In addition, under the 2006 Credit Agreement, we are permitted to make cash distributions subject to the following restrictions: (a) no event of default exists immediately prior to or subsequent to the distribution, (b) the amount of distributions over the prior 12 months do not exceed free cash flow (as defined in our credit agreement as net income plus (i) taxes, depreciation and private equity incentive income presented on an as-received basis less (ii) capital expenditures, permitted tax distributions and certain other adjustments) for the prior 12 month period, and (c) after giving effect to the distribution, we have cash on hand of not less than accrued but unpaid taxes and amortization obligations under the credit agreement which are required in the next 90 days. Free cash flow as defined under our credit agreement is effectively pre-tax distributable earnings minus net investment income, plus depreciation. Unpaid taxes are based on estimated entity-level taxes due and payable by Fortress Operating Group entities, primarily New York City Unincorporated Business Tax. For amortization payments that include scheduled principal payments under our credit agreement, refer to the Contractual Obligations table below. The events of default described under the 2006 Credit Agreement are typical of such agreements and include payment defaults, failure to comply with credit agreement covenants, cross-defaults to material indebtedness, bankruptcy and insolvency, change of control, and adverse events with respect to our material funds.
Our historical combined statements of cash flows reflect the cash flows of Fortress Operating Group as well as those of our consolidated Fortress Funds, all but one of which are investment companies.
The consolidated Fortress Funds, on a gross basis, are much larger than Fortress Operating Group and therefore substantially all of the gross cash flows reflected in our statement of cash flows relate to their activities. The primary cash flow activities of Fortress Operating Group are: (i) generating cash flow from operations, (ii) making investments in Fortress Funds (these cash flows are eliminated in consolidation), (iii) meeting financing needs through a credit agreement, and (iv) distributing cash flow to equity holders. The primary cash flow activities of the consolidated Fortress Funds are: (i) raising capital from their investors, which have historically been reflected as non-controlling interests of consolidated subsidiaries in our financial statements, (ii) using this capital to make investments, (iii) financing certain investments with debt, (iv) generating cash flow from operations through the realization of investments, and (iv) dist ributing cash flow to investors.
As described above in ‘‘— Results of Operations’’ our assets under management, which are primarily representative of the net assets within the Fortress Funds, have grown significantly during the periods reflected in our financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. This growth is a result of these funds raising and investing capital, and generating gains from investments, during these periods. Their cash flows, which are reflected in our statement of cash flows for consolidated Fortress Funds, have increased substantially as a result of this growth. It is this growth which is the primary cause of increases in the gross cash flows reflected in our statement of cash flows.
Our dividend policy has certain risks and limitations, particularly with respect to liquidity. Although we expect to pay dividends according to our dividend policy, we may not pay dividends according to our policy, or at all, if, among other things, we do not have the cash necessary to pay the intended dividends. To the extent we do not have cash on hand sufficient to pay dividends, we may have to borrow funds to pay dividends, or we may determine not to borrow funds to pay dividends. By paying cash dividends rather than investing that cash in our future growth, we risk slowing the pace of our growth, or not having a sufficient amount of cash to fund our operations or unanticipated capital expenditures, should the need arise.
Table of ContentsAlthough we are not aware of any issue that would cause the IRS to challenge a tax basis increase, our principals will not reimburse the corporate taxpayers for any payments that have been previously made under the tax receivable agreement. As a result, in certain circumstances, payments could be made to our principals under the tax receivable agreement in excess of the corporate taxpayers’ cash tax savings. The corporate taxpayers’ 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, including the timing and amount of our future income. For additional information regarding the tax receivable agreement, see Item 13, ‘‘Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions, and Director Independence — Tax Receivable Agreement.’’
Operating Activities
Our net cash flow (used in) operating activities was ($4,583.9) million, ($2,079.0) million, and ($2,356.7) million during the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively. These amounts primarily include net purchases of investments by consolidated Fortress Funds which are investment companies, after proceeds from sales of investments, of ($4,574.2) million, ($2,366.0) million and ($2,363.2) million during those years, respectively, which are reflected as operating activities pursuant to investment company accounting.
Historical cash flows from operating activities were reduced by the voluntary deferral of the receipt of management and incentive fees from certain hedge funds of $248.9 million, $177.5 million and $63.8 million during the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively.
As of December 31, 2006, we had $500.9 million remaining in deferred management and incentive fees due from our liquid and hybrid hedge funds. We received $124.8 million from our hedge funds in December 2006. The substantial majority of these deferred fees as of December 31, 2006 have been collected in the first quarter of 2007 and the remainder will be collected later in 2007. Of the amounts collected, substantially all have been distributed to our principals and non-controlling interests. Following these transactions, all of the deferred fee arrangements were terminated.
The consolidation of the Fortress Funds and this voluntary deferral of fees caused our historical cash flows from operations to be negative. We do not expect this to be the case subsequent to the completion of the discontinuation of the voluntary deferral of fees and the deconsolidation of the Fortress Funds.
Investing Activities
Our net cash flow provided by (used in) investing activities was $361.9 million, ($413.4) million and ($12.4) million during each of the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively. Our investing activities included the net purchases of loan and security investments, after proceeds from sales of investments, of $380.5 million and ($369.2) million by our one consolidated Fortress Funds which is not an investment company for the years ended December 31, 2006 and December 31, 2005, respectively.
Financing Activities
Our net cash flow provided by financing activities was $4,246.8 million, $2,518.4 million and $2,374.6 million during the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively. Our financing activities primarily include: (i) contributions made by, net of distributions made to, the investors in our consolidated Fortress Funds, historically reflected as non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries, of $3,676.9 million, $1,376.6 million and $1,712.0 million during those years, respectively, (ii) financing of investments by our consolidated Fortress Funds of $590.1 million, $1,170.0 million and $664.4 million during those years, respectively, (iii) meeting financing needs of Fortress Investment Group through net draws on our credit agreement of $454.8 million, $145.2 million and $40.9 million during those years, respectively, and (iv) making distributions to our equity holders of $4 47.0 million, $146.9 million and $30.6 million during those years, respectively.
Application of Critical Accounting Policies
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations is based upon our combined financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. The
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Table of Contentspreparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires the use of estimates and assumptions that could affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses. Actual results could differ from these estimates. A summary of our significant accounting policies is presented in Note 2 to our audited historical combined financial statements included in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The following is a summary of our accounting policies that are most affected by judgments, estimates and assumptions.
Consolidation
Historically, we consolidated certain of the Fortress Funds as a result of owning a substantive, controlling general partner interest in these entities, or, for variable interest entities, by being their primary beneficiary. We had operational discretion and control of these funds combined with the limited partners’ limited substantive rights to impact their ongoing governance and operating activities which resulted in their being consolidated by us; however, in no case were we the majority equity holder. In connection with the initial public offering, Fortress granted rights effective March 31, 2007 to the investors in the consolidated Fortress Funds to provide a simple majority of the unrelated limited partners with the ability to liquidate the funds without cause or otherwise have the ability to exert control over the funds, resulting in the deconsolidation of these funds for financial reporting purposes.
The analysis as to whether to consolidate an entity is subject to a significant amount of judgment. Some of the criteria considered are the determination as to the degree of control over an entity by its various equity holders, the design of the entity, how closely related the entity is to each of its equity holders, the relation of the equity holders to each other and a determination of the primary beneficiary in entities in which we have a variable interest. These analyses involve estimates, probability weighting of subjectively determined cash flow scenarios, and other estimates based on the assumptions of management.
Fortress Operating Group’s combined financial statements reflect the assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses and cash flows of the consolidated Fortress Funds on a gross basis. Our investors’ interests in these funds, which are the majority ownership interests, have historically been reflected as non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries in these financial statements. The management fees and incentive income earned by Fortress from the consolidated Fortress Funds are eliminated in consolidation; however, our allocated share of the net income from these funds is increased by the amount of these eliminated fees. Accordingly, the consolidation of these Fortress Funds has no net effect on our net earnings from the Fortress Funds and the deconsolidation of the funds likewise has no net effect on Fortress’s earnings. The deconsolidation will have the effect of restoring the presentation of management fees and incentive income from the Fo rtress Funds that had been eliminated in consolidation.
Revenue Recognition on Incentive Income
Incentive income is calculated as a percentage of the profits earned by the Fortress Funds subject to the achievement of performance criteria. Incentive income from certain of the private equity funds, and no other funds, we manage is subject to contingent repayment (or clawback) and may be paid to us as particular investments made by the funds are realized. If, however, upon liquidation of a fund the aggregate amount paid to us as incentive income exceeds the amount actually due to us based upon the aggregate performance of the fund, the excess is required to be returned by us (i.e. ‘‘clawed back’’) to that fund. We have elected to adopt the preferred method of recording incentive income subject to contingencies, Method 1 of Emerging Issues Task Force Topic D-96 ‘‘Accounting for Management Fees Based on a Formula.’’ Under this method, we do not recognize incentive income subject to contingent repayment until all o f the related contingencies have been resolved. Deferred incentive income related to a particular private equity fund, each of which has a limited life, would be recognized upon the termination of a private equity fund, all of which are subject to limited lives, or when distributions from a fund exceed the point at which a clawback of a portion or all of the historic
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Table of Contentsincentive income distributions could no longer occur. Recognition of incentive income allocated to us prior to that date is deferred and recorded as a deferred incentive income liability. For GAAP purposes, the determination of when incentive income is recognized as income is formulaic in nature, resulting directly from each fund’s governing documents.
Profit Sharing Arrangements
Pursuant to employment arrangements, certain of Fortress’s employees are granted profit sharing interests and are thereby entitled to a portion of the incentive income realized from certain Fortress Funds, which is payable upon a realization event within the respective funds. Accordingly, incentive income resulting from a realization event within a fund gives rise to the incurrence of a profit sharing obligation. Amounts payable under these profit sharing plans are recorded as compensation expense when they become probable and reasonably estimable.
For profit sharing plans related to hedge funds, where incentive income is received on a quarterly or annual basis, the related compensation expense is accrued during the period for which the related payment is made. For profit sharing plans related to private equity funds, where incentive income is received as investments are realized but is subject to clawback (see ‘‘Revenue Recognition on Incentive Income’’ above), although Fortress defers the recognition of incentive income until all contingencies are resolved, accruing expense for employee profit sharing is based upon when it becomes probable and reasonably estimable that incentive income has been earned and therefore a profit sharing liability has been incurred. Based upon this policy, the recording of an accrual for profit sharing expense to employees generally precedes the recognition of the related incentive income revenue.
Fortress’s determination of the point at which it becomes probable and reasonably estimable that incentive income will be earned and therefore a corresponding profit sharing expense should be recorded is based upon a number of factors, the most significant of which is the level of realized gains generated by the underlying funds which may ultimately give rise to incentive income payments. Accordingly, profit sharing expense is generally recorded upon realization events within the underlying funds. A realization event has occurred when an investment within a fund generates proceeds in excess of its related invested capital, such as when an investment is sold at a gain. Changes in the judgments and estimates made in arriving at the appropriate amount of profit sharing expense accrual could materially impact net income.
As of December 31, 2006, Fortress has recognized and paid compensation expense under its employee profit sharing arrangements in connection with the $252.8 million of distributed incentive income from private equity funds. If the $1,405.5 million of undistributed incentive income from private equity funds was realized, Fortress would recognize and pay an additional $508.3 million of compensation expense.
Valuation of Investments
As a result of the deconsolidation described above, our investments in the Fortress Funds are accounted for under the equity method in our pro forma financial information. The Fortress Funds themselves apply specialized accounting principles specified by the AICPA Audit and Accounting Guide — Investment Companies, which we have retained when applying the equity method. As such, our results are based on the reported fair value of the funds as of the reporting date with our pro rata ownership interest (based on our principal investment) of the changes in each fund’s net asset value reflected in our results of operations. Fair value generally represents the amount at which an investment could be exchanged in a current transaction between willing parties, other than in a forced or liquidation sale. We are the manager of these funds and in certain cases participate in the valuation of underlying investments, many of which are illiquid and/or without a pub lic market. The fair value of these investments is generally estimated based on either values provided by independent valuation agents, who use their own proprietary valuation models, or proprietary models developed by us, which include discounted cash flow analyses and other techniques and may be based, at least in part, on independently sourced market parameters. The material estimates and assumptions used in these
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Table of Contentsmodels include the timing and expected amount of cash flows, the appropriateness of discount rates used, and, in some cases, the ability to execute, timing of, and estimated proceeds from expected financings. The values arrived at may be adjusted if, when estimating the value, it is determined that a more accurate value can be obtained from recent trading activity or by incorporating other relevant information that may not have been reflected in pricing obtained from the models. Fair values obtained from external sources are rarely (less than 1% of our value estimates) adjusted in this manner. Significant judgment and estimation goes into the assumptions which drive these models and the actual values realized with respect to investments could be materially different from values obtained based on the use of those estimates. The valuation methodologies applied impact the reported value of investment company holdings in our historical combined financial statements.
Private Equity Funds
Under the valuation policies and guidelines of our private equity funds, investments are categorized into two types of securities; those for which there is a market quotation and those for which there is no market quotation. Securities for which there is a market quotation are valued at their quoted market price. A discount may be applied to those securities that are restricted as to sale. Securities for which there is no market quotation are referred to as private securities and are valued at fair value. Our guidelines state that the fair values of private securities are generally based on the following methods:
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| 1. | Public market transactions of similar securities |
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| 2. | Private market transactions of similar or identical securities |
Our private equity funds have never based a valuation of a private security upon public or private market transactions in a similar security. There have been no circumstances to date in which a security in a public market transaction, or a private market transaction of which we were aware, has been considered to be sufficiently similar to a private security owned by one of our private equity funds to be used as a measure of valuation for such private security investment.
Our private equity funds have used the price of private market transactions in identical securities as a valuation method for investments. In cases in which there has been a significant private transaction in a private security held by our private equity funds, the value of private equity fund investments in the private security are based upon the price of such recent private transaction in that security, and no sensitivity analysis is used. Based on this guideline, the value of an investment is considered to be its purchase price for a period of one year after the date of acquisition, unless a more recent transaction has occurred.
If the fair value of private security investments held by our private equity funds cannot be valued by reference to a public or private market transaction, then the primary analytical method used to estimate the fair value of such private securities is the discounted cash flow method. Sensitivity analysis is applied to the estimated future cash flows using various factors depending on the investment, including assumed growth rates (in cash flows), capitalization rates (for determining terminal values) and appropriate discount rates based on the investment to determine a range of reasonable values. The valuation based on the inputs determined to be the most probable is used as the fair value of the investment. Our private equity funds may also use the performance statistics of similar public companies (for example, EBITDA multiples) to value private securities.
Liquid Hedge Funds
The vast majority of the investments in our liquid hedge funds are valued based on quoted market prices. Investments valued based on other observable market parameters in our liquid hedge funds are made up almost entirely of interest rate swaps and swaptions, equity swaps and foreign exchange swaps which are valued by the independent fund administrator using models with significant observable market parameters. The fair value of interest rate swaps and swaptions is calculated using the market price of the relevant interest rate and an appropriate discount rate to determine a present value. The fair value of equity swaps and foreign exchange swaps is calculated using the market price
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Table of Contentsof the underlying stock or foreign exchange pair, plus the financing cost of carrying the transaction. The fair value of these investments is also confirmed independently with the counterparty to the transaction.
Hybrid Hedge Funds
In our hybrid hedge funds, investments are valued using quoted market prices, to the extent available. Independent valuation agents are used by our hybrid hedge funds to provide estimates of the fair value of investments for which quoted market prices are not available. For investments in our hybrid hedge funds, we understand that the independent valuation agents use some or all of the following methods and techniques to estimate the fair value of the relevant type of investments:
Private Loans
The most common method used to value private loans is a discounted cash flow analysis. In this method, the estimated future payments to be made by the borrower under the loan agreement are discounted to the present using a discount rate appropriate to the risk level of the borrower.
If it is likely that a borrower will not be able to repay a loan in full, the loan may be valued by estimating how much the borrower will be able to repay based on obtaining refinancing from a new lender. Under this method, the borrower’s business must be examined in detail, and then compared to known loans in the market to estimate how much the borrower will likely be able to borrow, and therefore repay under the existing loan. If the amount likely to be able to be refinanced is less than the total payments due under the loan, the fair value of the loan will be reduced.
Another method used to value loans that may not be repaid in full is to value the total amount of assets of the borrower that might be sold to raise proceeds to repay the loan if necessary. Under this method, all assets of the borrower must be analyzed and valued. If the total value is less than the total payments due under the loan, the fair value of the loan will be reduced.
Asset-backed Securities and Collateralized Debt Obligations for which there are no quoted market prices are valued using a discounted cash flow analysis based on the estimated cash flows to be generated by the relevant underlying assets and the appropriate interest rate based on the nature of the underlying assets.
Real estate is usually valued based on sales of comparable property. The value of real estate which is net leased is also influenced by the credit quality of major tenants, as their ability to make lease payments is relevant to the value of the property under lease.
Sensitivity
As of December 31, 2006, $2.8 billion of investments in our private equity funds, $31.7 million of investments in our hybrid hedge funds and $256.4 million of investments in our liquid hedge funds are valued by internal models with significant unobservable market parameters.
A 10% change in the value of investments valued as described above would have had the following effects on us, on a deconsolidated basis as of December 31, 2006, consistent with the table that follows below:
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| • | Private equity fund management fees would be unchanged as they are not based on the value of the funds, but rather on the amount of capital invested in the funds. |
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| • | Private equity fund incentive income would be unchanged as it is not recognized until received and all contingencies are resolved. Furthermore, incentive income would be based on the actual price realized in a transaction, not on a valuation. |
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| • | Private equity fund investment income would change by approximately $0.1 million. |
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| • | Hybrid hedge fund management fees would change on a prospective basis by, per annum, approximately $41,000. |
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| • | Hybrid hedge fund incentive income would change by approximately $0.4 million. |
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| • | Hybrid hedge fund investment income would change by approximately $14,000. |
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| • | Liquid market hedge fund management fees would change on a prospective basis by, per annum, approximately $0.5 million. |
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| • | Liquid market hedge fund incentive income would change by approximately $5.6 million or ($3.8 million) in the case of a 10% increase or decrease, respectively. In the case of the decrease, only the fourth quarter promote fees are subject to potential loss. |
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| • | Liquid market hedge fund investment income would change by approximately $0.4 million. |
The effects on private equity fees and income assume that a decrease in value does not cause a permanent write-down of investments below their associated invested capital. The changes to incentive income in the hybrid hedge funds and the liquid hedge funds assume there is no loss in the relevant fund for the period. If the fund had a loss for the period, no incentive income would be earned by us, and therefore there would be no change in incentive income.
Although our consolidated assets, unrealized gains and related non-controlling interests could vary materially as a result of changes in our valuation assumptions and estimates, our equity and net income (as well as our overall financial condition and results of operations following the deconsolidation of the consolidated Fortress Funds) are only moderately sensitive to changes in these assumptions and estimates. As described in Item 7A ‘‘Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk,’’ changes in fair value may impact our results of operations as follows:
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| 1) | Management fees from our hedge funds are based on their net asset value, which in turn is dependent on the estimated fair values of their investments. The impact of a change in these values would occur only in periods after the change, as opposed to having an immediate impact. Assuming that there is no change to the investments held by the hedge funds in the next four quarters after December 31, 2006, a 10% change in the fair values of all of the investments held by our hedge funds as of December 31, 2006 would impact future management fees in the next year from our hedge funds by $20.7 million. For private equity funds, management fees of 1% to 1.5% are charged on committed capital during the investment period of a new fund, and then generally on invested capital after the investment period, except for investments in publicly traded entities by funds formed after March 2006 for which a 10% change in these fair values would impact management fees in the next year by $0.3 million. For Castles, management fees of 1.5% are charged on the funds’ equity. Changes in values of investments could indirectly affect future management fees from private equity funds and Castles by, among other things, reducing the funds’ access to capital or liquidity and their ability to currently pay the management fees or for private equity funds if such change resulted in a write-down of investments below their associated invested capital. However, these effects would be under very remote circumstances. |
 |  |  |
| 2) | Incentive income from our hedge funds, which is quantified in our ‘‘— Segment Analysis’’ section, is directly impacted by changes in the fair value of their investments. Incentive income from certain hedge funds is earned based on achieving annual performance criteria. Accordingly, this incentive income is recorded as revenue at year end (in the fourth quarter of each year) under GAAP. Incentive income from our private equity funds is not recorded as revenue under GAAP until the related clawback contingency is resolved and is not recorded as segment revenue until received (subject to a possible reserve) as described above. Incentive income subject to contingencies will be recognized to the extent it is received and all conti ngencies are resolved. Assuming that the incentive income earned to date would be equal to what would be recognized when all contingencies are resolved, a 10% increase or decrease in the fair values of investments held by all of the private equity funds at December 31, 2006 would increase or decrease future incentive income by $230.6 million or ($217.7 million), respectively; however, this would have no effect on our current reported financial condition or results of operations as incentive income from our private equity funds is not recorded as revenue under GAAP until the related clawback contingency is resolved. This contingency is recognized as deferred incentive income liability under GAAP at December 31, 2006 in our combined financial statements and would change by this same amount upon a 10% increase or decrease in the fair values of investments held by private |
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Table of Contents |  |  |
| | equity funds. Incentive income from the Castles is also not impacted by changes in the fair values of their investments since these changes do not impact the measure of current operating results (i.e. FFO in excess of specified returns to the company’s shareholders) upon which the incentive income is calculated. The definition of FFO excludes unrealized changes in the values of the Castles’ investments (primarily real estate, loans and securities), except for minor items (for example, the unrealized gain or loss on non-hedge derivatives which make up only an immaterial portion of their assets). |
 |  |  |
| 3) | Our net share of the income from the Fortress Funds resulting from our principal investments in these funds, recorded on a GAAP basis, is directly affected by changes in the fair values of the fund investments, except for the Castles which are not recorded on a fair value basis. However, our investments in these funds typically range from less than 1% to approximately 5% of the equity of these entities. Furthermore, unrealized changes in fair value are excluded from our calculation of distributable earnings for illiquid funds. |
Therefore, a 10% net change in the fair value of the investments held by all of our funds (other than a permanent impairment) would have the following effects:

 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  | GAAP Basis |
|  |  | Management Fees |  |  | Incentive Income |  |  | Investment Income (Unrealized Gains and Losses) |
Private equity funds |  |  | None (A) |  |  | None (B) |  |  | Generally, a 10% immediate change in investment income. Since we generally have a 1% – 5% investment in these funds, the dollar effect would be 0.1% – 0.5% (1% – 5% of 10%) of the dollar change in values. |
Hedge funds (hybrid and liquid) |  |  | 10% annual change in management fees from these funds, subsequent to the change in value. |  |  | Generally, a 10% immediate change in incentive income from these funds. Since the incentive income is equal to 20% of fund returns, the dollar effect would be 2% (20% of 10%) of the dollar change in values. |  |  | Generally, a 10% immediate change in investment income. Since we generally have a 1% – 5% investment in these funds, the dollar effect would be 0.1% – 0.5% (1% – 5% of 10%) of the dollar change in values. |
Castles |  |  | None |  |  | None |  |  | None |
 |
(A) | For funds formed after March 2006, a 10% change in the fair value of investments held in publicly traded entities would decrease management fees by 10% of the management fees based on the value of such investments on a prospective basis, subsequent to the change in value. |
(B) | Except for one private equity fund whose incentive income is not subject to clawback, where the effect would be similar to that on a hedge fund. |
A 10% increase or decrease in the fair value of investments held by our consolidated Fortress Funds as of December 31, 2006 would have increased or decreased our net operating results on an unconsolidated basis for the year ended December 31, 2006 by $142.7 million or ($140.2 million),
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Table of Contentsrespectively. These changes are comprised of an increase or decrease of net incentive income from hedge funds of $97.8 million or ($95.3 million), respectively, and of an increase or decrease of investment income from private equity funds of $17.6 million and from hedge funds of $27.3 million.
As discussed above, the determination of investment fair values involves management’s judgments and estimates. The degree of judgment involved is dependent upon the availability of quoted market prices or observable market parameters. The following table summarizes our investments, as presented in our combined financial statements, by valuation methodology as of December 31, 2006:
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 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair Value Based on |  |  | Private Equity Funds |  |  | Liquid Hedge Funds |  |  | Hybrid Hedge Funds |  |  | Total Investment company Holdings |
Quoted market prices |  |  |  |  | 77 | % |  |  |  |  | 85 | % |  |  |  |  | 26 | % |  |  |  |  | 60 | % |
Other observable market parameters (including valuations based on reports of independent valuation agents and internal models with significant observable market parameters) |  |  |  |  | 3 | % |  |  |  |  | 10 | % |  |  |  |  | 74 | % |  |  |  |  | 27 | % |
Internal models with significant unobservable market parameters |  |  |  |  | 20 | % |  |  |  |  | 5 | % |  |  |  |  | 0 | % |  |  |  |  | 13 | % |
Total |  |  |  |  | 100 | % |  |  |  |  | 100 | % |  |  |  |  | 100 | % |  |  |  |  | 100 | % |
 |
Income Taxes
Historically, Fortress operated as a limited liability company and was not subject to U.S. federal and had limited state income taxes. However, certain consolidated subsidiaries of Fortress are subject to UBT on their trade and business activities conducted in New York City. The UBT rates vary significantly between the rate applicable to income from business activities and the rate applicable to income from investment activities. Allocation of income between business activities and investing activities is subject to detailed and complex rules applied to facts and circumstances that generally are not readily determinable at the date financial statements are prepared. Accordingly, estimates are made of income allocations in computing our effective tax rate that might be different from actual allocations determined when tax returns are prepared by investee companies and subsidiaries.
As a result of the completion of the transactions resulting from the initial public offering, and the reorganization of our businesses, FIG Corp. will be subject to U.S. federal and state income tax on income allocated to it from Fortress Operating Group. FIG Corp.’s carrying value of the Fortress Operating Group will be higher for income tax purposes than for financial reporting purposes. The net deferred tax asset that will be recognized for this difference will be limited to the tax benefit expected to be realized in the foreseeable future. This benefit will be estimated based on a number of factors, with an important factor being the amount of unrealized gains in all of the net assets of the Fortress Operating Group existing for tax purposes at the date of the reorganization that are actually expected to be realized for tax purposes in the foreseeable future. If the unrealized gains at the date of our initial public offering that will be realized in th e future increase or decrease, deferred income tax expense or benefit will be recognized.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In December 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 123 (R), ‘‘Share-Based Payment,’’ which requires all equity-based payments to employees to be recognized using a fair value based method. Fortress’s policy is to expense all equity-based compensation awards granted or modified under the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS 123. However, as of December 31, 2006 Fortress had not issued any equity-based compensation awards. On January 1, 2006, Fortress adopted SFAS No. 123 (R) using the modified prospective method. Under this method prior period amounts are not restated. The adoption of SFAS 123 (R) did not have a material impact on our historical financial statements.
In June 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (‘‘FASB’’) issued Interpretation No. 48, ‘‘Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes, an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109’’
70
Table of Contents(‘‘FIN 48’’). FIN 48 requires companies to recognize the tax benefits of uncertain tax positions only where the position is ‘‘more likely than not’’ to be sustained assuming examination by tax authorities. The tax benefit recognized is the largest amount of benefit that is greater than 50 percent likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. FIN 48 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. The adoption of FIN 48 is not expected to have a material impact on Fortress’s financial condition, liquidity or results of operations.
In February 2006, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (‘‘SFAS’’) No. 155, ‘‘Accounting for Certain Hybrid Financial Instruments,’’ which amends SFAS 133, ‘‘Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities,’’ and SFAS 140, ‘‘Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities.’’ SFAS 155 provides, among other things, that (i) for embedded derivatives which would otherwise be required to be bifurcated from their host contracts and accounted for at fair value in accordance with SFAS 133 an entity may make an irrevocable election, on an instrument-by-instrument basis, to measure the hybrid financial instrument at fair value in its entirety, with changes in fair value recognized in earnings and (ii) concentrations of credit risk in the form of subordination are not considered embedded d erivatives. SFAS 155 is effective for all financial instruments acquired, issued or subject to remeasurement after the beginning of an entity’s first fiscal year that begins after September 15, 2006. Upon adoption, differences between the total carrying amount of the individual components of an existing bifurcated hybrid financial instrument and the fair value of the combined hybrid financial instrument should be recognized as a cumulative effect adjustment to beginning retained earnings. Prior periods are not restated. The adoption of SFAS 155 is not expected to have a material impact on Fortress’s financial statements.
In September 2006, the FASB cleared Statement of Position No. 07-1, ‘‘Clarification of the Scope of the Audit and Accounting Guide — Investment Companies and Accounting by Parent Companies and Equity Method Investors for Investments in Investment Companies’’ (‘‘SOP 07-1’’) for issuance. SOP 07-1 addresses whether the accounting principles of the Audit and Accounting Guide for Investment Companies may be applied to an entity by clarifying the definition of an investment company and whether those accounting principles may be retained by a parent company in consolidation or by an investor in the application of the equity method of accounting. SOP 07-1 will apply to reporting periods beginning on or after December 15, 2007. Fortress is currently evaluating the potential effect on its financial condition, liquidity and results of operations upon adoption of SOP 07-1.
In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, ‘‘Fair Value Measurements.’’ SFAS 157 defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants in the market in which the reporting entity transacts, establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. SFAS 157 applies to reporting periods beginning after November 15, 2007. The adoption of SFAS 157 is not expected to have a material impact on Fortress’s financial condition, liquidity or results of operations.
In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, ‘‘The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities.’’ SFAS 159 permits entities to choose to measure many financial instruments, and certain other items, at fair value. SFAS 159 also establishes presentation and disclosure requirements designed to facilitate comparisons between entities that choose different measurement attributes for similar types of assets and liabilities. SFAS 159 applies to reporting periods beginning after November 15, 2007. Fortress is currently evaluating the potential effect on its financial condition, liquidity and results of operations upon adoption of SFAS 159.
Market Risks
Our predominant exposure to market risk is related to our role as investment manager for the Fortress Funds and the sensitivities to movements in the fair value of their investments on management fee and incentive income revenue. Our investment in the funds will continue to impact our net income in a similar way after the deconsolidation of the Fortress Funds. For a discussion of
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Table of Contentsthe impact of market risk factors on our financial instruments refer to ‘‘Item 7A Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk’’ and ‘‘Application of Critical Accounting Policies — Valuation of Investments’’.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements.
Contractual Obligations
As of December 31, 2006, our material contractual obligations are our capital commitments to our funds, our lease obligations and our debt obligations as described above. In addition, on a historical basis, we had the contractual obligations of our consolidated Fortress Funds. Fixed and determinable payments due in connection with these obligations are as follows:

 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  | Payments due by period |
Contractual Obligations |  |  | Total |  |  | Jan. 1, 2007 to Dec. 31, 2007 |  |  | Jan. 1, 2008 to Dec. 31, 2009 |  |  | Jan. 1, 2010 to Dec. 31, 2011 |  |  | Thereafter |
Operating lease obligations |  |  |  | $ | 89,468 |  |  |  |  | $ | 12,893 |  |  |  |  | $ | 26,269 |  |  |  |  | $ | 21,411 |  |  |  |  | $ | 28,895 |  |
Fortress Operating Group debt obligations payable(1) |  |  |  |  | 836,050 |  |  |  |  |  | 300,648 |  |  |  |  |  | 95,935 |  |  |  |  |  | 439,467 |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |
Service contracts |  |  |  |  | 36,366 |  |  |  |  |  | 9,923 |  |  |  |  |  | 9,124 |  |  |  |  |  | 5,968 |  |  |  |  |  | 11,351 |  |
Investment company debt obligations payable(1)(2) |  |  |  |  | 3,887,149 |  |  |  |  |  | 490,174 |  |  |  |  |  | 505,716 |  |  |  |  |  | 244,059 |  |  |  |  |  | 2,647,200 |  |
Consolidated Contractual Obligations |  |  |  |  | 4,849,033 |  |  |  |  |  | 813,638 |  |  |  |  |  | 637,044 |  |  |  |  |  | 710,905 |  |  |  |  |  | 2,687,446 |  |
Add Fortress Operating Group capital commitments to Fortress Funds(3) |  |  |  |  | 137,399 |  |  |  |  |  | 137,399 |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |
Less investment company debt obligations payable(1) |  |  |  |  | (3,887,149 | ) |  |  |  |  | (490,174 | ) |  |  |  |  | (505,716 | ) |  |  |  |  | (244,059 | ) |  |  |  |  | (2,647,200 | ) |
Fortress Operating Group Contractual Obligations |  |  |  | $ | 1,099,283 |  |  |  |  | $ | 460,863 |  |  |  |  | $ | 131,328 |  |  |  |  | $ | 466,846 |  |  |  |  | $ | 40,246 |  |
 |
(1) | Includes interest to be paid over the maturity of the related debt obligation which has been calculated assuming no prepayments are made and debt is held until its final maturity date. The interest on Fortress Operating Group’s credit agreement is estimated based on rates in effect as a result of the occurrence of the initial public offering prior to December 31, 2007. The future interest payments are calculated using effective rates as of December 31, 2006, including both variable and fixed rates pursuant to the debt agreements. |
(2) | These obligations are those of the Fortress Funds, which were deconsolidated effective March 31, 2007. |
(3) | These obligations represent commitments by us to provide capital funding to the Fortress Funds, which are consolidated as of December 31, 2006. In connection with the initial public offering, the Fortress Funds were deconsolidated as of March 31, 2007, and these commitments to them remain. These amounts are due on demand and are therefore presented in the less than one year category. However, the capital commitments are expected to be called substantially over the next three years. |
72
Table of ContentsItem 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
Our predominant exposure to market risk is related to our role as investment manager for the Fortress Funds and the sensitivities to movements in the fair value of their investments on management fee and incentive income revenue.
The fair value of the financial assets and liabilities of the Fortress Funds may fluctuate in response to changes in the value of securities, foreign exchange, commodities and interest rates. The net effect of these fair value changes impacts the gains (losses) from investments in our combined income statements. However, the majority of these fair value changes are absorbed by the non-controlling interest holders. To the extent the Fortress Funds are deconsolidated, our investment in the funds will continue to impact our net income in a similar way.
Risks are analyzed across funds from the ‘‘bottom up’’ and from the ‘‘top down’’ with a particular focus on asymmetric risk. The company gathers and analyzes data, monitors investments and markets in detail, and constantly strives to better quantify, qualify and circumscribe relevant risks.
Although the Fortress Funds share many common themes, each segment within the investment companies runs their own investment and risk management process subject to the company’s overall risk tolerance and philosophy:
 |  |  |
| • | the investment process of our private equity funds involves a detailed analysis of potential acquisitions, and asset management teams assigned to oversee the strategic development, financing and capital deployment decisions of each portfolio investment; |
 |  |  |
| • | our hybrid hedge funds and Castles perform extensive credit and cash-flow analysis of borrowers, tenants and credit-based assets, and have extensive asset management teams that monitor covenant compliance by, and relevant financial data of, borrowers, tenants and other obligors, asset pool performance statistics, tracking of cash payments relating to investments, and ongoing analysis of the credit status of investments; and |
 |  |  |
| • | our liquid hedge funds continuously monitor a variety of markets for attractive trading opportunities, applying a number of traditional and customized risk management metrics to analyze risk related to specific assets or portfolios, as well as fund-wide risks. |
Each segment has an institutional risk management process and related infrastructure to address these risks.
The following table summarizes our financial assets and liabilities that may be impacted by various market risks such as equity prices, interest rates and exchange rates:

 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  | As of December 31, 2006 |
|  |  | Investment Manager |  |  | Fortress Funds |  |  | Consolidated |
Assets |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Investment company holdings, at fair value Loans and securities |  |  |  | $ | — |  |  |  |  | $ | 6,874,748 |  |  |  |  | $ | 6,874,748 |  |
Investments in affiliates |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | 14,985,578 |  |  |  |  |  | 14,985,578 |  |
Derivatives |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | 84,270 |  |  |  |  |  | 84,270 |  |
Other investments |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Loans and securities |  |  |  |  | 317 |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | 317 |  |
Options in affiliates |  |  |  |  | 139,266 |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | 139,266 |  |
|  |  |  | $ | 139,583 |  |  |  |  | $ | 21,944,596 |  |  |  |  | $ | 22,084,179 |  |
 |
72
Table of Contents
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  | As of December 31, 2006 |
|  |  | Investment Manager |  |  | Fortress Funds |  |  | Consolidated |
Liabilities |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Securities sold not yet purchased, at fair value |  |  |  | $ | — |  |  |  |  | $ | 97,717 |  |  |  |  | $ | 97,717 |  |
Derivative liabilities, at fair value |  |  |  |  | 1,619 |  |  |  |  |  | 122,288 |  |  |  |  |  | 123,907 |  |
Investment company debt obligations payable |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | 2,619,456 |  |  |  |  |  | 2,619,456 |  |
Other debt obligations payable |  |  |  |  | 687,153 |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | 687,153 |  |
|  |  |  | $ | 688,772 |  |  |  |  | $ | 2,839,461 |  |  |  |  | $ | 3,528,233 |  |
 |
Fortress Funds
The Fortress Operating Group is sensitive to changes in market risk factors that impact management fees and incentive income, which are reflected in our historical combined financial statements as an allocation of income from consolidated Fortress Funds.
Impact on Management Fees
Our management fees are based on either: (i) capital commitments to a Fortress Fund, (ii) capital invested in a Fortress Fund, or (iii) the net asset value, or NAV, of a Fortress Fund, as described in our historical combined financial statements. Management fees will only be impacted by changes in market risk factors to the extent they are based on NAV. These management fees will be increased (or reduced) in direct proportion to the impact of changes in market risk factors on our investments in the related funds. The proportion of our management fees that are based on NAV is dependent on the number and types of Fortress Funds in existence and the current stage of each fund’s life cycle. As of December 31, 2006, approximately 60.5% of our management fees earned were based on the NAV of the applicable funds.
Impact on Incentive Income
Our incentive income is generally based on a percentage of profits of the various Fortress Funds subject to the achievement of performance criteria. Our incentive income will be impacted by changes in market risk factors. However, several major factors will influence the degree of impact: (i) the performance criteria for each individual fund in relation to how that fund’s results of operations are impacted by changes in market risk factors, (ii) whether such performance criteria are annual or over the life of the fund, (iii) to the extent applicable, the previous performance of each fund in relation to its performance criteria, and (iv) whether each fund’s incentive income is subject to contingent repayment. As a result, the impact of changes in market risk factors on incentive income will vary widely from fund to fund, is heavily dependent on the prior performance of each fund, and is therefore not readily predicted or estimated.
Market Risk
The Fortress Funds hold investments that are reported at fair value as of the reporting date, which include investment company holdings, at fair value and securities sold not yet purchased. Based on the balance as of December 31, 2006, we estimate that the fair value of investment company holdings, at fair value and securities sold not yet purchased, would change by $2.2 billion and $9.8 million, respectively, in the event of a 10% change in fair value of the holdings and securities. However, we estimate the impact to gain (loss) on investments would be significantly less than the change in fair value since we generally have a 1% to 5% investment in these funds, and the non-controlling interests in income of consolidated subsidiaries would correspondingly offset 99% to 95% of the change in fair value, respectively. As discusssed above, this change would impact our management fees and incentive income.
Exchange Rate Risk
The Fortress Funds hold investments that are denominated in foreign currencies that may be affected by movements in the rate of exchange between the U.S. dollar and the foreign currency. The
73
Table of Contentsfollowing table presents our estimate of the change in fair value of these investments in the event of a 10% change in the rate of exchange against the U.S. dollar (dollars in millions):

 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Currency |  |  | Approximate Change |
AUD |  |  |  | $ | (1.1 | ) |
CAD |  |  |  |  | 155.2 |  |
EUR |  |  |  |  | 423.7 |  |
GBP |  |  |  |  | 74.9 |  |
|  |  |  | $ | 652.7 |  |
 |
Interest Rate Risk
The Fortress Funds have debt obligations payable that accrue interest at variable rates. Interest rate changes may therefore impact the amount of interest payments, future earnings and cash flows. Based on investment company debt obligations payable as of December 31, 2006, we estimate that interest expense relating to variable rate debt obligations payable would increase by $13.3 million on an annual basis in the event interest rates were to increase by one percentage point. However, we estimate the impact to net income would be significantly less than the increase in interest expense since we generally have a 1% to 5% investment in these funds, and the non-controlling interests in income of consolidated subsidiaries would correspondingly offset 99% to 95% of the increase in interest expense.
Fortress Operating Group
Financial assets and liabilities of Fortress Operating Group, on a stand-alone basis, that are impacted by changes in the value of securities, foreign exchange, and interest rates are investments in Fortress Funds, debt obligations payable, options in affiliates and foreign currency forward contracts entered into to economically hedge the risk of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates with respect to its foreign investments.
Interest Rate Risk
Fortress Operating Group has debt obligations payable that accrue interest at variable rates. Interest rate changes may therefore impact the amount of interest payments, future earnings and cash flows. Based on debt obligations payable as of December 31, 2006, we estimate that interest expense relating to variable rate debt obligations payable would increase $3.6 million on an annual basis in the event interest rates were to increase by one percentage point.
Equity Prices and Exchange Rate Risk
Gains (losses) on options granted to us by one of the Castles may be affected by movements in (i) the equity price of the underlying shares and/or (ii) the rate of exchange between the U.S. dollar and the Euro. Fortress Operating Group is not materially exposed to foreign exchange risk since foreign investments are economically hedged by foreign currency forward contracts. Based on the levels of gains (losses) on investments for the year ended December 2006, we estimate that gains and losses on investments would amount to $27.4 million and ($25.9 million), respectively, in the event of a 10% change in the equity price of the underlying shares.
74
Table of ContentsItem 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
Index to Financial Statements:
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 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fortress Operating Group |  |  |  |  | |  |
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm |  |  |  |  | 76 |  |
Combined Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2006 and 2005 |  |  |  |  | 77 |  |
Combined Income Statements for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004 |  |  |  |  | 78 |  |
Combined Statements of Changes in Members’ Equity for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004 |  |  |  |  | 79 |  |
Combined Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004 |  |  |  |  | 80 |  |
Notes to Combined Financial Statements |  |  |  |  | 82 |  |
Fortress Investment Group Holdings LLC |  |  |  |  | |  |
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm |  |  |  |  | 136 |  |
Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2006 |  |  |  |  | 137 |  |
 |
All supplemental schedules have been omitted because either the required information is included in our combined financial statements and notes thereto or it is not applicable.
75
Table of ContentsReport of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Members of
Fortress Investment Holdings LLC, Fortress Principal Investment Holdings II LLC, Fortress Principal Investment Holdings III LLC, Fortress Principal Investment Holdings IV LLC, Fortress Canada Management Trust, FIG Partners Pool (P) LLC, FIG Partners Pool (P2) LLC, and FIG Partners Pool (A) LLC
We have audited the accompanying combined balance sheets of the companies listed above, (hereinafter referred to as the ‘‘Companies’’), as of December 31, 2006 and 2005, and the related combined statements of income, members’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2006. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Companies’ management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. We were not engaged to perform an audit of the Companies’ internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Companies’ internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overal l financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the combined financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the combined financial position of the Companies at December 31, 2006 and 2005, and the combined results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2006, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
New York, New York
April 12, 2007
76
Table of ContentsFORTRESS OPERATING GROUP
(Limited Liability Companies)
COMBINED BALANCE SHEETS
(dollars in thousands)

 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  | December 31, |
|  |  | 2006 |  |  | 2005 |
Assets |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Cash and cash equivalents |  |  |  | $ | 61,120 |  |  |  |  | $ | 36,229 |  |
Cash held at consolidated subsidiaries and restricted cash |  |  |  |  | 564,085 |  |  |  |  |  | 252,134 |  |
Due from affiliates |  |  |  |  | 635,748 |  |  |  |  |  | 365,843 |  |
Receivables from brokers and counterparties |  |  |  |  | 109,463 |  |  |  |  |  | 35,367 |  |
Investment company holdings, at fair value |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Loans and securities |  |  |  |  | 6,874,748 |  |  |  |  |  | 3,597,958 |  |
Investments in affiliates |  |  |  |  | 14,985,578 |  |  |  |  |  | 6,972,857 |  |
Derivatives |  |  |  |  | 84,270 |  |  |  |  |  | 11,294 |  |
Other investments |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Loans and securities |  |  |  |  | 317 |  |  |  |  |  | 389,978 |  |
Equity method investees |  |  |  |  | 37,250 |  |  |  |  |  | 37,601 |  |
Options in affiliates |  |  |  |  | 139,266 |  |  |  |  |  | 23,910 |  |
Other assets |  |  |  |  | 190,728 |  |  |  |  |  | 140,767 |  |
|  |  |  | $ | 23,682,573 |  |  |  |  | $ | 11,863,938 |  |
Liabilities and Members’ Equity |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Liabilities |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Due to affiliates |  |  |  | $ | 15,112 |  |  |  |  | $ | 58,077 |  |
Due to brokers and counterparties |  |  |  |  | 187,495 |  |  |  |  |  | 124,597 |  |
Accrued compensation and benefits |  |  |  |  | 159,931 |  |  |  |  |  | 102,132 |  |
Other liabilities |  |  |  |  | 152,604 |  |  |  |  |  | 176,007 |  |
Deferred incentive income |  |  |  |  | 1,648,782 |  |  |  |  |  | 585,864 |  |
Securities sold not yet purchased, at fair value |  |  |  |  | 97,717 |  |  |  |  |  | 45,219 |  |
Derivative liabilities, at fair value |  |  |  |  | 123,907 |  |  |  |  |  | 933 |  |
Investment company debt obligations payable |  |  |  |  | 2,619,456 |  |  |  |  |  | 1,820,149 |  |
Other debt obligations payable |  |  |  |  | 687,153 |  |  |  |  |  | 430,284 |  |
|  |  |  |  | 5,692,157 |  |  |  |  |  | 3,343,262 |  |
Commitments and Contingencies |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Non-Controlling Interests in Consolidated Subsidiaries |  |  |  |  | 17,868,895 |  |  |  |  |  | 8,397,167 |  |
Members’ Equity |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Members’ equity |  |  |  |  | 119,561 |  |  |  |  |  | 123,704 |  |
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) |  |  |  |  | 1,960 |  |  |  |  |  | (195 | ) |
|  |  |  |  | 121,521 |  |  |  |  |  | 123,509 |  |
|  |  |  | $ | 23,682,573 |  |  |  |  | $ | 11,863,938 |  |
 |
See notes to combined financial statements
77
Table of ContentsFORTRESS OPERATING GROUP
(Limited Liability Companies)
COMBINED INCOME STATEMENTS
(dollars in thousands)

 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  | Year Ended December 31, |
|  |  | 2006 |  |  | 2005 |  |  | 2004 |
Revenues |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Management fees from affiliates |  |  |  | $ | 154,649 |  |  |  |  | $ | 81,356 |  |  |  |  | $ | 51,993 |  |
Incentive income from affiliates |  |  |  |  | 185,364 |  |  |  |  |  | 172,623 |  |  |  |  |  | 54,251 |  |
Other revenues |  |  |  |  | 70,802 |  |  |  |  |  | 30,334 |  |  |  |  |  | 22,427 |  |
Interest and dividend income – investment company holdings |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Interest income |  |  |  |  | 843,589 |  |  |  |  |  | 529,221 |  |  |  |  |  | 128,882 |  |
Interest income from controlled affiliate investments |  |  |  |  | 54,003 |  |  |  |  |  | 58,539 |  |  |  |  |  | 31,189 |  |
Dividend income |  |  |  |  | 9,184 |  |  |  |  |  | 7,691 |  |  |  |  |  | 125 |  |
Dividend income from controlled affiliate investments |  |  |  |  | 203,713 |  |  |  |  |  | 163,635 |  |  |  |  |  | 62,511 |  |
|  |  |  |  | 1,521,304 |  |  |  |  |  | 1,043,399 |  |  |  |  |  | 351,378 |  |
Expenses |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Interest expense |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Investment company holdings |  |  |  |  | 505,340 |  |  |  |  |  | 318,010 |  |  |  |  |  | 21,492 |  |
Other |  |  |  |  | 54,026 |  |  |  |  |  | 11,682 |  |  |  |  |  | 5,521 |  |
Compensation and benefits |  |  |  |  | 436,004 |  |  |  |  |  | 259,216 |  |  |  |  |  | 123,084 |  |
General, administrative and other |  |  |  |  | 115,095 |  |  |  |  |  | 94,054 |  |  |  |  |  | 47,313 |  |
Depreciation and amortization |  |  |  |  | 6,818 |  |  |  |  |  | 2,267 |  |  |  |  |  | 993 |  |
|  |  |  |  | 1,117,283 |  |  |  |  |  | 685,229 |  |  |  |  |  | 198,403 |  |
Other Income |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Gains (losses) from investments |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Investment company holdings |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Net realized gains (losses) |  |  |  |  | (47,494 | ) |  |  |  |  | 184,644 |  |  |  |  |  | 69,802 |  |
Net realized gains from controlled affiliate investments |  |  |  |  | 998,212 |  |  |  |  |  | 396,062 |  |  |  |  |  | 101,318 |  |
Net unrealized gains |  |  |  |  | 86,404 |  |  |  |  |  | 46,727 |  |  |  |  |  | 20,571 |  |
Net unrealized gains from controlled affiliate investments |  |  |  |  | 5,556,907 |  |  |  |  |  | 2,276,545 |  |  |  |  |  | 689,967 |  |
Other investments |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Net realized gains (losses) |  |  |  |  | (13,608 | ) |  |  |  |  | 3,750 |  |  |  |  |  | (880 | ) |
Net realized gains from affiliate investments |  |  |  |  | 977 |  |  |  |  |  | 120 |  |  |  |  |  | 4,749 |  |
Net unrealized gains (losses) |  |  |  |  | 4,044 |  |  |  |  |  | 232 |  |  |  |  |  | (2,105 | ) |
Net unrealized gains from affiliate investments |  |  |  |  | 182,228 |  |  |  |  |  | 33,079 |  |  |  |  |  | 18,748 |  |
Earnings from equity method investees |  |  |  |  | 5,039 |  |  |  |  |  | 10,465 |  |  |  |  |  | 14,616 |  |
|  |  |  |  | 6,772,709 |  |  |  |  |  | 2,951,624 |  |  |  |  |  | 916,786 |  |
Income Before Deferred Incentive Income, Non-Controlling Interests in Income of Consolidated Subsidiaries and Income Taxes |  |  |  |  | 7,176,730 |  |  |  |  |  | 3,309,794 |  |  |  |  |  | 1,069,761 |  |
Deferred incentive income |  |  |  |  | (1,066,137 | ) |  |  |  |  | (444,567 | ) |  |  |  |  | (104,558 | ) |
Non-controlling interests in income of consolidated subsidiaries |  |  |  |  | (5,655,184 | ) |  |  |  |  | (2,662,926 | ) |  |  |  |  | (847,365 | ) |
Income Before Income Taxes |  |  |  |  | 455,409 |  |  |  |  |  | 202,301 |  |  |  |  |  | 117,838 |  |
Income tax expense |  |  |  |  | (12,525 | ) |  |  |  |  | (9,625 | ) |  |  |  |  | (3,388 | ) |
Net Income |  |  |  | $ | 442,884 |  |  |  |  | $ | 192,676 |  |  |  |  | $ | 114,450 |  |
Unaudited Pro Forma Financial Information – Note 2 |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Earnings per Fortress Operating Group unit, pro forma, basic and diluted |  |  |  | $ | 1.21 |  |  |  |  | $ | 0.52 |  |  |  |  | $ | 0.31 |  |
Weighted average number of Fortress Operating Group units outstanding, pro forma, basic and diluted |  |  |  |  | 367,143,000 |  |  |  |  |  | 367,143,000 |  |  |  |  |  | 367,143,000 |  |
 |
See notes to combined financial statements
78
Table of ContentsFORTRESS OPERATING GROUP
(Limited Liability Companies)
COMBINED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN MEMBERS’ EQUITY
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2006, 2005 AND 2004
(dollars in thousands)

