SEGMENT REPORTING | SEGMENT REPORTING The Company operates through its distinct operating segments. In 2016, the Company revised its reportable segments by combining two of its segments into a single segment to reflect a change in how the credit business is managed. The Tradable Credit Group segment and the Direct Lending Group segment have been combined into a single Credit Group segment. This change was made to more effectively manage the Company’s broad array of credit products and to better position the Credit Group to capitalize on future growth opportunities. In addition, in the third quarter of 2016 the Company moved its Special Situations strategy from the Credit Group to the Private Equity Group to better align the segment presentation with how the investment strategies for the Special Situations funds are managed. The Company has modified historical results to conform with its current presentation. The Company’s three operating segments are: Credit Group: The Company’s Credit Group is a leading manager of credit strategies across the non-investment grade credit universe in the U.S. and Europe, with approximately $60.5 billion of assets under management and 133 funds as of December 31, 2016 . The Credit Group offers a range of credit strategies across the liquid and illiquid spectrum, including syndicated loans, high yield bonds, credit opportunities, structured credit investments and U.S. and European direct lending. The Credit Group provides solutions for traditional fixed income investors seeking to access the syndicated loans and high yield bond markets and capitalizes on opportunities across traded corporate credit. It additionally provides investors access to directly originated fixed and floating rate credit assets and the ability to capitalize on illiquidity premiums across the credit spectrum. The Credit Group’s syndicated loans strategy focuses on liquid, traded non-investment grade secured loans to corporate issuers. The high yield bond strategy seeks to deliver a diversified portfolio of liquid, traded non-investment grade corporate bonds, including secured, unsecured and subordinated debt instruments. Credit opportunities is a “go anywhere” strategy seeking to capitalize on market inefficiencies and relative value opportunities across the capital structure. The structured credit strategy invests across the capital structures of syndicated collateralized loan obligation vehicles (CLOs) and in directly-originated asset-backed instruments comprised of diversified portfolios of consumer and commercial assets. The Company is one of the largest self-originating direct lenders to the U.S. and European middle markets, providing one-stop financing solutions for small-to-medium sized companies, which the Company believes are increasingly underserved by traditional lenders. The Credit Group conducts its U.S. corporate lending activities primarily through ARCC, the largest business development company as of December 31, 2016, by both market capitalization and total assets. In addition, the Credit Group manages a commercial finance business that provides asset-based and cash flow loans to small and middle-market companies, as well as asset-based facilities to specialty finance companies. The Credit Group’s European direct lending platform is one of the most significant participants in the European middle-market, focusing on self-originated investments in illiquid middle-market credits. Private Equity Group: The Company’s Private Equity Group has approximately $25.0 billion of assets under management as of December 31, 2016 , broadly categorizing its investment strategies as corporate private equity, U.S. power and energy infrastructure and special situations (formerly part of the Credit Group). As of December 31, 2016 the group managed five corporate private equity commingled funds focused on North America and Europe and two focused on greater China, five commingled funds and six related co-investment vehicles focused on U.S. power and energy infrastructure and five special situations funds. In its North American and European flexible capital strategy, the Company targets opportunistic majority or shared-control investments in businesses with strong franchises and attractive growth opportunities in North America and Europe. The U.S. power and energy infrastructure strategy targets U.S. energy infrastructure-related assets across the power generation, transmission and midstream sectors, seeking attractive risk-adjusted equity returns with current cash flow and capital appreciation. The special situations strategy seeks to invest opportunistically across a broad spectrum of distressed or mispriced investments, including corporate debt, rescue