loss) Attributable to KKR & Co. Inc. | 2,005,049 | ||||||||||
Series A Preferred Stock Dividends ($1.687500 per share) | (23,288) | ||||||||||
Series B Preferred Stock Dividends ($1.625000 per share) | (10,076) | ||||||||||
Common Stock Dividends ($0.50 per share) | (271,486) | ||||||||||
| End of Period | 1,792,152 | ||||||||||
| Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (net of tax) | |||||||||||
| Beginning of Period | (39,645) | ||||||||||
| Foreign Currency Translation | (1,058) | ||||||||||
| Exchange of KKR Holdings Units | (936) | ||||||||||
| End of Period | (41,639) | ||||||||||
| Total KKR & Co. Inc. Stockholders' Equity | 10,807,490 | ||||||||||
| Noncontrolling Interests (See Note 22) | 19,694,884 | ||||||||||
| Total Equity | $ | 30,502,374 | |||||||||
See notes to financial statements.
224
KKR & CO. INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Amounts in Thousands)
| Years Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |||||||||||||||
| Operating Activities | |||||||||||||||||
| Net Income (Loss) | $ | 12,295,179 | $ | 5,117,598 | $ | 4,639,540 | |||||||||||
| Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income (Loss) to Net Cash Provided (Used) by Operating Activities: | |||||||||||||||||
| Equity-Based and Other Non-Cash Compensation | 529,816 | 326,758 | 297,708 | ||||||||||||||
| Net Realized (Gains) Losses - Asset Management | (2,382,209) | (162,939) | (497,346) | ||||||||||||||
| Change in Unrealized (Gains) Losses - Asset Management | (5,338,714) | (3,479,865) | (2,664,538) | ||||||||||||||
| Capital Allocation-Based (Income) Loss - Asset Management | (6,842,414) | (2,224,100) | (2,430,425) | ||||||||||||||
| Net Realized (Gains) Losses - Insurance | 860,165 | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Net Accretion and Amortization | 386,867 | (64,154) | (34,493) | ||||||||||||||
| Interest Credited to Policyholder Account Balances (net of Policy Fees) - Insurance | 1,740,965 | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Other Non-Cash Amounts | (102,871) | 10,901 | (10,757) | ||||||||||||||
| Cash Flows Due to Changes in Operating Assets and Liabilities: | |||||||||||||||||
| Reinsurance Transactions and Acquisitions, Net of Cash Provided - Insurance | 1,373,597 | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Change in Premiums, Notes Receivable and Reinsurance Recoverable, Net of Reinsurance Premiums Payable - Insurance | 685,802 | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Change in Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs - Insurance | (412,671) | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Change in Policy Liabilities and Accruals, Net - Insurance | (1,166,726) | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Change in Consolidation | (373,761) | 8,624 | (137,498) | ||||||||||||||
| Change in Due from / to Affiliates | (431,292) | (214,227) | (82,508) | ||||||||||||||
| Change in Other Assets | 465,288 | (571,336) | 954,554 | ||||||||||||||
| Change in Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities | 2,143,039 | 1,187,516 | 327,431 | ||||||||||||||
| Investments Purchased - Asset Management | (73,509,382) | (47,577,486) | (36,678,379) | ||||||||||||||
| Proceeds from Investments - Asset Management | 62,902,614 | 41,689,017 | 30,634,556 | ||||||||||||||
| Net Cash Provided (Used) by Operating Activities | (7,176,708) | (5,953,693) | (5,682,155) | ||||||||||||||
| Investing Activities | |||||||||||||||||
| Acquisition of Global Atlantic, Net of Cash Acquired (See Note 3) | (473,779) | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Purchases of Fixed Assets | (102,049) | (142,258) | (194,569) | ||||||||||||||
| Investments Purchased - Insurance | (58,617,575) | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Proceeds from Investments - Insurance | 49,567,361 | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Other Investing Activities, Net - Insurance | 20,494 | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Development of Oil and Natural Gas Properties | — | (11,128) | (12,793) | ||||||||||||||
| Net Cash Provided (Used) by Investing Activities | (9,605,548) | (153,386) | (207,362) | ||||||||||||||
| Financing Activities | |||||||||||||||||
| Series A and B Preferred Stock Dividends | (19,201) | (33,364) | (33,364) | ||||||||||||||
| Series C Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock Dividends | (69,000) | (23,191) | — | ||||||||||||||
| Common Stock Dividends | (331,429) | (297,324) | (271,486) | ||||||||||||||
| Distributions to Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests | (2,015) | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Distributions to Noncontrolling Interests | (7,484,620) | (5,160,539) | (3,169,975) | ||||||||||||||
| Contributions from Noncontrolling Interests | 13,847,646 | 9,242,255 | 4,669,756 | ||||||||||||||
| Issuance of Series C Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock (net of issuance costs) | — | 1,115,792 | — | ||||||||||||||
| Redemption of Series A and B Preferred Stock | (500,000) | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Net Delivery of Common Stock (Equity Incentive Plans) | (166,844) | (78,317) | (90,966) | ||||||||||||||
| Repurchases of Common Stock | (269,710) | (246,160) | (72,124) | ||||||||||||||
| Private Placement Share Issuance | 38,463 | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Proceeds from Debt Obligations | 30,369,415 | 16,620,416 | 14,811,703 | ||||||||||||||
| Repayment of Debt Obligations | (21,473,835) | (11,293,648) | (9,310,771) | ||||||||||||||
| Financing Costs Paid | (128,753) | (42,216) | (47,784) | ||||||||||||||
| Additions to Contractholder Deposit Funds - Insurance | 14,720,510 | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Withdrawals from Contractholder Deposit Funds - Insurance | (8,777,045) | — | — | ||||||||||||||
225
| Years Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |||||||||||||||
| Reinsurance Transactions, Net of Cash Provided - Insurance | 610,314 | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Other Financing Activity, Net - Insurance | 98 | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Net Cash Provided (Used) by Financing Activities | 20,363,994 | 9,803,704 | 6,484,989 | ||||||||||||||
| Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash | (48,891) | 59,416 | 432 | ||||||||||||||
| Net Increase/(Decrease) in Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash | $ | 3,532,847 | $ | 3,756,041 | 595,904 | ||||||||||||
| Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash, Beginning of Period | 6,993,457 | 3,237,416 | 2,641,512 | ||||||||||||||
| Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash, End of Period | $ | 10,526,304 | $ | 6,993,457 | $ | 3,237,416 | |||||||||||
| Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash are comprised of the following: | |||||||||||||||||
| Beginning of the Period | |||||||||||||||||
| Asset Management | |||||||||||||||||
| Cash and Cash Equivalents | $ | 6,507,874 | $ | 3,163,154 | $ | 2,445,147 | |||||||||||
| Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents | 485,583 | 74,262 | 196,365 | ||||||||||||||
| Total Asset Management | 6,993,457 | 3,237,416 | 2,641,512 | ||||||||||||||
| Insurance | |||||||||||||||||
| Cash and Cash Equivalents | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||||
| Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Total Insurance | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash, Beginning of Period | $ | 6,993,457 | $ | 3,237,416 | $ | 2,641,512 | |||||||||||
| End of the Period | |||||||||||||||||
| Asset Management | |||||||||||||||||
| Cash and Cash Equivalents | $ | 6,699,668 | $ | 6,507,874 | $ | 3,163,154 | |||||||||||
| Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents | 134,298 | 485,583 | 74,262 | ||||||||||||||
| Total Asset Management | 6,833,966 | 6,993,457 | 3,237,416 | ||||||||||||||
| Insurance | |||||||||||||||||
| Cash and Cash Equivalents | $ | 3,391,934 | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||||
| Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents | 300,404 | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Total Insurance | 3,692,338 | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash, End of Period | $ | 10,526,304 | $ | 6,993,457 | $ | 3,237,416 | |||||||||||
See notes to financial statements.
226
KKR & CO. INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Continued)
(Amounts in Thousands)
| Years Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |||||||||||||||
| Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information | |||||||||||||||||
| Payments for Interest | $ | 1,241,886 | $ | 1,045,297 | $ | 1,032,818 | |||||||||||
| Payments for Income Taxes | $ | 658,578 | $ | 179,915 | $ | 129,929 | |||||||||||
| Payments for Operating Lease Liabilities | $ | 46,585 | $ | 54,056 | $ | 50,574 | |||||||||||
| Supplemental Disclosures of Non-Cash Investing and Financing Activities | |||||||||||||||||
| Equity-Based and Other Non-Cash Contributions | $ | 434,278 | $ | 327,134 | $ | 299,087 | |||||||||||
| Common Stock Issued in Connection with the Purchase of Investments | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 248,025 | |||||||||||
| Non-Cash Contribution from Noncontrolling Interests | $ | 845,943 | $ | 618,452 | $ | — | |||||||||||
| Non-Cash Distribution to Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests | $ | (11,399) | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||||
| Debt Obligations - Net Gains (Losses), Translation and Other | $ | 593,699 | $ | (849,179) | $ | (262,512) | |||||||||||
| Transfer of Oil and Gas Interests (See Note 2) | $ | — | $ | (69,027) | $ | — | |||||||||||
| Tax Effects - Exchange of KKR Holdings L.P. Units and Other | $ | 6,929 | $ | (9,167) | $ | 4,190 | |||||||||||
| Right-of-Use Assets obtained in Exchange for new Operating Lease Liabilities | $ | 46,284 | $ | 79,116 | $ | 10,669 | |||||||||||
| Investments Acquired through Reinsurance Agreements | $ | 16,339,358 | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||||
| Policyholder Liabilities and Accruals Acquired through Reinsurance Agreements | $ | 4,070,473 | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||||
| Contractholder Deposit Funds Acquired through Reinsurance Agreements | $ | 14,773,306 | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||||
| Change in Consolidation | |||||||||||||||||
| Investments | $ | (5,293,537) | $ | 3,480 | $ | (2,038,205) | |||||||||||
| Due From Affiliates | $ | (3,735) | $ | — | $ | 1,642 | |||||||||||
| Other Assets | $ | (67,255) | $ | 46,892 | $ | (19,703) | |||||||||||
| Debt Obligations | $ | (4,502,453) | $ | 259,822 | $ | (1,046,515) | |||||||||||
| Due to Affiliates | $ | (517) | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||||
| Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities | $ | (39,428) | $ | 32,494 | $ | (47,731) | |||||||||||
| Noncontrolling Interests | $ | (1,132,796) | $ | (239,258) | $ | 23,123 | |||||||||||
| Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests | $ | — | $ | — | $ | (1,122,641) | |||||||||||
See notes to financial statements.
227
KKR & CO. INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All Amounts in Thousands, Except Share and Per Share Data, and Except Where Noted)
1. ORGANIZATION
KKR & Co. Inc. (NYSE: KKR), through its subsidiaries (collectively, "KKR"), is a leading global investment firm that offers alternative asset management as well as capital markets and insurance solutions. KKR aims to generate attractive investment returns by following a patient and disciplined investment approach, employing world-class people, and supporting growth in its portfolio companies and communities. KKR sponsors investment funds that invest in private equity, credit and real assets and has strategic partners that manage hedge funds. KKR’s insurance subsidiaries offer retirement, life and reinsurance products under the management of The Global Atlantic Financial Group LLC ("TGAFG" and, together with its subsidiaries, "Global Atlantic").
2020 Reorganization and Acquisition of KKR Capstone
On January 1, 2020, KKR completed an internal reorganization (the "2020 Reorganization"), in which (i) KKR Management Holdings L.P. ("Management Holdings") and KKR International Holdings L.P. ("International Holdings") were combined with KKR Fund Holdings L.P. ("Fund Holdings"), which changed its name to KKR Group Partnership L.P. ("KKR Group Partnership") and became the sole intermediate holding company for KKR's business, (ii) the issuers of each series of KKR’s outstanding senior notes were contributed to KKR Group Partnership and the guarantees by International Holdings and Management Holdings under the senior notes were automatically and unconditionally released and discharged pursuant to the terms of the indentures governing such senior notes, with KKR Group Partnership remaining as a guarantor, and (iii) the ownership interests of certain operating subsidiaries of KKR Group Partnership were reorganized. References to "KKR Group Partnership" for periods prior to the 2020 Reorganization mean Fund Holdings, Management Holdings and International Holdings, collectively, and references to "KKR Group Partnership" for periods following the 2020 Reorganization mean KKR Group Partnership L.P. References to a "KKR Group Partnership Unit" mean (i) one Class A partner interest in each of Fund Holdings, Management Holdings and International Holdings, collectively, for periods prior to the 2020 Reorganization and (ii) one Class A partner interest in KKR Group Partnership for periods following the 2020 Reorganization.
Contemporaneously with the 2020 Reorganization, KKR acquired KKR Capstone Americas LLC and its affiliates ("KKR
Capstone") on January 1, 2020. KKR Capstone was consolidated prior to January 1, 2020 and consequently, this transaction
was accounted for as an equity transaction. This transaction resulted in an increase to the KKR Group Partnership equity.
Accordingly, both KKR's equity and noncontrolling interests held by KKR Holdings increased for their proportionate share of
the KKR Capstone equity-based on their ownership in KKR Group Partnership on January 1, 2020.
2020 Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation
On May 8, 2020 (the "2020 Amendment"), KKR & Co. Inc. amended and restated its Certificate of Incorporation to, among other changes, rename its Class A common stock as common stock and reclassify its Class B common stock and Class C
common stock into Series I preferred stock and Series II preferred stock, respectively. Common stock, Series I preferred stock
and Series II preferred stock have the same rights and powers that Class A common stock, Class B common stock and Class C
common stock had, respectively, prior to the 2020 Amendment. References to "common stock" for periods prior to the 2020 Amendment mean Class A common stock of KKR & Co. Inc. and references to "Series I preferred stock" and "Series II preferred stock" for periods prior to the 2020 Amendment mean Class B common stock and Class C common stock of KKR & Co. Inc., respectively. See Note 22 "Equity."
Acquisition of Global Atlantic Financial Group
In July 2020, KKR and Global Atlantic Financial Group Limited entered into a strategic transaction whereby KKR agreed to acquire Global Atlantic, a leading retirement and life insurance and reinsurance company. The transaction, which closed on February 1, 2021 (the "GA Acquisition Date"), was funded with a combination of: (i) cash on hand, (ii) proceeds from syndication of the equity interests in Global Atlantic to minority co-investors, (iii) proceeds from the offering of $1,150 million of 6.00% Series C Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock by KKR & Co. Inc. and (iv) proceeds from the offering of $750 million aggregate principal amount of 3.500% Senior Notes due 2050 by KKR Group Finance Co. VIII LLC.
Global Atlantic's results are included in KKR's consolidated financial statements commencing from the GA Acquisition Date. Refer to Note 3 "Acquisition of Global Atlantic" for additional information on the transaction.
228
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
References herein to "KKR," refer to KKR & Co. Inc. and its subsidiaries, including Global Atlantic, unless the context requires otherwise such as in sections where it refers to the asset management business only.
KKR & Co. Inc. is the parent company of KKR Group Holdings Corp., which is the general partner of KKR Group Partnership. KKR & Co. Inc. both indirectly controls KKR Group Partnership and indirectly holds Class A partner interests in KKR Group Partnership ("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 & Co. Inc., and holders of other exchangeable securities through KKR Holdings II L.P. As of December 31, 2021, KKR & Co. Inc. held indirectly approximately 69.6% of the KKR Group Partnership Units. The percentage ownership in KKR Group Partnership may continue to change as KKR Holdings and the holders of other exchangeable securities exchange their KKR Group Partnership Units for shares of common stock of KKR & Co. Inc. or when KKR & Co. Inc. otherwise issues or repurchases shares of common stock of KKR & Co. Inc. KKR Group Partnership also has outstanding limited partner interests that provide for a carry pool and preferred units with economic terms that mirror the Series C Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock issued by KKR & Co. Inc.
(1) Increase in KKR's stockholders' equity for exchange of 16,900,330, 14,754,852, and 8,699,894 KKR Group Partnership units for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively, held by KKR Holdings L.P., inclusive of deferred taxes.
Reorganization Agreement
On October 8, 2021, KKR entered into a Reorganization Agreement (the "Reorganization Agreement") with KKR Holdings, KKR Management LLP (which holds the sole outstanding share of Series I preferred stock), KKR Associates Holdings L.P. and the other parties thereto. Pursuant to the Reorganization Agreement, the parties agreed to undertake a series of integrated transactions to effect a number of transformative structural and governance changes, including (a) the acquisition by KKR of KKR Holdings and all of the KKR Group Partnership Units held by it, (b) the future elimination of voting control by KKR Management LLP and its ownership of the Series I preferred stock, (c) the future establishment of voting rights for all common stock on a one vote per share basis, including with respect to the election of directors, and (d) the future control of the carry pool by KKR. In particular, the Reorganization Agreement provides for:
i.a simplifying reorganization of KKR’s current corporate structure whereby all holders of common stock of KKR & Co. Inc. immediately prior to such reorganization and all holders of interests in KKR Holdings immediately prior to such reorganization will receive the same common stock in a new parent company of KKR (“New KKR Parent”),
ii.the future elimination of control of New KKR Parent by KKR Management LLP by having all voting power vested in the common stock of New KKR Parent on a one vote per share basis on the Sunset Date (as defined below),
iii.also on the Sunset Date, the future acquisition of control by KKR of KKR Associates Holdings L.P, the entity providing for the allocation of carry proceeds to KKR employees, also known as the carry pool,
iv.the termination of KKR's tax receivable agreement with KKR Holdings other than with respect to exchanges prior to the closing of the mergers contemplated by the Reorganization Agreement, and
v.in the merger of KKR Holdings with a subsidiary of New KKR Parent (the “Holdings Merger”), the issuance to limited partners of KKR Holdings of 8.5 million shares (as adjusted for any stock splits or similar adjustments) of common stock of New KKR Parent, which will not be transferrable (except in the case of death or for estate planning purposes) prior to the Sunset Date.
229
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
The “Sunset Date” will be the earlier of (i) December 31, 2026 and (ii) the six-month anniversary of the first date on which the death or permanent disability of both Mr. Henry Kravis and Mr. George Roberts (collectively, "Co-Founders") has occurred (or any earlier date consented to by KKR Management LLP in its sole discretion). In addition, KKR Management LLP agreed not to transfer its ownership of the sole share of Series I preferred stock. The transactions contemplated to occur under the Reorganization Agreement (including the establishment of New KKR Parent, the Holdings Merger, the termination of the tax receivable agreement except with respect to exchanges of Holdings units made prior thereto, and the changes to occur effective on the Sunset Date) are all required to be consummated together as integrated transactions under the Reorganization Agreement. The consummation of the merger transactions is subject to the receipt of regulatory approvals and other conditions to closing as provided in the Reorganization Agreement. While the Sunset Date itself is expected to occur after, and is conditioned upon, the completion of the merger transactions contemplated by the Reorganization Agreement, the changes to occur effective on the Sunset Date will be unconditional commitments upon the completion of the merger transactions.
230
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements (referred to hereafter as the "financial statements") have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP").
KKR consolidates the financial results of KKR Group Partnership and its consolidated entities, which include the accounts of KKR's investment management and capital markets companies, the general partners of certain unconsolidated investment funds, general partners of consolidated investment funds and their respective consolidated investment funds, Global Atlantic’s insurance companies and certain other entities including CFEs. References in the accompanying financial statements to "principals" are to KKR's current and former employees who hold interests in KKR's business through KKR Holdings. References to Global Atlantic hereafter includes the insurance companies of Global Atlantic, which are consolidated by KKR starting on the GA Acquisition Date (refer to Note 3 "Acquisition of Global Atlantic" for additional information on the transaction).
The presentations in the consolidated statement of financial condition and consolidated statement of operations reflect the significant industry diversification of KKR by its acquisition of Global Atlantic. Global Atlantic operates an insurance business, and KKR operates an asset management business, each of which possess distinct characteristics. As a result, KKR developed a two-tiered approach for the financial statements presentation, where Global Atlantic's insurance operations are presented separately from KKR's asset management business. KKR believes that these separate presentations provide a more informative view of the consolidated financial position and results of operations than traditional aggregated presentations and that reporting Global Atlantic’s insurance operations separately is appropriate given, among other factors, the relative significance of Global Atlantic’s policy liabilities, which are not obligations of KKR (other than the insurance companies that issued them). If a traditional aggregate presentation were to be used, KKR would expect to eliminate or combine several identical or similar captions, which would condense the presentations, but would also reduce the level of information presented. KKR also believes that using a traditional aggregate presentation would result in no new line items compared to the two-tier presentation included in the financial statements in this report.
In addition, in connection with the Global Atlantic acquisition, we organized our business into two segments: Asset Management and Insurance. Global Atlantic’s operations constitute the Insurance segment. See Note 21 "Segment Reporting."
The summary of the significant accounting policies has been organized considering the two-tiered approach and includes a section for common accounting policies and an accounting policy section for each of the two tiers when a policy is specific to one of the tiers.
In the ordinary course of business, KKR’s Asset Management business and Global Atlantic enter into transactions with each other, which may include transactions pursuant to their investment management agreements and financing arrangements. The borrowings from these financing arrangements are non-recourse to KKR. All the investment management and financing arrangements between KKR and Global Atlantic are eliminated in consolidation; however, KKR's allocated share of the net income from the consolidation of Global Atlantic is increased by the amount of fees earned from and decreased by the amount of interest expense incurred from noncontrolling interest holders in Global Atlantic. Accordingly, the elimination of these fees and interest impacts the net income (loss) attributable to KKR and KKR stockholders' equity for the pro-rata ownership of the noncontrolling interests in Global Atlantic.
All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated.
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - COMMON AMONG ASSET MANAGEMENT AND INSURANCE
COVID-19 and Global Economic and Market Conditions
The novel strain of coronavirus ("COVID-19") has caused, and continues to cause in certain cases, severe disruptions to the U.S. and global economies. The outbreak of COVID-19 and the actions taken in response have had far reaching impact on the U.S. and global economies, contributing to significant volatility in the financial markets, resulting in increased volatility in currencies, interest rates, and equity prices (including our common stock). Shutdowns in some locations has caused furloughs and layoffs. Furthermore, supply chain disruptions has caused wage, freight and material prices to rise, resulting in margin pressure in certain sectors. Although a number of vaccines for COVID-19 have been developed and have been deployed in certain countries, including the United States, the timing for widespread vaccination and immunity is uncertain, and these vaccines may be less effective against new mutated strains of the virus.
Given the ongoing nature of the pandemic, at this time KKR cannot reasonably predict the ultimate impact that COVID-19 will have on KKR’s business, financial performance and operating results. The estimates and assumptions underlying the
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consolidated financial statements are based on the information available as of December 31, 2021 for the current period and as of December 31, 2020 or December 31, 2019, as applicable. Actual events could differ materially from those estimated or assumed for purposes of KKR's financial reporting.
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 revenues, expenses, and investment income (loss) during the reporting periods. Such estimates include but are not limited to (i) the valuation of investments and financial instruments, (ii) the determination of the income tax provision, (iii) the impairment of goodwill and intangible assets, (iv) the impairment of available-for-sale investments, (v) the valuation of insurance policy liabilities, (vi) the valuation of embedded derivatives, (vii) the determination of the allowance for loan losses, and (viii) amortization of deferred revenues and expenses associated with the insurance business. 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 the attributes of an investment company, like investment funds, (iii) CFEs, (iv) Global Atlantic and its insurance companies beginning on February 1, 2021, and (v) other entities. Each of these entities is assessed for consolidation on a case by case basis depending on the specific facts and circumstances surrounding that entity. For further information on the acquisition accounting for Global Atlantic see Note 3 "Acquisition of Global Atlantic".
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 assessed for consolidation as voting interest entities ("VOEs") under the voting interest model.
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."
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 the 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. Limited partnerships and other similar entities where unaffiliated limited partners have not been granted (i) substantive participatory rights or (ii) substantive rights to either dissolve the partnership or remove the general partner ("kick-out rights") are VIEs. KKR's investment funds that are not CFEs (i) are generally limited partnerships, (ii) generally provide KKR with operational discretion and control, and (iii) generally have fund investors with no substantive rights to impact ongoing governance and operating activities of the fund, including the ability to remove the general partner, and, as such, the limited partners do not have kick-out rights. Accordingly, most of KKR's investment funds are categorized as VIEs.
KKR consolidates all VIEs in which it is the primary beneficiary. A reporting entity is determined to be the primary beneficiary if it holds a controlling financial interest in a VIE. A controlling financial interest is defined as (a) the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact the VIE's economic performance and (b) the obligation to absorb losses of the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE. The consolidation guidance requires an analysis to determine (i) whether an entity in which KKR holds a variable interest is a VIE and (ii) whether KKR's involvement, through holding interests directly or indirectly in the entity or contractually through other variable interests (for example, management and performance income), would give it a controlling financial interest. Performance of that analysis requires the exercise of judgment. Fees earned by KKR that are customary and commensurate with the level of effort required to provide those services, and where KKR does not hold other economic interests in the entity that would absorb more than an insignificant amount of the expected losses or returns of the entity, would not be considered to be variable interests. KKR factors in all economic interests including interests held through related parties, to
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determine if it holds a variable interest. KKR determines whether it is the primary beneficiary of a VIE at the time it becomes involved with a VIE and reconsiders that conclusion when facts and circumstances change.
For entities that are determined not to be VIEs, these entities are generally considered VOEs and are evaluated under the voting interest model. KKR consolidates VOEs it controls through a majority voting interest or through other means.
The consolidation assessment, including the determination as to whether an entity qualifies as a VIE or VOE, depends on the facts and circumstances for each entity, and therefore certain of KKR's investment funds may qualify as VIEs whereas others may qualify as VOEs.
With respect to CLOs (which are generally VIEs), in KKR's role as collateral manager, KKR generally has the power to direct the activities of the CLO that most significantly impact the economic performance of the entity. In some, but not all cases, KKR, through its residual interest in the CLO 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 the power to direct the activities of the CLO that most significantly impact the CLO's economic performance and 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 is deemed to be the primary beneficiary and consolidates the CLO.
In the first quarter of 2021, KKR invested approximately $20 million in the sponsor shareholder of KKR Acquisition Holdings I Corp., a special purpose acquisition company ("SPAC"). The sponsor shareholder is a limited liability company whose only assets are equity securities of the SPAC. The investors in the sponsor shareholder are KKR and an unaffiliated investor. KKR is not the managing member of the sponsor shareholder, and KKR does not have the sole power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the sponsor shareholder. As such, KKR treats its investment in the sponsor shareholder as an equity method investment.
In the fourth quarter of 2021, as a result of the consummation of an all-primary equity offering by KREF, KKR no longer owns at least 25% of the outstanding shares of KREF common stock and, as a result, the previous right to have voting power equal to a majority of votes to cast in an election of directors pursuant to the share of special voting preferred stock held by it, as well as its right to nominate at least half of the directors to KREF’s board of directors pursuant to the stock holders agreement between KREF and certain of its stockholders, terminated as of November 1, 2021. As a result of these actions, KKR no longer holds a controlling financial interest in KREF. Upon deconsolidation of KREF, KKR recognized a gain of $54 million, which is included in Net Gains (Losses) from Investment Activities. KKR will retain an equity method investment in KREF, for which the fair value option was elected and which is classified as Level I in the fair value hierarchy.
Global Atlantic has formed certain VIEs to hold investments, including investments in transportation, renewable energy, consumer and other loans and fixed maturity securities. These VIEs issue beneficial interests primarily to Global Atlantic’s insurance companies, and Global Atlantic maintains the power to direct the activities of the VIEs that most significantly impact their economic performance and bears the obligation to absorb losses or receive benefits from the VIEs that could potentially be significant. Accordingly, Global Atlantic is the primary beneficiary of these VIEs, which are consolidated in Global Atlantic’s results.
For certain consolidated renewable energy partnerships consolidated by Global Atlantic's insurance companies, Global Atlantic uses a hypothetical liquidation at book value method ("HLBV") to allocate income and cash flows based on third-party investors’ claim to net assets, including those for the noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests.
KKR classifies certain noncontrolling interests with redemption features that are not solely within the control of KKR outside of permanent equity on its consolidated statements of financial condition. These redeemable non-controlling interests are reported using the greater of the carrying value at each reporting date as determined by the HLBV method or the estimated redemption value in each reporting period.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Generally KKR considers all liquid short‑term investments with original maturities of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents includes cash held at consolidated entities, which represents cash that, although not legally restricted, is not available generally to fund liquidity needs of KKR, as the use of such funds is generally limited to the investment activities of KKR's investment funds and CFEs. In prior periods, those amounts were classified in a separate line "Cash and Cash Equivalents Held at Consolidated Entities" on the statement of financial condition, and the comparable information have been recasted to current presentation. The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents are considered to be reasonable estimates of their fair values.
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Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents
Restricted cash and cash equivalents primarily represent amounts that are held by third parties under certain of KKR's financing and derivative transactions. The duration of this restricted cash generally matches the duration of the related financing or derivative transaction. Global Atlantic’s restricted cash principally includes certain cash and cash equivalents held in trusts formed for the benefit of ceding companies or held in connection with open derivative transactions. The carrying values of restricted cash and cash equivalents are considered to be reasonable estimates of their fair values.
Fair Value Measurements
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 under current market conditions. 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.
GAAP establishes a hierarchical disclosure framework which prioritizes and ranks the level of market price observability used in measuring financial instruments at fair value. Market price observability is affected by a number of factors, including the type of financial instrument, the characteristics specific to the financial instrument and the state of the marketplace, including the existence and transparency of transactions between market participants. Financial instruments with readily available quoted prices in active markets generally will have a higher degree of market price observability and a lesser degree of judgment used in measuring fair value.
Investments and financial instruments measured and reported at fair value are classified and disclosed based on the observability of inputs used in the determination of fair values, as follows:
Level I - Pricing inputs are unadjusted, quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities as of the measurement date. The types of financial instruments included in this category are publicly-listed equities, U.S. government and agencies securities, and securities sold short.
Level II - Pricing inputs are other than quoted prices in active markets, which are either directly or indirectly observable as of the measurement date, and fair value is determined through the use of models or other valuation methodologies. The types of financial instruments included in this category are credit investments, fixed-income securities held by consolidated insurance companies, investments and debt obligations of consolidated CLO entities, convertible debt securities indexed to publicly-listed securities, less liquid and restricted equity securities, certain funds withheld payable at interest, and certain over-the-counter derivatives such as foreign currency option and forward contracts.
Level III - Pricing inputs are unobservable for the financial instruments and include situations where there is little, if any, market activity for the financial instrument. The inputs into the determination of fair value require significant management judgment or estimation. The types of financial instruments generally included in this category are private portfolio companies, real assets investments, certain credit investments, equity method investments for which the fair value option was elected, certain fixed-income and structured securities held by the consolidated insurance subsidiaries, reinsurance recoverables carried at fair value, certain insurance policy liabilities carried at fair value, and certain embedded derivatives related to (i) certain funds withheld payable at interest, and (ii) annuities and indexed universal life products, which contain equity-indexed features.
In certain cases, the inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement in its entirety falls has been determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. KKR's assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment and consideration of factors specific to the asset.
A significant decrease in the volume and level of activity for the asset or liability is an indication that transactions or quoted prices may not be representative of fair value because in such market conditions there may be increased instances of transactions that are not orderly. In those circumstances, further analysis of transactions or quoted prices is needed, and a significant adjustment to the transactions or quoted prices may be necessary to estimate fair value.
The availability of observable inputs can vary depending on the financial asset or liability and is affected by a wide variety of factors, including, for example, the type of instrument, whether the instrument has recently been issued, whether the instrument is traded on an active exchange or in the secondary market, and current market conditions. To the extent that valuation is based on
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models or inputs that are less observable or unobservable in the market, the determination of fair value requires additional judgment. Accordingly, the degree of judgment exercised by KKR in determining fair value is greatest for instruments categorized in Level III. The variability and availability of the observable inputs affected by the factors described above may cause transfers between Levels I, II, and III, which KKR recognizes at the beginning of the reporting period.
Investments and other financial instruments that have readily observable market prices (such as those traded on a securities exchange) are stated at the last quoted sales price as of the reporting date. KKR does not adjust the quoted price for these investments, even in situations where KKR holds a large position and a sale could reasonably affect the quoted price.
Management's determination of fair value is based upon the methodologies and processes described below and may incorporate assumptions that are management's best estimates after consideration of a variety of internal and external factors.
Level II Valuation Methodologies
Credit Investments, U.S. Municipal Securities, Corporate Bonds and Structured Securities: These financial instruments generally have bid and ask prices that can be observed in the marketplace. Bid prices reflect the highest price that KKR and others are willing to pay for an instrument. Ask prices represent the lowest price that KKR and others are willing to accept for an instrument. For financial instruments whose inputs are based on bid-ask prices obtained from third party pricing services, fair value may not always be a predetermined point in the bid-ask range. KKR's policy is generally to allow for mid-market pricing and adjusting to the point within the bid-ask range that meets KKR's best estimate of fair value. KKR may also use model-derived valuations whose inputs are observable or whose significant value drivers are observable.
Investments and Debt Obligations of Consolidated CLO Vehicles: Investments of consolidated CLO vehicles are reported within Investments of Consolidated CFEs and are valued using the same valuation methodology as described above for credit investments. Under ASU 2014-13, KKR measures CLO debt obligations on the basis of the fair value of the financial assets of the CLO.
Securities Indexed to Publicly-Listed Securities: These securities are typically valued using standard convertible security pricing models. The key inputs into these models that require some amount of judgment are the credit spreads utilized and the volatility assumed. To the extent the company being valued has other outstanding debt securities that are publicly-traded, the implied credit spread on the company's other outstanding debt securities would be utilized in the valuation. To the extent the company being valued does not have other outstanding debt securities that are publicly-traded, the credit spread will be estimated based on the implied credit spreads observed in comparable publicly-traded debt securities. In certain cases, an additional spread will be added to reflect an illiquidity discount due to the fact that the security being valued is not publicly-traded. The volatility assumption is based upon the historically observed volatility of the underlying equity security into which the convertible debt security is convertible and/or the volatility implied by the prices of options on the underlying equity security.
Equity Securities: The valuation of certain equity securities is based on (i) an observable price for an identical security adjusted for the effect of a restriction or leverage that collateralized the equity securities and (ii) quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active.
Derivatives: The valuation incorporates observable inputs comprising yield curves, foreign currency rates, interest rate volatility and credit spreads.
Level III Valuation Methodologies
Private Equity Investments: KKR generally employs two valuation methodologies when determining the fair value of a private equity investment. The first methodology is typically a market comparables analysis that considers key financial inputs, which may take into account recent public and private transactions and other available measures. The second methodology utilized is typically a discounted cash flow analysis, which incorporates significant assumptions and judgments. Estimates of key inputs used in this methodology include the weighted average cost of capital for the investment and assumed inputs used to calculate terminal values, such as exit EBITDA multiples. The results of the discounted cash flow approach can be significantly impacted by these estimates. Other inputs are also used in both methodologies. In addition, when a definitive agreement has been executed to sell an investment, KKR generally considers a significant determinant of fair value to be the consideration to be received by KKR pursuant to the executed definitive agreement.
Upon completion of the valuations conducted using these methodologies, a weighting is ascribed to each method, and an illiquidity discount is typically applied where appropriate. The ultimate fair value recorded for a particular investment will
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generally be within a range suggested by the two methodologies, except that the value may be higher or lower than such range in the case of investments being sold pursuant to an executed definitive agreement.
When determining the weighting ascribed to each valuation methodology, KKR considers, among other factors, the availability of direct market comparables, the applicability of a discounted cash flow analysis, the expected hold period and manner of realization for the investment, and in the case of investments being sold pursuant to an executed definitive agreement, an estimated probability of such sale being completed. These factors can result in different weightings among investments in the portfolio and in certain instances may result in up to a 100% weighting to a single methodology.
When an illiquidity discount is to be applied, KKR seeks to take a uniform approach across its portfolio and generally applies a minimum 5% discount to all private equity investments. KKR then evaluates such private equity investments to determine if factors exist that could make it more challenging to monetize the investment and, therefore, justify applying a higher illiquidity discount. These factors generally include (i) whether KKR is unable to freely sell the portfolio company or conduct an initial public offering of the portfolio company due to the consent rights of a third party or similar factors, (ii) whether the portfolio company is undergoing significant restructuring activity or similar factors, and (iii) characteristics about the portfolio company regarding its size and/or whether the portfolio company is experiencing, or expected to experience, a significant decline in earnings. These factors generally make it less likely that a portfolio company would be sold or publicly offered in the near term at a price indicated by using just a market multiples and/or discounted cash flow analysis, and these factors tend to reduce the number of opportunities to sell an investment and/or increase the time horizon over which an investment may be monetized. Depending on the applicability of these factors, KKR determines the amount of any incremental illiquidity discount to be applied above the 5% minimum, and during the time KKR holds the investment, the illiquidity discount may be increased or decreased, from time to time, based on changes to these factors. The amount of illiquidity discount applied at any time requires considerable judgment about what a market participant would consider and is based on the facts and circumstances of each individual investment. Accordingly, the illiquidity discount ultimately considered by a market participant upon the realization of any investment may be higher or lower than that estimated by KKR in its valuations.
In the case of growth equity investments, enterprise values may be determined using the market comparables analysis and discounted cash flow analysis described above. A scenario analysis may also be conducted to subject the estimated enterprise values to a downside, base and upside case, which involves significant assumptions and judgments. A milestone analysis may also be conducted to assess the current level of progress towards value drivers that we have determined to be important, which involves significant assumptions and judgments. The enterprise value in each case may then be allocated across the investment's capital structure to reflect the terms of the security and subjected to probability weightings. In certain cases, the values of growth equity investments may be based on recent or expected financings or other transactions.
Real Asset Investments: Real asset investments in infrastructure, energy and real estate are valued using one or a combination of the discounted cash flow analysis, market comparables analysis and direct income capitalization methods, which in each case incorporates significant assumptions and judgments.
Infrastructure investments are generally valued using the discounted cash flow analysis. Key inputs used in this methodology can include the weighted average cost of capital and assumed inputs used to calculate terminal values, such as exit EBITDA multiples.
Energy investments are generally valued using a discounted cash flow approach, and where applicable, a market approach using comparable companies and transactions. Key inputs used in our valuations include (i) the weighted average cost of capital, (ii) future commodity prices, as quoted on indices, and long-term commodity price forecasts, and (iii) the asset’s projected future operating performance.
Real estate investments are generally valued using a combination of direct income capitalization and discounted cash flow analysis. Certain real estate investments are valued by KKR based on ranges of valuations determined by independent valuation firms. Key inputs used in such methodologies that require estimates include an unlevered discount rate and current capitalization rate. The valuations of real assets investments also use other inputs.
Credit Investments: Credit investments are valued using values obtained from dealers or market makers, and where these values are not available, credit investments are generally valued by KKR based on ranges of valuations determined by an independent valuation firm. Valuation models are based on discounted cash flow analyses, for which the key inputs are determined based on market comparables, which incorporate similar instruments from similar issuers.
Real Estate Mortgage Loans: Real estate mortgage loans are illiquid, structured investments that are specific to the property and its operating performance. KKR engages an independent valuation firm to estimate the fair value of each loan. KKR reviews
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the quarterly loan valuation estimates provided by the independent valuation firm. These loans are generally valued using a discounted cash flow model using discount rates derived from observable market data applied to the capital structure of the respective sponsor and estimated property value.
Other Investments: With respect to other investments including equity method investments, KKR generally employs the same valuation methodologies as described above for private equity, credit investments and real assets investments when valuing these other investments.
Funds withheld at interest: The funds withheld receivables and payables at interest carried at fair value are primarily valued based on the fair value of the underlying investments, which have quoted prices or other observable inputs to pricing. A portion of the funds withheld receivable and payables at interest carried at fair value represent embedded derivatives and are valued using present value techniques that consider inputs including contract duration.
Reinsurance recoverables: Reinsurance recoverables carried at fair value are valued using present value techniques that consider inputs including mortality and surrender rates for the associated policies, as well as estimates of policy expenses and the cost of capital held in support of the related closed block policy liabilities.
Insurance liabilities and insurance embedded derivatives: Policy liabilities carried at fair value are valued using present value techniques that discount estimated liability cash flows at a rate that reflects the variability of those cash flows and also consider policyholder behavior (including lapse rates, surrender rates and mortality). Closed block policy liabilities carried at fair value are valued using present value techniques that consider inputs including mortality and surrender rates for the respective policies, as well as estimates of policy expenses and the cost of capital held in support of the liabilities. The funds withheld payable at interest carried at fair value represents embedded derivatives and is valued based on the change in the fair value of the assets supporting the payable. Other embedded derivative liabilities are related to our fixed-indexed annuity, variable annuity and indexed universal life products, which contain equity-indexed features. The embedded derivative liabilities are calculated as the present value of future projected benefits in excess of the projected guaranteed benefits, using an option budget as the indexed account value growth rate and considering an adjustment to reflect the risk of nonperformance on our obligation and inputs such as projected withdrawal and surrender activity, and mortality. KKR calculates nonperformance risk using a blend of observable peer holding company credit spreads, adjusted to reflect the claims paying ability of our insurance entities, as well as an adjustment to reflect the priority of policyholder claims.
Key unobservable inputs that have a significant impact on KKR's Level III valuations as described above are included in Note 9 "Fair Value Measurements." KKR utilizes several unobservable pricing inputs and assumptions in determining the fair value of its Level III financial instruments. These unobservable pricing inputs and assumptions may differ by financial instruments and in the application of KKR's valuation methodologies. KKR's reported fair value estimates could vary materially if KKR had chosen to incorporate different unobservable pricing inputs and other assumptions or, for certain applicable investments, if KKR only used either the discounted cash flow methodology or the market comparables methodology instead of assigning a weighting to both methodologies.
There is inherent uncertainty involved in the valuation of Level III financial instruments and there is no assurance that, upon liquidation or sale, KKR will realize the values reflected in our valuations. Our valuations may differ significantly from the values that would have been used had an active market for the financial instruments existed, and it is reasonably possible that the difference could be material.
Goodwill and Intangible Assets
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 in the third quarter of each fiscal year or more frequently if circumstances indicate impairment may have occurred. Goodwill is recorded in Other Assets in the accompanying consolidated statements of financial condition.
KKR has the option to either (i) perform a quantitative impairment test or (ii) first perform a qualitative assessment to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, in which case the quantitative test would then be performed. When performing a quantitative impairment test, KKR compares the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount, including goodwill. If the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, the goodwill impairment loss is equal to the excess of the carrying value over the fair value, limited to the carrying amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. The estimated fair values of the reporting units are derived based on valuation techniques KKR believes market participants would use for each respective reporting unit. The estimated fair values are generally determined
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by utilizing a discounted cash flow methodology or methodologies that incorporate market multiples of certain comparable companies.
KKR tests goodwill for impairment at the reporting unit level, which is generally at the level of or one level below its reportable segments. Goodwill recorded as a result of the acquisition of Global Atlantic has been allocated to the Insurance Segment. See Note 21 "Segment Reporting".
During the third quarter of 2021, KKR performed its annual impairment analysis for the goodwill recorded at the asset management and insurance reporting units. KKR elected to perform a qualitative assessment (commonly known as "step zero") for the purposes of its annual goodwill impairment analysis. Based upon this assessment, KKR determined that it is more likely than not that the fair value of each reporting unit exceeds its carrying value. Factors considered in the qualitative assessment included macroeconomic conditions, industry and market considerations, cost factors, current and projected financial performance, changes in management or strategy and market capitalization.
Intangible assets, which primarily relate to intangible assets acquired in the GA Acquisition are recorded in Other Assets in the accompanying consolidated statements of financial condition and are amortized over their estimated useful lives and are reviewed for impairment on an interim basis when impairment indicators are present. Impairment losses are recorded within Insurance Expenses in the consolidated statements of operations. The finite lived intangible assets are amortized using the straight-line method over the useful life of the assets which is between 15 to 19 years. The indefinite lived intangible assets are not subject to amortization.
For additional details on the GA Acquisition and the acquisition accounting see Note 3 "Acquisition of Global Atlantic".
Fixed Assets, Depreciation and Amortization
Fixed assets consist primarily of corporate real estate, leasehold improvements, furniture and computer hardware. Such amounts are recorded at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization and are included in Other Assets within the accompanying consolidated statements of financial condition. Depreciation and amortization are calculated using the straight‑line method over the assets' estimated economic useful lives, which for leasehold improvements are the lesser of the lease term or the life of the asset, for KKR's owner occupied corporate real estate is up to forty years, and to seven years for other fixed assets.
Foreign Currency
Consolidated entities that have a functional currency that differs from KKR's reporting currency are primarily KKR's investment management and capital markets companies located outside the United States and certain CFEs. Foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities are translated using the exchange rates prevailing at the end of each reporting period. Results of foreign operations are translated at the weighted average exchange rate for each reporting period. Translation adjustments are included as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) until realized. Foreign currency income or expenses resulting from transactions outside of the functional currency of a consolidated entity are recorded as incurred in general, administrative and other expense in the consolidated statements of operations.
Leases
At contract inception, KKR determines if an arrangement contains a lease by evaluating whether (i) the identified asset has been deployed in the contract explicitly or implicitly and (ii) KKR obtains substantially all of the economic benefits from the use of that underlying asset and directs how and for what purpose the asset is used during the term of the contract. Additionally, at contract inception KKR will evaluate whether the lease is an operating or finance lease. Right-of-use ("ROU") assets represent KKR’s right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent KKR’s obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease.
ROU assets and the associated lease liabilities are recognized at the commencement date based on the present value of the future minimum lease payments over the lease term. The discount rate implicit in the lease is generally not readily determinable. Consequently, KKR uses its incremental borrowing rate based on the information available including, but not limited to, collateral assumptions, the term of the lease, and the economic environment in which the lease is denominated at the commencement date in determining the present value of the future lease payments. The ROU assets are recognized as the initial measurement of the lease liabilities plus any initial direct costs and any prepaid lease payments less lease incentives received, if any. The lease terms may include options to extend or terminate the lease which are accounted for when it is reasonably certain that KKR will exercise that option. Certain leases that include lease and non-lease components are accounted for as one single lease component. In addition to contractual rent payments, occupancy lease agreements generally include additional payments for certain costs incurred by the
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landlord, such as building expenses and utilities. To the extent these are fixed or determinable, they are included as part of the lease payments used to measure the Operating Lease Liability.
Operating lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term and is recorded within Occupancy and Related Charges in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. The ROU assets are included in Other Assets and the lease liabilities are included in Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities in the accompanying consolidated statements of financial condition. See Note 14 "Other Assets and Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities."
Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Comprehensive income is defined as the change in equity of a business enterprise during a period from transactions and other events and circumstances, excluding those resulting from contributions from and distributions to owners. In the accompanying consolidated financial statements, comprehensive income is comprised of (i) Net Income (Loss), as presented in the consolidated statements of operations, (ii) unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities and (iii) net foreign currency translation.
The tax benefit related to unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities was $88 million for year ended December 31, 2021.
Income Taxes
KKR & Co. Inc. is a domestic corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes and is subject to U.S. federal, state and local income taxes at the entity level on its share of taxable income. In addition, KKR Group Partnership and certain of its subsidiaries operate as partnerships for U.S. federal tax purposes but as taxable entities for certain state, local or non-U.S. tax purposes. Moreover, certain corporate subsidiaries of KKR, including certain Global Atlantic subsidiaries, are domestic corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes and are subject to U.S. federal, state, and local income taxes.
Deferred Income Taxes
Income taxes are accounted for using the asset and liability method of accounting. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the expected future tax consequences of differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis, using tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. The effect on deferred assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in the consolidated statements of operations in the period when the change is enacted.
Deferred tax assets, which are recorded in Other Assets within the statement of financial condition, are reduced by a valuation allowance when, based on the weight of available evidence, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. When evaluating the realizability of the deferred tax assets, all evidence, both positive and negative, is considered. Items considered when evaluating the need for a valuation allowance include the ability to carry back losses, future reversals of existing temporary differences, tax planning strategies, and expectations of future earnings.
For a particular tax‑paying component of an entity and within a particular tax jurisdiction, deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset and presented as a single amount within Other Assets or Accrued and Other Liabilities, as applicable, in the accompanying statements of financial condition.
Uncertain Tax Positions
KKR analyzes its tax filing positions in all of the U.S. federal, state and local tax jurisdictions and foreign tax jurisdictions where it is required to file income tax returns, as well as for all open tax years in these jurisdictions. If, based on this analysis, KKR determines that uncertainties in tax positions exist, a reserve is established. The reserve for uncertain tax positions is recorded in Accrued and Other Liabilities in the accompanying statements of financial condition. KKR recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions within the provision for income taxes in the consolidated statements of operations.
KKR records uncertain tax positions on the basis of a two‑step process: (a) determination is made whether it is more likely than not that the tax positions will be sustained based on the technical merits of the position and (b) those tax positions that meet the more‑likely‑than‑not threshold are recognized as the largest amount of tax benefit that is greater than 50 percent likely to be realized upon ultimate settlement with the related tax authority.
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Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - ASSET MANAGEMENT
The significant accounting policies applicable to KKR’s asset management business are described below.
Investments
Investments consist primarily of private equity, credit, investments of consolidated CFEs, real assets, equity method and other investments. Investments denominated in currencies other than the entity's functional currency 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 in the consolidated statements of operations. Security and loan transactions are recorded on a trade date basis. Further disclosure on investments is presented in Note 7 "Investments."
The following describes the types of securities held within each investment class.
Private Equity - Consists primarily of equity investments in operating businesses, including growth equity investments.
Credit - Consists primarily of investments in below investment grade corporate debt securities (primarily high yield bonds and syndicated bank loans), originated, distressed and opportunistic credit, real estate mortgage loans, and interests in unconsolidated CLOs.
Investments of Consolidated CFEs - Consists primarily of investments in below investment grade corporate debt securities (primarily high yield bonds and syndicated bank loans) held directly by the consolidated CLOs.
Real Assets - Consists primarily of investments in (i) energy related assets, principally oil and natural gas properties, (ii) infrastructure assets, and (iii) real estate, principally residential and commercial real estate assets and businesses.
Equity Method - Other - Consists primarily of (i) certain direct interests in operating companies in which KKR is deemed to exert significant influence under GAAP and (ii) certain interests in partnerships and joint ventures that hold private equity and real assets investments.
Equity Method - Capital Allocation-Based Income - Consists primarily of (i) the capital interest KKR holds as the general partner in certain investment funds, which are not consolidated and (ii) the carried interest component of the general partner interest, which are accounted for as a single unit of account.
Other - Consists primarily of investments in common stock, preferred stock, warrants and options of companies that are not private equity, real assets, credit or investments of consolidated CFEs.
Investments held by Consolidated Investment Funds
The consolidated investment funds are, for GAAP purposes, investment companies and reflect their investments and other financial instruments, including portfolio companies that are majority-owned and controlled by KKR's investment funds, at fair value. KKR has retained this specialized accounting for the consolidated investment funds in consolidation. Accordingly, the unrealized gains and losses resulting from changes in fair value of the investments and other financial instruments held by the consolidated investment funds are reflected as a component of Net Gains (Losses) from Investment Activities in the consolidated statements of operations.
Certain energy investments are made through consolidated investment funds, including investments in working and royalty interests in oil and natural gas properties as well as investments in operating companies that operate in the energy industry. Since these investments are held through consolidated 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 consolidated investment funds are generally classified within private equity investments and investments in working and royalty interests in oil and natural gas properties are generally classified as real asset investments.
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Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
Energy Investments held by KKR
On August 18, 2020, KKR transferred all the working and royalty interests in oil and natural gas properties, which were directly held by KKR and not held through investment funds, into a consolidated investment fund. Before the transfer, oil and natural gas activities were accounted for under the successful efforts method of accounting and such working and royalty interests were consolidated based on the proportion of the working and royalty interests held by KKR. Subsequent to the transfer, such working and royalty interests are carried at fair value in accordance with ASC 946, Financial Services - Investment Companies, and recorded within investments in the consolidated statements of financial condition. Any changes in fair value are recorded within Net Gains (Losses) from Investment Activities in the consolidated statements of operations. No gain or loss has been recorded in the consolidated statement of operations as result of the transfer. KKR recognized the differential between the net carrying value of such working and royalty interests and the fair value at the time of the transfer within stockholders' equity. This transaction resulted in an adjustment to KKR Group Partnership's equity, and accordingly, both KKR's equity and noncontrolling interests held by KKR Holdings were adjusted for their proportionate share based on their ownership in KKR Group Partnership at the time of transfer. See the consolidated statements of changes in equity and Note 22 "Equity". The fair value has been determined in accordance with KKR’s Level III Valuation Methodologies.
Fair Value Option
For certain investments and other financial instruments, KKR has elected the fair value option. Such election is irrevocable and is applied on a financial instrument by financial instrument basis at initial recognition. KKR has elected the fair value option for certain private equity, real assets, credit, investments of consolidated CFEs, equity method - other and other financial instruments not held through a consolidated investment fund. Accounting for these investments at fair value is consistent with how KKR accounts for its investments held through consolidated investment funds. Changes in the fair value of such instruments are recognized in Net Gains (Losses) from Investment Activities in the consolidated statements of operations. Interest income on interest bearing credit securities on which the fair value option has been elected is based on stated coupon rates adjusted for the accretion of purchase discounts and the amortization of purchase premiums. This interest income is recorded within Interest Income in the consolidated statements of operations.
Equity Method
For certain investments in entities over which KKR exercises significant influence but which do not meet the requirements for consolidation and for which KKR has not elected the fair value option, KKR uses the equity method of accounting. The carrying value of equity method investments, for which KKR has not elected the fair value option, 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.
For equity method investments for which KKR has not elected the fair value option, KKR records its proportionate share of the investee's earnings or losses based on the most recently available financial information of the investee, which in certain cases may lag the date of KKR's financial statements by no more than three calendar months. As of December 31, 2021, equity method investees for which KKR reports financial results on a lag include Marshall Wace LLP ("Marshall Wace").
KKR evaluates its equity method investments for which KKR has not elected the fair value option for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts of such investments may not be recoverable.
The carrying value of investments classified as Equity Method - Capital Allocation-Based Income approximates fair value, because the underlying investments of the unconsolidated investment funds are reported at fair value.
Financial Instruments held by Consolidated CFEs
KKR measures both the financial assets and financial liabilities of the consolidated CFEs in its financial statements using the more observable of the fair value of the financial assets and the fair value of the financial liabilities which results in KKR's consolidated net income (loss) reflecting KKR's own economic interests in the consolidated CFEs including (i) changes in the fair value of the beneficial interests retained by KKR and (ii) beneficial interests that represent compensation for services rendered.
For the consolidated CLOs, KKR has determined that the fair value of the financial assets of the consolidated CLOs is more observable than the fair value of the financial liabilities of the consolidated CLOs. As a result, the financial assets of the consolidated CLOs are being measured at fair value and the financial liabilities are being measured in consolidation as: (1) the sum of the fair value of the financial assets and the carrying value of any nonfinancial assets that are incidental to the operations of the CLOs less (2) the sum of the fair value of any beneficial interests retained by KKR (other than those that represent
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Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
compensation for services) and KKR's carrying value of any beneficial interests that represent compensation for services. The resulting amount is allocated to the individual financial liabilities (other than the beneficial interests retained by KKR).
Due from and Due to Affiliates
KKR considers its principals and their related entities, unconsolidated investment funds and the portfolio companies of its funds to be affiliates for accounting purposes. Receivables from and payables to affiliates are recorded at their current settlement amount.
Freestanding derivatives are instruments that KKR and certain of its consolidated funds have entered into as part of their overall risk management and investment strategies. These derivative contracts are not designated as hedging instruments for accounting purposes. Such contracts may include forward, swap and option contracts related to foreign currencies and interest rates to manage foreign exchange risk and interest rate risk arising from certain assets and liabilities. All derivatives are recognized in Other Assets or Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities and are presented on a gross basis in the consolidated statements of financial condition and measured at fair value with changes in fair value recorded in Net Gains (Losses) from Investment Activities in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. KKR's derivative financial instruments contain credit risk to the extent that its counterparties may be unable to meet the terms of the agreements. KKR attempts to reduce this risk by limiting its counterparties to major financial institutions with strong credit ratings.
Securities Sold Short
Whether part of a hedging transaction or a transaction in its own right, securities sold short represent obligations of KKR to deliver the specified security at the contracted price at a future point in time, and thereby create a liability to repurchase the security in the market at the prevailing prices. The liability for such securities sold short, which is recorded in Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities in the statement of financial condition, is marked to market based on the current fair value of the underlying security at the reporting date with changes in fair value recorded as unrealized gains or losses in Net Gains (Losses) from Investment Activities in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. These transactions may involve market risk in excess of the amount currently reflected in the accompanying consolidated statements of financial condition.
Revenues
For the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively, revenues consisted of the following:
| Years Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |||||||||||||||
| Management Fees | $ | 1,301,975 | $ | 965,664 | $ | 824,903 | |||||||||||
| Fee Credits | (464,594) | (299,415) | (340,900) | ||||||||||||||
| Transaction Fees | 1,552,621 | 950,205 | 914,329 | ||||||||||||||
| Monitoring Fees | 134,472 | 127,907 | 106,289 | ||||||||||||||
| Incentive Fees | 55,701 | 10,404 | — | ||||||||||||||
| Expense Reimbursements | 178,572 | 149,522 | 169,415 | ||||||||||||||
| Oil and Gas Revenue | — | 21,054 | 47,153 | ||||||||||||||
| Consulting Fees | 91,407 | 81,450 | 69,286 | ||||||||||||||
| Total Fees and Other | 2,850,154 | 2,006,791 | 1,790,475 | ||||||||||||||
| Carried Interest | 5,388,354 | 1,719,527 | 2,041,847 | ||||||||||||||
| General Partner Capital Interest | 1,454,060 | 504,573 | 388,578 | ||||||||||||||
| Total Capital Allocation-Based Income (Loss) | 6,842,414 | 2,224,100 | 2,430,425 | ||||||||||||||
| Total Revenues - Asset Management | $ | 9,692,568 | $ | 4,230,891 | $ | 4,220,900 | |||||||||||
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Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
Fees and Other
Fees and Other, as detailed above, are accounted for as contracts with customers. Under ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers ("ASC 606"), KKR is required to (a) identify the contract(s) with a customer, (b) identify the performance obligations in the contract, (c) determine the transaction price, (d) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract, and (e) recognize revenue when (or as) KKR satisfies its performance obligation. In determining the transaction price, KKR has included variable consideration only to the extent that it is probable that a significant reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue recognized would not occur when the uncertainty associated with the variable consideration is resolved.
The following table summarizes KKR's revenues from contracts with customers:
| Revenue Type | Customer | Performance Obligation | Performance Obligation Satisfied Over Time or Point In Time (1) | Variable or Fixed Consideration | Payment Terms | Subject to Return Once Recognized | Classification of Uncollected Amounts (2) | ||||||||||||||||
| Management Fees | Investment funds, CLOs and other vehicles | Investment management services | Over time as services are rendered | Variable consideration since varies based on fluctuations in the basis of the management fee over time | Typically quarterly or annually in arrears | No | Due from Affiliates | ||||||||||||||||
| Transaction Fees | Portfolio companies and third party companies | Advisory services and debt and equity arranging and underwriting | Point in time when the transaction (e.g. underwriting) is completed | Fixed consideration | Typically paid on or shortly after transaction closes | No | Due from Affiliates (portfolio companies) Other Assets (third parties) | ||||||||||||||||
| Monitoring Fees | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Recurring Fees | Portfolio companies | Monitoring services | Over time as services are rendered | Variable consideration since varies based on fluctuations in the basis of the recurring fee | Typically quarterly in arrears | No | Due from Affiliates | ||||||||||||||||
| Termination Fees | Portfolio companies | Monitoring services | Point in time when the termination is completed | Fixed consideration | Typically paid on or shortly after termination occurs | No | Due from Affiliates | ||||||||||||||||
| Incentive Fees | Investment funds and other vehicles | Investment management services that result in achievement of minimum investment return levels | Over time as services are rendered | Variable consideration since contingent upon the investment fund and other vehicles achieving more than stipulated investment return hurdles | Typically paid shortly after the end of the performance measurement period | No | Due from Affiliates | ||||||||||||||||
| Expense Reimbursements | Investment funds and portfolio companies | Investment management and monitoring services | Point in time when the related expense is incurred | Fixed consideration | Typically shortly after expense is incurred | No | Due from Affiliates | ||||||||||||||||
| Oil and Gas Revenues | Oil and gas wholesalers | Delivery of oil liquids and gas | Point in time when delivery has occurred and title has transferred | Fixed consideration | Typically shortly after delivery | No | Other Assets | ||||||||||||||||
| Consulting Fees | Portfolio companies and other companies | Consulting and other services | Over time as services are rendered | Fixed consideration | Typically quarterly in arrears | No | Due from Affiliates | ||||||||||||||||
(1)For performance obligations satisfied at a point in time, there were no significant judgments made in evaluating when a customer obtains control of the promised service.
(2)For amounts classified in Other Assets, see Note 14 "Other Assets and Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities." For amounts classified in Due from Affiliates, see Note 20 "Related Party Transactions."
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Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
Management Fees
KKR provides investment management services to investment funds, CLOs, and other vehicles and entities in exchange for a management fee. Management fees are determined quarterly based on an annual rate and are generally based upon a percentage of the capital committed or capital invested during the investment period. Thereafter, management fees are generally based on a percentage of remaining invested capital, net asset value, gross assets or as otherwise defined in the respective contractual agreements. Since some of the factors that cause the fees to fluctuate are outside of KKR's control, management fees are considered to be constrained and are therefore not included in the transaction price. Additionally, after the contract is established there are no significant judgments made when determining the transaction price.