 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  | Members’ Equity |  |  | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) |  |  | Total Members’ Equity |
Members’ equity – December 31, 2003 |  |  |  | $ | 34,087 |  |  |  |  | $ | 3,283 |  |  |  |  | $ | 37,370 |  |
Capital distributions |  |  |  |  | (67,688 | ) |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | (67,688 | ) |
Comprehensive income |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Net income |  |  |  |  | 114,450 |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | 114,450 |  |
Foreign currency translation |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | 1,449 |  |  |  |  |  | 1,449 |  |
Net unrealized gain on derivatives designated as cash flow hedges |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | 34 |  |  |  |  |  | 34 |  |
Comprehensive income (loss) from equity method investees |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | (738 | ) |  |  |  |  | (738 | ) |
Total comprehensive income |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | 115,195 |  |
Members’ equity – December 31, 2004 |  |  |  |  | 80,849 |  |  |  |  |  | 4,028 |  |  |  |  |  | 84,877 |  |
Capital contributions |  |  |  |  | 8,000 |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | 8,000 |  |
Capital distributions |  |  |  |  | (157,821 | ) |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | (157,821 | ) |
Comprehensive income |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Net income |  |  |  |  | 192,676 |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | 192,676 |  |
Net unrealized gain on securities available for sale |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | 92 |  |  |  |  |  | 92 |  |
Foreign currency translation |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | (1,700 | ) |  |  |  |  | (1,700 | ) |
Net unrealized gain on derivatives designated as cash flow hedges |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | 72 |  |  |  |  |  | 72 |  |
Comprehensive income (loss) from equity method investees |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | (2,687 | ) |  |  |  |  | (2,687 | ) |
Total comprehensive income |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | 188,453 |  |
Members’ equity – December 31, 2005 |  |  |  |  | 123,704 |  |  |  |  |  | (195 | ) |  |  |  |  | 123,509 |  |
Capital distributions |  |  |  |  | (447,027 | ) |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | (447,027 | ) |
Comprehensive income |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Net income |  |  |  |  | 442,884 |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | 442,884 |  |
Net unrealized (loss) on securities available for sale |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | (92 | ) |  |  |  |  | (92 | ) |
Foreign currency translation |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | 686 |  |  |  |  |  | 686 |  |
Net unrealized gain on derivatives designated as cash flow hedges |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | 2 |  |  |  |  |  | 2 |  |
Comprehensive income from equity method investees |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | 1,559 |  |  |  |  |  | 1,559 |  |
Total comprehensive income |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | 445,039 |  |
Members’ equity – December 31, 2006 |  |  |  | $ | 119,561 |  |  |  |  | $ | 1,960 |  |  |  |  | $ | 121,521 |  |
 |
See notes to combined financial statements
79
Table of ContentsFORTRESS OPERATING GROUP
(Limited Liability Companies)
COMBINED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE YEARS ENDED
DECEMBER 31, 2006, 2005 AND 2004
(dollar in thousands)

 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  | Year Ended December 31, |
|  |  | 2006 |  |  | 2005 |  |  | 2004 |
Cash Flows From Operating Activities |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Net income |  |  |  | $ | 442,884 |  |  |  |  | $ | 192,676 |  |  |  |  | $ | 114,450 |  |
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used in operating activities |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Depreciation and amortization |  |  |  |  | 6,818 |  |  |  |  |  | 2,267 |  |  |  |  |  | 993 |  |
Other amortization and accretion |  |  |  |  | 6,782 |  |  |  |  |  | (3,670 | ) |  |  |  |  | (3,384 | ) |
Earnings from equity method investees |  |  |  |  | (5,039 | ) |  |  |  |  | (10,465 | ) |  |  |  |  | (14,616 | ) |
Distributions of earnings from equity method investees |  |  |  |  | 10,076 |  |  |  |  |  | 8,307 |  |  |  |  |  | 5,765 |  |
Gains from investments |  |  |  |  | (6,767,671 | ) |  |  |  |  | (2,941,159 | ) |  |  |  |  | (902,170 | ) |
Deferred incentive income |  |  |  |  | 1,066,137 |  |  |  |  |  | 444,567 |  |  |  |  |  | 104,558 |  |
Non-controlling interests in income of consolidated subsidiaries |  |  |  |  | 5,655,184 |  |  |  |  |  | 2,662,926 |  |  |  |  |  | 847,365 |  |
Deferred tax expense |  |  |  |  | 389 |  |  |  |  |  | 5,099 |  |  |  |  |  | 2,892 |  |
Options received from affiliates |  |  |  |  | (31,588 | ) |  |  |  |  | (2,314 | ) |  |  |  |  | (2,286 | ) |
Assignments of options to employees |  |  |  |  | 15,947 |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | 5,901 |  |
Other non-cash amounts included in net income |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | (845 | ) |  |  |  |  | — |  |
Cash flows due to changes in |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Cash held at consolidated subsidiaries and restricted cash |  |  |  |  | (311,471 | ) |  |  |  |  | (81,460 | ) |  |  |  |  | (132,611 | ) |
Due from affiliates |  |  |  |  | (168,216 | ) |  |  |  |  | (210,711 | ) |  |  |  |  | (75,188 | ) |
Receivables from brokers and counterparties and other assets |  |  |  |  | (110,107 | ) |  |  |  |  | (40,671 | ) |  |  |  |  | (31,950 | ) |
Due to affiliates |  |  |  |  | (42,978 | ) |  |  |  |  | 4,752 |  |  |  |  |  | 6,399 |  |
Accrued compensation and benefits |  |  |  |  | 181,812 |  |  |  |  |  | 108,499 |  |  |  |  |  | 47,324 |  |
Due to brokers and counterparties and other liabilities |  |  |  |  | 41,338 |  |  |  |  |  | 149,145 |  |  |  |  |  | 33,064 |  |
Investment company holdings |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Purchases of investments |  |  |  |  | (14,779,729 | ) |  |  |  |  | (7,583,665 | ) |  |  |  |  | (5,345,472 | ) |
Proceeds from sale of investments |  |  |  |  | 10,205,552 |  |  |  |  |  | 5,217,675 |  |  |  |  |  | 2,982,236 |  |
Net cash used in operating activities |  |  |  |  | (4,583,880 | ) |  |  |  |  | (2,079,047 | ) |  |  |  |  | (2,356,730 | ) |
Cash Flows From Investing Activities |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Purchase of other loan and security investments |  |  |  |  | (353,289 | ) |  |  |  |  | (495,380 | ) |  |  |  |  | — |  |
Proceeds from sale of other loan and security investments |  |  |  |  | 733,825 |  |  |  |  |  | 126,197 |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |
Purchase of interests in equity method investees |  |  |  |  | (1,732 | ) |  |  |  |  | (17,985 | ) |  |  |  |  | (8,846 | ) |
Cash received (paid) on settlement of derivatives |  |  |  |  | (1,882 | ) |  |  |  |  | 2,328 |  |  |  |  |  | (1,561 | ) |
Purchase of fixed assets |  |  |  |  | (14,998 | ) |  |  |  |  | (28,531 | ) |  |  |  |  | (2,031 | ) |
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities |  |  |  |  | 361,924 |  |  |  |  |  | (413,371 | ) |  |  |  |  | (12,438 | ) |
 |
80
Table of ContentsFORTRESS OPERATING GROUP
(Limited Liability Companies)
COMBINED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE YEARS ENDED
DECEMBER 31, 2006, 2005 AND 2004
(dollar in thousands)

 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  | Year Ended December 31, |
|  |  | 2006 |  |  | 2005 |  |  | 2004 |
Cash Flows From Financing Activities |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Borrowings under debt obligations |  |  |  |  | 5,862,011 |  |  |  |  |  | 2,749,589 |  |  |  |  |  | 1,180,336 |  |
Repayments of debt obligations |  |  |  |  | (4,817,151 | ) |  |  |  |  | (1,434,393 | ) |  |  |  |  | (475,092 | ) |
Payment of deferred financing costs |  |  |  |  | (27,875 | ) |  |  |  |  | (34,446 | ) |  |  |  |  | (12,026 | ) |
Capital contributions |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | 8,000 |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |
Capital distributions |  |  |  |  | (447,027 | ) |  |  |  |  | (146,878 | ) |  |  |  |  | (30,559 | ) |
Non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries – contributions |  |  |  |  | 6,209,635 |  |  |  |  |  | 2,865,922 |  |  |  |  |  | 2,479,052 |  |
Non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries – distributions |  |  |  |  | (2,532,746 | ) |  |  |  |  | (1,489,352 | ) |  |  |  |  | (767,088 | ) |
Net cash provided by financing activities |  |  |  |  | 4,246,847 |  |  |  |  |  | 2,518,442 |  |  |  |  |  | 2,374,623 |  |
Net Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents |  |  |  |  | 24,891 |  |  |  |  |  | 26,024 |  |  |  |  |  | 5,455 |  |
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Beginning of Period |  |  |  |  | 36,229 |  |  |  |  |  | 10,205 |  |  |  |  |  | 4,750 |  |
Cash and Cash Equivalents, End of Period |  |  |  | $ | 61,120 |  |  |  |  | $ | 36,229 |  |  |  |  | $ | 10,205 |  |
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Cash paid during the period for interest (excluding interest paid by master funds of $342.1 million, $181.6 million and $6.8 million, respectively) |  |  |  | $ | 175,945 |  |  |  |  | $ | 60,940 |  |  |  |  | $ | 11,037 |  |
Cash paid during the period for income taxes |  |  |  | $ | 11,163 |  |  |  |  | $ | 7,183 |  |  |  |  | $ | 124 |  |
Supplemental Schedule of Non-cash Investing and Financing Activities |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Distribution of shares and options |  |  |  | $ | — |  |  |  |  | $ | 10,943 |  |  |  |  | $ | 37,129 |  |
Investment of amounts payable to employees into Fortress Funds |  |  |  | $ | 138,055 |  |  |  |  | $ | 48,549 |  |  |  |  | $ | 28,209 |  |
 |
See notes to combined financial statements
81
Table of ContentsFORTRESS OPERATING GROUP
(Limited Liability Companies)
NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2006
(dollar amounts in tables shown in thousands)
 |  |
1. | ORGANIZATION AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION |
Fortress Operating Group is a global alternative asset management firm founded in 1998. Its primary business is to sponsor the formation of, and provide investment management services for, various investment funds and companies (the ‘‘Fortress Funds’’). Fortress generally makes principal investments in these funds, which typically range from less than 1% to approximately 5% of the equity of the entities.
Fortress has three principal sources of income from the Fortress Funds: management fees, related incentive returns or income, and investment income on its principal investments in the funds. The Fortress Funds fall into four primary business segments in which Fortress operates:
 |  |  |
| 1) | Private equity funds, which invest in debt and equity securities of public or privately held entities. |
 |  |  |
| 2) | Liquid hedge funds, which invest in the global fixed income, commodities, currency and equity markets, and their related derivatives. |
 |  |  |
| 3) | Hybrid hedge funds, which invest in undervalued, distressed and other less liquid investments. |
 |  |  |
| 4) | Publicly traded alternative investment vehicles that Fortress refers to as the ‘‘Castles,’’ which are companies that invest in operating real estate and real estate related loans and securities (debt and equity). |
The accompanying combined financial statements include the accounts of eight affiliated entities under common control and management (‘‘Fortress Operating Group’’) and their respective consolidated subsidiaries (collectively, ‘‘Fortress’’ or the ‘‘Company’’). Each of the eight entities is owned either directly or indirectly by its members, Peter Briger, Wesley Edens, Robert Kauffman, Randal Nardone, and Michael Novogratz (the ‘‘Principals’’). The liability of each Principal under the operating agreements of the eight entities is limited to the amount of capital contributions required to be made by such Principal in accordance with the provisions of the respective operating agreements. The operating agreements provide that each of these entities will continue indefinitely unless terminated by the Principals or through an event of dissolution, as defined.
Certain of the Fortress Funds are consolidated into Fortress, notwithstanding the fact that Fortress has only a minority economic interest in these funds, pursuant to generally accepted accounting principles as described in Note 2. Consequently, Fortress’s financial statements reflect the assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses and cash flows of the consolidated Fortress Funds on a gross basis. The majority ownership interests in these funds, which are not owned by Fortress, are reflected as non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries in the accompanying financial statements. The management fees and incentive income earned by Fortress from the consolidated Fortress Funds are eliminated in consolidation; however, Fortress’s allocated share of the net income from these funds is increased by the amount of these eliminated fees. Accordingly, the consolidation of these Fortress Funds has no material net effect on Fortress’s earnings from the Fortress Funds. For a reconciliation between the financial statements and the segment-based financial data that management uses for making operating decisions and assessing performance, see Note 10.
On December 18, 2006, the Principals entered into a securities purchase agreement with Nomura Investment Managers U.S.A., Inc., a Delaware corporation, or Nomura, pursuant to which Nomura acquired a 15% indirect stake in Fortress Operating Group for approximately
82
Table of ContentsFORTRESS OPERATING GROUP
(Limited Liability Companies)
NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2006
(dollar amounts in tables shown in thousands)
$888 million, all of the proceeds of which went to the Principals. The Nomura transaction closed on January 17, 2007. This transaction had and will have no effect on Fortress’s financial condition, liquidity, or results of operations.
In the first quarter of 2007, Fortress completed a reorganization, an initial public offering of equity for net proceeds of approximately $652.6 million, and a number of related transactions, including effecting the deconsolidation of the consolidated Fortress Funds. Each of these transactions is described in Note 11.
 |  |
2. | SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES |
General
Basis of Accounting — The accompanying combined financial statements are prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (‘‘GAAP’’). The combined entities are under the common ownership and control of the Principals. The accompanying financial statements include the accounts of Fortress and its consolidated subsidiaries, which are comprised of (i) those entities in which it has an investment of 50% or more and has control over significant operating, financial and investing decisions of the entity, and (ii) the consolidated Fortress Funds, which are those entities in which it has a substantive, controlling general partner or managing member interest or in which it is the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity (‘‘VIE’’) as described below. With respect to the consolidated Fortress Funds, Fortress generally has operational discretion and control, and the limited partners/members have no substantive rights to impact ongoing governance and operating activities. All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated.
VIEs are defined as entities in which equity investors do not have the characteristics of a controlling financial interest or do not have sufficient equity at risk for the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support from other parties. A VIE must be consolidated only by its primary beneficiary, which is defined as the party who, along with its affiliates and agents, will absorb a majority of the VIE’s expected losses or receive a majority of the expected residual returns as a result of holding variable interests. Fortress’s investment company subsidiaries are not subject to these consolidation provisions with respect to the Portfolio Companies (as defined below) pursuant to their specialized accounting.
Non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries represent the ownership interests in certain consolidated subsidiaries, including the consolidated Fortress Funds, held by entities or persons other than Fortress. Non-controlling interest holders in consolidated Fortress Funds (the ‘‘Investors’’) own a substantial portion (approximately 99% and 98% as of December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively) of Fortress’s consolidated net assets. Non-controlling interests related to hedge funds are redeemable: (i) quarterly at the request of the Investor, subject to a one-year lockup, in the case of liquid hedge funds ($447.1 million and $280.4 million as of December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively), or (ii) annually at the request of the Investor, as liquid assets become available, in the case of hybrid hedge funds ($4,934.2 million and $2,631.7 million, respectively). Non-controlling interests relat ed to limited-lived private equity funds ($12,306.8 million and $5,167.7 million, respectively) will be settled at the end of each respective fund’s life, which could occur under certain circumstances in advance of that fund’s scheduled termination date. When redeemed amounts become legally payable to Investors on a current basis, they are reclassified to a liability account. Non-controlling interests also include employee interests in majority owned and controlled fund advisor and general partner entities.
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Table of ContentsFORTRESS OPERATING GROUP
(Limited Liability Companies)
NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2006
(dollar amounts in tables shown in thousands)
All but one of the consolidated Fortress Funds are, for GAAP purposes, investment companies under the AICPA Audit and Accounting Guide — Investment Companies. Fortress has retained the specialized accounting of these funds pursuant to Emerging Issues Task Force (‘‘EITF’’) No. 85-12 ‘‘Retention of Specialized Accounting for Investments in Consolidation.’’ Accordingly, the accompanying financial statements reflect different accounting policies for similar investments depending on whether or not they are held through an investment company subsidiary. The consolidated Fortress Funds that are investment companies reflect their investments on the balance sheet at their estimated fair value, with unrealized gains (losses) resulting from changes in fair value reflected as a component of current income. Additionally, these funds do not consolidate their majority-owned and controlled investments (the ‘‘Port folio Companies’’), except to the extent that the Portfolio Companies act as operating subsidiaries by providing services to these funds. Four of the consolidated Fortress Funds (the ‘‘Feeder Funds’’) invest primarily through unconsolidated subsidiaries (the ‘‘Master Funds’’). Pursuant to their specialized accounting, which has been retained by Fortress, these consolidated Feeder Funds reflect their pro-rata share of the individual income statement line items of their related Master Funds similar to a proportionate consolidation. However, for balance sheet purposes, Fortress generally records its investments in the Master Funds on one line at estimated fair value.
Distributions by Fortress and its subsidiaries are recognized when declared.
For entities over which Fortress may exercise significant influence but which do not meet the requirements for consolidation, Fortress uses the equity method of accounting whereby it records its share of the underlying income of these entities.
The unaudited pro forma share data presented on the income statement is based on the number of Fortress Operating Group units issued to the Principals upon the reorganization of Fortress in January 2007 in connection with the Nomura transaction and initial public offering (Note 11), as if the units has been outstanding from January 1, 2004.
Use of Estimates — The preparation of financial statements 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 and expenses during the period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Reclassification — In connection with the re-evaluation of certain transactions previously reported on a net basis, Fortress has concluded that a gross presentation is more appropriate which resulted in a $38.5 million increase of both interest income and interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2005. This reclassification had no net effect on Fortress’s financial position, results of operations or liquidity, nor did it impact distributable earnings or segment (unconsolidated) revenues or expenses, and it also did not impact Fortress’s trends due to the substantial increases in both interest income and interest expense during 2005; accordingly, Fortress has concluded that this reclassification is not material to its financial statements taken as a whole.
Revenue Recognition
Management Fees — Management fees are recognized in the periods during which the related services are performed and the amounts have been contractually earned.
Incentive Income — Incentive income is calculated as a percentage of the profits earned by the Fortress Funds subject, in certain cases, to the achievement of performance criteria. Incentive
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Table of ContentsFORTRESS OPERATING GROUP
(Limited Liability Companies)
NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2006
(dollar amounts in tables shown in thousands)
income from certain funds is subject to contingent repayment based on the applicable Fortress Fund achieving earnings in excess of a specified minimum. Incentive income that is not subject to contingent repayment is recognized as contractually earned. Incentive income subject to contingent repayment may be paid to Fortress as particular investments made by the funds are realized. However, if upon liquidation of each fund the aggregate amount paid to Fortress as incentive income exceeds the amount actually due to Fortress based upon the aggregate performance of each fund, the excess is required to be repaid by Fortress (i.e. ‘‘clawed back’’) to that fund. Fortress has elected to adopt the preferred method of recording incentive income subject to contingencies, Method 1 of EITF Topic D-96 ‘‘Accounting for Management Fees Based on a Formula.’’ Under Method 1, Fortress does not recognize incentive income subject to contingent repayment until all of the related cont ingencies have been resolved. Recognition of incentive income allocated or paid to Fortress prior to that date is deferred and recorded as deferred incentive income liability.
Incentive income from consolidated Fortress Funds entitles Fortress to a greater allocable share of these funds’ earnings, and correspondingly reduces the non-controlling interests’ allocable share thereof. However, to the extent that incentive income is subject to contingent repayment, Fortress defers the recognition of this income by eliminating it from the income statement through the caption deferred incentive income and recording a corresponding liability on the balance sheet called deferred incentive income. When the related contingencies are resolved, the deferred incentive income liability is reversed and reflected in earnings under the caption deferred incentive income. Deferred incentive income related to a particular private equity fund, each of which has a limited life, would be recognized upon the termination of the fund, or when and to the extent distributions from the fund exceed the point at which a clawback of a portion or all of the historic incentive income distributions could no longer occur.
In connection with incentive income from unconsolidated Fortress Funds, Fortress only records its allocable share of the funds’ earnings to the extent that this income is not subject to contingent repayment. Incentive income that is paid to Fortress from these funds and that is subject to contingent repayment is recorded as deferred incentive income liability until the related contingencies are resolved. No incentive income subject to contingent repayment has been received to date from unconsolidated Fortress Funds.
The deferred incentive income liability on the accompanying balance sheet represents the cumulative deferral of allocated incentive income, distributed and undistributed, from the consolidated Fortress Funds, as well as the cumulative distributions of incentive income from the unconsolidated Fortress Funds that are, in each case, subject to contingent repayment.
Incentive income from certain Fortress Funds is earned based on achieving annual performance criteria. Accordingly, this incentive income is recorded as revenue at year end (in the fourth quarter of each year). Incentive income recognized as revenue during the fourth quarter from these funds was $16.1 million, $115.8 million and $ 27.4 million during the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively. During the year ended December 31, 2006, the organizational documents of certain liquid hedge funds were amended such that incentive income from all liquid hedge funds is now earned based on achieving quarterly, rather than annual, performance criteria.
Stock Options Received — Fully vested stock options are issued to Fortress by certain of the Castles as compensation for services performed in raising capital for these entities. These options
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Table of ContentsFORTRESS OPERATING GROUP
(Limited Liability Companies)
NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2006
(dollar amounts in tables shown in thousands)
are recognized by Fortress as management fees at their estimated fair value at the time of issuance. Fair value was estimated using a binomial option pricing model for North American companies and a Monte Carlo option pricing model for European companies. Since the Castles’ option plans have characteristics significantly different from those of traded options, and since the assumptions used in such models, particularly the volatility assumption, are subject to significant judgment and variability, the actual value of the options could vary materially from this estimate.
After receipt, stock options that meet the characteristics of derivatives are measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in current income as unrealized gains or losses. Stock options that do not meet the characteristics of derivatives because, among other things, they cannot be effectively settled for cash are held at cost (which is equal to the initial estimated value), subject to impairment review. No impairment has been recorded in respect of these options through December 31, 2006.
Security Transactions, Interest and Dividend Income and Other Income — Fortress recognizes security transactions on the trade date. Discounts and premiums on loans and securities purchased, as well as origination fees received, are amortized over the life of the respective securities using the effective interest method. Realized gains and losses are recorded based on the specific identification method. Dividend income is recognized by consolidated Fortress Funds that are investment companies on the ex-dividend date, or in the absence of a formal declaration, on the date it is received. Interest income is recognized as earned on an accrual basis. Fixed rate preferred dividends are recognized as earned.
Fortress does not accrue interest on loans that are past due more than 90 days, or less when the probability of collection of interest is deemed insufficient to warrant further accrual. Upon such a determination, those loans are considered to be nonperforming.
‘‘Day one’’ gains (or losses) on financial instruments represent the unrealized gain (or loss) resulting from the difference between the transaction price of a financial instrument and the fair value of the instrument at initial recognition. ‘‘Day one’’ gains (or losses) are recognized only when the fair value of the instrument is obtained from a quoted market price in an active market or is otherwise evidenced by comparison to other observable current market transactions or based on a valuation technique incorporating observable market data. To date, Fortress has not recognized any ‘‘day one’’ gains or losses.
Balance Sheet Measurement
Cash and Cash Equivalents — Fortress considers all highly liquid short term investments with maturities of 90 days or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. Substantially all amounts on deposit with major financial institutions exceed insured limits.
Cash Held at Consolidated Subsidiaries and Restricted Cash — Restricted cash of $0.9 million and $20.1 million as of December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively, represented funds held in securitization trustee accounts at consolidated Fortress Funds. Cash held at consolidated subsidiaries of $563.2 million and $232.0 million as of December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively, although not legally restricted, is not available to fund general liquidity needs of Fortress.
Due from/to Affiliates — For purposes of classifying amounts, Fortress considers its principals, employees, all of the Fortress Funds, and the Portfolio Companies to be affiliates. Amounts due from and due to affiliates are recorded at their current settlement amount.
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Table of ContentsFORTRESS OPERATING GROUP
(Limited Liability Companies)
NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2006
(dollar amounts in tables shown in thousands)
Investment Company Holdings, at Fair Value — Included in this caption are loans, securities and derivatives held by the consolidated Fortress Funds that are investment companies, which are stated at estimated fair value. Fair value generally represents the amount at which an investment could be exchanged in a current transaction between willing parties, other than in a forced or liquidation sale. Unrealized gains or losses on these investments are recorded through current income each period.
Investments in securities traded on a national securities exchange are stated at the last reported sales price on the day of valuation; other securities traded in the over-the-counter market and listed securities for which no sale was reported on that date are stated at the last quoted bid price, except for short positions and call options written, if any, for which the last quoted asked price is used. Short-term notes, due to their limited duration, are stated at amortized cost, which approximates fair value.
Investments that are not listed on an exchange may be valued using the ‘‘bid’’ quotations for long positions and ‘‘asked’’ quotations for short positions obtained from unaffiliated market makers, brokers, or other financial institutions that trade similar investments. For investments where broker quotes are not available, independent valuation agents, including Fortress’s counterparties in the case of derivatives owned, may be used to help determine estimated fair value. Independent valuation agents determine values by using their own proprietary valuation models. For all other investments, the fair value of the investments is estimated based on proprietary models developed by Fortress, which include discounted cash flow analyses and other techniques and may be based, at least in part, on independently sourced market parameters. However, these values may be adjusted if a more accurate value can be obtained fr om recent trading activity or by incorporating other relevant information that may not have been reflected in pricing obtained from external sources or models.
Investments in entities whose functional currency is other than the U.S. dollar are valued based on the spot rate of their respective currency at the end of the respective reporting period. Purchases and sales of investments and other transactions denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollar amounts on the respective dates of the transactions.
Other Investments — Loans and Securities — Included in this caption are investments held by the one consolidated Fortress Fund which is not an investment company, known as Northcastle. The loans are presented net of any unamortized discount or fees (or gross of any premium) and net of any allowance for loan losses. An allowance for loss is established to bring the carrying amount of a loan to its estimated realizable amount when the loan is considered impaired. Loans are considered impaired when it is probable that Fortress will be unable to collect all principal or interest when due.
The securities are marketable equity securities classified as available for sale. As such, they are carried at fair value with the net unrealized gains or losses reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income. Unrealized losses on securities are charged to income if they reflect a decline in value that is other than temporary. A decline in value is considered other than temporary if either (a) it is deemed probable that Fortress will be unable to collect all amounts anticipated to be collected at acquisition, or (b) Fortress does not have the ability and intent to hold the investment until a forecasted market price recovery.
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Table of ContentsFORTRESS OPERATING GROUP
(Limited Liability Companies)
NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2006
(dollar amounts in tables shown in thousands)
Other Assets and Other Liabilities:
Other assets and liabilities are comprised of the following:
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 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  | Other Assets |
|  |  | December 31, |
|  |  | 2006 |  |  | 2005 |
Deferred tax asset |  |  |  | $ | 2,808 |  |  |  |  | $ | 3,096 |  |
Fixed assets |  |  |  |  | 50,095 |  |  |  |  |  | 35,097 |  |
Accumulated depreciation |  |  |  |  | (10,616 | ) |  |  |  |  | (3,812 | ) |
Deferred charges |  |  |  |  | 63,218 |  |  |  |  |  | 47,241 |  |
Accumulated amortization |  |  |  |  | (21,009 | ) |  |  |  |  | (10,019 | ) |
Interest and other receivables |  |  |  |  | 55,956 |  |  |  |  |  | 58,906 |  |
Other assets |  |  |  |  | 50,276 |  |  |  |  |  | 10,258 |  |
|  |  |  | $ | 190,728 |  |  |  |  | $ | 140,767 |  |
 |