capital, private asset-backed investments, post-reorganization securities and non-performing portfolios. Real Estate Group: The Company’s Real Estate Group manages comprehensive public and private equity and debt strategies, with approximately $9.8 billion of assets under management across 42 funds as of December 31, 2016 . Real Estate equity strategies focus on applying hands-on value creation initiatives to mismanaged and capital-starved assets, as well as new development, ultimately selling stabilized assets back into the market. The Real Estate Group manages both a value-add strategy and an opportunistic strategy. The value-add strategy seeks to create value by buying assets at attractive valuations and through active asset management of income-producing properties across the U.S. and Western Europe. The opportunistic strategy focuses on manufacturing core assets through development, redevelopment and fixing distressed capital structures across major properties in the U.S. and Europe. The Company’s debt strategies leverage the Real Estate Group’s diverse sources of capital to directly originate and manage commercial mortgage investments on properties that range from stabilized to requiring hands-on value creation. In addition to managing private debt funds, the Real Estate Group makes debt investments through a publicly traded commercial mortgage REIT, ACRE. Non-GAAP Measures: These measures supplement and should be considered in addition to, and not in lieu of, the Consolidated Statements of Operations prepared in accordance with GAAP. The Company has an Operations Management Group (the “OMG”) that consists of five shared resource groups to support the Company’s operating segments by providing infrastructure and administrative support in the areas of accounting/finance, operations/information technology, business development/corporate strategy, legal/compliance and human resources. Additionally, the OMG provides services to certain of the Company’s investment companies and partnerships, which reimburse the OMG for expenses equal to the costs of services provided. The OMG’s expenses are not allocated to the Company’s three reportable segments but the Company does consider the cost structure of the OMG when evaluating its financial performance. Economic net income (“ENI”), a non-GAAP measure, is an operating metric used by management to evaluate total operating performance, a decision tool for deployment of resources, and an assessment of the performance of the Company’s business segments. ENI differs from net income by excluding (a) income tax expense, (b) operating results of the Consolidated Funds, (c) depreciation and amortization expense, (d) placement fees and underwriting costs (e) the effects of changes arising from corporate actions, and (f) certain other items that the Company believes are not indicative of its total operating performance. Changes arising from corporate actions include equity-based compensation expenses, the amortization of intangible assets, transaction costs associated with mergers and acquisitions and capital transactions, and expenses incurred in connection with corporate reorganization. Fee related earnings (“FRE”), a non-GAAP measure, refers to a component of ENI that is used to assess core operating performance by determining whether recurring revenue, primarily consisting of management fees, is sufficient to cover operating expenses and to generate profits. FRE differs from income before taxes computed in accordance with GAAP as it adjusts for the items included in the calculation of ENI and excludes performance fees, performance fee compensation, investment income from the Consolidated Funds and non-consolidated funds and certain other items that the Company believes are not indicative of its core operating performance. Performance related earnings (“PRE”), a non-GAAP measure, is used to assess the Company’s investment performance net of performance fee compensation. PRE differs from income (loss) before taxes computed in accordance with GAAP as it only includes performance fees, performance fee compensation and total investment and other income earned from the Consolidated Funds and non-consolidated funds. Distributable earnings (“DE”), a non-GAAP measure, is an operating metric that assesses the Company’s performance without the effects of the Consolidated Funds and the impact of unrealized income and expenses, which generally fluctuate with fair value changes. Among other things, this metric also is used to assist in determining amounts potentially available for distribution. However, the declaration, payment, and determination of the amount of distributions to unitholders, if any, is at the sole