Management fees earned from KKR's consolidated investment funds and other vehicles and entities are eliminated in consolidation. However, because these amounts are funded by, and earned from, noncontrolling interests, KKR's allocated share of the net income from the consolidated investment funds and other vehicles is increased by the amount of fees that are eliminated. Accordingly, the elimination of these fees does not impact the net income (loss) attributable to KKR or KKR stockholders' equity.
Fee Credits
Under the terms of the management agreements with certain of its investment funds, KKR is required to share with such funds an agreed upon percentage of certain fees, including monitoring and transaction fees earned from portfolio companies ("Fee Credits"). Investment funds earn Fee Credits only with respect to monitoring and transaction fees that are allocable to the fund's investment in the portfolio company and not, for example, any fees allocable to capital invested through co-investment vehicles. Fee Credits are calculated after deducting certain costs incurred in connection with pursuing potential investments that do not result in completed transactions ("broken-deal expenses") and generally amount to 80% for older funds formed on or prior to January 1, 2015, or 100% for newer funds, of allocable monitoring and transaction fees after broken-deal expenses are recovered, although the actual percentage may vary from fund to fund. Fee Credits are recognized and owed to investment funds concurrently with the recognition of monitoring fees, transaction fees and broken-deal expenses. Since Fee Credits are payable to investment funds, amounts owed are generally applied as a reduction of the management fee that is otherwise billed to the investment fund. Fee credits are recorded as a reduction of revenues in the consolidated statement of operations. Fee Credits owed to investment funds are recorded in Due to Affiliates on the consolidated statements of financial condition. See Note 20 "Related Party Transactions."
Transaction Fees
KKR (i) arranges debt and equity financing, places and underwrites securities offerings, and provides other types of capital markets services for companies seeking financing in its Capital Markets business line and (ii) provides advisory services in connection with successful Private Markets and Public Markets business line portfolio company investment transactions, in each case, in exchange for a transaction fee. Transaction fees are separately negotiated for each transaction and are generally based on (i) for Capital Markets business line transactions, a percentage of the overall transaction size and (ii) for Private Markets and Public Markets business line transactions, a percentage of either total enterprise value of an investment or a percentage of the aggregate price paid for an investment. After the contract is established, there are no significant judgments made when determining the transaction price.
Monitoring Fees
KKR provides services in connection with monitoring portfolio companies in exchange for a fee. Recurring monitoring fees are separately negotiated for each portfolio company. In addition, certain monitoring fee arrangements may provide for a termination payment following an initial public offering or change of control as defined in the contractual terms of the related agreement. These termination payments are recognized in the period when the related transaction closes. After the contract is established, there are no significant judgments made when determining the transaction price.
Incentive Fees
KKR provides investment management services to certain investment funds, CLOs and other vehicles in exchange for a management fee as discussed above and, in some cases an incentive fee when KKR is not entitled to a carried interest. Incentive fee rates generally range from 5% to 20% of investment gains. Incentive fees are considered a form of variable consideration as these fees are subject to reversal, and therefore the recognition of such fees is deferred until the end of each fund's measurement period when the performance-based incentive fees become fixed and determinable. Incentive fees are generally paid within 90
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Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
days of the end of the investment vehicles' measurement period. After the contract is established, there are no significant judgments made when determining the transaction price.
Incentive fees earned from KKR's consolidated investment funds, CLOs, and other vehicles are eliminated in consolidation. However, because these amounts are funded by, and earned from, noncontrolling interests, KKR's allocated share of the net income from the consolidated investment funds, CLOs, and other vehicles is increased by the amount of fees that are eliminated. Accordingly, the elimination of these fees does not impact the net income (loss) attributable to KKR or KKR stockholders' equity.
Expense Reimbursements
Providing investment management services to investment funds and monitoring KKR’s portfolio companies require KKR to arrange for services on behalf of them. In those situations where KKR is acting as an agent on behalf of its investment funds or portfolio companies, it presents the cost of services on a net basis as a reduction of Revenues. In all other situations, KKR is primarily responsible for fulfilling the services and is therefore acting as a principal for those arrangements for accounting purposes. As a result, the expense and related reimbursement associated with those services is presented on a gross basis. Costs incurred are classified within Expenses and reimbursements of such costs are classified as Expense Reimbursements within Revenues on the consolidated statements of operations. After the contract is established, there are no significant judgments made when determining the transaction price.
Oil and Gas Revenue
On August 18, 2020, KKR transferred all the working and royalty interests in oil and natural gas properties, which were directly held by KKR and not held through investment funds, into a consolidated investment fund. Before the transfer, oil and gas revenue was recognized when the performance obligations were satisfied, which occurred at the point in time when control of the product transferred to the customer. Performance obligations were typically satisfied through the monthly delivery of production. Revenue was recognized based on KKR's proportionate share of production from non-operated properties as marketed by the operator. After the contract was established, there were no significant judgments made when determining the transaction price. As result of the transfer of all the working and royalty interests into a consolidated investment fund, no oil and gas revenue has been recognized since the date of the transfer.
Consulting Fees
KKR provides consulting and other services to portfolio companies and other companies in exchange for a consulting fee. Consulting fees are separately negotiated with each company for which services are provided. After the contract is established, there are no significant judgments made when determining the transaction price.
Capital Allocation-Based Income (Loss)
Capital allocation-based income (loss) is earned from those arrangements where KKR has a general partner capital interest and is entitled to a disproportionate allocation of investment income (referred to hereafter as "carried interest"). KKR accounts for its general partner interests in capital allocation-based arrangements as financial instruments under ASC 323, Investments - Equity Method and Joint Ventures ("ASC 323") since the general partner has significant governance rights in the investment funds in which it invests, which demonstrates significant influence. In accordance with ASC 323, KKR records equity method income based on the proportionate share of the income of the investment fund, including carried interest, assuming the investment fund was liquidated as of each reporting date pursuant to each investment fund's governing agreements. Accordingly, these general partner interests are accounted for outside of the scope of ASC 606. Other arrangements surrounding contractual incentive fees through an advisory contract are separate and distinct and accounted for in accordance with ASC 606. In these incentive fee arrangements, accounted for in accordance with ASC 606, KKR’s economics in the entity do not involve an allocation of capital. See "Incentive Fees" above.
Carried interest is allocated to the general partner based on cumulative fund performance to date, and where applicable, subject to a preferred return to the funds' limited partners. At the end of each reporting period, KKR calculates the carried interest that would be due to KKR for each investment fund, pursuant to the fund agreements, as if the fair value of the underlying investments were realized as of such date, irrespective of whether such amounts have been realized. As the fair value of underlying investments varies between reporting periods, it is necessary to make adjustments to amounts recorded as carried interest to reflect either (a) positive performance resulting in an increase in the carried interest allocated to the general partner or (b) negative performance that would cause the amount due to KKR to be less than the amount previously recognized, resulting in a negative adjustment to carried interest allocated to the general partner. In each case, it is necessary to calculate the carried interest on cumulative results compared to the carried interest recorded to date and to make the required positive or negative
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Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
adjustments. KKR ceases to record negative carried interest allocations once previously recognized carried interest allocations for an investment fund have been fully reversed. KKR is not obligated to make payments for guaranteed returns or hurdles and, therefore, cannot have negative carried interest over the life of an investment fund. Accrued but unpaid carried interest as of the reporting date is reflected in Investments in the consolidated statements of financial condition.
KKR earns management fees, incentive fees and capital allocation-based income (loss) from investment funds, CLOs, and other vehicles whose primary focus is making investments in specified geographical locations and earns transaction, monitoring, and consulting fees from portfolio companies located in varying geographies. For the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019, over 10% of consolidated revenues were earned in the United States. For the year ended December 31, 2021, 67%, 12% and 21% of consolidated revenues were generated in the Americas, Europe/Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2020, 59%, 21%, and 20% of consolidated revenues were generated in the Americas, Europe/Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2019, 55%, 22%, and 23% of consolidated revenues were generated in the Americas, Europe/Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, respectively. The determination of the geographic region was based on the geographic focus of the associated investment vehicle or where the portfolio company is headquartered.
For the year ended December 31, 2021, revenues from two of KKR’s flagship private equity funds contributed more than
10% of KKR's total consolidated revenues representing approximately $4.5 billion of total consolidated revenues. For the year
ended December 31, 2020, revenues from two of KKR’s flagship private equity funds contributed more than 10% of KKR's total consolidated revenues representing approximately $1.6 billion of total consolidated revenues. For the year ended December 31, 2019, revenues from two of KKR’s flagship private equity funds contributed more than 10% of KKR's total consolidated revenues representing approximately $1.1 billion of total consolidated revenues.
Additionally, KKR’s fixed assets are predominantly located in the United States.
Compensation and Benefits
Compensation and Benefits expense includes (i) base cash compensation consisting of salaries and wages, (ii) benefits, (iii) carry pool allocations, (iv) equity-based compensation, and (v) discretionary cash bonuses.
To supplement base cash compensation, benefits, carry pool allocations, and equity-based compensation, KKR typically pays discretionary cash bonuses, which are included in Compensation and Benefits expense in the consolidated statements of operations, based principally on the level of (i) management fees and other fee revenues (including incentive fees), (ii) realized carried interest and (iii) realized investment income earned during the year. The amounts paid as discretionary cash bonuses, if any, are at KKR’s sole discretion and vary by individual to individual and from period to period, including having no cash bonus. KKR accrues discretionary cash bonuses when payment becomes probable and reasonably estimable which is generally in the period when KKR makes the decision to pay discretionary cash bonuses and is based upon a number of factors including the recognition of fee revenues, realized carried interest, realized investment income and other factors determined during the year.
KKR decides whether to pay a discretionary cash bonus and determines the percentage of applicable revenue components to pay compensation only upon the occurrence of the realization event. There is no contractual or other binding obligation that requires KKR to pay a discretionary cash bonus to its employees, except in limited circumstances.
Carry Pool Allocation
With respect to KKR's funds that provide for carried interest, KKR allocates a portion of the realized and unrealized carried interest that it earns to a carry pool established at KKR Associates Holdings L.P. (which is not a subsidiary of KKR), from which its employees and certain other carry pool participants are eligible to receive a carried interest allocation. The allocation is determined based upon a fixed arrangement between KKR Associates Holdings L.P. and KKR, and KKR does not exercise discretion on whether to make an allocation to the carry pool upon a realization event. These amounts are accounted for as compensatory profit sharing arrangements in Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities within the accompanying consolidated statements of financial condition in conjunction with the related carried interest income and are recorded as compensation expense. Upon a reversal of carried interest income, the related carry pool allocation, if any, is also reversed. Accordingly, such compensation expense is subject to both positive and negative adjustments.
In February 2021, following the approval of a majority of KKR & Co. Inc.'s independent directors, KKR amended the percentage of carried interest that is allocable to the carry pool to 65% for (i) current investment funds for which no or de minimis amounts of carried interest was accrued as of December 31, 2020 and (ii) all future funds. For all other funds, the percentage of
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Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
carried interest remains 40% or 43%, as applicable. The percentage of carried interest allocable to the carry pool may be increased above 65% only with the approval of a majority of KKR & Co. Inc.'s independent directors.
Equity-based Compensation
In addition to the cash-based compensation and carry pool allocations as described above, employees receive equity awards under the Amended and Restated KKR & Co. Inc. 2010 Equity Incentive Plan (the "2010 Equity Incentive Plan") and the Amended and Restated KKR & Co. Inc. 2019 Equity Incentive Plan (the "2019 Equity Incentive Plan" and, together with the 2010 Equity Incentive Plan, the "Equity Incentive Plans"). Most of these awards are subject to service-based vesting typically over a to -year period from the date of grant, while in certain cases vesting is subject to the achievement of market conditions. Certain of these awards are subject to transfer restrictions and minimum retained ownership requirements. KKR considers both historical volatility and implied volatility in estimating expected volatility. All these awards are equity-classified and the related expense is recognized in Compensation and Benefits. The total tax benefit recognized in the income statement for equity based compensation was $66.9 million, $26.7 million, and $50.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively.
Profit Sharing Plan
KKR provides certain profit sharing programs for KKR employees. In particular, KKR provides a 401(k) plan for eligible employees in the United States. For certain employees who are participants in the 401(k) plan, KKR may, in its discretion, contribute an amount after the end of the plan year.
General, Administrative and Other
General, administrative and other expense consists primarily of professional fees paid to legal advisors, accountants, advisors and consultants, insurance costs, travel and related expenses, communications and information services, depreciation and amortization charges, expenses (including impairment charges) incurred by oil and gas entities that are consolidated, broken-deal expenses, placement fees and other general operating expenses. A portion of these general administrative and other expenses, in particular broken-deal expenses, are borne by fund investors.
Investment Income
Investment income consists primarily of the net impact of:
(i) Realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments, securities sold short, derivatives and debt obligations of consolidated CFEs which are recorded in Net Gains (Losses) from Investment Activities. Upon disposition of an investment, previously recognized unrealized gains or losses are reversed and a realized gain or loss is recognized.
(ii) Foreign exchange gains and losses relating to mark‑to‑market activity on foreign exchange forward contracts, foreign currency options and foreign denominated debt which are recorded in Net Gains (Losses) from Investment Activities.
(iii) Dividends, which are recognized on the ex‑dividend date, or, in the absence of a formal declaration of a record date, on the date it is received.
(iv) Interest income, which is recognized as earned.
(v) Interest expense, which is recognized as incurred.
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Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - INSURANCE
The significant accounting policies applicable to KKR’s insurance business, which is conducted by Global Atlantic, are described below.
Investments
In the normal course of business, Global Atlantic enters into transactions involving various types of investments.
Investments include the following: U.S. government and agency obligations; commercial mortgage-backed securities ("CMBS"), residential mortgage-backed securities ("RMBS"), collateralized loan obligations (“CLOs"), collateralized bond obligations ("CBOs"), and all other structured securities, consisting primarily of asset-backed securities ("ABS") (collectively, "structured securities"); corporate bonds; state and political subdivision obligations; foreign government obligations; equity securities; mortgage and other loan receivables; policy loans; and other non-derivative investments.
Available-for-sale fixed maturity securities
Global Atlantic primarily accounts for its fixed maturity securities (including bonds, structured securities and redeemable preferred stock) as available-for-sale ("AFS"). AFS fixed maturity securities are generally recorded on a trade-date basis and are carried at fair value. Impairment associated with AFS fixed maturity securities is recognized as an allowance for credit losses. The allowance for credit losses is established either by a charge to net investment-related losses in the consolidated statements of operations, for securities identified as credit impaired after purchase, or by a gross-up recognition of an initial allowance for purchased credit deteriorated ("PCD") securities.
PCD securities are those purchased by Global Atlantic that were assessed at acquisition as having experienced a more-than-insignificant deterioration in credit quality since their origination. Global Atlantic considers an AFS fixed maturity security to be PCD if there are indicators of a credit loss at the acquisition date or, in the case of structured securities, if there is a significant difference between contractual cash flows and expected cash flows at acquisition. PCD securities also include those AFS fixed maturity securities previously held by Global Atlantic that were similarly assessed at the time of the GA acquisition. The initial amortized cost for a PCD security equals the purchase price plus the initial allowance for credit losses. The initial allowance for credit losses is determined using a discounted cash flow method based on the best estimate of the present value of cash flows expected to be collected. After purchase, the accounting for a PCD security is consistent with that applied to all other securities.
Unrealized gains and losses on AFS fixed maturity securities, net of tax and insurance intangible amortization, are reported in accumulated other comprehensive income ("AOCI") in the consolidated statements of financial condition. Realized investment gains and losses are recognized on a first-in first-out ("FIFO") basis and are reported in net investment-related losses in the consolidated statements of operations. The amortized cost of fixed maturity securities is adjusted for impairment charge-offs, amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts. Such amortization and accretion is calculated using the effective yield method and included in net investment income in the consolidated statements of operations.
For structured securities, Global Atlantic recognizes interest income using a constant effective yield based on estimated cash flows generated from internal models utilizing interest rate, default and prepayment assumptions. Effective yields for structured securities that are not of high credit quality are recalculated and adjusted prospectively based on changes in expected undiscounted future cash flows, after consideration of any appropriate recognition or release of an allowance for credit losses. For structured securities that are of high credit quality, effective yields are recalculated based on payments received and updated prepayment expectations, and amortized cost is adjusted to the amount that would have existed had the new effective yield been applied since acquisition with a corresponding charge or credit to net investment income. Prepayment fees are recorded when earned in net investment income in the consolidated statements of operations.
Global Atlantic generally suspends accrual of interest for securities that are more than 90 days past due and reverses any related accrued interest to net investment income in the consolidated statements of operations. When a security is in non-accrual status, coupon payments are recognized as interest income as cash is received, subject to consideration as to the overall collectibility of the security. A security is returned to accrual status when Global Atlantic determines that the collection of amounts due is probable. The allowance for credit losses excludes accrued interest from the amortized cost basis for which losses are estimated.
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Trading fixed maturity securities
Global Atlantic accounts for certain fixed maturity securities as trading at acquisition, based on intent or via the election of the fair value option. Trading securities are generally recorded on a trade-date basis and are carried at fair value, with realized and unrealized gains and losses reported in net investment-related gains (losses) in the consolidated statements of operations. Interest income from these securities is reported in net investment income. Trading securities, which are primarily used to match asset and liability accounting, back funds withheld payable at interest where the investment performance is ceded to reinsurers under the terms of the respective reinsurance agreements.
Equity securities
Global Atlantic accounts for its investments in equity securities (including common stock and non-redeemable preferred stock) that do not require equity method accounting or result in consolidation, at fair value. Realized and unrealized investment gains and losses are reported in net investment-related gains (losses) in the consolidated statements of operations.
Mortgage and other loan receivables
Global Atlantic purchases and originates mortgage and other loan receivables, and these loans are carried at cost, less the allowance for credit losses and as adjusted for amortization/accretion of premiums/discounts. The allowance for credit losses is established either by a charge to net investment-related losses in the consolidated statements of operations or, for PCD mortgage and other loan receivables, by a gross-up recognition of the initial allowance in the consolidated statements of financial condition.
PCD mortgage and other loan receivables are those purchased by Global Atlantic that were assessed at acquisition as having experienced a more-than-insignificant deterioration in credit quality since their origination. PCD mortgage and other loan receivables also include those mortgage and other loan receivables previously held by Global Atlantic that were similarly assessed at the time of the GA Acquisition. The initial amortized cost for a PCD mortgage or other loan receivable equals the purchase price plus the initial allowance for credit losses. The initial allowance for credit losses is determined using a method consistent with that used for other similar loans. See further discussion of allowance methods below. After purchase, the accounting for a PCD mortgage or other loan receivable is consistent with that applied to all other mortgage and other loan receivables. As part of the GA Acquisition, Global Atlantic identified $3.7 billion of PCD mortgage and other loan receivables with a related allowance of $120.3 million. The initial allowance on the non-PCD mortgage and other loan receivables was recognized outside the purchase accounting analysis and had an impact on the consolidated statement of operations of $183.6 million.
Loan premiums or discounts are amortized or accreted using the effective yield method. Interest income is accrued on the principal balance of each loan based on its contractual interest rate. The accrual of interest is generally suspended when the collection of interest is no longer probable or the collection of any portion of principal is doubtful. Global Atlantic generally suspends accrual of interest for loans that are more than 90 days past due and reverses any related accrued interest to net investment income in the consolidated statements of operations. When a loan is in non-accrual status, coupon payments are generally recognized as interest income as cash is received, subject to consideration as to the overall collectibility of the loan. A loan is returned to accrual status when Global Atlantic determines that the collection of amounts due is probable. The allowance for credit losses excludes accrued interest from the amortized cost basis for which losses are estimated.
Policy loans
Policy loans are loans policyholders take out against their life insurance policies. Each policy loan is fully collateralized by the cash surrender value of the policyholder’s life insurance policy. Policy loans are carried at unpaid principal balances. Interest income on such loans is recognized as earned using the contractually agreed upon interest rate and reflected in net investment income in the consolidated statements of operations. Generally, interest is capitalized on the associated policy’s anniversary date.
Other investments
Other investments in the consolidated statements of financial condition include Global Atlantic’s investments in investment partnerships, for which Global Atlantic does not have voting control or power to direct activities. These investments are accounted for using the equity method of accounting unless Global Atlantic’s interest is so minor that it has virtually no influence over partnership operating or financial policies. The equity method of accounting requires that the investments be initially recorded at cost and the carrying amount of the investment subsequently be adjusted to recognize Global Atlantic’s share of the earnings and losses of the investee. Where there is a difference between the cost of the investment and Global Atlantic’s proportionate share of the equity method investee’s net assets, this basis difference is accreted to net investment income over the
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life of the underlying assets. In applying the equity method, Global Atlantic uses financial information provided by the investee, generally on a one to three month lag due to the timing of the receipt of related financial statements.
The income from Global Atlantic’s equity method investments is included in net investment income in the consolidated statements of operations. In limited circumstances, Global Atlantic elects to apply the fair value option to investment partnerships, which are carried at fair value with unrealized gains and losses reported in net investment-related gains (losses) in the consolidated statements of operations. The contributions to and distributions from investment partnerships are classified as investing activities within the consolidated statements of cash flows.
Global Atlantic consolidates investment partnerships and other entities when it is deemed to control or is considered the primary beneficiary of a VIE. The results of certain consolidated investment entities are reported on a one to three month lag and
intervening events are evaluated for materiality and recognition by disclosure or otherwise, as appropriate.
Included in other investments are Global Atlantic’s investments in renewable energy entities, including partnerships and limited liability companies. Respective investments are consolidated when Global Atlantic has control, or are accounted for using the equity method of accounting when Global Atlantic has the ability to exercise significant influence but not control. These investments involve tiered capital structures that facilitate a waterfall of returns and allocations to ensure the efficient use of tax credits. A conventional income statement oriented approach to the equity method of accounting, or to the recognition of non-controlling interests (when Global Atlantic is consolidating the investment), based on ownership percentages does not accurately reflect the proper allocation of income and cash flows for these investments. Instead, Global Atlantic uses the HLBV which is a balance sheet oriented approach to the equity method of accounting and to the recognition of non-controlling interests that allocates income and cash flows based on changes to each investor’s claim to net assets assuming a liquidation of the investee as of each reporting date, including an assessment of the likelihood of liquidation in determining the contractual provisions to utilize when applying the HLBV method.
Investments in real assets included in other investments in the consolidated statements of financial condition relate to Global Atlantic’s consolidated investments in renewable energy entities and investments in transportation assets. The income, as well as the depreciation and other expenses associated with these tangible assets is reported in net investment income in the consolidated statements of operations.
Income on consolidated investments in renewable energy entities is earned from the sale of the energy generated under long-term contracts. Income on investments in transportation assets is earned from the lease of these assets. Tangible assets associated with renewable energy entities primarily comprise solar energy systems, which are depreciated on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives of generally 35 years. Transportation assets are primarily aircraft and railcars, which are depreciated to their estimated salvage value on a straight-line basis over their remaining useful lives. These useful lives generally range up to 25 years for aircraft and 45 years for railcars, as determined from the date of manufacture.
Global Atlantic has investments in real estate held in consolidated investment companies that account for such real estate at fair value under investment company accounting. Real estate investments are generally valued using a combination of direct income capitalization and discounted cash flow analysis. Certain real estate investments are valued based on ranges of valuations determined by independent valuation firms. Net rental income on the investments in real estate is recognized in net investment income and changes in the fair value of real estate are recognized in net investment-related gains (losses) in the consolidated statements of operations.
Investments in Federal Home Loan Bank ("FHLB") common stock are also included in other investments in the consolidated statements of financial condition and are accounted at cost.
Derivative instruments
Derivatives are instruments that derive their values from underlying asset prices, indices, foreign exchange rates, reference rates and other inputs or a combination of these factors. Derivatives may be privately negotiated contracts, which are usually referred to as over-the-counter ("OTC") derivatives, or they may be listed and traded on an exchange ("exchange-traded"). Global Atlantic’s derivative instruments are primarily used to hedge certain risks, including interest rate risk and equity market risk, and to a lesser extent foreign exchange and inflation risks. Where certain criteria are met, some of these hedging arrangements may achieve hedge accounting.
Derivative instruments are recognized at estimated fair value in either funds withheld receivable at interest, other assets, funds withheld payable at interest or accrued expenses and other liabilities in the consolidated statements of financial condition, with changes in fair value recorded in net investment-related gains (losses) in the consolidated statements of operations. Where
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certain qualifying criteria are met, some derivative instruments are designated as accounting hedges and are recognized at estimated fair value in derivative assets or accrued expenses and other liabilities in the consolidated statements of financial condition. For derivative instruments designated as fair value hedges, changes in fair value are recognized in the consolidated statements of operations, in the same line where the hedged item is reported. For derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges, changes in fair value are initially recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in the consolidated statements of financial condition and subsequently reclassified to the consolidated statements of operations when the hedged item affects earnings, in the same line item where the hedged item is reported.
Derivative receivables and payables with a counterparty that are subject to an International Swaps and Derivatives Association Master Agreement ("ISDA") or other similar agreement that provides a legal right of setoff, are presented at their net amounts. Where the legal right of setoff exists, Global Atlantic also offsets the fair value of cash collateral received or posted under an ISDA, or other similar agreement with a counterparty, against the related derivative balances as appropriate.
Investment credit losses and impairment
Available-for-sale fixed maturity securities
One of the significant estimates related to AFS securities is the evaluation of those investments for credit losses. The evaluation of investments for credit losses is a quantitative and qualitative quarterly process that is subject to risks and uncertainties and involves significant estimates and judgments by management. Changes in the estimates and judgments used in such analysis can have a significant impact on the consolidated statements of operations. Considerations relevant to the evaluation of credit losses may include the severity of any loss position, as well as changes in market interest rates, changes in business climate, management changes, litigation, government actions, and other similar factors that may impact an issuer’s ability to meet current and future principal and interest obligations. Indicators of credit impairment may also include changes in credit ratings, the frequency of late payments, pricing levels and deterioration in any, or a combination of, key financial ratios, financial statements, revenue forecasts and cash flow projections.
For AFS fixed maturity securities in an unrealized loss position, Global Atlantic first considers the intent to sell a security, or whether it is more-likely-than-not that it will be required to sell the security, before the recovery of its amortized cost. If Global Atlantic intends to sell an AFS fixed maturity security with an unrealized loss or it is more-likely-than-not that it will be required to sell an AFS fixed maturity security with an unrealized loss before recovery of its amortized cost basis, the amortized cost is written down to fair value and a corresponding charge is recognized to net investment-related losses.
For AFS fixed maturity securities in an unrealized loss position that Global Atlantic does not intend to sell, and will not be required to sell, Global Atlantic bifurcates the impairment into two components: credit impairment and non-credit impairment. Credit impairments are measured as the difference between the security’s cost or amortized cost and its estimated recoverable value, which is the present value of its expected future cash flows discounted at the current effective interest rate. The estimated recoverable value is subject to a floor equal to the fair value of the security. The remaining difference between the security’s fair value and the recoverable value, if any, is the non-credit impairment. Credit impairments are recognized in the allowance for credit losses on AFS fixed maturity securities, which is established via a charge to net investment-related losses in the consolidated statements of operations, and non-credit impairments are charged to accumulated other comprehensive income in the consolidated statements of financial condition.
In determining the estimated recoverable value, the review of expected future cash flows for structured securities includes assumptions about key systemic risks (e.g., unemployment rates, housing prices) and loan-specific information (e.g., delinquency rates, loan-to-value ratios). Estimating future cash flows is a quantitative and qualitative process that incorporates information received from third parties, along with assumptions and judgments about the future performance of the underlying collateral. For corporate and government bonds the recoverable value is determined using cash flow estimates that consider facts and circumstances relevant to the security and the issuer, including overall financial strength and secondary sources of repayment as well as pending restructuring or disposition of assets. Where information for such cash flow estimates is limited or deemed not reliable, fair value is considered the best estimate of the recoverable value.
In periods subsequent to the initial recognition of an allowance for credit losses on a fixed maturity security, whether for a PCD security or a security impaired since purchase, Global Atlantic continues to monitor credit loss expectations. Deterioration in the estimated recoverable value of a credit impaired security is recognized as an addition to the allowance for credit losses, as limited by the amount by which the security’s fair value is less than amortized cost. Improvements in the estimated recoverable value of a credit impaired security or improvements in the fair value of a credit impaired security that limit the amount of the allowance result in reductions in the allowance for credit losses, which are recognized as a credit to net investment-related gains in the consolidated statements of income.
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Amounts are charged off against the allowance for credit losses when deemed uncollectible or when Global Atlantic determines that it intends to sell, or more likely than not will be required to sell, the security. Charge-offs are reflected as a decrease in the allowance and a direct write down in the amortized cost of the security. If Global Atlantic recovers all or a portion of an amount previously written off on a credit impaired security, the recovery is recognized as a realized investment gain.
Mortgage and other loan receivables
Global Atlantic updates its estimate of the expected credit losses on its investments in mortgage and other loan receivables each quarter. For loans that share similar risk characteristics, expected credit losses are measured on a pool basis.
For commercial mortgage loans, the current expected credit losses are estimated using a model that evaluates the probability that each loan will default and estimates the amount of loss given the occurrence of such a default over the life of each loan in the portfolio. The model incorporates historical and current data on the relevant property market and projects potential future paths for each loan’s collateral, considering both the net income to be generated by the collateral real estate and its market value. The model considers how macroeconomic forecasts (such as gross domestic product, unemployment, and interest rates) influence commercial real estate market factors (including vacancy rates, rental and income growth rates, property value changes), and in turn how commercial real estate market conditions, in combination with loan specific information (including debt service coverage and loan to value), drive commercial mortgage loan credit risk.
For residential mortgage loans and consumer loans, the current expected credit losses are primarily estimated using a discounted cash flow model. The model considers loan-specific information as well as current, historical and forecasted data relevant to the respective loans, including home prices, interest rates and unemployment. Expected cash flows are projected for each loan and are discounted using the effective interest rate of the respective loan. Any shortfalls between the discounted cash flows and the amortized cost of each individual loan are aggregated to determine the total allowances on the residential mortgage loan and consumer loan portfolios. For certain residential mortgage loans secured by single-family rental properties, current expected credit losses are determined using a model consistent with that described above for commercial mortgage loans.
With regard to the use of forecasts in the determination of Global Atlantic’s current expected credit losses, the reversion of forecasts to historical data is based on reversion dynamics that depend on the specific variable and its interaction with the other parameters of the respective model; however, the forecasts generally tend to revert to a long-term equilibrium trend within two to three years from the forecast start date.
For the investment in other loan receivables, a variety of methodologies are used to estimate the respective current expected credit losses. These methodologies consider the terms specific to each loan, including the value of any collateral, and evaluate the risk of loss over the life of these loans.
Global Atlantic also assesses and measures an allowance for credit losses arising from off-balance sheet commitments, including loan commitments, that are not unconditionally cancellable by Global Atlantic. This allowance for credit losses for off-balance sheet commitments is determined using methods consistent with those used for the associated mortgage and other loan receivable class, as described above, and is recognized in other liabilities in the consolidated statements of financial condition, since there is no funded asset for the committed amount.
When all or a portion of a loan is deemed uncollectible, the uncollectible portion of the carrying amount of the loan is charged off against the allowance. If Global Atlantic recovers all or a portion of an amount previously written off on a credit impaired loan, the recovery is recognized as a realized investment gain.
Other investments
The determination of the amount of impairment on other classes of investments also requires significant judgment and is based upon a periodic evaluation and assessment of known and inherent risks associated with the respective asset class. Such assessments are revised as conditions change and new information becomes available.
Impairment of consolidated renewable energy assets and transportation assets is assessed whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. When indicators of impairment are present, a recoverability test is performed to determine if the sum of the estimated undiscounted future cash flows attributable to the assets is greater than the carrying amount. If the undiscounted estimated future cash flows are less than the carrying amount, an impairment loss is recognized based on the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds its estimated fair value.
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Impairment of investments subject to the equity method of accounting is assessed whenever events or circumstances suggest that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. An impairment charge is recognized in earnings for a decline in value that is determined to be other than temporary and is measured as the difference between the carrying amount and the fair value of the equity method investment as of the balance sheet date.
Deferral and amortization of certain revenues and expenses
Deferrals
Deferred policy acquisition costs ("DAC") consist of commissions and other costs that are directly related to the successful acquisition of new or renewal life insurance or annuity contracts. Deferred sales inducements ("DSI") are generated by annuities that offer enhanced crediting rates or bonus payments to policyholders and is included in other assets in the consolidated statements of financial condition. DAC is recorded in insurance intangibles in the consolidated statements of financial condition.
Value of business acquired ("VOBA") represents the difference between the carrying value of the purchased in-force insurance contract liabilities at the time of the business combination and the estimated fair value of insurance and reinsurance contracts. VOBA can be either positive or negative. Positive VOBA is recorded in insurance intangibles. Negative VOBA is recorded in the same financial statement line in the consolidated statement of financial condition as the associated reserves.
Revenues from certain universal life insurance products are deferred to future periods and an unearned revenue reserve ("URR") liability is established. The amount deferred is equal to the excess of the revenue collected over an estimate of the ultimate future level of these revenues and included in policy liabilities in the consolidated statements of financial condition.
Deferred revenue liability ("DRL") represents the gross premium less the net premium on limited pay contracts (i.e., payout annuities). DRL is included in policy liabilities in the consolidated statements of financial condition.
For certain preneed contracts, the gross premium is in excess of the benefit reserve plus additional insurance liability. An unearned front-end load ("UFEL") is established to defer the recognition of this front-end load. UFEL is included in policy liabilities in the consolidated statements of financial condition.
Amortization
For interest-sensitive products (fixed-indexed annuities and variable annuities, most universal life including preneed contracts, and variable universal life), DAC and DSI assets are generally amortized in proportion to actual historical gross profits and estimated future gross profits over the estimated lives of the contracts. The amount of gross profit consists principally of investment returns (including hedge gains and losses) in excess of the amounts credited to policyholders, asset-based and other policy fees, and surrender charges reduced by death and other excess benefits and expenses. Numerous factors including mortality, benefit utilization, surrender activity, premium persistency, and the economic environment influence the level and timing of gross profits.
Estimated gross profits are updated each reporting period with actual gross profits as part of the amortization process for the interest-sensitive policies. When actual gross profits are higher in the period than had been previously estimated, more amortization is recognized than planned. When actual gross profits are lower than had been previously estimated, less amortization is recognized than planned. These relationships hold provided that future estimates of gross profits remain unchanged, which may not always be true.
VOBA is generally amortized on a constant level basis using policy count over the estimated lives of the contracts.
When a different basis of amortization is determined to be more representative of the economics, such as when negative estimated gross profits or margins occur, an alternative basis of amortization may be selected for DAC and VOBA.
For most term and whole life products, DAC is amortized in proportion to premium revenue recognized.
DRL is amortized on a straight-line basis for whole life and term life insurance policies. For annuities, universal life and indexed universal life policies, DRL is amortized in proportion to the pattern of policyholder death benefits in-force. For payout annuities, DRL is recognized in income in a constant relationship with the amount of expected future payments.
URR is amortized consistent with the amortization of DAC on similar products. UFEL is amortized consistent with the method used in the amortization of DAC for preneed contracts.
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The key assumptions used in the calculation of the amortization of DAC, VOBA and DSI are periodically updated as part of the assumptions review process, which results in revisions to the estimated future gross profits. The effects of changes in assumptions are recorded as unlocking in the period in which the changes are made. The following are types of changes to future assumptions that would generally result in a negative unlocking (i.e., an acceleration of amortization resulting in a reduction to net income): lower equity returns, lower investment returns, higher operating expenses, higher mortality, and unfavorable lapses.
The carrying amounts of DAC, DSI, URR and UFEL are adjusted for the effects of realized and unrealized gains and losses on debt and equity securities classified as AFS and certain derivatives.
Internal replacements
An internal replacement is a modification in product benefits, features, rights, or coverages that occurs by the legal extinguishment of one contract and the issuance of another contract (a contract exchange), or by amendment, endorsement, or rider to a contract, or by the election of a benefit, feature, right, or coverage within a contract. If the modification does not substantially change the contract, Global Atlantic does not change the accounting and amortization of existing DAC and related actuarial balances (i.e., continuation of contract accounting). If an internal replacement represents a substantial change, the original contract is considered to be extinguished and any related DAC or other policy balances are charged or credited to income, and any new deferrable costs associated with the replacement contract are deferred.
Separate accounts
Separate account assets and liabilities represent segregated funds administered and invested by Global Atlantic for the benefit of variable annuities and variable universal life insurance contractholders and certain pension funds. Global Atlantic reports separately, as assets and liabilities, investments held in the separate accounts and liabilities of separate accounts if: (1) such separate accounts are legally recognized; (2) assets supporting the contract liabilities are legally insulated from Global Atlantic’s general account liabilities; (3) investments are directed by the contract owner or participant; and (4) all investment performance, net of contract fees and assessments, is passed through to the contract owner.
Separate account assets consist principally of mutual funds at fair value. The investment income and gains and losses of these accounts generally accrue to the contractholders and therefore, are not included in Global Atlantic’s net income. However, Global Atlantic’s net income reflects fees assessed and earned on fund values of these contracts which are presented as a component of policy fees in the consolidated statements of operations. Realized investment gains and losses related to separate accounts that meet the conditions for separate account reporting accrue to and are borne by the contractholder.
Policy liabilities
Policy liabilities, or collectively, “reserves,” are the portion of past premiums or assessments received that are set aside to meet future policy and contract obligations as they become due. Interest accrues on these reserves and on future premiums, which may also be available to pay for future obligations. Global Atlantic establishes reserves to pay future policyholder benefits, claims, and certain expenses for its life policies and annuity contracts.
Reserves are estimates based on models that include many actuarial assumptions and projections. These assumptions and projections, which are inherently uncertain, involve significant judgment, including assumptions as to the levels and/or timing of premiums, benefits, claims, expenses, interest credits, investment results (including equity market returns), mortality, longevity, and persistency.
The assumptions on which reserves are based are intended to represent an estimation of experience for the period that policyholder benefits are payable. The adequacy of these reserves and the assumptions underlying those reserves are reviewed at least annually. Global Atlantic cannot, however, determine with precision the amount or the timing of actual policyholder benefit payments. If actual experience is better than or equal to the assumptions, then reserves would be adequate to provide for future policyholder benefits and expenses. If experience is worse than the assumptions, additional reserves may be required to meet future policy and contract obligations. This would result in a charge to Global Atlantic’s net income during the period in which excess policyholder benefits are paid or an increase in reserves occurs.
For a majority of Global Atlantic’s in-force policies, including its universal life policies and most annuity contracts, the base policy reserve is equal to the account value. For these products, the account value represents Global Atlantic’s obligation to repay to the policyholder the amounts held on deposit. However, there are several significant blocks of business where additional
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policyholder reserves are explicitly calculated, including variable annuities, fixed-indexed annuities, universal life with secondary guarantees, indexed universal life and preneed policies.
Fixed-rate and fixed-indexed annuities
Contractholder deposits fund reserves for fixed-indexed annuities earning a fixed rate of interest and certain other fixed-rate annuity products are computed under a retrospective deposit method and represent policyholder account balances before applicable surrender charges. For certain fixed-rate annuity products, an additional reserve was established for above market interest rate guarantees upon acquisition. These reserves are amortized on a straight-line basis over the remaining guaranteed interest rate period.
Certain of Global Atlantic’s fixed-indexed annuity products enable the policyholder to allocate contract value between a fixed crediting rate and strategies which reflect the change in the value of an index, such as the S&P 500 Index or other indices. These products are accounted for as investment-type contracts. The liability for these products consists of a combination of the underlying account value and an embedded derivative value. The liability for the underlying account value is primarily based on policy guarantees and its initial value is the difference between the premium payment and the fair value of the embedded derivative. Thereafter, the account value liability is determined in a manner consistent with the accounting for a deposit liability under the “constant yield method.” All future host balances are determined as: (1) the initial host balance; (2) plus interest; (3) less applicable policyholder benefits. The interest rate used in the prior roll forward is re-determined on each valuation date, per the constant yield method. The embedded derivative component’s fair value is based on an estimate of the policyholders’ expected participation in future increases in the relevant index. The fair value of this embedded derivative component includes assumptions, including those about future interest rates and investment yields, future costs for options used to hedge the contract obligations, projected withdrawal and surrender activity, benefit utilization and the level and limits on contract participation in any future increases in the respective index option. The account value liability and embedded derivative are recorded in policy liabilities in the consolidated statements of financial condition, with changes in value of the liabilities recorded in policy benefits and claims in the consolidated statements of operations.
Global Atlantic issues funding agreements to certain unaffiliated (and non-unconsolidated) special purpose entities that have issued debt securities for which payment of interest and principal is secured by such funding agreements. Global Atlantic’s funding agreements are considered investment type contracts and liabilities are calculated as the present value of future payments. Global Atlantic's obligation is reported in policy liabilities in the consolidated statements of financial condition. Interest expense is calculated using the effective interest method and recorded in policy benefits and claims in the consolidated statements of income.
Contractholder deposit funds reserves for certain assumed blocks of fixed-indexed and fixed-rate annuity products are accounted for as investment-type contracts. A net liability (consisting of the benefit reserve plus deferred revenue liability less DAC) is established at inception and amortized under the constant yield method.
Guaranteed benefits
Certain fixed-rate and fixed-indexed annuity contracts provide the contractholder with guaranteed minimum death benefits ("GMDB") and/or guaranteed minimum withdrawal benefits ("GMWB"). The associated reserves for these benefits are calculated by estimating the present value of total expected (excess) benefit payments over the life of the contract divided by the present value of total expected assessments over the life of the contract, or the “benefit ratio,” and multiplying this ratio by the cumulative assessments recorded from the contract inception through the balance sheet date less cumulative benefit payments plus interest on the reserves. The liabilities are included in policy liabilities in the consolidated statements of financial condition. The change in the reserve is included in policy benefits and claims in the consolidated statements of operations.
Long-term care benefit riders
Certain fixed-rate contracts provide the policyholder with long-term care benefit riders. The long-term care benefit rider permits access to the policy’s account value, along with a supplemental rider benefit value, free of a surrender charge, to reimburse the policyholder for certain qualified long-term care expenses. Depending on the outcome of simplified underwriting, the rider benefit is capped at the return of account value plus one or two times the account value. The benefit rider paid to the policyholder is subject to a monthly maximum such that the benefit is typically paid out over a period of six years or longer. The liabilities for these benefits are calculated by using the benefit ratio multiplied by the cumulative assessments recorded from the contract inception through the balance sheet date less cumulative benefit payments plus interest on the reserves. The change in the reserve is included in policy benefits and claims in the consolidated statements of operations.
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Variable annuities
Variable annuity contracts offered and assumed by Global Atlantic provide the contractholder with GMDB and/or GMWB. The liabilities for these benefits are included in policy liabilities in the consolidated statements of financial condition. The change in the liabilities for these benefits is included in policy benefits and claims in the consolidated statements of operations.
Global Atlantic issued variable annuity contracts with GMDB features. Global Atlantic elected the fair value option to measure the liability for certain of these variable annuity contracts. Fair value is calculated as the present value of the estimated death benefits less the present value of the GMDB fees, using 1,000 risk neutral scenarios. Global Atlantic discounts the cash flows using the U.S. Treasury rates plus an adjustment for own company credit risk.
Global Atlantic also issues variable annuity contracts with a GMWB. The GMWB feature represents an embedded derivative. The embedded derivative is required to be bifurcated and measured at fair value. This liability is calculated as the present value of the excess GMWB claims less the present value of GMWB fees, using 1,000 risk neutral scenarios. Global Atlantic discounts the cash flows using U.S. Treasury rates plus an adjustment for own company credit risk.
Payout annuities
Payout annuities include single premium immediate annuities, annuitizations of deferred annuities and structured settlements. These contracts subject the insurer to risks over a period that extends beyond the period or periods in which premiums are collected. These contracts may be either non-life contingent or life contingent. Non-life contingent annuities are accounted for as financial instruments. For life contingent annuities, Global Atlantic records a liability at the present value of future annuity payments and estimated future expenses calculated using expected mortality and costs, and interest assumptions. Any gross premiums received in excess of the net premium is the DRL and is recognized in income in a constant relationship with the amount of expected future payments. The liabilities are recorded in policy liabilities in the consolidated statements of financial condition.
Also included under payout annuities are liabilities for disability income benefits which pertain primarily to disability income policies that are already in claim payout status. Liabilities for disability income benefits are calculated as the present value of future disability payments and estimated future expenses using expected mortality and costs, and interest assumptions. The liabilities are recorded in policy liabilities in the consolidated statements of financial condition.
Universal life policies
For universal life policies, the base benefit reserves are deemed to be equal to the policyholder account value.
Policy liabilities for indexed universal life with returns linked to the performance of a specified market index are equal to the sum of two components: (1) the fair value of the embedded derivative; and (2) the host (or guaranteed) component. The fair value of the embedded derivative component is based on the fair value of the policyholders’ expected participation in future increases in the relevant index over the life of the contract. The fair value of this embedded derivative component includes assumptions, including those about future interest rates and investment yields, future costs for options used to hedge the contract obligations, projected benefits, benefit utilization and the level and limits on contract participation in any future increases in the respective index option.
The initial host balance is established at the time of premium payment and is equal to the total account value less the embedded derivative component. Thereafter, the balance of the host component is determined in a manner consistent with the accounting for a deposit liability under the “constant yield method.” All future host balances are determined as: (1) the initial host balance; (2) plus interest; (3) less applicable policyholder benefits. The interest rate used in the prior roll forward is re-determined on each valuation date, per the constant yield method.
Global Atlantic holds additional liabilities for universal life products with secondary guarantees, sometimes referred to as no-lapse guarantees. For these products, the fair value of the embedded derivative is the present value of the best estimate option budget projection minus the guaranteed surrender benefits over the life of the contract. The additional liabilities are measured using the benefit ratio approach where excess benefits are spread over the life of the contract based on assessments collected from the policyholder. Generally, total expected excess benefit payments are the aggregate of death claims after the policyholder account value is exhausted. The exception is when the cost of insurance charges are insufficient to produce consistently positive earnings in the future. In this case, all death benefits are deemed to be excess benefits.
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Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
Variable universal life policies
Certain assumed variable universal life policies include several forms of secondary guarantees. Global Atlantic holds additional liabilities for its secondary guarantees as discussed above.
Preneed policies
Global Atlantic’s preneed life insurance contracts are accounted for as universal life-type contracts which require that the retrospective deposit method be used. That accounting method establishes a liability for policyholder benefits in an amount determined by the account or contract balance that accrues to the benefit of the policyholder. This account value is deemed to be equal to the contract’s statutory cash surrender value. The majority of Global Atlantic’s preneed insurance contracts feature death benefits with a discretionary death benefit growth rate. Global Atlantic has the discretion to adjust these rates up or down. Global Atlantic has established an additional reserve for expected future discretionary benefits which is reflected as policy liabilities in the consolidated statements of financial condition. Global Atlantic has also issued preneed insurance contracts with crediting rates tied to inflation as measured by the U.S. Consumer Price Index.
Whole and term life
Global Atlantic has established liabilities for amounts payable under insurance policies, including whole life insurance and term life insurance policies. Generally, liabilities for these policies are calculated as the present value of future expected benefits to be paid reduced by the present value of future expected net premiums. Principal assumptions used in the establishment of liabilities for future policyholder benefits are mortality, policy lapse, renewal, investment returns, inflation, expenses and other contingent events as appropriate for the respective product. These assumptions, which include provisions for adverse deviations, are established at the time the policy is issued and are intended to estimate the experience for the period the policyholder benefits are payable. By utilizing these assumptions, liabilities are established on a block-of-business basis. For whole life and term long-duration insurance contracts, assumptions such as mortality, morbidity and interest rates are locked-in upon the issuance of new business. However, significant adverse changes in experience on such contracts may require Global Atlantic to establish premium deficiency reserves. Premium deficiency reserves are established, if necessary, when the liability for future policyholder benefits plus the present value of expected future gross premiums are determined to be insufficient to provide for expected future policyholder benefits and expenses. Such reserves are determined based on assumptions at the time the premium deficiency reserve is established and do not include a provision for adverse deviation.
Policy liabilities for participating whole life insurance policies are equal to the aggregate of: (1) net level premium reserves for death and endowment policyholder benefits (calculated based upon the non-forfeiture interest rate, and mortality rated guarantee in calculating the cash surrender values described in such contracts); and (2) the liability for terminal dividends.
Policy liabilities for non-participating whole life and term life insurance policies are equal to the aggregate of the present value of expected future policyholder benefit payments and related expenses less the present value of expected future net premiums. Assumptions as to the mortality and persistency are based upon Global Atlantic’s experience when the basis of the liability is established, and are periodically updated. Interest rate assumptions for the aggregate policy liabilities are calculated based on the portfolio rate, net of investment expenses.
Outstanding claims
Outstanding claims include amounts payable relating to in course of settlement and incurred but not reported claim liabilities. In course of settlement claim liabilities are established for policies when Global Atlantic is notified of the death of the policyholder but the claim has not been paid as of the reporting date. Incurred but not reported claim liabilities are determined using studies of past experience and are estimated using actuarial assumptions of historical claims expense, adjusted for current trends and conditions. These estimates are continually reviewed and the ultimate liability may vary significantly from the amounts initially recognized, which are reflected in net income in the period in which they are determined. Changes in policyholder and contract claims are recorded in policy benefits and claims in the consolidated statements of operations.
Closed blocks
Through its insurance companies, Global Atlantic has acquired several closed blocks of participating life insurance policies. Global Atlantic has elected to account for the closed block policy liabilities using the fair value option.
The assets and cash flow generated by the closed blocks inure solely to the benefit of the holders of policies included in the closed blocks. All closed block assets will ultimately be paid out as policyholder benefits and through policyholder dividends. In
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Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
the event that the closed blocks’ assets are insufficient to meet the benefits of the closed blocks’ benefits, general assets of Global Atlantic would be used to meet the contractual benefits to the closed blocks’ policyholders.
The closed block liabilities are measured at fair value, which comprises the fair value of the closed block assets plus the present value of projected expenses including commissions and the cost of capital charges associated with the closed blocks. In calculating the present value, Global Atlantic used a discount rate based on current U.S. Treasury rates, with a risk margin to reflect uncertainties in the closed block liability and a provision for Global Atlantic’s nonperformance risk.
Reinsurance
Consistent with the overall business strategy, Global Atlantic assumes certain policy risks written by other insurance companies on a coinsurance, modified coinsurance or funds withheld coinsurance basis. Reinsurance accounting is applied for ceded and assumed transactions when risk transfer provisions have been met. To meet risk transfer requirements, a long-duration reinsurance contract must transfer mortality or morbidity risks, and subject the reinsurer to a reasonable possibility of a significant loss. Those contracts that do not meet risk transfer requirements are accounted for using deposit accounting. Global Atlantic seeks to diversify risk and limits its overall financial exposure through reinsurance.
With respect to ceded reinsurance, Global Atlantic values reinsurance recoverables on reported claims at the time the underlying claim is recognized in accordance with contract terms. For future policyholder benefits, Global Atlantic estimates the amount of reinsurance recoverables based on the terms of the reinsurance contracts and historical reinsurance recovery information. The reinsurance recoverables are based on what Global Atlantic believes are reasonable estimates and the balance is reported as an asset in the consolidated statements of financial condition. However, the ultimate amount of the reinsurance recoverable is not known until all claims are settled.
The cost of reinsurance, which is the difference between the amount paid for a reinsurance contract and the amount of the liabilities for policy benefits relating to the underlying reinsured contracts, is deferred and amortized over the reinsurance contract period for short-duration contracts, or over the terms of the reinsured policies on a basis consistent with the reporting of those policies for long-duration contracts. Cost of reinsurance assets and liabilities are reported in insurance intangibles and policy liabilities in the consolidated statements of financial condition, respectively. Reinsurance contracts do not relieve Global Atlantic from its obligations to policyholders, and failure of reinsurers to honor their obligations could result in losses to Global Atlantic; consequently, allowances are established for expected credit losses, via a charge to policy benefits and claims in the consolidated statements of operations. Global Atlantic’s funds withheld receivable at interest and reinsurance recoverable assets are reviewed for expected credit losses by considering credit ratings for each reinsurer, historical insurance industry specific default rate factors, rights of offset, expected recovery rates upon default and the impact of other terms specific to the reinsurance arrangement.
For funds withheld and modified coinsurance agreements, the Company has the right to receive or obligation to pay the total return on assets supporting the funds withheld receivable at interest or funds withheld payable at interest. This indirectly exposes the Company to the credit risk of the underlying assets. As a result, funds withheld coinsurance and modified coinsurance agreements are viewed as total return swaps and treated as embedded derivatives. Embedded derivatives are required to be separated from the host contracts and measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income. Generally, the embedded derivative is measured as the difference between the fair value of the underlying assets and the carrying value of the host contract at the balance sheet date. The fair value of the embedded derivative is included in the funds withheld receivable at interest or the funds withheld payable at interest on the consolidated balance sheets. Changes in the fair value of the embedded derivative are reported in operating activities on the consolidated statements of cash flows.
Recognition of insurance revenue and related benefits
Premiums related to whole life and term life insurance contracts and payout contracts with life contingencies are recognized in premiums in the consolidated statements of operations when due from the contractholders.
Amounts received as payment for universal life and investment-type contracts are reported as deposits to contractholder account balances and recorded in policy liabilities in the consolidated statements of financial condition. Amounts received as payment for Global Atlantic’s fixed fund variable annuities are reported as a component of policy liabilities in the consolidated statements of financial condition. Revenues from these contracts consist primarily of fees assessed against the contractholder account balance for mortality, policy administration, separate account administration and surrender charges, and are reported in policy fees in the consolidated statements of operations. Additionally, Global Atlantic earns investment income from the investment of contract deposits in Global Atlantic’s insurance companies' general account portfolio, which is reported in net investment income in the consolidated statements of operations.
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Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
Fees assessed that represent compensation to Global Atlantic for benefits to be provided in future periods and certain other fees are established as an unearned revenue reserve liability and amortized into revenue over the expected life of the related contracts in proportion to estimated gross profits in a manner consistent with DAC for these contracts. Unearned revenue reserves are reported in policy liabilities in the consolidated statements of financial condition and amortized into policy fees in the consolidated statements of operations. Benefits and expenses for these products include claims in excess of related account balances, expenses for contract administration and interest credited to contractholder account balances in the consolidated statements of operations.
Global Atlantic primarily earns revenues from premiums, policy fees, income from investments, and other administration, management, and distribution fees. For the year ended December 31, 2021, Global Atlantic’s revenue was sourced in its entirety from the Americas (100%), based on the geographic region of the reporting subsidiary company. Additionally, none of Global Atlantic’s customers contributed more than 10% of KKR's total consolidated revenues and predominantly all of Global Atlantic’s fixed assets are located in the United States.
Other income
Other income is primarily comprised of expense allowances on ceded reinsurance, administration fees, management fees and distribution fees.
Insurance expenses
Insurance expenses are primarily comprised of commissions expense, premium taxes, amortization of acquired distribution and trade name intangibles, and other expenses related to insurance products and reinsurance transactions.
General, administrative and other expenses
General, administrative and other expenses are primarily comprised of employee compensation and benefit expenses, administrative and professional services and other operating expenses.
Equity-based, incentive and other deferred compensation
Global Atlantic has established a long-term incentive plan to foster and promote its long-term financial success. Compensation expense for Global Atlantic’s incentive awards is recognized only when vesting is deemed to be probable.
Global Atlantic measures compensation cost for service-based, equity-classified share-based payment awards at fair value as of the grant date and recognizes it in general, administrative and other expenses in the consolidated statements of operations as compensation expense over the requisite service period for awards expected to vest. Global Atlantic recognizes the expense using the straight-line attribution method, with adjustments for estimated forfeitures. For awards with performance-based vesting, expense recognition is deferred until the performance factor occurs or becomes probable.
Global Atlantic measures compensation cost for liability-classified share-based payment awards or other deferred compensation plans using the fair value method, beginning on the grant date, and re-measures the fair value of the awards at each reporting period until the awards are settled. Accrued compensation expense is recognized, net of an estimated forfeiture rate, in general, administrative and other expenses in the consolidated statements of operations and within accrued expenses and other liabilities in the consolidated statements of financial condition, respectively.
Adoption of new accounting pronouncements
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act ("CARES Act") and related regulatory actions
On March 27, 2020, the CARES Act was enacted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act, among other things, permits net operating loss ("NOL") carryovers and carrybacks to offset 100% of taxable income for taxable years beginning before 2021. In addition, the CARES Act allows NOLs incurred in 2018, 2019 and 2020 to be carried back to each of the five preceding taxable years to generate a refund of previously paid income taxes.
The provisions of the CARES Act, as amended by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, also permit financial institutions to suspend requirements under U.S. GAAP for loan modifications that otherwise would be categorized as troubled debt restructurings (“TDRs”) if (1) the borrower was not more than 30 days past due as of December 31, 2019, and (2) the
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Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
modifications are related to arrangements that defer or delay the payment of principal or interest, or change the interest rate on the loan, provided the modifications are made between March 1, 2020 and the earlier of 60 days after the end of the national emergency related to the COVID-19 pandemic or January 1, 2022. Global Atlantic has applied this guidance to loan forbearance requests that meet the requirements.
See Note 7 “Investments” for additional information on loan modifications.
Simplifying the accounting for income taxes
On December 18, 2019, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the "FASB") issued ASU No. 2019-12, which modifies ASC 740 to simplify the accounting for income taxes. This guidance eliminates the exceptions to the incremental approach, to accounting for basis differences when there are changes in ownership of foreign investments, and to interim period tax accounting for year-to-date losses that exceed anticipated losses. The guidance also simplifies the application of tax guidance related to franchise taxes, transactions with government entities, separate financial statements of legal entities that are not subject to tax, and enacted changes in tax laws in interim periods. The guidance is effective for public business entities that meet the definition of an SEC filer for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, including interim period within those fiscal years. KKR adopted the standard effective January 1, 2021. The adoption of this new guidance did not have a significant impact on the financial statements.
Reference rate reform
In March 2020, the FASB issued new guidance to ease the accounting implications of the transition away from the London Interbank Offering Rate, or “LIBOR,” and other reference rates, which were discontinued in 2021 (other than for U.S. dollar LIBORs, which are expected to be extended until June 2023 except for the one-week and two-month tenors). The new guidance offers a variety of optional expedients and exceptions related to accounting for contract modifications and hedging relationships. These expedients and exceptions apply only to contracts, hedging relationships and other transactions that reference LIBOR or another reference rate expected to be discontinued because of reference rate reform. The new guidance is effective for contract modifications made and hedging relationships existing or entered into from January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2022.
KKR is currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on its consolidated financial statements.
Future application of accounting standards
Targeted improvements to the accounting for long-duration contracts
In August 2018, the FASB issued new guidance for insurance and reinsurance companies that issue long-duration contracts such as life insurance and annuities. The objective of this guidance is to improve, simplify and enhance the financial reporting of long-duration contracts by providing financial statement users with useful information in a timely and transparent manner. The primary changes include:
(1) more timely recognition of assumption changes in the liability for future policy benefits and use of a current rate for the discounting of future cash flows – The assumptions used to calculate the liability for future policy benefits on traditional and limited-payment contracts are required to be reviewed and updated periodically (versus set at inception and not changed under the current guidance). Cash flow assumptions are required to be reviewed at least annually with the impact recognized in net income. The standard also prescribes that the discount rate assumption should be based on a current upper-medium grade (i.e., low credit risk) fixed income instrument yield (e.g., a single A credit-rating) with the impact recognized in other comprehensive income ("OCI").
(2) standardization and improvement in the accounting for certain market-based options or guarantees associated with deposit (or account balance) contracts – The new guidance creates a new category of benefits referred to as market risk benefits, which are contracts or contract features that provide both protection to the policyholder from capital market risk and expose the insurer to other-than-nominal capital market risk. Market risk benefits are required to be measured at fair value with the change in fair value recognized in net income, except for changes in the entity’s non-performance risk, which is recognized in OCI.
(3) simplification of the amortization of deferred acquisition costs - DAC and other similar actuarial balances (e.g., deferred sales inducements) for life and annuity contracts are required to be amortized on a constant basis over the term of the related contracts.
(4) enhanced disclosures – Additional disclosures are required including disaggregated roll-forwards of significant insurance liabilities as well as disclosures about significant inputs, judgments, assumptions and methods used in measurement.
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Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. For changes related to the liability for future policy benefits and deferred acquisition costs, the new guidance requires adoption using a modified retrospective approach upon transition with an option to elect a retrospective approach. For changes related to market risk benefits, the new guidance requires a retrospective approach.
Global Atlantic intends to implement this standard using the retrospective approach for the liability for future policy benefits, deferred acquisition costs and market risk benefits with an adoption date of January 1, 2023. Global Atlantic has completed the design and planning phase of its implementation effort and has begun detailed implementation activities. Global Atlantic has established a governance framework to manage the implementation activities and support timely application of the guidance. Global Atlantic has made progress in the following areas:
•High level impact assessment;
•Identification of key accounting policy decisions;
•Evaluation and selection of actuarial system solutions;
•Development of detailed business requirements document inclusive of roll-forward disclosures; and
•Preliminary modeling of market risk benefits.
Global Atlantic continues to evaluate the impact of this guidance but anticipates that the new standard will have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements. The new guidance is expected to increase financial statement volatility primarily due to the requirement to measure market risk benefits at fair value, which is recorded in net income, except for changes in value attributable to changes in an entity’s non-performance risk, which is recognized in OCI. In addition, the new guidance is expected to have a significant impact on Global Atlantic’s systems, processes and controls.