 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  | Other Liabilities |
|  |  | December 31, |
|  |  | 2006 |  |  | 2005 |
Current taxes payable |  |  |  | $ | 12,335 |  |  |  |  | $ | 5,726 |  |
Deferred taxes payable |  |  |  |  | 12,989 |  |  |  |  |  | 13,380 |  |
Note payable |  |  |  |  | 3,219 |  |  |  |  |  | 3,219 |  |
Interest payable |  |  |  |  | 9,755 |  |  |  |  |  | 18,623 |  |
Redemptions payable |  |  |  |  | 57,275 |  |  |  |  |  | 92,027 |  |
Accounts payable |  |  |  |  | 10,424 |  |  |  |  |  | 5,956 |  |
Accrued expenses |  |  |  |  | 36,914 |  |  |  |  |  | 22,065 |  |
Other liabilities |  |  |  |  | 9,693 |  |  |  |  |  | 15,011 |  |
|  |  |  | $ | 152,604 |  |  |  |  | $ | 176,007 |  |
 |
Fixed Assets, Depreciation and Amortization — Fixed assets consist primarily of leasehold improvements, furniture, fixtures and equipment, computer hardware and software, and fractional shares in corporate aircraft, and are recorded at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation and amortization are calculated using the straight-line method over the assets’ estimated useful lives, which are the life of the related lease for leasehold improvements, twenty years for an interest in an aircraft, and three to seven years for other fixed assets.
Deferred Charges — Deferred charges consist of costs incurred in obtaining financing which are amortized over the term of the financing using the effective interest method.
Deferred Tax Asset and Taxes Payable — See Note 7.
Securities Sold Not Yet Purchased, At Fair Value — These are securities that the consolidated Fortress Funds that are investment companies have sold but did not own prior to the sale. In order to facilitate the short sale, the fund had to borrow the securities from another party and deliver them to the buyer. The fund will be required to ‘‘cover’’ its short sale in the future through the purchase of the security in the market at the prevailing market price and deliver it to the counterparty from which it borrowed. The fund is exposed to a loss to the extent that the security price increases during the time from when the fund borrowed the security to when it purchases it in the market to cover the short. Changes in the value of these securities are reflected as unrealized gains (losses) in the accompanying incom e statements.
Debt Obligations and related Interest Expense — Debt is presented net of any unamortized discounts or gross of any unamortized premiums. Discounts and premiums are amortized into interest expense on the effective interest (or level yield) method through the expected maturity date of the related financing.
Derivatives and Hedging Activities — All derivatives are recognized as either assets or liabilities in the balance sheet and measured at fair value.
88
Table of ContentsFORTRESS OPERATING GROUP
(Limited Liability Companies)
NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2006
(dollar amounts in tables shown in thousands)
Any unrealized gains or losses on derivatives not designated as hedges are recorded currently in income, either in Investment Company Holdings — Net Unrealized Gains from Non-affiliate Investments, or in Other Investments — Net Unrealized Gains from Non-affiliate Investments, as applicable. Net payments under these derivatives are similarly recorded, but as realized.
Cash Flow Hedges
In order to reduce interest rate risk, Fortress has and may enter into interest rate swap agreements whereby Fortress would receive floating rate payments in exchange for fixed rate payments, effectively converting a floating rate borrowing to fixed rate. Fortress intends to hedge only the risk related to changes in the benchmark interest rate (LIBOR).
To qualify for cash flow hedge accounting, interest rate swaps must meet certain criteria, including (1) the items to be hedged expose Fortress to interest rate risk, (2) the interest rate swaps or caps are highly effective in reducing Fortress’s exposure to interest rate risk, and (3) with respect to an anticipated transaction, the transaction is probable. In addition, the hedging relationship must be properly documented. Effectiveness is periodically assessed based upon a comparison of the relative changes in the fair values or cash flows of the interest rate swaps and the items being hedged.
The effective portion of any gain or loss, and of net payments received or made, is reported as a component of other comprehensive income and reclassified into earnings in the same period or periods during which the hedged transaction affects earnings. The ineffective portion of any gain or loss, and of net payments received or made, is recognized in current earnings.
Foreign Currency Hedges
To qualify for hedge accounting with respect to a net investment in a foreign operation, the hedging instrument must be highly effective in reducing Fortress’s exposure to the risk of changes in foreign currency exchange rates with respect to the investment. In addition, the hedging relationship must be properly documented. Effectiveness is periodically assessed based upon a comparison of the relative changes in the fair values of the hedge and the item being hedged (with respect to changes in foreign currency exchange rates).
The effective portion of any gain or loss, and of net payments received or made, on a hedge of a net investment in a foreign operation is reported as a component of other comprehensive income and reclassified into earnings in the period the net investment is sold. The ineffective portion of any gain or loss, and of net payments received or made, is recognized in current earnings.
Fortress has entered into foreign currency forward contracts to economically hedge the risk of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates with respect to its foreign investments; however, these derivatives did not qualify as hedges for accounting purposes during the years ended December 31, 2005 or 2004 or during the period from January 1, 2006 through October 26, 2006. Subsequent to October 26, 2006, certain of these derivatives did qualify as hedges.
Other
Fortress’s derivative financial instruments contain credit risk to the extent that its bank counterparties may be unable to meet the terms of the agreements. Fortress minimizes this risk by limiting its counterparties to highly rated major financial institutions with good credit ratings. Management does not expect any material losses as a result of default by other parties. Fortress does not require collateral.
89
Table of ContentsFORTRESS OPERATING GROUP
(Limited Liability Companies)
NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2006
(dollar amounts in tables shown in thousands)
No ineffectiveness was recorded on Fortress’s hedges during the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 or 2004.
Comprehensive Income — 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 investments by and distributions to owners. For Fortress’s purposes, comprehensive income represents net income, as presented in the accompanying income statements, adjusted for unrealized gains or losses on securities available for sale and on derivatives designated as cash flow hedges, as well as net foreign currency translation adjustments, including Fortress’s relative share of these items from its equity method investees.
The following table summarizes Fortress’s accumulated other comprehensive income:

 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  | December 31, |
|  |  | 2006 |  |  | 2005 |
Direct |  |  | |  |  | |
Net unrealized gains on securities available for sale |  |  |  | $ | — |  |  |  |  | $ | 92 |  |
Net unrealized gains on derivatives designated as cash flow hedges |  |  |  |  | 8 |  |  |  |  |  | 6 |  |
Net foreign currency translation adjustments |  |  |  |  | 843 |  |  |  |  |  | 157 |  |
Through equity method investees |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Net unrealized gains on securities available for sale |  |  |  |  | 8,810 |  |  |  |  |  | 8,276 |  |
Net unrealized gains (losses) on derivatives designated as cash flow hedges |  |  |  |  | (7,810 | ) |  |  |  |  | (8,835 | ) |
Net foreign currency translation adjustments |  |  |  |  | 109 |  |  |  |  |  | 109 |  |
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) |  |  |  | $ | 1,960 |  |  |  |  | $ | (195 | ) |
 |
Foreign Currency — Foreign currency denominated assets, liabilities and operations are primarily held through consolidated Fortress Funds. Assets and liabilities relating to foreign investments 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 in current income to the extent that unrealized gains and losses on the related investment are included in income, otherwise they are included as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income until realized. Foreign currency gains or losses resulting from transactions outside of the functional currency of a consolidated entity are recorded in income as incurred and were not material during the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004.
Profit Sharing Arrangements — Pursuant to employment arrangements, certain of Fortress’s employees are granted profit sharing interests and are thereby entitled to a portion of the incentive income realized from certain Fortress Funds, which is payable upon a realization event within the respective funds. Accordingly, incentive income resulting from a realization event within a fund gives rise to the incurrence of a profit sharing obligation. Amounts payable under these profit sharing plans are recorded as compensation expense when they become probable and reasonably estimable.
Approximately $236.0 million, $130.3 million and $50.5 million was recorded as compensation expense in connection with contractual profit sharing arrangements related to both private equity and hedge funds during the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively.
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Table of ContentsFORTRESS OPERATING GROUP
(Limited Liability Companies)
NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2006
(dollar amounts in tables shown in thousands)
For profit sharing plans related to hedge funds, where incentive income is received on a quarterly or annual basis, the related compensation expense is accrued during the period for which the related payment is made.
For profit sharing plans related to private equity funds, where incentive income is received as investments are realized but is subject to clawback (see ‘‘Incentive Income’’ above), although Fortress defers the recognition of incentive income until all contingencies are resolved, accruing expense for employee profit sharing is based upon when it becomes probable and reasonably estimable that incentive income has been earned and therefore a profit sharing liability has been incurred. Based upon this policy, the recording of an accrual for profit sharing expense to employees generally precedes the recognition of the related incentive income revenue.
Fortress’s determination of the point at which it becomes probable and reasonably estimable that incentive income will be earned and therefore a corresponding profit sharing expense should be recorded is based upon a number of factors, the most significant of which is the level of realized gains generated by the underlying funds which may ultimately give rise to incentive income payments. Accordingly, profit sharing expense is generally recorded upon realization events within the underlying funds. A realization event has occurred when an investment within a fund generates proceeds in excess of its related invested capital, such as when an investment is sold at a gain.
As of December 31, 2006, Fortress has recognized and paid compensation expense under its employee profit sharing arrangements in connection with the $252.8 million of distributed incentive income from private equity funds (Note 3). If the $1,405.5 million of undistributed deferred incentive income from private equity funds was realized, Fortress would recognize and pay an additional $508.3 million of compensation expense.
Fortress may withhold a portion of the profit sharing payments relating to private equity fund incentive income as a reserve against contingent repayment obligations to the funds. Employees may opt to have these withheld amounts invested in either a money market account or in one of a limited group of Fortress Funds.
Income Taxes — No federal income taxes have been provided for by Fortress Operating Group in the accompanying financial statements as each Principal is individually responsible for reporting income or loss based upon their respective share of Fortress Operating Group’s income and expenses as reported for income tax purposes.
However, certain consolidated subsidiaries of Fortress are subject to New York City unincorporated business tax (UBT) on their trade and business activities conducted in New York City. Additionally, one consolidated subsidiary is subject to U.S. federal corporate income tax. Fortress accounts for these taxes using the asset and liability method under which deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. A valuation allowance is established when management believes it is probable that a deferred tax asset will not be realized.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements — In December 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 123 (R), ‘‘Share-Based Payment’’, which requires all equity-based payments to employees to be recognized using a fair value based method. To date, Fortress has not issued any equity-based compensation awards. On January 1, 2006, Fortress adopted SFAS No. 123 (R) using the modified prospective
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Table of ContentsFORTRESS OPERATING GROUP
(Limited Liability Companies)
NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2006
(dollar amounts in tables shown in thousands)
method and therefore prior period amounts will not be restated. The adoption of SFAS 123 (R) did not have a material impact on Fortress’s historical financial statements.
In June 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (‘‘FASB’’) issued Interpretation No. 48, ‘‘Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes, an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109’’ (‘‘FIN 48’’). FIN 48 requires companies to recognize the tax benefits of uncertain tax positions only where the position is ‘‘more likely than not’’ to be sustained assuming examination by tax authorities. The tax benefit recognized is the largest amount of benefit that is greater than 50 percent likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. FIN 48 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. The adoption of FIN 48 is not expected to have a material impact on Fortress’s financial condition, liquidity or results of operations.
In February 2006, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (‘‘SFAS’’) No. 155, ‘‘Accounting for Certain Hybrid Financial Instruments’’, which amends SFAS 133, ‘‘Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities,’’ and SFAS 140, ‘‘Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities’’. SFAS 155 provides, among other things, that (i) for embedded derivatives which would otherwise be required to be bifurcated from their host contracts and accounted for at fair value in accordance with SFAS 133 an entity may make an irrevocable election, on an instrument-by-instrument basis, to measure the hybrid financial instrument at fair value in its entirety, with changes in fair value recognized in earnings and (ii) concentrations of credit risk in the form of subordination are not considered embedded deriva tives. SFAS 155 is effective for all financial instruments acquired, issued or subject to remeasurement after the beginning of an entity’s first fiscal year that begins after September 15, 2006. Upon adoption, differences between the total carrying amount of the individual components of an existing bifurcated hybrid financial instrument and the fair value of the combined hybrid financial instrument should be recognized as a cumulative effect adjustment to beginning retained earnings. Prior periods are not restated. The adoption of SFAS 155 is not expected to have a material impact on Fortress’s financial statements.
In September 2006, the FASB cleared Statement of Position No. 07-1, ‘‘Clarification of the Scope of the Audit and Accounting Guide Investment Companies and Accounting by Parent Companies and Equity Method Investors for Investments in Investment Companies’’ (‘‘SOP 07-1’’) for issuance. SOP 07-1 addresses whether the accounting principles of the Audit and Accounting Guide for Investment Companies may be applied to an entity by clarifying the definition of an investment company and whether those accounting principles may be retained by a parent company in consolidation or by an investor in the application of the equity method of accounting. SOP 07-1 applies to reporting periods beginning on or after December 15, 2007. Fortress is currently evaluating the pot ential effect on its financial condition, liquidity and results of operations upon adoption of SOP 07-1.
In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, ‘‘Fair Value Measurements’’. SFAS 157 defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants in the market in which the reporting entity transacts, establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. SFAS 157 applies to reporting periods beginning after November 15, 2007. The adoption of SFAS 157 is not expected to have a material impact on Fortress’s financial condition, liquidity or results of operations.
In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, ‘‘The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities.’’ SFAS 159 permits entities to choose to measure many financial
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Table of ContentsFORTRESS OPERATING GROUP
(Limited Liability Companies)
NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2006
(dollar amounts in tables shown in thousands)
instruments, and certain other items, at fair value. SFAS 159 also establishes presentation and disclosure requirements designed to facilitate comparisons between entities that choose different measurement attributes for similar types of assets and liabilities. SFAS 159 applies to reporting periods beginning after November 15, 2007. Fortress is currently evaluating the potential effect on its financial condition, liquidity and results of operations upon adoption of SFAS 159.
 |  |
3. | MANAGEMENT AGREEMENTS AND THE FORTRESS FUNDS |
Fortress has two principal sources of income from its agreements with the Fortress Funds: contractual management fees, which are generally based on a percentage of assets under management, and related incentive income, which is generally based on a percentage of profits subject to the achievement of performance criteria. Substantially all of Fortress’s net assets, after deducting the portion attributable to non-controlling interests, are comprised of principal investments in, or receivables from, these funds.
The Principals and certain executive officers of Fortress may also serve as directors and/or officers of each of the Castles and of certain Portfolio Companies and may have investments in these entities.
The Fortress Funds are divided into four segments and Fortress’s agreements with each are detailed below.
Private Equity Funds
The following table presents certain information with respect to Fortress’s management agreements with the private equity funds as of December 31, 2006.
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 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  | Total Capital Commitments (A) |  |  | Fortress Capital Commitments |  |  | Fortress and Affiliates Capital Commitments (B) |  |  | Percent of Capital Commitments Drawn |  |  | Longest Capital Commitment Period Ends (C) |  |  | Longest Fund Termination Date (D) |  |  | Annual Management Fee (E) |  |  | Incentive Income (F) |  |  | Incentive Income Threshold Return (F) |
Consolidated |  |  |  | $ | 13,821,596 |  |  |  |  | $ | 245,547 |  |  |  |  | $ | 1,083,551 |  |  |  |  |  | 55.7 | % |  |  | Jan-2010 |  |  | Nov-2030 |  |  | 1.0% – 1.5% |  |  | 20% |  |  | 6% – 10% |
Unconsolidated |  |  |  | $ | 40,500 |  |  |  | None |  |  | None |  |  |  |  | 100.0 | % |  |  | Ended |  |  | Apr-2010 (C) |  |  | None |  |  | 25% |  |  | None |
 |
(A) | Represents the total amount of capital committed by Investors to these funds. This capital can be called, or drawn, for new investments during the capital commitment period, generally up to three years. Subsequent to the capital commitment period, it may only be drawn to maintain ongoing business as permitted by the applicable fund agreement. |
(B) | Affiliate commitments are comprised of: |

 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Employees |  |  | Principals |  |  | Other Fortress Funds |  |  | Total Affiliates |  |  | Fortress |  |  | Total |
$69,010 |  |  |  | $ | 270,000 |  |  |  |  | $ | 498,994 |  |  |  |  | $ | 838,004 |  |  |  |  | $ | 245,547 |  |  |  |  | $ | 1,083,551 |  |
 |
(C) | Subsequent to the end of the capital commitment periods, the respective capital commitments may not be drawn to fund new investments, but are available to maintain ongoing business of the funds. NIH (one of Fortress’s equity method investees) does not have capital commitments. It is a privately traded company owned through membership interests. It has an indefinite life. |
(D) | Including all available extensions. Only $0.5 billion of the total commitments extend beyond January 2017. |
(E) | Expressed as a percent. This percent is generally applied to the capital commitment amount during the capital commitment periods and to invested capital (as defined) thereafter. In some funds, management fee rates vary depending on the size of commitments. Affiliate commitments are not charged management fees. |
(F) | Expressed as a percent of the total returns of the funds. The incentive income is subject to: (i) the achievement of a |
93
Table of ContentsFORTRESS OPERATING GROUP
(Limited Liability Companies)
NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2006
(dollar amounts in tables shown in thousands)
| cumulative incentive income threshold return payable to the third party investors in the funds, which is the minimum return these investors must receive in order for incentive income to be paid, and (ii) a contingent repayment or clawback provision which requires amounts previously distributed as incentive income to be returned to each fund if, upon liquidation of such fund, such amounts exceeded the actual amount of incentive income due. Affiliate commitments are not subject to incentive income. Funds representing approximately $0.5 billion of total commitments have a 6% threshold, the rest have thresholds of either 8% or 10%. Some of the private equity funds do not have an incentive income provision; the capital commitments of such funds aggregate less than $50 million. There is no clawback provision with respect to NIH. Due to prior return of capital distributions, NIH essentially has a zero incentive income threshold. |
Pursuant to profit sharing arrangements, certain of Fortress’s employees are entitled to a portion, approximately 38.5% as of December 31, 2006 based on a weighted average by total capital commitments, of the incentive income received from the private equity funds.
Two of the consolidated private equity funds are Feeder Funds that make their investments primarily through Master Funds. Summary financial information regarding the Master Funds is presented in Note 4.
Fortress manages one of the consolidated private equity funds with approximately $0.9 billion of capital commitments (‘‘Fund I’’) pursuant to certain agreements which provide that Fortress is entitled to 50% of the Fund I incentive income and NIH, a Fortress Fund which is a private equity fund and an equity method investee of Fortress, is entitled to the other 50%.
Deferred incentive income allocated from Fortress Funds, subject to contingent repayment (Note 2), was comprised of the following:

 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  | December 31, |
|  |  | 2006 |  |  | 2005 |
Distributed – gross |  |  |  | $ | 252,774 |  |  |  |  | $ | 123,426 |  |
Less: Recognized |  |  |  |  | (9,473 | ) |  |  |  |  | — |  |
Distributed – unrecognized |  |  |  |  | 243,301 |  |  |  |  |  | 123,426 |  |
Undistributed |  |  |  |  | 1,405,481 |  |  |  |  |  | 462,438 |  |
Total |  |  |  | $ | 1,648,782 |  |  |  |  | $ | 585,864 |  |
 |
Through September 30, 2006, no incentive income subject to contingent repayment had been recognized as income. In the fourth quarter of 2006, $9.5 million of previously deferred incentive income was recognized since all of the contingencies related to such income had been resolved.
As of December 31, 2006, Fortress has recognized and paid compensation expense under its employee profit sharing arrangements in connection with the $252.8 million of distributed incentive income. If the $1,405.5 million of undistributed deferred incentive income were realized, Fortress would recognize and pay an additional $508.3 million of compensation expense.
94
Table of ContentsFORTRESS OPERATING GROUP
(Limited Liability Companies)
NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2006
(dollar amounts in tables shown in thousands)
Liquid Hedge Funds
The following table presents certain information with respect to the liquid hedge funds as of December 31, 2006.

 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  | Net Asset Value (NAV) |  |  | Fortress Share of NAV (A) |  |  | Annual Management Fee (B) |  |  | Incentive Income (C) |
Consolidated |  |  |  | $ | 492,581 |  |  |  |  | $ | 28,605 |  |  |  | 2.0%-3.0% |  |  | 20%-25% |
Unconsolidated |  |  |  | $ | 4,592,136 |  |  |  | None |  |  | 2.0%-3.0% |  |  | 20%-25% |
 |
| (A) | Net of employee amounts. |
| (B) | Expressed as a percent of NAV (as defined). |
| (C) | Expressed as a percent of the total returns of the funds. The incentive income is earned on a calendar quarter (quarterly) basis. |
All of the liquid hedge funds are structured as Feeder Funds that make their investments primarily through Master Funds. Summary financial information regarding the Master Funds is presented in Note 4.
Pursuant to the provisions of deferred fee arrangements, Fortress could elect to defer receipt of all or a portion of the management fee and incentive income from each of the unconsolidated liquid hedge funds earned with respect to a particular fiscal year, and could elect to have a portion or all of these deferred amounts indexed either in the same manner as the fund’s other assets, or in another manner approved by the independent members of the board of directors of the fund. The value of these deferred amounts was a liability of the applicable fund to Fortress. Any amounts invested by the fund pursuant to these deferred fee arrangements were part of the general assets of the fund for all purposes, and Fortress had no proprietary interest in any of these assets. Fortress elected to defer receipt of its management fees and incentive income from these funds during 2006 and for the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004. Subsequent to December&nbs p;31, 2006, the deferred fee arrangements have been terminated (Note 11).
Hybrid Hedge Funds
The following table presents certain information with respect to the hybrid hedge funds as of December 31, 2006.

 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  | Net Asset Value (NAV) |  |  | Fortress Share of NAV (A) |  |  | Annual Management Fee (B) |  |  | Incentive Income (C) |
Consolidated |  |  |  | $ | 5,163,151 |  |  |  |  | $ | 245,856 |  |  |  | 1.0%-2.0% |  |  | 20% |
Unconsolidated |  |  |  | $ | 646,709 |  |  |  | None |  |  | 1.0%-2.0% |  |  | 20% |
 |
| (A) | Net of employee amounts. |
| (B) | Expressed as a percent of NAV (as defined). |
| (C) | Expressed as a percent of the total returns of the funds. The incentive income is earned on a calendar year (annual) basis. The unconsolidated hybrid hedge funds include two managed accounts with less than $20 million of NAV as of December 31, 2006 which do not have an incentive income provision. |
95
Table of ContentsFORTRESS OPERATING GROUP
(Limited Liability Companies)
NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2006
(dollar amounts in tables shown in thousands)
Fortress and the offshore hybrid hedge fund (the unconsolidated hybrid hedge funds excluding the managed accounts mentioned above) entered into a deferred fee arrangement under substantially the same terms as the unconsolidated liquid hedge funds. Fortress elected to defer receipt of its management fees and incentive income from this fund during 2006 and for the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004. Subsequent to December 31, 2006, the deferred fee arrangements have been terminated (Note 11).
Castles
The following table presents certain information with respect to the Castles as of December 31, 2006.

 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  | Annual Management Fee (A) |  |  | Incentive Income (B) |  |  | Incentive Income Threshold Return (B) |
Unconsolidated |  |  |  |  | 1.5 | % |  |  |  |  | 25 | % |  |  | 8%-10% |
 |
| (A) | Expressed as a percent of gross equity, as defined. |
| (B) | The incentive income is earned on a cumulative basis equal to the product of (1) the incentive income percent (shown above) multiplied by (2) the difference by which (i) a specified measure of earnings (as defined) exceeds (ii) the company’s gross equity (as defined) multiplied by the incentive income threshold return (shown above). |
The management agreements between Fortress and the Castles provide for initial terms of one to ten years, subject to certain termination rights, and automatic extensions of one to three years, subject to the approval of the independent members of the Castles’ boards of directors.
96
Table of ContentsFORTRESS OPERATING GROUP
(Limited Liability Companies)
NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2006
(dollar amounts in tables shown in thousands)
 |  |
4. | INVESTMENTS |
A) Investment Company Holdings, at Fair Value
Investment company holdings, at fair value, consist primarily of financial instruments held by consolidated Fortress Funds that are investment companies.
These holdings are presented as a percentage of Investment Company Holdings, at Fair Value.