discretion of the Company’s Board of Directors, which may change the distribution policy at any time. Distributable earnings is calculated as the sum of fee related earnings, realized performance fees, realized performance fee compensation, realized net investment and other income, and is reduced by expenses arising from transaction costs associated with acquisitions, placement fees and underwriting costs, expenses incurred in connection with corporate reorganization and depreciation. Distributable earnings differs from income before taxes computed in accordance with GAAP as it is typically presented before giving effect to unrealized performance fees, unrealized performance fee compensation, unrealized net investment income, amortization of intangibles and equity compensation expense. DE is presented prior to the effect of income taxes and to distributions made to the Company’s preferred unitholders, unless otherwise noted. Management makes operating decisions and assesses the performance of each of the Company’s business segments based on financial and operating metrics and other data that is presented before giving effect to the consolidation of any of the Consolidated Funds. Consequently, all segment data excludes the assets, liabilities and operating results related to the Consolidated Funds and non‑consolidated funds. The following table presents the financial results for the Company’s operating segments, as well as the OMG, for the year ended December 31, 2016 : Credit Group Private Equity Group Real Total OMG Total Management fees (Credit Group includes ARCC Part I Fees of $121,181) $ 444,664 $ 147,790 $ 66,997 $ 659,451 $ — $ 659,451 Other fees 9,953 1,544 854 12,351 — 12,351 Compensation and benefits (177,071 ) (57,012 ) (39,033 ) (273,116 ) (111,599 ) (384,715 ) General, administrative and other expenses (26,827 ) (14,256 ) (10,124 ) (51,207 ) (63,530 ) (114,737 ) Fee related earnings 250,719 78,066 18,694 347,479 (175,129 ) 172,350 Performance fees—realized 51,435 230,162 11,401 292,998 — 292,998 Performance fees—unrealized 22,851 188,287 17,334 228,472 — 228,472 Performance fee compensation—realized (11,772 ) (184,072 ) (2,420 ) (198,264 ) — (198,264 ) Performance fee compensation—unrealized (26,109 ) (149,956 ) (13,517 ) (189,582 ) — (189,582 ) Net performance fees 36,405 84,421 12,798 133,624 — 133,624 Investment income (loss)—realized 4,928 18,773 931 24,632 (14,606 ) 10,026 Investment income (loss)—unrealized 11,848 (613 ) 5,418 16,653 (2,197 ) 14,456 Interest and other investment income 26,119 16,579 1,661 44,359 149 44,508 Interest expense (8,609 ) (5,589 ) (1,056 ) (15,254 ) (2,727 ) (17,981 ) Net investment income (loss) 34,286 29,150 6,954 70,390 (19,381 ) 51,009 Performance related earnings 70,691 113,571 19,752 204,014 (19,381 ) 184,633 Economic net income $ 321,410 $ 191,637 $ 38,446 $ 551,493 $ (194,510 ) $ 356,983 Distributable earnings $ 302,683 $ 148,996 $ 24,191 $ 475,870 $ (211,564 ) $ 264,306 Total assets $ 650,435 $ 1,218,412 $ 232,862 $ 2,101,709 $ 74,383 $ 2,176,092 The following table presents the financial results for the Company’s operating segments, as well as the OMG, for the year ended December 31, 2015 : Credit Group Private Equity Group Real Total OMG Total Management fees (Credit Group includes ARCC Part I Fees of $121,491) $ 432,769 $ 152,104 $ 66,045 $ 650,918 $ — $ 650,918 Other fees(1) 414 1,406 2,779 4,599 — 4,599 Compensation and benefits (167,735 ) (54,231 ) (40,591 ) (262,557 ) (98,065 ) (360,622 ) General, administrative and other expenses (27,781 ) (15,295 ) (15,044 ) (58,120 ) (59,783 ) (117,903 ) Fee related earnings 237,667 83,984 13,189 334,840 (157,848 ) 176,992 Performance fees—realized 87,583 24,849 9,516 121,948 — 121,948 Performance fees—unrealized (71,341 ) 87,809 15,179 31,647 — 31,647 Performance fee compensation—realized (44,110 ) (19,255 ) (1,826 ) (65,191 ) — (65,191 ) Performance fee compensation—unrealized 36,659 (74,598 ) (8,553 ) (46,492 ) — (46,492 ) Net performance fees 8,791 18,805 14,316 41,912 — 41,912 Investment income (loss)—realized 13,274 6,840 2,658 22,772 (23 ) 22,749 Investment income (loss)—unrealized (15,731 ) (13,205 ) 1,522 (27,414 ) 52 (27,362 ) Interest and other investment income 10,429 6,166 259 16,854 379 17,233 Interest expense (7,075 ) (5,936 ) (977 ) (13,988 ) (1,158 ) (15,146 ) Net investment income (loss) 897 (6,135 ) 3,462 (1,776 ) (750 ) (2,526 ) Performance related earnings 9,688 12,670 17,778 40,136 (750 ) 39,386 Economic net income $ 247,355 $ 96,654 $ 30,967 $ 374,976 $ (158,598 ) $ 216,378 Distributable earnings $ 289,091 $ 91,800 $ 17,615 $ 398,506 $ (167,917 ) $ 230,589 Total assets $ 530,758 $ 927,758 $ 186,058 $ 1,644,574 $ 96,637 $ 1,741,211 (1) For the year ended December 31, 2015 , the Company presented compensation and benefits expenses and general, administrative and other expenses net of the administrative fees earned from certain funds. As a result, for the year ended December 31, 2015 , $21.6 million and $4.4 million of administrative fees have been reclassified from other fees to compensation and benefits expenses and general, administrative and other expenses, respectively. The following table presents the financial results for the Company’s operating segments, as well as the OMG, for the year ended December 31, 2014 : Credit Group Private Equity Group Real Total OMG Total Management fees (Credit Group includes ARCC Part I Fees of $118,537) $ 416,400 $ 93,963 $ 87,683 $ 598,046 $ — $ 598,046 Other fees 1,192 219 4,889 6,300 — 6,300 Compensation and benefits (176,709 ) (40,229 ) (47,174 ) (264,112 ) (90,250 ) (354,362 ) General, administrative and other expenses (24,196 ) (10,075 ) (15,632 ) (49,903 ) (52,817 ) (102,720 ) Fee related earnings 216,687 43,878 29,766 290,331 (143,067 ) 147,264 Performance fees—realized 98,221 46,417 1,856 146,494 — 146,494 Performance fees—unrealized (41,681 ) 119,156 17,408 94,883 — 94,883 Performance fee compensation—realized (48,077 ) (32,522 ) — (80,599 ) — (80,599 ) Performance fee compensation—unrealized 11,059 (97,658 ) (2,830 ) (89,429 ) — (89,429 ) Net performance fees 19,522 35,393 16,434 71,349 — 71,349 Investment income—realized 29,081 21,154 2,344 52,579 — 52,579 Investment income (loss)—unrealized (12,430 ) 23,424 (61 ) 10,933 — 10,933 Interest and other investment income 10,688 4,745 265 15,698 — 15,698 Interest expense (3,555 ) (3,925 ) (1,137 ) (8,617 ) — (8,617 ) Net investment income 23,784 45,398 1,411 70,593 — 70,593 Performance related earnings 43,306 80,791 17,845 141,942 — 141,942 Economic net income $ 259,993 $ 124,669 $ 47,611 $ 432,273 $ (143,067 ) $ 289,206 Distributable earnings $ 294,955 $ 76,190 $ 10,460 $ 381,605 $ (148,849 ) $ 232,756 Total assets $ 730,281 $ 717,131 $ 224,333 $ 1,671,745 $ 15,206 $ 1,686,951 (1) For the year ended December 31, 2014 , the Company presented compensation and benefits expenses and general, administrative and other expenses net of the administrative fees earned from certain funds. As a result, for the year ended December 31, 2014 , $19.0 million and $3.4 million of administrative fees have been reclassified from other fees to compensation and benefits expenses and general, administrative and other expenses, respectively. The following table presents the components of the Company’s operating segments’ revenue, expenses and other income (expense): For the Year Ended December 31, 2016 2015 2014 Segment Revenues Management fees (includes ARCC Part I Fees of $121,181, $121,491 and $118,537 for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively) $ 659,451 $ 650,918 $ 598,046 Other fees 12,351 4,599 6,300 Performance fees—realized 292,998 121,948 146,494 Performance fees—unrealized 228,472 31,647 94,883 Total segment revenues $ 1,193,272 $ 809,112 $ 845,723 Segment Expenses Compensation and benefits $ 273,116 $ 262,557 $ 264,112 General, administrative and other expenses 51,207 58,120 49,903 Performance fee compensation—realized 198,264 65,191 80,599 Performance fee compensation—unrealized 189,582 46,492 89,429 Total segment expenses $ 712,169 $ 432,360 $ 484,043 Other Income (Expense) Investment income—realized $ 24,632 $ 22,772 $ 52,579 Investment income (loss)—unrealized 16,653 (27,414 ) 10,933 Interest and other investment income 44,359 16,854 15,698 Interest expense (15,254 ) (13,988 ) (8,617 ) Total other income (expense) $ 70,390 $ (1,776 ) $ 70,593 The following table reconciles segment revenue to Ares consolidated revenues: For the Year Ended December 31, 2016 2015 2014 Total segment revenue $ 1,193,272 $ 809,112 $ 845,723 Revenue of Consolidated Funds eliminated in consolidation (18,522 ) (13,279 ) (249,394 ) Administrative fees(1) 26,934 26,007 22,147 Performance fees reclass(2) (2,479 ) (7,398 ) (14,587 ) Total consolidated adjustments and reconciling items 5,933 5,330 (241,834 ) Total consolidated revenue $ 1,199,205 $ 814,442 $ 603,889 (1) Represents administrative fees that are presented in administrative and other fees in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations and are netted against the respective expenses for segment reporting. (2) Related to performance fees for AREA Sponsor Holdings LLC, an investment pool. Changes in value of this investment are reflected within other income (expense) in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations. The following table reconciles segment expenses to Ares consolidated expenses: For the Year Ended