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Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
3. ACQUISITION OF GLOBAL ATLANTIC
On July 7, 2020, indirect subsidiaries of KKR & Co. Inc., namely Magnolia Parent LLC and Magnolia Merger Sub Limited, entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “GA Merger Agreement”) with Global Atlantic Financial Group Limited ("GAFG"), Global Atlantic Financial Life Limited ("GAFLL"), LAMC LP, and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, solely in its capacity as the Equity Representative (as defined in the GA Merger Agreement). Pursuant to the GA Merger Agreement, at the closing of the acquisition of Global Atlantic by KKR (the "GA Acquisition"), among other things, Global Atlantic Financial Group Limited continued as the surviving entity in its merger with Magnolia Merger Sub Limited and became a direct subsidiary of Magnolia Parent LLC, which subsequently changed its name to The Global Atlantic Financial Group LLC (“TGAFG”).
On February 1, 2021 (the “GA Acquisition Date”), the GA Acquisition was completed, and KKR acquired all of the voting interests in Global Atlantic and an economic ownership of 61.1% of Global Atlantic prior to certain post-closing purchase price adjustments discussed below and after taking into account GA Rollover Investors’ and GA Co-Investors’ (each as defined below) equity ownership of Global Atlantic. In addition to entering into the retirement and life insurance business through KKR's indirect ownership of Global Atlantic's insurance companies, KKR's flagship investment management company became the investment adviser for Global Atlantic’s insurance companies, which increases KKR’s presence in the insurance community. Furthermore, the transaction allows Global Atlantic to gain access to KKR’s origination and asset management capabilities.
Under the GA Merger Agreement, KKR agreed to pay former shareholders of Global Atlantic Financial Group Limited an amount in cash equal to 1.0x U.S. GAAP Shareholders’ Equity of Global Atlantic Financial Group Limited, excluding Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income and subject to certain other purchase price adjustments ("GA Book Value," determined as $4.7 billion as of February 1, 2021 for purposes of the purchase price determination). The amount of consideration payable by KKR was reduced by the amount of equity rolled over by certain former shareholders of Global Atlantic Financial Group Limited who elected to continue their equity ownership in Global Atlantic at closing ("GA Rollover Investors"). In addition, KKR syndicated equity interests in Global Atlantic to minority co-investors ("GA Co-Investors"), which also had the effect of reducing the amount of consideration payable by KKR at closing. The purchase price is as follows (in thousands):
| Cash consideration paid by KKR | $ | 2,914,455 | |||
| GA Co-Investors and GA Rollover Investors | 1,824,239 | ||||
| Total Purchase Price | $ | 4,738,694 | |||
The purchase price paid at closing was subject to certain post-closing adjustments, which were finalized in June 2021, and KKR and certain GA Co-Investors paid incremental amounts of $55 million and $3 million, respectively ($58 million in total). As a result of the post-closing adjustments, KKR's economic ownership of Global Atlantic increased from 61.1% at closing to 61.5%.
The GA Acquisition was accounted for as a business combination under FASB Accounting Standards Codification Topic 805, Business Combinations ("Topic 805"). Goodwill of $497.1 million has been recorded based on the amount that the purchase price exceeds the fair value of the net assets acquired less the amounts attributable to noncontrolling interests. Goodwill is primarily attributable to the scale, skill sets, operations, and synergies that can be achieved subsequent to the GA Acquisition. The goodwill recorded is not expected to be deductible for tax purposes and it has been allocated to the Insurance segment.
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Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
The following table summarizes the fair value amounts recognized for the assets acquired and liabilities assumed and resulting goodwill as of the GA Acquisition Date:
| February 1, 2021 | ||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | ||||||||
| Consideration Transferred | ||||||||
| Cash Consideration paid by KKR | $ | 2,914,455 | ||||||
| GA Co-Investors | 978,296 | |||||||
| GA Rollover Investors | 845,943 | |||||||
Settlement of pre-existing relationships(1) | (60,200) | |||||||
Total Consideration Transferred(2) | $ | 4,678,494 | ||||||
| Recognized Amounts of Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed: | ||||||||
| Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash | $ | 3,358,772 | ||||||
| Investments | 99,544,755 | |||||||
| Reinsurance Recoverable | 15,753,030 | |||||||
| Insurance Intangible Assets | 1,024,520 | |||||||
Other Assets(3) | 3,325,652 | |||||||
| Separate Account Assets | 5,371,060 | |||||||
| Policy Liabilities | (100,374,765) | |||||||
| Debt Obligations | (1,450,920) | |||||||
| Funds Withheld Payable at Interest | (13,800,969) | |||||||
| Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities | (2,735,811) | |||||||
| Reinsurance Liabilities | (180,573) | |||||||
| Separate Account Liabilities | (5,371,060) | |||||||
| Total Identifiable Net Assets | 4,463,691 | |||||||
Redeemable non-controlling interests(4) | (91,845) | |||||||
Other Noncontrolling interests(4) | (190,405) | |||||||
| Goodwill | $ | 497,053 | ||||||
(1) Represents KKR debt obligations held by Global Atlantic at the GA Acquisition Date.
(2) At the GA Acquisition Date, the transaction was funded with a combination of (i) cash on hand by KKR, (ii) cash proceeds from syndication of the equity interests in Global Atlantic to minority co-investors and equity rolled over from certain former Global Atlantic shareholders. The equity held by GA co-investors and rollover investors are presented as noncontrolling interests in the financial statements. Acquisition of Global Atlantic, Net of Cash Acquired in the consolidated statements of cash flows represents the Total Consideration Transferred (excluding GA Rollover Investors) net of acquired Cash and Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents.
(3) Includes $1.0 billion of deferred tax assets recognized from the step-up in basis under purchase accounting.
(4) Represents the fair value of Noncontrolling Interests in consolidated renewable energy entities held by Global Atlantic on the GA Acquisition Date. Such interests do not represent ownership interests held by GA Rollover Investors or GA Co-Investors in Global Atlantic's equity.
Measurement Period Adjustments
KKR finalized the valuation of the acquired assets and assumed liabilities in December 2021. During the second quarter of 2021, KKR recognized measurement period adjustments to reflect new information obtained about facts and circumstances that existed as of the acquisition date. The measurement period adjustments also reflected the increase in the total consideration transferred of $58 million as a result of final purchase price adjustments. Measurement period adjustments consist primarily of a $50 million increase in the value of distribution agreements acquired, a $63 million increase in policy liabilities, a $25 million increase in investments, and a $46 million increase in goodwill. The related impact to net income that would have been recognized in previous periods if the adjustments were recognized as of the GA Acquisition Date was not material to the consolidated financial statements.
KKR performed a valuation of the acquired investments, policy liabilities, VOBA, other identifiable intangibles, and funds withheld at interest payables and receivables. The following is a summary of significant inputs to the valuation:
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Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
Investments
Global Atlantic’s investment portfolio primarily consists of fixed maturity securities, mortgage and other loan receivables, equity securities, and investments in real assets such as renewable energy and transportation assets. All of the assets included within the investment portfolio were measured and reported at their fair values on the GA Acquisition Date consistent with the valuation methodologies discussed in Note 2 "Summary of Significant Accounting Policies." As a result, the cost basis of each respective investment was reset to equal fair value on the GA Acquisition Date.
Policy liabilities
Policy liabilities were remeasured based on generally accepted actuarial methods and reported at their fair values on the GA Acquisition Date. Assumptions for future mortality, persistency, policyholder behavior, expenses, investment return and other actuarial factors were based on an evaluation of Global Atlantic’s recent experience, industry experience, and anticipated future trends. These assumptions are intended to be representative of market assumptions used by buyers and sellers in similar transactions. The approach employed to develop these projection assumptions is described below:
•Discount rates used to calculate fair value ranged from 11% to 15%, depending on product;
•Mortality and persistency assumptions are based on both Global Atlantic and general industry experience;
•Expenses were projected reflecting Global Atlantic’s unit expenses with an allocation of a portion of overhead expenses to in-force business;
•Future investment income reflects a runoff of the existing asset portfolios and reinvestment strategies based on Global Atlantic’s assumptions for asset yield, quality, and maturity. The projections are based on forward interest rates implied by the Treasury yield curve. Credit rates reflect Global Atlantic’s target spreads;
•Separate account and index account growth rates are based on long-term return expectations for different fund types and on the underlying mix of funds; and
•Statutory reserves underlying the valuation reflect Global Atlantic’s current reserving methodologies.
Value of business acquired ("VOBA")
VOBA represents the estimated fair value of future net cash flows from in-force life and annuity insurance contracts acquired at the GA Acquisition Date.
Other identifiable intangible assets
Other identifiable intangible assets represent distribution relationships, trade names and state insurance licenses. The distribution relationships were valued using the excess earnings method, which derives value based on the present value of the cash flow attributable to the distribution relationships, less returns for contributory assets. The trade name intangible asset represents the Global Atlantic trade name, and was valued using the relief-from-royalty method giving consideration to publicly available third-party trade name royalty rates as well as expected premiums generated by the use of the trade name over its anticipated life. The state insurance licenses represent Global Atlantic’s jurisdictional insurance licenses, which include 52 insurance licenses, encompassing all 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. They were protected through registration and were valued using the market approach based on third-party market transactions from which the prices paid for state insurance licenses could be derived.
Funds withheld at interest receivables and payables
Funds withheld at interest receivables and payables were remeasured at fair value based on the fair value of assets held in the underlying portfolios supporting those receivables or payables.
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Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
The fair value and weighted average estimated useful lives of Value of Business Acquired and Other Identifiable Intangible Assets acquired in the GA Acquisition consist of the following (dollars in thousands):
| Fair Value | Average Useful Life | |||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | (in years) | |||||||||||||
| VOBA (included within Insurance Intangible Assets) | $ | 1,024,520 | 28.6 | |||||||||||
| Negative VOBA (included within Policy Liabilities) | (1,273,414) | 22.2 | ||||||||||||
| Total VOBA | $ | (248,894) | ||||||||||||
| Value of Distribution Agreements Acquired | $ | 250,000 | 16 to 21 | |||||||||||
| Trade Names | 50,000 | 15 to 18 | ||||||||||||
| State Insurance Licenses | 10,000 | Indefinite | ||||||||||||
| Total Identifiable Other Intangible Assets (included within Other Assets) | $ | 310,000 | ||||||||||||
As of the GA Acquisition Date, Global Atlantic's financial results are reflected in these financial statements. Global Atlantic's revenues of $6.5 billion and net income before allocation to noncontrolling interest holders of $406.4 million, respectively, are included in the consolidated statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2021.
Pro- Forma Financial Information
Pro-forma financial information for the year ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 are presented below. Pro-forma financial information presented does not include adjustments to reflect any potential revenue synergies or cost savings that may be achievable in connection with the GA Acquisition and assumes the GA Acquisition occurred as of January 1, 2020. The pro forma financial information is presented for informational purposes only, and is not necessarily indicative of future operations or results had the GA Acquisition been completed as of January 1, 2020.
| Years Ended | ||||||||||||||
| December 31, | ||||||||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | |||||||||||||
| Total Revenues | $ | 16,750,326 | $ | 10,877,373 | ||||||||||
| Net Income Attributable to KKR & Co. Inc. Common Stockholders | $ | 4,654,690 | $ | 2,125,464 | ||||||||||
Amounts above reflect certain pro forma adjustments that were directly attributable to the GA Acquisition. These adjustments include the following:
•adjustment to reflect the elimination of historical amortization of Global Atlantic’s intangibles and the additional amortization of intangibles measured at fair value as of the GA Acquisition Date;
•adjustment to reflect the prospective reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive earnings of the unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities to a premium which will be amortized into income based on the expected life of the investment securities;
•adjustments to reflect the KKR pro-rata economic ownership as well as financing consummated by KKR to complete the acquisition; and
•adjustments to reflect the adoption of ASC 326 "Financial Instruments - Credit Losses" in 2020 by Global Atlantic.
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Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
4. NET GAINS (LOSSES) FROM INVESTMENT ACTIVITIES - ASSET MANAGEMENT
Net Gains (Losses) from Investment Activities in the consolidated statements of operations consist primarily of the realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments (including foreign exchange gains and losses attributable to foreign denominated investments and related activities) and other financial instruments, including those for which the fair value option has been elected. Unrealized gains or losses result from changes in the fair value of these investments and other financial instruments during a period. Upon disposition of an investment or financial instrument, previously recognized unrealized gains or losses are reversed and an offsetting realized gain or loss is recognized in the current period.
The following table summarizes total Net Gains (Losses) from Investment Activities for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively:
| For the Year Ended December 31, 2021 | |||||||||||||||||
| Net Realized Gains (Losses) | Net Unrealized Gains (Losses) | Total | |||||||||||||||
Private Equity (1) | $ | 1,694,796 | $ | 2,679,388 | $ | 4,374,184 | |||||||||||
Credit (1) | 148,301 | (111) | 148,190 | ||||||||||||||
Investments of Consolidated CFEs (1) | 62,075 | 134,174 | 196,249 | ||||||||||||||
Real Assets (1) | 489,613 | 260,728 | 750,341 | ||||||||||||||
Equity Method - Other (1) | 477,344 | 618,906 | 1,096,250 | ||||||||||||||
Other Investments (1) | (334,948) | 949,664 | 614,716 | ||||||||||||||
Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts and Options (2) | (28,829) | 574,067 | 545,238 | ||||||||||||||
Securities Sold Short (2) | 38,698 | 27,773 | 66,471 | ||||||||||||||
Other Derivatives (2) | (148,245) | 71,211 | (77,034) | ||||||||||||||
Debt Obligations and Other (3) | (16,596) | 22,914 | 6,318 | ||||||||||||||
| Net Gains (Losses) From Investment Activities | $ | 2,382,209 | $ | 5,338,714 | $ | 7,720,923 | |||||||||||
| For the Year Ended December 31, 2020 | |||||||||||||||||
| Net Realized Gains (Losses) | Net Unrealized Gains (Losses) | Total | |||||||||||||||
Private Equity (1) | $ | 951,361 | $ | 3,655,820 | $ | 4,607,181 | |||||||||||
Credit (1) | (86,512) | (164,764) | (251,276) | ||||||||||||||
Investments of Consolidated CFEs (1) | (188,506) | 102,798 | (85,708) | ||||||||||||||
Real Assets (1) | 36,784 | (122,147) | (85,363) | ||||||||||||||
Equity Method - Other (1) | (137,649) | 652,334 | 514,685 | ||||||||||||||
Other Investments (1) | (335,841) | 156,396 | (179,445) | ||||||||||||||
Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts and Options (2) | 123,681 | (455,777) | (332,096) | ||||||||||||||
Securities Sold Short (2) | (145,137) | (22,747) | (167,884) | ||||||||||||||
Other Derivatives (2) | (95,831) | (106,913) | (202,744) | ||||||||||||||
Debt Obligations and Other (3) | 40,589 | (215,135) | (174,546) | ||||||||||||||
| Net Gains (Losses) From Investment Activities | $ | 162,939 | $ | 3,479,865 | $ | 3,642,804 | |||||||||||
| For the Year Ended December 31, 2019 | |||||||||||||||||
| Net Realized Gains (Losses) | Net Unrealized Gains (Losses) | Total | |||||||||||||||
Private Equity (1) | $ | 261,920 | $ | 2,849,031 | $ | 3,110,951 | |||||||||||
Credit (1) | (92,114) | (150,881) | (242,995) | ||||||||||||||
Investments of Consolidated CFEs (1) | (57,230) | 270,268 | 213,038 | ||||||||||||||
Real Assets (1) | 93,848 | (128,393) | (34,545) | ||||||||||||||
Equity Method - Other (1) | 70,385 | 540,775 | 611,160 | ||||||||||||||
Other Investments (1) | 53,688 | (240,548) | (186,860) | ||||||||||||||
Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts and Options (2) | 161,175 | 20,309 | 181,484 | ||||||||||||||
Securities Sold Short (2) | 54,707 | (53,483) | 1,224 | ||||||||||||||
Other Derivatives (2) | (19,584) | (36,918) | (56,502) | ||||||||||||||
Debt Obligations and Other (3) | (29,449) | (405,622) | (435,071) | ||||||||||||||
| Net Gains (Losses) From Investment Activities | $ | 497,346 | $ | 2,664,538 | $ | 3,161,884 | |||||||||||
(1)See Note 7 "Investments."
(2)See Note 8 "Derivatives" and Note 14 "Other Assets and Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities."
(3)See Note 16 "Debt Obligations."
266
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
5. NET INVESTMENT INCOME - INSURANCE
Net investment income for Global Atlantic is comprised primarily of interest income, including amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts, based on yields that change due to expectations in projected cash flows, dividend income from common and preferred stock, earnings from investments accounted for under equity method accounting, and lease income on other investments.
The components of net investment income were as follows:
| Year Ended | |||||
| December 31, 2021 | |||||
| Fixed maturity securities – interest and other income | $ | 2,262,326 | |||
| Mortgage and other loan receivables | 952,951 | ||||
| Investments in transportation and other leased assets | 208,057 | ||||
| Short-term and other investment income | 54,785 | ||||
| Policy loans | 35,411 | ||||
| Investments in real estate | 16,101 | ||||
| Investments in renewable energy | 142,095 | ||||
| Equity securities – dividends and other income | 1,492 | ||||
| Income assumed from funds withheld receivable at interest | 79,989 | ||||
| Income ceded to funds withheld payable at interest | (461,505) | ||||
| Gross investment income | 3,291,702 | ||||
| Less investment expenses: | |||||
| Investment management and administration | 272,321 | ||||
| Transportation and renewable energy asset depreciation and maintenance | 171,306 | ||||
| Interest expense on derivative collateral and repurchase agreements | 2,452 | ||||
| Net investment income | $ | 2,845,623 | |||
6. NET INVESTMENT-RELATED GAINS (LOSSES) - INSURANCE
Net investment-related (losses) gains from insurance operations primarily consists of (i) realized gains and (losses) from the disposal of investments, (ii) unrealized gains and (losses) from investments held for trading, equity securities, or with fair value remeasurements recognized in earnings as a result of the election of a fair-value option, (iii) unrealized gains and (losses) on funds withheld at interest, (iv) unrealized gains and (losses) from derivatives not designated in an hedging relationship, and (v) allowances for credit losses, and other impairments of investments.
Net investment-related gains (losses) were as follows:
| Year Ended | |||||
| December 31, 2021 | |||||
| Realized gains (losses) on equity investments | $ | 511,247 | |||
| Realized gains (losses) on available-for-sale fixed maturity debt securities | (201,411) | ||||
| Credit loss allowances on AFS securities | 25,316 | ||||
| Credit loss allowances on mortgage and other loan receivables | (252,979) | ||||
| Credit loss allowances on unfunded commitments | (21,675) | ||||
| Unrealized gains (losses) on fixed maturity securities classified as trading | (118,714) | ||||
| Unrealized gains (losses) on investments recognized under the fair-value option | 75,176 | ||||
| Net gains (losses) on derivative instruments | 222,745 | ||||
| Realized gains (losses) on funds withheld at interest, payable portfolio | (30,015) | ||||
| Realized gains (losses) on funds withheld at interest, receivable portfolio | 12,418 | ||||
| Other realized gains (losses) | (18,355) | ||||
| Net investment-related gains (losses) | $ | 203,753 | |||
267
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
Allowance for credit losses
Available-for-sale fixed maturity securities
The table below presents a roll-forward of the allowance for credit losses recognized for fixed maturity securities held by Global Atlantic:
| Year Ended December 31, 2021 | |||||||||||||||||
| Corporate | Structured | Total | |||||||||||||||
Balance, as of beginning of period(1) | $ | — | $ | 120,895 | $ | 120,895 | |||||||||||
| Initial impairments for credit losses recognized on securities not previously impaired | 3,238 | 55,271 | 58,509 | ||||||||||||||
| Initial credit loss allowance recognized on PCD securities | — | 8,072 | 8,072 | ||||||||||||||
| Accretion of initial credit loss allowance on PCD securities | — | 2,782 | 2,782 | ||||||||||||||
| Reductions due to sales (or maturities, pay downs or prepayments) during the period of securities previously identified as credit impaired | — | (18,300) | (18,300) | ||||||||||||||
| Net additions / reductions for securities previously impaired | — | (83,825) | (83,825) | ||||||||||||||
| Balance, as of end of period | $ | 3,238 | $ | 84,895 | $ | 88,133 | |||||||||||
(1)Includes securities designated as purchased credit impaired as of the time of the acquisition of Global Atlantic.
Mortgage and other loan receivables
Changes in the allowance for credit losses on mortgage and other loan receivables held by Global Atlantic are summarized below:
| Year Ended December 31, 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Commercial Mortgage Loans | Residential Mortgage Loans | Consumer and Other Loan Receivables | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||
Balance, as of beginning of period (1) | $ | 58,203 | $ | 62,056 | $ | — | $ | 120,259 | |||||||||||||||
| Net provision | 7,767 | 10,024 | 235,188 | 252,979 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Loans purchased with credit deterioration | — | 799 | 837 | 1,636 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Charge-offs | — | (797) | — | (797) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Balance, as of end of period | $ | 65,970 | $ | 72,082 | $ | 236,025 | $ | 374,077 | |||||||||||||||
(1) Includes loans designated as purchased credit deteriorated as of the time of the acquisition of Global Atlantic.
Proceeds and gross gains and losses from voluntary sales
The proceeds from voluntary sales and the gross gains and losses on those sales of AFS fixed maturity securities were as follows:
| Year Ended December 31, 2021 | |||||
| AFS fixed maturity securities: | |||||
| Proceeds from voluntary sales | $ | 17,946,293 | |||
| Gross gains | 45,532 | ||||
| Gross losses | (187,619) | ||||
268
7. INVESTMENTS
Investments consist of the following:
| December 31, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | ||||||||||
| Asset Management | |||||||||||
| Private Equity | $ | 25,685,750 | $ | 20,470,123 | |||||||
| Credit | 7,949,573 | 11,203,905 | |||||||||
| Investments of Consolidated CFEs | 22,076,809 | 17,706,976 | |||||||||
| Real Assets | 12,500,749 | 6,096,618 | |||||||||
| Equity Method - Other | 4,877,592 | 4,471,441 | |||||||||
| Equity Method - Capital Allocation-Based Income | 11,539,945 | 6,460,430 | |||||||||
| Other Investments | 4,145,096 | 2,865,222 | |||||||||
| Investments - Asset Management | $ | 88,775,514 | $ | 69,274,715 | |||||||
| Insurance | |||||||||||
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale, at fair value(1) | $ | 68,870,886 | $ | — | |||||||
| Mortgage and other loan receivables | 28,876,759 | — | |||||||||
Fixed maturity securities, trading, at fair value(2) | 13,753,573 | — | |||||||||
| Other investments | 8,208,566 | — | |||||||||
| Funds withheld receivable at interest | 2,999,448 | — | |||||||||
| Policy loans | 765,310 | — | |||||||||
| Equity securities at fair value | 289,133 | — | |||||||||
| Investments - Insurance | $ | 123,763,675 | $ | — | |||||||
| Total Investments | $ | 212,539,189 | $ | 69,274,715 | |||||||
(1) Amortized cost of $71.2 billion, net of credit loss allowances of $88.1 million.
(2) Amortized cost of $13.9 billion.
As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, there were no investments which represented greater than 5% of total investments.
For certain disclosures a comparison to prior period is not provided when the amounts relate to investments held by Global Atlantic, which was acquired by KKR on February 1, 2021.
Equity Method
KKR evaluates its equity method investments for which KKR has not elected the fair value option for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts of such investments may not be recoverable. During the year ended December 31, 2021, there was no impairment charge related to equity method investments. During the year ended December 31, 2020, KKR recognized an $88.3 million impairment charge in Net Gains (Losses) from Investment Activities to reduce the carrying value of one of its equity method investments that is accounted for under the equity method of accounting to its fair value. KKR determined that the growth expectations of the investment had declined significantly and the estimated fair value of the investment had declined meaningfully. Therefore, KKR performed a valuation to determine whether the fair value of the investment had declined below its carrying value using a discounted cash flow analysis, a Level III fair value methodology. Based on the discounted cash flow analysis, KKR concluded that the fair value of its investment had declined below is carrying value and that the decline was other than temporary.
Summarized Financial Information
KKR evaluates each of its equity method investments to determine if any are significant as defined in the regulations
promulgated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). As of and for the years ended December 31, 2021,
2020, and 2019, no individual equity method investment held by KKR met the significance criteria. As such, KKR is not
required to present separate financial statements for any of its equity method investments.
269
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
The following table shows summarized financial information relating to the statements of financial condition for all of
KKR's equity method investments assuming 100% ownership as of December 31, 2021 and 2020:
| December 31, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | ||||||||||
| Asset Management | |||||||||||
| Total Assets | $ | 154,165,237 | $ | 127,447,298 | |||||||
| Total Liabilities | $ | 20,176,773 | $ | 25,934,871 | |||||||
| Total Equity | $ | 133,988,464 | $ | 101,512,427 | |||||||
| Insurance | |||||||||||
| Total Assets | $ | 14,031,374 | $ | — | |||||||
| Total Liabilities | $ | 3,360,701 | $ | — | |||||||
| Total Equity | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||
The following table shows summarized financial information relating to the statements of operations for all of KKR's
equity method investments assuming 100% ownership for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019:
| For the Years Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |||||||||||||||
| Asset Management | |||||||||||||||||
| Investment Related Revenues | $ | 5,812,879 | $ | 3,957,091 | $ | 2,552,266 | |||||||||||
| Other Revenues | 3,919,200 | 3,526,681 | 5,132,796 | ||||||||||||||
| Investment Related Expenses | 2,504,491 | 2,347,521 | 1,385,870 | ||||||||||||||
| Other Expenses | 2,949,799 | 2,534,041 | 4,066,713 | ||||||||||||||
| Net Realized and Unrealized Gain/(Loss) from Investments | 31,380,451 | 8,007,682 | 10,532,988 | ||||||||||||||
| $ | 35,658,240 | $ | 10,609,892 | $ | 12,765,467 | ||||||||||||
| Insurance | |||||||||||||||||
| Revenues | $ | 1,225,099 | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||||
| Expenses | 588,724 | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| $ | 636,375 | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||||||||
| Net Income (Loss) | $ | 36,294,615 | $ | 10,609,892 | $ | 12,765,467 | |||||||||||
Fixed maturity securities
The cost or amortized cost and fair value for AFS fixed maturity securities were as follows:
| Cost or amortized cost | Allowance for Credit Losses (2)(3) | Gross unrealized | Fair value | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| As of December 31, 2021 | gains | losses | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| AFS fixed maturity securities portfolio by type: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| U.S. government and agencies | $ | 785,144 | $ | — | $ | 4,171 | $ | (4,768) | $ | 784,547 | |||||||||||||||||||
| U.S. state, municipal and political subdivisions | 5,122,651 | — | 42,286 | (55,240) | 5,109,697 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Corporate | 41,433,757 | (3,238) | 190,516 | (688,648) | 40,932,387 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| RMBS | 7,703,030 | (50,975) | 126,662 | (113,359) | 7,665,358 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| CMBS | 5,952,656 | (282) | 16,332 | (56,523) | 5,912,183 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| CBOs | 3,111,620 | (22,160) | 6,862 | (27,466) | 3,068,856 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| CLOs | 2,985,098 | (639) | 6,554 | (5,776) | 2,985,237 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
All other structured securities(1) | 2,425,540 | (10,839) | 19,990 | (22,070) | 2,412,621 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total AFS fixed maturity securities | $ | 69,519,496 | $ | (88,133) | $ | 413,373 | $ | (973,850) | $ | 68,870,886 | |||||||||||||||||||
(1) Includes primarily asset-backed securities ("ABS").
270
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
(2) Represents the cumulative amount of credit impairments that have been recognized in the consolidated statement of operations (as net investment (losses) gains) or that were recognized as a gross-up of the purchase price of PCD securities. Amount excludes unrealized losses related to non-credit impairment.
(3) Includes credit loss allowances on purchase-credit deteriorated fixed-maturity securities of $(46.4) million.
Actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties, or Global Atlantic may have the right to put or sell the obligations back to the issuers.
The maturity distribution for AFS fixed maturity securities is as follows:
| As of December 31, 2021 | Cost or amortized cost (net of allowance) | Fair value | |||||||||
| Due in one year or less | $ | 871,340 | $ | 869,287 | |||||||
| Due after one year through five years | 9,256,449 | 9,171,707 | |||||||||
| Due after five years through ten years | 11,460,032 | 11,350,091 | |||||||||
| Due after ten years | 25,750,493 | 25,435,546 | |||||||||
| Subtotal | 47,338,314 | 46,826,631 | |||||||||
| RMBS | 7,652,055 | 7,665,358 | |||||||||
| CMBS | 5,952,374 | 5,912,183 | |||||||||
| CBOs | 3,089,460 | 3,068,856 | |||||||||
| CLOs | 2,984,459 | 2,985,237 | |||||||||
| All other structured securities | 2,414,701 | 2,412,621 | |||||||||
| Total AFS fixed maturity securities | $ | 69,431,363 | $ | 68,870,886 | |||||||
Purchased credit deteriorated securities
Certain securities purchased by Global Atlantic were assessed at acquisition as having experienced a more-than-insignificant deterioration in credit quality since their origination. These securities are identified as PCD, and a reconciliation of the difference between the purchase price and the par value of these PCD securities is below:
| December 31, 2021 | |||||
| Purchase price of PCD securities acquired during the current period | $ | 1,734,352 | |||
| Allowance for credit losses at acquisition | 128,967 | ||||
| Discount (premium) attributable to other factors | 311,729 | ||||
| Par value | $ | 2,175,048 | |||
Securities in a continuous unrealized loss position
The following tables provide information about AFS fixed maturity securities that have been continuously in an unrealized loss position:
271
| Less than 12 months | 12 months or more | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| As of December 31, 2021 | Fair value | Unrealized losses | Fair value | Unrealized losses | Fair value | Unrealized losses | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| AFS fixed maturity securities portfolio by type: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| U.S. government and agencies | $ | 311,096 | $ | (4,768) | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 311,096 | $ | (4,768) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| U.S. state, municipal and political subdivisions | 2,802,309 | (55,240) | — | — | 2,802,309 | (55,240) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Corporate | 30,385,514 | (688,648) | — | — | 30,385,514 | (688,648) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| RMBS | 3,196,876 | (113,359) | — | — | 3,196,876 | (113,359) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| CBOs | 2,152,790 | (27,466) | — | — | 2,152,790 | (27,466) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| CMBS | 3,405,774 | (56,523) | — | — | 3,405,774 | (56,523) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| CLOs | 1,172,330 | (5,776) | — | — | 1,172,330 | (5,776) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| All other structured securities | 1,348,356 | (22,070) | — | — | 1,348,356 | (22,070) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total AFS fixed maturity securities in a continuous loss position | $ | 44,775,045 | $ | (973,850) | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 44,775,045 | $ | (973,850) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Unrealized gains and losses can be created by changing interest rates or several other factors, including changing credit spreads. Global Atlantic had gross unrealized losses on below investment grade AFS fixed maturity securities of $77.0 million as of December 31, 2021. The single largest unrealized loss on AFS fixed maturity securities was $7.3 million as of December 31, 2021. Global Atlantic had 4,370 securities in an unrealized loss position as of December 31, 2021.
Mortgage and other loan receivables
Mortgage and other loan receivables consist of the following:
| As of | |||||
| December 31, 2021 | |||||
Commercial mortgage loans(1) | $ | 13,824,772 | |||
Residential mortgage loans(1) | 8,724,904 | ||||
| Consumer loans | 5,617,925 | ||||
Other loan receivables(1)(2)(3) | 1,083,235 | ||||
| Total mortgage and other loan receivables | 29,250,836 | ||||
Allowance for credit losses(4) | (374,077) | ||||
| Total mortgage and other loan receivables, net of allowance for loan losses | $ | 28,876,759 | |||
(1) Includes $805.4 million of loans carried at fair value using the fair value option as of December 31, 2021. The fair value option was elected for these loans for asset-liability matching purposes. These loans had unpaid principal balances of $794.1 million as of December 31, 2021.
(2) As of December 31, 2021, other loan receivables consisted primarily of loans collateralized by aircraft of $850.1 million.
(3) Includes $27.3 million of related party loans carried at fair value using the fair value option as of December 31, 2021. These loans had unpaid principal balances of $27.3 million as of December 31, 2021.
(4) Includes credit loss allowances on purchase-credit deteriorated mortgage and other loan receivables of $(77.9) million.
The maturity distribution for residential and commercial mortgage loans was as follows as of December 31, 2021:
| Years | Residential | Commercial | Total mortgage loans | ||||||||||||||
| 2022 | $ | 502,584 | $ | 1,166,088 | $ | 1,668,672 | |||||||||||
| 2023 | 37,144 | 1,103,246 | 1,140,390 | ||||||||||||||
| 2024 | 603,698 | 1,811,096 | 2,414,794 | ||||||||||||||
| 2025 | 17,401 | 1,191,208 | 1,208,609 | ||||||||||||||
| 2026 | 703,484 | 2,933,629 | 3,637,113 | ||||||||||||||
| 2027 and thereafter | 6,860,593 | 5,619,505 | 12,480,098 | ||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 8,724,904 | $ | 13,824,772 | $ | 22,549,676 | |||||||||||
Actual maturities could differ from contractual maturities, because borrowers may have the right to prepay (with or without prepayment penalties) and loans may be refinanced.
272
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
Global Atlantic diversifies its mortgage loan portfolio by both geographic region and property type to reduce concentration risk. The following tables present the mortgage loans by geographic region and property type:
| Mortgage loans - carrying value by geographic region | December 31, 2021 | ||||
| Pacific | $ | 6,675,064 | |||
| West South Central | 2,675,890 | ||||
| South Atlantic | 4,996,043 | ||||
| Middle Atlantic | 3,142,973 | ||||
| East North Central | 590,911 | ||||
| Mountain | 1,957,099 | ||||
| New England | 1,099,157 | ||||
| East South Central | 1,035,764 | ||||
| West North Central | 350,546 | ||||
| Other regions | 26,229 | ||||
| Total by geographic region | $ | 22,549,676 | |||
| Mortgage loans - carrying value by property type | December 31, 2021 | ||||
| Residential | $ | 8,724,904 | |||
| Office building | 4,185,146 | ||||
| Apartment | 6,194,819 | ||||
| Industrial | 1,981,713 | ||||
| Retail | 780,071 | ||||
| Other property types | 483,560 | ||||
| Warehouse | 199,463 | ||||
| Total by property type | $ | 22,549,676 | |||
As of December 31, 2021, Global Atlantic had $202.7 million of mortgage loans that were 90 days or more past due or in the process of foreclosure. Global Atlantic ceases accrual of interest on loans that are more than 90 days past due and recognizes income as cash is received. As of December 31, 2021, there were $202.7 million of mortgage loans that were non-income producing.
As of December 31, 2021, 1% of residential mortgage loans have been granted forbearance due to COVID-19. This forbearance, which generally involves a 3-month period in which payments are not required (though must subsequently be made up), is not considered to result in troubled debt restructurings for the year ended December 31, 2021. Interest continues to accrue on loans in temporary forbearance.
As of December 31, 2021, Global Atlantic had $5.1 million of consumer loans that were delinquent by more than 120 days or in default.
Purchased credit deteriorated loans
Certain residential mortgage loans purchased by Global Atlantic were assessed at acquisition as having experienced a more-than-insignificant deterioration in credit quality since their origination. These loans are identified as PCD, and a reconciliation of the difference between the purchase price and the par value of these PCD loans is below:
| December 31, 2021 | |||||
| Purchase price of PCD loans acquired during the current period | $ | 4,231,426 | |||
| Allowance for credit losses at acquisition | 121,895 | ||||
| Discount (premium) attributable to other factors | (136,174) | ||||
| Par value | $ | 4,217,147 | |||
273
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
Credit quality indicators
Mortgage and loan receivable performance status
The following table represents the portfolio of mortgage and loan receivables by origination year and performance status:
| December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Performance status | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | Prior | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Commercial mortgage loans | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Current | $ | 6,831,655 | $ | 976,369 | $ | 1,883,908 | $ | 1,373,865 | $ | 817,954 | $ | 1,941,021 | $ | 13,824,772 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 30 to 59 days past due | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 60 to 89 days past due | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Over 90 days past due | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total commercial mortgage loans | $ | 6,831,655 | $ | 976,369 | $ | 1,883,908 | $ | 1,373,865 | $ | 817,954 | $ | 1,941,021 | $ | 13,824,772 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Residential mortgage loans | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Current | $ | 4,505,537 | $ | 1,576,342 | $ | 393,153 | $ | 123,995 | $ | 65,070 | $ | 1,711,156 | $ | 8,375,253 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 30 to 59 days past due | 24,955 | 6,028 | 5,818 | 1,155 | 739 | 75,104 | 113,799 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 60 to 89 days past due | 4,247 | 1,243 | 607 | — | — | 27,028 | 33,125 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Over 90 days past due | 5,305 | 14,272 | 21,985 | 2,686 | — | 158,479 | 202,727 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total residential mortgage loans | $ | 4,540,044 | $ | 1,597,885 | $ | 421,563 | $ | 127,836 | $ | 65,809 | $ | 1,971,767 | $ | 8,724,904 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total mortgage loans | $ | 11,371,699 | $ | 2,574,254 | $ | 2,305,471 | $ | 1,501,701 | $ | 883,763 | $ | 3,912,788 | $ | 22,549,676 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The following table represents the portfolio of consumer loan receivables by performance status:
| Performance status | December 31, 2021 | ||||
| Consumer loans | |||||
| Current | $ | 5,556,923 | |||
| 30 to 59 days past due | 34,048 | ||||
| 60 to 89 days past due | 16,817 | ||||
| Over 90 days past due | 10,137 | ||||
| Total consumer loans | $ | 5,617,925 | |||
Loan-to-value ratio on mortgage loans
The loan-to-value ratio is expressed as a percentage of the current amount of the loan relative to the value of the underlying collateral. The following table summarizes the loan-to-value ratios for commercial mortgage loans as of December 31, 2021:
| Loan-to-value as of December 31, 2021, by year of origination | Carrying value loan-to-value 70% and less | Carrying value loan-to-value 71% - 90% | Carrying value loan-to-value over 90% | Total carrying value | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | $ | 4,910,170 | $ | 1,921,485 | $ | — | $ | 6,831,655 | |||||||||||||||
| 2020 | 819,406 | 121,997 | 34,966 | 976,369 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2019 | 1,747,656 | 136,252 | — | 1,883,908 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2018 | 1,324,807 | 49,058 | — | 1,373,865 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2017 | 772,989 | 44,965 | — | 817,954 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2016 | 425,926 | 2,440 | — | 428,366 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Prior | 1,497,503 | 15,152 | — | 1,512,655 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total commercial mortgage loans | $ | 11,498,457 | $ | 2,291,349 | $ | 34,966 | $ | 13,824,772 | |||||||||||||||
Changing economic conditions affect the valuation of commercial mortgage loans. Changing vacancies and rents are incorporated into the discounted cash flow analysis that Global Atlantic performs for monitored loans and may contribute to the establishment of (or increase or decrease in) a commercial mortgage loan valuation allowance for credit losses. In addition, Global Atlantic continuously monitors its commercial mortgage loan portfolio to identify risk. Areas of emphasis are properties that have exposure to specific geographic events, or have deteriorating credit.
274
The weighted average loan-to-value ratio for the residential mortgage loans was 68% as of December 31, 2021.
Other investments
Other investments consist of the following:
| December 31, 2021 | |||||
Investments in renewable energy (1) | $ | 3,573,811 | |||
Investments in transportation and other leased assets (2) | 2,663,759 | ||||
| Other investment partnerships | 234,301 | ||||
| Investments in real estate | 1,564,853 | ||||
| FHLB common stock and other investments | 171,842 | ||||
| Total other investments | $ | 8,208,566 | |||
(1) Net of accumulated depreciation attributed to consolidated renewable energy assets of $156.8 million as of December 31, 2021.
(2) Net of accumulated depreciation of $105.1 million as of December 31, 2021.
The total amount of other investments accounted for using the equity method of accounting was $1.2 billion as of December 31, 2021. Global Atlantic's maximum exposure to loss related to these equity method investments is limited to the carrying value of these investments plus unfunded commitments of $22.4 million as of December 31, 2021.
In addition, Global Atlantic has investments that would otherwise require the equity method of accounting for which the fair value option has been elected. The carrying amount of these investments was $147.8 million as of December 31, 2021.
Funding agreements
Certain Global Atlantic subsidiaries are members of regional banks in the FHLB system. These subsidiaries have also entered into funding agreements with their respective FHLB. The funding agreements are issued in exchange for cash. The funding agreements require that Global Atlantic pledge eligible assets, such as commercial mortgage loans, as collateral. With respect to certain classes of eligible assets, the FHLB holds the pledged eligible assets in custody at the respective FHLB. The liabilities for the funding agreements are included in policy liabilities in the consolidated statements of financial condition. Information related to the FHLB investment and funding agreements as of December 31, 2021 is as follows:
| As of December 31, 2021 | Investment in common stock | Funding agreements issued to FHLB member banks | Collateral | ||||||||||||||
| FHLB Indianapolis | $ | 80,640 | $ | 1,619,765 | $ | 2,577,698 | |||||||||||
| FHLB Des Moines | 34,600 | 620,006 | 1,004,530 | ||||||||||||||
| FHLB Boston | 22,520 | 326,639 | 553,384 | ||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 137,760 | $ | 2,566,410 | $ | 4,135,612 | |||||||||||
In addition, in January 2021, Global Atlantic launched an inaugural funding agreement backed note ("FABN") program, through which GA Global Funding Trust, a special purpose statutory trust, was established to offer its senior secured medium-term notes. Net proceeds from each sale of the aforementioned notes are used to purchase one or more funding agreements from Forethought Life Insurance Company, an insurance subsidiary of Global Atlantic. As of December 31, 2021, Global Atlantic had $3.5 billion of such funding agreements outstanding, with $6.5 billion of remaining capacity under the program. Subsequent to year-end, in January 2022, Global Atlantic issued an additional $1.1 billion of funding agreements in connection with the program.
Repurchase agreement transactions
As of December 31, 2021, Global Atlantic participated in third-party repurchase agreements with a notional value of $300.4 million. As collateral for these transactions, as of December 31, 2021, Global Atlantic posted fixed maturity securities with a fair value and amortized cost of $313.0 million and $317.0 million, respectively, which are included in Insurance - Investments in the consolidated statements of financial condition.
275
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
The fair value of securities pledged for repurchase agreements by class of collateral and remaining contractual maturity as of December 31, 2021 is presented in the following table:
| As of December 31, 2021 | Overnight | <30 Days | 30 - 90 Days | > 90 Days | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Corporate Securities | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 312,965 | $ | 312,965 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total borrowing | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 312,965 | $ | 312,965 | |||||||||||||||||||
Other
As of December 31, 2021, the cost or amortized cost and fair value of the assets on deposit with various state and governmental authorities was $182.6 million and $180.8 million, respectively.
8. DERIVATIVES
Asset Management
As discussed in Note 2 "Summary of Significant Accounting Policies", KKR and certain of its consolidated funds have entered into derivative transactions as part of their overall risk management for the asset management business and investment strategies. These derivative contracts are not designated as hedging instruments for accounting purposes. Such contracts may include forward, swap and option contracts related to foreign currencies and interest rates to manage foreign exchange risk and interest rate risk arising from certain assets and liabilities. All derivatives are recognized in Other Assets or Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities and are presented on a gross basis in the consolidated statements of financial condition and measured at fair value with changes in fair value recorded in Net Gains (Losses) from Investment Activities in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. KKR's derivative financial instruments contain credit risk to the extent that its counterparties may be unable to meet the terms of the agreements. KKR attempts to reduce this risk by limiting its counterparties to major financial institutions with strong credit ratings.
Insurance
Global Atlantic holds derivative instruments that are primarily used in its hedge program. Global Atlantic has established a hedge program that seeks to mitigate economic impacts primarily from interest rate and equity price movements, while taking into consideration accounting and capital impacts.
Global Atlantic hedges interest rate and equity market risks associated with its insurance liabilities including fixed-indexed annuities, indexed universal life policies, variable annuity policies and variable universal life policies, among others. For fixed-indexed annuities and indexed universal life policies, Global Atlantic generally seeks to use static hedges to offset the exposure primarily created by changes in its embedded derivative balances. Global Atlantic generally purchases options which replicate the crediting rate strategies, often in the form of call spreads. Call spreads are the purchase of a call option matched by the sale of a different call option. For variable annuities and variable universal life policies, Global Atlantic generally seeks to dynamically hedge its exposure to changes in the value of the guarantee it provides to policyholders. Doing so requires the active trading of several financial instruments to respond to changes in market conditions. In addition, Global Atlantic enters into inflation swaps to manage inflation risk associated with inflation-indexed preneed policies.
In the context of specific reinsurance transactions in the institutional channel or acquisitions, Global Atlantic may also enter into hedges which are designed to limit short-term market risks to the economic value of the target assets. From time to time, Global Atlantic also enters into hedges designed to mitigate interest rate and credit risk in investment income, interest expense, and fair value of assets and liabilities. In addition, Global Atlantic enters into currency swaps and forwards to manage any foreign exchange rate risks that may arise from investments denominated in foreign currencies.
276
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
Global Atlantic attempts to mitigate the risk of loss due to ineffectiveness under these derivative investments through a regular monitoring process which evaluates the program’s effectiveness. Global Atlantic's exposed to risk of loss in the event of non-performance by the counterparties and, accordingly, all option contracts are purchased from counterparties that have been evaluated for creditworthiness. All of these counterparties are nationally recognized financial institutions with a Moody’s or S&P investment-grade credit rating. Global Atlantic monitors its derivative activities by reviewing portfolio activities and risk levels. Global Atlantic also oversees all derivative transactions to ensure that the types of transactions entered into and the results obtained from those transactions are consistent with both Global Atlantic's risk management strategy and its policies and procedures.
The restricted cash which was held in connection with open derivative transactions with exchange brokers was $151.1 million as of December 31, 2021.
Global Atlantic also has embedded derivatives related to reinsurance contracts that are accounted for on a modified coinsurance and funds withheld basis. An embedded derivative exists because the arrangement exposes the reinsurer to third-party credit risk. These embedded derivatives are included in funds withheld receivable at interest in the consolidated balance sheets.
Derivatives designated as accounting hedges
Where Global Atlantic has derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as accounting hedges, these derivative instruments receive hedge accounting.
Global Atlantic has designated interest rate swaps to hedge the interest rate risk associated with the $500 million senior unsecured notes due 2029, $650 million senior unsecured notes due 2031 and FHLB funding agreement liabilities in fair value hedges. The 2029 Senior Notes and 2031 Senior Notes are reported in debt and FHLB funding agreement liabilities are reported in policy liabilities in the consolidated statements of financial condition and are hedged through their respective maturities. These hedges qualify for the shortcut method of assessing hedge effectiveness.
The following table represents the gains (losses) recognized on derivative instruments and related hedged items in fair value hedging relationship:
| Year Ended December 31, 2021 | Derivatives | Hedged items | Net | ||||||||||||||
| 2029 Senior Notes | $ | (18,808) | $ | 18,808 | $ | — | |||||||||||
| 2031 Senior Notes | (5,561) | 5,561 | — | ||||||||||||||
| FHLB funding agreement liabilities | (16,092) | 16,092 | — | ||||||||||||||
The following table represents the carrying values and fair value adjustments for the hedged items:
| As of December 31, 2021 | Carrying value | Fair value of hedge adjustments | |||||||||
| 2029 Senior Notes | $ | 473,890 | $ | (18,808) | |||||||
| 2031 Senior Notes | 644,439 | (5,561) | |||||||||
| FHLB funding agreement liabilities | 1,070,770 | (16,092) | |||||||||
Global Atlantic has designated bond forwards to hedge the interest rate risk associated with the planned purchase of AFS debt securities in cash flow hedges. Regression analysis is used to assess the effectiveness of these hedges. As of December 31, 2021, there was a cumulative gain of $9.4 million on the bond forwards recorded in accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income. Amounts deferred in accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income are reclassified to net investment income following the qualifying purchases of AFS securities, as an adjustment to the yield earned over the life of the purchased securities, using the effective interest method. These arrangements are hedging purchases from July 2021 through January 2027 and are expected to affect earnings until 2051. There were $1.6 billion of securities purchased for the year ended December 31, 2021. Global Atlantic estimates that the amount of gains/losses in accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income to be reclassified into earnings in the next 12 months will not be material.
Global Atlantic has designated foreign exchange forward purchase contracts ("FX forwards") to hedge the foreign currency risk associated with foreign currency-denominated bonds in fair value hedges. These foreign currency-denominated bonds are accounted for as AFS fixed maturity securities. Changes in the fair value of the hedged AFS fixed maturity securities due to
277
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
changes in spot exchange rates are reclassified from AOCI to earnings, which offsets the earnings impact of the spot changes of the FX forwards. The effectiveness of these hedges is assessed using the spot method. Changes in the fair value of the FX forwards related to changes in the spot-forward difference are excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness and are deferred in AOCI and recognized in earnings using a systematic and rational method over the life of the FX forwards.
The following table represents the gains (losses) related to the FX forwards hedging instruments:
| Year Ended December 31, 2021 | |||||
| Net investment-related gains (losses) | $ | 21,490 | |||
| AOCI | 2,275 | ||||
| Amortization - excluded component | 2,971 | ||||
The fair value and notional value of the derivative assets and liabilities were as follows:
| As of December 31, 2021 | Notional Value | Derivative Assets | Derivative Liabilities | ||||||||||||||
| Asset Management | |||||||||||||||||
| Foreign Exchange Contracts and Options | $ | 12,822,521 | $ | 590,637 | $ | 319,511 | |||||||||||
| Other Derivatives | 505,725 | 491 | 45,003 | ||||||||||||||
| Total Asset Management | 591,128 | 364,514 | |||||||||||||||
| Insurance | |||||||||||||||||
| Equity market contracts | $ | 31,294,053 | $ | 1,216,843 | $ | 186,754 | |||||||||||
| Interest rate contracts | 16,692,035 | 198,658 | 101,245 | ||||||||||||||
| Foreign currency contracts | 1,517,434 | 32,464 | 7,639 | ||||||||||||||
| Credit risk contracts | 107,754 | — | 1,540 | ||||||||||||||
Impact of netting (1) | (152,015) | (152,015) | |||||||||||||||
| Fair value included within derivative assets and derivative liabilities | 1,295,950 | 145,163 | |||||||||||||||
| Embedded derivative – indexed universal life products | — | 557,276 | |||||||||||||||
| Embedded derivative – annuity products | — | 1,983,949 | |||||||||||||||
| Fair value included within policy liabilities | — | 2,541,225 | |||||||||||||||
| Embedded derivative – funds withheld at interest | 31,740 | (49,491) | |||||||||||||||
| Total Insurance | 1,327,690 | 2,636,897 | |||||||||||||||
| Fair value included within total assets and liabilities | $ | 1,918,818 | $ | 3,001,411 | |||||||||||||
(1) Represents netting of derivative exposures covered by qualifying master netting agreements.
| As of December 31, 2020 | Notional Value | Derivative Assets | Derivative Liabilities | ||||||||||||||
| Asset Management | |||||||||||||||||
| Foreign Exchange Contracts and Options | $ | 9,837,178 | $ | 250,398 | $ | 551,728 | |||||||||||
| Other Derivatives | 802,988 | 7,839 | 126,950 | ||||||||||||||
| Total Asset Management | 258,237 | 678,678 | |||||||||||||||
| Fair value included within total assets and liabilities | $ | 258,237 | $ | 678,678 | |||||||||||||
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Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
The amounts of derivative gains and losses recognized are reported in the consolidated statements of operations as follows:
| Derivative contracts not designated as hedges | Years Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Asset Management | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Net Gains (Losses) from Investment Activities: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Foreign Exchange Contracts and Options | $ | 545,238 | $ | (332,096) | $ | 181,484 | ||||||||||||||
| Other Derivatives | (77,034) | (202,744) | (56,502) | |||||||||||||||||
| Total included in Net Gains (Losses) from Investment Activities | $ | 468,204 | $ | (534,840) | $ | 124,982 | ||||||||||||||
| Insurance | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Net investment-related gains (losses): | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Funds withheld receivable embedded derivatives | $ | 31,740 | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||||||||||
| Funds withheld payable embedded derivatives | 49,491 | — | — | |||||||||||||||||
| Equity index options | 549,987 | — | — | |||||||||||||||||
| Equity future contracts | (263,637) | — | — | |||||||||||||||||
| Interest rate contracts | (146,920) | — | — | |||||||||||||||||
| Credit risk contracts | (400) | — | — | |||||||||||||||||
| Total included in net investment-related gains (losses) | $ | 220,261 | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||||||||||
| Derivative contracts designated as hedges | Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |||||||||||||||
| Insurance | |||||||||||||||||
| Revenues: | |||||||||||||||||
| Foreign currency forwards | $ | 2,484 | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||||
| Total included in net investment-related gains (losses) | $ | 2,484 | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||||
| Policy benefits and claims: | |||||||||||||||||
| Interest rate swap | $ | (16,177) | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||||
| Total included in policy benefits and claims | $ | (16,177) | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||||
| Interest expense: | |||||||||||||||||
| Interest rate swap | $ | (15,069) | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||||
| Total included in interest expense | $ | (15,069) | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||||
The amount of Global Atlantic's net derivative assets and liabilities after consideration of collateral received or pledged were as follows:
| As of December 31, 2021 | Gross amount recognized | Gross amounts offset in the statement of financial position(1) | Net amounts presented in the statement of financial condition | Collateral (received) / pledged | Net amount after collateral | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Derivative assets (excluding embedded derivatives) | $ | 1,447,965 | $ | (152,015) | $ | 1,295,950 | $ | (1,086,061) | $ | 209,889 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Derivative liabilities (excluding embedded derivatives) | $ | 297,178 | $ | (152,015) | $ | 145,163 | $ | 49,860 | $ | 95,303 | |||||||||||||||||||
(1) Represents netting of derivative exposures covered by qualifying master netting agreements.
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9. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
The following tables summarize the valuation of assets and liabilities measured and reported at fair value by the fair value hierarchy. Investments classified as Equity Method - Other, for which the fair value option has not been elected, and Equity Method - Capital Allocation-Based Income have been excluded from the tables below.
Assets, at fair value:
| December 31, 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Level I | Level II | Level III | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Asset Management | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Private Equity | $ | 2,044,380 | $ | 318,736 | $ | 23,322,634 | $ | 25,685,750 | |||||||||||||||
| Credit | — | 2,122,912 | 5,826,661 | 7,949,573 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Investments of Consolidated CFEs | — | 22,076,809 | — | 22,076,809 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Real Assets | — | 1,111,219 | 11,389,530 | 12,500,749 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Equity Method - Other | 482,061 | 105,647 | 1,013,807 | 1,601,515 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Other Investments | 759,002 | 146,081 | 3,240,013 | 4,145,096 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total Investments | 3,285,443 | 25,881,404 | 44,792,645 | 73,959,492 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Foreign Exchange Contracts and Options | — | 590,637 | — | 590,637 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Other Derivatives | — | 12 | 479 | (1) | 491 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Total Assets at Fair Value - Asset Management | $ | 3,285,443 | $ | 26,472,053 | $ | 44,793,124 | $ | 74,550,620 | |||||||||||||||
| Insurance | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| AFS fixed maturity securities: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| U.S. government and agencies | $ | 500,325 | $ | 284,222 | $ | — | $ | 784,547 | |||||||||||||||
| U.S. state, municipal and political subdivisions | — | 5,109,697 | — | 5,109,697 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Corporate | — | 33,281,727 | 7,650,660 | 40,932,387 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Structured securities | — | 21,215,854 | 828,401 | 22,044,255 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total AFS fixed maturity securities | 500,325 | 59,891,500 | 8,479,061 | 68,870,886 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Trading fixed maturity securities: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| U.S. government and agencies | 371,366 | 252,266 | — | 623,632 | |||||||||||||||||||
| U.S. state, municipal and political subdivisions | — | 879,463 | — | 879,463 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Corporate | — | 8,486,922 | 565,025 | 9,051,947 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Structured securities | — | 2,779,757 | 418,774 | 3,198,531 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total trading fixed maturity securities | 371,366 | 12,398,408 | 983,799 | 13,753,573 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Equity securities | 256,196 | — | 32,937 | 289,133 | |||||||||||||||||||
Mortgage and other loan receivables(2) | — | — | 832,674 | 832,674 | |||||||||||||||||||
Other investments(3) | — | — | 1,603,345 | 1,603,345 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Funds withheld receivable at interest | — | — | 31,740 | 31,740 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Reinsurance recoverable | — | — | 1,293,791 | 1,293,791 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Derivative assets: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Equity market contracts | 66,510 | 1,150,333 | — | 1,216,843 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Interest rate contracts | 44,472 | 154,186 | — | 198,658 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Foreign currency contracts | — | 32,464 | — | 32,464 | |||||||||||||||||||
Impact of netting(4) | (25,588) | (126,427) | — | (152,015) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total derivative assets | 85,394 | 1,210,556 | — | 1,295,950 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Separate account assets | 5,586,428 | — | — | 5,586,428 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total Assets at Fair Value - Insurance | $ | 6,799,709 | $ | 73,500,464 | $ | 13,257,347 | $ | 93,557,520 | |||||||||||||||
| Total Assets at Fair Value | $ | 10,085,152 | $ | 99,972,517 | $ | 58,050,471 | $ | 168,108,140 | |||||||||||||||
280
| December 31, 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Level I | Level II | Level III | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Asset Management | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Private Equity | $ | 2,758,396 | $ | 2,476,823 | $ | 15,234,904 | $ | 20,470,123 | |||||||||||||||
| Credit | — | 2,031,057 | 9,172,848 | 11,203,905 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Investments of Consolidated CFEs | — | 17,706,976 | — | 17,706,976 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Real Assets | — | 172,043 | 5,924,575 | 6,096,618 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Equity Method - Other | 485,988 | 7,254 | 1,014,378 | 1,507,620 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Other Investments | 434,481 | 88,760 | 2,341,981 | 2,865,222 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total Investments | 3,678,865 | 22,482,913 | 33,688,686 | 59,850,464 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Foreign Exchange Contracts and Options | — | 250,398 | — | 250,398 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Other Derivatives | 442 | 729 | 6,668 | (1) | 7,839 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Total Assets at Fair Value - Asset Management | $ | 3,679,307 | $ | 22,734,040 | $ | 33,695,354 | $ | 60,108,701 | |||||||||||||||
| Total Assets at Fair Value | $ | 3,679,307 | $ | 22,734,040 | $ | 33,695,354 | $ | 60,108,701 | |||||||||||||||
(1)Includes derivative assets that were valued using a third-party valuation firm. The approach used to estimate the fair value of these derivative assets was generally the discounted cash flow method, which includes consideration of the current portfolio, projected portfolio construction, projected portfolio realizations, portfolio volatility (based on the volatility, correlation, and size of each underlying asset class), and the discounting of future cash flows to the reporting date.
(2)Includes related party balance of $27.3 million in Level III for mortgage and other loan receivables.
(3)Other investments excluded from the fair value hierarchy include certain real estate and private equity funds for which fair value is measured at net asset value per share as a practical expedient. As of December 31, 2021, the fair value of these investments was $108.7 million.
(4)Represents netting of derivative exposures covered by qualifying master netting agreements.
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Liabilities, at fair value:
| December 31, 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Level I | Level II | Level III | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Asset Management | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Securities Sold Short | $ | 249,383 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 249,383 | |||||||||||||||
| Foreign Exchange Contracts and Options | — | 319,511 | — | 319,511 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Unfunded Revolver Commitments | — | — | 64,276 | (1) | 64,276 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Other Derivatives | — | 45,003 | — | 45,003 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Debt Obligations of Consolidated CFEs | — | 21,271,084 | — | 21,271,084 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total Liabilities at Fair Value - Asset Management | $ | 249,383 | $ | 21,635,598 | $ | 64,276 | $ | 21,949,257 | |||||||||||||||
| Insurance | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Policy liabilities | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 519,454 | $ | 519,454 | |||||||||||||||
| Closed block policy liabilities | — | — | 1,350,224 | 1,350,224 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Funds withheld payable at interest | — | — | (49,491) | (49,491) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Derivative instruments payable: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Equity market contracts | 33,933 | 152,821 | — | 186,754 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Interest rate contracts | 14,009 | 87,236 | — | 101,245 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Foreign currency contracts | — | 7,639 | — | 7,639 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Credit contracts | — | 1,540 | — | 1,540 | |||||||||||||||||||
Impact of netting(2) | (25,588) | (126,427) | — | (152,015) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total derivative instruments payable | 22,354 | 122,809 | — | 145,163 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Reinsurance liabilities | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
| Embedded derivative – indexed universal life products | — | — | 557,276 | 557,276 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Embedded derivative – annuity products | — | — | 1,983,949 | 1,983,949 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total Liabilities at Fair Value - Insurance | $ | 22,354 | $ | 122,809 | $ | 4,361,412 | $ | 4,506,575 | |||||||||||||||
| Total Liabilities at Fair Value | $ | 271,737 | $ | 21,758,407 | $ | 4,425,688 | $ | 26,455,832 | |||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Level I | Level II | Level III | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Asset Management | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Securities Sold Short | $ | 281,826 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 281,826 | |||||||||||||||
| Foreign Exchange Contracts and Options | — | 551,728 | — | 551,728 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Unfunded Revolver Commitments | — | — | 46,340 | (1) | 46,340 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Other Derivatives | 76,930 | 50,020 | — | 126,950 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Debt Obligations of Consolidated CFEs | — | 17,372,740 | — | 17,372,740 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total Liabilities at Fair Value - Asset Management | $ | 358,756 | $ | 17,974,488 | $ | 46,340 | $ | 18,379,584 | |||||||||||||||
| Total Liabilities at Fair Value | $ | 358,756 | $ | 17,974,488 | $ | 46,340 | $ | 18,379,584 | |||||||||||||||
(1)These unfunded revolver commitments are classified as Level III within the fair value hierarchy and valued using the same valuation methodologies as KKR's Level III credit investments.