 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  | Amount |  |  | Percentage of Investment Company Holdings |
|  |  | December 31, |  |  | December 31, |
|  |  | 2006 |  |  | 2005 |  |  | 2006 |  |  | 2005 |
Investment company holdings, at fair value |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Loans and securities |  |  |  | $ | 6,874,748 |  |  |  |  | $ | 3,597,958 |  |  |  |  |  | 31.4 | % |  |  |  |  | 34.0 | % |
Investments in affiliates |  |  |  |  | 14,985,578 |  |  |  |  |  | 6,972,857 |  |  |  |  |  | 68.2 | % |  |  |  |  | 65.9 | % |
Derivatives |  |  |  |  | 84,270 |  |  |  |  |  | 11,294 |  |  |  |  |  | 0.4 | % |  |  |  |  | 0.1 | % |
|  |  |  | $ | 21,944,596 |  |  |  |  | $ | 10,582,109 |  |  |  |  |  | 100.0 | % |  |  |  |  | 100.0 | % |
 |
97
Table of ContentsFORTRESS OPERATING GROUP
(Limited Liability Companies)
NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2006
(dollar amounts in tables shown in thousands)
Loans and Securities
The following table presents Fortress’s loans and securities held through consolidated Fortress Funds that are investment companies.

 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Region / Instrument Type / Industry Description |  |  | Cost |  |  | Fair Value |  |  | % of Investment Company Holdings |
 | December 31, |
 | 2006 |  |  | 2005 |  |  | 2006 |  |  | 2005 |  |  | 2006 |  |  | 2005 |
Asia / Pacific |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Equity Instruments |  |  |  | $ | 12,197 |  |  |  |  | $ | 1,436 |  |  |  |  | $ | 18,466 |  |  |  |  | $ | 6,615 |  |  |  |  |  | 0.1 | % |  |  |  |  | 0.1 | % |
Loans |  |  |  |  | 22,280 |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | 22,360 |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | 0.1 | % |  |  |  |  | < .05 | % |
Total Asia / Pacific |  |  |  |  | 34,477 |  |  |  |  |  | 1,436 |  |  |  |  |  | 40,826 |  |  |  |  |  | 6,615 |  |  |  |  |  | 0.2 | % |  |  |  |  | 0.1 | % |
Central America Investment Fund |  |  |  |  | 41,024 |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | 44,931 |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | 0.2 | % |  |  |  |  | < .05 | % |
Total Central America |  |  |  |  | 41,024 |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | 44,931 |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | 0.2 | % |  |  |  |  | < .05 | % |
Europe |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Debt Securities |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | 2,745 |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | 2,611 |  |  |  |  |  | < .05 | % |  |  |  |  | < .05 | % |
Equity Instruments |  |  |  |  | 287,953 |  |  |  |  |  | 113,578 |  |  |  |  |  | 348,359 |  |  |  |  |  | 121,323 |  |  |  |  |  | 1.6 | % |  |  |  |  | 1.1 | % |
Investment Fund |  |  |  |  | 35,000 |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | 37,784 |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | 0.2 | % |  |  |  |  | < .05 | % |
Loans |  |  |  |  | 414,141 |  |  |  |  |  | 27,134 |  |  |  |  |  | 420,796 |  |  |  |  |  | 27,786 |  |  |  |  |  | 1.9 | % |  |  |  |  | 0.3 | % |
Total Europe |  |  |  |  | 737,094 |  |  |  |  |  | 143,457 |  |  |  |  |  | 806,939 |  |  |  |  |  | 151,720 |  |  |  |  |  | 3.7 | % |  |  |  |  | 1.4 | % |
North America |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Debt Securities |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Accommodation and Food Services |  |  |  |  | 26,703 |  |  |  |  |  | 167,340 |  |  |  |  |  | 29,959 |  |  |  |  |  | 168,389 |  |  |  |  |  | 0.1 | % |  |  |  |  | 1.6 | % |
Arts, Entertainment and Recreation |  |  |  |  | 17,229 |  |  |  |  |  | 218,668 |  |  |  |  |  | 17,431 |  |  |  |  |  | 207,966 |  |  |  |  |  | 0.1 | % |  |  |  |  | 2.0 | % |
Finance and Insurance |  |  |  |  | 14,111 |  |  |  |  |  | 313,234 |  |  |  |  |  | 14,624 |  |  |  |  |  | 313,136 |  |  |  |  |  | 0.1 | % |  |  |  |  | 3.0 | % |
Health Care and Social Assistance |  |  |  |  | 9,000 |  |  |  |  |  | 111,408 |  |  |  |  |  | 9,180 |  |  |  |  |  | 110,383 |  |  |  |  |  | < .05 | % |  |  |  |  | 1.0 | % |
Information |  |  |  |  | 115,801 |  |  |  |  |  | 261,172 |  |  |  |  |  | 124,284 |  |  |  |  |  | 257,023 |  |  |  |  |  | 0.6 | % |  |  |  |  | 2.4 | % |
Manufacturing |  |  |  |  | 123,196 |  |  |  |  |  | 130,923 |  |  |  |  |  | 127,979 |  |  |  |  |  | 126,238 |  |  |  |  |  | 0.6 | % |  |  |  |  | 1.2 | % |
Real Estate and Rental and Leasing |  |  |  |  | 38,854 |  |  |  |  |  | 366,305 |  |  |  |  |  | 39,396 |  |  |  |  |  | 361,197 |  |  |  |  |  | 0.2 | % |  |  |  |  | 3.4 | % |
Retail Trade |  |  |  |  | 13,519 |  |  |  |  |  | 256,985 |  |  |  |  |  | 13,177 |  |  |  |  |  | 250,809 |  |  |  |  |  | 0.1 | % |  |  |  |  | 2.4 | % |
Transportation and Warehousing |  |  |  |  | 4,061 |  |  |  |  |  | 120,178 |  |  |  |  |  | 5,510 |  |  |  |  |  | 120,050 |  |  |  |  |  | < .05 | % |  |  |  |  | 1.1 | % |
Utilities |  |  |  |  | 79,704 |  |  |  |  |  | 123,581 |  |  |  |  |  | 84,454 |  |  |  |  |  | 128,038 |  |  |  |  |  | 0.4 | % |  |  |  |  | 1.2 | % |
Other |  |  |  |  | 19,737 |  |  |  |  |  | 99,292 |  |  |  |  |  | 21,518 |  |  |  |  |  | 99,532 |  |  |  |  |  | 0.1 | % |  |  |  |  | 0.9 | % |
Total Debt Securities |  |  |  |  | 461,915 |  |  |  |  |  | 2,169,086 |  |  |  |  |  | 487,512 |  |  |  |  |  | 2,142,761 |  |  |  |  |  | 2.3 | % |  |  |  |  | 20.2 | % |
Equity Instruments |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Accommodation and Food Services |  |  |  |  | 29,762 |  |  |  |  |  | 106,430 |  |  |  |  |  | 31,922 |  |  |  |  |  | 120,613 |  |  |  |  |  | 0.1 | % |  |  |  |  | 1.1 | % |
Finance and Insurance |  |  |  |  | 82,090 |  |  |  |  |  | 33,931 |  |  |  |  |  | 91,625 |  |  |  |  |  | 38,458 |  |  |  |  |  | 0.4 | % |  |  |  |  | 0.4 | % |
Manufacturing |  |  |  |  | 43,038 |  |  |  |  |  | 147,184 |  |  |  |  |  | 58,625 |  |  |  |  |  | 139,660 |  |  |  |  |  | 0.3 | % |  |  |  |  | 1.3 | % |
Real Estate and Rental and Leasing |  |  |  |  | 454,002 |  |  |  |  |  | 208,892 |  |  |  |  |  | 530,355 |  |  |  |  |  | 236,460 |  |  |  |  |  | 2.4 | % |  |  |  |  | 2.2 | % |
Utilities |  |  |  |  | 95,111 |  |  |  |  |  | 102,277 |  |  |  |  |  | 113,176 |  |  |  |  |  | 114,292 |  |  |  |  |  | 0.5 | % |  |  |  |  | 1.1 | % |
Other |  |  |  |  | 284,595 |  |  |  |  |  | 88,551 |  |  |  |  |  | 300,241 |  |  |  |  |  | 91,695 |  |  |  |  |  | 1.4 | % |  |  |  |  | 0.9 | % |
Total Equity Instruments |  |  |  |  | 988,598 |  |  |  |  |  | 687,265 |  |  |  |  |  | 1,125,944 |  |  |  |  |  | 741,178 |  |  |  |  |  | 5.1 | % |  |  |  |  | 7.0 | % |
Investment Funds |  |  |  |  | 298,725 |  |  |  |  |  | 11,550 |  |  |  |  |  | 325,573 |  |  |  |  |  | 12,264 |  |  |  |  |  | 1.5 | % |  |  |  |  | 0.1 | % |
Loans |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Accommodation and Food Services |  |  |  |  | 461,772 |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | 457,829 |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | 2.1 | % |  |  |  |  | < .05 | % |
Finance and Insurance |  |  |  |  | 685,036 |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | 673,311 |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | 3.1 | % |  |  |  |  | < .05 | % |
Health Care and Social Assistance |  |  |  |  | 244,605 |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | 237,238 |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | 1.1 | % |  |  |  |  | < .05 | % |
Information |  |  |  |  | 354,734 |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | 326,359 |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | 1.5 | % |  |  |  |  | < .05 | % |
Manufacturing |  |  |  |  | 269,960 |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | 250,152 |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | 1.1 | % |  |  |  |  | < .05 | % |
Real Estate and Rental and Leasing |  |  |  |  | 1,136,961 |  |  |  |  |  | 181,528 |  |  |  |  |  | 1,117,617 |  |  |  |  |  | 172,988 |  |  |  |  |  | 5.1 | % |  |  |  |  | 1.6 | % |
Utilities |  |  |  |  | 269,224 |  |  |  |  |  | 63,005 |  |  |  |  |  | 277,668 |  |  |  |  |  | 69,278 |  |  |  |  |  | 1.3 | % |  |  |  |  | 0.7 | % |
Other |  |  |  |  | 742,617 |  |  |  |  |  | 334,252 |  |  |  |  |  | 702,849 |  |  |  |  |  | 301,154 |  |  |  |  |  | 3.1 | % |  |  |  |  | 2.8 | % |
Total Loans |  |  |  |  | 4,164,909 |  |  |  |  |  | 578,785 |  |  |  |  |  | 4,043,023 |  |  |  |  |  | 543,420 |  |  |  |  |  | 18.4 | % |  |  |  |  | 5.1 | % |
Total North America |  |  |  |  | 5,914,147 |  |  |  |  |  | 3,446,686 |  |  |  |  |  | 5,982,052 |  |  |  |  |  | 3,439,623 |  |  |  |  |  | 27.3 | % |  |  |  |  | 32.5 | % |
Total – Loans and Securities |  |  |  | $ | 6,726,742 |  |  |  |  | $ | 3,591,579 |  |  |  |  | $ | 6,874,748 |  |  |  |  | $ | 3,597,958 |  |  |  |  |  | 31.4 | % |  |  |  |  | 34.0 | % |
 |
98
Table of ContentsFORTRESS OPERATING GROUP
(Limited Liability Companies)
NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2006
(dollar amounts in tables shown in thousands)
Investments in Affiliates
The following tables present Fortress’s investments in affiliated entities held through consolidated Fortress Funds that are investment companies. The first table contains information regarding all of Fortress’s directly held investments in affiliates including significant individual investments, which are investments that constitute more than 5% of Fortress’s Investment Company Holdings or more than 5% of Fortress’s gross investment assets.
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Region / Industry Description / Significant Investment (if applicable) |  |  | Cost |  |  | Fair Value |  |  | % of Investment Company Holdings |
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 | 2006 |  |  | 2005 |  |  | 2006 |  |  | 2005 |  |  | 2006 |  |  | 2005 |
North America – Master Funds |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Finance and Insurance |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Fortress Investment Trust II |  |  |  | $ | 242,222 |  |  |  |  | $ | 897,742 |  |  |  |  | $ | 2,059,440 |  |  |  |  | $ | 2,118,664 |  |  |  |  |  | 9.4 | % |  |  |  |  | 20.0 | % |
Fortress Registered Investment Trust |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | 1,678,486 |  |  |  |  |  | 1,234,018 |  |  |  |  |  | 7.6 | % |  |  |  |  | 11.7 | % |
Drawbridge Global Macro Master Fund Ltd |  |  |  |  | 304,532 |  |  |  |  |  | 181,297 |  |  |  |  |  | 407,976 |  |  |  |  |  | 235,712 |  |  |  |  |  | 1.9 | % |  |  |  |  | 2.2 | % |
Drawbridge RV Plus Master Fund Ltd |  |  |  |  | 50,713 |  |  |  |  |  | 48,677 |  |  |  |  |  | 52,606 |  |  |  |  |  | 50,998 |  |  |  |  |  | 0.2 | % |  |  |  |  | 0.5 | % |
Total North America – Master Funds |  |  |  |  | 597,467 |  |  |  |  |  | 1,127,716 |  |  |  |  |  | 4,198,508 |  |  |  |  |  | 3,639,392 |  |  |  |  |  | 19.1 | % |  |  |  |  | 34.4 | % |
Central America |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Finance and Insurance |  |  |  |  | 21,000 |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | 21,375 |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | 0.1 | % |  |  |  |  | < .05 | % |
Total Central America |  |  |  |  | 21,000 |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | 21,375 |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | 0.1 | % |  |  |  |  | < .05 | % |
Europe |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Finance and Insurance |  |  |  |  | 472,746 |  |  |  |  |  | 437,061 |  |  |  |  |  | 593,225 |  |  |  |  |  | 445,041 |  |  |  |  |  | 2.7 | % |  |  |  |  | 4.2 | % |
Real Estate and Rental and Leasing: |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
GAGFAH S.A. |  |  |  |  | 1,504,571 |  |  |  |  |  | 845,513 |  |  |  |  |  | 5,011,379 |  |  |  |  |  | 1,283,859 |  |  |  |  |  | 22.8 | % |  |  |  |  | 12.1 | % |
Other |  |  |  |  | 268,378 |  |  |  |  |  | 506,244 |  |  |  |  |  | 659,936 |  |  |  |  |  | 520,999 |  |  |  |  |  | 3.0 | % |  |  |  |  | 5.0 | % |
Total Europe |  |  |  |  | 2,245,695 |  |  |  |  |  | 1,788,818 |  |  |  |  |  | 6,264,540 |  |  |  |  |  | 2,249,899 |  |  |  |  |  | 28.5 | % |  |  |  |  | 21.3 | % |
North America |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Accommodation and Food Services |  |  |  |  | 1,381,611 |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | 1,381,539 |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | 6.3 | % |  |  |  |  | < .05 | % |
Finance and Insurance |  |  |  |  | 380,720 |  |  |  |  |  | 401,361 |  |  |  |  |  | 514,068 |  |  |  |  |  | 506,413 |  |  |  |  |  | 2.3 | % |  |  |  |  | 4.8 | % |
Healthcare and Social Assistance |  |  |  |  | 653,033 |  |  |  |  |  | 2,019 |  |  |  |  |  | 849,567 |  |  |  |  |  | 3,167 |  |  |  |  |  | 3.9 | % |  |  |  |  | < .05 | % |
Information |  |  |  |  | 250,325 |  |  |  |  |  | 221,579 |  |  |  |  |  | 438,572 |  |  |  |  |  | 221,579 |  |  |  |  |  | 2.0 | % |  |  |  |  | 2.1 | % |
Real Estate and Rental and Leasing |  |  |  |  | 648,482 |  |  |  |  |  | 343,276 |  |  |  |  |  | 1,317,409 |  |  |  |  |  | 352,407 |  |  |  |  |  | 6.0 | % |  |  |  |  | 3.3 | % |
Total North America |  |  |  |  | 3,314,171 |  |  |  |  |  | 968,235 |  |  |  |  |  | 4,501,155 |  |  |  |  |  | 1,083,566 |  |  |  |  |  | 20.5 | % |  |  |  |  | 10.2 | % |
Total – Investments in Affiliates |  |  |  | $ | 6,178,333 |  |  |  |  | $ | 3,884,769 |  |  |  |  | $ | 14,985,578 |  |  |  |  | $ | 6,972,857 |  |  |  |  |  | 68.2 | % |  |  |  |  | 65.9 | % |
 |
99
Table of ContentsFORTRESS OPERATING GROUP
(Limited Liability Companies)
NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2006
(dollar amounts in tables shown in thousands)
In addition, Fortress has indirect, significant investments in individual investments that are held in whole or in part through unconsolidated Fortress Funds, Master Funds and Portfolio Companies. Fortress’s share of investments held through unconsolidated entities is reflected in Fortress’s assets on a net basis; non-recourse financing on these investments at the unconsolidated entity level reduces Fortress’s net exposure to these investments. The following table reflects Fortress’s direct and indirect share of these investments.
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 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Significant Investment |  |  | Cost |  |  | Fair Value |  |  | % of Investment Company Holdings |
 | December 31, |
 | 2006 |  |  | 2005 |  |  | 2006 |  |  | 2005 |  |  | 2006 |  |  | 2005 |
Affiliates |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  | |  |  | |
Global Signal Inc. |  |  |  | $ | 251,345 |  |  |  |  | $ | 277,061 |  |  |  |  | $ | 1,306,587 |  |  |  |  | $ | 1,068,100 |  |  |  | |  |  | |
Mapeley Ltd. |  |  |  |  | 309,084 |  |  |  |  |  | 309,696 |  |  |  |  |  | 1,229,953 |  |  |  |  |  | 717,123 |  |  |  | |  |  | |
Brookdale Senior Living Inc. |  |  |  |  | 1,583,163 |  |  |  |  |  | 295,002 |  |  |  |  |  | 3,750,114 |  |  |  |  |  | 1,265,322 |  |  |  | |  |  | |
Nonrecourse financing at the subsidiary level |  |  |  |  | (1,377,839 | ) |  |  |  |  | (692,701 | ) |  |  |  |  | (1,377,839 | ) |  |  |  |  | (692,701 | ) |  |  | |  |  | |
Net Global Signal Inc., Mapeley Ltd. (A) and Brookdale Senior Living Inc. |  |  |  | $ | 765,753 |  |  |  |  | $ | 189,058 |  |  |  |  | $ | 4,908,815 |  |  |  |  | $ | 2,357,844 |  |  |  | 22.4% |  |  | 22.3% |
Green Tree Servicing LLC |  |  |  | $ | 190,380 |  |  |  |  | $ | 291,268 |  |  |  |  | $ | 358,374 |  |  |  |  | $ | 492,423 |  |  |  | 1.6% |  |  | 4.7% |
Intrawest Holdings Sarl |  |  |  | $ | 1,412,175 |  |  |  |  | $ | — |  |  |  |  | $ | 1,412,132 |  |  |  |  | $ | — |  |  |  | 6.4% |  |  | < .05% |
Aircastle Investment Limited |  |  |  | $ | 349,711 |  |  |  |  | $ | 341,790 |  |  |  |  | $ | 1,018,849 |  |  |  |  | $ | 349,618 |  |  |  | 4.6% |  |  | 3.3% |
Non-affiliates |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  | |  |  | |
U.S. Government treasury securities |  |  |  | $ | 8,139,611 |  |  |  |  | $ | 8,840,068 |  |  |  |  | $ | 8,141,971 |  |  |  |  | $ | 8,852,456 |  |  |  | |  |  | |
Securities sold, not yet purchased (liabilities) |  |  |  |  | (3,154,985 | ) |  |  |  |  | (5,090,541 | ) |  |  |  |  | (3,149,872 | ) |  |  |  |  | (5,103,788 | ) |  |  | |  |  | |
Nonrecourse financing at the subsidiary level |  |  |  |  | (5,734,253 | ) |  |  |  |  | (4,215,410 | ) |  |  |  |  | (5,734,253 | ) |  |  |  |  | (4,215,410 | ) |  |  | |  |  | |
Net U.S. Government treasury securities |  |  |  | $ | (749,627 | ) |  |  |  | $ | (465,883 | ) |  |  |  | $ | (742,154 | ) |  |  |  | $ | (466,742 | ) |  |  | (3.4%) |  |  | (4.4%) |
 |
| (A) | The nonrecourse financing shown above is cross-collateralized by these three investments at December 31, 2006 and was collateralized solely by Global Signal Inc. and Mapeley Ltd. at December 31, 2005. |
100
Table of ContentsFORTRESS OPERATING GROUP
(Limited Liability Companies)
NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2006
(dollar amounts in tables shown in thousands)
Summarized Financial Information for Unconsolidated Master Funds
Four of Fortress’s consolidated funds are Feeder Funds that make their investments primarily through Master Funds. The Master Funds are not consolidated by the Feeder Funds or Fortress. The following tables present summarized financial information for the two Master Funds related to two of Fortress’s private equity funds and the two Master Funds related to Fortress’s liquid hedge funds. Fortress’s investment in the Master Funds is equal to its proportional share of the Master Funds’ net assets; as a result, the gross investments of the Master Funds reflected below exceed the net investment which Fortress has recorded.
Summary Statements of Assets and Liabilities and Statements of Operations of the Master Funds
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 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  | December 31 (or Year then Ended) |
|  |  | 2006 |  |  | 2005 |  |  | 2004 |  |  | 2006 |  |  | 2005 |  |  | 2004 |
|  |  | Master Private Equity Funds |
|  |  | Fortress Registered Investment Trust |  |  | Fortress Investment Trust II |
Investments, at fair value |  |  |  | $ | 1,655,078 |  |  |  |  | $ | 1,639,450 |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  | $ | 2,096,166 |  |  |  |  | $ | 2,214,806 |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Other assets |  |  |  |  | 57,019 |  |  |  |  |  | 81,080 |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | 19,950 |  |  |  |  |  | 160,171 |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Liabilities |  |  |  |  | (33,611 | ) |  |  |  |  | (486,512 | ) |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | (56,676 | ) |  |  |  |  | (256,313 | ) |  |  |  |  | |  |
Net assets |  |  |  | $ | 1,678,486 |  |  |  |  | $ | 1,234,018 |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  | $ | 2,059,440 |  |  |  |  | $ | 2,118,664 |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Net investment income |  |  |  | $ | 21,077 |  |  |  |  | $ | 42,060 |  |  |  |  | $ | 26,864 |  |  |  |  | $ | 80,583 |  |  |  |  | $ | 128,631 |  |  |  |  | $ | 28,384 |  |
Net gain on investments |  |  |  |  | 558,880 |  |  |  |  |  | 878,324 |  |  |  |  |  | 550,911 |  |  |  |  |  | 842,138 |  |  |  |  |  | 1,293,136 |  |  |  |  |  | 180,000 |  |
Net income |  |  |  | $ | 579,957 |  |  |  |  | $ | 920,384 |  |  |  |  | $ | 577,775 |  |  |  |  | $ | 922,721 |  |  |  |  | $ | 1,421,767 |  |  |  |  | $ | 208,384 |  |
 |
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 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  | December 31 (or Year then Ended) |
|  |  | 2006 |  |  | 2005 |  |  | 2004 |  |  | 2006 |  |  | 2005 |
|  |  | Master Hedge Funds |
|  |  | Drawbridge Global Macro Master Fund Ltd |  |  | Drawbridge RV Plus Master Fund Ltd |
Investments, at fair value |  |  |  | $ | 7,209,321 |  |  |  |  | $ | 17,727,425 |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  | $ | 23,232,960 |  |  |  |  | $ | 14,236,311 |  |
Securities purchased under agreements to resell |  |  |  |  | 3,181,279 |  |  |  |  |  | 19,992,314 |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | 33,521,466 |  |  |  |  |  | 20,098,758 |  |
Other assets |  |  |  |  | 3,925,662 |  |  |  |  |  | 3,836,847 |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | 1,366,070 |  |  |  |  |  | 1,436,673 |  |
Liabilities |  |  |  |  | (9,819,509 | ) |  |  |  |  | (38,809,794 | ) |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | (57,648,903 | ) |  |  |  |  | (35,386,804 | ) |
Net assets |  |  |  | $ | 4,496,753 |  |  |  |  | $ | 2,746,792 |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  | $ | 471,593 |  |  |  |  | $ | 384,938 |  |
Net investment income |  |  |  | $ | 159,584 |  |  |  |  | $ | (87,876 | ) |  |  |  | $ | (8,604 | ) |  |  |  | $ | 22,918 |  |  |  |  | $ | (53,097 | ) |
Net gain on investments |  |  |  |  | 703,742 |  |  |  |  |  | 700,592 |  |  |  |  |  | 115,288 |  |  |  |  |  | 1,188 |  |  |  |  |  | 72,787 |  |
Net income |  |  |  | $ | 863,326 |  |  |  |  | $ | 612,716 |  |  |  |  | $ | 106,684 |  |  |  |  | $ | 24,106 |  |  |  |  | $ | 19,690 |  |
 |
101
Table of ContentsFORTRESS OPERATING GROUP
(Limited Liability Companies)
NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2006
(dollar amounts in tables shown in thousands)
Summary Schedules of Investments of the Master Funds

 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  | Master Private Equity Funds |
|  |  | December 31, |
|  |  | 2006 |  |  | 2005 |
Investments |  |  | Fair Value |  |  | Cost |  |  | Fair Value |  |  | Cost |
|  |  | Fortress Registered Investment Trust |
Fortress Brookdale Acquisition LLC (A) |  |  |  | $ | — |  |  |  |  | $ | — |  |  |  |  | $ | 273,629 |  |  |  |  | $ | 36,740 |  |
Fortress UK Acquisition Company (A) |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | 321,784 |  |  |  |  |  | 83,375 |  |
FRIT PINN LLC (A) |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | 844,617 |  |  |  |  |  | 152,619 |  |
FRIT Holdings LLC (A) |  |  |  |  | 1,389,360 |  |  |  |  |  | 6,189 |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |
Brookdale Senior Living, Inc. |  |  |  |  | 81,730 |  |  |  |  |  | 6,447 |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |
Ital Investment Holdings II LLC and Ital Tre Investors LP |  |  |  |  | 65,962 |  |  |  |  |  | 2,042 |  |  |  |  |  | 52,741 |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |
Other |  |  |  |  | 118,026 |  |  |  |  |  | 46,263 |  |  |  |  |  | 146,679 |  |  |  |  |  | 66,261 |  |
|  |  |  | $ | 1,655,078 |  |  |  |  | $ | 60,941 |  |  |  |  | $ | 1,639,450 |  |  |  |  | $ | 338,995 |  |
 |