December 31, 2016 2015 2014 Total segment expenses $ 712,169 $ 432,360 $ 484,043 Expenses of Consolidated Funds added in consolidation 42,520 36,417 187,494 Expenses of Consolidated Funds eliminated in consolidation (21,447 ) (18,312 ) (120,694 ) Administrative fees(1) 26,934 26,007 22,147 OMG expenses 175,129 157,848 143,067 Acquisition and merger-related expenses 773 40,482 11,043 Equity compensation expense 39,065 32,244 83,230 Placement fees and underwriting costs 6,424 8,825 14,753 Amortization of intangibles 26,638 46,227 27,610 Depreciation expense 8,215 6,942 7,346 Total consolidation adjustments and reconciling items 304,251 336,680 375,996 Total consolidated expenses $ 1,016,420 $ 769,040 $ 860,039 (1) Represents administrative fees that are presented in administrative and other fees in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations and are netted against the respective expenses for segment reporting. The following table reconciles segment other income (expense) to Ares consolidated other income: For the Year Ended December 31, 2016 2015 2014 Total other income (expense) $ 70,390 $ (1,776 ) $ 70,593 Other income (expense) from Consolidated Funds added in consolidation, net 37,388 13,695 785,152 Other income (expense) from Consolidated Funds eliminated in consolidation, net 4,856 12,007 (53,883 ) OMG other expense (19,381 ) (750 ) — Performance fee reclass(1) 2,479 7,398 14,587 Gain associated with contingent consideration 17,675 21,064 — Merger related expenses — (15,446 ) — Other non-cash expense 1,728 (110 ) (3,384 ) Total consolidation adjustments and reconciling items 44,745 37,858 742,472 Total consolidated other income (expense) $ 115,135 $ 36,082 $ 813,065 (1) Related to performance fees for AREA Sponsor Holdings LLC. Changes in value of this investment are reflected within other (income) expense in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations. The following table presents the reconciliation of income before taxes as reported in the Consolidated Statements of Operations to segment results of ENI, FRE, PRE and DE: For the Year Ended December 31, 2016 2015 2014 Economic net income Income (loss) before taxes $ 297,920 $ 81,484 $ 556,915 Adjustments: Amortization of intangibles 26,638 46,227 27,610 Depreciation expense 8,215 6,942 7,346 Equity compensation expenses 39,065 32,244 83,230 Acquisition and merger-related expenses (16,902 ) 34,864 11,043 Placement fees and underwriting costs 6,424 8,825 14,753 OMG expenses, net 194,510 158,598 143,067 Other non-cash expense (1,728 ) 110 3,384 (Income) loss before taxes of non-controlling interests in Consolidated Funds, net of eliminations (2,649 ) 5,682 (415,075 ) Total consolidation adjustments and reconciling items 253,573 293,492 (124,642 ) Economic net income 551,493 374,976 432,273 Total performance fees income - realized (292,998 ) (121,948 ) (146,494 ) Total performance fees income - unrealized (228,472 ) (31,647 ) (94,883 ) Total performance fee compensation - realized 198,264 65,191 80,599 Total performance fee compensation - unrealized 189,582 46,492 89,429 Total investment income (70,390 ) 1,776 (70,593 ) Fee related earnings 347,479 334,840 290,331 Performance fees—realized 292,998 121,948 146,494 Performance fee compensation—realized (198,264 ) (65,191 ) (80,599 ) Investment and other income (expense) realized, net 50,415 25,638 59,660 Additional adjustments: Dividend equivalent(1) (3,863 ) (2,501 ) — One-time acquisition costs(1) (457 ) (1,553 ) (8,446 ) Income tax expense(1) (3,199 ) (1,462 ) (1,725 ) Non-cash items 870 (758 ) (1,525 ) Placement fees and underwriting costs(1) (6,431 ) (8,817 ) (14,753 ) Depreciation and amortization(1) (3,678 ) (3,638 ) (7,832 ) Distributable earnings $ 475,870 $ 398,506 $ 381,605 Performance related earnings Economic net income $ 551,493 $ 374,976 $ 432,273 Less: fee related earnings (347,479 ) (334,840 ) (290,331 ) Performance related earnings $ 204,014 $ 40,136 $ 141,942 (1) Certain costs are reduced by the amounts attributable to OMG, which is excluded from segment results. The reconciliation of total segment assets to total assets reported in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition consists of the following: For the Year Ended December 31, 2016 2015 2014 Total segment assets $ 2,101,709 $ 1,644,574 $ 1,671,745 Total assets from Consolidated Funds added in Consolidation 3,822,010 2,760,419 20,758,806 Total assets from Consolidated Funds eliminated in Consolidation (168,390 ) (180,222 ) (806,765 ) Operating Management Group assets 74,383 96,637 15,206 Total consolidated adjustments and reconciling items 3,728,003 2,676,834 19,967,247 Total consolidated assets $ 5,829,712 $ 4,321,408 $ 21,638,992 |