(2)Represents netting of derivative exposures covered by qualifying master netting agreement.
282
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
The following tables summarize changes in assets and liabilities measured and reported at fair value for which Level III inputs have been used to determine fair value for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The format of the tables has been modified to include the insurance assets and liabilities and, as such, the prior period presentation has been modified accordingly. For certain insurance disclosures, the beginning of the period represents balances as of the GA Acquisition Date.
| For the Year Ended December 31, 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance, Beg. of Period | Transfers In / (Out) - Changes in Consolidation (1) | Transfers In | Transfers Out | Net Purchases/Issuances/Sales/Settlements | Net Unrealized and Realized Gains (Losses) | Change in OCI | Balance, End of Period | Changes in Net Unrealized Gains (Losses) Included in Earnings related to Level III Assets and Liabilities still held as of the Reporting Date | Changes in Net Unrealized Gains (Losses) Included in OCI related to Level III Assets and Liabilities still held as of the Reporting Date | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assets | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Asset Management | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Private Equity | $ | 15,234,904 | $ | — | $ | 5,034 | $ | (504,112) | $ | 2,672,278 | $ | 5,914,530 | $ | — | $ | 23,322,634 | $ | 5,610,159 | $ | — | ||||||||||||
| Credit | 9,172,848 | (5,461,589) | 86,135 | — | 1,898,617 | 120,236 | 10,414 | 5,826,661 | 143,647 | 10,414 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Real Assets | 5,924,575 | (208,518) | 17,567 | (1,914,962) | 5,996,313 | 1,574,555 | — | 11,389,530 | 1,443,458 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Equity Method - Other | 1,014,378 | — | — | (22,601) | (250,391) | 272,421 | — | 1,013,807 | 222,087 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other Investments | 2,341,981 | (2,879) | 18,780 | (115,274) | 518,817 | 478,588 | — | 3,240,013 | 520,477 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other Derivatives | 6,668 | — | — | — | 49,978 | (56,167) | — | 479 | (56,167) | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Assets - Asset Management | 33,695,354 | (5,672,986) | 127,516 | (2,556,949) | 10,885,612 | 8,304,163 | 10,414 | 44,793,124 | 7,883,661 | 10,414 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Insurance | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| AFS fixed maturity securities: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Corporate fixed maturity securities | 3,504,578 | — | 111,805 | (65,664) | 4,112,225 | — | (12,284) | 7,650,660 | — | 5,973 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Structured securities | 197,970 | — | 398,477 | (4,150) | 240,561 | — | (4,457) | 828,401 | — | (808) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total AFS fixed maturity securities | 3,702,548 | — | 510,282 | (69,814) | 4,352,786 | — | (16,741) | 8,479,061 | — | 5,165 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Trading fixed maturity securities: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Corporate fixed maturity securities | 676,650 | — | — | — | (111,516) | (109) | — | 565,025 | (1,332) | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Structured securities | 14,661 | — | 172,721 | (4,150) | 235,581 | (39) | — | 418,774 | 940 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total trading fixed maturity securities | 691,311 | — | 172,721 | (4,150) | 124,065 | (148) | — | 983,799 | (392) | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Equity securities | 66,660 | — | — | — | (86,778) | 53,055 | — | 32,937 | 20,292 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mortgage and other loan receivables | 928,673 | — | — | — | (98,120) | 2,121 | — | 832,674 | (1,515) | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other investments | 437,275 | — | 5,003 | — | 630,457 | 530,610 | — | 1,603,345 | 3,666 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Funds withheld receivable at interest | — | — | — | — | — | 31,740 | — | 31,740 | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Reinsurance recoverable | 1,339,702 | — | — | — | (9,864) | (36,047) | — | 1,293,791 | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Assets - Insurance | 7,166,169 | — | 688,006 | (73,964) | 4,912,546 | 581,331 | (16,741) | 13,257,347 | 22,051 | 5,165 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 40,861,523 | $ | (5,672,986) | $ | 815,522 | $ | (2,630,913) | $ | 15,798,158 | $ | 8,885,494 | $ | (6,327) | $ | 58,050,471 | $ | 7,905,712 | $ | 15,579 | ||||||||||||
(1) Primarily includes investments held by KREF that were deconsolidated as of December 31, 2021. See Note 2 "Summary of Significant Accounting Policies."
283
| For the Year Ended December 31, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance, Beg. of Period | Transfers In / (Out) - Changes in Consolidation | Transfers In | Transfers Out | Net Purchases/Issuances/Sales/Settlements | Net Unrealized and Realized Gains (Losses) | Change in OCI | Balance, End of Period | Changes in Net Unrealized Gains (Losses) Included in Net Gains (Losses) from Investment Activities related to Level III Assets and Liabilities still held as of the Reporting Date | Changes in Net Unrealized Gains (Losses) Included in OCI related to Level III Assets and Liabilities still held as of the Reporting Date | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assets | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Asset Management | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Private Equity | $ | 9,871,682 | $ | — | $ | 780,833 | $ | (413,330) | $ | 2,159,106 | $ | 2,836,613 | $ | — | $ | 15,234,904 | $ | 2,537,525 | $ | — | ||||||||||||
| Credit | 9,217,759 | 231,872 | — | (3,287) | 370,845 | (654,724) | 10,383 | 9,172,848 | (555,211) | 10,383 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Real Assets | 3,567,944 | (230,163) | 197,972 | (113,770) | 2,612,071 | (109,479) | — | 5,924,575 | (157,245) | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Equity Method - Other | 1,656,045 | (20,523) | 136,374 | (836,021) | 92,841 | (14,338) | — | 1,014,378 | 10,958 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other Investments | 2,154,755 | — | — | (2,473) | 435,456 | (245,757) | — | 2,341,981 | (158,516) | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other Derivatives | 21,806 | — | — | — | 15,740 | (30,878) | — | 6,668 | (17,527) | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Assets - Asset Management | $ | 26,489,991 | $ | (18,814) | $ | 1,115,179 | $ | (1,368,881) | $ | 5,686,059 | $ | 1,781,437 | $ | 10,383 | $ | 33,695,354 | $ | 1,659,984 | $ | 10,383 | ||||||||||||
284
| For the Year Ended December 31, 2021 | ||||||||||||||
| Purchases | Sales | Settlements | Net Purchases/ Issuances/ Sales/ Settlements | |||||||||||
| Assets | ||||||||||||||
| Asset Management | ||||||||||||||
| Private Equity | $ | 3,400,895 | $ | (728,617) | $ | — | $ | 2,672,278 | ||||||
| Credit | 5,840,132 | (3,612,448) | (329,067) | 1,898,617 | ||||||||||
| Real Assets | 8,124,055 | (2,127,742) | — | 5,996,313 | ||||||||||
| Equity Method - Other | 23,110 | (273,501) | — | (250,391) | ||||||||||
| Other Investments | 921,181 | (402,364) | — | 518,817 | ||||||||||
| Other Derivatives | 49,978 | — | — | 49,978 | ||||||||||
| Total Assets - Asset Management | 18,359,351 | (7,144,672) | (329,067) | 10,885,612 | ||||||||||
| Insurance | ||||||||||||||
| AFS fixed maturity securities: | ||||||||||||||
| Corporate fixed maturity securities | 7,165,017 | (71,254) | (2,981,538) | 4,112,225 | ||||||||||
| Structured securities | 268,050 | — | (27,489) | 240,561 | ||||||||||
| Total AFS fixed maturity securities | 7,433,067 | (71,254) | (3,009,027) | 4,352,786 | ||||||||||
| Trading fixed maturity securities: | ||||||||||||||
| Corporate fixed maturity securities | 893,521 | (2,114) | (1,002,923) | (111,516) | ||||||||||
| Structured securities | 240,119 | — | (4,538) | 235,581 | ||||||||||
| Total trading fixed maturity securities | 1,133,640 | (2,114) | (1,007,461) | 124,065 | ||||||||||
| Equity securities | 4,077 | (83,864) | (6,991) | (86,778) | ||||||||||
| Mortgage and other loan receivables | 413,335 | (26,676) | (484,779) | (98,120) | ||||||||||
| Other investments | 1,164,713 | (534,256) | — | 630,457 | ||||||||||
| Reinsurance recoverable | — | — | (9,864) | (9,864) | ||||||||||
| Total Assets - Insurance | 10,148,832 | (718,164) | (4,518,122) | 4,912,546 | ||||||||||
| Total | $ | 28,508,183 | $ | (7,862,836) | $ | (4,847,189) | $ | 15,798,158 | ||||||
| For the Year Ended December 31, 2020 | ||||||||||||||
| Purchases | Sales | Settlements | Net Purchases/Issuances/Sales/Settlements | |||||||||||
| Assets | ||||||||||||||
| Asset Management | ||||||||||||||
| Private Equity | $ | 3,610,965 | $ | (1,451,859) | $ | — | $ | 2,159,106 | ||||||
| Credit | 3,097,652 | (2,652,896) | (73,911) | 370,845 | ||||||||||
| Real Assets | 3,089,791 | (477,720) | — | 2,612,071 | ||||||||||
| Equity Method - Other | 183,893 | (91,052) | — | 92,841 | ||||||||||
| Other Investments | 515,964 | (80,508) | — | 435,456 | ||||||||||
| Other Derivatives | 17,100 | (1,360) | — | 15,740 | ||||||||||
| Total Assets - Asset Management | $ | 10,515,365 | $ | (4,755,395) | $ | (73,911) | $ | 5,686,059 | ||||||
285
| For the Year Ended December 31, 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance, Beg. of Period | Transfers In / (Out) - Changes in Consolidation | Transfers In | Transfers Out | Net Purchases/Sales/Settlements/Issuances | Net Unrealized and Realized Gains (Losses) | Change in OCI | Balance, End of Period | Changes in Net Unrealized Gains (Losses) Included in Earnings related to Level III Assets and Liabilities still held as of the Reporting Date | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Liabilities | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Asset Management | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unfunded Revolver Commitments | $ | 46,340 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 311 | $ | 17,625 | $ | — | $ | 64,276 | $ | 17,625 | |||||||||||
| Total Liabilities - Asset Management | 46,340 | — | — | — | 311 | 17,625 | — | 64,276 | 17,625 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Insurance | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Policy liabilities | 637,729 | — | — | — | — | (118,275) | — | 519,454 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Closed block policy liabilities | 1,395,746 | — | — | — | (41,829) | (4,463) | 770 | 1,350,224 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Funds withheld payable at interest | — | — | — | — | — | (49,491) | — | (49,491) | — | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Embedded derivative – indexed universal life products | 386,746 | — | — | — | (2,702) | 173,232 | — | 557,276 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Embedded derivative – annuity products | 1,024,601 | — | — | — | 311,778 | 647,570 | — | 1,983,949 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Liabilities - Insurance | 3,444,822 | — | — | — | 267,247 | 648,573 | 770 | 4,361,412 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 3,491,162 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 267,558 | $ | 666,198 | $ | 770 | $ | 4,425,688 | $ | 17,625 | |||||||||||
| For the Year Ended December 31, 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance, Beg. of Period | Transfers In / (Out) - Changes in Consolidation | Transfers In | Transfers Out | Net Purchases/Sales/Settlements/Issuances | Net Unrealized and Realized Gains (Losses) | Change in OCI | Balance, End of Period | Changes in Net Unrealized Gains (Losses) Included in Earnings related to Level III Assets and Liabilities still held as of the Reporting Date | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Liabilities | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Asset Management | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unfunded Revolver Commitments | $ | 75,842 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | (2,464) | $ | (27,038) | $ | — | $ | 46,340 | $ | (27,038) | |||||||||||
| Total Liabilities - Asset Management | $ | 75,842 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | (2,464) | $ | (27,038) | $ | — | $ | 46,340 | $ | (27,038) | |||||||||||
286
| For the Year Ended December 31, 2021 | |||||||||||
| Issuances | Settlements | Net settlements/Issuances | |||||||||
| Liabilities | |||||||||||
| Asset Management | |||||||||||
| Unfunded Revolver Commitments | $ | 12,169 | $ | (11,858) | $ | 311 | |||||
| Total Liabilities - Asset Management | 12,169 | (11,858) | 311 | ||||||||
| Insurance | |||||||||||
| Closed block policy liabilities | — | (41,829) | (41,829) | ||||||||
| Embedded derivative – indexed universal life products | 15,549 | (18,251) | (2,702) | ||||||||
| Embedded derivative – annuity products | 311,778 | — | 311,778 | ||||||||
| Total Liabilities - Insurance | 327,327 | (60,080) | 267,247 | ||||||||
| Total | $ | 339,496 | $ | (71,938) | $ | 267,558 | |||||
| For the Year Ended December 31, 2020 | |||||||||||
| Issuances | Settlements | Net settlements/Issuances | |||||||||
| Liabilities | |||||||||||
| Asset Management | |||||||||||
| Unfunded Revolver Commitments | $ | — | $ | (2,464) | $ | (2,464) | |||||
| Total Liabilities - Asset Management | $ | — | $ | (2,464) | $ | (2,464) | |||||
Total realized and unrealized gains and losses recorded for Asset Management - Level III assets and liabilities are reported in Net Gains (Losses) from Investment Activities in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations while Insurance - Level III assets and liabilities are reported in Net Investment Gains and Policy Benefits and Claims in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.
The following table presents additional information about valuation methodologies and significant unobservable inputs used for financial assets and liabilities that are measured and reported at fair value and categorized within Level III as of December 31, 2021. Because input information includes only those items for which information is reasonably available, balances shown below may not equal total amounts reported for such Level III assets and liabilities:
| Level III Assets | Fair Value December 31, 2021 | Valuation Methodologies | Unobservable Input(s) (1) | Weighted Average (2) | Range | Impact to Valuation from an Increase in Input (3) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ASSET MANAGEMENT | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Private Equity | $ | 23,322,634 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Private Equity | $ | 20,378,885 | Inputs to market comparables, discounted cash flow and transaction price | Illiquidity Discount | 6.6% | 5.0% - 15.0% | Decrease | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight Ascribed to Market Comparables | 26.9% | 0.0% - 100.0% | (4) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight Ascribed to Discounted Cash Flow | 62.7% | 0.0% - 100.0% | (5) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight Ascribed to Transaction Price | 10.4% | 0.0% - 100.0% | (6) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Market comparables | Enterprise Value/LTM EBITDA Multiple | 18.5x | 9.9x - 35.6x | Increase | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Enterprise Value/Forward EBITDA Multiple | 16.5x | 7.4x - 28.2x | Increase | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Discounted cash flow | Weighted Average Cost of Capital | 9.3% | 3.7% - 15.2% | Decrease | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Enterprise Value/LTM EBITDA Exit Multiple | 13.8x | 6.0x - 18.0x | Increase | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Growth Equity | $ | 2,943,749 | Inputs to market comparables, discounted cash flow and milestones | Illiquidity Discount | 9.1% | 5.0% - 20.0% | Decrease | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight Ascribed to Market Comparables | 41.1% | 0.0% - 100.0% | (4) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight Ascribed to Discounted Cash Flow | 1.9% | 0.0% - 50.0% | (5) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight Ascribed to Milestones | 57.0% | 0.0% - 100.0% | (6) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Scenario Weighting | Base | 77.2% | 70.0% - 80.0% | Increase | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Downside | 5.9% | 0.0% - 10.0% | Decrease | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Upside | 16.9% | 10.0% - 25.0% | Increase | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Credit | $ | 5,826,661 | Yield Analysis | Yield | 8.2% | 4.5% - 30.3% | Decrease | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net Leverage | 6.1x | 0.3x - 33.6x | Decrease | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| EBITDA Multiple | 13.0x | 1.0x - 34.0x | Increase | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
287
| Level III Assets | Fair Value December 31, 2021 | Valuation Methodologies | Unobservable Input(s) (1) | Weighted Average (2) | Range | Impact to Valuation from an Increase in Input (3) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Real Assets | $ | 11,389,530 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Energy | $ | 865,717 | Inputs to market comparables and discounted cash flow | Weight Ascribed to Market Comparables | 38.2% | 0.0% - 50.0% | (4) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight Ascribed to Discounted Cash Flow | 61.8% | 50.0% - 100.0% | (5) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Market comparables | Enterprise Value/LTM EBITDA Multiple | 4.6x | 4.6x - 4.6x | Increase | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Enterprise Value/Forward EBITDA Multiple | 4.8x | 4.0x - 7.6x | Increase | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Discounted cash flow | Weighted Average Cost of Capital | 12.6% | 10.0% - 15.9% | Decrease | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Average Price Per BOE (8) | $48.70 | $46.58 - $52.82 | Increase | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Infrastructure | $ | 3,782,604 | Inputs to market comparables, discounted cash flow and transaction price | Illiquidity Discount | 5.0% | 5.0% - 5.0% | Decrease | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight Ascribed to Market Comparables | 1.5% | 0.0% - 25.0% | (4) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight Ascribed to Discounted Cash Flow | 38.3% | 0.0% - 100.0% | (5) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight Ascribed to Transaction Price | 60.2% | 0.0% - 100.0% | (6) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Market comparables | Enterprise Value/Forward EBITDA Multiple | 10.7x | 10.7x - 10.7x | Increase | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Discounted cash flow | Weighted Average Cost of Capital | 6.4% | 4.7% - 8.4% | Decrease | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Enterprise Value/LTM EBITDA Exit Multiple | 12.1x | 10.0x - 12.9x | Increase | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Real Estate | $ | 6,741,209 | Inputs to direct income capitalization, discounted cash flow and transaction price | Weight Ascribed to Direct Income Capitalization | 15.4% | 0.0% - 100.0% | (7) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight Ascribed to Discounted Cash Flow | 69.3% | 0.0% - 100.0% | (5) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight Ascribed to Transaction Price | 15.3% | 0.0% - 100.0% | (6) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Direct income capitalization | Current Capitalization Rate | 5.1% | 3.8% - 7.4% | Decrease | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Discounted cash flow | Unlevered Discount Rate | 6.3% | 4.0% - 18.0% | Decrease | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Equity Method - Other | $ | 1,013,807 | Inputs to market comparables, discounted cash flow and transaction price | Illiquidity Discount | 6.5% | 5.0% - 10.0% | Decrease | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight Ascribed to Market Comparables | 33.8% | 0.0% - 100.0% | (4) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight Ascribed to Discounted Cash Flow | 26.3% | 0.0% - 100.0% | (5) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight Ascribed to Transaction Price | 39.9% | 0.0% - 100.0% | (6) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Market comparables | Enterprise Value/LTM EBITDA Multiple | 14.1x | 10.4x - 19.4x | Increase | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Enterprise Value/Forward EBITDA Multiple | 13.2x | 9.0x - 19.2x | Increase | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Discounted cash flow | Weighted Average Cost of Capital | 8.5% | 5.8% - 15.0% | Decrease | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Enterprise Value/LTM EBITDA Exit Multiple | 10.3x | 6.0x - 15.0x | Increase | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other Investments | $ | 3,240,013 | (9) | Inputs to market comparables, discounted cash flow and transaction price | Illiquidity Discount | 10.3% | 10.0% - 20.0% | Decrease | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight Ascribed to Market Comparables | 16.3% | 0.0% - 100.0% | (4) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight Ascribed to Discounted Cash Flow | 54.7% | 0.0% - 100.0% | (5) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight Ascribed to Transaction Price | 29.0% | 0.0% - 100.0% | (6) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Market comparables | Enterprise Value/LTM EBITDA Multiple | 12.0x | 0.8x - 29.5x | Increase | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Enterprise Value/Forward EBITDA Multiple | 9.5x | 0.8x - 15.8x | Increase | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Discounted cash flow | Weighted Average Cost of Capital | 13.8% | 7.6% - 25.0% | Decrease | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Enterprise Value/LTM EBITDA Exit Multiple | 8.1x | 5.1x - 11.0x | Increase | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| INSURANCE | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Corporate fixed maturity securities | $ | 1,751,150 | Discounted cash flow | Discount Spread | 2.01% | —% - 4.73% | Decrease | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Structured securities | $ | 138,712 | Discounted cash flow | Discount Spread | 3.01% | 2.15% - 5.80% | Decrease | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Constant Prepayment Rate | 7.30% | 5.00% - 15.00% | Increase/Decrease | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Constant Default Rate | 1.17% | 1.00% - 2.50% | Decrease | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Loss Severity | 100% | Decrease | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other investments | $ | 1,447,957 | Direct capitalization | Current Capitalization Rate | 5.54% | 4.95% - 6.05% | Decrease | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vacancy rate | 5.00% | Decrease | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Discounted cash flow | Yield | 8.00% | Decrease | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
288
| Level III Assets | Fair Value December 31, 2021 | Valuation Methodologies | Unobservable Input(s) (1) | Weighted Average (2) | Range | Impact to Valuation from an Increase in Input (3) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Funds withheld receivable at interest | $ | 31,740 | Discounted cash flow | Duration/Weighted Average Life | 9.88 years | 0.0 years - 23.2 years | Increase | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Contractholder Persistency | 6.03% | 3.30% - 17.10% | Increase | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nonperformance Risk | 0.37% - 1.10% | Decrease | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Reinsurance recoverable | $ | 1,293,791 | Present value of expenses paid from the open block plus the cost of capital held in support of the liabilities. | Expense assumption | The average expense assumption is between $5.26 and $78.00 per policy, increased by inflation. | Increase | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unobservable inputs are a market participant’s view of the expenses, a risk margin on the uncertainty of the level of expenses and a cost of capital on the capital held in support of the liabilities. | Expense risk margin | 9.42% | Decrease | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cost of capital | 3.69% - 13.85% | Increase | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Discounted cash flow | Mortality Rate | 2.55% | Increase | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Surrender Rate | 5.33% | Increase | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1)In determining certain of these inputs, management evaluates a variety of factors including economic conditions, industry and market developments, market valuations of comparable companies and company specific developments including exit strategies and realization opportunities. KKR has determined that market participants would take these inputs into account when valuing the investments and debt obligations. LTM means last twelve months and EBITDA means earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization.
(2)Inputs were weighted based on the fair value of the investments included in the range.
(3)Unless otherwise noted, this column represents the directional change in the fair value of the Level III investments that would result from an increase to the corresponding unobservable input. A decrease to the unobservable input would have the opposite effect. Significant increases and decreases in these inputs in isolation could result in significantly higher or lower fair value measurements.
(4)The directional change from an increase in the weight ascribed to the market comparables approach would increase the fair value of the Level III investments if the market comparables approach results in a higher valuation than the discounted cash flow approach and transaction price. The opposite would be true if the market comparables approach results in a lower valuation than the discounted cash flow approach and transaction price.
(5)The directional change from an increase in the weight ascribed to the discounted cash flow approach would increase the fair value of the Level III investments if the discounted cash flow approach results in a higher valuation than the market comparables approach, transaction price and direct income capitalization approach. The opposite would be true if the discounted cash flow approach results in a lower valuation than the market comparables approach, transaction price and direct income capitalization approach.
(6)The directional change from an increase in the weight ascribed to the transaction price or milestones would increase the fair value of the Level III investments if the transaction price or milestones results in a higher valuation than the market comparables and discounted cash flow approach. The opposite would be true if the transaction price or milestones results in a lower valuation than the market comparables approach and discounted cash flow approach.
(7)The directional change from an increase in the weight ascribed to the direct income capitalization approach would increase the fair value of the Level III investments if the direct income capitalization approach results in a higher valuation than the discounted cash flow approach. The opposite would be true if the direct income capitalization approach results in a lower valuation than the discounted cash flow approach.
(8)The total energy fair value amount includes multiple investments (in multiple locations throughout North America) that are held in multiple investment funds and produce varying quantities of oil, condensate, natural gas liquids, and natural gas. Commodity price may be measured using a common volumetric equivalent where one barrel of oil equivalent ("BOE"), is determined using the ratio of six thousand cubic feet of natural gas to one barrel of oil, condensate or natural gas liquids. The price per BOE is provided to show the aggregate of all price inputs for the various investments over a common volumetric equivalent although the valuations for specific investments may use price inputs specific to the asset for purposes of our valuations. The discounted cash flows include forecasted production of liquids (oil, condensate, and natural gas liquids) and natural gas with a forecasted revenue ratio of approximately 91% liquids and 9% natural gas.
(9)Consists primarily of investments in common stock, preferred stock, warrants and options of companies that are not private equity, real assets, credit, equity method - other or investments of consolidated CFEs.
289
290
| Level III Liabilities | Fair Value December 31, 2021 | Valuation Methodologies | Unobservable Input(s) (1) | Weighted Average (2) | Range | Impact to Valuation from an Increase in Input (3) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Embedded derivative – annuity products | $ | 1,983,949 | Policyholder behavior is a significant unobservable input, including utilization and lapse. | Utilization: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fixed-indexed annuity | 3.69% | Decrease | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Variable annuity | 4.23% | 2.30% - 33.23% | Decrease | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Surrender Rate: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fixed-indexed annuity | 10.13% | Decrease | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Variable annuity | 3.86% - 41.56% | Decrease | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mortality Rate: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fixed-indexed annuity | 1.97% | Decrease | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Variable annuity | 1.36% - 7.44% | Decrease | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Future costs for options used to hedge the contract obligations | Option Budge Assumption: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Retail RIA | 1.61% | Increase | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fixed-indexed annuity | 2.03% | Increase | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Variable annuity | n/a | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nonperformance Risk | 0.37% - 1.10% | Decrease | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1)In determining certain of these inputs, management evaluates a variety of factors including economic conditions, industry and market developments, market valuations of comparable companies and company specific developments including exit strategies and realization opportunities. KKR has determined that market participants would take these inputs into account when valuing the investments and debt obligations. LTM means last twelve months, and EBITDA means earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization.
(2)Inputs were weighted based on the fair value of the investments included in the range.
(3)Unless otherwise noted, this column represents the directional change in the fair value of the Level III investments that would result from an increase to the corresponding unobservable input. A decrease to the unobservable input would have the opposite effect. Significant increases and decreases in these inputs in isolation could result in significantly higher or lower fair value measurements.
In the table above, certain private equity investments may be valued at cost for a period of time after an acquisition as the best indicator of fair value. In addition, certain valuations of private equity investments may be entirely or partially derived by reference to observable valuation measures for a pending or consummated transaction.
The various unobservable inputs used to determine the Level III valuations may have similar or diverging impacts on valuation. Significant increases and decreases in these inputs in isolation and interrelationships between those inputs could result in significantly higher or lower fair value measurements as noted in the table above.
291
Financial Instruments Not Carried At Fair Value
Asset management financial instruments are primarily measured at fair value on a recurring basis, except as disclosed in Note 16 "Debt Obligations."
The following tables present carrying amounts and fair values of Global Atlantic’s financial instruments which are not carried at fair value as of December 31, 2021:
| Fair Value Hierarchy | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| As of December 31, 2021 | Carrying Value | Level I | Level II | Level III | Fair Value | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Financial assets: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Insurance | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mortgage and other loan receivables | $ | 28,044,085 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 28,645,675 | $ | 28,645,675 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Policy loans | 765,310 | — | — | 754,530 | 754,530 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FHLB common stock and other investments | 171,842 | — | — | 171,842 | 171,842 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Funds withheld receivables at interest | 2,967,708 | — | 2,967,708 | — | 2,967,708 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | 3,391,934 | 3,391,934 | — | — | 3,391,934 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Restricted cash and cash equivalents | 300,404 | 300,404 | — | — | 300,404 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total financial assets | $ | 35,641,283 | $ | 3,692,338 | $ | 2,967,708 | $ | 29,572,047 | $ | 36,232,093 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Financial liabilities: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Insurance | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other contractholder deposit funds | $ | 30,295,965 | $ | — | $ | 28,419,520 | $ | — | $ | 28,419,520 | |||||||||||||||||||
Supplementary contracts without life contingencies | 31,118 | — | — | 31,311 | 31,311 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Funding agreements | 2,566,410 | — | — | 2,549,494 | 2,549,494 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Funds withheld payables at interest | 23,509,744 | — | 23,509,744 | — | 23,509,744 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Debt obligations | 1,908,006 | — | — | 1,953,631 | 1,953,631 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Securities sold under agreements to repurchase | 300,446 | — | 300,446 | — | 300,446 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total financial liabilities | $ | 58,611,689 | $ | — | $ | 52,229,710 | $ | 4,534,436 | $ | 56,764,146 | |||||||||||||||||||
292
10. FAIR VALUE OPTION
The following table summarizes the financial instruments for which the fair value option has been elected:
| December 31, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | ||||||||||
| Assets | |||||||||||
| Asset Management | |||||||||||
| Credit | $ | 2,019,229 | $ | 5,958,958 | |||||||
| Investments of Consolidated CFEs | 22,076,809 | 17,706,976 | |||||||||
| Real Assets | 182,858 | 177,240 | |||||||||
| Equity Method - Other | 1,601,515 | 1,507,620 | |||||||||
| Other Investments | 197,675 | 201,563 | |||||||||
| Total Asset Management | $ | 26,078,086 | $ | 25,552,357 | |||||||
| Insurance | |||||||||||
| Mortgage and other loan receivables | $ | 832,674 | $ | — | |||||||
| Other investments | 147,811 | — | |||||||||
| Reinsurance recoverable | 1,293,791 | — | |||||||||
| Total Insurance | $ | 2,274,276 | $ | — | |||||||
| Total Assets | $ | 28,352,362 | $ | 25,552,357 | |||||||
| Liabilities | |||||||||||
| Asset Management | |||||||||||
| Debt Obligations of Consolidated CFEs | $ | 21,271,084 | $ | 17,372,740 | |||||||
| Total Asset Management | $ | 21,271,084 | $ | 17,372,740 | |||||||
| Insurance | |||||||||||
| Policy liabilities | $ | 1,869,678 | $ | — | |||||||
| Total Insurance | $ | 1,869,678 | $ | — | |||||||
| Total Liabilities | $ | 23,140,762 | $ | 17,372,740 | |||||||
293
The following table presents the net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on financial instruments for which the fair value option was elected:
| For the Year Ended December 31, 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Net Realized Gains (Losses) | Net Unrealized Gains (Losses) | Total | ||||||||||||||||||
| Assets | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Asset Management | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Credit | $ | 43,227 | $ | 19,833 | $ | 63,060 | ||||||||||||||
| Investments of Consolidated CFEs | 62,075 | 134,174 | 196,249 | |||||||||||||||||
| Real Assets | (1,133) | 16,375 | 15,242 | |||||||||||||||||
| Equity Method - Other | 404,513 | (90,867) | 313,646 | |||||||||||||||||
| Other Investments | 15,816 | 26,639 | 42,455 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total Asset Management | $ | 524,498 | $ | 106,154 | $ | 630,652 | ||||||||||||||
| Insurance | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Mortgage and other loan receivables | — | (2,257) | (2,257) | |||||||||||||||||
| Other investments | — | 490,607 | 490,607 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total Insurance | $ | — | $ | 488,350 | $ | 488,350 | ||||||||||||||
| Total Assets | $ | 524,498 | $ | 594,504 | $ | 1,119,002 | ||||||||||||||
| Liabilities | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Asset Management | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Debt Obligations of Consolidated CFEs | 47,179 | (72,376) | (25,197) | |||||||||||||||||
| Total Asset Management | $ | 47,179 | $ | (72,376) | $ | (25,197) | ||||||||||||||
| Insurance | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Policy liabilities | — | 122,738 | 122,738 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total Insurance | $ | — | $ | 122,738 | $ | 122,738 | ||||||||||||||
| Total Liabilities | $ | 47,179 | $ | 50,362 | $ | 97,541 | ||||||||||||||
| For the Year Ended December 31, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Net Realized Gains (Losses) | Net Unrealized Gains (Losses) | Total | ||||||||||||||||||
| Assets | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Asset Management | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Credit | $ | 18,672 | $ | (14,743) | $ | 3,929 | ||||||||||||||
| Investments of Consolidated CFEs | (188,506) | 102,798 | (85,708) | |||||||||||||||||
| Real Assets | 281 | (11,545) | (11,264) | |||||||||||||||||
| Equity Method - Other | (71,214) | 331,062 | 259,848 | |||||||||||||||||
| Other Investments | (61,001) | 56,437 | (4,564) | |||||||||||||||||
| Total Asset Management | $ | (301,768) | $ | 464,009 | $ | 162,241 | ||||||||||||||
| Insurance | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Mortgage and other loan receivables | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||
| Other investments | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||
| Total Insurance | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||
| Total Assets | $ | (301,768) | $ | 464,009 | $ | 162,241 | ||||||||||||||
| Liabilities | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Asset Management | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Debt Obligations of Consolidated CFEs | $ | 218 | $ | (99,721) | $ | (99,503) | ||||||||||||||
| Total Asset Management | $ | 218 | $ | (99,721) | $ | (99,503) | ||||||||||||||
| Insurance | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Policy liabilities | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||||||||||
| Total Insurance | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||||||||||
| Total Liabilities | $ | 218 | $ | (99,721) | $ | (99,503) | ||||||||||||||
294
| For the Year Ended December 31, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Net Realized Gains (Losses) | Net Unrealized Gains (Losses) | Total | ||||||||||||||||||
| Assets | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Asset Management | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Private Equity | $ | — | $ | 194 | $ | 194 | ||||||||||||||
| Credit | (67,279) | (203,666) | (270,945) | |||||||||||||||||
| Investments of Consolidated CFEs | (57,230) | 270,268 | 213,038 | |||||||||||||||||
| Real Assets | 737 | (2,038) | (1,301) | |||||||||||||||||
| Equity Method - Other | 17,373 | 157,291 | 174,664 | |||||||||||||||||
| Other Investments | 2,652 | (24,130) | (21,478) | |||||||||||||||||
| Total Asset Management | $ | (103,747) | $ | 197,919 | $ | 94,172 | ||||||||||||||
| Insurance | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Mortgage and other loan receivables | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||
| Other investments | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||
| Total Insurance | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||
| Total Assets | $ | (103,747) | $ | 197,919 | $ | 94,172 | ||||||||||||||
| Liabilities | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Asset Management | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Debt Obligations of Consolidated CFEs | $ | (2,368) | $ | (362,783) | $ | (365,151) | ||||||||||||||
| Total Asset Management | $ | (2,368) | $ | (362,783) | $ | (365,151) | ||||||||||||||
| Insurance | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Policy liabilities | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||||||||||
| Total Insurance | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||||||||||
| Total Liabilities | $ | (2,368) | $ | (362,783) | $ | (365,151) | ||||||||||||||
11. INSURANCE INTANGIBLES, UNEARNED REVENUE RESERVES AND UNEARNED FRONT-END LOADS
The following reflects the changes to the deferred policy acquisition costs ("DAC") asset:
| Year Ended | |||||
| December 31, 2021 | |||||
Balance, as of GA Acquisition Date | $ | — | |||
| Deferrals | 459,781 | ||||
Amortized to expense during the period(1) | (23,492) | ||||
| Adjustment for unrealized investment-related losses (gains) during the period | 11,597 | ||||
| Balance, as of end of period | $ | 447,886 | |||
(1) These amounts are reported within amortization of policy acquisition costs in the consolidated statements of operations.
The following reflects the changes to the value of business acquired ("VOBA") asset:
| Year Ended | |||||
| December 31, 2021 | |||||
Balance, as of GA Acquisition Date | $ | 1,024,520 | |||
Amortized to expense during the period(1) | (65,257) | ||||
| Balance, as of end of period | $ | 959,263 | |||
(1) These amounts are reported within amortization of policy acquisition costs in the consolidated statements of operations.
295
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
The following reflects the changes to the negative VOBA liability:
| Year Ended | |||||
| December 31, 2021 | |||||
| Balance, as of Acquisition Date | $ | 1,273,414 | |||
Amortized to expense during the period(1) | (154,698) | ||||
| Balance, as of end of period | $ | 1,118,716 | |||
(1) These amounts are reported within amortization of policy acquisition costs in the consolidated statements of operations.
Estimated future amortization of VOBA and Negative VOBA as of December 31, 2021 is as follows:
| Years | VOBA | Negative VOBA | Total, net | ||||||||||||||
| 2022 | $ | 67,204 | $ | (129,461) | $ | (62,257) | |||||||||||
| 2023 | 63,289 | (113,820) | (50,531) | ||||||||||||||
| 2024 | 59,428 | (94,981) | (35,553) | ||||||||||||||
| 2025 | 55,757 | (79,279) | (23,522) | ||||||||||||||
| 2026 | 52,230 | (66,473) | (14,243) | ||||||||||||||
| 2027 and thereafter | 661,355 | (634,702) | 26,653 | ||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 959,263 | $ | (1,118,716) | $ | (159,453) | |||||||||||
The following reflects the changes to the unearned revenue reserve ("URR") and unearned front-end load ("UFEL):
| Year Ended | |||||
| December 31, 2021 | |||||
Balance, as of GA Acquisition Date | $ | — | |||
| Deferrals | 57,649 | ||||
Amortized to revenue during the period(1) | (12,247) | ||||
| Adjustment for unrealized investment-related gains during the period | (11,798) | ||||
| Balance, as of end of period | $ | 33,604 | |||
(1) These amounts are reported within policy fees in the consolidated statements of operations.
12. REINSURANCE
Global Atlantic maintains a number of reinsurance treaties with third parties whereby Global Atlantic assumes fixed annuity, variable annuity, payout annuity, universal life, variable universal life and term life insurance policies on a coinsurance, modified coinsurance and funds withheld basis. Global Atlantic also maintains other reinsurance treaties including the cession of certain fixed annuity, variable annuity, payout annuity, universal life policies, individual disability income policies and discontinued accident and health insurance.
The effects of all reinsurance agreements on the consolidated statement of financial condition were as follows:
| December 31, 2021 | |||||
| Policy liabilities: | |||||
| Direct | $ | 67,131,818 | |||
| Assumed | 59,388,226 | ||||
| Total policy liabilities | 126,520,044 | ||||
Ceded(1) | (25,035,228) | ||||
| Net policy liabilities | $ | 101,484,816 | |||
(1)Reported within reinsurance recoverable within the consolidated statement of financial condition.
296
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
A key credit quality indicator is a counterparty’s A.M. Best financial strength rating. A.M. Best ratings are an independent opinion of a reinsurer’s ability to meet ongoing obligations to policyholders. Global Atlantic mitigates counterparty credit risk by requiring collateral and credit enhancements in various forms including engaging in funds withheld at interest and modified coinsurance transactions. The following shows the amortized cost basis of Global Atlantic’s reinsurance recoverable and funds withheld receivable at interest by credit quality indicator and any associated credit enhancements Global Atlantic has obtained to mitigate counterparty credit risk:
| As of December 31, 2021 | |||||||||||||||||
A.M. Best Rating(1) | Reinsurance recoverable and funds withheld receivable at interest(2) | Credit enhancements(3) | Net reinsurance credit exposure | ||||||||||||||
| A++ | $ | 7,911 | $ | — | $ | 7,911 | |||||||||||
| A+ | 1,989,426 | — | 1,989,426 | ||||||||||||||
| A | 2,652,286 | — | 2,652,286 | ||||||||||||||
| A- | 5,645,633 | 5,166,559 | 479,074 | ||||||||||||||
| B++ | 33,410 | — | 33,410 | ||||||||||||||
| B+ | 1,122 | — | 1,122 | ||||||||||||||
| B | 9,227 | — | 9,227 | ||||||||||||||
| B- | 1,274 | — | 1,274 | ||||||||||||||
Not rated(4) | 17,698,613 | 18,323,795 | — | ||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 28,038,902 | $ | 23,490,354 | $ | 5,173,730 | |||||||||||
_________________
(1)Ratings are periodically updated (at least annually) as A.M. Best issues new ratings.
(2)At amortized cost, excluding any associated embedded derivative assets and liabilities
(3)Includes funds withheld payable at interest and deferred intangible reinsurance assets and liabilities.
(4)Includes $17.7 billion associated with cessions to Ivy Re Limited, a Bermuda insurance company and a subsidiary of an unaffiliated investment vehicle that participates in qualifying reinsurance transactions sourced by Global Atlantic.
As of December 31, 2021, Global Atlantic had $3.0 billion of funds withheld receivable at interest, with six counterparties related to modified coinsurance and funds withheld contracts. The assets supporting these receivables were held in trusts and not part of the respective counterparty’s general accounts.
The effects of reinsurance on the consolidated statements of operations were as follows:
| Year Ended | |||||
| December 31, 2021 | |||||
| Premiums: | |||||
| Direct | $ | 107,733 | |||
Assumed(1) | 4,573,925 | ||||
| Ceded | (2,455,580) | ||||
| Net premiums | $ | 2,226,078 | |||
_________________
(1)Includes related party activity of $8.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2021.
| Year Ended | |||||
| December 31, 2021 | |||||
| Policy fees: | |||||
| Direct | $ | 860,170 | |||
Assumed(1) | 288,870 | ||||
| Ceded | (1,127) | ||||
| Net policy fees | $ | 1,147,913 | |||
_________________
(1)Includes related party activity of $6.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2021.
297
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
| Year Ended | |||||
| December 31, 2021 | |||||
| Policy benefits and claims: | |||||
| Direct | $ | 2,610,210 | |||
Assumed(1) | 5,175,944 | ||||
| Ceded | (2,730,445) | ||||
| Net policy benefits and claims | $ | 5,055,709 | |||
_________________
(1)Includes related party activity of $76.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2021.
Global Atlantic holds collateral for and provides collateral to our reinsurance clients. Global Atlantic held $23.4 billion of collateral on behalf of our reinsurers as of December 31, 2021. As of December 31, 2021, reinsurers held collateral of $1.3 billion on behalf of Global Atlantic. A significant portion of the collateral that Global Atlantic provides to its reinsurance clients is provided in the form of assets held in a trust for the benefit of the counterparty. As of December 31, 2021, these trusts held in excess of the $55.2 billion of assets it is required to hold in order to support reserves of $55.8 billion. Of the cash held in trust, Global Atlantic classified $149.3 million as restricted as of December 31, 2021.
298
13. NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO KKR & CO. INC. PER SHARE OF COMMON STOCK
For the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, basic and diluted Net Income (Loss) attributable to KKR & Co. Inc. per share of common stock were calculated as follows:
| For the Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Net Income (Loss) Attributable to KKR & Co. Inc. Common Stockholders | $ | 4,560,829 | $ | 1,945,954 | $ | 1,971,685 | ||||||||||||||
| (-) Accumulated Series C Mandatory Convertible Preferred Dividend | — | 3,067 | — | |||||||||||||||||
| Net Income (Loss) Available to KKR & Co. Inc. Common Stockholders - Basic | $ | 4,560,829 | $ | 1,942,887 | $ | 1,971,685 | ||||||||||||||
| (+) Series C Mandatory Convertible Preferred Dividend (if dilutive) | 69,000 | 26,258 | — | |||||||||||||||||
| Net Income (Loss) Available to KKR & Co. Inc. Common Stockholders - Diluted | $ | 4,629,829 | $ | 1,969,145 | $ | 1,971,685 | ||||||||||||||
| Basic Net Income (Loss) Per Share of Common Stock | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted Average Shares of Common Stock Outstanding - Basic | 582,258,984 | 562,812,883 | 545,096,999 | |||||||||||||||||
| Net Income (Loss) Attributable to KKR & Co. Inc. Per Share of Common Stock - Basic | $ | 7.83 | $ | 3.45 | $ | 3.62 | ||||||||||||||
| Diluted Net Income (Loss) Per Share of Common Stock | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted Average Shares of Common Stock Outstanding - Basic | 582,258,984 | 562,812,883 | 545,096,999 | |||||||||||||||||
| Incremental Common Shares: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Assumed vesting of dilutive equity awards | 24,011,281 | 9,823,514 | 12,590,513 | |||||||||||||||||
| Assumed conversion of Series C Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock | 26,822,600 | 11,048,955 | — | |||||||||||||||||
| Weighted Average Shares of Common Stock Outstanding - Diluted | 633,092,865 | 583,685,352 | 557,687,512 | |||||||||||||||||
| Net Income (Loss) Attributable to KKR & Co. Inc. Per Share of Common Stock - Diluted | $ | 7.31 | $ | 3.37 | $ | 3.54 | ||||||||||||||
For the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, Weighted Average Shares of Common Stock Outstanding - Diluted includes the following:
(i) Unvested equity awards, including certain equity awards that have met their market price-based vesting condition but have not satisfied their service-based vesting condition, which have been granted under the Equity Incentive Plans. Vesting of these equity awards dilute equityholders of KKR Group Partnership, including KKR & Co. Inc. and KKR Holdings pro rata in accordance with their respective ownership interests in KKR Group Partnership.
(ii) For the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, the impact of Series C Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock calculated under the if-converted method was dilutive, and as such (i) 26.8 million and 11.0 million, respectively, shares of common stock (assuming a conversion ratio based on the average volume weighted average price per share of common stock over the 20 consecutive trading day period beginning on, and including, the 21st scheduled trading day immediately prior to December 31, 2021) were included in the Weighted Average Shares of Common Stock Outstanding - Diluted and (ii) $69.0 million and $26.3 million, respectively, of Series C Mandatory Convertible Preferred dividends were excluded from Net Income (Loss) Available to KKR & Co. Inc. Common Stockholders - Diluted.
KKR Holdings Units
For the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, KKR Holdings units have been excluded from the calculation of Net Income (Loss) Attributable to KKR & Co. Inc. Per Share of Common Stock - Diluted since the exchange of these units would not dilute KKR & Co. Inc.'s respective ownership interests in KKR Group Partnership.
299
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
| For the Years Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |||||||||||||||
| Weighted Average KKR Holdings Units | 271,719,976 | 283,633,220 | 296,445,196 | ||||||||||||||
Market Condition Awards
For the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019, 16.9 million, 21.9 million, and 5.0 million, respectively, of unvested equity awards that are subject to market price-based and service-based vesting conditions were excluded from the calculation of Net Income (Loss) Attributable to KKR & Co. Inc. Per Share of Common Stock - Diluted since the market price-based vesting condition was not satisfied. See Note 19 "Equity Based Compensation."
300
14. OTHER ASSETS AND ACCRUED EXPENSES AND OTHER LIABILITIES
Other Assets consist of the following:
| December 31, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | ||||||||||
| Asset Management | |||||||||||
Unsettled Investment Sales (1) | $ | 182,267 | $ | 197,635 | |||||||
| Receivables | 81,133 | 75,697 | |||||||||
Due from Broker (2) | 365,053 | 644,028 | |||||||||
| Deferred Tax Assets, net (See Note 18) | 85,770 | 83,822 | |||||||||
| Interest Receivable | 144,221 | 145,532 | |||||||||
Fixed Assets, net (3) | 820,143 | 760,606 | |||||||||
Foreign Exchange Contracts and Options (4) | 590,637 | 250,398 | |||||||||
Goodwill (5) | 83,500 | 83,500 | |||||||||
| Derivative Assets | 491 | 7,839 | |||||||||
| Prepaid Taxes | 93,296 | 77,041 | |||||||||
| Prepaid Expenses | 29,290 | 26,366 | |||||||||
Operating Lease Right of Use Assets (6) | 228,363 | 190,758 | |||||||||
| Deferred Financing Costs | 17,953 | 22,810 | |||||||||
| Other | 164,196 | 99,304 | |||||||||
| Total Asset Management | $ | 2,886,313 | $ | 2,665,336 | |||||||
| Insurance | |||||||||||
Unsettled Investment Sales(1) | $ | 941,427 | $ | — | |||||||
| Deferred Tax Assets, net | 755,876 | — | |||||||||
| Derivative Assets | 1,295,950 | — | |||||||||
| Accrued Investment Income | 817,486 | — | |||||||||
Goodwill (8) | 501,496 | — | |||||||||
Intangible Assets and Deferred Sales Inducements(7) | 293,824 | — | |||||||||
Operating Lease Right of Use Assets(6) | 160,888 | — | |||||||||
| Other | 96,093 | — | |||||||||
| Premiums and Other Account Receivables | 86,524 | — | |||||||||
| Current Income Tax Recoverable | 103,954 | — | |||||||||
| Total Insurance | $ | 5,053,518 | $ | — | |||||||
| Total Other Assets | $ | 7,939,831 | $ | 2,665,336 | |||||||
(1)Represents amounts due from third parties for investments sold for which cash settlement has not occurred.
(2)Represents amounts held at clearing brokers resulting from securities transactions.
(3)Net of accumulated depreciation and amortization of $141.6 million and $151.3 million as of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. Depreciation and amortization expense of $46.5 million, $18.6 million and $17.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively, are included in General, Administrative and Other in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.
(4)Represents derivative financial instruments used to manage foreign exchange risk arising from certain foreign currency denominated investments. Such instruments are measured at fair value with changes in fair value recorded in Net Gains (Losses) from Investment Activities in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. See Note 4 "Net Gains (Losses) from Investment Activities - Asset Management" for the net changes in fair value associated with these instruments.
(5)As of December 31, 2021, the carrying value of goodwill is recorded and assessed for impairment at the reporting unit.
(6)For Asset Management, non-cancelable operating leases consist of leases for office space in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia. KKR is the lessee under the terms of the operating leases. The operating lease cost was $49.0 million and $56.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. For Insurance, non-cancelable operating leases consist of leases for office space and land in the U.S. For the year ended December 31, 2021, the operating lease cost was $14.6 million. Insurance lease right-of-use assets are reported net of $22.7 million in deferred rent and lease incentives. The weighted average remaining lease term was 27.9 years as of December 31, 2021.
(7)The definite life intangible assets are amortized by using the straight-line method over the useful life of the assets which is an average of 16 years. The indefinite life intangible assets are not subject to amortization. The amortization expense of definite life intangible assets was $16.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2021.
(8)The amounts include approximately $4.5 million of goodwill related to an immaterial acquisition of a residential mortgage platform, which Global Atlantic acquired in October 2021 for a purchase price consideration of $4.6 million.
301
Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities consist of the following:
| December 31, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | ||||||||||
| Asset Management | |||||||||||
Amounts Payable to Carry Pool (1) | $ | 3,650,312 | $ | 1,916,669 | |||||||
Unsettled Investment Purchases (2) | 1,315,163 | 850,714 | |||||||||
Securities Sold Short (3) | 249,383 | 281,826 | |||||||||
| Derivative Liabilities | 45,003 | 126,950 | |||||||||
| Accrued Compensation and Benefits | 210,789 | 150,883 | |||||||||
| Interest Payable | 162,801 | 182,044 | |||||||||
Foreign Exchange Contracts and Options (4) | 319,511 | 551,728 | |||||||||
| Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses | 187,564 | 130,661 | |||||||||
| Taxes Payable | 42,745 | 88,040 | |||||||||
| Uncertain Tax Positions | 78,226 | 76,643 | |||||||||
| Unfunded Revolver Commitments | 64,276 | 46,340 | |||||||||
Operating Lease Liabilities (5) | 230,995 | 191,564 | |||||||||
| Deferred Tax Liabilities, net (See Note 18) | 900,436 | 199,425 | |||||||||
| Other Liabilities | 439,693 | 464,326 | |||||||||
| Total Asset Management | $ | 7,896,897 | $ | 5,257,813 | |||||||
| Insurance | |||||||||||
Unsettled Investment Purchases(2) | $ | 395,722 | $ | — | |||||||
| Collateral on Derivative Instruments | 1,086,061 | — | |||||||||
| Accrued Expenses | 747,237 | — | |||||||||
| Securities Sold Under Agreements to Repurchase | 300,446 | — | |||||||||
| Derivative Liabilities | 145,163 | — | |||||||||
Operating Lease Liabilities(5) | 180,574 | — | |||||||||
| Accrued Employee Related Expenses | 280,668 | — | |||||||||
| Tax Payable to Former Parent Company | 74,423 | — | |||||||||
| Interest Payable | 12,930 | — | |||||||||
| Accounts and Commissions Payable | 26,054 | — | |||||||||
| Other Tax Related Liabilities | 14,288 | — | |||||||||
| Total Insurance | $ | 3,263,566 | $ | — | |||||||
| Total Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities | $ | 11,160,463 | $ | 5,257,813 | |||||||
(1)Represents the amount of carried interest payable to current and former KKR employees arising from KKR's investment funds and co-investment vehicles that provide for carried interest.
(2)Represents amounts owed to third parties for investment purchases for which cash settlement has not occurred.
(3)Represents the obligations of KKR to deliver a specified security at a future point in time. Such securities are measured at fair value with changes in fair value recorded in Net Gains (Losses) from Investment Activities in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. See Note 4 "Net Gains (Losses) from Investment Activities - Asset Management" for the net changes in fair value associated with these instruments.
(4)Represents derivative financial instruments used to manage foreign exchange risk arising from certain foreign currency denominated investments. Such instruments are measured at fair value with changes in fair value recorded in Net Gains (Losses) from Investment Activities in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. See Note 4 "Net Gains (Losses) from Investment Activities- Asset Management" for the net changes in fair value associated with these instruments.
(5)For Asset Management, operating leases have remaining lease terms that range from approximately 1 year to 14 years, some of which include options to extend the leases for up to 3 years. The weighted average remaining lease terms were 9.5 years and 9.8 years as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The weighted average discount rates were 1.2% and 1.2% as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. For Insurance, operating leases for office space have remaining lease terms that range from approximately 1 year to 12 years, some of which include options to extend the leases for up to 10 years. The weighted average remaining lease terms was 7.8 years as of December 31, 2021. The weighted average discount rates was 2.9% as of December 31, 2021.
302
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
15. VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES
Consolidated VIEs
KKR consolidates certain VIEs in which it is determined that KKR is the primary beneficiary as described in Note 2 "Summary of Significant Accounting Policies." The consolidated VIEs are predominately CLOs and certain investment funds sponsored by KKR. The primary purpose of these VIEs is to provide strategy specific investment opportunities to earn investment gains, current income or both in exchange for management and performance income. KKR's investment strategies differ for these VIEs; however, the fundamental risks have similar characteristics, including loss of invested capital and loss of management and performance income. KKR does not provide performance guarantees and has no other financial obligation to provide funding to these consolidated VIEs, beyond amounts previously committed, if any. Furthermore, KKR consolidates certain VIEs, which are formed by Global Atlantic to hold investments, including investments in transportation, renewable energy, consumer and other loans and fixed maturity securities.
Unconsolidated VIEs
KKR holds variable interests in certain VIEs which are not consolidated as it has been determined that KKR is not the primary beneficiary. VIEs that are not consolidated predominantly include certain investment funds sponsored by KKR as well as certain investment partnerships where Global Atlantic retains an economic interest. KKR's investment strategies differ by investment fund; however, the fundamental risks have similar characteristics, including loss of invested capital and loss of management and performance income. KKR's maximum exposure to loss as a result of its investments in the unconsolidated investment funds is the carrying value of such investments, including KKR's capital interest and any unrealized carried interest. Accordingly, disaggregation of KKR's involvement by type of unconsolidated investment fund would not provide more useful information. For these unconsolidated investment funds in which KKR is the sponsor, KKR may have an obligation as general partner to provide commitments to such investment funds. As of December 31, 2021, KKR's commitments to these unconsolidated investment funds were $5.4 billion. KKR has not provided any financial support other than its obligated amount as of December 31, 2021. Additionally, Global Atlantic also has unfunded commitments of $25.6 million in relation to other limited partnership interests as of December 31, 2021.
As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the maximum exposure to loss, before allocations to the carry pool and noncontrolling interests, if any, for those VIEs in which KKR is determined not to be the primary beneficiary but in which it has a variable interest is as follows:
| December 31, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | ||||||||||
| Investments - Asset Management | $ | 11,539,945 | $ | 6,460,430 | |||||||
| Due from (to) Affiliates, net | 1,046,210 | 586,595 | |||||||||
| Maximum Exposure to Loss - Asset Management | $ | 12,586,155 | $ | 7,047,025 | |||||||
| Other Investment in Partnership - Insurance | $ | 190,106 | $ | — | |||||||
| Investment in Renewable Partnerships - Insurance | 30,760 | — | |||||||||
| Maximum Exposure to Loss- Insurance | $ | 220,866 | $ | — | |||||||
| Total Maximum Exposure to Loss | $ | 12,807,021 | $ | 7,047,025 | |||||||
303
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
16. DEBT OBLIGATIONS
Asset Management Debt Obligations
In Asset Management, KKR enters into credit agreements and issues debt for its general operating and investment purposes. KKR consolidates and reports debt obligations of KKR Financial Holdings LLC, a KKR subsidiary ("KFN"), which are non-recourse to KKR beyond the assets of KFN.
Certain of KKR's consolidated investment funds have entered into financing arrangements with financial institutions, generally to provide liquidity to such investment funds. These financing arrangements are generally not direct obligations of the general partners of KKR's investment funds (beyond KKR's capital interest) or its management companies. Such borrowings have varying maturities and bear interest at floating rates. Borrowings are generally secured by the investment purchased with the proceeds of the borrowing and/or the uncalled capital commitment of each respective fund. When an investment vehicle borrows, the proceeds are available only for use by that investment vehicle and are not available for the benefit of other investment vehicles or KKR. Collateral within each investment vehicle is also available only against borrowings by that investment vehicle and not against the borrowings of other investment vehicles or KKR.
In certain other cases, investments and other assets held directly by majority-owned consolidated investment vehicles have been funded with borrowings that are collateralized by the investments and assets they own. These borrowings are non-recourse to KKR beyond the investments or assets serving as collateral or the capital that KKR has committed to fund such investment vehicles. Such borrowings have varying maturities and generally bear interest at fixed rates.
In addition, consolidated CFEs issue debt securities to third-party investors which are collateralized by assets held by the CFE. Debt securities issued by CFEs are supported solely by the assets held at the CFEs and are not collateralized by assets of any other KKR entity. CFEs also may have warehouse facilities with banks to provide liquidity to the CFE. The CFE's debt obligations are non-recourse to KKR beyond the assets of the CFE.
304
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
KKR's Asset Management debt obligations consisted of the following:
| December 31, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Financing Available | Borrowing Outstanding | Fair Value | Financing Available | Borrowing Outstanding | Fair Value | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Revolving Credit Facilities: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Corporate Credit Agreement | $ | 1,000,000 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 1,000,000 | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| KCM Credit Agreement | 728,799 | — | — | 705,014 | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| KCM 364-Day Revolving Credit Agreement | 750,000 | — | — | 750,000 | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Notes Issued: (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
KKR ¥25 billion (or $217.3 million) 0.509% Notes Due 2023 | (4) | — | 216,881 | 216,818 | — | 241,331 | 241,580 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
KKR ¥5 billion (or $43.5 million) 0.764% Notes Due 2025 | (4) | — | 43,082 | 43,452 | — | 47,919 | 48,554 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
KKR €650 million (or $736.1 million) 1.625% Notes Due 2029 | (5) | — | 729,048 | 776,926 | — | 790,157 | 870,647 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
KKR $750 million 3.750% Notes Due 2029 | (4) | — | 743,333 | 825,540 | — | 742,196 | 874,658 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
KKR ¥10.3 billion (or $89.5 million) 1.595% Notes Due 2038 | (4) | — | 88,505 | 92,198 | — | 98,640 | 104,004 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
KKR $500 million 5.500% Notes Due 2043 (6) | (4) | — | 491,153 | 661,351 | — | 492,513 | 666,885 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
KKR $1 billion 5.125% Notes Due 2044 (6) | (4) | — | 951,462 | 1,237,888 | — | 991,471 | 1,307,220 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
KKR $500 million 3.625% Notes Due 2050 | (4) | — | 492,486 | 535,550 | — | 492,123 | 556,095 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
KKR $750 million 3.500% Notes Due 2050 (6) | (4) | — | 735,905 | 784,650 | — | 735,161 | 830,280 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
KKR $750 million 3.250% Notes Due 2051 | (4) | — | 739,481 | 747,900 | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
KKR $500 million 4.625% Notes Due 2061 | (5) | — | 486,044 | 523,200 | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
KFN $500 million 5.500% Notes Due 2032 | (2) | — | 495,025 | 487,779 | — | 494,540 | 502,992 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
KFN $120 million 5.200% Notes Due 2033 | (2) | — | 118,654 | 115,535 | — | 118,533 | 118,300 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
KFN $70 million 5.400% Notes Due 2033 | (2) | — | 68,957 | 68,532 | — | 68,866 | 70,267 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
KFN Issued Junior Subordinated Notes (3) | (2) | — | 236,138 | 178,335 | — | 234,808 | 165,627 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2,478,799 | 6,636,154 | 7,295,654 | 2,455,014 | 5,548,258 | 6,357,109 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other Debt Obligations(6) | 4,941,755 | 30,033,601 | 30,033,601 | 5,621,883 | 27,875,338 | 27,889,438 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | 7,420,554 | $ | 36,669,755 | $ | 37,329,255 | $ | 8,076,897 | $ | 33,423,596 | $ | 34,246,547 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1)Borrowing outstanding includes: (i) unamortized note discount (net of premium), as applicable and (ii) unamortized debt issuance costs, as applicable. Financing costs related to the issuance of the notes have been deducted from the note liability and are being amortized over the life of the notes.
| December 31, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | ||||||||||
KKR Issued 0.509% Notes Due 2023 | $ | 369 | $ | 669 | |||||||
KKR Issued 0.764% Notes Due 2025 | 368 | 481 | |||||||||
KKR Issued 1.625% Notes Due 2029 | 4,526 | 5,138 | |||||||||
KKR Issued 3.750% Notes Due 2029 | 4,820 | 5,710 | |||||||||
KKR Issued 1.595% Notes Due 2038 | 1,002 | 1,064 | |||||||||
KKR Issued 5.500% Notes Due 2043 | 3,127 | 3,276 | |||||||||
KKR Issued 5.125% Notes Due 2044 | 7,051 | 7,367 | |||||||||
KKR Issued 3.625% Notes Due 2050 | 5,046 | 5,321 | |||||||||
KKR Issued 3.500% Notes Due 2050 | 7,487 | 8,167 | |||||||||
KKR Issued 3.250% Notes Due 2051 | 8,094 | — | |||||||||
KKR Issued 4.625% Notes Due 2061 | 13,956 | — | |||||||||
KFN Issued 5.500% Notes Due 2032 | 3,378 | 3,707 | |||||||||
KFN Issued 5.200% Notes Due 2033 | 1,347 | 1,467 | |||||||||
KFN Issued 5.400% Notes Due 2033 | 1,043 | 1,134 | |||||||||
| $ | 61,614 | $ | 43,501 | ||||||||
(2)These debt obligations are classified as Level III within the fair value hierarchy and valued using the same valuation methodologies as KKR's Level III credit investments.
(3)KKR consolidates KFN and reports KFN's outstanding $258.5 million aggregate principal amount of junior subordinated notes. The weighted average interest rate is 2.6% and 2.7% and the weighted average years to maturity is 14.8 years and 15.8 years as of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively.
(4)The notes are classified as Level II within the fair value hierarchy and fair value is determined by third party broker quotes.
(5)The notes are classified as Level I within the fair value hierarchy and fair value is determined by quoted prices in active markets since the debt is publicly listed.
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Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
(6)As of December 31, 2021, the borrowing outstanding reflects the elimination for the portion of these debt obligations that are held by Global Atlantic.
Asset Management Revolving Credit Facilities
Corporate Credit Agreement
On August 4, 2021, KKR Group Partnership and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P. (the "Borrowers") amended and restated their Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of December 7, 2018 (the “Prior Corporate Credit Agreement”), by and among the Borrowers, the guarantors from time to time party thereto, the lending institutions from time to time party thereto, and HSBC Bank USA, National Association, as administrative agent with the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “New Corporate Credit Agreement”), by and among the Borrowers, the guarantors from time to time party thereto, the lending institutions from time to time party thereto, and HSBC Bank USA, National Association, as administrative agent, which (1) provides for up to $1.0 billion of revolving borrowings (with the option to request an increase of up to an additional $500 million), (2) has a maturity of August 2026, (3) contains customary events of default, representations and warranties and covenants that are substantially similar to those that were in the Prior Corporate Credit Agreement and (4) includes updated financial covenants based on the total indebtedness to fee and yield EBITDA and fee paying assets under management covenants. Interest on any funded balances accrues at LIBOR plus a spread ranging from 0.565% to 1.10% based on corporate credit ratings. The Borrowers must pay a facility fee on the total commitments ranging from 0.06% to 0.15% based on corporate credit ratings.
KCM Short-Term Credit Agreement
On April 9, 2021, KKR Capital Markets Holdings L.P. and certain other capital markets subsidiaries (the "KCM Borrowers") entered into a 364-day revolving credit agreement (the "KCM Short-Term Credit Agreement”) with the same administrative agent, and one or more lenders party to the KCM Credit Agreement. The KCM Short-Term Credit Agreement replaces the prior 364-day revolving credit agreement, dated as of April 10, 2020, between the KCM Borrowers and the administrative agent, and one or more lenders party to the KCM Short-Term Agreement, which was terminated according to its terms on April 9, 2021. The KCM Short-Term Credit Agreement provides for revolving borrowings up to $750 million, expires on April 8, 2022, and ranks pari passu with the KCM Credit Agreement.
If a borrowing is made under the KCM Short-Term Credit Agreement, the interest rate will vary depending on the type of drawdown requested. If the borrowing is a Eurocurrency loan, it will be based on a LIBOR rate plus an applicable margin initially ranging between 1.50% and 2.75%, depending on the duration of the loan. If the borrowing is an ABR loan, it will be based on the prime rate plus an applicable margin ranging between 0.50% and 1.75%, depending on the amount and nature of the loan. Borrowings under the KCM Short-Term Credit Agreement may only be used to facilitate the settlement of debt transactions syndicated by KKR's capital markets business. Obligations under the KCM Short-Term Credit Agreement are limited to the KCM Borrowers, which are solely entities involved in KKR's capital markets business, and liabilities under the KCM Short-Term Credit Agreement are non-recourse to other parts of KKR.
The KCM Short-Term Credit Agreement contains customary representations and warranties, events of default, and affirmative and negative covenants, including a financial covenant providing for a maximum debt to equity ratio for the KCM Borrowers. The KCM Borrowers' obligations under the KCM Short-Term Credit Agreement are secured by certain assets of the KCM Borrowers, including a pledge of equity interests of certain subsidiaries of the KCM Borrowers.
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Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
Asset Management Notes Issuance and Redemptions
KKR Issued 4.625% Subordinated Notes Due 2061
On March 31, 2021, KKR Group Finance Co. IX LLC, an indirect subsidiary of KKR & Co. Inc., issued $500 million aggregate principal amount of its 4.625% Subordinated Notes due 2061 (the "KKR 2061 Subordinated Notes"). The KKR 2061 Subordinated Notes are guaranteed by KKR & Co. Inc. and KKR Group Partnership.
The KKR 2061 Subordinated Notes bear interest at a rate of 4.625% per annum and will mature on April 1, 2061, unless earlier redeemed. Interest on the KKR 2061 Subordinated Notes accrues from March 31, 2021 and is payable quarterly in arrears on January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1 of each year, commencing on July 1, 2021 and ending on the applicable maturity date. The KKR 2061 Subordinated Notes are unsecured and subordinated obligations of the issuer. The KKR 2061 Subordinated Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, on a subordinated basis, by each of the guarantors. The guarantees are unsecured obligations of the guarantors.
The indenture includes covenants, including limitations on the issuer’s and the guarantors’ ability to, subject to exceptions, incur indebtedness secured by liens on voting stock or profit participating equity interests of their subsidiaries or merge, consolidate or sell, transfer or convey all or substantially all of their assets. The indenture also provides for events of default and further provides that the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding KKR 2061 Subordinated Notes may declare the KKR 2061 Subordinated Notes immediately due and payable upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any event of default after expiration of any applicable grace period. In the case of specified events of bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or reorganization, the principal amount of the KKR 2061 Subordinated Notes and any accrued and unpaid interest on the KKR 2061 Subordinated Notes automatically become due and payable. On or after April 1, 2026, the issuer may redeem the KKR 2061 Subordinated Notes at its option, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the KKR 2061 Subordinated Notes to be redeemed, together with accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of redemption, provided that if the KKR 2061 Subordinated Notes are not redeemed in whole, at least $25 million aggregate principal amount of the KKR 2061 Subordinated Notes must remain outstanding after giving effect to such redemption. If a “tax redemption event” occurs, the KKR 2061 Subordinated Notes may be redeemed, in whole, but not in part, within 120 days of the occurrence of such tax redemption event at a redemption price equal to their principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of redemption. In addition, the KKR 2061 Subordinated Notes may be redeemed, in whole, but not in part, at any time prior to April 1, 2026, within 90 days of the occurrence of a “rating agency event”, at a redemption price equal to 102% of their principal amount plus any accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of redemption.
KKR Issued 3.250% Senior Notes Due 2051
On December 8, 2021, KKR Group Finance Co. X LLC, an indirect subsidiary of KKR & Co. Inc., issued $750 million aggregate principal amount of its 3.250% Senior Notes due 2051 (the "KKR 2051 Senior Notes"). The KKR 2051 Senior Notes are guaranteed by KKR & Co. Inc. and KKR Group Partnership.
The KKR 2051 Senior Notes bear interest at a rate of 3.250% per annum and will mature on December 15, 2051 unless earlier redeemed. Interest on the KKR 2051 Senior Notes accrues from December 8, 2021 and is payable semi-annually in arrears on June 15 and December 15 of each year, commencing on June 15, 2022 and ending on the maturity date. The KKR 2051 Senior Notes are unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of the issuer. The KKR 2051 Senior Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, by each of the guarantors. The guarantees are unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of the guarantors.
The indenture includes covenants, including limitations on the issuer’s and the guarantors’ ability to, subject to exceptions, incur indebtedness secured by liens on voting stock or profit participating equity interests of their subsidiaries or merge, consolidate or sell, transfer or convey all or substantially all of their assets. The indenture also provides for events of default and further provides that the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding KKR 2051 Senior Notes may declare the KKR 2051 Senior Notes immediately due and payable upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any event of default after expiration of any applicable grace period. In the case of specified events of bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or reorganization, the principal amount of the KKR 2051 Senior Notes and any accrued and unpaid interest on the KKR 2051 Senior Notes automatically become due and payable. Prior to June 15, 2051 (six months prior to the maturity date of the KKR 2051 Senior Notes), all or a portion of the KKR 2051 Senior Notes may be redeemed at the issuer’s option in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, prior to their stated maturity, at the make-whole redemption price set forth in the KKR 2051 Senior Notes. On or after June 15, 2051 (six months prior to the maturity date of the KKR 2051 Senior Notes), the KKR 2051 Senior Notes may be redeemed at the issuer’s option in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at par plus any accrued and unpaid interest on the KKR 2051 Senior Notes redeemed to, but not
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Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
including, the date of redemption. If a change of control repurchase event occurs, the KKR 2051 Senior Notes are subject to repurchase by the issuer at a repurchase price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of the KKR 2051 Senior Notes repurchased plus any accrued and unpaid interest on the KKR 2051 Senior Notes repurchased to, but not including, the date of repurchase.
Other Asset Management Debt Obligations
As of December 31, 2021, other debt obligations consisted of the following:
| Financing Available | Borrowing Outstanding | Fair Value | Weighted Average Interest Rate | Weighted Average Remaining Maturity in Years | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Financing Facilities of Consolidated Funds and Other (1) | $ | 4,941,755 | $ | 8,762,517 | $ | 8,762,517 | 3.1% | 4.0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Debt Obligations of Consolidated CLOs | — | 21,271,084 | 21,271,084 | (2) | 10.6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | 4,941,755 | $ | 30,033,601 | $ | 30,033,601 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1)Includes borrowings collateralized by fund investments, fund co-investments and other assets held by levered investment vehicles of $1.9 billion.
(2)The senior notes of the consolidated CLOs had a weighted average interest rate of 1.8%. The subordinated notes of the consolidated CLOs do not have contractual interest rates but instead receive a pro rata amount of the net distributions from the excess cash flows of the respective CLO vehicle. Accordingly, weighted average borrowing rates for the subordinated notes are based on cash distributions during the period, if any.
Debt obligations of consolidated CLOs are collateralized by assets held by each respective CLO vehicle and assets of one CLO vehicle may not be used to satisfy the liabilities of another. As of December 31, 2021, the fair value of the consolidated CLO assets was $23.5 billion. This collateral consisted of Cash and Cash Equivalents Held at Consolidated Entities, Investments, and Other Assets.
Insurance Debt Obligations
Global Atlantic's debt obligations consisted of the following:
| December 31, 2021 | |||||||||||||||||
| Financing Available | Borrowing Outstanding | Fair Value(2) | |||||||||||||||
| Revolving Credit Facilities: | |||||||||||||||||
| Global Atlantic revolving credit facility, due August 2026 | $ | 1,000,000 | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||||
| Notes Issued and Others: | |||||||||||||||||
| Global Atlantic senior notes, due October 2029 | 500,000 | 539,350 | |||||||||||||||
| Global Atlantic senior notes, due June 2031 | 650,000 | 644,800 | |||||||||||||||
| Global Atlantic subordinated debentures, due October 2051 | 750,000 | 761,475 | |||||||||||||||
| 1,900,000 | $ | 1,945,625 | |||||||||||||||
Purchase accounting adjustments(1) | 51,050 | ||||||||||||||||
| Debt issuance costs, net of accumulated amortization | (18,675) | ||||||||||||||||
| Fair value loss (gain) of hedged debt obligations, recognized in earnings | (24,369) | ||||||||||||||||
| $ | 1,908,006 | ||||||||||||||||
(1)The amortization of the purchase accounting adjustments was $4.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2021.
(2)These debt obligations are classified as Level III within the fair value hierarchy and valued using the same valuation methodologies as KKR's Level III credit investments.
Global Atlantic Credit Agreement
Global Atlantic (Fin) Company ("GA FinCo") and Global Atlantic Financial Limited ("GAFL") are both wholly-owned indirect subsidiaries of TGAFG, the holding company for the Global Atlantic business.
On August 4, 2021, GA FinCo, as borrower, and GAFL, as guarantor, entered into a Credit Agreement (the "GA Credit Agreement") with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, and other lenders thereto. The GA Credit Agreement provides for up to $1.0 billion of revolving borrowings (with the option to request an increase of up to an additional $250 million), including up to $500 million of letters of credit, and has a maturity of August 2026.
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Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
Interest on any funded balances accrues at LIBOR plus a spread ranging from 1.125% to 2.00% based on GAFL's long-term issuer credit ratings. The borrower must pay a commitment fee on any unfunded committed balance under the GA Credit Agreement ranging from 0.125% to 0.325% based on the long-term issuer credit rating. The commitment fee on unfunded balances is paid quarterly in arrears. The GA Credit Agreement contains customary events of default, representations and warranties and covenants, including, among other things, covenants that GAFL’s consolidated debt to total capitalization, as defined in the GA Credit Agreement, cannot be more than 35% and that GAFL’s consolidated net worth determined in accordance with GAAP cannot be less than 70% of the value of GAFL’s consolidated net worth as of June 30, 2021, plus 50% of net income since June 30, 2021. If an event of default occurs, the lenders under the GA Credit Agreement will be entitled to take various actions, including the termination of their commitments and the acceleration of amounts due thereunder.
On June 18, 2021, GA FinCo repaid approximately $420 million outstanding indebtedness under the GA Credit Agreement along with accrued and unpaid interest, from the proceeds from the GA 2031 Senior Notes (as discussed below). As of December 31, 2021, there were no revolving borrowings outstanding, and no letters of credit outstanding under the GA Credit Agreement.
The GA Credit Agreement replaced Global Atlantic’s prior revolving credit facility, which was terminated in August 2021. The prior revolving credit facility had been amended and restated in May 2018 to, among other things upsize the facility size from $650 million to $1 billion and extend its maturity to May 2023. In November 2020, the prior revolving credit facility had been amended to permit the GA Acquisition. It otherwise had contained customary events of default, representations and warranties and covenants that are substantially similar to those that were in GA Credit Agreement, including the consolidated debt to capitalization and net worth covenants.
Global Atlantic Senior Notes due 2029
On October 7, 2019, GA FinCo issued $500 million aggregate principal amount of 4.400% senior unsecured notes due 2029 ("GA 2029 Senior Notes"). The GA 2029 Senior Notes were issued pursuant to an Indenture, dated as of October 7, 2019, among GA FinCo, as issuer, GAFL, as guarantor, and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of October 7, 2019, among GA FinCo, GAFL and the trustee. The GA 2029 Senior Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by GAFL.
The GA 2029 Senior Notes bear interest at a rate of 4.400% per year. Interest on the GA 2029 Senior Notes is payable semi-annually in arrears on April 15 and October 15 of each year, beginning on April 15, 2020. The GA 2029 Senior Notes will mature on October 15, 2029.
The indenture includes covenants, including limitations on the issuer’s and the guarantors’ ability to, subject to exceptions, incur indebtedness secured by liens on voting stock or profit participating equity interests of their subsidiaries or merge, consolidate or sell, transfer or convey all or substantially all of their assets. The indenture also provides for events of default and further provides that the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding GA 2029 Senior Notes may declare the GA 2029 Senior Notes immediately due and payable upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any event of default after expiration of any applicable grace period. In the case of specified events of bankruptcy, insolvency, rehabilitation or reorganization, the principal amount of the GA 2029 Senior Notes and any accrued and unpaid interest on the GA 2029 Senior Notes automatically become due and payable. GA FinCo may, at its option, redeem some or all of the GA 2029 Senior Notes at any time: (i) prior to July 15, 2029 at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the GA 2029 Senior Notes to be redeemed plus a “make-whole” premium and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of redemption; and (ii) on or after July 15, 2029 at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the GA 2029 Senior Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption.
Global Atlantic Senior Notes due 2031
On June 17, 2021, GA FinCo issued $650 million aggregate principal amount of 3.125% senior unsecured notes due 2031 (the “GA 2031 Senior Notes”). The GA 2031 Senior Notes were issued pursuant to an indenture, dated as of June 17, 2021, among GA FinCo, as issuer, GAFL, as guarantor, and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, and supplemented by the Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of June 17, 2021, among GA FinCo, GAFL and the trustee. The GA 2031 Senior Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by GAFL.
The GA 2031 Senior Notes bear interest at a rate of 3.125% per year. Interest on the GA 2031 Senior Notes is payable semi-annually in arrears on June 15 and December 15 of each year, beginning on June 17, 2021. The GA 2031 Senior Notes will mature on June 15, 2031. GA FinCo may, at its option, redeem some or all of the GA 2031 Senior Notes at any time: (i) prior to March 15, 2031 at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the GA 2031 Senior Notes to be redeemed plus a “make-whole” premium and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of redemption; and (ii) on or after
309
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
March 15, 2031 at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the GA 2031 Senior Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption.
Global Atlantic Subordinated Debentures due 2051
On July 6, 2021, GA FinCo issued $750 million of 4.70% fixed-to-fixed rate subordinated debentures maturing on October 15, 2051 (the “GA 2051 Subordinated Debentures.”) The GA 2051 subordinated debentures were issued pursuant to the Subordinated Indenture, dated as of July 6, 2021 among GA FinCo, as issuer, GAFL, as guarantor, and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture thereto, dated as of July 6, 2021.
The GA 2051 subordinated debentures will bear interest (i) from, and including, July 6, 2021 to, but not including, the initial interest reset date of October 15, 2026 at an annual rate of 4.70% and (ii) from and including October 15, 2026, during each interest reset period, at an annual rate equal to the five-year Treasury rate as of the most recent reset interest determination date, plus 3.796%. Interest on the subordinated debentures is payable semi-annually in arrears on April 15 and October 15 of each year, commencing on October 15, 2021, and on the maturity date.
GA FinCo has the right on one or more occasions to defer the payment of interest on the GA 2051 subordinated debentures for up to consecutive years. During an optional deferral period, interest will continue to accrue at the interest rate on the GA 2051 subordinated debentures, compounded semi-annually as of each interest payment date.
If GA FinCo has exercised its right to defer interest payments on the GA 2051 subordinated debentures, GA FinCo and GAFL generally may not (1) make payments on or redeem or purchase (A) GA FinCo or GAFL common stock, or (B) with respect to GA FinCo, any indebtedness ranking on parity with or junior to the GA 2051 subordinated debentures, and with respect to GAFL, any indebtedness ranking on parity with or junior to the guarantee or (2) make any guarantee payments with respect to any guarantee by GA FinCo or GAFL of any securities or any of their respective subsidiaries if such guarantee ranks equally with or junior to the debentures.
GA FinCo may elect to redeem the GA 2051 subordinated debentures either (1) in whole at any time or in part from time to time during the three-month period prior to, and including, October 15, 2026, or the three month period prior to, and including, each subsequent interest reset date, in each case at 100% of the principal amount of the subordinated debentures being redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest (including compounded interest, if any) to, but excluding, the redemption date; (2) in whole, but not in part, at any time within 90 days after the occurrence of a tax event at 100% of the principal amount of the subordinated debentures being redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest (including compounded interest, if any) to, but excluding, the redemption date; (3) in whole, but not in part, at any time within 90 days after the occurrence of a rating agency event at 102% of the principal amount of the subordinated debentures being redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest (including compounded interest, if any) to, but excluding, the redemption date; or (4) in whole, but not in part, at any time within 90 days after the occurrence of a regulatory capital event at 100% of the principal amount of the subordinated debentures being redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest (including compounded interest, if any) to, but excluding, the redemption date.
310
Debt Covenants
Borrowings of KKR (including Global Atlantic) contain various debt covenants. These covenants do not, in management's opinion, materially restrict KKR's operating business or investment strategies as of December 31, 2021. KKR (including Global Atlantic) was in compliance with such debt covenants in all material respects as of December 31, 2021.
311
17. POLICY LIABILITIES
Policy liabilities by product were as follows as of December 31, 2021:
| As of December 31, 2021 | |||||
Fixed-rate annuity(1) | $ | 61,827,855 | |||
| Fixed-indexed annuity | 27,935,000 | ||||
| Indexed universal life | 12,133,840 | ||||
| Other life insurance | 11,840,323 | ||||
| Funding agreements | 6,014,553 | ||||
| Preneed | 2,897,018 | ||||
| Variable annuity | 2,469,759 | ||||
| Closed blocks | 1,351,601 | ||||
| Other | 50,095 | ||||
| Total | $ | 126,520,044 | |||
(1)Policy liabilities as of December 31, 2021 include $7.6 billion assumed disability income insurance of which 97% are comprised of policies in claim payout status, generally for the lifetime of the insured, and the remaining 3% comprised of an active life reserve where the Global Atlantic has retroceded the morbidity risk, respectively.
Guaranteed benefits
Guaranteed minimum death benefits
Certain variable annuity and fixed-indexed annuity contracts contain GMDB features that provide a guarantee that the benefit received at death will be no less than a prescribed minimum amount, even if the account balance is reduced to zero. This amount is based on either the net deposits paid into the contract, the net deposits accumulated at a specified rate, the highest historical account value on a contract anniversary, or sometimes a combination of these values. If the GMDB is higher than the current account value at the time of death, Global Atlantic pays a benefit equal to the difference.
The following table shows the balance of the GMDB reserves (as well as a rider for a long-term care benefit) reported in contractholder deposit funds and other policy liabilities in the consolidated statements of financial condition. The GMDB exposure includes reinsurance assumed.
| Year ended | |||||
| December 31, 2021 | |||||
| Balance, as of beginning of year | $ | 110,243 | |||
| Expense incurred | 28,352 | ||||
| Claims paid | (15,011) | ||||
| Reinsurance premium paid | (13,267) | ||||
| Claims ceded to reinsurers | 9,388 | ||||
| Balance, as of end of year | $ | 119,705 | |||
The reserve is calculated by estimating the present value of total expected excess benefit payments over the life of the contract divided by the present value of total expected assessments over the life of the contract, or the “benefit ratio,” multiplied by the cumulative assessments as of the reporting date, less cumulative benefit payments, plus interest.
The GMDB reserve methodology varies by block. For the legacy variable annuity block, a fair value election of the entire contract was made at February 1, 2021 as part of the GA Acquisition. The fair value is calculated using 1,000 risk neutral scenarios and discounted using U.S. Treasury rates plus an adjustment for own company credit risk. For the non-legacy variable annuity block, a Gross Premium Valuation (GPV) approach is used. The GPV is based on the present value of excess GMDB claims less the present value of a portion of the GMDB rider fees. Both the excess claims and rider fees are computed over 1,000 real world scenarios, and an average across all scenarios is calculated.
The following information relates to the reserving methodology and assumptions for GMDB as of December 31, 2021:
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Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
•The GPV uses stochastic scenarios consistent with the American Academy of Actuaries VM21 paths. Equity volatility is also consistent with the VM21 paths, with lower volatility modelled for the volatility controlled funds (as determined by a third-party proprietary model);
•The projection of equity index returns for the legacy Fair Value variable annuity blocks are determined by a third-party proprietary model. Equity volatilities are also determined by the same third-party proprietary model;
•The mortality assumptions are factors of an industry standard mortality table based on company experience varying by age and gender, with 20 years of mortality improvements; and,
•The partial withdrawal rate assumption varies by tax-qualified status and attained age. For the year ended December 31, 2021, total projected partial withdrawals were from 3.0% to 8.1%.
The following table presents the account value, net amount at risk and average attained age of underlying variable annuity contractholders for guarantees in the event of death as of December 31, 2021. The net amount at risk is the death benefit coverage in-force or the amount that Global Atlantic would have to pay if all variable annuity contractholders had died as of the specified date, and represents the excess of the guaranteed benefit over the account value.
| As of December 31, 2021 | |||||
| ($ in thousands, except for contractholders information) | |||||
| Net deposits paid | |||||
| Account value | $ | 4,615,409 | |||
| Net amount at risk | $ | 95,467 | |||
| Average attained age of contractholders | 69 | ||||
| Ratchet (highest historical account value at specified anniversary dates) | |||||
| Account value | $ | 512,683 | |||
| Net amount at risk | $ | 15,827 | |||
| Average attained age of contractholders | 72 | ||||
| Roll-up (net deposits accumulated at a specified rate) | |||||
| Account value | $ | 11,053 | |||
| Net amount at risk | $ | 1,801 | |||
| Average attained age of contractholders | 84 | ||||
| Higher of ratchet or roll-up | |||||
| Account value | $ | 1,694,832 | |||
| Net amount at risk | $ | 278,424 | |||
| Average attained age of contractholders | 77 | ||||
| Total of guaranteed benefits categorized above | |||||
| Account value | $ | 6,833,977 | |||
| Net amount at risk | $ | 391,519 | |||
| Average attained age of contractholders (weighted by account value) | 71 | ||||
| Number of contractholders | 77,059 | ||||
Guaranteed minimum withdrawal benefits
Certain fixed-indexed and variable annuity contracts are issued with a guaranteed minimum withdrawal feature. GMWB are an optional benefit where a contractholder is entitled to withdraw up to a specified amount of their benefit base each year.
The feature provides annuity policyholders with a minimum guaranteed stream of income for life, once the option is elected. The annual income amount is based on an annual withdrawal percentage multiplied by the contractual benefit base. The benefit base is defined in the contract and is generally the initial premium, reduced by any partial withdrawals, increased by a contractually defined percentage. Benefit payments are first deducted from the contractual account value. Excess guaranteed benefits are defined as the benefits paid once the underlying account value has reached zero.
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Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
The ultimate cost of these benefits will depend on the level of market returns and the level of contractual guarantees, as well as policyholder behavior, including surrenders, withdrawals and benefit utilization. For fixed-indexed annuity products, costs also include certain non-guaranteed terms that impact the ultimate cost, such as caps on crediting rates that can, at Global Atlantic’s discretion, reset annually.
Reserves for the fixed indexed annuity GMWB are calculated by estimating the present value of total expected (excess) benefit payments over the life of the contract divided by the present value of total expected assessments over the life of the contract, or the "benefit ratio", and multiplying this ratio by the cumulative assessments recorded from the contract inception through the balance sheet date less cumulative benefit payments plus interest on reserves.
The variable annuity GMWB meets the criteria for an embedded derivative, which is required to be measured at fair value. Refer to "Variable annuities with guaranteed minimum withdrawal benefits" below for more guidance on how these reserves are valued.
The following table shows the balance of the GMWB reserves reported in contractholder deposit funds and other policyholder liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets:
| Year ended | |||||
| December 31, 2021 | |||||
| Balance, as of beginning of year | $ | 872,914 | |||
| Expense incurred | 137,932 | ||||
| Balance, as of end of year | $ | 1,010,846 | |||
The following table presents the account value, net amount at risk and number of contractholders for annuity contracts with guaranteed withdrawal benefits as of December 31, 2021:
| As of December 31, 2021 | |||||
| ($ in thousands, except for contractholders information) | |||||
| Account value | $ | 11,057,318 | |||
| Net amount at risk | $ | 3,655,914 | |||
| Number of contractholders | 80,955 | ||||
Contractholder deposit funds with embedded derivatives
The following table shows the balances of the account value and embedded derivatives reported in policy liabilities in the consolidated statements of financial condition:
| As of December 31, 2021 | |||||
| Account value | $ | 28,537,784 | |||
| Embedded derivatives | $ | 2,541,225 | |||
The following paragraphs describe the products presented within the above table along with the underlying methodology used to calculate the embedded derivatives.
Global Atlantic’s fixed-indexed annuity, indexed universal life and variable annuity products contain equity-indexed features which are considered embedded derivatives and required to be measured at fair value. The fair value of the equity-indexed embedded derivative is calculated as the present value of future projected benefits in excess of the projected guaranteed benefits, using an option budget as the indexed account value growth rate, for fixed-index annuity and indexed universal life products, and the present value of future projected benefits in excess of the future allocated assessments for variable annuity products. In addition, the fair value of the embedded derivative is reduced to reflect the risk of nonperformance on Global Atlantic’s obligation, referred to as nonperformance risk. Changes in interest rates, future index credits, nonperformance risk, projected withdrawal and surrender activity, and mortality can have a significant impact on the value of the embedded derivative.
314
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
Fixed-indexed annuities
Fixed-indexed annuity contracts allow the policyholder to elect a fixed interest rate return or a market indexed strategy where interest credited is based on the performance of an index, such as S&P 500 or other indices. The equity market strategy is an embedded derivative, similar to a call option. The fair value of the embedded derivative is computed as the present value of benefits attributable to the excess of the projected policy contract values over the projected minimum guaranteed contract values. The projections of policy contract values are based on assumptions for future policy growth, which include assumptions for expected index credits, future equity option costs, volatility, interest rates and policyholder behavior. The projections of minimum guaranteed contract values include the same assumptions for policyholder behavior as are used to project policy contract values. The embedded derivative cash flows are discounted using a risk free interest rate increased by a non-performance risk spread tied to Global Atlantic’s own credit rating.
Indexed universal life
Indexed universal life contracts allow a policyholder’s account value growth to be indexed to certain equity indices, which result in an embedded derivative similar to a call option. The embedded derivative related to the index is bifurcated from the account value and measured at fair value. The valuation of the embedded derivative is the present value of future projected benefits in excess of the projected guaranteed benefits, using the option budget as the indexed account value growth rate and the guaranteed interest rate as the guaranteed account value growth rate. Present values are based on discount rate curves determined at the valuation date/issue date as well as assumed lapse and mortality rates. The discount rate equals the forecast treasury rate plus a non-performance risk spread tied to Global Atlantic’s own credit rating. Changes in discount rates and other assumptions such as spreads and/or option budgets can have a substantial impact on the embedded derivative.
Variable annuities with guaranteed minimum withdrawal benefits
Global Atlantic has issued variable annuity contracts with a GMWB feature. The GMWB feature provides annuity contractholders with a guaranteed stream of payments for life, once income is activated. The annual income amount is based on a percentage multiplied by the contractual benefit base. The benefit base is defined in the contract and may incorporate various combinations of ratchet and roll-up features. Benefit payments are first deducted from the account value. Excess guaranteed benefits are defined as all GMWB paid once the underlying account value has reached zero. The GMWB is considered an embedded derivative and measured at fair value.
The fair value calculation for the embedded derivative includes the following considerations:
•The reserve is based on projections run under a large number of stochastic scenarios;
•All underlying scenarios are generated using risk neutral assumptions;
•The mean of the projected returns is based on a risk free rate;
•Volatilities are based on market implied volatilities; and,
•The discount rate for this fair value calculation equals the risk free rate plus a spread consistent with Global Atlantic’s risk of non-performance on its obligations, which is referred to as its own credit risk.
Universal life with no-lapse guarantee
Global Atlantic has certain in-force universal life contracts which provide a secondary guarantee, or “no-lapse guarantee,” to the policyholder. The policy can remain in-force, even if the policyholder’s account value is zero, as long as contractual secondary guarantee requirements have been met. The primary risk associated with these guarantees are that the premium collected under these policies, together with the investment return earned on that premium, is ultimately insufficient to pay the policyholder’s benefits and the expenses associated with issuing and administering these policies. Global Atlantic holds an additional reserve in connection with these guarantees. The change in the reserve is included in policy benefits and claims in the consolidated statements of income.
The additional reserve related to universal life products with secondary guarantees is calculated using methods similar to those described above under “Guaranteed minimum death benefits.” The costs related to these secondary guarantees are recognized over the life of the contracts through the accrual and subsequent release of a reserve which is revalued each period. The reserve is determined for any point in time equal to the accumulated value of the assessments since inception times the benefit ratio less the accumulated value of death benefits paid since inception. The benefit ratio is the present value of total
315
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
expected benefit payments over the life of the contract divided by the present value of total expected assessments over the life of the contract. Generally, total expected excess benefit payments are the aggregate of death claims after the policyholder account value is exhausted. The exception is when the cost of insurance charges are insufficient to produce consistently positive earnings in the future. In this case, all death benefits are deemed to be excess benefits. The reserves for universal life no-lapse guarantees were $4.6 billion as of December 31, 2021.
Preneed reserves
Preneed life insurance pays a death benefit that helps cover funeral costs according to a prearranged funeral agreement. A liability for preneed policyholder benefits is established in an amount determined by the account or contract balance that accrues to the benefit of the policyholder. Reserves on preneed business are based on cash surrender values of issued policies. An additional insurance liability is established as of each reporting date where the total liability is equal to the present value of projected future benefits and maintenance expenses, including discretionary death benefits to be credited to policies using current period discretionary death benefit crediting rates under current assumptions. We have the discretion to adjust these death benefit crediting rates up or down. Global Atlantic has also issued preneed insurance contracts with crediting rates tied to inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index or other indices. For these contracts, future death benefit growth is based on the expected yield curve on the swaps hedging the reserves.
These crediting rates utilize the following assumptions:
•Credited interest rate: Based on the non-forfeiture rates of 3.0% to 5.5%.
•Mortality: Based on Global Atlantic’s experience.
•Death benefit inflation: Based on the discretionary death benefit inflation rates in effect at the current reporting date. To mitigate the risk that a policy will not keep pace with increases in funeral prices or remain competitive, Global Atlantic has the discretion to increase or decrease the death benefit. Such increases or decreases are considered on a quarterly basis and vary by plan.
•Maintenance expenses: Based on Global Atlantic’s experience and expressed as a cost per paid-up policy and a cost per premium-paying policy.
The earned interest rate used to calculate estimated gross profits is based on the asset yield.
316
Closed blocks
Summarized financial information of Global Atlantic’s closed blocks is as follows:
| As of December 31, 2021 | |||||
| Assets | |||||
| Total investments | $ | 2,964 | |||
| Cash and cash equivalents | 2,904 | ||||
| Accrued investment income | 35 | ||||
| Reinsurance recoverable | 1,293,791 | ||||
| Deferred income taxes | 59,902 | ||||
| Total assets | 1,359,596 | ||||
| Liabilities | |||||
| Future policy benefits | 1,226,231 | ||||
| Outstanding claims | 28,655 | ||||
| Contractholder deposit funds and other liabilities | 1,074 | ||||
Policyholder dividend obligation at fair value(1) | 81,280 | ||||
Policyholder dividends payable at fair value(1) | 11,096 | ||||
| Total policy liabilities | 1,348,336 | ||||
| Accrued expenses and other liabilities | 10,412 | ||||
| Total liabilities | 1,358,748 | ||||
| Excess of closed block liabilities over assets designated to the closed blocks and maximum future earnings to be recognized from closed block assets and liabilities | $ | (848) | |||
(1) Included within contractholder deposit funds and other policyholder liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets.
| Year ended | |||||
| December 31, 2021 | |||||
| Revenues | |||||
| Premiums and other income | $ | 660 | |||
| Net investment expense | (28) | ||||
| Total revenues | 632 | ||||
| Benefits and expenses | |||||
| Policy benefits | (5,652) | ||||
| Other expenses | 8 | ||||
| Total benefits and expenses | (5,644) | ||||
| Net contribution from the closed blocks | 6,276 | ||||
| Income tax (benefit) expense | (3,026) | ||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | 9,302 | |||
Many expenses related to the closed block operations are charged to operations outside the closed blocks; accordingly, the contribution from the closed blocks does not represent the actual profitability of the closed block operations.
The closed blocks of business represents policies acquired through acquisition, which were valued at fair value as of the acquisition date.
317
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
18. INCOME TAXES
KKR & Co. Inc. is a domestic corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes and thus is subject to U.S. federal, state and local corporate income taxes at the entity level on KKR’s share of net taxable income. In addition, KKR Group Partnership and certain of its subsidiaries operate as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes and as corporate entities in the U.S. and certain non-U.S. jurisdictions. These entities, in some cases, are subject to U.S. state or local income taxes or non-U.S. income taxes. Moreover, certain subsidiaries of KKR, including the Global Atlantic Financial Group, are domestic corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes and are subject to U.S. federal, state, and local corporate income taxes.
Income before income taxes includes the following components:
| For the Years Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |||||||||||||||
| Income before Income Taxes: | |||||||||||||||||
| United States | $ | 13,160,722 | $ | 5,534,251 | $ | 5,042,319 | |||||||||||
| Foreign | 487,727 | 192,444 | 125,971 | ||||||||||||||
| Total Income before Income Taxes | $ | 13,648,449 | $ | 5,726,695 | $ | 5,168,290 | |||||||||||
The provision (benefit) for income taxes consists of the following:
| For the Years Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |||||||||||||||
| Current | |||||||||||||||||
| Federal | $ | 344,052 | $ | 181,838 | $ | 56,046 | |||||||||||
| State and Local | 40,336 | 29,033 | 10,925 | ||||||||||||||
| Foreign | 81,370 | 49,962 | 38,238 | ||||||||||||||
| Subtotal | 465,758 | 260,833 | 105,209 | ||||||||||||||
| Deferred | |||||||||||||||||
| Federal | 793,540 | 289,700 | 428,110 | ||||||||||||||
| State and Local | 97,063 | 36,460 | 49,148 | ||||||||||||||
| Foreign | (3,091) | 22,104 | (53,717) | ||||||||||||||
| Subtotal | 887,512 | 348,264 | 423,541 | ||||||||||||||
| Total Income Taxes | $ | 1,353,270 | $ | 609,097 | $ | 528,750 | |||||||||||
318
The following table reconciles the U.S. Federal Statutory Tax Rate to the Effective Income Tax Rate:
| For the Years Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |||||||||||||||
| Statutory U.S. Federal Income Tax Rate | 21.0 | % | 21.0 | % | 21.0 | % | |||||||||||
Income not attributable to KKR & Co. Inc. (1) | (14.0) | % | (13.9) | % | (13.1) | % | |||||||||||
| Foreign Income Taxes | 0.3 | % | 0.8 | % | (0.3) | % | |||||||||||
| State and Local Income Taxes | 0.8 | % | 0.8 | % | 0.9 | % | |||||||||||
| Compensation Charges Borne by KKR Holdings | 2.8 | % | 2.4 | % | 2.8 | % | |||||||||||
| Conversion Benefit | — | % | — | % | (0.9) | % | |||||||||||
| Change in Valuation Allowance | — | % | 0.4 | % | — | % | |||||||||||
| Other | (1.0) | % | (0.9) | % | (0.1) | % | |||||||||||
| Effective Income Tax Rate | 9.9 | % | 10.6 | % | 10.3 | % | |||||||||||
(1)Represents primarily income attributable to (i) noncontrolling interests for all periods. This item also includes investment income of certain entities and net carried interest of certain general partners of KKR investment funds that were not subject to U.S. federal income taxes prior to the conversion of KKR & Co. L.P. to KKR & Co. Inc.
A summary of the tax effects of the temporary differences is as follows:
| Asset Management | December 31, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | |||||||||
| Deferred Tax Assets | |||||||||||
| Fund Management Fee Credits | $ | 98,165 | $ | 82,511 | |||||||
| Equity Based Compensation | 34,116 | 31,518 | |||||||||
KKR Holdings Unit Exchanges (1) | 449,683 | 233,516 | |||||||||
Depreciation and Amortization (2) | 212,063 | 259,801 | |||||||||
| Operating Lease Liability | 40,101 | 32,213 | |||||||||
| Net Operating Loss Carryforwards | 58,764 | 54,958 | |||||||||
| Other | 37,833 | 24,836 | |||||||||
| Total Deferred Tax Assets before Valuation Allowance | 930,725 | 719,353 | |||||||||
| Valuation Allowance | (23,082) | (23,082) | |||||||||
| Total Deferred Tax Assets | 907,643 | 696,271 | |||||||||
| Deferred Tax Liabilities | |||||||||||
Investment Basis Differences / Net Unrealized Gains & Losses (2) | 1,662,353 | 779,661 | |||||||||
| Operating Lease Right-of-Use Asset | 40,101 | 32,213 | |||||||||
| Other | 19,855 | — | |||||||||
| Total Deferred Tax Liabilities | 1,722,309 | 811,874 | |||||||||
| Total Deferred Taxes, Net | $ | (814,666) | $ | (115,603) | |||||||
(1)In connection with exchanges of KKR Holdings units into common stock of KKR & Co. Inc., KKR records a deferred tax asset associated with an increase in KKR & Co. Inc.'s share of the tax basis of the tangible and intangible assets of KKR Group Partnership. This amount is offset by an adjustment to record amounts due to KKR Holdings and principals under the tax receivable agreement, which is included within Due to Affiliates in the consolidated statements of financial condition. The net impact of these adjustments was recorded as an adjustment to equity at the time of the exchanges.
(2)This deferred tax item includes a portion of the tax benefit KKR recognized as a result of the step-up in tax basis generated by the conversion of KKR & Co. L.P. to KKR & Co. Inc.
319
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
| Insurance | December 31, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | |||||||||
| Deferred Tax Assets | |||||||||||
| Insurance Reserves | $ | 1,993,496 | $ | — | |||||||
| Insurance Intangibles | 168,054 | — | |||||||||
| Net Operating Loss and Capital Loss Carryforwards | 15,857 | — | |||||||||
| Other | 75,000 | — | |||||||||
| Total Deferred Tax Assets before Valuation Allowance | 2,252,407 | — | |||||||||
| Valuation Allowance | — | — | |||||||||
| Total Deferred Tax Assets | 2,252,407 | — | |||||||||
| Deferred Tax Liabilities | |||||||||||
| Insurance Loss Reserve Adjustment | 111,910 | — | |||||||||
| Insurance Investment Basis Differences, Including Derivatives | 1,384,621 | — | |||||||||
| Total Deferred Tax Liabilities | 1,496,531 | — | |||||||||
| Total Deferred Taxes, Net | $ | 755,876 | $ | — | |||||||
Management assesses the available positive and negative evidence to estimate whether sufficient future taxable income will be generated to permit use of the existing deferred tax assets. As of December 31, 2021, a valuation allowance of $23.1 million has been recorded against certain foreign deferred tax assets primarily related to net operating loss carryforwards that are unlikely to be utilized. The amount of the deferred tax asset considered realizable, however, could be adjusted if estimates of future taxable income during the carryforward period are reduced or increased or if objective negative evidence in the form of cumulative losses is no longer present and additional weight is given to subjective evidence such as our projections for growth.
As of December 31, 2021, KKR has a federal net operating loss ("NOL") carryforward of $41 million that will begin to expire in 2034, state and local NOL carryforward of $96.6 million with an indefinite carryforward period, and a foreign NOL carryforward of $218.3 million that will begin to expire in 2028. In addition, KKR has capital loss carryforwards of $34 million which will begin to expire in 2025.
As of December 31, 2021, KKR has accumulated undistributed earnings generated by certain foreign subsidiaries, which we intend to indefinitely reinvest and have not recorded any deferred taxes with respect to outside U.S. federal income tax basis difference on these subsidiaries. KKR will continue to evaluate its capital management plans.
Tax Contingencies
KKR files its tax returns as prescribed by the tax laws of the jurisdictions in which it operates. In the normal course of business, KKR is subject to examination by U.S. federal and certain state, local and foreign tax regulators. As of December 31, 2021, tax returns of KKR and its predecessor entities for the years 2016 through 2018 for U.S. federal purposes and 2011 through 2018 for state and local tax purposes are open under general statute of limitations provisions and therefore subject to examination.
At December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, KKR's unrecognized tax benefits relating to uncertain tax positions, excluding related interest and penalties, consisted of the following:
| For the Years Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |||||||||||||||
| Unrecognized Tax Benefits, beginning of period | $ | 60,712 | $ | 53,372 | $ | 53,598 | |||||||||||
| Gross increases in tax positions in prior periods | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Gross decreases in tax positions in prior periods | (2,009) | (125) | (2,443) | ||||||||||||||
| Gross increases in tax positions in current period | 2,671 | 7,700 | 4,107 | ||||||||||||||
| Lapse of statute of limitations | (1,741) | (235) | (1,890) | ||||||||||||||
| Unrecognized Tax Benefits, end of period | $ | 59,633 | $ | 60,712 | $ | 53,372 | |||||||||||
If the above tax benefits were recognized, the effective income tax rate would be reduced. KKR believes that there could be a decrease to the tax positions up to $33 million within 12 months of the reporting date but the impact of such decrease to the effective tax rate would not be significant.
320
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
KKR recognizes interest and penalties accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense. Related to the unrecognized tax benefits, KKR had a net increase of accrued penalties of $2.6 million and interest of $0.5 million during 2021 and in total, as of December 31, 2021, recognized a liability for penalties of $5.2 million and interest of $13.8 million. During 2020, penalties of $0.5 million and interest of $3.1 million were accrued and in total, as of December 31, 2020 recognized a liability for penalties of $2.6 million and interest of $13.3 million. During 2019, penalties of $(0.4) million and interest of $(0.4) million were accrued and in total, as of December 31, 2019, recognized a liability for penalties of $2.2 million and interest of $10.2 million.
321
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
19. EQUITY BASED COMPENSATION
Asset Management
KKR Equity Incentive Plan Awards
For the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, KKR recorded equity based compensation expense of $273.0 million, $246.4 million and $207.8 million, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2021, $11.7 million of equity based compensation related to our insurance business.
Under KKR's Equity Incentive Plans, KKR is permitted to grant equity awards representing ownership interests in KKR & Co. Inc. common stock. On March 29, 2019, the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan became effective. Following the effectiveness of the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan, KKR no longer makes further grants under the 2010 Equity Incentive Plan, and the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan became KKR's only plan for providing new equity-based awards by KKR & Co. Inc. Outstanding awards under the 2010 Equity Incentive Plan will remain outstanding, unchanged and subject to the terms of the 2010 Equity Incentive Plan and their respective equity award agreements, until the vesting, expiration or lapse of such awards in accordance with their terms. The total number of equity awards representing shares of common stock that may be issued under the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan is equivalent to 15% of the aggregate number of the shares of common stock and KKR Group Partnership Units (excluding KKR Group Partnership Units held by KKR & Co. Inc. or its wholly-owned subsidiaries), subject to annual adjustment. As of December 31, 2021, 70,812,698 shares may be issued under the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan. Equity awards granted pursuant to the Equity Plans generally consist of (i) restricted stock units ("RSUs") that convert to shares of common stock of KKR & Co. Inc. (or cash equivalent) upon vesting and (ii) restricted holdings units ("RHUs") that are exchangeable into shares of common stock of KKR & Co. Inc. upon vesting and certain other conditions. Vested awards under the Equity Incentive Plans dilute KKR & Co. Inc. common stockholders and KKR Holdings pro rata in accordance with their respective percentage interests in KKR Group Partnership.
Service-Vesting Awards
Under the Equity Incentive Plans, KKR grants RSUs and RHUs that are subject to service-based vesting, typically over a to five-year period from the date of grant (referred to hereafter as "Service-Vesting Awards"). In certain cases, these Service-Vesting Awards may have a percentage of the award that vests immediately upon grant. Additionally, some but not all Service-Vesting Awards are subject to transfer restrictions and/or minimum retained ownership requirements. The transfer restriction period, if applicable, lasts for (i) one year with respect to one-half of the interests vesting on any vesting date and (ii) two years with respect to the other one-half of the interests vesting on such vesting date. While providing services to KKR, some but not all of these awards are also subject to minimum retained ownership rules requiring the award recipient to continuously hold shares of common stock equivalents equal to at least 15% of their cumulatively vested awards that have or had the minimum retained ownership requirement. Holders of the Service-Vesting Awards do not participate in dividends until such awards have met their vesting requirements.
Expense associated with the vesting of these Service-Vesting Awards is based on the closing price of KKR & Co. Inc. common stock on the date of grant, discounted for the lack of participation rights in the expected dividends on unvested equity awards. Expense is recognized on a straight line basis over the life of the award and assumes a forfeiture rate of up to 7% annually based upon expected turnover by class of recipient.
322
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
As of December 31, 2021, there was approximately $601.5 million of total estimated unrecognized expense related to unvested Service-Vesting Awards, which is expected to be recognized over the weighted average remaining requisite service period of 1.9 years.
A summary of the status of unvested Service-Vesting Awards granted under the Equity Incentive Plans from January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021 is presented below:
| Shares | Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value | ||||||||||
| Balance, January 1, 2021 | 23,866,696 | $ | 28.28 | ||||||||
| Granted | 4,965,504 | 68.75 | |||||||||
| Vested | (9,097,728) | 22.88 | |||||||||
| Forfeitures | (427,431) | 29.56 | |||||||||
| Balance, December 31, 2021 | 19,307,041 | $ | 41.21 | ||||||||
Market Condition Awards
Under the Equity Incentive Plans, KKR also grants RSUs and RHUs that are subject to both a service-based vesting condition and a market price based vesting condition (referred to hereafter as "Market Condition Awards") for certain employees (other than the Co-CEO Awards discussed below). The number of Market Condition Awards that will vest depend upon (i) the market price of KKR common stock reaching certain price targets that range from $45.00 to $140.00 and (ii) the employee being employed by KKR on a certain date, which typically is five and a half years from the date of grant (with exceptions for involuntary termination without cause, death and permanent disability). The market price vesting condition is met when the average closing price of KKR common stock during 20 consecutive trading days meets or exceeds the stock price targets. Holders of the Market Condition Awards do not participate in dividends until such awards have met both their service-based and market price based vesting requirements. Additionally, these awards are subject to additional transfer restrictions and minimum retained ownership requirements after vesting.
Due to the existence of the service requirement, the vesting period for these Market Condition Awards is explicit, and as such, compensation expense will be recognized on (i) a straight-line basis over the period from the date of grant through the date the award recipient is required to be employed by KKR and (ii) assumes a forfeiture rate of up to 7% annually based upon expected turnover. The fair value of the awards granted are based on a Monte-Carlo simulation valuation model. In addition, the grant date fair value assumes that holders of the Market Condition Awards will not participate in dividends until such awards have met all of their vesting requirements.
Below is a summary of the grant date fair value based on the Monte Carlo simulation valuation model and the significant assumptions used to estimate the grant date fair value of these Market Condition Awards:
| Weighted Average | Range | ||||||||||
| Grant Date Fair Value | $25.03 | $19.87 - $47.47 | |||||||||
| Closing KKR share price as of valuation date | $42.49 | $37.93 - $76.31 | |||||||||
| Risk Free Rate | 0.51% | 0.41% - 1.28% | |||||||||
| Volatility | 28.04% | 28.00% - 30.00% | |||||||||
| Dividend Yield | 1.42% | 0.76% - 1.53% | |||||||||
| Expected Cost of Equity | 10.61% | 9.13% - 10.76% | |||||||||
323
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
As of December 31, 2021, there was approximately $374.8 million of total estimated unrecognized expense related to these unvested Market Condition Awards, which is expected to be recognized over the weighted average remaining requisite service period of 4.4 years.
A summary of the status of unvested Market Condition Awards granted under the Equity Incentive Plans from January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021 is presented below:
| Shares | Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value | ||||||||||
| Balance, January 1, 2021 | 16,875,000 | $ | 21.07 | ||||||||
| Granted | 4,495,847 | 39.90 | |||||||||
| Vested | — | — | |||||||||
| Forfeitures | — | — | |||||||||
| Balance, December 31, 2021 | 21,370,847 | $ | 25.03 | ||||||||
As of December 31, 2021, 19.5 million of these Market Condition awards have met their market price based vesting condition.
Co-CEO Awards
On December 9, 2021, the Board of Directors of KKR approved grants of 7.5 million RHUs to each of KKR’s Co-Chief Executive Officers that are subject to both a service-based vesting condition and a market price based vesting condition (referred to hereafter as "Co-CEOs Awards"). For both Co-Chief Executive Officers, 20% of the Co-CEOs Awards are eligible to vest at each of the following KKR common stock prices targets: $95.80, $105.80, $115.80, $125.80 and $135.80. The market price based vesting condition is met when the average closing price of KKR common stock during 20 consecutive trading days meets or exceeds the stock price targets. In addition to the market price based vesting conditions, in order for the Co-CEOs Awards to vest, the Co-Chief Executive Officer is required to be employed by KKR on December 31, 2026 (with exceptions for involuntary termination without cause, death and permanent disability).
These awards will be automatically canceled and forfeited upon the earlier of the Co-Chief Executive Officer’s termination of service (except for involuntary termination without cause, death or permanent disability) or the failure to meet the market price based vesting condition by December 31, 2028 (for which continued service is required if the market price vesting condition is met after December 31, 2026). Co-CEO Awards do not participate in dividends until such awards have met both their service-based and market price based vesting requirements. Additionally, these awards are subject to additional transfer restrictions and minimum retained ownership requirements after vesting.
Due to the existence of the service requirement, the vesting period for these Co-CEO Awards is explicit, and as such, compensation expense will be recognized on a straight-line basis over the period from the date of grant through December 31, 2026 given the derived service period is less than the explicit service period. The fair value of the awards granted are based on a Monte-Carlo simulation valuation model. In addition, the grant date fair value assumes that these Co-CEO Awards will not participate in dividends until such awards have met all of their vesting requirements.
Below is a summary of the grant date fair value based on the Monte Carlo simulation valuation model and the significant assumptions used to estimate the grant date fair value of these Co-CEO Awards:
| Grant Date Fair Value | $48.91 | ||||
| Closing KKR share price as of valuation date | $75.76 | ||||
| Risk Free Rate | 1.42% | ||||
| Volatility | 28.0% | ||||
| Dividend Yield | 0.77% | ||||
| Expected Cost of Equity | 9.36% | ||||
As of December 31, 2021, there was approximately $724.9 million of total estimated unrecognized expense related to these unvested Co-CEO Awards, which is expected to be recognized ratably from January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2026. As of December 31, 2021, none of these Co-CEO awards have met their market price based vesting condition.
324
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
KKR Holdings Awards
For the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, KKR recorded equity based compensation expense of $160.7 million, $80.0 million and $91.1 million, respectively.
KKR Holdings units are exchangeable for KKR Group Partnership Units and allow for their exchange into common stock of KKR & Co. Inc. on a one-for-one basis. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, KKR Holdings owned approximately 30.2% or 258,726,163 units and 32.5% or 275,626,493 units, respectively, of outstanding KKR Group Partnership Units. In the past, awards of KKR Holdings units generally had service-based vesting, typically over a to five-year period from the date of grant, although some historical awards had a percentage of the award vested immediately upon grant. These awards also generally had transfer restrictions which last or had lasted for (i) one year with respect to one-half of the interests vesting on any vesting date and (ii) two years with respect to the other one-half of the interests vesting on such vesting date. While providing services to KKR, the recipients are also subject to minimum retained ownership rules requiring them to continuously hold 25% of their vested interests. Holders of KKR Holdings units are not entitled to participate in distributions made on KKR Group Partnership Units underlying their KKR Holdings units until such units are vested. As of December 31, 2021, all of the KKR Holdings units (except for less than 0.5% of the outstanding KKR Holdings units) have been granted, and certain Holdings units remain subject to vesting. All of these KKR Holdings units represent KKR Group Partnership units that are already outstanding, and therefore their vesting and allocations as described above do not represent any incremental dilution to KKR.
On October 8, 2021, as part of the transactions contemplated by the Reorganization, of the 3.3 million outstanding KKR Holdings units that remained unallocated as of September 30, 2021, KKR Holdings allocated 1,150,000 KKR Holdings units to each of KKR’s Co-CEOs, of which 70% vested immediately, on October 8, 2021, and the remaining 30% are subject to forfeiture if such Co-CEO is not employed by KKR on October 1, 2022 (except in the case of death or permanent disability). These KKR Holdings units (or shares of common stock to be received in respect thereof) are subject to customary - and two-year transfer restrictions that will apply, as applicable, until October 1, 2023 and October 1, 2024. In addition, the legal vesting and delivery of certain awards of KKR Holdings units held by Messrs. Kravis, Roberts, Bae and Nuttall will be accelerated as part of the transactions contemplated by the Reorganization Agreement.
The fair value of awards granted out of KKR Holdings is generally based on the closing price of KKR & Co. Inc. common stock on the date of grant discounted for the lack of participation rights in the expected distributions on unvested units. KKR determined this to be the best evidence of fair value as KKR & Co. Inc. common stock is traded in an active market and has an observable market price. Additionally, a KKR Holdings unit is an instrument with terms and conditions similar to those of KKR & Co. Inc. common stock. Specifically, units in KKR Holdings and shares of KKR & Co. Inc. represent ownership interests in KKR Group Partnership Units and, subject to any vesting, minimum retained ownership requirements and transfer restrictions, each KKR Holdings unit is exchangeable into a KKR Group Partnership Unit and then into a share of KKR & Co. Inc. common stock on a one-for-one basis.
KKR Holdings awards give rise to equity-based compensation in the consolidated statements of operations based on the grant-date fair value of the award discounted for the lack of participation rights in the expected distributions on unvested units. This discount is consistent with that noted above for shares issued under the Equity Incentive Plans. Expense is recognized on a straight line basis over the life of the award and assumes a forfeiture rate of up to 7% annually based on expected turnover by class of recipient.
As of December 31, 2021, there was approximately $59.8 million of estimated unrecognized expense, which is expected to be recognized ratably from January 1, 2022 to October 1, 2022.
A summary of the status of unvested awards granted under the KKR Holdings Plan from January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021 is presented below:
| Units | Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value | ||||||||||
| Balance, January 1, 2021 | 10,240,000 | $ | 14.33 | ||||||||
| Granted | 2,300,000 | 65.51 | |||||||||
| Vested | (7,940,000) | 24.78 | |||||||||
| Forfeitures | — | — | |||||||||
| Balance, December 31, 2021 | 4,600,000 | $ | 21.88 | ||||||||
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Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
Insurance
Global Atlantic recognized $63.9 million of expense related equity-based compensation and long-term incentive awards for the year ended December 31, 2021.
The income tax benefit recognized by Global Atlantic with respect to the equity-based compensation and long-term incentive plans for the year ended December 31, 2021 was $11.0 million and was recognized as an income tax benefit in the consolidated statements of operations.
No equity-based compensation costs were capitalized during the year ended December 31, 2021.
Equity Classified Awards - KKR Equity Incentive Plan Awards
On February 1, 2021, in connection with the GA Acquisition, employees of Global Atlantic were awarded a one-time grant of RSUs under the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan. These awards (i) are subject to service-based vesting conditions and (ii) expense associated with the vesting of these awards is based on the closing price of KKR & Co. Inc. common stock on the date of grant, consistent with other awards granted under the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan as described above.
On July 1, 2021, a grant of a Market Condition Award was made under the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan. This award is subject to meeting certain market price based vesting conditions of KKR common stock but has no service vesting condition. Expense associated with the grant date fair value of this award of $10.5 million was fully recognized in the three months ended September 30, 2021.
Global Atlantic recognized $11.7 million of total equity-based compensation expense for the year ended December 31, 2021 associated with these awards.
Liability Classified Awards - Book Value Awards
On February 1, 2021, Global Atlantic adopted the Global Atlantic Financial Company Book Value Award Plan ("GA Book Value Plan") to enhance the ability of Global Atlantic to attract, motivate and retain its employees and to promote the success of the Global Atlantic business.
The GA Book Value Plan authorizes the grant of cash-settled awards ("book value awards") representing the right to receive one or more payments upon vesting equal to the product of an initial dollar value set by the award multiplied by a pre-determined formula as of each applicable vesting date. The predetermined formula is equal to the quotient determined by dividing the book value of one share of TGAFG on the applicable vesting date by the book value of a share on the original grant date, subject to adjustments. Book value awards generally vest in three equal, annual installments, subject to continued employment.
On February 1, 2021, under the terms of the GA Merger Agreement and in accordance with applicable plan documentation, former Global Atlantic restricted share awards that were unvested immediately prior to the closing of the GA Acquisition converted into the right to receive a number of book value awards under the GA Book Value Plan having the same value and the same vesting schedule as the former Global Atlantic restricted share awards immediately prior to the closing of the GA Acquisition.
An aggregate of 3,020,017 unvested former Global Atlantic restricted share awards having a fair value of $29.47 per share were converted to book value awards at an aggregate grant-date value of $89 million. On February 28, 2021, book value awards having an aggregate value of approximately $28 million vested as set forth in the former Global Atlantic grant agreements and resulted in a cash payment of $17 million to participants, net of applicable tax withholding.
Also in connection with the GA Acquisition, on February 1, 2021, Global Atlantic employees were issued a one-time grant of book value awards having an aggregate initial value of $23 million. These one-time book value awards vest over (5) years, with the first 25% vesting on April 1, 2023 and the remainder vesting 25% annually on April 1 each subsequent year until fully vested, subject to continued employment. Global Atlantic is recording compensation expense over the vesting schedule of the awards, net of an estimated forfeiture rate of 4%.
326
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
On March 1, 2021, pursuant to the GA Book Value Plan, book value awards having an aggregate initial value of approximately $32 million were granted. Such book value awards generally vest annually over three years in equal increments, subject to continued employment. Global Atlantic is recording compensation expense over the vesting schedule of the awards, net of an estimated forfeiture rate of 4%.
Global Atlantic began recognizing long-term incentive expense for the book value awards described above at the grant dates, based on their initial value, net of a 4% estimated forfeiture rate. Global Atlantic adjusts expense periodically for changes in book value until the awards are settled or forfeited. Expense recognized on forfeited awards is reversed in the period of forfeiture. The table below presents the activity related to book value awards for the year ended December 31, 2021:
| Book value awards ($ in thousands) | |||||
| Outstanding amount as of beginning of period | $ | — | |||
| Pre-acquisition awards converted to book-value awards on February 1, 2021 | 89,000 | ||||
| Granted | 88,195 | ||||
| Forfeited | (7,677) | ||||
| Impact of change in book value on outstanding awards | 6,597 | ||||
| Vested and issued | (31,115) | ||||
| Outstanding amount as of end of period | $ | 145,000 | |||
Global Atlantic recognized $52.2 million of compensation expense for the year ended December 31, 2021 associated with these awards. The remaining unamortized compensation expense of $99.6 million is expected to be recognized over a remaining average period of 2.67 years.
GA Equity Incentive Plan Awards
On June 24, 2021, Global Atlantic issued 1,000 non-voting incentive shares to a Bermuda exempted partnership owned by certain Global Atlantic employees, who are eligible to receive incentive units under Global Atlantic's Senior Management Equity Incentive Plan ("GA Equity Incentive Plan"). These incentive units represent an interest in the receipt of certain amounts based on Global Atlantic's book value, market value, and AUM, in each case as derived in part from the value of TGAFG’s fully-diluted equity shares.
On June 24, 2021, Global Atlantic granted approximately 808 incentive units under the GA Equity Incentive Plan. The book value component of the incentive units vests 20% per year on the anniversary of the GA Acquisition Date, as long as the grantee remains then employed, and will be settled in cash. The market value and AUM components of the incentive units cliff vest upon the earlier to occur of (i) the fifth (5th) anniversary of the GA Acquisition Date, or (ii) a change of control, and will be settled in a variable number of TGAFG’s non-voting common shares. Except in the event of termination due to death or disability, generally, unvested market value and AUM amounts are forfeited upon a termination of employment.
The GA Equity Incentive Plan is accounted for as a hybrid compensation plan, consisting of one component most closely aligned with a profit-sharing plan under ASC 710, Compensation - General, as well as other components within scope of ASC 718, Compensation - Stock Compensation, in all cases with obligations liability-classified. Accordingly, with regard to awards within scope of ASC 710, Global Atlantic records expense based on payouts deemed to be probable and reasonably estimable based on the book value growth of Global Atlantic at the grant date and at each reporting period. For award components subject to liability-classification under ASC 718, Global Atlantic records expense, net of a 0% estimated forfeiture rate, based on the fair value of awards granted, with periodic adjustments to expense for changes in fair value, over the requisite 5-year service period.
The aggregate value of the GA Equity Incentive Plan awards at the initial date of grant was $197 million, based on the intrinsic value of the book value component at the date of grant ($5 million) and the fair value of the market value and AUM components at the date of grant ($192 million, collectively), based on the projected growth in value of each component over the 5-year vesting schedule and applying a forfeiture rate of 0%. Expense will be remeasured at each reporting period and adjusted as needed until the awards are forfeited or settled.
During the year ended December 31, 2021, approximately 841 incentive units were granted to employees and approximately 10 incentive units were forfeited. As of December 31, 2021, there were approximately 831 incentive units outstanding under the Plan.
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Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
Global Atlantic recorded compensation expense of $43.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2021 related to the GA Units granted under the GA Equity Incentive Plan, with a corresponding offset to other liabilities. As of December 31, 2021, there was approximately $104.1 million of unrecognized expense related to the GA Units granted under the GA Equity Incentive Plan with a weighted average service period remaining of 4.09 years
328
20. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Due from Affiliates consists of:
| December 31, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | ||||||||||
| Amounts due from portfolio companies | $ | 114,479 | $ | 164,113 | |||||||
| Amounts due from unconsolidated investment funds | 1,109,769 | 707,758 | |||||||||
| Amounts due from related entities | 35 | 1,123 | |||||||||
| Due from Affiliates | $ | 1,224,283 | $ | 872,994 | |||||||
Due to Affiliates consists of:
| December 31, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | ||||||||||
| Amounts due to KKR Holdings - tax receivable agreement | $ | 399,163 | $ | 204,014 | |||||||
| Amounts due to unconsolidated investment funds | 63,559 | 121,163 | |||||||||
| Due to Affiliates | $ | 462,722 | $ | 325,177 | |||||||
Tax Receivable Agreement
KKR is required to acquire KKR Group Partnership Units from time to time pursuant to the exchange agreement with KKR Holdings. The KKR Group Partnership has made an election under Section 754 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, that will remain in effect for each taxable year in which an exchange of KKR Group Partnership Units for common stock occurs, which may result in an increase in KKR's tax basis of the assets of KKR Group Partnership at the time of an exchange of KKR Group Partnership Units. Certain of these exchanges are expected to result in an increase in KKR's share of the tax basis of the tangible and intangible assets of the KKR Group Partnership, primarily attributable to a portion of the goodwill inherent in KKR's business that would not otherwise have been available. This increase in tax basis may increase depreciation and amortization deductions for tax purposes and therefore reduce the amount of income tax KKR otherwise would be required to pay in the future. This increase in tax basis may also decrease gain (or increase loss) on future dispositions of certain capital assets to the extent tax basis is allocated to those capital assets.
KKR has entered into a tax receivable agreement with KKR Holdings, which requires KKR to pay to KKR Holdings, or to current and former principals who have exchanged KKR Holdings units for shares of common stock (as transferees of KKR Group Partnership Units), 85% of the amount of cash savings, if any, in U.S. federal, state and local income tax that KKR realizes as a result of the increase in tax basis described above, as well as 85% of the amount of any such savings KKR actually realizes as a result of increases in tax basis that arise due to future payments under the agreement. KKR expects to benefit from the remaining 15% of cash savings, if any, in income tax that it realizes.
These payment obligations are obligations of KKR & Co. Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiary and not of KKR Group Partnership and are recorded within Due to Affiliates in the accompanying consolidated statements of financial condition. Payments made under the tax receivable agreement are required to be made within 90 days of the filing of KKR's tax returns, which may result in a timing difference between the tax savings received by KKR and the cash payments made to the exchanging holders of KKR Group Partnership Units.
Effective July 1, 2018, we amended the tax receivable agreement to reflect the conversion of KKR & Co. L.P. to KKR & Co. Inc. on July 1, 2018 (the "Conversion"). The amendment also provides that, in the event the maximum U.S. federal corporate income tax rate is increased to a rate higher than 21.0% within the five- year period following the Conversion, for exchanges pursuant to the exchange agreement that take place within that five-year period (other than exchanges following the death of an individual), payments of cash tax savings realized as a result of such exchanges shall be calculated by applying a U.S. federal corporate income tax rate not to exceed 21.0%. The amendment also clarifies that the tax benefit payments with respect to exchanges completed at any time prior to the Conversion will be calculated without taking into account the step-up in tax basis in our underlying assets that we generated in 2018 as a result of the Conversion.
The tax receivable agreement will terminate upon the closing of the mergers contemplated by the Reorganization Agreement, other than with respect to certain exchanges occurring prior to its termination.
For the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, cash payments that have been made under the tax receivable agreement were $7.2 million, $7.2 million, and $11.8 million, respectively. KKR expects KKR & Co. Inc. or its wholly-owned
329
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
subsidiary to benefit from the remaining 15% of cash savings, if any, in income tax that they realize. As of December 31, 2021, $8.9 million of cumulative income tax savings have been realized.
Discretionary Investments
Certain of KKR's current and former employees and other qualifying personnel are permitted to invest, and have invested, their own capital in KKR's funds, in side-by-side investments with these funds and the firm, as well as in funds managed by its hedge fund partnerships. Side-by-side investments are made on the same terms and conditions as those acquired by the applicable fund or the firm, except that the side-by-side investments do not subject the investor to management fees or a carried interest. The cash contributed by these individuals aggregated $685.8 million, $645.6 million, and $433.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Aircraft and Other Services
Certain of the senior employees own aircraft that are used for KKR's business in the ordinary course of its operations. The hourly rates that KKR pays for the use of these aircraft are based on current market rates for chartering private aircraft of the same type. KKR incurred $1.7 million, $1.7 million, and $3.8 million for the use of these aircraft for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively, of which substantially all was paid to entities controlled by Messrs. Kravis and Roberts, and of which substantially all was borne by KKR rather than its investment funds (which indirectly bear the cost of some of these flights at commercial airline rates).
Facilities
Certain trusts, whose beneficiaries include children of Mr. Kravis and Mr. Roberts, and certain other senior employees who are not executive officers of KKR, are partners in a real-estate based partnership that maintains an ownership interest in KKR's Menlo Park location. Payments made to this partnership were $8.6 million, $8.4 million, and $8.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
21. SEGMENT REPORTING
KKR operates through two reportable segments which are presented below and reflect how its chief operating decision-makers allocate resources and assess performance:
•Asset Management - the asset management business offers a broad range of investment management services to investment funds, vehicles and accounts (including Global Atlantic) and provides capital markets services to portfolio companies and third parties. This reportable segment also reflects how its business lines operate collaboratively with predominantly a single expense pool.
•Insurance - the insurance business is operated by Global Atlantic, which is a leading U.S. retirement and life insurance company that provides a broad suite of protection, legacy and savings products and reinsurance solutions to clients across individual and institutional markets. Global Atlantic primarily generates income by earning a spread between its investment income and the cost of policyholder benefits.
KKR’s segment profitability measure used to make operating decisions and assess performance across KKR’s reportable segments is presented prior to giving effect to the allocation of income (loss) among KKR & Co. Inc., KKR Holdings and holders of other exchangeable securities, and the consolidation of the investment funds, vehicles and accounts that KKR advises, manages or sponsors (including CFEs). KKR's segment profitability measure excludes: (i) equity-based compensation charges, (ii) amortization of acquired intangibles, (iii) strategic transaction-related charges and (iv) non-recurring items, if any. Strategic transaction-related items arise from corporate actions and consist primarily of (i) impairments, (ii) non-monetary gains or losses on divestitures, (iii) transaction costs from strategic acquisitions, and (iv) depreciation on real estate that KKR owns and occupies. Inter-segment transactions are not eliminated from segment results when management considers those transactions in assessing the results of the respective segments. These transactions include (i) management fees earned by KKR as the investment adviser for Global Atlantic insurance companies and (ii) interest income and expense based on lending arrangements where one or more KKR subsidiaries borrow from a Global Atlantic insurance subsidiary. Inter-segment transactions are recorded by each segment based on the definitive documents that contain arms' length terms and comply with applicable regulatory requirements. Segment operating earnings for the Asset Management and Insurance segments is further defined as follows:
330
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
•Asset Management Segment Operating Earnings is the profitability measure used to make operating decisions and to assess the performance of the Asset Management segment and is comprised of: (i) Fee Related Earnings, (ii) Realized Performance Income, (iii) Realized Performance Income Compensation, (iv) Realized Investment Income, and (v) Realized Investment Income Compensation. Asset Management Segment Operating Earnings excludes (i) unrealized carried interest, (ii) net unrealized gains (losses) on investments, and (iii) related unrealized performance income compensation. Management fees earned by KKR as the adviser, manager, or sponsor for its investment funds, vehicles and accounts, including its Global Atlantic insurance companies are included in Asset Management Segment Operating Earnings.
•Insurance Segment Operating Earnings is the profitability measure used to make operating decisions and to assess the performance of the Insurance segment and is comprised of: (i) Net Investment Income, (ii) Net Cost of Insurance, (iii) General, Administrative, and Other Expenses, (iv) Income Taxes, and (v) Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests. The non-operating adjustments made to derive Insurance Segment Operating Earnings eliminate the impact of: (i) realized (gains) losses related to asset/liability matching investments strategies, (ii) unrealized investment (gains) losses, (iii) changes in the fair value of derivatives, embedded derivatives, and fair value liabilities for fixed-indexed annuities, indexed universal life contracts and variable annuities, and (iv) the associated income tax effects of all exclusions from Insurance Segment Operating Earnings except for equity-based compensation expense. Insurance Segment Operating Earnings includes (i) realized gains and losses not related to asset/liability matching investments strategies and (ii) the investment management fee expenses that are earned by KKR as the investment adviser of the Global Atlantic insurance companies.
Modification of Segment Information
In connection with the acquisition of Global Atlantic on February 1, 2021, KKR reevaluated the manner in which it makes operational and resource deployment decisions and assesses the overall performance of KKR's business. Effective with the first quarter of 2021, the items detailed below have changed with respect to the preparation of the reports used by KKR's chief operating decision makers. As a result, KKR has modified the presentation of its segment financial information with retrospective application to all prior periods presented.
The most significant changes between KKR's current segment presentation and its previous segment presentation reported prior to the first quarter of 2021, are as follows:
•Two Reportable Segments - KKR operates through two reportable segment due to the acquisition of Global Atlantic, which represents a separate reportable segment. The Asset Management segment represents KKR's business separate from its insurance operations and what previously was identified as one operating and reportable segment. The Asset Management segment continues to reflect how the chief operating decision makers allocate resources and assess performance in the asset management business, which includes operating collaboratively across asset management business lines, with predominantly a single expense pool.
•Segment Operating Earnings - Segment Operating Earnings is the performance measure for KKR's segment profitability and is used by management in making operational decisions and to assess performance. Previously, due to the conclusion that KKR operated under one reportable segment, no measure of segment profit or loss was disclosed.
In connection with these modifications, segment information as of and for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 has been presented in this Annual Report on Form 10-K to conform to KKR's current segment presentation for comparability purposes. Consequently, this information will be different from the historical segment financial results previously reported by KKR in its reports filed with the SEC.
331
Segment Presentation
The following tables set forth information regarding KKR's segment results:
332
Reconciliations of Total Segment Amounts
The following tables reconcile the Segment Revenues, Segment Operating Earnings, and Segment Assets to their equivalent GAAP measure:
| Years Ended | |||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | December 31, 2019 | |||||||||||||||
| Total GAAP Revenues | $ | 16,236,148 | $ | 4,230,891 | $ | 4,220,900 | |||||||||||
| Impact of Consolidation and Other | 808,174 | 461,244 | 256,972 | ||||||||||||||
| Asset Management Adjustments: | |||||||||||||||||
| Capital Allocation-Based Income (GAAP) | (6,842,414) | (2,224,100) | (2,430,425) | ||||||||||||||
| Realized Carried Interest | 1,752,130 | 1,042,204 | 1,070,788 | ||||||||||||||
| Realized Investment Income | 1,613,244 | 644,659 | 685,773 | ||||||||||||||
| Capstone Fees | (91,407) | (81,452) | — | ||||||||||||||
| Expense Reimbursements | (178,572) | (149,522) | (169,415) | ||||||||||||||
| Insurance Adjustments: | |||||||||||||||||
| Premiums | (2,226,078) | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Policy Fees | (1,147,913) | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Other Income | (120,213) | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Investment Gains and Losses | 544,357 | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Derivative Gains and Losses | (141,513) | — | — | ||||||||||||||
Total Segment Revenues (1) | $ | 10,205,943 | $ | 3,923,924 | $ | 3,634,593 | |||||||||||
(1)Total Segment Revenues is comprised of (i) Management Fees, (ii) Transaction and Monitoring Fees, Net, (iii) Fee Related Performance Revenues, (iv) Realized Performance Income, (v) Realized Investment Income, and (vi) Net Investment Income.
| Years Ended | |||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | December 31, 2019 | |||||||||||||||
| Income (Loss) Before Tax (GAAP) | $ | 13,648,449 | $ | 5,726,695 | $ | 5,168,290 | |||||||||||
| Impact of Consolidation and Other | (5,165,795) | (1,696,897) | (1,010,652) | ||||||||||||||
| Interest Expense | 250,183 | 211,037 | 183,682 | ||||||||||||||
| Equity-based compensation - KKR Holdings | 161,283 | 80,739 | 91,296 | ||||||||||||||
| Asset Management Adjustments: | |||||||||||||||||
| Unrealized Carried Interest | (4,043,135) | (1,070,803) | (1,263,046) | ||||||||||||||
| Net Unrealized (Gains) Losses | (2,590,280) | (1,697,740) | (1,854,867) | ||||||||||||||
| Unrealized Carried Interest Compensation (Carry Pool) | 1,751,912 | 467,485 | 520,033 | ||||||||||||||
| Strategic Corporate Transaction-Related Charges | 25,153 | 20,073 | — | ||||||||||||||
| Equity-based compensation | 183,100 | 236,199 | 201,095 | ||||||||||||||
| Equity-based compensation - Performance based | 78,230 | 10,196 | 6,694 | ||||||||||||||
| Insurance Adjustments: | |||||||||||||||||
| Net (Gains) Losses from Investments and Derivatives | 658,975 | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Strategic Corporate Transaction-Related Charges | 25,711 | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Equity-based and Other Compensation | 95,344 | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Amortization of Acquired Intangibles | 16,176 | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Income Taxes | (199,095) | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Total Segment Operating Earnings | $ | 4,896,211 | $ | 2,286,984 | $ | 2,042,525 | |||||||||||
333
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
| As of | |||||||||||
| December 31, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | ||||||||||
| Total GAAP Assets | $ | 264,285,440 | $ | 79,806,502 | |||||||
| Impact of Consolidation and Reclassifications | (61,775,687) | (50,068,814) | |||||||||
| Carry Pool Reclassifications | (3,650,312) | (1,916,669) | |||||||||
| Total Segment Assets | $ | 198,859,441 | $ | 27,821,019 | |||||||
22. EQUITY
Stockholders' Equity
Common Stock
The common stock of KKR & Co. Inc. is entitled to vote as provided by its certificate of incorporation, Delaware General Corporation Law and the rules of the NYSE. Subject to preferences that apply to shares of Series C Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock and any other shares of preferred stock outstanding at the time on which dividends are payable, the holders of common stock are entitled to receive dividends out of funds legally available if the board of directors, in its discretion, determines to declare dividends and then only at the times and in the amounts that the board of directors may determine. The common stock is not entitled to preemptive rights and is not subject to conversion, redemption or sinking fund provisions.
Series I and Series II Preferred Stock
Except for any distribution required by Delaware law to be made upon a dissolution event, the holders of Series I preferred stock and Series II preferred stock do not have any economic rights to receive dividends. Series I preferred stock is entitled to vote on various matters that may be submitted to vote of the stockholders and the other matters as set forth in the certificate of incorporation. For matters on which common stock is entitled to vote, so long as the ratio at which KKR Group Partnership Units are exchangeable for shares of common stock remains on a one-for-one basis, Series II preferred stock will vote together with common stock as a single class and on an equivalent basis, except Series II preferred stock will vote separately as a class on any amendment to the certificate of incorporation that changes certain terms, rights or preferences of Series II preferred stock. Upon a dissolution event, each holder of Series I preferred stock will be entitled to a payment equal to $0.01 per share of Series I preferred stock and each holder of Series II preferred stock will be entitled to a payment equal to $0.000000001 per share of Series II preferred stock.
The Series II preferred stock will become eliminated upon the closing of the merger transactions contemplated by the Reorganization Agreement, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions to closing. The Series I preferred stock will become eliminated upon the closing of the transactions contemplated to occur on the Sunset Date (as defined in the Reorganization Agreement), which is scheduled to occur not later than December 31, 2026, subject to the closing of the prior merger transactions and the satisfaction of any other conditions to closing.
Series A and Series B Preferred Stock
The board of directors is authorized, subject to limitations prescribed by Delaware law, to issue preferred stock in one or more series, to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each series, and to fix the designation, powers (including voting powers), preferences and rights of the shares of each series and any of its qualifications, limitations or restrictions, in each case without further vote or action by the stockholders (except as may be required by the terms of any preferred stock then outstanding).
KKR & Co. Inc. had outstanding 13,800,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock. Series A Preferred Stock had traded on the NYSE under the symbol "KKR PR A" and was originally issued on March 17, 2016. On June 15, 2021, KKR redeemed all of its Series A Preferred Stock at a redemption price per share equal to the $25.00 liquidation preference plus declared and unpaid dividends, which amounted to $350.8 million. The series of preferred units with economic terms that mirror those of the Series A Preferred Stock that was issued by KKR Group Partnership for the benefit of KKR & Co. Inc. were concurrently extinguished. Net income available to KKR was impacted by a charge of $12.0 million for the redemption of the Series A Preferred Stock. This charge is based on the excess of the redemption value over the carrying value of the Series A Preferred Stock.
334
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
KKR & Co. Inc. had outstanding 6,200,000 shares of Series B Preferred Stock. Series B Preferred Stock had traded on the NYSE under the symbol "KKR PR B" and was originally issued on June 20, 2016. On September 15, 2021, KKR redeemed all of its Series B Preferred Stock at a redemption price per share equal to the $25.00 liquidation preference plus declared and unpaid dividends, which amounted to $157.5 million. The series of preferred units with economic terms that mirror those of the Series B Preferred Stock that was issued by KKR Group Partnership for the benefit of KKR & Co. Inc. were concurrently extinguished. Net income available to KKR was impacted by a charge of $5.4 million for the redemption of the Series B Preferred Stock. This charge is based on the excess of the redemption value over the carrying value of the Series B Preferred Stock.
Series C Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock
On August 14, 2020, KKR & Co. Inc. issued 23,000,000 shares, or $1.15 billion aggregate liquidation preference, of its 6.00% Series C Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock (the "Series C Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock").
Unless converted or redeemed earlier in accordance with the terms of the Series C Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, each share of Series C Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock will automatically convert on the mandatory conversion date, which is expected to be September 15, 2023, into between 1.1662 shares and 1.4285 shares of common stock, in each case, subject to customary anti-dilution adjustments described in the certificate of designations related to the Series C Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock. The number of shares of common stock issuable upon conversion will be determined based on the average volume weighted average price per share of common stock over the 20 consecutive trading day period beginning on, and including, the 21st scheduled trading day immediately prior to September 15, 2023.
Dividends on the Series C Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock will be payable on a cumulative basis when, as and if declared by our board of directors, or an authorized committee thereof, at an annual rate of 6.00% on the liquidation preference of $50.00 per share of Series C Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, and may be paid in cash or, subject to certain limitations, in shares of common stock or, subject to certain limitations, any combination of cash and shares of common stock. If declared, dividends on the Series C Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock will be payable quarterly on March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 of each year to, and including, September 15, 2023, commencing on December 15, 2020.
Upon KKR & Co. Inc.’s voluntary or involuntary liquidation, winding-up or dissolution, each holder of the Series C Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock would be entitled to receive a liquidation preference in the amount of $50.00 per share of Series C Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, plus an amount equal to accumulated and unpaid dividends on such shares, whether or not declared, to, but excluding, the date fixed for liquidation, winding-up or dissolution, to be paid out of KKR & Co. Inc.’s assets legally available for distribution to its stockholders after satisfaction of debt and other liabilities owed to KKR & Co. Inc.’s creditors and holders of shares of its stock ranking senior to the Series C Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock and before any payment or distribution is made to holders of any stock ranking junior to the Series C Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, including, without limitation, common stock.
In connection with the issuance of the Series C Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, the limited partnership agreement of KKR Group Partnership was amended to provide for preferred units with economic terms designed to mirror those of the Series C Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock.
335
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
Share Repurchase Program
On December 27, 2021, KKR announced an increase to the total available amount under its repurchase program to $500 million. Prior to this increase, there was approximately $37 million remaining under the program. As of February 4, 2022, the remaining amount available under the repurchase program was approximately $261 million.
Under KKR's repurchase program, shares of common stock of KKR & Co. Inc. may be repurchased from time to time in open market transactions, in privately negotiated transactions or otherwise. The timing, manner, price and amount of any repurchases will be determined by KKR in its discretion and will depend on a variety of factors, including legal requirements, price and economic and market conditions. In addition to the repurchases of common stock, the repurchase program will be used for the retirement (by cash settlement or the payment of tax withholding amounts upon net settlement) of equity awards granted pursuant to our Equity Incentive Plans representing the right to receive common stock. KKR expects that the program, which has no expiration date, will be in effect until the maximum approved dollar amount has been used. The program does not require KKR to repurchase or retire any specific number of shares of common stock or equity awards, respectively, and the program may be suspended, extended, modified or discontinued at any time.
The following table presents KKR & Co. Inc. common stock that has been repurchased or equity awards retired under the repurchase program:
| For the Years Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |||||||||||||||
| Shares of common stock repurchased | 4,462,533 | 10,209,673 | 2,859,452 | ||||||||||||||
| Equity awards for common stock retired | 3,350,874 | 2,850,094 | 3,670,019 | ||||||||||||||
Noncontrolling Interests
Noncontrolling interests represent (i) noncontrolling interests in consolidated entities and (ii) noncontrolling interests held by KKR Holdings.
Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Entities and Other
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated entities represent the non-redeemable ownership interests in KKR that are held primarily by:
(i)third party fund investors in KKR's consolidated funds and certain other entities;
(ii)third parties entitled to up to 1% of the carried interest received by certain general partners of KKR's funds that have made investments on or prior to December 31, 2015;
(iii)certain former principals and their designees representing a portion of the carried interest received by the general partners of KKR's private equity funds that was allocated to them with respect to private equity investments made during such former principals' tenure with KKR prior to October 1, 2009;
(iv)certain current and former principals representing all of the capital invested by or on behalf of the general partners of KKR's private equity funds prior to October 1, 2009 and any returns thereon;
(v)third parties in KKR's Capital Markets business line;
(vi)holders of other exchangeable securities, which consist of vested restricted holdings units granted under the 2019 Equity Plan that are exchangeable into shares of common stock of KKR & Co. Inc.; and
(vii)third parties in KKR's insurance business including GA Rollover Investors, GA Co-Investors and third party investors in Global Atlantic's consolidated renewable energy entities and certain other entities.
336
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
Noncontrolling Interests held by KKR Holdings
Noncontrolling interests held by KKR Holdings consist of economic interests held by principals indirectly in KKR Group Partnership Units. 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 & Co. Inc. and are borne by KKR Holdings.
The following tables present the calculation of total noncontrolling interests:
| For the Year Ended December 31, 2021 | |||||||||||||||||
| Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Entities and Other | Noncontrolling Interests Held by KKR Holdings | Total Noncontrolling Interests | |||||||||||||||
| Balance at the beginning of the period | $ | 20,570,716 | $ | 6,512,382 | $ | 27,083,098 | |||||||||||
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests (1) | 4,910,003 | 2,714,640 | 7,624,643 | ||||||||||||||
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax (2) | (151,806) | (91,595) | (243,401) | ||||||||||||||
Exchange of KKR Holdings Units to Common Stock (3) | — | (522,474) | (522,474) | ||||||||||||||
| Equity-based and other non-cash compensation | 104,838 | 161,283 | 266,121 | ||||||||||||||
| Capital contributions | 14,693,564 | 25 | 14,693,589 | ||||||||||||||
| Capital distributions | (7,141,225) | (343,395) | (7,484,620) | ||||||||||||||
Impact of Acquisition(4) | 190,405 | — | 190,405 | ||||||||||||||
| Changes in consolidation | (1,132,796) | — | (1,132,796) | ||||||||||||||
| Balance at the end of the period | $ | 32,043,699 | $ | 8,430,866 | $ | 40,474,565 | |||||||||||
| For the Year Ended December 31, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Entities and Other | Noncontrolling Interests Held by KKR Holdings | Total Noncontrolling Interests | ||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at the beginning of the period | $ | 13,966,250 | $ | 5,728,634 | $ | 19,694,884 | ||||||||||||||
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests (1) | 1,907,155 | 1,207,934 | 3,115,089 | |||||||||||||||||
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax (2) | (4,092) | 12,191 | 8,099 | |||||||||||||||||
Exchange of KKR Holdings Units to Common Stock (3) | — | (291,525) | (291,525) | |||||||||||||||||
| Equity-based and other non-cash compensation | 52,645 | 80,739 | 133,384 | |||||||||||||||||
| Capital contributions | 9,860,609 | 98 | 9,860,707 | |||||||||||||||||
| Capital distributions | (4,950,763) | (209,776) | (5,160,539) | |||||||||||||||||
Transfer of interests under common control (5) | (21,830) | 7,445 | (14,385) | |||||||||||||||||
| Transfer of Oil and Gas Interests (See Note 2) | — | (23,358) | (23,358) | |||||||||||||||||
| Changes in consolidation | (239,258) | — | (239,258) | |||||||||||||||||
| Balance at the end of the period | $ | 20,570,716 | $ | 6,512,382 | $ | 27,083,098 | ||||||||||||||
337
| For the Year Ended December 31, 2019 | |||||||||||||||||
| Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Entities | Noncontrolling Interests Held by KKR Holdings | Total Noncontrolling Interests | |||||||||||||||
| Balance at the beginning of the period | $ | 10,984,910 | $ | 4,625,448 | $ | 15,610,358 | |||||||||||
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests (1) | 1,264,820 | 1,369,671 | 2,634,491 | ||||||||||||||
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax (2) | (1,803) | (537) | (2,340) | ||||||||||||||
Exchange of KKR Holdings Units to Common Stock(3) | — | (161,825) | (161,825) | ||||||||||||||
| Equity-based and other non-cash compensation | — | 91,297 | 91,297 | ||||||||||||||
| Capital contributions | 4,668,114 | 1,642 | 4,669,756 | ||||||||||||||
| Capital distributions | (2,972,914) | (197,062) | (3,169,976) | ||||||||||||||
| Changes in consolidation | 23,123 | — | 23,123 | ||||||||||||||
| Balance at the end of the period | $ | 13,966,250 | $ | 5,728,634 | $ | 19,694,884 | |||||||||||
(1)Refer to the table below for calculation of net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests held by KKR Holdings.
(2)With respect to noncontrolling interests held by KKR Holdings, calculated on a pro rata basis based on the weighted average KKR Group Partnership Units held by KKR Holdings during the reporting period.
(3)Calculated based on the proportion of KKR Holdings units exchanged for KKR & Co. Inc. common stock. The exchange agreement with KKR Holdings provides for the exchange of KKR Group Partnership Units held by KKR Holdings for KKR & Co. Inc. common stock.
(4)Represents other noncontrolling interests at the GA Acquisition Date. See Note 3 "Acquisition of Global Atlantic."
(5)KKR acquired KKR Capstone on January 1, 2020. KKR Capstone was consolidated prior to January 1, 2020 and consequently, this transaction was accounted for as an equity transaction. This transaction resulted in an increase to KKR Group Partnership's equity. Accordingly, both KKR's equity and noncontrolling interests held by KKR Holdings increased for their proportionate share of the KKR Capstone equity based on their ownership in KKR Group Partnership on January 1, 2020.
Net income (loss) attributable to each of KKR & Co. Inc. common stockholders, KKR Holdings and holders of other exchangeable securities, with the exception of certain tax assets and liabilities that are directly allocable to KKR & Co. Inc., is attributed based on the percentage of the weighted average KKR Group Partnership Units directly or indirectly held by them. However, primarily because of the (i) contribution of certain expenses borne entirely by KKR Holdings and holders of other exchangeable securities, (ii) the periodic exchange of KKR Holdings units and other exchangeable securities for KKR & Co. Inc. common stock pursuant to the exchange agreement and (iii) the contribution of certain expenses borne entirely by KKR associated with the Equity Incentive Plans, equity allocations shown in the 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:
| Years Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |||||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | 12,295,179 | $ | 5,117,598 | $ | 4,639,540 | |||||||||||
| (-) Net income (loss) attributable to Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests | 4,060 | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| (-) Net income (loss) attributable to Noncontrolling Interests in consolidated entities and other | 4,910,003 | 1,907,155 | 1,264,820 | ||||||||||||||
| (-) Series A and B Preferred Stock Dividends | 36,647 | 33,364 | 33,364 | ||||||||||||||
| (-) Series C Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock Dividends | 69,000 | 23,191 | — | ||||||||||||||
| (+) Income tax expense (benefit) attributable to KKR & Co. Inc. | 1,227,492 | 545,546 | 539,466 | ||||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) attributable to KKR & Co. Inc. Common Stockholders and KKR Holdings | $ | 8,502,961 | $ | 3,699,434 | $ | 3,880,822 | |||||||||||
| Net income (loss) attributable to Noncontrolling Interests held by KKR Holdings | $ | 2,714,640 | $ | 1,207,934 | $ | 1,369,671 | |||||||||||
338
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
23. REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS
Global Atlantic has redeemable non-controlling interests related to renewable energy entities of approximately $82.5 million as of December 31, 2021 as determined by the HLBV method. The estimated redemption value of redeemable non-controlling interests is calculated as the discounted cash flows subsequent to the expected flip date of the respective renewable energy entity. The flip date represents the date at which the allocation of income and cash flows among the investors in the entity is adjusted, pursuant to the redeemable non-controlling interest investors having achieved an agreed-upon return. The flip date of renewable energy partnerships determines when the redeemable non-controlling interests are eligible to be redeemed. Eligible redemption dates range from 2022 to 2027. For the redeemable non-controlling interests outstanding as of December 31, 2021, the estimated redemption value that would be due at the respective redemption dates is $5.3 million.
24. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Funding Commitments and Others
As of December 31, 2021, KKR had unfunded commitments consisting of $11.9 billion to its investment funds. KKR has also agreed for certain of its investment vehicles to fund or otherwise be liable for a portion of their investment losses (up to a maximum of approximately $116 million) and/or to provide them with liquidity upon certain termination events (the maximum amount of which is unknown until the scheduled termination date of the investment vehicle).
In addition to these uncalled commitments and funding obligations to KKR's investment funds and vehicles, KKR has entered into contractual commitments primarily with respect to underwriting transactions, debt financing, revolving credit facilities, and syndications in KKR's Capital Markets business line. As of December 31, 2021, these commitments amounted to $1.2 billion. Whether these amounts are actually funded, in whole or in part, depends on the contractual terms of such commitments, including the satisfaction or waiver of any conditions to closing or funding. KKR's capital markets business has arrangements with third parties, which reduce its risk when underwriting certain debt transactions, and thus our unfunded commitments as of December 31, 2021 have been reduced to reflect the amount to be funded by such third parties. In the case of purchases of investments or assets in our Principal Activities business line, the amount to be funded includes amounts that are intended to be syndicated to third parties, and the actual amounts to be funded may be less.
Global Atlantic has commitments to purchase or fund investments of $2.0 billion as of December 31, 2021. These commitments include those related to commercial mortgage loans, other lending facilities and other investments. For those commitments that represent a contractual obligation to extend credit, Global Atlantic has recorded a liability of $21.7 million for current expected credit losses as of December 31, 2021.
In addition, Global Atlantic has entered into certain forward flow agreements to purchase loans. Global Atlantic's obligations under these agreements are subject to change, curtailment, and cancellation based on various provisions including repricing mechanics, due diligence reviews, and performance or pool quality, among other factors.
Global Atlantic has operational servicing agreements with third-party administrators for policy administration over certain fixed-rate annuities, universal life, variable annuity, variable universal life, whole life, and term life policies. Additionally, Global Atlantic is party to a third-party professional services agreement regarding the management of aspects of Global Atlantic’s reinsurance portfolio. Global Atlantic leases office space for its operations.
As of December 31, 2021, purchase commitments under agreements with third-party administrators and other service providers and lease commitments were as follows:
| 2022 | $ | 38,150 | ||||||
| 2023 | 29,864 | |||||||
| 2024 | 24,598 | |||||||
| 2025 | 14,141 | |||||||
| 2026 | 12,893 | |||||||
| Thereafter | 85,638 | |||||||
| Total | $ | 205,284 | ||||||
339
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
Non-cancelable Operating Leases
KKR's non-cancelable operating leases consist of leases of office space around the world. There are no material rent holidays, contingent rent, rent concessions or leasehold improvement incentives associated with any of these property leases. In addition to base rentals, certain lease agreements are subject to escalation provisions and rent expense is recognized on a straight‑line basis over the term of the lease agreement.
As of December 31, 2021, the approximate aggregate future lease payments required on the asset management operating leases are as follows:
| 2022 | $ | 31,624 | ||||||
| 2023 | 33,073 | |||||||
| 2024 | 27,942 | |||||||
| 2025 | 25,351 | |||||||
| 2026 | 20,517 | |||||||
| Thereafter | 107,131 | |||||||
| Total lease payments required | 245,638 | |||||||
| Less: Imputed Interest | 14,643 | |||||||
| $ | 230,995 | |||||||
Global Atlantic also enters into land leases for its consolidated investments in renewable energy.
As of December 31, 2021, the approximate aggregate future lease payments required on the Global Atlantic operating leases are as follows:
| 2022 | $ | 14,146 | ||||||
| 2023 | 14,039 | |||||||
| 2024 | 14,127 | |||||||
| 2025 | 14,003 | |||||||
| 2026 | 14,174 | |||||||
| Thereafter | 271,048 | |||||||
| Total lease payments required | 341,537 | |||||||
| Less: Imputed Interest | 160,963 | |||||||
| Total operating lease liabilities | $ | 180,574 | ||||||
340
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
Contingent Repayment Guarantees
The partnership documents governing KKR's carry-paying investment funds and vehicles generally include a "clawback" provision that, if triggered, may give rise to a contingent obligation requiring the general partner to return amounts to the fund for distribution to the fund investors at the end of the life of the fund. Under a clawback obligation, upon the liquidation of a fund, the general partner is required to return, typically on an after-tax basis, previously distributed carry to the extent that, due to the diminished performance of later investments, the aggregate amount of carry distributions received by the general partner during the term of the fund exceed the amount to which the general partner was ultimately entitled, including the effects of any performance thresholds.
As of December 31, 2021, approximately $76.0 million of carried interest was subject to this clawback obligation, assuming that all applicable carry-paying funds and their alternative investment vehicles were liquidated at their December 31, 2021 fair values. Although KKR would be required to remit the entire amount to fund investors that are entitled to receive the clawback payment, KKR would be entitled to seek reimbursement of approximately $30.0 million of that amount from KKR Associates Holdings L.P., which is not a KKR subsidiary. As of December 31, 2021, KKR Associates Holdings L.P. had access to cash reserves sufficient to reimburse the full $30.0 million that would be due to KKR. If the investments in all carrying-paying funds were to be liquidated at zero value the clawback obligation would have been approximately $2.5 billion, and KKR would be entitled to seek reimbursement of approximately $1.0 billion of that amount from KKR Associates Holdings L.P. KKR will acquire control of KKR Associates Holdings L.P. when a subsidiary of KKR becomes its general partner upon the closing of the transactions contemplated to occur on the Sunset Date (as defined in the Reorganization Agreement), which is scheduled to occur not later than December 31, 2026, subject to the closing of the mergers contemplated by the Reorganization Agreement and the satisfaction of the other conditions to closing.
Carried interest is recognized in the consolidated statements of operations based on the contractual conditions set forth in the agreements governing the fund as if the fund were terminated and liquidated at the reporting date and the fund's investments were realized at the then estimated fair values. Amounts earned pursuant to carried interest are earned by the general partner of those funds to the extent that cumulative investment returns are positive and where applicable, preferred return thresholds have been met. If these investment amounts earned decrease or turn negative in subsequent periods, recognized carried interest will be reversed and to the extent that the aggregate amount of carry distributions received by the general partner during the term of the fund exceed the amount to which the general partner was ultimately entitled, a clawback obligation would be recorded. For funds that are consolidated, this clawback obligation, if any, is reflected as an increase in noncontrolling interests in the consolidated statements of financial condition. For funds that are not consolidated, this clawback obligation, if any, is reflected as a reduction of KKR's investment balance as this is where carried interest is initially recorded.
Indemnifications and Other Guarantees
KKR may incur contingent liabilities for claims that may be made against it in the future. KKR enters into contracts that contain a variety of representations, warranties and covenants, including indemnifications. For example, KKR (including KFN) and certain of KKR's investment funds have provided and provide certain indemnities relating to environmental and other matters and have provided and provide non-recourse carve-out guarantees for fraud, willful misconduct and other customary wrongful acts, each in connection with the financing of KKR's corporate real estate and certain real estate investments and for certain investment vehicles that KKR manages. KKR's maximum exposure under these arrangements is currently unknown and KKR's liabilities for these matters would require a claim to be made against KKR in the future.
KKR provides credit support to certain of its subsidiaries' obligations in connection with a limited number of investment vehicles that KKR manages. For example, KKR has guaranteed the obligations of a general partner to post collateral on behalf of its investment vehicle in connection with such vehicle's derivative transactions. KKR also (i) provides credit support regarding repayment and funding obligations to third-party lenders to certain of its employees, excluding its executive officers, in connection with their personal investments in KKR investment funds and in an investment vehicle that includes third party investors and invests in KKR funds and alongside KKR funds and (ii) provides credit support to a hedge fund partnership. KKR is not a guarantor for any borrowings, credit facilities or debt securities of its Indian debt financing company.
KKR may also become liable for certain fees payable to sellers of businesses or assets if a transaction does not close, subject to certain conditions, if any, specified in the acquisition agreements for such businesses or assets.
The Global Atlantic business was formerly owned by The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (together with its subsidiaries, "Goldman Sachs"). In connection with the separation of Global Atlantic from Goldman Sachs in 2013, Global Atlantic entered into a tax benefit payment agreement with Goldman Sachs. Under the tax benefit payment agreement, GA FinCo is obligated to make annual payments out of available cash, guaranteed by GAFG, to Goldman Sachs over an approximately 25-year period totaling $214 million. As of December 31, 2021, the present value of the remaining amount to be paid is $74 million. Although
341
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
these payments are subordinated and deferrable, deferral of these payments would result in restrictions on distributions by GA FinCo and GAFG.
In lieu of funding certain investments in loan facilities to third party borrowers in cash, Global Atlantic has arranged or participated in letters of credit issued by third-party banks on behalf of the borrowers in the amount of $39.7 million, as of December 31, 2021, with expiration dates between March 2022 to December 2024. Global Atlantic has available lines of credit that would allow for additional letters of credit to be issued on behalf of certain borrowers, up to $225.3 million, as of December 31, 2021. For accounting purposes, these letters of credit are considered guarantees of certain obligations of the borrowers. If a letter of credit were drawn, Global Atlantic would be obligated to repay the issuing third-party bank, and Global Atlantic would recognize a loan receivable from the borrowers on the consolidated statements of financial condition. Global Atlantic monitors the likelihood of these letters of credit being drawn, and any related contingent obligation. As of December 31, 2021, the expected credit loss on the contingent liability associated with these letters of credit was not material.
Litigation
From time to time, KKR (including Global Atlantic) is involved in various legal proceedings, lawsuits, arbitration and claims incidental to the conduct of KKR's businesses. KKR's asset management and insurance businesses are also subject to extensive regulation, which may result in regulatory proceedings against them.
In December 2017, KKR & Co. L.P. (which is now KKR & Co. Inc.) and its Co-Chief Executive Officers were named as defendants in a lawsuit filed in Kentucky state court alleging, among other things, the violation of fiduciary and other duties in connection with certain separately managed accounts that Prisma Capital Partners LP, a former subsidiary of KKR, manages for the Kentucky Retirement Systems. Also named as defendants in the lawsuit are certain current and former trustees and officers of the Kentucky Retirement Systems, Prisma Capital Partners LP, and various other service providers to the Kentucky Retirement Systems and their related persons. KKR and other defendants’ motions to dismiss were denied by the trial court in November 2018, but in April 2019 the Kentucky Court of Appeals vacated the trial court's opinion and order denying the motions to dismiss the case for lack of standing. The decision of the Court of Appeals was appealed by plaintiffs to the Supreme Court of Kentucky. On July 9, 2020, the Supreme Court of Kentucky reversed the trial court's order and remanded the case to the trial court with direction to dismiss the complaint for lack of constitutional standing. On July 20, 2020, the Office of the Attorney General, on behalf of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, filed a motion to intervene as a plaintiff in the lawsuit and on July 21, 2020 filed a new lawsuit in the same Kentucky trial court making essentially the same allegations against the defendants, including KKR & Co. Inc. and Messrs. Kravis and Roberts. On July 29, 2020, certain private plaintiffs in the original lawsuit filed a motion to further amend their original complaint and to add new plaintiffs. On July 30, 2020, KKR and other defendants filed objections to the Attorney General’s motion to intervene. On December 28, 2020, the trial court dismissed the complaint filed by the original plaintiffs and denied their motion to amend their original complaint and add new plaintiffs, but granted the Office of the Attorney General’s motion to intervene. In January 2021, some of the attorneys for the private plaintiffs in the original lawsuit filed a new lawsuit, and a motion to intervene in the original lawsuit, on behalf of a new set of plaintiffs, who claim to be "Tier 3" members of Kentucky Retirement Systems, alleging substantially the same allegations as in the original lawsuit. The motion to intervene in the original lawsuit was denied. These "Tier 3" plaintiffs appealed the denial of their motion to intervene but then voluntarily dismissed their appeal on January 31, 2022. In addition, the Kentucky Retirement Systems had commissioned an investigation into certain matters alleged in the Attorney General's complaint. The trial court ordered that this investigation be completed by May 17, 2021, and the Attorney General was permitted to amend its complaint after reviewing the investigation's report within ten days of the Attorney General's receipt of it. On May 24, 2021, the Attorney General filed a First Amended Complaint on behalf of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. This complaint continues to name KKR & Co. L.P. and its Co-Chief Executive Officers, as defendants, and makes similar allegations against them. KKR and the other defendants moved to dismiss the First Amended Complaint on July 30, 2021. The court held oral argument on these motions to dismiss on December 14, 2021. On July 9, 2021, the individual plaintiffs served an amended complaint, which purports to assert, on behalf of a class of beneficiaries of Kentucky Retirement Systems, direct claims for breach of fiduciary duty and civil violations under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act ("RICO"). This complaint was removed to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky. On August 20, 2021, the same and other individual plaintiffs filed a second complaint in Kentucky state court, purportedly on behalf of Kentucky Retirement Systems' funds, alleging the same claims against KKR & Co. Inc. and Messrs. Kravis and Roberts as in the July 9th amended complaint but without the RICO or class action allegations. KKR and the other defendants have moved to dismiss the August 20th complaint.
KKR (including Global Atlantic) currently is and expects to continue to become, from time to time, subject to examinations, inquiries and investigations by various U.S. and non-U.S. governmental and regulatory agencies, including but not limited to the SEC, Department of Justice, U.S. state attorney generals, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority ("FINRA"), the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority, Central Bank of Ireland, Monetary Authority of Singapore, U.S. state insurance regulatory authorities, and the Bermuda Monetary Authority. Such examinations, inquiries and investigations may result in the commencement of civil, criminal or administrative proceedings or fines against KKR or its personnel.
342
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
Moreover, in the ordinary course of business, KKR (including Global Atlantic) is and can be both the defendant and the plaintiff in numerous lawsuits with respect to acquisitions, bankruptcy, insolvency and other events. Such lawsuits may involve claims that adversely affect the value of certain investments owned by KKR's funds and Global Atlantic's insurance companies.
KKR establishes an accrued liability for legal proceedings only when those matters present loss contingencies that are both probable and reasonably estimable. In such cases, there may be an exposure to loss in excess of any amounts accrued. No loss contingency is recorded for matters where such losses are either not probable or reasonably estimable (or both) at the time of determination. Such matters may be subject to many uncertainties, including among others: (i) the proceedings may be in early stages; (ii) damages sought may be unspecified, unsupportable, unexplained or uncertain; (iii) discovery may not have been started or is incomplete; (iv) there may be uncertainty as to the outcome of pending appeals or motions; (v) there may be significant factual issues to be resolved or (vi) there may be novel legal issues or unsettled legal theories to be presented or a large number of parties. Consequently, management is unable to estimate a range of potential loss, if any, related to these matters. In addition, loss contingencies may be, in part or in whole, subject to insurance or other payments such as contributions and/or indemnity, which may reduce any ultimate loss. KKR has included in its financial statements the reserve for regulatory, litigation and related matters that Global Atlantic includes in its financial statements, including with respect to matters arising from the conversion of life insurance policies from systems previously managed by Athene Holdings Limited to the platform of one of Global Atlantic's third party service providers, Alliance-One, a subsidiary of DXC Technology Company.
It is not possible to predict the ultimate outcome of all pending legal proceedings, and some of the matters discussed above seek or may seek potentially large and/or indeterminate amounts. Based on information known by management, management has not concluded that the final resolutions of the matters above will have a material effect upon the financial statements. However, given the potentially large and/or indeterminate amounts sought or may be sought in certain of these matters and the inherent unpredictability of investigations and litigations, it is possible that an adverse outcome in certain matters could, from time to time, have a material effect on KKR's financial results in any particular period.
Other Financing Arrangements
Global Atlantic has financing arrangements with unaffiliated third parties to support the reserves of its affiliated captive reinsurers. Total fee expensed associated with these financing arrangements was $16.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2021 and is included in insurance expenses in the consolidated statements of operations. As of December 31, 2021, the total capacity of the financing arrangements with third parties was $2.0 billion.
Other than the matters disclosed above, there were no outstanding or unpaid balances from the financing arrangements with unaffiliated third parties as of December 31, 2021.
25. CAPITAL & REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS
Insurance subsidiary capital requirements
All of Global Atlantic's insurance subsidiaries are subject to minimum capital and surplus requirements. Insurance companies typically operate in excess of such requirements. Failure to maintain such minimum capital will result in regulatory actions, including in certain circumstances regulatory takeover of the insurance company.
In the United States, Global Atlantic's insurance subsidiaries are subject to risk based capital ("RBC") standards and other minimum capital and surplus requirements imposed by state laws. The RBC formula is intended to measure the adequacy of the insurance company’s statutory surplus in relation to the risks inherent in its business. The RBC formula requires higher surplus in relation to items deemed to have higher risk. Regulatory action is triggered beginning at 200% RBC and below.
Global Atlantic's Bermuda insurance subsidiaries are subject to Bermuda Solvency Capital Requirements ("BSCR") standards and other minimum capital and surplus requirements imposed by the BMA. The BMA expects that insurers operate at or above a BSCR ratio of at least 120%.
Each of Global Atlantic’s insurance subsidiaries exceeded the minimum requirements that would trigger regulatory action for all periods presented in this report.
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Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
Insurance subsidiary dividend restrictions
Payments of dividends by Global Atlantic's U.S. and Bermuda-domiciled insurance subsidiaries are restricted by insurance statutes and regulations. Global Atlantic's ability to pay dividends out of its U.S.-domiciled insurance companies is limited to the dividend paying capacity of its indirect insurance subsidiary, Commonwealth Annuity and Life Insurance Company. Without prior regulatory approval, and subject to maintaining certain solvency requirements, Global Atlantic's U.S. and Bermuda insurance subsidiaries, may declare ordinary dividends during 2022, as follows:
| Ordinary dividend capacity | ||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | ||||||||
| U.S. domiciled | ||||||||
| Commonwealth Annuity and Life Insurance Company | $ | 336,393 | ||||||
| Bermuda domiciled | ||||||||
Global Atlantic Re Limited(1) | $ | 662,937 | ||||||
| Global Atlantic Assurance Limited | 283,798 | |||||||
(1)Dividends paid by Global Atlantic Re Limited may be subject to a 30% U.S. withholding tax.
Shareholders’ equity of Commonwealth Annuity and Life Insurance Company determined pursuant to statutory accounting rules was approximately $3.8 billion as of December 31, 2021. Statutory surplus computed under those methodologies differ from equity reported in accordance with U.S. GAAP primarily because fixed maturity securities are required to be carried at cost or amortized cost, policy acquisition costs are expensed when incurred and asset valuation and interest maintenance reserves are required to be held. Life insurance reserves are calculated based upon different assumptions and the recognition of deferred tax assets is based on different recoverability assumptions.
Combined shareholders’ equity of Global Atlantic's Bermuda-domiciled insurance subsidiaries determined pursuant to statutory accounting rules was approximately $3.1 billion as of December 31, 2021. Bermuda reinsurers file statutory financial statements with the Bermuda Monetary Authority (the "BMA") that may differ from U.S. GAAP. For example, Bermuda statutory surplus differs from U.S. GAAP primarily due to a modification that permits Global Atlantic's Bermuda insurance subsidiaries to not measure the embedded derivative included within certain funds withheld coinsurance agreements at fair value.
26. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
Common Stock Dividend
A dividend of $0.145 per share of common stock of KKR & Co. Inc. was announced on February 8, 2022, and will be paid on March 4, 2022 to common stockholders of record as of the close of business on February 18, 2022. KKR Holdings will receive its pro rata share of the distribution from KKR Group Partnership. Additionally, beginning with the dividend to be announced with the results for the quarter ending March 31, 2022, KKR intends to increase its regular annualized dividend per share of common stock from $0.58 to $0.62.
Preferred Stock Dividends
A dividend of $0.75 per share of Series C Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock has been declared as announced on February 8, 2022 and set aside for payment on March 15, 2022 to holders of record of Series C Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock as of the close of business on March 1, 2022.
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ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None.
ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) that are designed to ensure that the information required to be disclosed by us in the reports filed or submitted by us under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC's rules and forms and such information is accumulated and communicated to management, including the Co-Chief Executive Officers and the Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurances of achieving the desired control objectives.
We carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including the Co-Chief Executive Officers and the Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2021. Based upon that evaluation, our Co-Chief Executive Officers and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of December 31, 2021, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to accomplish their objectives at the reasonable assurance level.
Management's Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. Internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) is a process designed by, or under the supervision of, a company's principal executive and principal financial officers and effected by the board of directors, management and other personnel, 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 and includes those policies and procedures that:
•Pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company;
•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
•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.
Our management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021. In making this assessment, management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal Control—Integrated Framework that was issued in 2013. Based on its assessment, our management has concluded that, as of December 31, 2021, our internal control over financial reporting is effective.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
No changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act) occurred during the fourth quarter of 2021 that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Attestation Report of the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Deloitte & Touche LLP, our independent registered public accounting firm that audited our consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report, has issued its attestation report on our internal control over financial reporting, which is included in Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
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ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
None.
ITEM 9C. DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS
None.
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PART III
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Directors and Executive Officers
The following table presents certain information concerning our Board of Directors and executive officers.
| Name | Age | Position(s) | |||||||||
| Henry R. Kravis | 78 | Co-Executive Chairman and Director | |||||||||
| George R. Roberts | 78 | Co-Executive Chairman and Director | |||||||||
| Joseph Y. Bae | 50 | Co-Chief Executive Officer and Director | |||||||||
| Scott C. Nuttall | 49 | Co-Chief Executive Officer and Director | |||||||||
| Adriane M. Brown | 63 | Director | |||||||||
| Matthew R. Cohler | 44 | Director | |||||||||
| Mary N. Dillon | 60 | Director | |||||||||
| Joseph A. Grundfest | 70 | Director | |||||||||
Arturo Gutiérrez Hernández | 55 | Director | |||||||||
| John B. Hess | 67 | Director | |||||||||
| Dane E. Holmes | 51 | Director | |||||||||
| Xavier B. Niel | 54 | Director | |||||||||
| Patricia F. Russo | 69 | Director | |||||||||
| Thomas M. Schoewe | 69 | Director | |||||||||
| Robert W. Scully | 72 | Director | |||||||||
| Evan T. Spiegel | 31 | Director | |||||||||
| Robert H. Lewin | 42 | Chief Financial Officer | |||||||||
| David J. Sorkin | 62 | General Counsel and Secretary | |||||||||
| Ryan D. Stork | 50 | Chief Operating Officer | |||||||||
Henry R. Kravis co-founded KKR in 1976 and serves as our Co-Executive Chairman. Prior to his current position, he was our Co-Chief Executive Officer until October 2021. He is actively involved in managing the firm and serves on each of the regional Private Equity Investment Committees. Mr. Kravis currently serves on the boards of Axel Springer and ICONIQ Capital, LLC. He also serves as a director, chairman emeritus, or trustee of several cultural, professional, and educational institutions, including The Business Council (former chairman), Claremont McKenna College, Columbia Business School (co-chairman), Mount Sinai Hospital, the Partnership for New York City (former chairman), the Partnership Fund for New York City (founder), Rockefeller University (vice chairman), Sponsors for Educational Opportunity (chairman), and the Tsinghua School of Economics and Management in China. He earned a B.A. from Claremont McKenna College in 1967 and an M.B.A. from the Columbia Business School in 1969. Mr. Kravis has more than four decades of experience financing, analyzing, and investing in public and private companies, as well as serving on the boards of a number of KKR portfolio companies. As our Co-Founder, Co-Executive Chairman and former Co-Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Kravis has an intimate knowledge of KKR's business, which allows him to provide insight into various aspects of our business and is of significant value to the board of directors. Mr. Kravis and Mr. Roberts are first cousins.
George R. Roberts co-founded KKR in 1976 and serves as our Co-Executive Chairman. Prior to his current position, he was Co-Chief Executive Officer until October 2021. He is actively involved in managing the firm and serves on each of the regional Private Equity Investment Committees. Mr. Roberts has served as a director or trustee of several cultural and educational institutions, including Claremont McKenna College. He is also Founder and Chairman of the board of directors of REDF, a San Francisco nonprofit organization. He earned a B.A. from Claremont McKenna College in 1966 and a J.D. from the University of California (Hastings) Law School in 1969. Mr. Roberts has more than four decades of experience financing, analyzing, and investing in public and private companies, as well as serving on the boards of a number of KKR portfolio companies. As our Co-Founder, Co-Executive Chairman and former Co-Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Roberts has an intimate knowledge of KKR's business, which allows him to provide insight into various aspects of our business and is of significant value to the board of directors. Mr. Roberts and Mr. Kravis are first cousins.
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Joseph Y. Bae joined KKR in 1996 and is our Co-Chief Executive Officer. Prior to his current position, he served as Co-President and Co-Chief Operating Officer from 2017 to 2021, and he has been a member of our Board of Directors since July 2017. Mr. Bae has held numerous leadership roles at KKR. He was the architect of KKR’s expansion in Asia, building one of the largest and most successful platforms in the market. In addition to his role developing KKR’s Asia-Pacific platform, he has presided over business building in the firm’s private markets businesses, which included leading or serving on all of the investment committees and implementing the firm’s modern thematic investment approach. Mr. Bae serves on the firm’s Inclusion and Diversity Council. He is active in a number of non-profit educational and cultural institutions, including co-founding and serving on the board of The Asian American Foundation, a member of Harvard University’s Global Advisory Council and as a board member of the Lincoln Center. Mr. Bae’s intimate knowledge of KKR’s business and operations and his
experience in a variety of senior leadership roles within KKR provide significant value to the Board of Directors.
Scott C. Nuttall joined KKR in 1996 and is our Co-Chief Executive Officer. Prior to his current position he served as Co-President and Co-Chief Operating Officer from 2017 to 2021, and he has been a member of our Board of Directors since July 2017. Mr. Nuttall has had numerous leadership roles at KKR. He was the architect of the firm’s major strategic development initiatives, including leading KKR’s public listing, developing the firm’s balance sheet strategy, overseeing the development of KKR’s Public Markets businesses in the credit and hedge fund space as well as the creation of the firm’s capital markets, capital raising and insurance businesses. Mr. Nuttall serves on KKR’s Balance Sheet Committee and the firm’s Inclusion and Diversity Council. He is currently a member of the board of directors of Fiserv, Inc. Nuttall has served on the boards of various non-profit institutions with a particular focus on education, most recently as Co-Chairman of Teach for America – New York. Mr. Nuttall's intimate knowledge of KKR's business and operations and his experience in a variety of senior leadership roles within KKR provide significant value to the Board of Directors.
Adriane M. Brown has been a member of our Board of Directors since June 2021. Ms. Brown joined Flying Fish Ventures, as a Venture Partner in November 2018 and became a Managing Partner of the venture capital firm in February 2021. Prior to that, Ms. Brown served as President and Chief Operating Officer for Intellectual Ventures, an invention and investment company, from January 2010 through July 2017, and served as a Senior Advisor until December 2018. Before joining Intellectual Ventures, Ms. Brown served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Honeywell Transportation Systems. Over the course of 10 years at Honeywell, she held leadership positions serving the aerospace and automotive markets globally. Prior to Honeywell, Ms. Brown spent 19 years at Corning, Inc., ultimately serving as Vice President and General Manager, Environmental Products Division, having started her career there as a shift supervisor. Ms. Brown serves on the boards of directors of American Airlines Group Inc., Axon Enterprise, Inc., e-Bay Inc., Washington Research Foundation, and the Pacific Science Center. Ms. Brown previously served on the boards of directors of Allergan Plc and Raytheon Company until 2020. Ms. Brown holds a Doctorate of Humane Letters and a bachelor’s degree in environmental health from Old Dominion University, and is a winner of its Distinguished Alumni Award. She also holds a master’s degree in management from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where she was a Sloan Fellow. Ms. Brown’s leadership in technology businesses and industrial companies as well as her investment and financial experience bring important expertise to the oversight and development of our business.
Matthew R. Cohler has been a member of our Board of Directors since December 2021. He is a former General Partner at the venture capital firm Benchmark, where for over a decade he led early-stage investments in Internet and software startup businesses. He currently serves as a director and nominating and governance committee member at Asana, as a director and audit committee member at 1stDibs and as a director at several privately held companies. Previously he served as a director, audit committee member and nominating and governance committee member at Domo, as a director and audit committee member at Uber and as a director at privately held companies including Duo Security, Instagram and Tinder. Prior to Benchmark, Matt was Vice President at Facebook, where he was the company’s seventh employee, and Vice President at LinkedIn, where he was part of the company’s founding team. He serves on the board of trustees at Environmental Defense Fund (Vice Chair), on the board of governors at the San Francisco Symphony (Vice President) and on the investment committee at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative and at the Yale Investments Office. He holds a B.A. from Yale University, cum laude and with distinction in the study of music. Mr. Cohler’s knowledge and experience as a venture capitalist and director of multiple leading companies in the technology industry bring to our Board important insight and perspectives to our business and future development.
Mary N. Dillon has been a member of our Board of Directors since September 2018. Ms. Dillon is the Executive Chair of the board of directors of Ulta Beauty, Inc., a beauty products retailer, since June 2021 and has served as a member of its board of directors since 2013. From 2013 to June 2021, she was the Chief Executive Officer of Ulta Beauty, and before then she served as President and Chief Executive Officer and member of the board of directors of United States Cellular Corporation, a provider of wireless telecommunication services, from 2010 to 2013. Prior to joining U.S. Cellular, Ms. Dillon served as Global Chief Marketing Officer and Executive Vice President of McDonald’s Corporation from 2005 to 2010, where she led its worldwide marketing efforts and global brand strategy. Prior to joining McDonald’s, Ms. Dillon held several positions of increasing responsibility at PepsiCo Corporation, including as President of the Quaker Foods division from 2004 to 2005 and as Vice President of Marketing for Gatorade and Quaker Foods from 2002 to 2004. Ms. Dillon served as a director of Target Corporation from 2007 to 2013 and as a member of its compensation committee from 2009 to 2013. Ms. Dillon joined the board of directors of Starbucks in January 2016 and serves as chair of its compensation and management development committee, and as a member of the nominating and corporate governance committee. Ms. Dillon provides our Board with valuable knowledge and insights she gained through her various senior management and leadership roles, including as the chief executive officer of a publicly traded company. In addition, with over 30 years of experience in consumer-driven businesses, Ms. Dillon brings to our Board her extensive operational and marketing expertise in the retail industry.
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Joseph A. Grundfest has been a member of our Board of Directors since July 2010. Mr. Grundfest has been a member of the faculty of Stanford Law School since 1990, where he is the William A. Franke Professor of Law and Business. He is also senior faculty of the Arthur and Toni Rembe Rock Center for Corporate Governance at Stanford University; co-director of Directors’ College, a venue for the continuing professional education of directors of publicly traded corporations; and co-founder of Financial Engines, Inc., a provider of services and advice to participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans, where he served as a director since its inception in 1996 through 2018. Prior to joining the Stanford Law School faculty, Mr. Grundfest was a Commissioner of the SEC from 1985 to 1990. He holds a B.A. in Economics from Yale University and a J.D. from Stanford Law School. Mr. Grundfest's knowledge and expertise in capital markets, corporate governance, and securities laws provides to our Board significant value to the oversight and development of our business.
Arturo Gutiérrez Hernández has been a member of our Board of Directors since March 2021. Mr. Gutiérrez has served as the Chief Executive Officer of Arca Continental, one of the largest Coca-Cola bottlers in the world, since January 2019. Mr. Gutiérrez held several executive positions in the company from 2001 to 2018, including Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Head of the Mexico Beverages Division, Executive Vice President of Human Resources, Director of Corporate Planning and General Counsel. He serves on several boards of industry-related companies, including Jugos del Valle and Piasa, and he holds positions on several international and national industry councils, such as the System Leadership Governance Board of Coca-Cola North America. He also serves in national and international chambers, such as the Nuevo Leon Transformation Industry Chamber, the U.S.-Mexico CEO Dialogue and the Consumer Goods Forum in Latin America. Mr. Gutiérrez earned a law degree from Escuela Libre de Derecho, in Mexico City, and an L.L.M. from Harvard University, as a Fulbright Scholar. Mr. Gutiérrez provides our Board with valuable knowledge, perspectives and insights from his leadership of a large multinational business based in Latin America and from his broad experience in various aspects of the consumer staples, including operational, financial, business development and legal areas.
John B. Hess has been a member of our Board of Directors since July 2011. Mr. Hess has been the Chief Executive Officer of Hess Corporation since 1995 and a director since 1978. He serves as a member of the Business Council, the Trilateral Commission and the Council on Foreign Relations and on the executive committee of the American Petroleum Institute and previously served on the Secretary of Energy Advisory Board Quadrennial Review Task Force. Mr. Hess is a member of the board of trustees at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Mount Sinai Hospital, the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and the Dean's Advisors at Harvard Business School, and former Chair of The Harvard Business School Campaign. Mr. Hess earned a B.A. from Harvard College and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. Mr. Hess provides significant value to the oversight and development of our business through his management and leadership roles at a global energy business, and his involvement with major businesses and public policy organizations also provides valuable perspectives for our Board.
Dane E. Holmes has been a member of our Board of Directors since March 2021. Mr. Holmes is the Co-Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Eskalera, Inc., an enterprise software company that builds inclusive, productive work cultures through talent development and data based insights, since 2020. Prior to Eskalera, Mr. Holmes was the Global Head of Human Capital Management at Goldman Sachs from 2017 to 2019 and served as a member of the firm’s Management Committee. He held many positions at Goldman Sachs from 2007 to 2017, including global head of Pine Street and global head of investor relations. During his career, he served on a variety of additional global committees, including Partnership Committee, Risk Committee, Client and Business Standards Committee, Finance Committee, and Global Diversity Committee. Mr. Holmes serves on several non-profit boards. He is currently the Chair of The Ron Brown Scholar Program and the Vice-Chair of StoryCorps. Mr. Holmes earned a B.A. from Columbia University. Mr. Holmes provides our Board with valuable knowledge, perspectives, and insights in the area of human capital management, including advancing diversity and inclusion efforts, as well as financial services, investor relations, capital markets, corporate governance, and risk management.
Xavier B. Niel has been a member of our Board of Directors since March 2018. Mr. Niel is the Founder and Chairman of the board of Iliad SA, a French telecommunications company that owns the internet provider Free and the low-cost mobile operator Free Mobile. Mr. Niel also owns majority stakes in telecom operators in various countries. He has been involved in the data communications, internet and telecommunications industry since the late 1980s. In 2010, Mr. Niel founded Kima Ventures SAS, which is an active early-stage investor. In 2013, he created 42, a school that trains computer specialists in France, and in 2017, he opened Station-F, a startup campus located in Paris. Mr. Niel brings significant value to our Board due to his extensive experience as an entrepreneur who founded multiple companies, in addition to his leadership and technology experience.
Patricia F. Russo has been a member of our Board of Directors since April 2011. Ms. Russo served as Chief Executive Officer of Alcatel-Lucent from 2006 to 2008. Prior to the merger of Alcatel and Lucent in 2006, she served as Chairman of Lucent Technologies, Inc. from 2003 to 2006, and as President and Chief Executive Officer from 2002 to 2006. Before rejoining Lucent in 2002, Ms. Russo was President and Chief Operating Officer of Eastman Kodak Company from March 2001 to December 2001. She has served as the Chairman of Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company since 2015 and as a director of Merck & Co., Inc. since 2009 and General Motors Company since 2009. Prior to its merger with Merck in 2009, Ms. Russo served as a director of Schering-Plough since 1995, and she served as a director of Hewlett Packard Company from 2011 to November 2015. From November 2016 to May 2018, Ms. Russo also served on the board of Arconic Inc., which separated from Alcoa Inc., where Ms. Russo served as a director from 2008 to November 2016. She graduated from Georgetown University with a bachelor’s degree in political science and history, and obtained an Advanced Management Degree from
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Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program. Ms. Russo's management and leadership experience as chief executive officer of complex global companies as well as her experience with corporate strategy, mergers and acquisitions, and sales and marketing brings to our Board important expertise to the oversight and development of our business. Ms. Russo also brings extensive experience in corporate governance as a member of boards and board committees of other public companies.
Thomas M. Schoewe has been a member of our Board of Directors since March 2011. Mr. Schoewe was Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., a position he held from 2000 to 2010, and was employed by Walmart in a transitional capacity to January 2011. Prior to his employment at Walmart, Mr. Schoewe served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Black and Decker Corp., a position he held from 1993 to 1999. Prior to that, he served for four years as Black and Decker’s Vice President of Finance. He previously held the position of Vice President of Business Planning and Analysis. He joined Black and Decker in 1986 after serving at Chicago-based Beatrice Companies, where he was Chief Financial Officer and Controller of Beatrice Consumer Durables, Inc. He has served on the board of directors of Northrop Grumman Corporation and General Motors Company since 2011. From 2001 to May 2012, he served on the board of directors of PulteGroup Inc., which merged with Centex Corporation in 2009 and previously served on the Centex board. Mr. Schoewe graduated from Loyola University of Chicago with a bachelor’s of business administration degree in finance. Mr. Schoewe's experience in financial reporting, accounting and controls, and business planning and analysis, together with his significant international experience as an executive of large multinational companies, brings to the Board important expertise to the oversight and development of our business. Mr. Schoewe also has experience with large-scale, transformational information technology implementations at Wal-Mart and Black and Decker.
Robert W. Scully has been a member of our Board of Directors since July 2010. Mr. Scully was a member of the Office of the Chairman of Morgan Stanley from 2007 until his retirement in 2009, where he had previously been Co-President, Chairman of global capital markets and Vice Chairman of investment banking. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley in 1996, he served as a Managing Director at Lehman Brothers and at Salomon Brothers. Mr. Scully has served as a director of Zoetis Inc. since June 2013, Chubb Limited since January 2016, and prior to its acquisition of Chubb Limited, a director of ACE Limited from May 2014 to January 2016. Previously, he was a director of UBS Group AG from May 2016 to April 2020, a director of Bank of America Corporation from August 2009 to May 2013 and a public governor of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. from October 2014 to May 2016. He has also served as a director of GMAC Financial Services and MSCI Inc. He holds an A.B. from Princeton University and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. Mr. Scully previously served on the Board of Dean’s Advisors of Harvard Business School. Mr. Scully's 35-year career in the financial services industry brings to the Board important expertise to the oversight of our business. In addition, his leadership experience with a global financial services company brings an industry perspective to our business development within and outside the United States as well as issues such as talent development, senior client relationship management, strategic initiatives, risk management and audit and financial reporting.
Evan T. Spiegel has been a member of our Board of Directors since October 2021. Mr. Spiegel is the Co-Founder of Snap Inc., a publicly traded camera company that believes reinventing the camera represents the greatest opportunity to improve the way that people live and communicate, and has served as its Chief Executive Officer and a member of its board of directors since 2012. In 2017, Mr. Spiegel formed the Spiegel Family Fund, a non-profit humanitarian organization which supports organizations across the arts, education, housing and human rights. Mr. Spiegel currently serves on the boards of directors of Snap Inc. and the Berggruen Institute. Mr. Spiegel holds a bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Product Design from Stanford University. Mr. Spiegel’s experience as a co-founder and executive of a leading company in technology and social media services brings to our Board important insight and perspectives to our business and future development.
Robert H. Lewin joined KKR in 2004 and is our Chief Financial Officer. Since joining KKR, Mr. Lewin held a number of positions at the firm, including as an investor in private equity, co-leading the firm’s credit and capital markets businesses, serving as Treasurer and Head of Corporate Development and most recently as Head of Human Capital & Strategic Talent. From 2006 through 2010, Mr. Lewin resided in Hong Kong, helping to launch KKR’s Asia business. Mr. Lewin has a Bachelor of Science from the University of Pennsylvania. He currently serves on the board of Answer the Call, a non-profit organization.
David J. Sorkin joined KKR in 2007 and is our General Counsel and Secretary. Prior to joining KKR, Mr. Sorkin was a partner with Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP. Mr. Sorkin serves as President of the board of directors of New Alternatives for Children. He received a B.A., summa cum laude, from Williams College and a J.D., cum laude, from Harvard Law School.
Ryan D. Stork joined KKR in 2022 and is our Chief Operating Officer. Prior to joining KKR, Mr. Stork was at BlackRock Inc. where he held multiple leadership roles for more than 20 years, including most recently as Deputy Chief Operating Officer from 2019 to 2021 and as Chairman of Asia Pacific from 2014 to 2019. Previously, he was also the Global Head of Aladdin – BlackRock’s investment and risk management technology platform, Head of the Institutional Client Business in Continental Europe, and Co‐Head of the Financial Institutions Group. He was also a member of BlackRock’s Global Executive Committee and a board member of BlackRock’s Foundation. Prior to joining BlackRock, Ryan worked at PennCorp Financial Group, Conning Asset Management, and The Travelers Insurance Companies. Mr. Stork received a BBA in Finance & Accounting from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
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Independence and Composition of the Board of Directors
Our board of directors consists of sixteen directors, twelve of whom, Messrs. Cohen, Grundfest, Gutiérrez, Hess, Holmes, Niel, Schoewe, Scully and Spiegel and Mses. Brown, Dillon and Russo, are independent under NYSE rules relating to corporate governance matters and the independence standards described in our corporate governance guidelines.
Because the Series I preferred stockholder has more than 50% of the voting power for the election of our directors, we are a "controlled company" within the meaning of the corporate governance standards of the NYSE. Under these standards, a "controlled company" may elect not to comply with certain corporate governance standards, including the requirements (1) that a majority of its board of directors consist of independent directors, (2) that its board of directors have a compensation committee that is comprised entirely of independent directors with a written charter addressing the committee's purpose and responsibilities and (3) that its board of directors have a nominating and corporate governance committee that is comprised entirely of independent directors with a written charter addressing the committee's purpose and responsibilities. We currently utilize the second and third of these exemptions. See "Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Common Stock—As a 'controlled company,' we qualify for some exemptions from the corporate governance and other requirements of the NYSE." While we are exempt from NYSE rules relating to board independence, we intend to maintain a board of directors that consists of at least a majority of directors who are independent under NYSE rules. In the event that we cease to be a "controlled company" and our shares of common stock continue to be listed on the NYSE, we will be required to comply with these provisions within the applicable transition periods. In connection with the Reorganization Agreement, at a future date not to be later than December 2026 and subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, we expect to no longer be a "controlled company", and thereafter we expect to comply with all of the then existing NYSE rules regarding corporate governance. For more information, see also "Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence—Reorganization Agreement."
In addition, our Board has considered transactions and relationships between KKR and the companies and organizations on whose boards or other similar governing bodies where our independent directors also serve or where our independent directors serve as executive officers, including investments made by such companies in the portfolio companies in which KKR or its funds are invested, and certain personal investments made by our independent directors in companies in which certain of our executive officers have also invested. It was determined that none of these transactions or relationships adversely impacted the independence of our independent directors.
We seek to enhance the diversity of our board of directors to encompass a broad range of expertise, experience and backgrounds. We believe that a diverse board of directors can strengthen the board’s effectiveness in fulfilling its oversight role. Among our sixteen directors on our board of directors, three of our directors have self-identified as women, and four of our directors have self-identified as non-white.
Board Committees
Our Board of Directors has four standing committees: an Audit Committee, a Conflicts Committee, a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and an Executive Committee that operate pursuant to written charters as described below. Because we are a "controlled company," our Board is not required by NYSE rules to establish a Compensation Committee or a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee or to meet certain other substantive NYSE corporate governance requirements until the consummation of all the transactions contemplated by the Reorganization Agreement. For more information about the transactions contemplated by the Reorganization Agreement, see "Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence—Reorganization Agreement." While the Board has established a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, we currently rely on available exemptions concerning the committee's composition and mandate.
Audit Committee
The Audit Committee consists of Messrs. Grundfest (Chair), Schoewe and Scully. The purpose of the Audit Committee is to provide assistance to the Board of Directors in fulfilling its responsibility with respect to its oversight of: (i) the quality and integrity of our financial statements, including investment valuations; (ii) our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements; (iii) our independent registered public accounting firm's qualifications, independence and performance; and (iv) the performance of our internal audit function. The members of the Audit Committee meet the independence standards and financial literacy requirements for service on an Audit Committee of a Board of Directors pursuant to the Exchange Act and NYSE rules applicable to audit committees. Our Board of Directors has determined that each of Messrs. Grundfest, Schoewe and Scully is an "audit committee financial expert" within the meaning of Item 407(d)(5) of Regulation S-K. The Audit Committee has a charter, which is available on our website at www.kkr.com under the corporate governance page for our stockholders at the "Investor Center" section.
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Conflicts Committee
The Conflicts Committee consists of Messrs. Scully (Chair) and Schoewe and Mses. Dillon and Russo. The Conflicts Committee is responsible for reviewing specific matters that the Board of Directors believes may involve a conflict of interest and for enforcing our rights under any of the exchange agreement, the tax receivable agreement, the limited partnership agreement of KKR Group Partnership, our certificate of incorporation or our bylaws (collectively, the "covered agreements") against KKR Holdings and certain of its subsidiaries and designees, a general partner or limited partner of KKR Holdings, or a person who holds a partnership or equity interest in the foregoing entities. The Conflicts Committee is also authorized to take any action pursuant to any authority or rights granted to such committee under any covered agreement or with respect to any amendment, supplement, modification or waiver to any such agreement that would purport to modify such authority or rights. In addition, the Conflicts Committee shall approve any amendment to any of the covered agreements that in the reasonable judgment of our Board of Directors is or will result in a conflict of interest. The Conflicts Committee will determine if the resolution of any conflict of interest submitted to it is fair and reasonable to us. The Conflicts Committee may review and approve any related person transactions, other than those that are approved pursuant to our related person policy, as described under "Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence—Statement of Policy Regarding Transactions with Related Persons," and may establish guidelines or rules to cover specific categories of transactions. The members of the Conflicts Committee meet the independence standards under our corporate governance guidelines as required for service on the committee in accordance with its charter.
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee consists of Messrs. Kravis (Co-Chair), Roberts (Co-Chair) and Scully. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for identifying and recommending candidates for appointment to the Board of Directors and for assisting and advising the Board of Directors with respect to matters relating to the general operation of the Board and corporate governance matters. Mr. Scully meets the independence standards under the rules of the NYSE as required for service on the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee in accordance with its charter.
Executive Committee
The Executive Committee consists of Messrs. Kravis and Roberts. The purpose of the Executive Committee is to act, when necessary, in place of the full Board of Directors during periods in which the board is not in session or with respect to matters delegated to the committee, including oversight of our Equity Plans. The Executive Committee is authorized and empowered to act as if it were the full Board of Directors in overseeing our business and affairs, except that it is not authorized or empowered to take actions that have been specifically delegated to other Board committees or to take actions with respect to: (i) the declaration of dividends on our common stock; (ii) a merger or consolidation of us with or into another entity; (iii) a sale, lease or exchange of all or substantially all of our assets; (iv) a liquidation or dissolution of us; (v) any action that must be submitted to a vote of the Series I preferred stockholder or our stockholders; or (vi) any action that may not be delegated to a Board committee under our certificate of incorporation, our bylaws or the DGCL.
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
We have a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that applies to our principal executive officers, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer and is available on our website at www.kkr.com under the corporate governance page for our stockholders at the "Investor Center" section. In accordance with, and to the extent required by the rules and regulations of the SEC, we intend to disclose any amendment to or waiver of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics on behalf of an executive officer or director either on our website or in a Current Report on Form 8-K filing.
Corporate Governance Guidelines
Our Board of Directors has a governance policy, which addresses matters such as the Board of Directors' responsibilities and duties, the Board of Directors' composition and compensation and director independence. The governance guidelines are available on our website at www.kkr.com under corporate governance section for our stockholders at the "Investor Center" section.
Communications to the Board of Directors
The non-executive members of our Board of Directors meet regularly. At each meeting of the non-executive members, the non-executive directors choose a director to lead the meeting. All interested parties, including any employee or stockholder, may send communications to the non-executive members of our Board of Directors by writing to: Investor Relations, KKR & Co. Inc., 30 Hudson Yards, New York, New York 10001.
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ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
Compensation Philosophy
In general, our compensation program for our employees has three primary objectives: (1) to attract, motivate and retain them, (2) to align their interests with those of our stockholders and other stakeholders and (3) to reinforce our culture and values.
Our employees. Our business is dependent on the services of our employees, including our named executive officers. Among other things, we depend on their ability, where applicable, to find, select and execute investments, manage and improve portfolio company operations, find and develop relationships with fund investors and other sources of capital, find, select and execute capital markets opportunities, and operate our various businesses, and we cannot compete effectively without their continued employment with us. Therefore, it is important that our key employees are compensated in a manner that motivates them to excel consistently and encourages them to remain with the firm.
Alignment of interests. Management equity ownership in the businesses in which we invest has been a guiding principle throughout our firm's history, and we apply that principle to ourselves: every senior employee of the firm is expected to have an equity interest in KKR. This equity ownership serves to align the interests of our senior employees, including our named executive officers, with those of our stockholders. In addition, because we invest in and alongside our investment funds and have a carry pool from which we can allocate to our senior employees 40%, 43% or 65%, as applicable, of the carried interest that we generate through our business, we believe that our senior employees' interests are also aligned with those of our investors in the funds, vehicles and accounts that we manage, which in turn benefits our stockholders. Moreover, senior Global Atlantic employees have equity interests based on the long term performance of Global Atlantic, which we believe aligns their interests with those of its various stakeholders.
Culture and values. One of our most important values for our senior employees is our "one firm" approach with shared responsibility and success, and we also subscribe to a culture of meritocracy and fairness. Therefore, compensation for our senior employees is based on the performance of the firm as a whole as well as on an individual's contributions to the firm. For example, we generally do not compensate our senior employees based merely on an individual's accomplishments in relation to the profits and losses of his or her business unit. In addition, we conduct, at least annually, an evaluation process based on input from a wide range of persons regarding each employee's contribution to the firm, including his or her commitment to the firm's culture and values. We believe that using this kind of an evaluation process also promotes a measure of objectivity as a balance to a single manager's judgment.
We refer to our two Co-Executive Chairmen (Henry Kravis and George Roberts), our two Co-Chief Executive Officers (Joseph Bae and Scott Nuttall), our Chief Financial Officer (Robert Lewin) and our General Counsel and Secretary (David Sorkin) as our "named executive officers" for the year ended December 31, 2021. We believe that the elements of compensation discussed below for our named executive officers serve these primary objectives. We are not required to conduct say-on-pay or say-on-frequency votes under the Dodd-Frank Act. However, we intend periodically to review the elements of our compensation, and we may make changes to the compensation structure relating to one or more named executive officers based on the outcome of such reviews from time to time.
KKR Holdings
Each of our named executive officers holds interests in our business through KKR Holdings, which is the entity that indirectly owns all of the outstanding KKR Group Partnership Units that are not allocable to us, including KKR Holdings II.
KKR Holdings units are, subject to certain restrictions, exchangeable for shares of our common stock, on a one-for-one basis, and generally cannot be sold to third parties for monetary value unless they are first exchanged for shares of our common stock. Because KKR Holdings units are exchangeable for shares of our common stock, we believe that our named executive officers' interests are aligned with those of our stockholders.
KKR Holdings, from time to time, receives distributions that are made on KKR Group Partnership Units that are held by it. To the extent such distributions are received on KKR Group Partnership Units that underlie any KKR Holdings units that have satisfied their respective vesting requirements, if any, at the time distributions are declared on the underlying KKR Group Partnership Units, such distributions will be allocated and further distributed to the named executive officers as and when received. To the extent that such distributions are made on KKR Group Partnership Units underlying any KKR Holdings units
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that have not satisfied all vesting requirements at the time distributions are declared on the underlying KKR Group Partnership Units, such distributions may be allocated or otherwise applied in such amounts and in such manner as Messrs. Kravis and Roberts, acting through the general partner of KKR Holdings, may determine. As of February 24, 2022, approximately 1.1 million KKR Holdings units remain unallocated, which as discussed below, Messrs. Kravis and Roberts are authorized to allocate to themselves or others.
In 2021, our named executive officers received distributions from KKR Holdings, including distributions relating to tax liabilities, as well as dividends on shares of common stock they own, and because these distributions and dividends are not considered to be compensation, they have not been reported in the Summary Compensation Table.
As part of the transactions contemplated by the Reorganization Agreement, 500,000 outstanding KKR Holdings units held by each of Messrs. Kravis and Roberts and 1,455,000 outstanding KKR Holdings units held by each of Messrs. Bae and Nuttall, each of which had previously been scheduled to vest on October 1, 2022, will be accelerated to vest immediately prior to the closing of the mergers contemplated by the Reorganization Agreement, and such KKR Holdings units will become vested and receive their allocable share of the common stock contemplated to be issued pursuant to the Reorganization Agreement. The customary one- and two-year transfer restrictions applicable to such KKR Holdings units will continue to apply to the shares to be received in exchange therefor pursuant to the Reorganization Agreement until October 1, 2023 and October 1, 2024. The 500,000 KKR Holdings units held by each of Messrs. Kravis and Roberts are already considered fully vested given their age and years of service at KKR. In the case of Messrs. Bae and Nuttall only, in exchange for the accelerated vesting, each of their 1,455,000 KKR Holdings units (or shares of common stock to be received in respect thereof) will be subject to forfeiture if such executive is not employed by KKR on October 1, 2022 (except in the case of death or permanent disability).
In addition, KKR Holdings allocated 1,150,000 KKR Holdings units to each of Messrs. Bae and Nuttall, of which 30% will be subject to forfeiture if such executive is not employed by KKR on October 1, 2022 (except in the case of death or permanent disability). The number of KKR units allocated to Messrs. Bae and Nuttall was determined by Messrs. Kravis and Roberts, and the allocations were made as part of the transactions contemplated by the Reorganization Agreement, which were approved by our board of directors following the recommendation of the conflicts committee. These KKR Holdings units (or shares of common stock to be received in respect thereof) are subject to customary one- and two-year transfer restrictions that will apply, as applicable, until October 1, 2023 and October 1, 2024. Messrs. Kravis and Roberts are authorized to allocate the balance of any outstanding and unallocated KKR Holdings units, in their sole discretion, to themselves or others, on such terms as they determine, prior to the closing of the mergers contemplated by the Reorganization Agreement.
All of these KKR Holdings units represent KKR Group Partnership units that are already outstanding, and therefore their vesting and allocations as described above do not represent any incremental dilution to KKR.
Compensation Elements
Base Salary
For 2021, Messrs. Kravis, Roberts, Bae, Nuttall, Lewin and Sorkin were each paid an annual salary of $300,000. We believe that the base salary of our named executive officers should typically not be the most significant component of total compensation. Our Co-Executive Chairmen determined that $300,000 is a sufficient minimum base salary for our named executive officers.
Year-End Bonus Compensation
Our Co-Executive Chairmen did not receive any year-end cash bonus compensation in 2021. They have decided at this time not to receive any year-end cash bonus compensation, which permits our firm to make greater year-end cash bonus payments to our other employees in order to motivate and retain them for the benefit of the firm. See "—Other Compensation" below for certain incidental benefits provided to them by the firm.
In 2021, our Co-Chief Executive Officers were awarded year-end cash compensation as bonus payments that were determined by our Co- Executive Chairmen. In 2021, our Chief Financial Officer and General Counsel were awarded year-end cash compensation as bonus payments that were determined by our Co-Chief Executive Officers. Our Co-Executive Chairmen and Co-Chief Executive Officers made their subjective determinations by assessing our overall performance and the contributions that the named executive officer made to our development and success, as a firm, during the year. Certain factors that were considered when determining the size of their bonus payments include (i) their respective contributions and accomplishments in 2021 in terms of driving commercial results for the firm, leading and managing people, and living the firm's values; (ii) their respective performance and contributions relative to other senior employees at the firm; (iii) their respective performance and contributions in 2021 as compared to the prior year; and (iv) the overall financial performance of the firm in 2021 as compared to the prior year based on certain financial measures considered by management, including but
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not limited to after-tax distributable earnings. More specifically, in assessing the contributions by Messrs. Bae and Nuttall, our Co-Executive Chairmen considered their services as Co-Presidents/Co-Chief Operating Officers and Co-Chief Executive Officers during 2021 and their day-to-day management of the firm's business as well as their joint leadership of the firm. In assessing Mr. Lewin's contributions, our Co-Chief Executive Officers considered his service as the Chief Financial Officer and his leadership and oversight of our finance, tax and accounting functions and related operations and his role with respect to strategic initiatives undertaken by the firm. In assessing Mr. Sorkin's contributions, they considered his leadership and oversight of our global legal, compliance, enterprise risk and internal audit functions and his role with respect to the strategic initiatives undertaken by the firm. Despite the ongoing pandemic, the firm experienced strong financial performance in 2021, with fee related earnings, after-tax distributable earnings and book value up significantly over the prior year. Based on the firm's positive 2021 results and the individual contributions described above, our Co-Executive Chairmen determined the aggregate size of the bonus payments to Messrs. Bae and Nuttall, and our Co-Chief Executive Officers determined the aggregate size of the bonus payments to Messrs. Lewin and Sorkin. In making these determinations, our Co-Executive Chairmen and Co-Chief Executive Officers considered the feedback from other employees. We believe that the discretion permitted to our Co-Executive Chairmen and Co-Chief Executive Officers permits them to award bonus compensation in an amount they determine to be necessary to motivate and retain these named executive officers.
The cash bonus amounts paid to our Co-Chief Executive Officers, Chief Financial Officer and General Counsel for 2021 are reflected in the Bonus column of the 2021 Summary Compensation Table below.
In prior years, certain named executive officers received equity awards as part of their annual year-end bonus compensation. In lieu of receiving an annual grant of equity awards for 2021 year-end compensation, certain named executive officers received long-term incentive equity awards, as well as certain grants in early 2021. See "—Incentive Awards" for a description of incentive equity awards granted in 2021.
Except as explained below for our Co-Chief Executive Officers for the next five years, a grant of equity awards in connection with year-end compensation could be made to our named executive officers after the date of this Annual Report.
Incentive Equity Awards
On February 18, 2021, certain of our named executive officers received grants of restricted holdings units subject to market price vesting requirements. Restricted holdings units are equity awards issued under our 2019 Equity Incentive Plan and provide the recipient with the right to exchange them on a one-for-one basis for our common stock after vesting and subject to satisfying certain other conditions. The overall objectives of these grants were principally to incentivize our most senior employees, to align their interests with those of our stockholders, and to retain them by providing meaningful long-term economic incentives. These awards were not designed to be a regularly recurring equity grant as part of an annual year-end compensation program. The number of restricted holdings units granted to our named executive officers was determined by our Co-Executive Chairmen. Following the approval of our board of directors, we made the following grants of restricted holdings units under our 2019 Equity Incentive Plan: 1,000,000 restricted holdings units to Mr. Bae, 900,000 restricted holdings units to Mr. Lewin and 300,000 restricted holdings units to Mr. Sorkin. Equity awards to the named executive officers were determined considering their existing relative levels of KKR equity ownership at such time.
The restricted holdings units granted to these named executive officers are subject to a market price vesting condition. Tranches of these restricted holdings units become eligible to vest upon the average closing price of KKR common stock during 20 consecutive trading days meeting or exceeding certain specified stock price targets between $45.00 and $70.00 per share, all of which have been achieved as of December 31, 2021. These restricted holdings units will vest on May 1, 2026 if the named executive officer continues to serve as an employee until that date, subject to certain exceptions. These restricted holdings units are subject to one- and two-year transfer restrictions after vesting and are subject to minimum retained ownership requirements.
On December 9, 2021, our board of directors approved grants of 7.5 million restricted holdings units to each of our then newly promoted Co-Chief Executive Officers, Messrs. Bae and Nuttall (the “CEO Awards”). These CEO Awards are intended to incentivize the Co-Chief Executive Officers to help drive stock price performance in a manner that is aligned with stockholder interests. KKR currently intends that no additional equity incentive awards will be granted to Messrs. Bae and Nuttall during the five years following the date of grant.
The CEO Awards have a market price vesting condition that would be met when the average closing price of KKR common stock during 20 consecutive trading days meets or exceeds certain stock price targets. For both recipients, 20% of their awards are eligible to vest at each of the following KKR common stock prices: $95.80, $105.80, $115.80, $125.80 and $135.80. These stock price targets represent a premium of 26%, 40%, 53%, 66% and 79%, respectively, relative to the KKR common stock’s closing price of $75.76 on December 9, 2021. In addition to the market price vesting condition, the CEO Awards have a cliff service vesting condition, which requires the Co-Chief Executive Officer to be employed by KKR on December 31, 2026 (with exceptions for involuntary termination without cause, death and permanent disability). The CEO Awards will be automatically forfeited upon the earlier of the Co-Chief Executive Officer’s termination of service (except for involuntary
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termination without cause, death or permanent disability) or the failure to meet the market price vesting condition by December 31, 2028 (for which continued service is required if the market price vesting condition is met after December 31, 2026). The CEO Awards are subject to one- and two-year transfer restrictions after vesting and remain subject to minimum retained ownership requirements.
Carried Interest
We allocate 40%, 43% or 65%, as applicable, of the carried interest that we earn to a carry pool, from which our employees are eligible to receive a carried interest allocation. In February 2021, upon receipt of approval from a committee representing a majority of our independent directors, we amended the percentage of carried interest that is allocable to the carry pool to 65% for recently formed funds and future funds, while for older funds, it remains 40% or 43%, as applicable. The percentage of carried interest allocable to the carry pool may be increased only with the approval of a majority of our independent directors. Carry pool allocations for the named executive officers are made by first determining a total dollar value for the named executive officer's interest in the carry pool. Due to our Co-Executive Chairmen's unique status as Co-Founders of our firm, our Co-Founders determine their own allocation from the carry pool. Under the Reorganization Agreement, until KKR acquires control of the carry pool (which will occur no later than December 31, 2026), our Co-Founders will continue to make decisions regarding the allocation of carry proceeds to themselves and others, provided that any allocation of carry proceeds to the Co-Founders will be on a percentage basis, consistent with past practice. To make the total dollar value determination for the other named executive officers, our Co-Founders take into consideration the executive officer's involvement with investments and impact on the portfolio, the size of the executive officer's bonus as well as the recommendations by our Co-Chief Executive Officers and other factors similar to those considered when determining the size of the bonus, as described under "—Year-End Bonus Compensation." However, the total dollar value available to be allocated to the named executive officers and other employees is limited by the total amount of investments made by our investment funds during the fiscal year, and executive officers and other employees may not be allocated any dollar value of carry in any given year. For our older funds, carry pool allocations were determined based on a percentage applied on an investment-by-investment basis. After a total dollar value, if any, for each named executive officer is determined, such dollar value was then divided by the total allocable dollar value of investments made by our funds for the year, which yielded a certain percentage for the named executive officer. This percentage is then applied consistently to each investment made during the year. Because the size of each investment is different, the nominal amount of the carry pool allocation may differ by investment, although the percentage applied to each investment is consistent. For our more recent funds, carry pool allocations are determined based on a percentage applied on a fund-by-fund basis. The dollar value, if any, for each named executive officer is determined and then allocated to the applicable funds, and such dollar value is then divided by the total allocable dollar value of investments made by that fund for the year to yield a percentage for that particular fund. If carry is paid prior to the end of a fund's investment period, this percentage is applied at that time. At the end of the investment period, an adjustment would be made to account for any difference in percentages applied at the times carry was paid during the investment period (taking vesting into account) and the percentage determined for a particular fund based on the total dollar values allocated to the named executive officer for such fund divided by the total allocable dollars invested during the entire investment period of such fund.
The carried interest allocated to the carry pool is maintained and administered by KKR Associates Holdings, which, similar to KKR Holdings, is not currently a subsidiary of ours. Allocations of carried interest, including any reserved carried interest, are determined by our Co-Founders acting through the general partner of KKR Associates Holdings. On the Sunset Date (as defined in the Reorganization Agreement), KKR will acquire control of KKR Associates Holdings and will commence making decisions regarding the allocation of carried interest pursuant to the limited partnership agreement of KKR Associates Holdings. Until the Sunset Date, our Co-Founders will continue to make decisions regarding the allocation of carried interest to themselves and others, pursuant to the limited partnership agreement of KKR Associates Holdings, provided that any allocation of carried interest to the Co-Founders will be on a percentage basis consistent with past practice. For more information see “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence—Reorganization Agreement” in this Annual Report.
Carried interest, if any, from the carry pool in respect of any particular investment or fund is only paid in cash after all of the following are met: (i) a realization event has occurred (e.g., sale of a portfolio company, dividend, etc.); (ii) the vehicle has achieved positive overall investment returns since its inception, in excess of performance hurdles where applicable, and is accruing carried interest; and (iii) with respect to investments with a fair value below cost, cost has been returned to fund investors in an amount sufficient to reduce remaining cost to the investments' fair value. To the extent any "clawback" obligation is triggered, carried interest previously distributed by the fund would have to be returned to such fund, thereby reducing the named executive officer's overall compensation for any such year. A portion of certain carried interest payable is generally not distributed to the recipient and is instead held in escrow in the recipient's name in order to enhance the recipient's ability to satisfy any future clawback obligation. Because the amount of carried interest payable is directly tied to the realized performance of the underlying investments, we believe this fosters a strong alignment of interests among the investors in those funds and the named executive officers, and thus benefits our stockholders. In addition, several of our competitors use participation in carried interest as an important incentive, and we believe that we must do the same in order to attract and retain the most qualified senior employees.
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Participation in our carry pool for our senior employees, including our named executive officers, is subject only to service-based vesting with certain exceptions, including additional vesting upon death, disability or certain retirement events. In general, the vesting for carry pool allocations is over a four-year period (other than for our Co-Founders). Vesting serves as an employment retention mechanism and enhances the alignment of interests between a participant in our carry pool and the firm as well as the limited partners in our investment funds. Due to our Co-Executive Chairmen's status as Co-Founders of our firm, our Co-Founders are typically completely vested in their carry pool allocations upon grant.
Carry pool allocations after December 31, 2018, whether or not vested, are subject to forfeiture if the recipient violates his or her confidentiality and restrictive covenant agreement. See "—Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table and Grants of Plan‑Based Awards—Terms of Confidentiality and Restrictive Covenant Agreements."
Other Compensation
We have a program to match certain charitable donations made by our senior employees, including our executive officers, and we also pay for certain miscellaneous benefits for them, including tax preparation and financial planning services. In addition, our Co-Executive Chairmen are reimbursed by us for the use of a car and driver, and we pay for the compensation of certain personnel who administer personal matters for them. We believe that these benefits are appropriate in light of the time that they spend on our business, the limited compensation paid by us for their services and their unique status as Co-Founders of our firm.
Minimum Retained Ownership
While employed by us, unless waived in whole or in part, each of our named executive officers is required to hold at least 25% of the cumulative amount of KKR Holdings units and restricted holdings units that have satisfied the vesting conditions during the duration of his employment with the firm. In addition, unless waived in whole or in part, each of our named executive officers may be required, on a grant by grant basis, to hold shares of our common stock equivalents of 15% of the cumulative restricted stock units granted under our Equity Incentive Plans that have satisfied the applicable vesting condition during the duration of his employment with the firm. From time to time, the transfer restrictions and minimum retained ownership requirements applicable to restricted stock units of certain employees, including our named executive officers, have been and may be transferred to such employees' KKR Holdings units or restricted holdings units, if any, so that the total units or shares of equity subject to transfer restrictions and minimum retained ownership requirements are expected to be the same, unless waived.
Compensation and Risk
Our compensation program includes elements that we believe discourage excessive risk-taking and align the compensation of our employees with the long-term performance of the firm. For example, all compensation elements are allocated at the discretion of our firm or by our Co-Founders, a significant majority of the equity awards granted to our employees are subject to a multi-year vesting conditions, one- and two-year post-vesting transfer restriction periods and/or a minimum retained ownership requirement and subject to forfeiture in connection with the breach of certain restrictive covenant obligations. Because our equity awards typically have multi-year vesting provisions, the actual amount of compensation realized by the recipient will be tied to the long- term performance of our common stock. Pursuant to our internal policies, our employees are not permitted to buy or sell derivative securities, including for hedging purposes, or to engage in short-selling to hedge their economic risk of ownership. In addition, we only make cash payments of carried interest to our employees when profitable investments have been realized and after sufficient cash has been distributed to the investors in our funds. Moreover, the general partner of a fund is required to return carried interest distributions to the fund due to, for example, underperformance by the relevant fund subsequent to the payment of such carried interest. Accordingly, the employees would be subject to a "clawback," i.e., be required to return carried interest payments previously made, all of which further discourages excessive risk-taking by our personnel.
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2021 Summary Compensation Table
The following table presents summary information concerning compensation that was paid for services rendered by our named executive officers during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2019, 2020 and 2021.
In 2019, 2020 and 2021, our named executive officers received distributions from KKR Holdings, as well as dividends on shares of common stock they hold. Because these distributions and dividends are not considered to be compensation, they are not reflected as compensation in the table below. There are certain contractual arrangements we entered into with KKR Holdings in October 2009 and thereafter, including a tax receivable agreement, which relate to payments to our named executive officers that are not compensatory and are described in "Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence."
Carried interest distributions to our named executive officers in respect of the carry pool for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2020 and 2021 are reflected in the All Other Compensation column in the table below.
| Name and Principal Position | Year | Salary ($) | Bonus ($) | Stock Awards ($) (1) | All Other Compensation ($) (2) | Total ($) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Henry R. Kravis | 2021 | 300,000 | — | — | 67,154,677 | (3) | 67,454,677 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Co-Executive Chairmen | 2020 | 75,000 | — | — | 41,936,119 | 42,011,119 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019 | 300,000 | — | — | 39,822,617 | 40,122,617 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| George R. Roberts | 2021 | 300,000 | — | — | 67,209,901 | (4) | 67,509,901 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Co-Executive Chairmen | 2020 | 75,000 | — | — | 41,937,533 | 42,012,533 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019 | 300,000 | — | — | 39,865,377 | 40,165,377 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Joseph Y. Bae | 2021 | 300,000 | 24,700,000 | 476,261,500 | 58,374,648 | (5) | 559,636,148 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Co-Chief Executive Officer | 2020 | 75,000 | — | — | 35,729,288 | 35,804,288 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019 | 300,000 | 8,300,000 | — | 26,372,589 | 34,972,589 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Scott C. Nuttall | 2021 | 300,000 | 24,700,000 | 442,161,500 | 55,980,932 | (6) | 523,142,432 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Co-Chief Executive Officer | 2020 | 75,000 | — | — | 36,123,519 | 36,198,519 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019 | 300,000 | 8,300,000 | — | 26,637,879 | 35,237,879 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Robert H. Lewin (7) | 2021 | 300,000 | 6,450,000 | 30,690,000 | 8,585,091 | (8) | 46,025,091 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chief Financial Officer | 2020 | 300,000 | 3,450,000 | — | 4,773,493 | 8,523,493 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| David J. Sorkin | 2021 | 300,000 | 5,450,000 | 10,230,000 | 4,664,923 | (9) | 20,644,923 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| General Counsel | 2020 | 300,000 | 3,550,000 | — | 3,318,106 | 7,168,106 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019 | 300,000 | 2,800,000 | — | 3,361,433 | 6,461,433 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (1) | Stock awards reflected in the table above for each year presented represent the value of the restricted holdings units and KKR Holdings units granted in such reporting period. Fair value of the restricted holdings units and KKR Holdings units granted to our named executive officers are calculated in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, Compensation-Stock Compensation ("ASC Topic 718"). See Note 19 "Equity Based Compensation" to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report for additional information about the valuation assumptions with respect to all grants reflected in this column. These amounts reflect the aggregate grant date fair values calculated under ASC Topic 718, and may not correspond to the actual value that will be recognized by our named executive officers. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (2) | Carried interest is presented on the basis of cash received by our named executive officers in the respective fiscal year. We believe that presenting actual cash received by our named executive officers is a more representative disclosure of their compensation than presenting accrued carried interest, because carried interest is paid only if and when there are profitable realization events relating to the underlying investments. Carried interest also includes amounts retained and allocated for distribution to the respective named executive officer, but not yet distributed to the named executive officer, which could be used to fund potential future clawback obligations if any were to arise. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| (3) | Consists of $66,277,829 in cash payments of carried interest from the carry pool during 2021. Also consists of the following payments made by KKR (unless otherwise noted): $192,946 related to the cost of Mr. Kravis' use of a car and driver during 2021; $598,902 related to certain personnel who administer personal matters for Mr. Kravis during 2021 (the entire cost of which is reported, because we do not separately track whether their time is spent for business or personal reasons); $25,000 related to financial planning services fees (incurred by KKR Holdings); $25,000 related to tax preparation fees; $25,000 of matching charitable donations; and up to $10,000 of other miscellaneous benefits. SEC rules require that transportation and other expenses not directly and integrally related to our business be disclosed as compensation to Mr. Kravis. KKR also paid certain amounts for the use for KKR business of aircraft owned by an entity controlled by Mr. Kravis as described in “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions, Director Independence – Firm Use of Private Aircraft”. From time to time, family members and other personal guests of Mr. Kravis may accompany him on such flights or otherwise on business travel, for which KKR incurs no incremental cost. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (4) | Consists of $66,277,829 in cash payments of carried interest from the carry pool during 2021. Also consists of the following payments made by KKR (unless otherwise noted): $229,171 related to the cost of Mr. Roberts's use of a car and driver during 2021; $542,901 related to certain personnel who administer personal matters for Mr. Roberts during 2021 (the entire cost of which is reported, because we do not separately track whether their time is spent for business or personal reasons); $25,000 related to financial planning services fees (incurred by KKR Holdings); $25,000 related to tax preparation fees; $100,000 of matching charitable donations; and up to $10,000 of other miscellaneous benefits. SEC rules require that transportation and other expenses not directly and integrally related to our business be disclosed as compensation to Mr. Roberts. KKR also paid certain amounts for the use for KKR business of aircraft owned by an entity controlled by Mr. Roberts as described in “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions, Director Independence – Firm Use of Private Aircraft”. From time to time, family members and other personal guests of Mr. Roberts may accompany him on such flights, for which KKR incurs no incremental cost. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (5) | Consists of $58,249,648 in cash payments of carried interest from the carry pool during 2021. Also consists of the following payments made by KKR (unless otherwise noted): $25,000 related to financial planning services fees (incurred by KKR Holdings); $25,000 related to tax preparation fees; and $75,000 of matching charitable donations. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (6) | Consists of $55,550,432 in cash payments of carried interest from the carry pool during 2021; $192,000 in restricted stock units and $88,500 in deferred compensation notional units of Fiserv, Inc. for Mr. Nuttall's service as a KKR-designated director on the board of directors of Fiserv, Inc., a KKR portfolio company, during 2021. Also consists of the following payments made by KKR (unless otherwise noted): $25,000 related to financial planning services fees (incurred by KKR Holdings); $25,000 related to tax preparation fees; and $100,000 of matching charitable donations. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (7) | Mr. Lewin became one of our named executive officers in 2020, and therefore, only his compensation information for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 is provided in the table. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (8) | Consists of $8,435,091 in cash payments of carried interest from the carry pool during 2021. Also consists of the following payments made by KKR (unless otherwise noted): $25,000 related to financial planning services fees (incurred by KKR Holdings); $25,000 related to tax preparation fees; and $100,000 of matching charitable donations. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (9) | Consists of $4,514,923 in cash payments of carried interest from the carry pool during 2021. Also consists of the following payments made by KKR (unless otherwise noted): $25,000 related to financial planning services fees (incurred by KKR Holdings); $25,000 related to tax preparation fees; and $100,000 of matching charitable donations. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Grants of Plan Based Awards in 2021
The following table provides supplemental information relating to grants of equity awards in the year ended December 31, 2021 provided in our 2021 Summary Compensation Table.
Estimated Future Payouts Under Equity Incentive Plan Awards(1) | All Other Stock Awards: Number of Shares of Stock or Units (#) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Name | Grant Date | Threshold (#) | Target (#) | Maximum (#) | Grant Date Fair Value of Stock and Options Awards ($) (4) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Henry R. Kravis | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||
| George R. Roberts | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||
| Joseph Y. Bae | 02/18/2021 | 166,666(2) | — | 1,000,000 | — | $ | 34,100,000 | ||||||||||||||||
| 10/8/2021 | — | — | — | 1,150,000 | (3) | $ | 75,336,500 | ||||||||||||||||
| 12/09/2021 | 1,500,000(2) | — | 7,500,000 | — | $ | 366,825,000 | |||||||||||||||||
| Scott C. Nuttall | 10/8/2021 | — | — | — | 1,150,000 | (3) | $ | 75,336,500 | |||||||||||||||
12/09/2021 | 1,500,000(2) | — | 7,500,000 | — | $ | 366,825,000 | |||||||||||||||||
| Robert H. Lewin | 02/18/2021 | 150,000(2) | — | 900,000 | — | $ | 30,690,000 | ||||||||||||||||
| David J. Sorkin | 02/18/2021 | 50,000(2) | — | 300,000 | — | $ | 10,230,000 | ||||||||||||||||
(1)The amounts represent restricted holdings units granted under our 2019 Equity Incentive Plan in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021. Each grant of restricted holdings units is subject to market price vesting requirements and a service-based vesting condition, which are described under the captions "Compensation Elements: Incentive Equity Awards" above and "Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table and Grants of Plan-Based Awards-Terms of Restricted Holdings Units" below.
(2)16.7% of each award granted in February 2021 is eligible to vest at the threshold market price of $45.00 to $70.00 and 20% of each award granted in December 2021 is eligible to vest at the threshold market price of $95.80 to $135.80.
(3)The amounts represent KKR Holdings units allocated in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021. KKR Holdings units are described under the caption “Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table and Grants of Plan-Based Awards-Terms of KKR Holdings Units” below.
(4)The amounts represent the grant date fair value of the KKR Holdings units or restricted holdings units, as applicable, as calculated in accordance with ASC Topic 718. See Note 19 "Equity Based Compensation" to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report for additional information about the valuation assumptions with respect to all grants reflected in this table. These amounts reflect the aggregate grant date fair values calculated under ASC Topic 718 and may not correspond to the actual value that will be recognized by our named executive officers.
Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table and Grants of Plan Based Awards
Terms of KKR Holdings Units
In general, KKR Holdings units vest over a period of time from their grant date, subject to continued service through each vesting date. Following this service-based vesting, certain KKR Holdings units may also be subject to transfer restrictions and/or minimum retained ownership requirements. Unvested KKR Holdings units are not entitled to receive any distributions that are declared and received on the underlying KKR Group Partnership Units.
KKR Holdings units that are subject to transfer restrictions, unless waived, may not be sold, exchanged or otherwise transferred for a specified period of time following the initial vesting date and interests in such units will remain contingently vested during that time. The transfer restriction period typically lasts for (1) one year with respect to one-half of the units vesting on the vesting date and (2) two years with respect to the other one-half of the units vesting on such vesting date. Transfer restricted units become fully vested and transferable and may be exchanged into shares of common stock at the end of the transfer restriction period if the holder is not terminated for cause and has complied with the terms of his or her confidentiality and restrictive covenant agreement during the transfer restrictions period. See "Terms of Confidentiality and Restrictive Covenant Agreements" below.
Because KKR Holdings is a partnership, all of the outstanding KKR Holdings units have been legally allocated, but the allocation of 1,066,497 of these units has not been communicated as of December 31, 2021. Messrs. Kravis and Roberts are
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authorized to allocate these KKR Holdings units, in their sole discretion, to themselves or others, on such terms as they determine, prior to the closing of the mergers contemplated by the Reorganization Agreement. For more information about the Reorganization Agreement, see “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence—Reorganization Agreement” in this Annual Report.
While employed by our firm, our principals, including our named executive officers, are also subject to minimum retained ownership rules that require them to continuously hold at least 25% of their cumulatively vested KKR Holdings units, unless waived. The transfer and vesting restrictions and minimum retained ownership requirements applicable to KKR Holdings units may not be enforceable in all cases and can be waived, modified or amended by KKR Holdings at any time without our consent.
The terms of the KKR Holdings units described above are distinct from equity awards issuable under our Equity Incentive Plans, which are described below.
Terms of Restricted Stock Units
Restricted stock units are equity awards issuable under our 2019 Equity Incentive Plan, which after vesting, may be settled for shares of our common stock on a one-for-one basis (or an amount of cash equal to the fair market value of such shares).
In general, restricted stock units are subject to either (i) a service-based vesting condition with vesting in annual installments over a multi‑year period (generally three to five years) from a specified date, subject to the recipient's continued employment with us on the applicable vesting dates, subject to exceptions, or (ii) a market price-based vesting condition where the portion of the units that satisfies stock price target requirements will vest on a scheduled vesting date (generally five years from the grant date), subject to the recipient's continued employment with us on the scheduled vesting date, subject to exceptions. Following vesting, certain restricted stock unit grant agreements may also subject the shares of common stock delivered upon settlement of such restricted stock units to transfer restrictions and/or minimum retained ownership requirements. Unvested restricted stock units granted under our Equity Incentive Plans are not entitled to receive dividends from us. Certain restricted stock unit grant agreements may also contain additional vesting requirements.
Shares of common stock delivered upon settlement of restricted stock units that are subject to transfer restrictions, unless waived, may not be sold, exchanged or otherwise transferred for a specified period of time following the vesting date. The transfer restriction period typically lasts for (1) one year with respect to one-half of the units vesting on such vesting date and (2) two years with respect to the other one-half of the units vesting on such vesting date. Transfer-restricted shares of common stock become saleable at the end of the transfer restriction period if the holder has not been terminated for cause and has not breached in any significant or intentional manner, as determined by the Administrator (as defined in "KKR & Co. Inc. Equity Incentive Plan—Administration"), the terms of his or her confidentiality and restrictive covenants contained in the grant agreement during the transfer restriction period. See "Terms of Confidentiality and Restrictive Covenant Agreements" below.
While employed by our firm, our employees, including our named executive officers, may also be subject to a minimum retained ownership requirement under the restricted stock unit grant agreement, which would obligate them to continuously hold shares of our common stock equivalents of 15% of their cumulatively vested restricted stock units, unless waived. From time to time, the transfer restrictions and minimum retained ownership requirements applicable to restricted stock units of certain employees, including our named executive officers, have been and may be transferred to such employees' KKR Holdings units or restricted holdings units, if any, so that the total units or shares of equity subject to transfer restrictions and minimum retained ownership requirements are expected to be the same, unless waived.
Terms of Restricted Holdings Units
In February 2020, we adopted a new form of equity award under the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan called restricted holdings units. Restricted holdings units are granted under the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan, and the number of shares of common stock in respect of such awards is subject to the overall limitation on the number of shares of common stock that may be awarded under the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan. The overall restricted holdings units program was approved by a committee of independent directors of our board of directors. KKR's independent directors are ineligible to receive restricted holdings units.
In general, restricted holdings units are subject to vesting conditions similar to those of restricted stock units described above. Restricted holdings units provide the holder the ability, after vesting and the satisfaction of certain other conditions, to exchange them for shares of our common stock on a one-for-one basis (or at the discretion of KKR, cash in an amount equal to the fair market value of the shares of common stock that would otherwise be deliverable in such exchange). There is no tax receivable agreement in place for such exchange of restricted holdings units granted under the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan, and
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therefore we will receive 100% of any tax benefits arising from the exchange of restricted holdings units granted under that plan. Prior to vesting, restricted holdings units are not entitled to any distributions from us.
Following vesting, restricted holdings units are generally subject to additional restrictions, including transfer restrictions, which typically lasts for (1) one year with respect to one-half of the units vesting on such vesting date and (2) two years with respect to the other one-half of the units vesting on such vesting date, and minimum retained ownership requirements, which obligate the recipients to continuously hold at least 25% of their cumulatively vested restricted holdings units, unless waived. Transfer restricted units become fully vested and transferable and may be exchanged into shares of common stock at the end of the transfer restriction period if the holder is not terminated for cause and has complied with the terms of his or her confidentiality and restrictive covenant agreement during the transfer restrictions period. See "Terms of Confidentiality and Restrictive Covenant Agreements" below.
Terms of Confidentiality and Restrictive Covenant Agreements
The confidentiality and restrictive covenant agreements with each of our named executive officers include prohibitions on them competing with us or soliciting our fund investors, clients or employees while employed by us and during a restricted period following their departure from the firm. These agreements also have non-disparagement obligations and require them to protect and use the firm's confidential information only in accordance with confidentiality restrictions set forth in the agreement.
The restricted periods for our Co‑Executive Chairmen expire two years from termination for both the prohibitions on competition with us and the prohibitions on the solicitation of our fund investors, clients and employees. In cases where the Co-Executive Chairman is terminated involuntarily and for reasons not constituting cause, such periods are reduced to one year from termination. The restricted periods for our other named executive officers expire (1) in the case of the prohibitions on competition with us, 12 months from termination and (2) in the case of the prohibitions on the solicitation of our fund investors, clients, and employees, 15 months from termination. These agreements also require that we, and our Co-Executive Chairmen and other named executive officers, provide advance notice prior to termination of employment.
Our named executive officers (other than our Co‑Executive Chairmen) have entered into these confidentiality and restrictive covenant agreements with us through their restricted stock unit grant agreements or restricted holdings unit grant agreements and separately also with KKR Holdings, which is entitled to waive, modify or amend them at any time without our consent (prior to the closing of the mergers contemplated by the Reorganization Agreement). However, because our Co‑Executive Chairmen have not received any restricted stock units or restricted holdings units from us, their confidentiality and restrictive covenant agreements are solely with KKR Holdings. Because KKR Holdings is the party to these agreements and not us, we may not be able to enforce them, and these agreements might be waived, modified or amended at any time without our consent (prior to the closing of the mergers contemplated by the Reorganization Agreement).
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Outstanding Equity Awards at 2021 Fiscal Year‑End
The following table sets forth information concerning unvested restricted stock units, restricted holdings units and KKR Holdings units for each of the named executive officers as of December 31, 2021.
| Stock Awards | |||||||||||||||||
| Name | Number of Shares or Units of Stock that Have Not Vested (#) | Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock that Have Not Vested ($) (1) | Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested (#) | Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Market or Payout Value of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested ($) (1) | |||||||||||||
| Henry R. Kravis | 500,000 (2) | $ | 37,250,000 | — | — | ||||||||||||
| George R. Roberts | 500,000 (2) | $ | 37,250,000 | — | — | ||||||||||||
| Joseph Y. Bae | 2,905,000 (3) | $ | 216,422,500 | 7,500,000 (5) | $ | 558,750,000 | |||||||||||
| Scott C. Nuttall | 1,905,000 (4) | $ | 141,922,500 | 7,500,000 (6) | $ | 558,750,000 | |||||||||||
| Robert H. Lewin | 900,000 (7) | $ | 67,050,000 | — | — | ||||||||||||
| David J. Sorkin | 300,000 (8) | $ | 22,350,000 | — | — | ||||||||||||
(1) These amounts are based on the closing market price of our common stock on the last trading day of the year ended December 31, 2021, which was $74.50 per share.
(2) Includes 500,000 KKR Holdings units granted to each of Messrs. Kravis and Roberts on November 2, 2017, which will vest on the earlier of October 1, 2022 and immediately prior to the closing of the mergers under the Reorganization Agreement.
(3) Includes (i) 1,455,000 KKR Holdings units granted on November 2, 2017, which will vest on the earlier of October 1, 2022 and immediately prior to the closing of the mergers under the Reorganization Agreement; (ii) 450,000 restricted stock units granted on November 2, 2017, which will vest on October 1, 2022; and (iii) 1,000,000 restricted holdings units granted on February 18, 2021 ("2021 Grant"), which will vest upon the average closing price of our common stock during 20 consecutive trading days meeting or exceeding certain specified stock price targets between $45.00 and $70.00 per share, all of which have been achieved by December 31, 2021. These 2021 Grant restricted holdings units will vest on May 1, 2026 if the named executive officer continues to serve as an employee until that date, subject to certain exceptions. Does not include 1,150,000 KKR Holdings Units allocated to the named executive officer on October 8, 2021, of which 30% is subject to forfeiture if such executive is not employed by KKR on October 1, 2022, subject to certain exceptions.
(4) Includes (i) 1,455,000 KKR Holdings units granted on November 2, 2017, which will vest on the earlier of October 1, 2022 and immediately prior to the closing of the mergers under the Reorganization Agreement; and (ii) 450,000 restricted stock units granted on November 2, 2017, which will vest on October 1, 2022. Does not include 1,150,000 KKR Holdings Units allocated to the named executive officer on October 8, 2021, of which 30% is subject to forfeiture if such executive is not employed by KKR on October 1, 2022, subject to certain exceptions.
(5) Represents 7,500,000 restricted holdings units granted on December 9, 2021, which will vest upon the average closing price of our common stock during 20 consecutive trading days meeting or exceeding specified stock price targets ranging from $95.80 to $135.80. Restricted holdings units that satisfy this market price vesting condition are eligible to vest beginning on December 31, 2026, if the named executive officer continues to serve as an employee until that date, subject to certain exceptions, and will expire if not vested on or prior to December 31, 2028.
(6) Represents 7,500,000 restricted holdings units granted on December 9, 2021, which will vest upon the average closing price of our common stock during 20 consecutive trading days meeting or exceeding specified stock price targets ranging from $95.80 to $135.80. Restricted holdings units that satisfy this market price vesting condition are eligible to vest beginning on December 31, 2026, if the named executive officer continues to serve as an employee until that date, subject to certain exceptions, and will expire if not vested on or prior to December 31, 2028.
(7) Represents 900,000 restricted holdings units granted on February 18, 2021, which will vest upon the average closing price of our common stock during 20 consecutive trading days meeting or exceeding certain specified stock price targets between $45.00 and $70.00 per share, all of which have been achieved by December 31, 2021. These restricted holdings units will vest on May 1, 2026 if the named executive officer continues to serve as an employee until that date, subject to certain exceptions.
(8) Represents 300,000 restricted holdings units granted on February 18, 2021, which will vest upon the average closing price of our common stock during 20 consecutive trading days meeting or exceeding certain specified stock price targets between $45.00 and $70.00 per share, all of which have been achieved by December 31, 2021. These restricted holdings units will vest on May 1, 2026 if the named executive officer continues to serve as an employee until that date, subject to certain exceptions.
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Option Exercises and Stock Vested in 2021
The following table sets forth information concerning the vesting of KKR Holdings units and restricted stock units held by each of our named executive officers during the year ended December 31, 2021.
| Stock Awards | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Name | Number of Shares Acquired on Vesting (#) (1) | Value Realized on Vesting ($) (2) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Henry R. Kravis | 500,000 | $ | 30,840,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| George R. Roberts | 500,000 | $ | 30,840,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Joseph Y. Bae | 5,592,848 | $ | 295,615,072 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Scott C. Nuttall | 5,652,848 | $ | 299,009,872 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Robert H. Lewin | 153,934 | $ | 8,591,627 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| David J. Sorkin | 130,420 | $ | 7,251,947 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1) The amounts reflected in this column represent KKR Holdings units and shares of common stock delivered upon vesting, a portion of which are subject to one‑ and two-year transfer restrictions upon vesting. See "—Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table and Grants of Plan-Based Awards—Terms of KKR Holdings Units" and "—Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table and Grants of Plan-Based Awards—Terms of Restricted Stock Units" for additional terms, including with respect to the transfer of certain restrictions from the restricted stock units to employees' KKR Holdings units.
(2) These amounts are based on the closing market price of our common stock on each respective vesting date.
Pension Benefits for 2021
We provided no pension benefits during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021.
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation for 2021
We provided no defined contribution plan for the deferral of compensation on a basis that is not tax‑qualified during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021.
Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control
Upon termination of employment (other than due to death or permanent disability), vesting generally ceases for KKR Holdings units, restricted holdings units and restricted stock units that have not vested. In addition, transfer-restricted vested KKR Holdings units, transfer-restricted vested restricted holdings units and, if applicable, transfer-restricted restricted stock units (which term includes the transfer-restricted shares of common stock that may be delivered upon settlement of such restricted stock units) remain subject to transfer restrictions for one- and two-year periods, except as described below. See "Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters" for additional information regarding the KKR Holdings units and common stock held by our named executive officers.
Other than the restricted holdings units awarded to the Co-Chief Executive Officers on December 8, 2021 ("Co-CEO Awards"), a named executive officer who retires after the first date on which his or her age plus years of service to KKR equals 80 ("qualified retirement") will generally (i) vest in his or her unvested KKR Holdings units, restricted stock units and restricted holdings units (for those with service based vesting conditions) that would otherwise vest within two years following retirement and (ii) vest in a pro rata portion of his or her unvested restricted stock units and restricted holdings units (for those with market price based vesting conditions) that satisfied the stock price target requirements at the time of qualified retirement, in each case, subject to compliance, if applicable, with the requirement that the holder not violate the terms and conditions of his or her confidentiality and restrictive covenants during the period in which such KKR Holdings unit, restricted stock unit or restricted holdings units, if applicable, remains transfer restricted over the one- and two-year periods from the original vesting date. The Co-CEO Awards do not vest upon qualified retirement.
Upon death or permanent disability, generally (i) a holder of KKR Holdings units, restricted stock units and restricted holdings units (for those with service based vesting conditions) will become vested with respect to service based vesting conditions in all unvested KKR Holdings units, restricted stock units and restricted holdings units, respectively, and (ii) a holder of restricted stock units and restricted holdings units (for those with market price based conditions) will be eligible to vest in a pro rata portion of his or her unvested restricted stock units and restricted holdings units that satisfy the stock price target requirements at a prescribed time, which include the time of death or permanent disability or at the end of the service based
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vesting requirement. Upon vesting, KKR Holdings units and restricted holdings units will become permitted to be exchanged into shares of common stock after the applicable transfer restrictions following vesting have lapsed. Restricted stock units will be settled on, or as soon as practicable after, the scheduled vesting dates, and, if applicable, subject to transfer restrictions. In addition, upon a change in control of KKR, a holder of KKR Holdings units, restricted stock units and restricted holdings units may become immediately vested in all unvested KKR Holdings units, restricted stock units and restricted holdings units, respectively. The values of unvested KKR Holdings units, restricted stock units and restricted holding units held by the named executive officers as of December 31, 2021 are set forth above in "Outstanding Equity Awards at 2021 Fiscal Year-End."
Upon termination of employment, vesting generally ceases for carried interest allocations, some of which are subject to forfeiture for breach of the confidentiality and restrictive covenant agreement. In addition, carried interest allocations generally become immediately vested upon death or disability, and certain carried interest allocations permit additional vesting upon retirement.
Pay Ratio Disclosure
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021:
•the median of the annual total compensation of all employees of our company (other than Messrs. Bae and Nuttall, who are our Co-Chief Executive Officers as of December 31, 2021) was $320,000;
•the annual total compensation of Messrs. Bae and Nuttall were $559,636,148 and $523,142,432, respectively; and
•the ratio of the averaged annual total compensation of our Co-Chief Executive Officers to the median of the annual total compensation of all other employees was 1,692 to 1.
To identify the median employee for the purpose of providing the information above, we examined the compensation of all our current employees (other than our Co-Chief Executive Officers) as of December 31, 2021, using, based on our payroll records, a consistently applied compensation measure consisting of such employees' annual salary, annual cash bonus, actual overtime, carried interest payouts and equity granted. Employees on unpaid leave of absence, employees who gave notice of departure and were not part of the regular year-end compensation process, and any employee who joined us in connection with an acquisition consummated during the year (including the acquisition of Global Atlantic) were excluded from the calculation. Compensation of employees who were employed for less than the full year of 2021 were annualized only if they were part of the regular year-end compensation process. We reviewed all compensation in U.S. dollars, using the relevant exchange rate for any compensation paid in other currencies. After identifying the median employee, we calculated annual total compensation for such employee using the same methodology we use for our principal executive officers as set forth in "—Summary Compensation Table—2021 Summary Compensation Table." As noted in “Compensation Discussion and Analysis," distributions from KKR Holdings and dividends paid on shares of common stock are not considered compensation and accordingly are not included in the pay ratio calculation above.
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Director Compensation
We limit compensation for service on our board of directors to the independent directors. During 2021, each independent director received (1) an annual cash retainer of $90,000, which was increased to $110,000 annually beginning December 9, 2021, (2) an additional annual cash retainer of $15,000 if such independent director is a member of the nominating and corporate governance committee, (3) an additional annual cash retainer of $25,000 if such independent director is a member of the audit committee and an additional annual cash retainer of $25,000 (in addition to the annual cash retainer as a member of the audit committee) if such independent director serves as the chairman of the audit committee, and (4) an additional annual cash retainer of $10,000 if such independent director is a member of the conflicts committee and an additional annual cash retainer of $15,000 (in addition to the annual cash retainer as a member of the conflicts committee) if such independent director serves as the chairman of the conflicts committee. Cash retainers are pro-rated if, during the fiscal year, a director joins or resigns from the board of directors, a director joins or resigns from a committee or the amount of a retainer is increased or decreased. In addition, on December 9, 2021, restricted stock units were granted to each independent director pursuant to our 2019 Equity Incentive Plan. Because Mr. Hernández, Mr. Holmes, Ms. Brown and Mr. Cohler, all independent directors, joined our board of directors on March 4, 2021, March 4, 2021, June 16, 2021 and December 31, 2021, respectively, an additional 1,900, 1,900, 785 and 2,330 restricted stock units, respectively, were granted to them.
| Name | Fees Earned or Paid in Cash ($) | Stock Awards ($) (1) | Total ($) | ||||||||
| Adriane M. Brown | 49,959 | 231,328 | 281,287 | ||||||||
Matthew R. Cohler (2) | — | 172,513 | 172,513 | ||||||||
| Mary N. Dillon | 101,260 | 186,669 | 287,929 | ||||||||
| Joseph A. Grundfest | 141,260 | 186,669 | 327,929 | ||||||||
Arturo Gutiérrez Hernández | 76,260 | 274,829 | 351,089 | ||||||||
| John B. Hess | 91,260 | 186,669 | 277,929 | ||||||||
| Dane E. Holmes | 76,260 | 274,829 | 351,089 | ||||||||
| Xavier B. Niel | 91,260 | 186,669 | 277,929 | ||||||||
| Patricia F. Russo | 101,260 | 186,669 | 287,929 | ||||||||
| Thomas M. Schoewe | 126,260 | 186,669 | 312,929 | ||||||||
| Robert W. Scully | 156,260 | 186,669 | 342,929 | ||||||||
| Evan T. Spiegel | 21,422 | 186,669 | 208,091 | ||||||||
(1) Represents the aggregate grant date fair value of restricted stock units granted to each of the independent directors during the year ended December 31, 2021 as calculated in accordance with ASC Topic 718. See Note 19 "Equity Based Compensation" to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report for additional information about the valuation assumptions with respect to all grants reflected in this column. These amounts reflect the aggregate grant date fair values calculated under ASC Topic 718 and may not correspond to the actual value that will be recognized by the independent directors.
(2) Mr. Cohler was appointed to our board of directors on December 31, 2021.
The following table details grants of restricted stock units to each independent director in the year ended December 31, 2021. The table includes the grant date and grant date fair value of 2021 restricted stock units and the aggregate number of unvested restricted stock units as of December 31, 2021 owned by each independent director who served as a director during the year ended December 31, 2021:
| Name | Grant Date (1) | Stock Awards (#) | Grant Date Fair Value ($) (2) | Total Number of Unvested Stock Awards on December 31, 2021 (#) | ||||||||||
| Adriane M. Brown | 6/16/2021 | 785 | 44,659 | — | ||||||||||
| 12/9/2021 | 2,479 | 186,669 | 2,479 | |||||||||||
Matthew R. Cohler (3) | 12/31/2021 | 2,330 | 172,513 | 2,330 | ||||||||||
| Mary N. Dillon | 12/9/2021 | 2,479 | 186,669 | 2,479 | ||||||||||
| Joseph A. Grundfest | 12/9/2021 | 2,479 | 186,669 | 2,479 | ||||||||||
Arturo Gutiérrez Hernández | 3/4/2021 | 1,900 | 88,160 | — | ||||||||||
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| 12/9/2021 | 2,479 | 186,669 | 2,479 | |||||||||||
| John B. Hess | 12/9/2021 | 2,479 | 186,669 | 2,479 | ||||||||||
| Dane E. Holmes | 3/4/2021 | 1,900 | 88,160 | — | ||||||||||
| 12/9/2021 | 2,479 | 186,669 | 2,479 | |||||||||||
| Xavier B. Niel | 12/9/2021 | 2,479 | 186,669 | 2,479 | ||||||||||
| Patricia F. Russo | 12/9/2021 | 2,479 | 186,669 | 2,479 | ||||||||||
| Thomas M. Schoewe | 12/9/2021 | 2,479 | 186,669 | 2,479 | ||||||||||
| Robert W. Scully | 12/9/2021 | 2,479 | 186,669 | 2,479 | ||||||||||
| Evan T. Spiegel | 12/9/2021 | 2,479 | 186,669 | 2,479 | ||||||||||
(1) The restricted stock units were granted on December 9. 2021 and will vest on October 1, 2022, subject to the grantee's continued service through the vesting date. An additional 1,900, 1,900 and 785 restricted stock units granted to Mr. Hernández, Mr. Holmes and Ms. Brown, respectively, for joining the board of directors on March 4, 2021, March 4, 2021 and June 16, 2021, respectively, vested and were settled into an equal number of shares of KKR common stock on October 1, 2021. 2,330 restricted stock units were granted to Mr. Cohler for joining the board of directors on December 31, 2021 and will vest on October 1, 2022, subject to the grantee's continued service through the vesting date.
(2) This column represents the grant date fair value of restricted stock units granted to each of the independent directors during the year ended December 31, 2021 as calculated in accordance with ASC Topic 718. These amounts reflect the aggregate grant date fair values calculated under ASC Topic 718 and may not correspond to the actual value that will be recognized by the independent directors.
(3) Mr. Cohler was appointed to our board of directors on December 31, 2021.
KKR & Co. Inc. Equity Incentive Plan
Our outstanding equity awards were granted under the Amended and Restated KKR & Co. Inc. 2010 Equity Incentive Plan, which we refer to as our 2010 Equity Incentive Plan, or the Amended and Restated KKR & Co. Inc. 2019 Equity Incentive Plan, which we refer to as our 2019 Equity Incentive Plan. Following the effectiveness of our 2019 Equity Incentive Plan on March 29, 2019, we do not make any further grants under our 2010 Equity Incentive Plan, and our 2019 Equity Incentive Plan became our only plan for providing new equity-based awards. Our 2019 Equity Incentive Plan has a term of 10 years from the effective date. Outstanding awards under our 2010 Equity Incentive Plan remain outstanding, unchanged and subject to the terms of our 2010 Equity Incentive Plan and their respective equity award agreements, until the vesting, expiration or lapse of such awards in accordance with their terms.
Administration
Our board of directors or a committee or subcommittee thereof administers or will administer, as applicable, our Equity Incentive Plans (the "Administrator"). The Administrator has the authority to make all decisions, determinations and interpretations with respect to the administration of our Equity Incentive Plans, including determining who will receive awards thereunder, the number of shares of common stock underlying the awards and the terms and conditions of the awards, and is permitted, subject to applicable law, to delegate all or any part of its responsibilities and powers to any employee or employees selected by it in accordance with the terms of the plan. The board of directors authorized its executive committee (consisting of Messrs. Kravis and Roberts) to act as the Administrator under each plan, provided that (i) the Executive Committee is not authorized to make grants with respect to the executive officers without approval of the board of directors and (ii) the board of directors reserved the power and authority to act as the Administrator and to modify the power and authority of the Executive Committee under each plan.
Common Stock Subject to the Plan
As of December 31, 2021, 70,812,698 shares of common stock were available for issuance in respect of outstanding awards and the grant of future awards, representing 15% of the aggregate number of aggregate number of the shares of common stock and KKR Group Partnership Units (excluding KKR Group Partnership Units held by KKR & Co. Inc. or its wholly-owned subsidiaries) (which is referred to as "Diluted Common Shares" in this report) outstanding at the close of business on December 31, 2021, minus the number of shares underlying any outstanding equity awards granted under our 2019 Equity Incentive Plan that have not yet been delivered upon vesting. Under the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan, the aggregate number of shares of common stock available under the plan will be increased, on the first day of each fiscal year, by a number of shares of common stock equal to the positive difference, if any, between (x) 15% of the number of Diluted Class A Shares outstanding at the close of business on the last day of the immediately preceding fiscal year minus (y) the number of shares of common stock available for issuance in respect of outstanding awards and the grant of future awards, in each case, under our 2019 Equity
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Incentive Plan as of the last day of such year, unless the Administrator in its sole discretion should decide to increase the number of shares of common stock available under the plan by a lesser amount on any such date. As a result, on the first day of each fiscal year, the number of shares of common stock available for issuance of future awards under our 2019 Equity Incentive Plan will be adjusted upwards to 15% of the number of Diluted Common Shares outstanding at the close of business on the last day of the immediately preceding fiscal year, minus the number of shares underlying any outstanding equity awards granted under our 2019 Equity Incentive Plan that have not yet been delivered upon vesting. Therefore, we expect that the number of shares of common stock available for issuance of future awards under our 2019 Equity Incentive Plan will increase at the beginning of each fiscal year compared to the end of the immediately preceding fiscal year if, during the immediately preceding year, there has been (i) any increase in the aggregate number of shares of common stock and KKR Group Partnership Units outstanding or (ii) any delivery of underlying shares upon vesting of outstanding equity awards under our 2019 Equity Incentive Plan.
Restricted Stock Units and Other Equity-Based Awards
The Administrator may grant or sell awards of restricted stock units, restricted holdings units, common stock, restricted common stock, deferred restricted common stock, phantom restricted common stock, or any other awards that are valued in whole or in part by reference to, or are otherwise based on the fair market value of, our common stock. Any of these or other equity-based awards may be in such form, and dependent on such conditions, as the Administrator determines, including the right to receive, or vest with respect to, one or more shares of common stock (or the equivalent cash value of such shares) upon the completion of a specified period of service, the occurrence of an event and/or the attainment of performance objectives. The Administrator may determine whether any such equity-based awards will be payable in cash, shares of common stock or other assets or a combination of cash, common stock and other assets.
Options and Stock Appreciation Rights
The Administrator may award non-qualified stock options and stock appreciation rights. Options and stock appreciation rights granted under the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan will become vested and exercisable at such times and upon such terms and conditions as may be determined by the Administrator at the time of grant, but no option or stock appreciation right will be exercisable for a period of more than ten years after it is granted. The exercise price per share will be determined by the Administrator, provided that options and stock appreciation rights granted to participants who are U.S. taxpayers will not be granted with an exercise price less than 100% of the fair market value per share of common stock on the date of grant. To the extent permitted by the Administrator, the exercise price of an option may be paid in cash or its equivalent, in shares of common stock having a fair market value equal to the aggregate exercise price and satisfying such other requirements as may be imposed by the Administrator, partly in cash and partly in shares of common stock or net settlement in shares of common stock. As determined by the Administrator, stock appreciation rights may be settled in shares of common stock, cash or any combination thereof.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
Because we are a "controlled company" within the meaning of the corporate governance standards of the NYSE, our board of directors is not required by NYSE rules to establish a compensation committee. Messrs. Kravis and Roberts, our Co-Executive Chairmen, participated in discussions regarding executive compensation, and Messrs. Bae and Nuttall, our Co-Chief Executive Officers, participated in discussions regarding the compensation of our other executive officers. For a description of certain transactions between us and our executive officers, see "Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence."
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Compensation Committee Report
Our board of directors does not have a compensation committee. The entire board of directors has reviewed and discussed with management the foregoing Compensation Discussion and Analysis and, based on such review and discussion, has determined that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis should be included in this Annual Report.
| Henry R. Kravis | |||||
| George R. Roberts | |||||
| Joseph Y. Bae | |||||
| Scott C. Nuttall | |||||
| Adriane M. Brown | |||||
| Matthew R. Cohler | |||||
| Mary N. Dillon | |||||
| Joseph A. Grundfest | |||||
| Arturo Gutiérrez Hernández | |||||
| John B. Hess | |||||
| Dane E. Holmes | |||||
| Xavier B. Niel | |||||
| Patricia F. Russo | |||||
| Thomas M. Schoewe | |||||
| Robert W. Scully | |||||
| Evan T. Spiegel | |||||
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ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
The following table sets forth the beneficial ownership of our common stock and KKR Group Partnership Units that are, together with shares of our Series II preferred stock, exchangeable for shares of our common stock by:
•each person known to us to beneficially own more than 5% of any class of our outstanding voting securities based on our review of filings with the SEC;
•each of our directors, persons chosen to become a director and named executive officers; and
•our directors and named executive officers as a group.
The numbers of shares of common stock and KKR Group Partnership Units and shares of Series II preferred stock outstanding and the percentage of beneficial ownership are based on 591,145,410 shares of common stock issued and outstanding and 258,726,163 KKR Group Partnership Units that, together with shares of our Series II preferred stock, are exchangeable for shares of our common stock as of February 24, 2022. Beneficial ownership is in each case determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC, and includes equity securities of which that person has the right to acquire beneficial ownership within 60 days of February 24, 2022. Under these rules, more than one person may be deemed a beneficial owner of the same securities and a person may be deemed a beneficial owner of securities as to which he has no economic interest.
Common Stock Beneficially Owned | KKR Group Partnership Units and Series II Preferred Stock Beneficially Owned (1)(2) | Percentage of Combined Common Stock and Series II Preferred Stock Beneficially Owned | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Name (3) | Number | Percent | Number | Percent | Percent (4) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
KKR Holdings (5) | — | — | 258,726,163 | 100.0% | 30.4% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
BlackRock, Inc. (6) | 39,150,255 | 6.6 | — | — | 4.6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Vanguard Group Inc. (7) | 33,016,281 | 5.6 | — | — | 3.9 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Henry R. Kravis (5) | 7,947,960 | 1.3 | 258,726,163 | 100.0 | 31.4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
George R. Roberts (5) | 6,721,432 | 1.1 | 258,726,163 | 100.0 | 31.2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Joseph Y. Bae | 3,863,405 | * | 12,347,397 | 4.8 | 1.9 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Scott C. Nuttall | 2,514,675 | * | 15,681,294 | 6.1 | 2.1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Adriane M. Brown | 785 | * | — | — | * | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Matthew R. Cohler | 68,127 | * | — | — | * | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mary N. Dillon | 16,505 | * | — | — | * | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Joseph A. Grundfest | 82,979 | * | — | — | * | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Arturo Gutiérrez Hernández | 1,900 | * | — | — | * | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| John B. Hess | 10,979 | * | — | — | * | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dane E. Holmes | 1,900 | * | — | — | * | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Xavier B. Niel | 19,393 | * | — | — | * | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Patricia F. Russo | 75,979 | * | — | — | * | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Thomas M. Schoewe | 83,579 | * | — | — | * | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Robert W. Scully | 163,979 | * | — | — | * | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Evan T. Spiegel | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Robert H. Lewin | 83,376 | * | 1,089,976 | * | * | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| David J. Sorkin | — | — | 3,143,593 | 1.2 | * | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Directors and executive officers as a group (19 persons) (8) | 21,687,609 | 3.7 | 258,726,163 | 100.0% | 33.0% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
*Less than 1.0%.
(1)KKR Group Partnership Units held by KKR Holdings are exchangeable (together with the corresponding Series II preferred stock) for our common stock on a one-for-one basis, subject to customary conversion rate adjustments for stock splits, stock dividends and reclassifications and in compliance with the terms as described under "Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence—Exchange Agreement."
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Beneficial ownership of KKR Group Partnership Units and Series II preferred stock reflected in this table has not also been reflected as beneficial ownership of our common stock for which such KKR Group Partnership Units and Series II preferred stock may be exchanged.
(2)On any matters that may be submitted to a vote of the holders of common stock, holders of Series II preferred stock are entitled to one vote per share of Series II preferred stock subject to adjustments as provided in our certificate of incorporation, and such holders are entitled to participate in the vote on the same basis as the holders of our common stock.
(3)The address of each director is c/o KKR & Co. Inc., 30 Hudson Yards, New York, New York, 10001. The address of each executive officer, except Mr. Roberts, is c/o Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P., 30 Hudson Yards, New York, New York 10001. The address of Mr. Roberts is c/o Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P., 2800 Sand Hill Road, Suite 200, Menlo Park, California 94025.
(4)This column assumes the exchange of KKR Group Partnership Units and Series II preferred stock into shares of common stock and a number of outstanding shares of common stock calculated in accordance with Rule 13d-3(d)(1) of the Exchange Act.
(5)KKR Holdings owns, beneficially or of record, 258,726,163 exchangeable KKR Group Partnership Units and shares of Series II preferred stock. Our principals hold interests in KKR Holdings that entitle them to participate in the value of the KKR Group Partnership Units held by KKR Holdings. KKR Holdings is a limited partnership that is controlled by KKR Holdings GP Limited, its sole general partner, which has investment control over all KKR Group Partnership Units and shares of Series II preferred stock held by KKR Holdings and voting control over all shares of Series II preferred stock held by KKR Holdings. An affiliate of KKR Holdings also owns 2,677 shares of common stock previously held by KKR Holdings, which affiliate is controlled by KKR Holdings GP Limited, as its sole general partner, which has investment and voting control over all shares of common stock held by such affiliate. Messrs. Kravis and Roberts, by virtue of their rights under the organizational documents of KKR Holdings GP Limited (the general partner of KKR Holdings and such affiliate), may be deemed to share dispositive and/or voting power with respect to the KKR Group Partnership Units and shares of Series II preferred stock held by KKR Holdings and the common stock held by such affiliate. Each of Messrs. Kravis and Roberts disclaims beneficial ownership of KKR Group Partnership Units and shares of Series II preferred stock that may be deemed to be beneficially owned by him, except to the extent of his own pecuniary interest therein. Mr. Kravis disclaims beneficial ownership of KKR Group Partnership Units and shares of Series II preferred stock that may be deemed to be beneficially owned by him, except with respect to 72,814,740 KKR Group Partnership Units in which he and certain related entities he controls have a pecuniary interest. Mr. Roberts disclaims beneficial ownership of KKR Group Partnership Units and shares of Series II preferred stock that may be deemed to be beneficially owned by him, except with respect to 80,277,805 KKR Group Partnership Units in which he and certain related entities he controls have a pecuniary interest. The address of KKR Holdings is 30 Hudson Yards, New York, New York 10001.
(6)Based on a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 8, 2022, BlackRock, Inc. reports it is the beneficial owner of 39,150,255 shares of common stock, with sole voting power over 35,297,173 shares of common stock, and sole dispositive power over 39,150,255 shares of common stock. The address of BlackRock, Inc. is 55 East 52nd Street, New York, New York 10055.
(7)Based on a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on February 9, 2022, as of December 31, 2021, The Vanguard Group reports it is the beneficial owner of 33,016,281 shares of common stock, with sole dispositive power over 31,865,367 shares of common stock, shared voting power over 464,314 shares of common stock and shared dispositive power over 1,150,914 shares of common stock. The address of The Vanguard Group is 100 Vanguard Blvd., Malvern, Pennsylvania 19355.
(8)Shares of common stock include 33,333 shares of common stock underlying an executive officer's equity awards vesting within 60 days of February 24, 2022.
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Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans
The table set forth below provides information concerning the awards that may be issued under our Equity Incentive Plans as of December 31, 2021.
Number of Securities to be Issued Upon Exercise of Outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights (1) | Weighted‑Average Exercise Price of Outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights | Number of Securities Remaining Available for Future Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans (excluding securities reflected in the first column) (2) | |||||||||
| Equity Compensation Plans Approved by Security Holders | 56,452,235 | — | 70,812,698 | ||||||||
| Equity Compensation Plans Not Approved by Security Holders | — | — | — | ||||||||
| Total | 56,452,235 | — | 70,812,698 | ||||||||
(1)Reflects the aggregate number of restricted stock units granted under our Equity Incentive Plans and outstanding as of December 31, 2021.
(2)The aggregate number of shares of common stock available under our 2019 Equity Incentive Plan is increased, on the first day of each fiscal year, by a number of shares of common stock equal to the positive difference, if any, between (x) 15% of the number of Diluted Common Shares outstanding at the close of business on the last day of the immediately preceding fiscal year minus (y) the number of shares of common stock available for issuance in respect of outstanding awards and the grant of future awards, in each case, under our 2019 Equity Incentive Plan as of the last day of such year, unless the Administrator in its sole discretion should decide to increase the number of shares of common stock available under the plan by a lesser amount on any such date. We have filed registration statements on Form S-8 under the Securities Act to register shares of common stock covered by our Equity Incentive Plans. Accordingly, upon issuance pursuant to our Equity Incentive Plans, these shares of common stock will be available for sale in the open market.
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ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
The following description is a summary of the material terms of the agreements described below, and does not contain all of the information that you may find useful. For additional information, you should read the copies of our Reorganization Agreement, exchange agreement, registration rights agreement, tax receivable agreement and the limited partnership agreement of KKR Group Partnership, all of which have been filed or incorporated by reference as exhibits to this report.
Reorganization Agreement
On October 8, 2021, KKR entered into a Reorganization Agreement with KKR Holdings, KKR Associates Holdings, KKR Management and the other parties thereto. Pursuant to the Reorganization Agreement, the parties agreed to undertake a series of integrated transactions to effect a number of transformative structural and governance changes, including (a) the acquisition by KKR of KKR Holdings and all of the KKR Group Partnership Units held by it, (b) the future elimination of voting control by KKR Management and the Series I preferred stock held by it, (c) the future establishment of voting rights for all common stock on a one vote per share basis, including with respect to the election of directors, and (d) the future control of the carry pool by KKR. In particular, the Reorganization Agreement provides for:
(i) a simplifying reorganization of KKR’s current corporate structure whereby all holders of common stock of KKR & Co. Inc. immediately prior to such reorganization and all holders of interests in KKR Holdings immediately prior to such reorganization will receive the same common stock in a new parent company of KKR (“New KKR Parent”),
(ii) the future elimination of control of New KKR Parent by KKR Management, by having all voting power vested in the common stock of New KKR Parent on a one vote per share basis on the Sunset Date (as defined below), which will be no later than December 31, 2026,
(iii) also on the Sunset Date, the future acquisition of control by KKR of KKR Associates Holdings when a subsidiary of New KKR Parent will become the general partner of KKR Associates Holdings,
(iv) the termination of KKR's tax receivable agreement with KKR Holdings, other than with respect to certain exchanges occurring prior to the closing of the mergers contemplated by the Reorganization Agreement, and
(v) in the merger of KKR Holdings with a subsidiary of New KKR Parent (the “Holdings Merger”), the issuance to limited partners of KKR Holdings of 8.5 million shares (as adjusted for any stock splits or similar adjustments) of common stock of New KKR Parent, which will not be transferable (except in the case of death or for estate planning purposes) prior to the Sunset Date.
The “Sunset Date” will be the earlier of (i) December 31, 2026 and (ii) the six-month anniversary of the first date on which the death or permanent disability of both Mr. Henry Kravis and Mr. George Roberts (collectively, "Co-Founders") has occurred (or any earlier date consented to by KKR Management, which is the holder of the sole outstanding share of Series I preferred stock, in its sole discretion). In addition, KKR Management agreed not to transfer its ownership of the sole share of Series I preferred stock.
The transactions contemplated to occur under the Reorganization Agreement (including the establishment of New KKR Parent, the Holdings Merger, the termination of the tax receivable agreement except with respect to exchanges of Holdings units made prior thereto, and the changes to occur effective on the Sunset Date) are all required to be consummated together as integrated transactions under the Reorganization Agreement. The consummation of the merger transactions is subject to the receipt of regulatory approvals and other conditions to closing as provided in the Reorganization Agreement. While the Sunset Date itself is expected to occur after, and is conditioned upon, the completion of the merger transactions contemplated by the Reorganization Agreement, the changes to occur effective on the Sunset Date will be unconditional commitments upon the completion of the merger transactions.
See "Certain Terms Used in this Report" and "Business—Organizational Structure" for more information about KKR Management, KKR Holdings, KKR Associates Holdings and our current corporate structure as well as the changes to our corporate structure expected to occur pursuant to the Reorganization Agreement.
Exchange Agreement
We have entered into an exchange agreement with KKR Holdings, the entity through which certain of our employees, including Messrs. Kravis, Roberts, Bae, Nuttall, Lewin and Sorkin, indirectly hold their KKR Group Partnership Units.
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Pursuant to the exchange agreement, KKR Holdings or certain transferees of its KKR Group Partnership Units may, on a quarterly basis (subject to the terms of the exchange agreement), exchange KKR Group Partnership Units held by them (together with corresponding shares of Series II preferred common stock) for shares of our common stock on a one-for-one basis, subject to customary conversion rate adjustments for splits, stock distributions and reclassifications. At the election of the general partner of KKR Group Partnership, KKR Group Partnership may settle exchanges of KKR Group Partnership Units with cash in an amount equal to the fair market value of the shares of common stock that would otherwise be deliverable in such exchanges. To the extent that KKR Group Partnership Units held by KKR Holdings or its transferees are exchanged for shares of our common stock, our interests in KKR Group Partnership will be correspondingly increased. Any shares of common stock received upon such exchange will be subject to any restrictions that were applicable to the exchanged KKR Group Partnership Units, including any applicable transfer restrictions. During the year ended December 31, 2021, 16,900,330 KKR Group Partnership Units were exchanged for shares of our common stock pursuant to this agreement.
Certain interests in KKR Holdings that are held by our employees are subject to transfer restrictions and vesting requirements that, unless waived, modified or amended, limit the ability of our employees to cause KKR Group Partnership Units to be exchanged under the exchange agreement so long as applicable vesting and transfer restrictions apply. The general partner of KKR Holdings, which is controlled by our founders, will have sole authority for waiving any applicable vesting or transfer restrictions.
As contemplated by the exchange agreement, a coordinated selling program has been established relating to sales of shares of common stock received pursuant to the exchanges by certain holders of KKR Holdings units and restricted holdings units. Pursuant to the program, sales generally take place quarterly, and management is permitted to establish an overall limit on such sales based upon the trading volume of our common stock or any other factor that may be considered relevant.
There will be no more exchanges of KKR Group Partnership Units held by KKR Holdings following the closing of the merger transactions contemplated by the Reorganization Agreement. Our employees who hold restricted holdings units granted under the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan will continue to be entitled to exchange those interests for common stock following the closing of these merger transactions, although exchanges of restricted holdings units will continue to be ineligible for payments under the tax receivable agreement.
Registration Rights Agreement
In connection with our NYSE listing, we entered into a registration rights agreement with KKR Holdings pursuant to which we granted KKR Holdings, its affiliates and transferees of its KKR Group Partnership Units (including the shares of New KKR Parent following the closing of the merger transactions contemplated by the Reorganization Agreement) the right, under certain circumstances and subject to certain restrictions, to require us to register under the Securities Act our common stock (and other securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for shares of our common stock) held or acquired by them. Under the registration rights agreement, holders of registration rights will have the right to request us to register shares of our common stock received upon the exchange of their KKR Holdings units and the sale of such shares and also have the right to require us to make available shelf registration statements permitting sales of shares of common stock into the market from time to time over an extended period. In addition, holders of registration rights will have the ability to exercise certain piggyback registration rights in connection with registered offerings requested by other holders of registration rights or initiated by us. On October 1, 2010, the registration statement we filed pursuant to this agreement was declared effective, and related post-effective amendments were declared effective on April 14, 2011, September 21, 2011 and July 10, 2018. As of December 31, 2021, 258,726,163 shares of common stock remain unissued under that registration statement.
Tax Receivable Agreement
We are required to acquire KKR Group Partnership Units from time to time pursuant to our exchange agreement with KKR Holdings. KKR Group Partnership has made an election under Section 754 of the Code that will remain in effect for each taxable year in which an exchange of KKR Group Partnership Units for shares of common stock occurs, which may result in an increase in our tax basis of the assets of KKR Group Partnership at the time of an exchange of KKR Group Partnership Units. Certain of these exchanges are expected to result in an increase in our share of the tax basis of the tangible and intangible assets of KKR Group Partnership, primarily attributable to a portion of the goodwill inherent in our business that would not otherwise have been available. This increase in tax basis may increase depreciation and amortization deductions for tax purposes and therefore reduce the amount of income tax we otherwise would be required to pay in the future. This increase in tax basis may also decrease gain (or increase loss) on future dispositions of certain capital assets to the extent tax basis is allocated to those capital assets.
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We have entered into a tax receivable agreement with KKR Holdings, which requires us to pay to KKR Holdings, or to current and former principals who have exchanged KKR Holdings units for shares of common stock as transferees of KKR Group Partnership Units, 85% of the amount of cash savings, if any, in U.S. federal, state and local income tax that we realize as a result of the increase in tax basis described above, as well as 85% of the amount of any such savings we actually realize as a result of increases in tax basis that arise due to future payments under the agreement. We expect to benefit from the remaining 15% of cash savings, if any, in income tax that we realize.
These payment obligations are obligations of KKR & Co. Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiary and not of KKR Group Partnership. Payments made under the tax receivable agreement are required to be made within 90 days of the filing of our tax returns, which may result in a timing difference between the tax savings received by KKR and the cash payments made to the exchanging holders of KKR Group Partnership Units. There is no tax receivable agreement in place for any exchange of restricted holdings units granted under the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan, and therefore we will receive 100% of any tax benefits arising from such exchange.
For purposes of the tax receivable agreement, cash savings in income tax will be computed by comparing our actual income tax liability to the amount of such taxes that we would have been required to pay had there been no increase to the tax basis of the tangible and intangible assets of KKR Group Partnership as a result of the exchanges of KKR Group Partnership Units and had we not entered into the tax receivable agreement. The term of the tax receivable agreement continues until all such tax benefits have been utilized or expired, unless we exercise our right to terminate the tax receivable agreement for an amount based on the agreed payments remaining to be made under the agreement.
Effective July 1, 2018, we amended the tax receivable agreement to reflect our conversion to a corporation. The amendment also provides that, in the event the maximum U.S. federal corporate income tax rate is increased to a rate higher than 21.0% within the five-year period following the Conversion, for exchanges pursuant to the exchange agreement that take place within that five-year period (other than exchanges following the death of an individual), payments of cash tax savings realized as a result of such exchanges shall be calculated by applying a U.S. federal corporate income tax rate not to exceed 21.0%. The amendment also clarifies that the tax benefit payments with respect to exchanges completed at any time prior to the Conversion will be calculated without taking into account the step-up in tax basis in our underlying assets that we generated in 2018 as a result of the Conversion.
Estimating the amount of payments that may be made under the tax receivable agreement is by its nature imprecise, insofar as the calculation of amounts payable depends on a variety of factors. The actual increase in tax basis, as well as the amount and timing of any payments under the tax receivable agreement, will vary depending upon a number of factors, including:
•the timing of exchanges—for instance, the increase in any tax deductions will vary depending on the fair market value, which may fluctuate over time, of the KKR Group Partnership Units, which will depend on the fair market value of the depreciable or amortizable assets of KKR Group Partnership at the time of the transaction;
•the price of our common stock at the time of the exchange—the increase in any tax deductions, as well as the tax basis increase in other assets, of KKR Group Partnership is directly proportional to the price of our common stock at the time of the exchange; and
•the amount of tax, if any, we are required to pay aside from any tax benefit from the exchanges, and the timing of any such payment—if we do not have taxable income aside from any tax benefit from the exchanges, we will not be required to make payments under the tax receivable agreement for that taxable year because no tax savings will have been actually realized.
We expect that as a result of the amount of the increases in the tax basis of the tangible and intangible assets of KKR Group Partnership, assuming no material changes in the relevant tax law and that we earn sufficient taxable income to realize the full tax benefit of the increased amortization of our assets, future payments under the tax receivable agreement could be substantial. The payments under the tax receivable agreement are not conditioned upon our principals' continued ownership of us and are required to be made within 125 days of the filing of our tax returns. During the year ended December 31, 2021, an aggregate of $7.2 million was made to our current and former principals, including our executive officers, and KKR Holdings. The independent directors of our board of directors are not eligible to receive payments under the tax receivable agreement.
Decisions made by our senior principals in the course of running our business, such as with respect to mergers, asset sales, other forms of business combinations or other changes of control, may influence the timing and amount of payments that are received by an exchanging or selling holder of partner interests in KKR Group Partnership under the tax receivable agreement. For example, the earlier disposition of assets following an exchange or acquisition transaction will generally accelerate
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payments under the tax receivable agreement and increase the present value of such payments, and the disposition of assets before an exchange or acquisition transaction will increase a principals' tax liability without giving rise to any rights of a principal to receive payments under the tax receivable agreement.
Payments under the tax receivable agreement will be based upon the tax reporting positions that we will determine. We are not aware of any issue that would cause the IRS to challenge a tax basis increase. However, neither KKR Holdings nor its transferees will reimburse us for any payments previously made under the tax receivable agreement if such tax basis increase, or the tax benefits we claim arising from such increase, is successfully challenged by the IRS. As a result, in certain circumstances payments to KKR Holdings or its transferees under the tax receivable agreement could be in excess of our cash tax savings. Our ability to achieve benefits from any tax basis increase, and the payments to be made under this agreement, will depend upon a number of factors, as discussed above, including the timing and amount of our future income. See "Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Organizational Structure—We will be required to pay our principals for most of the benefits relating to our use of tax attributes we receive from prior and future exchanges of our common stock for KKR Group Partnership Units and related transactions, and the timing and value of these tax attributes differ from those of our restricted stock units."
Upon the consummation of the merger transactions contemplated by the Reorganization Agreement, the tax receivable agreement with KKR Holdings will terminate, other than with respect to exchanges that have occurred prior to the closing of the mergers contemplated by the Reorganization Agreement.
KKR Group Partnership Agreement
We control the general partner of KKR Group Partnership and, through KKR Group Partnership and its subsidiaries, the KKR business. KKR Group Partnership is the owner of the entirety of KKR's business.
Pursuant to the limited partnership agreement of KKR Group Partnership, we, as the controlling general partner of KKR Group Partnership, have the indirect right to determine when distributions will be made to the holders of KKR Group Partnership Units and the amount of any such distributions.
On August 11, 2020, in connection with the issuance of the 6.00% Series C Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock of KKR & Co. Inc., the limited partnership agreement of KKR Group Partnership was amended to provide for preferred units with economic terms designed to mirror those of the Series C Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock.
The limited partnership agreement of KKR Group Partnership provides for tax distributions to the holders of KKR Group Partnership Units if the general partner of the KKR Group Partnership determines that distributions from the KKR Group Partnership would otherwise be insufficient to cover the tax liabilities of a holder of a KKR Group Partnership Unit. Generally, these tax distributions will be computed based on our estimate of the net taxable income of the relevant partnership allocable to a holder of a KKR Group Partnership Unit multiplied by an assumed tax rate equal to the highest effective marginal combined U.S. federal, state and local income tax rate prescribed for an individual or corporate resident in New York, New York (taking into account the nondeductibility of certain expenses and the character of our income).
The limited partnership agreement of the KKR Group Partnership authorizes the general partner of the KKR Group Partnership to issue an unlimited number of additional securities of the KKR Group Partnership with such designations, preferences, rights, powers and duties that are different from, and may be senior to, those applicable to the KKR Group Partnership Units, and which may be exchangeable for KKR Group Partnership Units.
Firm Use of Private Aircraft
Companies associated with Messrs. Kravis and Roberts own aircraft that are used for KKR's business in the ordinary course of our operations. Messrs. Kravis and Roberts funded the purchase of these aircraft with their personal funds and fund all operating, personnel and maintenance costs associated with their operation. The hourly rates that we pay for the use of these aircraft are based on current market rates for chartering private aircraft of the same type. Since January 1, 2021, we paid a total of $1.7 million (including applicable taxes) for the use of these aircraft, of which substantially all was borne by us rather than our investment funds (which indirectly bear the cost of some of these flights at commercial airline rates). Of this total, $1.2 million relates to use of an aircraft owned by an entity controlled by Mr. Kravis, and $0.5 million relates to use of an aircraft owned by an entity controlled by Mr. Roberts.
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Side-By-Side and Other Investments
Because fund investors typically are unwilling to invest their capital in a fund unless the fund's manager also invests its own capital in the fund's investments, our investment fund documents generally require the general partners of our investment funds to make minimum capital commitments to the funds. The amount of these commitments, which are negotiated by fund investors, generally range from 2% to 8% of a fund's total capital commitments at final closing, but may be greater for certain funds pursuing new strategies. When investments are made, the general partner contributes capital to the fund based on its fund commitment percentage and if applicable, acquires a capital interest in the investment that is not subject to a carried interest or management fees. Historically, these capital contributions have been funded with cash from operations that otherwise would be distributed to our employees.
We did not acquire capital interests in certain investments that were funded by our employees or others involved in our business prior to October 1, 2009. Rather, those capital interests were allocated to our employees or others involved in our business and are reflected in our financial statements as noncontrolling interests in consolidated entities to the extent that we hold the general partner interest in the fund. Any capital contributions that our private equity fund general partners are required to make to a fund will be funded by us and we will be entitled to receive our allocable share of the returns thereon.
In addition, certain of our current and former employees and certain other qualifying personnel are permitted to invest, and have invested, their own capital in our investment funds and vehicles, in side-by-side investments with our funds and the firm, as well as in funds managed by our hedge fund partnerships. Side-by-side investments are investments generally made on the same terms and conditions as those available to the applicable fund or the firm and, they, together with their investments in our funds and vehicles or the funds managed by our hedge fund partnerships, are not generally subject to management fees or a carried interest. The cash invested by our current and former employees and certain other qualifying personnel and their investment vehicles aggregated to $685.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, of which $45.1 million, $117.7 million, $30.3 million, $24.6 million, $3.0 million and $1.5 million was invested by Messrs. Kravis, Roberts, Bae, Nuttall, Lewin and Sorkin and their personal or estate planning vehicles, respectively. These investments are not included in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. In addition, our funds invested $1.3 million in 2021 from the commitments of certain estate planning vehicles associated with Mr. Hess. Such investments associated with Mr. Hess were made on the same terms and conditions as for other fund investors including management fees and/or a carried interest applicable to the relevant fund.
Indemnification of Directors, Officers and Others
Under our certificate of incorporation, in most circumstances we will indemnify the following persons, to the fullest extent permitted by law, from and against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, joint or several, expenses (including legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines, penalties, interest, settlements or other amounts: (a) the Series I preferred stockholder; (b) KKR Management LLP (formerly known as KKR Management LLC) in its capacity as the former general partner of KKR & Co. L.P. (the "Former Managing Partner"); (c) any person who is or was an affiliate of the Series I preferred stockholder or the Former Managing Partner; (d) any person who is or was a member, partner, tax matters partner (as defined in the Code, as in effect prior to 2018), partnership representative (as defined in the Code), officer, director, employee, agent, fiduciary or trustee of us or our subsidiaries, the KKR Group Partnership, the Series I preferred stockholder or the Former Managing Partner or any affiliate of us or our subsidiaries, the Series I preferred stockholder or the Former Managing Partner; (e) any person who is or was serving at our request or the Former Managing Partner or any affiliate of us or the Former Managing Partner as an officer, director, employee, member, partner, tax matters partner, partnership representative, agent, fiduciary or trustee of another person (provided that a person shall not be an indemnitee by reason of providing, on a fee-for-services basis or similar arms-length compensatory basis, agency, advisory, consulting, trustee, fiduciary or custodial services); or (f) any person designated by us as an indemnitee as permitted by applicable law.
We have agreed to provide this indemnification unless there has been a final and non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that these persons acted in bad faith or engaged in fraud or willful misconduct. We have also agreed to provide this indemnification for criminal proceedings. Any indemnification under these provisions will only be out of our assets. Unless it otherwise agrees, the Series I preferred stockholder will not be liable for, or have any obligation to contribute or loan any monies or property to us to enable us to effectuate, indemnification. The indemnification of the persons described above shall be secondary to any indemnification such person is entitled from another person or the relevant KKR fund to the extent applicable. We may purchase insurance against liabilities asserted against and expenses incurred by persons in connection with its activities, regardless of whether we would have the power to indemnify the person against liabilities under our certificate of incorporation. We currently maintain liability insurance for our directors and officers. Such insurance would be available to our directors and officers in accordance with its terms.
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In addition, we have entered into indemnification agreements with KKR Management LLP and each of our directors. Each indemnification agreement provides that the indemnitee, subject to the limitations set forth in each indemnification agreement, will be indemnified and held harmless by us on an after-tax basis from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, joint or several, expenses (including legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines, penalties, interest, settlements or other amounts arising from any and all threatened, pending or completed claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, and whether formal or informal and including appeals, in which the indemnitee may be involved, or is threatened to be involved, as a party or otherwise, by reason of its status as an indemnitee or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in such capacity, whether arising from alleged acts or omissions to act occurring on, before or after the date of such indemnification agreement. Each indemnification agreement provides that the indemnitee shall not be indemnified and held harmless if there has been a final and non-appealable judgment entered by an arbitral tribunal or court of competent jurisdiction determining that, in respect of the matter for which the indemnitee is seeking indemnification pursuant to the indemnification agreement, the indemnitee acted in bad faith or engaged in fraud or willful misconduct.
Guarantee of Contingent Obligations to Fund Partners; Indemnification
The partnership documents governing KKR's carry-paying investment funds and vehicles generally include a "clawback" provision that, if triggered, may give rise to a contingent obligation requiring the general partner to return amounts to the fund for distribution to the fund investors at the end of the life of the fund. Under a clawback obligation, upon the liquidation of a fund, the general partner is required to return, typically on an after-tax basis, previously distributed carry to the extent that, due to the diminished performance of later investments, the aggregate amount of carry distributions received by the general partner during the term of the fund exceed the amount to which the general partner was ultimately entitled, including the effects of any performance thresholds. As of December 31, 2021, $76.0 million of carried interest was subject to this clawback obligation, assuming that all applicable carry-paying funds were liquidated at their December 31, 2021 fair values. Had the investments in such funds been liquidated at zero value, the clawback obligation would have been approximately $2.5 billion. Carried interest is recognized in the consolidated statements of operations based on the contractual conditions set forth in the agreements governing the fund as if the fund were terminated and liquidated at the reporting date and the fund's investments were realized at the then estimated fair values. Amounts earned pursuant to carried interest are earned by the general partner of those funds to the extent that cumulative investment returns are positive and where applicable, preferred return thresholds have been met. If these investment amounts earned decrease or turn negative in subsequent periods, recognized carried interest will be reversed and to the extent that the aggregate amount of carry distributions received by the general partner during the term of the fund exceed the amount to which the general partner was ultimately entitled, a clawback obligation would be recorded. For funds that are consolidated, this clawback obligation, if any, is reflected as an increase in noncontrolling interests in the consolidated statements of financial condition. For funds that are not consolidated, this clawback obligation, if any, is reflected as a reduction of KKR's investment balance as this is where carried interest is initially recorded.
Facilities
Certain trusts, whose beneficiaries include children of Mr. Kravis and Mr. Roberts, and certain other senior employees who are not our executive officers, are partners in a real-estate based partnership that maintains an ownership interest in our Menlo Park location. Payments made from us to this partnership aggregated $8.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2021.
Confidentiality and Restrictive Covenant Agreements
Our employees have entered into confidentiality and restrictive covenant agreements that include prohibitions on our employees competing with us or soliciting clients, investments or employees of our firm during a restricted period following their departure from the firm. For further information on these agreements, see "Executive Compensation—Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table and Grants of Plan-Based Awards —Terms of Confidentiality and Restrictive Covenant Agreements."
Other Transactions with Related Persons
We have and may in the future continue to enter into ordinary course transactions with unaffiliated entities known to us to beneficially own more than 5% of any class of our outstanding voting securities. These transactions may include investments by them in our funds generally on the same terms and conditions offered to other unaffiliated fund investors and participation in our capital markets transactions, including underwritings and syndications, generally on the same terms and conditions offered to other unaffiliated capital markets participants. See "Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters."
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Statement of Policy Regarding Transactions with Related Persons
Our board of directors adopted a written statement of policy for our partnership regarding transactions with related persons (our "related person policy"). Our related person policy requires that a "related person" (as defined as in Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K) must promptly disclose to our General Counsel or other designated person any "related person transaction" (defined as any transaction, arrangement or relationship, or series of similar transactions, arrangements or relationships, including, without limitation, any loan, guarantee of indebtedness, transfer or lease of real estate, or use of company property that is reportable by us under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K in which we were or are to be a participant and the amount involved exceeds $120,000 and in which any related person had or will have a direct or indirect material interest) and all material facts with respect thereto. Those individuals will then communicate that information to the board of directors. No related person transaction will be consummated without the approval or ratification of a committee of the board consisting exclusively of disinterested directors; provided, however, the conflicts committee of our board of directors has pre-approved: certain ordinary course transactions with persons known to us to beneficially own more than 5% of our outstanding common stock on terms generally not less favorable as obtained from other third parties, including investments in our funds as limited partners and participation in capital markets transactions like underwritings and syndications; the renewal of pre-existing strategic relationships with persons known to us to beneficially own more than 5% of our outstanding common stock; the use of aircraft owned by our senior employees for business purposes; certain investments by eligible employees in our funds, in side-by-side investments with our funds and the firm, as well as in funds managed by our hedge fund partnerships; and certain pro rata cash contributions to the KKR Group Partnership for cash management purposes. It is our policy that directors interested in a related person transaction will recuse themselves from any vote on a related person transaction in which they have an interest.
Director Independence
See "Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance—Independence and Composition of the Board of Directors" for information on director independence.
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ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
The following table summarizes the aggregate fees for professional services provided by Deloitte & Touche LLP (PCAOB ID No. 34), the member firms of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited or their respective affiliates (collectively, the "Deloitte Entities") for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020.
| For the Year Ended December 31, 2021 | ||||||||||||||
| KKR | Completed Transactions | |||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | ||||||||||||||
| Audit Fees | $ | 47,836 | (1) | $ | — | |||||||||
| Audit-Related Fees | $ | 12,908 | (2) | $ | 19,132 | (5) | ||||||||
| Tax Compliance Fees | $ | 35,640 | (3) | $ | — | |||||||||
| Tax Planning and Advisory Fees | $ | 8,318 | (4) | $ | 13,350 | (5) | ||||||||
| All Other Fees | $ | 537 | $ | — | ||||||||||
| For the Year Ended December 31, 2020 | ||||||||||||||
| KKR | Completed Transactions | |||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | ||||||||||||||
| Audit Fees | $ | 28,588 | (1) | $ | — | |||||||||
| Audit-Related Fees | $ | 10,245 | (2) | $ | 16,416 | (5) | ||||||||
| Tax Compliance Fees | $ | 37,512 | (3) | $ | — | |||||||||
| Tax Planning and Advisory Fees | $ | 7,752 | (4) | $ | 17,706 | (5) | ||||||||
| All Other Fees | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||||||
(1)Audit Fees consisted of estimated fees for each audit year for (a) the audits of our consolidated financial statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and services related to, or required by, statute or regulation; (b) reviews of the interim condensed consolidated financial statements included in our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q; (c) comfort letters, consents and other services related to SEC and other regulatory filings; and (d) audit services provided to KKR funds and other corporate entities.
(2)Audit-Related Fees primarily included merger, acquisition, and investment due diligence services for strategic acquisitions or investments in target companies for in-process transactions and transactions not completed.
(3)Tax Compliance Fees consisted of fees for services rendered for tax compliance.
(4)Tax Planning and Advisory Fees primarily included tax planning and advisory services, as well as tax fees for merger, acquisition, and investment structuring services for strategic acquisitions or investments in target companies for in-process transactions and transactions not completed.
(5)Audit-Related and Tax Planning and Advisory Fees included merger, acquisition, and investment due diligence services for strategic acquisitions or investments in portfolio companies that have been completed. In addition, the Deloitte Entities provided audit, audit-related, tax and other services to the portfolio companies, which are approved directly by the portfolio company's management and are not included in the amounts presented here.
Our Audit Committee charter, which is available on our website at www.kkr.com under "Investor Center—Stockholders (KKR & Co. Inc.)—Corporate Governance—Audit Committee Charter," requires the Audit Committee to approve in advance all audit and non-audit related services to be provided by our independent registered public accounting firm in accordance with the audit and non-audit related services pre-approval policy. All services reported in the Audit, Audit-Related, Tax, and All Other categories above were approved by the Audit Committee.
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PART IV
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
(a) The following documents are filed as part of this Annual Report.
1. Financial Statements
See Item 8 above.
2. Financial Statement Schedules:
See Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts - Years Ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 and Schedule IV - Reinsurance - Year Ended December 31, 2021 - of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The other schedules are omitted as they are not applicable or the amounts involved are not material.
3. Exhibits:
| 2.1 | ||||||||
| 2.2 | ||||||||
| 2.3 | ||||||||
| 3.1 | ||||||||
| 3.2 | ||||||||
| 3.3 | ||||||||
| 4.1 | ||||||||
| 4.2 | ||||||||
| 4.3 | ||||||||
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| 4.15 | ||||||||
| 4.16 | ||||||||
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| 4.17 | ||||||||
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| 4.29 | ||||||||
| 4.30 | ||||||||
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| 4.31 | ||||||||
| 4.32 | ||||||||
| 4.33 | ||||||||
| 4.34 | ||||||||
| 4.35 | ||||||||
| 10.1 | ||||||||
| 10.2 | ||||||||
| 10.3 | ||||||||
| 10.4 | * | |||||||
| 10.5 | * | |||||||
| 10.6 | ||||||||
| 10.7 | ||||||||
| 10.8 | ||||||||
384
| 10.10 | † | |||||||
| 10.11 | † | |||||||
| 10.12 | † | |||||||
| 10.13 | † | |||||||
| 10.14 | † | |||||||
| 10.15 | ||||||||
| 10.16 | ||||||||
| 10.17 | * | |||||||
| 10.18 | * | |||||||
| 10.19 | * | |||||||
| 10.20 | * | |||||||
| 10.21 | * | |||||||
| 10.22 | * | |||||||
| 10.23 | * | |||||||
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| 10.24 | * | |||||||
| 10.25 | * | |||||||
| 10.26 | * | |||||||
| 21.1 | ||||||||
| 22.1 | ||||||||
| 23.1 | ||||||||
| 31.1 | ||||||||
| 31.2 | ||||||||
| 31.3 | ||||||||
| 32.1 | ||||||||
| 32.2 | ||||||||
| 32.3 | ||||||||
| 101 | Interactive data files pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T, formatted in Inline XBRL: (i) the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition as of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, (ii) the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, (iii) the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, (iv) the Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 (v) the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, and (vi) the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements. | |||||||
| 104 | Cover page interactive data file, formatted in Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101. | |||||||
* Management contract or compensatory plan in which directors and/or executive officers are eligible to participate.
† Certain information contained in this agreement has been omitted because it is not material and is the type that the registrant treats as private or confidential.
The registrant hereby agrees to furnish to the SEC at its request copies of long-term debt instruments defining the rights of holders of outstanding long-term debt that are not required to be filed herewith.
The agreements and other documents filed as exhibits to this report are not intended to provide factual information or other disclosure other than with respect to the terms of the agreements or other documents themselves, and you should not rely on them for that purpose. In particular, any representations and warranties made by us in these agreements or other documents were made solely within the specific context of the relevant agreement or document and may not describe the actual state of affairs as of the date they were made or at any other time.
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FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
| SCHEDULE II—VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Valuation Allowance for Deferred Tax Assets | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| (in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Asset Management | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at Beginning of Period | Tax Valuation Allowance Charged to Income Tax Provision | Tax Valuation Allowance Credited to Income Tax Provision | Balance at End of Period | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Year Ended: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2019 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2020 | $ | — | $ | 23,082 | (1) | $ | — | $ | 23,082 | ||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2021 | $ | 23,082 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 23,082 | |||||||||||||||
| (1) A valuation allowance has been recorded for deferred tax assets related to foreign loss carryforwards that are not considered to be more likely than not realized prior to their expiration. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Insurance | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Year Ended December 31, 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Additions | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at Beginning of Period | Charged to costs and expenses | Assumed | Deductions | Balance at End of Period | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Reserves deducted from assets to which they apply: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Credit loss allowance on available-for-sale securities | $ | 120,895 | $ | (25,316) | $ | 10,854 | $ | (18,300) | $ | 88,133 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Credit loss allowance on loans | 120,259 | 252,979 | 1,636 | (797) | 374,077 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Credit loss allowance on unfunded commitments | — | 21,675 | — | — | 21,675 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Credit loss allowance on reinsurance recoverables | — | 8,386 | — | — | 8,386 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SCHEDULE IV—REINSURANCE | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| As of December 31, 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gross Amount | Ceded to Other Companies | Assumed from Other Companies | Net Amount | Percentage of Amount Assumed to Net | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Life insurance in-force | $ | 98,911,475 | $ | (53,299,613) | $ | 16,762,152 | $ | 62,374,014 | 27 | % | |||||||||||||||||||
| Premiums and other considerations: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Premiums | $ | 107,733 | $ | (2,455,580) | $ | 4,573,925 | $ | 2,226,078 | 205 | % | |||||||||||||||||||
| Policy fees | $ | 860,170 | $ | (1,127) | $ | 288,870 | $ | 1,147,913 | 25 | % | |||||||||||||||||||
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ITEM 16. FORM 10-K SUMMARY
None.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to 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.
| Date: | February 28, 2022 | ||||||||||
| KKR & CO. INC. | |||||||||||
| /s/ ROBERT H. LEWIN | |||||||||||
| Name: | Robert H. Lewin | ||||||||||
| Title: | Chief Financial Officer | ||||||||||
Pursuant to the requirements of the Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities indicated below on the dates indicated below.
| Signature | Title | Date | ||||||||||||
| /s/ HENRY R. KRAVIS | Co-Executive Chairman, Director | February 28, 2022 | ||||||||||||
| Henry R. Kravis | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ GEORGE R. ROBERTS | Co-Executive Chairman, Director | February 28, 2022 | ||||||||||||
| George R. Roberts | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ JOSEPH Y. BAE | Director, Co-Chief Executive Officer | February 28, 2022 | ||||||||||||
| Joseph Y. Bae | (principal executive officer) | |||||||||||||
| /s/ SCOTT C. NUTTALL | Director, Co-Chief Executive Officer | February 28, 2022 | ||||||||||||
| Scott C. Nuttall | (principal executive officer) | |||||||||||||
| /s/ ADRIANE M. BROWN | Director | February 28, 2022 | ||||||||||||
| Adriane M. Brown | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ MATTHEW R. COHLER | Director | February 28, 2022 | ||||||||||||
| Matthew R. Cohler | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ MARY N. DILLON | Director | February 28, 2022 | ||||||||||||
| Mary N. Dillon | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ JOSEPH A. GRUNDFEST | Director | February 28, 2022 | ||||||||||||
| Joseph A. Grundfest | ||||||||||||||
/s/ ARTURO GUTIÉRREZ HERNÁNDEZ | Director | February 28, 2022 | ||||||||||||
Arturo Gutiérrez Hernández | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ JOHN B. HESS | Director | February 28, 2022 | ||||||||||||
| John. B. Hess | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ DANE E. HOLMES | Director | February 28, 2022 | ||||||||||||
| Dane E. Holmes | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ XAVIER B. NIEL | Director | February 28, 2022 | ||||||||||||
| Xavier B. Niel | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ PATRICIA F. RUSSO | Director | February 28, 2022 | ||||||||||||
| Patricia F. Russo | ||||||||||||||
389
| Signature | Title | Date | ||||||||||||
| /s/ THOMAS M. SCHOEWE | Director | February 28, 2022 | ||||||||||||
| Thomas M. Schoewe | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ ROBERT W. SCULLY | Director | February 28, 2022 | ||||||||||||
| Robert W. Scully | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ EVAN T. SPIEGEL | Director | February 28, 2022 | ||||||||||||
| Evan T. Spiegel | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ ROBERT H. LEWIN | Chief Financial Officer (principal financial and accounting officer) | February 28, 2022 | ||||||||||||
| Robert H. Lewin | ||||||||||||||
390