 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  | Fortress Investment Trust II |
FIT CFN Holdings LLC |  |  |  | $ | 358,374 |  |  |  |  | $ | 190,380 |  |  |  |  | $ | 492,423 |  |  |  |  | $ | 291,268 |  |
FIT GSL LLC (B) |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | 203,106 |  |  |  |  |  | 120,000 |  |
FIT Mapeley Holdings Ltd (B) |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | 367,180 |  |  |  |  |  | 188,425 |  |
FIT ALT Investor LLC (B) |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | 397,634 |  |  |  |  |  | 61,199 |  |
Brookdale Senior Living Inc. (B) |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | 596,200 |  |  |  |  |  | 194,885 |  |
FIT Holdings LLC (B) |  |  |  |  | 1,650,133 |  |  |  |  |  | 3,205 |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |
Other |  |  |  |  | 87,659 |  |  |  |  |  | 72,835 |  |  |  |  |  | 158,263 |  |  |  |  |  | 138,107 |  |
|  |  |  | $ | 2,096,166 |  |  |  |  | $ | 266,420 |  |  |  |  | $ | 2,214,806 |  |  |  |  | $ | 993,884 |  |
 |
| (A) | A substantial majority of the investments held by Fortress Brookdale Acquisition LLC, Fortress UK Acquisition Company, and FRIT PINN LLC at December 31, 2005 were transferred to FRIT Holdings LLC in 2006. |
| (B) | A substantial majority of the investments held by FIT GSL LLC, FIT Mapeley Holdings Ltd, and FIT ALT Investor LLC, as well as Fortress Investment Trust II’s direct holdings in Brookdale Senior Living Inc, at December 31, 2005 were transferred to FIT Holdings LLC in 2006. |
102
Table of ContentsFORTRESS OPERATING GROUP
(Limited Liability Companies)
NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2006
(dollar amounts in tables shown in thousands)

 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  | Master Hedge Funds |
|  |  | Drawbridge Global Macro Master Fund Ltd |
|  |  | December 31, |
|  |  | 2006 |  |  | 2005 |
Investment Type |  |  | Fair Value |  |  | Cost |  |  | Fair Value |  |  | Cost |
Government bonds |  |  |  | $ | 1,254,968 |  |  |  |  | $ | 1,234,431 |  |  |  |  | $ | 14,778,397 |  |  |  |  | $ | 14,728,195 |  |
Common stocks |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Consumer |  |  |  |  | 874,054 |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | 620,047 |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Financial |  |  |  |  | 827,515 |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | 427,346 |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Communications |  |  |  |  | 275,661 |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | 321,480 |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Energy and Utilities |  |  |  |  | 388,720 |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | 271,483 |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Industrial |  |  |  |  | 173,711 |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | 227,736 |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Technology |  |  |  |  | 93,586 |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | 137,476 |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Other |  |  |  |  | 285,490 |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | 113,410 |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Total stocks |  |  |  |  | 2,918,737 |  |  |  |  |  | 2,746,860 |  |  |  |  |  | 2,118,978 |  |  |  |  |  | 2,064,351 |  |
Debt securities |  |  |  |  | 2,432,801 |  |  |  |  |  | 2,431,591 |  |  |  |  |  | 561,798 |  |  |  |  |  | 558,855 |  |
Affiliated entities |  |  |  |  | 273,626 |  |  |  |  |  | 133,192 |  |  |  |  |  | 116,131 |  |  |  |  |  | 112,330 |  |
Derivatives |  |  |  |  | 209,600 |  |  |  |  |  | 221,478 |  |  |  |  |  | 127,135 |  |  |  |  |  | 140,188 |  |
Investment funds |  |  |  |  | 119,589 |  |  |  |  |  | 82,761 |  |  |  |  |  | 24,986 |  |  |  |  |  | 17,005 |  |
|  |  |  | $ | 7,209,321 |  |  |  |  | $ | 6,850,313 |  |  |  |  | $ | 17,727,425 |  |  |  |  | $ | 17,620,924 |  |
 |
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 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  | Drawbridge RV Plus Master Fund Ltd |
|  |  | 2006 |  |  | 2005 |
Investment Type |  |  | Fair Value |  |  | Cost |  |  | Fair Value |  |  | Cost |
Government bonds |  |  |  | $ | 23,191,938 |  |  |  |  | $ | 23,190,936 |  |  |  |  | $ | 13,877,183 |  |  |  |  | $ | 13,821,629 |  |
Common stocks |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Consumer |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | 6,136 |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Communications |  |  |  |  | 12,848 |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | 6,094 |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Technology |  |  |  |  | 4,083 |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | 1,588 |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Total stocks |  |  |  |  | 16,931 |  |  |  |  |  | 14,748 |  |  |  |  |  | 13,818 |  |  |  |  |  | 14,463 |  |
Debt securities |  |  |  |  | 1,961 |  |  |  |  |  | 1,947 |  |  |  |  |  | 336,100 |  |  |  |  |  | 333,933 |  |
Affiliated entities |  |  |  |  | 10,842 |  |  |  |  |  | 8,882 |  |  |  |  |  | 4,137 |  |  |  |  |  | 3,849 |  |
Derivatives |  |  |  |  | 11,288 |  |  |  |  |  | 17,472 |  |  |  |  |  | 5,073 |  |  |  |  |  | 6,356 |  |
|  |  |  | $ | 23,232,960 |  |  |  |  | $ | 23,233,985 |  |  |  |  | $ | 14,236,311 |  |  |  |  | $ | 14,180,230 |  |
 |
103
Table of ContentsFORTRESS OPERATING GROUP
(Limited Liability Companies)
NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2006
(dollar amounts in tables shown in thousands)
Derivatives
Fortress’s derivatives held through consolidated Fortress Funds are held for trading purposes and are recorded in either Investment Company Holdings, at Fair Value — Derivatives or Derivative Liabilities, at Fair Value. The following table presents Fortress’s investments in derivatives held by consolidated Fortress Funds.
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 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  | Cost / (Proceeds) |  |  | Fair Value |  |  | % of Investment Company Holdings |
|  |  | December 31, |
Instrument |  |  | 2006 |  |  | 2005 |  |  | 2006 |  |  | 2005 |  |  | 2006 |  |  | 2005 |
Credit Default Swaps |  |  |  | $ | — |  |  |  |  | $ | 1,605 |  |  |  |  | $ | 417 |  |  |  |  | $ | 440 |  |  |  |  |  | < .05 | % |  |  |  |  | < .05 | % |
Forward Currency Forwards |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | 53,643 |  |  |  |  |  | 8,849 |  |  |  |  |  | 0.3 | % |  |  |  |  | 0.1 | % |
Interest Rate Swaps and Futures |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | 30,210 |  |  |  |  |  | 2,005 |  |  |  |  |  | 0.1 | % |  |  |  |  | < .05 | % |
Total Derivative Assets |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | 1,605 |  |  |  |  |  | 84,270 |  |  |  |  |  | 11,294 |  |  |  |  |  | 0.4 | % |  |  |  |  | 0.1 | % |
Credit Default and Equity Swaps |  |  |  |  | 4,155 |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | (1,080 | ) |  |  |  |  | (59 | ) |  |  |  |  | < (.05 | %) |  |  |  |  | < (.05 | %) |
Forward Currency Forwards |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | (106,171 | ) |  |  |  |  | (331 | ) |  |  |  |  | (0.5 | %) |  |  |  |  | < (.05 | %) |
Interest Rate Swaps and Futures |  |  |  |  | (10 | ) |  |  |  |  | (10 | ) |  |  |  |  | (14,826 | ) |  |  |  |  | (543 | ) |  |  |  |  | (0.1 | %) |  |  |  |  | < (.05 | %) |
Total Return Swaps |  |  |  |  | (16 | ) |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | (1,830 | ) |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | < (.05 | %) |  |  |  |  | < (.05 | %) |
Total Derivative Liabilities |  |  |  |  | 4,129 |  |  |  |  |  | (10 | ) |  |  |  |  | (123,907 | ) |  |  |  |  | (933 | ) |  |  |  |  | (0.6 | %) |  |  |  |  | < (.05 | %) |
Total – Derivatives |  |  |  | $ | 4,129 |  |  |  |  | $ | 1,595 |  |  |  |  | $ | (39,637 | ) |  |  |  | $ | 10,361 |  |  |  |  |  | (0.2 | %) |  |  |  |  | 0.1 | % |
 |
B) Other Investments
Other investments consist of loans, securities and investments in equity method investees and options in these investees.
Loans and Securities
Loans and securities at December 31, 2005 represented investments held by Northcastle, a consolidated Fortress Fund (which was not an investment company) formed in April 2005 and substantially liquidated by November 2006. Northcastle recorded losses on sales of $11.0 million related to these assets during the year ended December 31, 2006.
Investments in Equity Method Investees
Fortress holds investments in certain unconsolidated Fortress Funds which are accounted for under the equity method. Fortress’s maximum exposure to loss with respect to these entities is equal to its investment. Fortress’s ownership in these funds is held in two ways: (i) directly at Fortress Operating Group, and (ii) indirectly through consolidated Fortress Funds. In addition, unconsolidated affiliates also hold ownership in certain of these entities. Summary financial information related to these investments is as follows:
104
Table of ContentsFORTRESS OPERATING GROUP
(Limited Liability Companies)
NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2006
(dollar amounts in tables shown in thousands)

 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  | Total Equity Held by Fortress |  |  | Total of Fortress’s Equity in Net Income (Loss) |
|  |  | December 31, |  |  | Year Ended December 31, |
|  |  | 2006 |  |  | 2005 |  |  | 2006 |  |  | 2005 |  |  | 2004 |
NIH |  |  |  | $ | 8,213 |  |  |  |  | $ | 9,736 |  |  |  |  | $ | 2,220 |  |  |  |  | $ | 6,091 |  |  |  |  | $ | 8,448 |  |
Newcastle |  |  |  |  | 13,756 |  |  |  |  |  | 12,979 |  |  |  |  |  | 2,746 |  |  |  |  |  | 2,419 |  |  |  |  |  | 5,046 |  |
Eurocastle |  |  |  |  | 11,844 |  |  |  |  |  | 12,081 |  |  |  |  |  | (160 | ) |  |  |  |  | 1,710 |  |  |  |  |  | 900 |  |
Other |  |  |  |  | 3,437 |  |  |  |  |  | 2,805 |  |  |  |  |  | 233 |  |  |  |  |  | 245 |  |  |  |  |  | 222 |  |
|  |  |  | $ | 37,250 |  |  |  |  | $ | 37,601 |  |  |  |  | $ | 5,039 |  |  |  |  | $ | 10,465 |  |  |  |  | $ | 14,616 |  |
 |

 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  | Year Ended December 31, |
|  |  | 2006 |  |  | 2005 |  |  | 2004 |
Earnings from equity method investees |  |  |  | $ | 5,039 |  |  |  |  | $ | 10,465 |  |  |  |  | $ | 14,616 |  |
Distributions of earnings from equity method investees |  |  |  | $ | 10,076 |  |  |  |  | $ | 8,307 |  |  |  |  | $ | 5,765 |  |
Distributions of capital from equity method investees |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |
Total distributions from equity method investees |  |  |  | $ | 10,076 |  |  |  |  | $ | 8,307 |  |  |  |  | $ | 5,765 |  |
Balance of undistributed earnings from equity method investees at year end |  |  |  | $ | 5,972 |  |  |  |  | $ | 11,009 |  |  |  |  | $ | 8,851 |  |
 |

 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  | Newcastle Investment Holdings LLC (‘‘NIH’’) |
|  |  | December 31, (or Year then Ended) |
|  |  | 2006 |  |  | 2005 |  |  | 2004 |
Assets |  |  |  | $ | 457,436 |  |  |  |  | $ | 525,814 |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Liabilities |  |  |  |  | (315,732 | ) |  |  |  |  | (352,509 | ) |  |  |  |  | |  |
Minority interest |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Equity |  |  |  | $ | 141,704 |  |  |  |  | $ | 173,305 |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Equity held by Fortress |  |  |  | $ | 8,213 |  |  |  |  | $ | 9,736 |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Revenues |  |  |  | $ | 79,685 |  |  |  |  | $ | 98,763 |  |  |  |  | $ | 62,177 |  |
Expenses |  |  |  |  | (33,464 | ) |  |  |  |  | (57,398 | ) |  |  |  |  | (27,570 | ) |
Discontinued operations |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | 99,724 |  |  |  |  |  | 596 |  |
Net Income |  |  |  | $ | 46,221 |  |  |  |  | $ | 141,089 |  |  |  |  | $ | 35,203 |  |
Fortress’s equity in net income |  |  |  | $ | 2,220 |  |  |  |  | $ | 6,091 |  |  |  |  | $ | 8,448 |  |
Fully diluted ownership (A) |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Parent company |  |  |  |  | 4.8 | % |  |  |  |  | 4.8 | % |  |  |  |  | 4.8 | % |
Fortress consolidated |  |  |  |  | 4.8 | % |  |  |  |  | 4.8 | % |  |  |  |  | 4.8 | % |
Fortress and affiliates |  |  |  |  | 30.8 | % |  |  |  |  | 30.8 | % |  |  |  |  | 26.8 | % |
 |
105
Table of ContentsFORTRESS OPERATING GROUP
(Limited Liability Companies)
NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2006
(dollar amounts in tables shown in thousands)

 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  | Newcastle Investment Corp. |  |  | Eurocastle Investment Ltd. |
|  |  | December 31, (or Year then Ended) |
|  |  | 2006 |  |  | 2005 |  |  | 2004 |  |  | 2006 |  |  | 2005 |  |  | 2004 |  |  | |
Assets |  |  |  | $ | 8,604,392 |  |  |  |  | $ | 6,209,699 |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  | $ | 7,295,320 |  |  |  |  | $ | 2,684,489 |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  | |
Liabilities |  |  |  |  | (7,602,412 | ) |  |  |  |  | (5,291,696 | ) |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | (5,427,716 | ) |  |  |  |  | (2,340,310 | ) |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  | |
Minority interest |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | (8 | ) |  |  |  |  | (3 | ) |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  | |
Equity |  |  |  | $ | 1,001,980 |  |  |  |  | $ | 918,003 |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  | $ | 1,867,596 |  |  |  |  | $ | 344,176 |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  | |
Equity held by Fortress |  |  |  | $ | 13,756 |  |  |  |  | $ | 12,979 |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  | $ | 11,844 |  |  |  |  | $ | 12,081 |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  | |
Revenues |  |  |  | $ | 558,577 |  |  |  |  | $ | 383,822 |  |  |  |  | $ | 259,626 |  |  |  |  | $ | 356,664 |  |  |  |  | $ | 138,635 |  |  |  |  | $ | 36,243 |  |  |  | |
Expenses |  |  |  |  | (430,877 | ) |  |  |  |  | (268,975 | ) |  |  |  |  | (165,657 | ) |  |  |  |  | (359,249 | ) |  |  |  |  | (99,262 | ) |  |  |  |  | (22,068 | ) |  |  | |
Discontinued operations |  |  |  |  | 223 |  |  |  |  |  | 2,108 |  |  |  |  |  | 4,446 |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | |
Preferred dividends |  |  |  |  | (9,314 | ) |  |  |  |  | (6,684 | ) |  |  |  |  | (6,094 | ) |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | |
Net Income |  |  |  | $ | 118,609 |  |  |  |  | $ | 110,271 |  |  |  |  | $ | 92,321 |  |  |  |  | $ | (2,585 | ) |  |  |  | $ | 39,373 |  |  |  |  | $ | 14,175 |  |  |  | |
Fortress’s equity in net income |  |  |  | $ | 2,746 |  |  |  |  | $ | 2,419 |  |  |  |  | $ | 5,046 |  |  |  |  | $ | (160 | ) |  |  |  | $ | 1,710 |  |  |  |  | $ | 900 |  |  |  | |
Fully diluted ownership (A) |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  | |
Parent company |  |  |  |  | 4.8 | % |  |  |  |  | 4.8 | % |  |  |  |  | 5.3 | % |  |  |  |  | 10.4 | % |  |  |  |  | 12.9 | % |  |  |  |  | 14.0 | % |  |  | |
Fortress consolidated |  |  |  |  | 4.8 | % |  |  |  |  | 4.8 | % |  |  |  |  | 5.3 | % |  |  |  |  | 25.2 | % |  |  |  |  | 18.9 | % |  |  |  |  | 18.4 | % |  |  | |
Fortress and affiliates |  |  |  |  | 12.2 | % |  |  |  |  | 12.1 | % |  |  |  |  | 12.3 | % |  |  |  |  | 26.6 | % |  |  |  |  | 22.5 | % |  |  |  |  | 22.0 | % |  |  | |
 |
(A) | Fully diluted ownership represents the percentage of outstanding common shares owned assuming that all options are exercised. |
Options in Affiliates
Fortress holds options to purchase additional shares of its equity method investees with carrying values as follows:

 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  | December 31, |  |  | |
|  |  | 2006 |  |  | 2005 |  |  | Accounting Treatment |
Newcastle options |  |  |  | $ | 2,950 |  |  |  |  | $ | 2,629 |  |  |  | Held at cost subject to impairment |
Eurocastle options |  |  |  |  | 136,316 |  |  |  |  |  | 21,281 |  |  |  | Qualify as a derivative, held at fair value |
|  |  |  | $ | 139,266 |  |  |  |  | $ | 23,910 |  |  |  | |
 |
Newcastle Investment Corp. (‘‘Newcastle’’)
The following table summarizes Newcastle’s common stock offerings and options granted to Fortress, which were fully vested upon issuance. Newcastle is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol NCT.
106
Table of ContentsFORTRESS OPERATING GROUP
(Limited Liability Companies)
NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2006
(dollar amounts in tables shown in thousands)

 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Year |  |  | Shares Issued (millions) |  |  | Weighted Average Option Strike Price |  |  | Number of Options Granted to Fortress |  |  | Fair Value of Options at Grant Date |
2002 |  |  |  |  | 7.0 |  |  |  |  | $ | 13.00 |  |  |  |  |  | 700,000 |  |  |  |  | $ | 430 |  |
2003 |  |  |  |  | 7.9 |  |  |  |  |  | 21.39 |  |  |  |  |  | 788,227 |  |  |  |  |  | 1,269 |  |
2004 |  |  |  |  | 8.4 |  |  |  |  |  | 27.06 |  |  |  |  |  | 837,500 |  |  |  |  |  | 1,687 |  |
2005 |  |  |  |  | 3.3 |  |  |  |  |  | 29.60 |  |  |  |  |  | 330,000 |  |  |  |  |  | 1,148 |  |
2006 |  |  |  |  | 1.7 |  |  |  |  |  | 29.42 |  |  |  |  |  | 170,000 |  |  |  |  |  | 512 |  |
|  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | 2,825,727 |  |  |  |  | $ | 5,046 |  |
 |
Fortress has assigned a total of 1,138,618 (of which 261,525 were assigned in 2007) of these options, with a weighted average strike price of $22.54 per share, to certain of its employees. This assignment was recorded as compensation expense at the fair value of the options at the date assigned. During 2005, Fortress exercised 670,620 of its options in Newcastle for $10.5 million. Subsequent to these transactions, Fortress held 1,016,489 of these options with a weighted average strike price of $26.80 (range of $20.35 – $31.40).
Eurocastle Investment Ltd. (‘‘Eurocastle’’)
The following table summarizes Eurocastle’s common stock offerings and options granted to Fortress, which were fully vested upon issuance. Eurocastle is listed on Euronext (Amsterdam) under the symbol ECT.

 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Year |  |  | Shares Issued (millions) |  |  | Weighted Average Option Strike Price |  |  | Number of Options Granted to Fortress |  |  | Fair Value of Options at Grant Date |
2003 |  |  |  |  | 11.9 |  |  |  |  | € | 10.00 |  |  |  |  |  | 1,185,767 |  |  |  |  | $ | 154 |  |
2004 |  |  |  |  | 6.6 |  |  |  |  |  | 12.00 |  |  |  |  |  | 660,000 |  |  |  |  |  | 599 |  |
2005 |  |  |  |  | 5.7 |  |  |  |  |  | 17.25 |  |  |  |  |  | 574,000 |  |  |  |  |  | 1,166 |  |
2006 |  |  |  |  | 39.2 |  |  |  |  |  | 30.56 |  |  |  |  |  | 3,923,225 |  |  |  |  |  | 31,076 |  |
|  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | 6,342,992 |  |  |  |  | $ | 32,995 |  |
 |
Fortress has assigned a total of 71,146 of these options, with a weighted average strike price of €10.00 per share, to certain of its employees. This assignment was recorded as compensation expense at the fair value of the options at the date assigned. In addition, compensation expense has been recorded for the fair value of a portion of these options which are contractually due to, but not yet assigned to, certain of Fortress’s employees.
Investments in Variable Interest Entities
Fortress consolidates certain VIEs (defined in Note 2), when it is determined to be their primary beneficiary, either directly or indirectly through other consolidated subsidiaries. In each case, these funds would also be consolidated by Fortress under a voting control model, with the exception of Northcastle. The assets of the consolidated VIEs are primarily classified within Investment Company Holdings, at Fair Value, with the exception of Northcastle’s assets which are primarily classified within Other Investments — Loans and Securities. The liabilities of the consolidated VIEs, primarily the CDO Bonds Payable and Northcastle Debt described in Note 6, are not recourse to Fortress’s general credit.
107
Table of ContentsFORTRESS OPERATING GROUP
(Limited Liability Companies)
NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2006
(dollar amounts in tables shown in thousands)
Fortress is also a variable interest holder in other VIEs which are not consolidated, as it is not their primary beneficiary. In each case, these funds would also not be consolidated by Fortress under a voting control model.
All of the VIEs are Fortress Funds which are privately held investment vehicles whose purpose and activities are further described in Note 1, based on the business segment in which they operate. Fortress sponsored the formation of and manages each of these VIEs and, in most cases, has a principal investment therein as described in Note 1.
The following table sets forth certain information regarding VIEs in which Fortress holds a variable interest as of December 31, 2006:

 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  | Fortress is Primary Beneficiary |  |  | Fortress is not Primary Beneficiary |
Business Segment |  |  | Gross Assets |  |  | Fortress Investment |  |  | Debt (A) |  |  | Gross Assets |  |  | Fortress Investment (B) |
Private Equity Funds |  |  |  | $ | 1,836,824 |  |  |  |  | $ | 14,870 |  |  |  |  | $ | 23,377 |  |  |  |  | $ | 457,436 |  |  |  |  | $ | 8,213 |  |
Liquid Hedge Funds (C) |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | 5,572,445 |  |  |  |  |  | 392,308 |  |
Hybrid Hedge Funds |  |  |  |  | 3,669,392 |  |  |  |  |  | 2,882 |  |  |  |  |  | 1,985,800 |  |  |  |  |  | 562,855 |  |  |  |  |  | 910 |  |
Castles |  |  |  |  | 684 |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | 15,905,442 |  |  |  |  |  | 25,600 |  |
 |
| (A) | These are debt obligations of consolidated Fortress Funds which own the related collateral. This collateral is not directly available to other creditors of Fortress. The hybrid hedge fund debt represents the CDO bonds payable disclosed in Note 6. |
| (B) | Also represents Fortress’s maximum exposure to loss with respect to these entities. |
| (C) | Fortress has no investment in the liquid hedge fund VIEs. However, it has indexed receivables from these entities which are considered variable interests. The settlement value of these receivables, which is also Fortress’s maximum exposure to loss with respect to these entities, is shown in the ‘‘Fortress Investment’’ column. |
 |  |
5. | FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS |
In the normal course of business, Fortress encounters primarily two significant types of economic risk: credit and market. Credit risk is the risk of default on Fortress’s investments in debt securities, loans, leases and derivatives that results from a borrower’s, lessee’s or derivative counterparty’s inability or unwillingness to make required or expected payments. Market risk reflects changes in the value of investments in loans, securities, leases or derivatives, as applicable, due to changes in interest rates, credit spreads or other market factors, including the value of the collateral underlying loans and the valuation of equity and debt securities. Credit risk is enhanced in situations where Fortress is investing in distressed assets, as well as unsecured or subordinate loans or securities, which is a material part of its business. Management believes that the carrying values of its investments are reasonable taking into considera tion these risks along with estimated collateral values, payment histories, and other borrower information.
Fortress makes investments outside of the United States. Fortress’s non-U.S. investments are subject to the same risks associated with its U.S. investments as well as additional risks, such as fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, unexpected changes in regulatory requirements,
108
Table of ContentsFORTRESS OPERATING GROUP
(Limited Liability Companies)
NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2006
(dollar amounts in tables shown in thousands)
heightened risk of political and economic instability, difficulties in managing non-U.S. investments, potentially adverse tax consequences and the burden of complying with a wide variety of foreign laws.
Fortress is exposed to economic risk concentrations insofar as it is dependent on the ability of the Fortress Funds to compensate it for the services which Fortress provides to these funds. Further, the incentive income component of this compensation is based on the ability of the Fortress Funds to generate adequate returns on their investments. In addition, substantially all of Fortress’s net assets, after deducting the portion attributable to non-controlling interests, are comprised of principal investments in, or receivables from, these funds.
Furthermore, Fortress is exposed to economic risk concentrations related to certain large investments as well as concentrations of investments in certain industries and geographic locations, as disclosed in Note 4.
The fair values reflected below are indicative of the interest rate environments as of December 31, 2006 and 2005 and do not take into consideration the effects of subsequent interest rate fluctuations.
Due to the inherent uncertainty of valuations of investments which are illiquid and/or without a public market, which constitute a substantial portion of Fortress’s investments, the estimates of fair value may differ from the values that are ultimately realized by Fortress, and those differences could be material.
The carrying amounts and estimated fair values of Fortress’s financial instruments as of December 31, 2006 and 2005 are as follows:

 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  | Carrying Amount |  |  | Principal Balance / Notional Amount |  |  | Estimated Fair Value |
|  |  | December 31, |
|  |  | 2006 |  |  | 2005 |  |  | 2006 |  |  | 2006 |  |  | 2005 |
Assets |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Investments company holdings, at fair value |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Loans and securities |  |  |  | $ | 6,874,748 |  |  |  |  | $ | 3,597,958 |  |  |  |  |  | N/A |  |  |  |  | $ | 6,874,748 |  |  |  |  | $ | 3,597,958 |  |
Investments in affiliates |  |  |  |  | 14,985,578 |  |  |  |  |  | 6,972,857 |  |  |  |  |  | N/A |  |  |  |  |  | 14,985,578 |  |  |  |  |  | 6,972,857 |  |
Derivatives (A) |  |  |  |  | 84,270 |  |  |  |  |  | 11,294 |  |  |  |  | $ | 7,558,741 |  |  |  |  |  | 84,270 |  |  |  |  |  | 11,294 |  |
Other investments |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Loans and securities |  |  |  |  | 317 |  |  |  |  |  | 389,978 |  |  |  |  |  | N/A |  |  |  |  |  | 317 |  |  |  |  |  | 389,978 |  |
Options in affiliates |  |  |  |  | 139,266 |  |  |  |  |  | 23,910 |  |  |  |  |  | N/A |  |  |  |  |  | 143,313 |  |  |  |  |  | 23,330 |  |
Liabilities |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Securities sold not yet purchased, at fair value |  |  |  |  | 97,717 |  |  |  |  |  | 45,219 |  |  |  |  |  | N/A |  |  |  |  |  | 97,717 |  |  |  |  |  | 45,219 |  |
Derivative liabilities, at fair value (A) |  |  |  |  | 123,907 |  |  |  |  |  | 933 |  |  |  |  |  | 6,714,089 |  |  |  |  |  | 123,907 |  |  |  |  |  | 933 |  |
Investment company debt obligations payable – CDOs |  |  |  |  | 1,985,800 |  |  |  |  |  | 1,193,200 |  |  |  |  |  | 1,985,800 |  |  |  |  |  | N/A |  |  |  |  |  | N/A |  |
Investment company debt obligations payable – other |  |  |  |  | 633,656 |  |  |  |  |  | 626,949 |  |  |  |  |  | 633,656 |  |  |  |  |  | 633,656 |  |  |  |  |  | 626,949 |  |
Other debt obligations payable |  |  |  |  | 687,153 |  |  |  |  |  | 430,284 |  |  |  |  |  | 687,153 |  |  |  |  |  | 687,153 |  |  |  |  |  | 430,284 |  |
 |
 |  |
(A) | The longest maturity of any of the derivatives is March 2035. |
109
Table of ContentsFORTRESS OPERATING GROUP
(Limited Liability Companies)
NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2006
(dollar amounts in tables shown in thousands)
 |  |  |
| The | methodologies used and key assumptions made to estimate fair value are as follows: |
Investment Company Holdings (including Securities Sold, Not Yet Purchased ) — As described in Note 2.
Other Investments — Loans and securities — The fair value of securities is determined based on the closing price on the recognized stock exchange on which the securities are listed or principally traded. The fair value of loans receivable is estimated by discounting expected future cash flows by a rate calculated based on current market conditions for comparable financial instruments, including market interest rates and credit spreads.
Other Investments — Options in Affiliates — The fair value of these securities was estimated by reference to a binomial option pricing model for options in North American companies and a Monte Carlo model for options in European companies.
Derivatives and Derivative Liabilities — The fair value of derivatives is estimated by obtaining counterparty broker quotations.
Debt Obligations Payable — Other than the CDO debt, management believes that for similar financial instruments with comparable credit risks, the stated interest rates as of December 31, 2006 (floating rates at spreads over a market index) approximate market rates. Accordingly, the carrying amount outstanding is believed to approximate fair value. The fair value of the CDO debt is not practicably estimable as there is no liquid secondary trading market.
110
Table of ContentsFORTRESS OPERATING GROUP
(Limited Liability Companies)
NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2006
(dollar amounts in tables shown in thousands)
The following table presents summarized information regarding Fortress’s debt obligations:
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 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  | |  |  | |  |  | |  |  | |  |  | |  |  | |  |  | December 31, 2006 |
|  |  | Face Amount |  |  | Carrying Value |  |  | Final Stated Maturity |  |  | Percent Floating Rate(A) |  |  | Weighted Average Funding Cost(B) |  |  | Weighted Average Maturity (Years) |  |  | Collateral Carrying Value(C) |
|  |  | December 31, |  |  | December 31, |
Debt Obligation/Collateral |  |  | 2006 |  |  | 2005 |  |  | 2006 |  |  | 2005 |
Investment Company Debt |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Repurchase Agreements (D) |  |  |  | $ | 26,118 |  |  |  |  | $ | 14,391 |  |  |  |  | $ | 26,118 |  |  |  |  | $ | 14,391 |  |  |  | Dec 2007 – Aug 2015 |  |  |  |  | 100 | % |  |  |  |  | 5.97 | % |  |  |  |  | 4.57 |  |  |  |  | $ | 30,725 |  |
CDO Bonds Payable (E) |  |  |  |  | 1,985,800 |  |  |  |  |  | 1,193,200 |  |  |  |  |  | 1,985,800 |  |  |  |  |  | 1,193,200 |  |  |  | Jul 2012 – Sep 2018 |  |  |  |  | 100 | % |  |  |  |  | 6.28 | % |  |  |  |  | 8.98 |  |  |  |  |  | 3,433,099 |  |
Credit Agreements / Lines (E) |  |  |  |  | 555,614 |  |  |  |  |  | 565,808 |  |  |  |  |  | 555,614 |  |  |  |  |  | 565,942 |  |  |  | May 2007 – Sept 2009 |  |  |  |  | 100 | % |  |  |  |  | 6.94 | % |  |  |  |  | 1.30 |  |  |  | Note(C) |
Term Loans |  |  |  |  | 51,924 |  |  |  |  |  | 46,700 |  |  |  |  |  | 51,924 |  |  |  |  |  | 46,616 |  |  |  | Jul 2018 |  |  |  |  | 100 | % |  |  |  |  | 5.19 | % |  |  |  |  | 11.51 |  |  |  |  |  | 77,210 |  |
Subtotal – Investment Company Debt |  |  |  |  | 2,619,456 |  |  |  |  |  | 1,820,099 |  |  |  |  |  | 2,619,456 |  |  |  |  |  | 1,820,149 |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | 6.40 | % |  |  |  |  | 7.36 |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Other Debt |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Northcastle Debt |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | 197,935 |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | 197,935 |  |  |  | Repaid Nov 2006 |  |  |  |  | N/A |  |  |  |  |  | N/A |  |  |  |  |  | N/A |  |  |  |  |  | N/A |  |
Credit Agreement |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Revolving debt |  |  |  |  | 85,000 |  |  |  |  |  | 70,000 |  |  |  |  |  | 85,000 |  |  |  |  |  | 70,000 |  |  |  | Jun 2011 |  |  |  |  | 100 | % |  |  |  |  | 7.76 | % |  |  |  |  | 4.48 |  |  |  |  |  | N/A |  |
Term loan |  |  |  |  | 600,000 |  |  |  |  |  | 160,000 |  |  |  |  |  | 600,000 |  |  |  |  |  | 160,000 |  |  |  | Jun 2011 |  |  |  |  | 100 | % |  |  |  |  | 7.44 | % |  |  |  |  | 2.78 |  |  |  | Note(C) |
Aircraft Loan |  |  |  |  | 2,153 |  |  |  |  |  | 2,349 |  |  |  |  |  | 2,153 |  |  |  |  |  | 2,349 |  |  |  | Jul 2007 |  |  |  |  | 100 | % |  |  |  |  | 6.96 | % |  |  |  |  | 0.50 |  |  |  |  |  | 2,522 |  |
Subtotal – Other Debt |  |  |  |  | 687,153 |  |  |  |  |  | 430,284 |  |  |  |  |  | 687,153 |  |  |  |  |  | 430,284 |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | 7.48 | % |  |  |  |  | 2.98 |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Total |  |  |  | $ | 3,306,609 |  |  |  |  | $ | 2,250,383 |  |  |  |  | $ | 3,306,609 |  |  |  |  | $ | 2,250,433 |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | 6.62 | % |  |  |  |  | 6.45 |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
 |
(A) | Generally at a spread over LIBOR. |
(B) | Including the effect of the applicable hedge in the case of the aircraft loan. |
(C) | The CDO Bonds Payable are generally collateralized by the cash, loans and securities held by the CDO Funds. The investment company credit agreements / lines are generally collateralized by the unfunded capital commitments of the respective fund Investors. Two of these lines of credit, with a total of $340 million outstanding as of December 31, 2006, as well as the investment company term loans, are collateralized by certain investments of the consolidated Fortress Funds that are investment companies to which they relate. |
(D) | Subject to potential mandatory prepayments based on collateral value; payable on demand. |
(E) | Approximately $1.7 billion was undrawn on the CDO bonds payable and $1.4 billion remained undrawn on the credit agreements / lines as of December 31, 2006. |
111
Table of ContentsFORTRESS OPERATING GROUP
(Limited Liability Companies)
NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2006
(dollar amounts in tables shown in thousands)
Fortress’s debt obligations have contractual maturities as follows as of December 31, 2006:

 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
2007 |  |  |  | $ | 328,757 |  |
2008 |  |  |  |  | 72,763 |  |
2009 |  |  |  |  | 170,424 |  |
2010 |  |  |  |  | 1,172 |  |
2011 |  |  |  |  | 685,000 |  |
Thereafter |  |  |  |  | 2,048,493 |  |
|  |  |  | $ | 3,306,609 |  |
 |
The investment company and Northcastle debt obligations included above are obligations of consolidated subsidiaries of Fortress which own the related collateral. Generally, this collateral is not directly available to other creditors of Fortress.
Fortress Operating Group Debt
In 2003, Fortress refinanced its $45 million credit agreement, which bore interest at LIBOR +3.50%, with a $98.5 million senior secured credit facility which bore interest at LIBOR + 3.00% and was subject to an unused commitment fee of 0.375% per annum.
In March 2005, Fortress entered into a new $175.0 million credit agreement, which bore interest at LIBOR + 2.75% and was subject to unused commitment fees of 0.375% per annum and letter of credit fees of 2.75% per annum. In connection with this credit agreement, fees of approximately $2.6 million were incurred. In December 2005, this credit agreement was amended to increase the available line by $70.1 million. In connection with this amendment, fees of approximately $1.8 million were incurred.
In June 2006, Fortress entered into a new $750 million credit agreement (the ‘‘Credit Agreement’’). The borrowings under the Credit Agreement bear interest at LIBOR +2.00% (7.35% as of December 31, 2006) and Fortress is subject to unused commitment fees of 0.375% per annum. The Credit Agreement is collateralized by substantially all of Fortress Operating Group’s assets as well as Fortress Operating Group’s rights to fees from the Fortress Funds and its equity interests therein. Approximately $65 million was undrawn on the Credit Agreement as of December 31, 2006. The purpose of the credit agreement was to refinance Fortress’s existing credit agreement, to make funds available for investments in the various existing and new Fortress Funds, and to make a one-time $250 million distribution of capital from Fortress to the Principals. In connection with the repayment of the prior credit facility, deferred loan costs of $3.1 million were written off to interest expense. As a result of the initial public offering (Note 11), Fortress will be subject to a reduced unused commitment fee of 0.25% and a letter of credit fee of 1.50% and borrowings under the Credit Agreement will accrue interest at a rate equal to (i) with respect to LIBOR loans, LIBOR plus 1.50% and (ii) with respect to base rate loans, the base rate (as defined) plus 0.50%. In connection with the initial public offering, $250 million of the term loan portion of the Credit Agreement was repaid.
In 2002, Fortress borrowed $2.9 million collateralized by its interest in an aircraft (the ‘‘Aircraft Loan’’), of which $2.2 million was outstanding as of December 31, 2006. This loan bears interest at LIBOR +2.25% (7.6% as of December 31, 2006). Fortress has hedged its exposure to the risk of changes in market interest rates with respect to this loan by entering into an interest rate swap, which fixes the effective interest rate on this loan at approximately 6.80% through maturity.
112
Table of ContentsFORTRESS OPERATING GROUP
(Limited Liability Companies)
NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2006
(dollar amounts in tables shown in thousands)
 |  |
7. | INCOME TAXES |
For subsidiaries subject to New York City unincorporated business tax (‘‘UBT’’), Fortress has provided for income taxes based on a statutory rate of 4.00%. One subsidiary is subject to U.S. federal corporate income taxes. Certain subsidiaries of Fortress are subject to income tax of the foreign countries in which they conduct business. Fortress’s effective income tax rate was approximately 2.75%, 4.76%, and 2.88% for 2006, 2005 and 2004 respectively.
The provision for income taxes consists of the following:
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 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  | Year Ended December 31, |
|  |  | 2006 |  |  | 2005 |  |  | 2004 |
Current |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Federal income tax |  |  |  | $ | 236 |  |  |  |  | $ | 481 |  |  |  |  | $ | — |  |
Foreign income tax |  |  |  |  | 1,453 |  |  |  |  |  | 861 |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |
State and local income tax |  |  |  |  | 10,447 |  |  |  |  |  | 3,184 |  |  |  |  |  | 496 |  |
|  |  |  |  | 12,136 |  |  |  |  |  | 4,526 |  |  |  |  |  | 496 |  |
Deferred |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Foreign income tax benefit |  |  |  |  | (1,098 | ) |  |  |  |  | (736 | ) |  |  |  |  | — |  |
State and local income tax benefit |  |  |  |  | (837 | ) |  |  |  |  | (2,032 | ) |  |  |  |  | — |  |
Foreign income tax expense |  |  |  |  | 373 |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |
State and local income tax expense |  |  |  |  | 1,951 |  |  |  |  |  | 7,867 |  |  |  |  |  | 2,892 |  |
|  |  |  |  | 389 |  |  |  |  |  | 5,099 |  |  |  |  |  | 2,892 |  |
Total |  |  |  | $ | 12,525 |  |  |  |  | $ | 9,625 |  |  |  |  | $ | 3,388 |  |
 |
Income taxes are provided at the applicable statutory rates. The tax effects of the changes in the temporary differences in the areas listed below resulted in deferred income tax provisions:

 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  | December 31, |
|  |  | 2006 |  |  | 2005 |
Operating loss carry-forward |  |  |  | $ | 1,809 |  |  |  |  | $ | 3,096 |  |
Tax credit carry forward |  |  |  |  | 350 |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |
Timing differences on deductibility of expenses |  |  |  |  | 649 |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |
Total deferred tax asset |  |  |  | $ | 2,808 |  |  |  |  | $ | 3,096 |  |
Deferred management and incentive fee |  |  |  | $ | 7,646 |  |  |  |  | $ | 11,143 |  |
Options received |  |  |  |  | 4,052 |  |  |  |  |  | 867 |  |
Depreciation |  |  |  |  | 153 |  |  |  |  |  | 78 |  |
Deferred provision – foreign taxes |  |  |  |  | 378 |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |
Total deferred tax liability, pre-non-controlling interests |  |  |  |  | 12,229 |  |  |  |  |  | 12,088 |  |
Deferred management and incentive fee, non-controlling interests |  |  |  |  | 760 |  |  |  |  |  | 1,292 |  |
Total deferred tax liability |  |  |  | $ | 12,989 |  |  |  |  | $ | 13,380 |  |
 |
Fortress has recognized a deferred tax asset associated with: i) $6.1 million of tax operating loss carry-forwards creditable against future tax liabilities which expire in 2015 and 2016, if not utilized in prior years, ii) unused tax credits associated with tax paid at lower tier partnerships
113
Table of ContentsFORTRESS OPERATING GROUP
(Limited Liability Companies)
NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2006
(dollar amounts in tables shown in thousands)
which expire in 2013, if not utilized in prior years, and iii) expenses including depreciation, straight-line rent and accrued compensation on options to be assigned to employees which are not currently deductible for tax.
Fortress has recognized a deferred tax liability associated with:
 |  |  |
| (i) | the remaining balance of formerly deferred fees, which will become taxable in 2007. A portion of this deferred tax liability is attributable to non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries. A corresponding entry is made to reduce Fortress’s deferred tax expense and non-controlling interests liability. |
 |  |  |
| (ii) | management fees recorded based on the value of options granted to Fortress, |
 |  |  |
| (iii) | the unrealized gain (loss) recorded in connection with options granted to Fortress, which are treated as derivatives and carried at fair value, |
 |  |  |
| (iv) | accumulated tax depreciation in excess of accumulated book depreciation, and |
 |  |  |
| (v) | capital allowance limitations for foreign income tax purposes. |
The changes in the deferred tax balance sheet accounts described above differ from the deferred tax expense / benefit recognized during the periods presented due to the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates on the balance sheet.
Tax Rate Reconciliation

 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  | Year Ended December 31, |
|  |  | 2006 |  |  | 2005 |  |  | 2004 |
Statutory U.S. federal income tax rate |  |  |  |  | 35.00 | % |  |  |  |  | 35.00 | % |  |  |  |  | 35.00 | % |
Income passed through to stockholders |  |  |  |  | −34.95 | % |  |  |  |  | −34.76 | % |  |  |  |  | −35.00 | % |
State income taxes |  |  |  |  | 2.54 | % |  |  |  |  | 4.46 | % |  |  |  |  | 2.88 | % |
Foreign taxes |  |  |  |  | 0.16 | % |  |  |  |  | 0.06 | % |  |  |  |  | 0.00 | % |
Effective income tax rate |  |  |  |  | 2.75 | % |  |  |  |  | 4.76 | % |  |  |  |  | 2.88 | % |
 |
114
Table of ContentsFORTRESS OPERATING GROUP
(Limited Liability Companies)
NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2006
(dollar amounts in tables shown in thousands)
 |  |
8. | RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS |
Affiliate Receivables and Payables
As of December 31, 2006 and 2005, Due from Affiliates and Due to Affiliates were comprised of the following:

 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  | Management Fees and Incentive Income |  |  | Dividends and Distributions |  |  | Total |
|  |  | December 31, |
Due from Affiliates |  |  | 2006 |  |  | 2005 |  |  | 2006 |  |  | 2005 |  |  | 2006 |  |  | 2005 |
Private equity funds |  |  |  | $ | — |  |  |  |  | $ | 28,720 |  |  |  |  | $ | 26,315 |  |  |  |  | $ | 115 |  |  |  |  | $ | 26,315 |  |  |  |  | $ | 28,835 |  |
Castles |  |  |  |  | 47,832 |  |  |  |  |  | 14,632 |  |  |  |  |  | 1,297 |  |  |  |  |  | 641 |  |  |  |  |  | 49,129 |  |  |  |  |  | 15,273 |  |
Liquid and hybrid hedge funds |  |  |  |  | 500,889 |  |  |  |  |  | 301,753 |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | 500,889 |  |  |  |  |  | 301,753 |  |
Unconsolidated subsidiaries of liquid hedge fund subsidiaries |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | 19,309 |  |  |  |  |  | 15,916 |  |  |  |  |  | 19,309 |  |  |  |  |  | 15,916 |  |
Total |  |  |  | $ | 548,721 |  |  |  |  | $ | 345,105 |  |  |  |  | $ | 46,921 |  |  |  |  | $ | 16,672 |  |  |  |  |  | 595,642 |  |  |  |  |  | 361,777 |  |
|  |  | |  |  | |  |  | |  |  | Other |  |  |  |  | 40,106 |  |  |  |  |  | 4,066 |  |
|  |  | |  |  | |  |  | |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  | $ | 635,748 |  |  |  |  | $ | 365,843 |  |
 |

 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  | Payments on Behalf of Consolidated Fortress Funds |  |  | Incentive Income and Related Rebate |  |  | Total |
|  |  | December 31, |
Due to Affiliates |  |  | 2006 |  |  | 2005 |  |  | 2006 |  |  | 2005 |  |  | 2006 |  |  | 2005 |
Private equity funds |  |  |  | $ | 14,123 |  |  |  |  | $ | — |  |  |  |  | $ | — |  |  |  |  | $ | 3,832 |  |  |  |  | $ | 14,123 |  |  |  |  | $ | 3,832 |  |
Employees |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | 292 |  |  |  |  |  | 54,149 |  |  |  |  |  | 292 |  |  |  |  |  | 54,149 |  |
Total |  |  |  | $ | 14,123 |  |  |  |  | $ | — |  |  |  |  | $ | 292 |  |  |  |  | $ | 57,981 |  |  |  |  |  | 14,415 |  |  |  |  |  | 57,981 |  |
|  |  | |  |  | |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  | Other |  |  |  |  | 697 |  |  |  |  |  | 96 |  |
|  |  | |  |  | |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  | $ | 15,112 |  |  |  |  | $ | 58,077 |  |
 |
As described in Note 3, Fortress elected to defer the receipt of certain management fee and incentive income revenues from its unconsolidated hedge funds. The return on these deferred fee receivables was indexed by the funds in accordance with the deferred fee arrangements to returns on certain investments, including investments in affiliates. The indexed receivables increased by $102.0 million, $27.0 million and $5.5 million during 2006, 2005, and 2004, respectively, which is recorded as Other Investments — Net Unrealized Gains from Affiliate Investments.
Other Related Party Transactions
From time to time, Fortress may advance amounts on behalf of affiliates for short periods. In such cases it generally charges interest to these affiliates. One of Fortress’s consolidated subsidiaries (not a Fortress Fund) acts as the loan origination platform for certain Fortress Funds. In this respect, it holds commercial lending licenses in various states and receives fees for its loan origination duties. Fortress earned none, $0.2 million and $0.9 million of other revenues from affiliates during 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively.
The table below presents investments held by Fortress’s equity method investees and Portfolio Companies, which are not consolidated, in other Fortress equity method investees and Portfolio Companies as of December 31, 2006.
115
Table of ContentsFORTRESS OPERATING GROUP
(Limited Liability Companies)
NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2006
(dollar amounts in tables shown in thousands)

 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  | Investment Type |
Investor Type |  |  | Equity |  |  | Debt |
Equity method investees |  |  |  | $ | — |  |  |  |  | $ | 235,096 |  |
Portfolio Companies |  |  |  | $ | 383,972 |  |  |  |  | $ | 127,288 |  |
 |
One of the consolidated Fortress Funds has investments in two real estate related joint ventures with one of the Castles which aggregated approximately $41.3 million as of December 31, 2006.
Certain Portfolio Companies and Fortress Funds are co-owned by, have merged with, and/or have engaged in transactions with, other Portfolio Companies and Fortress Funds. Generally, co-ownership arrangements are entered into due to transaction size limitations in individual funds and transactions between Portfolio Companies take advantage of synergies between these entities. In some instances, Portfolio Companies have entered into contracts with other Portfolio Companies or with certain of Fortress’s equity method investees to provide services to, or receive services from, these entities, including asset management, consulting and loan servicing. These contracts were entered into because the entity providing the service possessed relevant expertise.
Fortress has entered into cost sharing arrangements with the operating subsidiaries of the private equity funds, including subleases of certain of its office space. Expenses borne by the operating subsidiaries of the private equity funds under these agreements are paid directly by those entities (i.e. they are not paid by Fortress and reimbursed). Furthermore, the operating subsidiaries of the private equity funds have a separate cost sharing arrangement with each other.
The Principals have guaranteed payment on a several basis to the Fortress private equity funds of any contingent repayment (clawback) obligation with respect to the private equity fund incentive income in the event that Fortress fails to fulfill its clawback obligation, if any, but only if Fortress has a net worth, as defined, of less than $10 million.
One of our Principals owns aircraft that Fortress uses for business purposes in the course of its operations. The payments made or accrued to such Principal for this use were based on estimated current market rates for chartering aircraft and totaled $0.6 million in 2006, including $0.4 million from consolidated Fortress Funds.
The Principals receive limited benefits from Fortress in addition to their compensation, including the personal use of certain company assets for which they reimburse Fortress.
 |  |
9. | COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES |
Indemnifications — In the normal course of business, Fortress and its subsidiaries enter into operating contracts that contain a variety of representations and warranties and that provide general indemnifications. Fortress’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be made against Fortress that have not yet occurred. However, based on experience, Fortress expects the risk of material loss to be remote.
Debt Covenants — Fortress’s debt obligations contain various customary loan covenants. These covenants do not, in management’s opinion, materially restrict Fortress’s investment or financing strategy at this time. Fortress was in compliance with all of its loan covenants as of December 31, 2006, except as follows. Fortress was in technical violation of a covenant in its credit agreement limiting the assignment by Fortress of incentive income from certain Fortress Funds to its employees. In January 2007, Fortress entered into an amendment of this credit agreement to waive this violation and increase the limit on incentive income which may be assigned.
116
Table of ContentsFORTRESS OPERATING GROUP
(Limited Liability Companies)
NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2006
(dollar amounts in tables shown in thousands)
Loan and Equity Commitments — Fortress, through the Fortress Funds, had unfunded commitments under loan agreements and other agreements of approximately $1,223.8 million and $331.2 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2006. In addition, the Fortress Funds had signed binding letters of intent with respect to new investments representing commitments of approximately $21.1 million as of December 31, 2006.
Securities Sold, Not Yet Purchased — Securities sold, not yet purchased represent obligations of Fortress (through the Fortress Funds) to purchase the securities at prevailing market prices. As such, the future satisfaction of these obligations may be at amounts that are greater or less than that recorded in the accompanying balance sheet. The ultimate gains or losses depend upon the prices at which the underlying financial instruments are purchased to settle Fortress’s obligations under the sale commitments.
Litigation — Fortress is, from time to time, a defendant in legal actions from transactions conducted in the ordinary course of business. Management, after consultation with legal counsel, believes the ultimate liability arising from such actions that existed as of December 31, 2006, if any, will not materially affect Fortress’s results of operations, liquidity or financial position.
On September 15, 2005, a lawsuit captioned David T. Atkins et al. v. Apollo Real Estate Advisors, L.P. et al. was brought on behalf of current and former limited partners in certain investing partnerships related to the sale of certain facilities to Ventas Realty Limited Partnership (‘‘Ventas’’) against a number of defendants, including one of the Portfolio Companies and a subsidiary of Fortress (‘‘FIG’’). FIG was the investment manager of consolidated Fortress Funds that were controlling shareholders of the Portfolio Company during the relevant time periods. The suit alleges that the defendants improperly obtained certain rights with respect to such facilities from the investing partnerships. The plaintiffs have asked for damages in excess of $100 million on each of nine counts, as to which FIG is a defendant on seven counts, including treble damages with respect to certain counts. Fortress is seeki ng to have itself removed as a named defendant in this case. The Portfolio Company intends to file a motion to dismiss the claims and continues to vigorously defend this action. Fortress believes that the resolution of this action will not have a material adverse effect on its financial condition, liquidity or results of operations.
In addition, in the ordinary course of business, the Fortress Funds are and can be both the defendant and the plaintiff in numerous actions with respect to bankruptcy, insolvency and other types of proceedings. Such lawsuits may involve claims that adversely affect the value of certain financial instruments owned by the Fortress Funds. Although the ultimate outcome of actions cannot be ascertained with certainty, Fortress believes that the resolution of any such actions will not have a material adverse effect on its financial condition, liquidity or results of operations.
Minimum Future Rentals — Fortress is a lessee under operating leases for office space located in New York, Dallas, San Diego, Los Angeles, Toronto, Geneva, Sydney, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Frankfurt and London.
117
Table of ContentsFORTRESS OPERATING GROUP
(Limited Liability Companies)
NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2006
(dollar amounts in tables shown in thousands)
The following is a summary of major lease terms:

 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  | New York Leases |  |  | Other Leases |
Lease end date |  |  | Dec-2016 |  |  | Various dates through Apr-2012 |
Current annual rent |  |  | $6,725 |  |  | $6,169 |
Scheduled rent changes |  |  | Year 5 to $6,840; Year 9 to $5,725 |  |  | 1.4% per annum |
Escalations |  |  | Generally, a fixed percentage of the landlord’s annual operating expenses and tax expense. |  |  | Generally, a fixed percentage of the landlord’s annual operating expenses and tax expense. |
Free rent periods |  |  | 6 – 9 months |  |  | 4 – 12 months |
Leasehold improvement incentives |  |  | $2,304 |  |  | $476 |
Renewal periods |  |  | None |  |  | 5-year option on one lease, remainder have none |
 |
Minimum future rental expense under these leases is as follows:

 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Year Ending December 31, |  |  | |
2007 |  |  |  | $ | 12,893 |  |
2008 |  |  |  |  | 13,410 |  |
2009 |  |  |  |  | 12,859 |  |
2010 |  |  |  |  | 12,327 |  |
2011 |  |  |  |  | 9,084 |  |
Thereafter |  |  |  |  | 28,895 |  |
Total |  |  |  | $ | 89,468 |  |
 |
Rent expense recognized on a straight-line basis during the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004 was $10.7 million, $9.4 million, and $4.0 million, respectively, and was included in General, Administrative and Other Expense.
118
Table of ContentsFORTRESS OPERATING GROUP
(Limited Liability Companies)
NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2006
(dollar amounts in tables shown in thousands)
 |  |
10. | SEGMENT REPORTING |
Fortress conducts its management and investment business through the following four primary segments: (i) private equity funds, (ii) liquid hedge funds, (iii) hybrid hedge funds, and (iv) Castles. These segments are differentiated based on their varying investment strategies.
The amounts not allocated to a segment consist primarily of interest earned on short term investments, general and administrative expenses (including depreciation), interest incurred with respect to corporate borrowings, and income taxes.
Management makes operating decisions and assesses performance with regard to each of Fortress’s primary segments based on financial data that is presented without the consolidation of any Fortress Funds. Accordingly, segment data for these segments is reflected on an unconsolidated basis.
Management assesses the net performance of each segment based on its ‘‘distributable earnings.’’ Distributable earnings is not a measure of cash generated by operations which is available for distribution. Rather, distributable earnings is a supplemental measure of the value created during any period which management uses in its determination of its periodic distributions to its equity holders. Distributable earnings should not be considered as an alternative to cash flow, in accordance with GAAP, as a measure of Fortress’s liquidity, and is not necessarily indicative of cash available to fund cash needs (including distributions).
‘‘Distributable earnings’’ for the existing Fortress businesses is equal to net income adjusted as follows:
Incentive Income
 |  |  |  |
| (i) | a. | for Fortress Funds which are private equity funds, adding (a) incentive income paid (or declared as a distribution) to Fortress, less an applicable reserve for potential future clawbacks if the likelihood of a clawback is deemed greater than remote (net of the reversal of any prior such reserves that are no longer deemed necessary), minus (b) incentive income recorded in accordance with GAAP, based on the accounting method described in Note 2, |
 |  |  |
| b. | for other Fortress Funds, at interim periods, adding (a) incentive income on an accrual basis as if the incentive income from these funds were payable on a quarterly basis, minus (b) incentive income recorded in accordance with GAAP, |
Other Income
 |  |  |
| (ii) | with respect to income from certain principal investments and certain other interests that cannot be readily transferred or redeemed: |
 |  |  |
| a. | for equity method investments in the Castles and private equity funds as well as indirect equity method investments in hedge fund special investment accounts (which generally have investment profiles similar to private equity funds), treating these investments as cost basis investments by adding (a) realizations of income, primarily dividends, from these funds, minus (b) impairment with respect to these funds, if necessary, minus (c) equity method earnings (or losses) recorded in accordance with GAAP, |
 |  |  |
| b. | subtracting gains (or adding losses) on stock options held in the Castles, |
 |  |  |
| c. | subtracting unrealized gains (or adding unrealized losses) from consolidated private equity funds, |
119
Table of ContentsFORTRESS OPERATING GROUP
(Limited Liability Companies)
NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2006
(dollar amounts in tables shown in thousands)
 |  |  |
| (iii) | adding (a) proceeds from the sale of shares received pursuant to the exercise of stock options in certain of the Castles, in excess of their strike price, minus (b) management fee income recorded in accordance with GAAP in connection with the receipt of these options, |
Expenses
 |  |  |
| (iv) | adding back compensation expense recorded in connection with the assignment of a portion of these Castle options to employees, and |
 |  |  |
| (v) | adding or subtracting, as necessary, the employee profit sharing in (i) above to match the timing of the expense with the revenue. |
The largest adjustment between GAAP net income and distributable earnings relates to incentive income. Management believes only the incentive income related to realized income should be considered available for distribution, subject to a possible reserve, determined on a fund by fund basis, as necessary, for potential future clawbacks deemed to have more than a remote likelihood of occurring. As such, distributable earnings generally includes incentive income to the extent it relates to paid or declared distributions from Fortress Funds’ investments that have been monetized through sale or financing.
The computation of the clawback reserve, if any, takes into account, among other factors, the amount of unrealized incentive income within a given fund since, on an overall fund basis, this unrealized incentive income would have to suffer a complete loss before the realized portion becomes subject to contingent repayment. This type of incentive income is not recorded as revenue for GAAP purposes, under the revenue recognition method Fortress has selected, until the possibility of a clawback is resolved. This GAAP method is not completely reflective of value created during the period which is available for distribution as it disregards the likelihood that any contingent repayment will in fact occur.
Distributable earnings is limited in its usefulness in measuring earnings because it recognizes as revenues amounts which are subject to contingent repayment, it ignores significant unrealized gains and it does not fully reflect the economic costs to Fortress by ignoring certain compensation expenses. Management utilizes distributable earnings as well as net income in its analysis of the overall performance of Fortress and notes that the two measures are each useful for different purposes.
Total segment assets after consolidation are equal to total GAAP assets adjusted for:
 |  |  |
| (i) | the difference between the GAAP carrying amount of equity method investments and their carrying amount for segment reporting purposes, which is generally fair value for publicly traded investments and cost for nonpublic investments, |
 |  |  |
| (ii) | employee portions of investments, which are reported gross for GAAP purposes (as assets offset by non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries) but net for segment reporting purposes, and |
 |  |  |
| (iii) | the difference between the GAAP carrying amount for options owned in certain of the Castles (Note 2) and their carrying amount for segment reporting purposes, which is intrinsic value. |
Summary financial data on Fortress’s segments is presented on the following pages, together with a reconciliation to revenues, assets and net income for Fortress as a whole. Fortress’s investments
120
Table of ContentsFORTRESS OPERATING GROUP
(Limited Liability Companies)
NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2006
(dollar amounts in tables shown in thousands)
in its equity method investees are all included in its Castles segment, except one private equity fund. Fortress’s interest income is all included in the Consolidation of Fortress Funds and its interest expense is included in the Consolidation of Fortress Funds (Interest Expense — Investment Company Holdings) and the amounts not allocated to a segment (Interest Expense — Other). Income tax expense is all included in the amounts not allocated to a segment.
Note that distributable earnings for the periods presented includes earnings on deferred fee arrangements (Note 3), net of any employee share, as presented in the table below. A substantial majority of these deferred fees have been collected and the remainder will be collected later in 2007. The deferred fee arrangements were terminated in 2007 (Note 11) and therefore these earnings are not reflective of ongoing operations and will not contribute to distributable earnings subsequent to the termination date.

 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  | Year Ended December 31, |
|  |  | 2006 |  |  | 2005 |  |  | 2004 |
Liquid hedge funds |  |  |  | $ | 79,042 |  |  |  |  | $ | 19,070 |  |  |  |  | $ | 2,744 |  |
Hybrid hedge funds |  |  |  |  | 13,696 |  |  |  |  |  | 5,778 |  |  |  |  |  | 1,946 |  |
Total |  |  |  | $ | 92,738 |  |  |  |  | $ | 24,848 |  |  |  |  | $ | 4,690 |  |
 |

 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
December 31, 2006 and the Year then Ended |  |  | Private Equity Funds |  |  | Liquid Hedge Funds |  |  | Hybrid Hedge Funds |  |  | Castles |  |  | Unallocated |  |  | Fortress Unconsolidated Subtotal |
Segment revenues |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Management fees |  |  |  | $ | 84,429 |  |  |  |  | $ | 92,750 |  |  |  |  | $ | 84,536 |  |  |  |  | $ | 33,044 |  |  |  |  | $ | — |  |  |  |  | $ | 294,759 |  |
Incentive income |  |  |  |  | 129,800 |  |  |  |  |  | 154,068 |  |  |  |  |  | 135,939 |  |  |  |  |  | 15,683 |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | 435,490 |  |
Segment revenues – total |  |  |  | $ | 214,229 |  |  |  |  | $ | 246,818 |  |  |  |  | $ | 220,475 |  |  |  |  | $ | 48,727 |  |  |  |  | $ | — |  |  |  |  | $ | 730,249 |  |
Pre-tax distributable earnings |  |  |  | $ | 154,572 |  |  |  |  | $ | 184,575 |  |  |  |  | $ | 104,371 |  |  |  |  | $ | 7,093 |  |  |  |  | $ | (53,688 | ) |  |  |  | $ | 396,923 |  |
Income tax expense |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | (12,162 | ) |  |  |  |  | (12,162 | ) |
Distributable earnings |  |  |  | $ | 154,572 |  |  |  |  | $ | 184,575 |  |  |  |  | $ | 104,371 |  |  |  |  | $ | 7,093 |  |  |  |  | $ | (65,850 | ) |  |  |  | $ | 384,761 |  |
Total segment assets |  |  |  | $ | 137,538 |  |  |  |  | $ | 366,901 |  |  |  |  | $ | 420,041 |  |  |  |  | $ | 213,836 |  |  |  |  | $ | 141,317 |  |  |  |  | $ | 1,279,633 |  |
 |

 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  | Fortress Unconsolidated Subtotal |  |  | Consolidation of Fortress Funds |  |  | Eliminations |  |  | Reconciliation to GAAP |  |  | Fortress Consolidated |
Revenues |  |  |  | $ | 730,249 |  |  |  |  | $ | 1,159,204 |  |  |  |  | $ | (295,119 | ) |  |  |  | $ | (73,030 | ) |  |  |  | $ | 1,521,304 |  |
Distributable earnings / net income |  |  |  | $ | 384,761 |  |  |  |  | $ | 7,132,455 |  |  |  |  | $ | (7,132,455 | ) |  |  |  | $ | 58,123 |  |  |  |  | $ | 442,884 |  |
Total assets |  |  |  | $ | 1,279,633 |  |  |  |  | $ | 24,621,638 |  |  |  |  | $ | (2,387,773 | ) |  |  |  | $ | 169,075 |  |  |  |  | $ | 23,682,573 |  |
 |
121
Table of ContentsFORTRESS OPERATING GROUP
(Limited Liability Companies)
NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2006
(dollar amounts in tables shown in thousands)
December 31, 2006 and the Year then Ended
Reconciling items between segment measures and GAAP measures:
Adjustments from segment revenues to GAAP revenues

 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Adjust incentive income |  |  |  | $ | (108,327 | ) |
Adjust income from the receipt of options |  |  |  |  | 31,588 |  |
Other revenues* |  |  |  |  | 3,709 |  |
Total adjustments |  |  |  | $ | (73,030 | ) |
 |
* | Segment revenues do not include GAAP other revenues; GAAP other revenues is included elsewhere in the calculation of distributable earnings. |
Adjustments from distributable earnings to GAAP net income

 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Adjust incentive income |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Incentive income received from private equity funds, subject to contingent repayment |  |  |  | $ | (129,348 | ) |  |  |  |  | |  |
Incentive income received from one private equity fund, no longer subject to contingent repayment |  |  |  |  | 9,474 |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Incentive income accrued from one private equity fund, not subject to contingent repayment |  |  |  |  | 12,000 |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Incentive income received from one private equity fund, not subject to contingent repayment |  |  |  |  | (453 | ) |  |  |  |  | |  |
Reserve for clawback |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
|  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | (108,327 | ) |
Adjust unrealized gains and earnings from equity method investees |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Distributions of earnings from equity method investees** |  |  |  |  | (9,851 | ) |  |  |  |  | |  |
Earnings from equity method investees** |  |  |  |  | 77,353 |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Unrealized gains/losses on options in equity method investees, treated as derivatives |  |  |  |  | 86,134 |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
|  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | 153,636 |  |
Adjust income from the receipt of options |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | 31,588 |  |
Adjust compensation expense |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | (15,947 | ) |
Adjust employee portion of incentive income from one private equity fund, not subject to contingent repayment |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | (2,827 | ) |
Total adjustments |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  | $ | 58,123 |  |
 |
** | This adjustment relates to all of the Castles and private equity Fortress Funds in which Fortress has an investment. On an unconsolidated basis, each of these funds is accounted for under the equity method. |
122
Table of ContentsFORTRESS OPERATING GROUP
(Limited Liability Companies)
NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2006
(dollar amounts in tables shown in thousands)
December 31, 2006
Adjustments from total segment assets to GAAP assets

 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Adjust equity investments from fair value |  |  |  | $ | (57,729 | ) |
Adjust equity investments from cost |  |  |  |  | 70,848 |  |
Adjust investments gross of employee portion |  |  |  |  | 122,920 |  |
Adjust option investments to intrinsic value |  |  |  |  | 33,036 |  |
Total adjustments |  |  |  | $ | 169,075 |  |
 |

 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
December 31, 2005 and the Year then Ended |  |  | Private Equity Funds |  |  | Liquid Hedge Funds |  |  | Hybrid Hedge Funds |  |  | Castles |  |  | Unallocated |  |  | Fortress Unconsolidated Subtotal |
Segment revenues |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Management fees |  |  |  | $ | 46,695 |  |  |  |  | $ | 55,978 |  |  |  |  | $ | 50,507 |  |  |  |  | $ | 19,463 |  |  |  |  | $ | — |  |  |  |  | $ | 172,643 |  |
Incentive income |  |  |  |  | 133,230 |  |  |  |  |  | 114,353 |  |  |  |  |  | 73,230 |  |  |  |  |  | 12,412 |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | 333,225 |  |
Segment revenues – total |  |  |  | $ | 179,925 |  |  |  |  | $ | 170,331 |  |  |  |  | $ | 123,737 |  |  |  |  | $ | 31,875 |  |  |  |  | $ | — |  |  |  |  | $ | 505,868 |  |
Pre-tax distributable earnings |  |  |  | $ | 128,082 |  |  |  |  | $ | 89,413 |  |  |  |  | $ | 57,417 |  |  |  |  | $ | 9,118 |  |  |  |  | $ | (13,740 | ) |  |  |  | $ | 270,290 |  |
Income tax expense |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | (9,016 | ) |  |  |  |  | (9,016 | ) |
Distributable earnings |  |  |  | $ | 128,082 |  |  |  |  | $ | 89,413 |  |  |  |  | $ | 57,417 |  |  |  |  | $ | 9,118 |  |  |  |  | $ | (22,756 | ) |  |  |  | $ | 261,274 |  |
Total segment assets |  |  |  | $ | 101,626 |  |  |  |  | $ | 264,081 |  |  |  |  | $ | 161,210 |  |  |  |  | $ | 90,215 |  |  |  |  | $ | 64,815 |  |  |  |  | $ | 681,947 |  |
 |

 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  | Fortress Unconsolidated Subtotal |  |  | Consolidation of Fortress Funds |  |  | Eliminations |  |  | Reconciliation to GAAP |  |  | Fortress Consolidated |
Revenues |  |  |  | $ | 505,868 |  |  |  |  | $ | 825,155 |  |  |  |  | $ | (200,074 | ) |  |  |  | $ | (87,550 | ) |  |  |  | $ | 1,043,399 |  |
Distributable earnings / net income |  |  |  | $ | 261,274 |  |  |  |  | $ | 3,304,206 |  |  |  |  | $ | (3,304,206 | ) |  |  |  | $ | (68,598 | ) |  |  |  | $ | 192,676 |  |
Total assets |  |  |  | $ | 681,947 |  |  |  |  | $ | 12,453,692 |  |  |  |  | $ | (1,329,372 | ) |  |  |  | $ | 57,671 |  |  |  |  | $ | 11,863,938 |  |
 |
123
Table of ContentsFORTRESS OPERATING GROUP
(Limited Liability Companies)
NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2006
(dollar amounts in tables shown in thousands)
December 31, 2005 and the Year then Ended
Reconciling items between segment measures and GAAP measures:
Adjustments from segment revenues to GAAP revenues

 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Adjust incentive income |  |  |  | $ | (91,187 | ) |
Adjust income from the receipt of options |  |  |  |  | 2,310 |  |
Other revenues* |  |  |  |  | 1,327 |  |
Total adjustments |  |  |  | $ | (87,550 | ) |
 |
* | Segment revenues do not include GAAP other revenues; GAAP other revenues is included elsewhere in the calculation of distributable earnings. |
Adjustments from distributable earnings to GAAP net income

 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Adjust incentive income |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Incentive income received from private equity funds, subject to contingent repayment |  |  |  | $ | (83,745 | ) |  |  |  |  | |  |
Incentive income received from one private equity fund, not subject to contingent repayment |  |  |  |  | (49,486 | ) |  |  |  |  | |  |
Incentive income accrued from one private equity fund, not subject to contingent repayment |  |  |  |  | 42,044 |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Reserve for clawback |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
|  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | (91,187 | ) |
Adjust unrealized gains and earnings from equity method investees |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Distributions of earnings from equity method investees** |  |  |  |  | (13,652 | ) |  |  |  |  | |  |
Earnings from equity method investees** |  |  |  |  | 25,849 |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Unrealized gains/losses on options in equity method investees, treated as derivatives |  |  |  |  | 6,068 |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
|  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | 18,265 |  |
Adjust income from the receipt of options |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | 2,310 |  |
Adjust compensation expense |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |
Adjust employee portion of incentive income from one private equity fund, not subject to contingent repayment |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | 2,014 |  |
Total adjustments |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  | $ | (68,598 | ) |
 |
** | This adjustment relates to all of the Castles and private equity Fortress Funds in which Fortress has an investment. On an unconsolidated basis, each of these funds is accounted for under the equity method. |
124
Table of ContentsFORTRESS OPERATING GROUP
(Limited Liability Companies)
NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2006
(dollar amounts in tables shown in thousands)
December 31, 2005
Adjustments from total segment assets to GAAP assets

 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Adjust equity investments from fair value |  |  |  | $ | 2,608 |  |
Adjust equity investments from cost |  |  |  |  | 18,532 |  |
Adjust investments gross of employee portion |  |  |  |  | 37,469 |  |
Adjust option investments to intrinsic value |  |  |  |  | (938 | ) |
Total adjustments |  |  |  | $ | 57,671 |  |
 |

 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
December 31, 2004 and the Year then Ended |  |  | Private Equity Funds |  |  | Liquid Hedge Funds |  |  | Hybrid Hedge Funds |  |  | Castles |  |  | Unallocated |  |  | Fortress Unconsolidated Subtotal |
Segment revenues |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Management fees |  |  |  | $ | 28,042 |  |  |  |  | $ | 33,511 |  |  |  |  | $ | 27,534 |  |  |  |  | $ | 13,278 |  |  |  |  | $ | — |  |  |  |  | $ | 102,365 |  |
Incentive income |  |  |  |  | 19,407 |  |  |  |  |  | 16,638 |  |  |  |  |  | 53,456 |  |  |  |  |  | 7,959 |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | 97,460 |  |
Segment revenues – total |  |  |  | $ | 47,449 |  |  |  |  | $ | 50,149 |  |  |  |  | $ | 80,990 |  |  |  |  | $ | 21,237 |  |  |  |  | $ | — |  |  |  |  | $ | 199,825 |  |
Pre-tax distributable earnings |  |  |  | $ | 26,338 |  |  |  |  | $ | 31,140 |  |  |  |  | $ | 38,576 |  |  |  |  | $ | 6,328 |  |  |  |  | $ | (2,003 | ) |  |  |  | $ | 100,379 |  |
Income tax expense |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | (2,910 | ) |  |  |  |  | (2,910 | ) |
Distributable earnings |  |  |  | $ | 26,338 |  |  |  |  | $ | 31,140 |  |  |  |  | $ | 38,576 |  |  |  |  | $ | 6,328 |  |  |  |  | $ | (4,913 | ) |  |  |  | $ | 97,469 |  |
 |

 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  | Fortress Unconsolidated Subtotal |  |  | Consolidation of Fortress Funds |  |  | Eliminations |  |  | Reconciliation to GAAP |  |  | Fortress Consolidated |
Revenues |  |  |  | $ | 199,825 |  |  |  |  | $ | 240,122 |  |  |  |  | $ | (90,672 | ) |  |  |  | $ | 2,103 |  |  |  |  | $ | 351,378 |  |
Distributable earnings / net income |  |  |  | $ | 97,469 |  |  |  |  | $ | 1,045,116 |  |  |  |  | $ | (1,045,116 | ) |  |  |  | $ | 16,981 |  |  |  |  | $ | 114,450 |  |
 |
125
Table of ContentsFORTRESS OPERATING GROUP
(Limited Liability Companies)
NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2006
(dollar amounts in tables shown in thousands)
December 31, 2004 and the Year then Ended
Reconciling items between segment measures and GAAP measures:
Adjustments from segment revenues to GAAP revenues

 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Adjust incentive income |  |  |  | $ | (1,627 | ) |
Adjust income from the receipt of options |  |  |  |  | 2,285 |  |
Other revenues* |  |  |  |  | 1,445 |  |
Total adjustments |  |  |  | $ | 2,103 |  |
 |
* | Segment revenues do not include GAAP other revenues; GAAP other revenues is included elsewhere in the calculation of distributable earnings. |
Adjustments from distributable earnings to GAAP net income

 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Adjust incentive income |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Incentive income received from private equity funds, subject to contingent repayment |  |  |  | $ | (15,409 | ) |  |  |  |  | |  |
Incentive income received from one private equity fund, not subject to contingent repayment |  |  |  |  | (3,998 | ) |  |  |  |  | |  |
Incentive income accrued from one private equity fund, not subject to contingent repayment |  |  |  |  | 17,780 |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Reserve for clawback |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
|  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | (1,627 | ) |
Adjust unrealized gains and earnings from equity method investees |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Distributions of earnings from equity method investees** |  |  |  |  | (5,812 | ) |  |  |  |  | |  |
Earnings from equity method investees** |  |  |  |  | 13,125 |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Unrealized gains/losses on options in equity method investees, treated as derivatives, and realized gain on distribution of options |  |  |  |  | 19,062 |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
|  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | 26,375 |  |
Adjust income from the receipt of options |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | 2,285 |  |
Adjust compensation expense |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | (5,901 | ) |
Adjust employee portion of incentive income from one private equity fund, not subject to contingent repayment |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | (4,151 | ) |
Total adjustments |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  | $ | 16,981 |  |
 |
** | This adjustment relates to all of the Castles and private equity Fortress Funds in which Fortress has an investment. On an unconsolidated basis, each of these funds is accounted for under the equity method. |
126
Table of ContentsFORTRESS OPERATING GROUP
(Limited Liability Companies)
NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2006
(dollar amounts in tables shown in thousands)
Fortress earned revenues by country as follows:

 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  | Year Ended December 31, |
|  |  | 2006 |  |  | 2005 |  |  | 2004 |
Germany |  |  |  | $ | 25,990 |  |  |  |  | $ | 16,277 |  |  |  |  | $ | 193 |  |
United Kingdom |  |  |  |  | 74,191 |  |  |  |  |  | 57,388 |  |  |  |  |  | 8,105 |  |
Italy |  |  |  |  | 13,154 |  |  |  |  |  | 7,740 |  |  |  |  |  | (3,298 | ) |
Other non-U.S. |  |  |  |  | 82,284 |  |  |  |  |  | 11,983 |  |  |  |  |  | 2,693 |  |
Total non-U.S. |  |  |  |  | 195,619 |  |  |  |  |  | 93,388 |  |  |  |  |  | 7,693 |  |
U.S. |  |  |  |  | 1,325,685 |  |  |  |  |  | 950,011 |  |  |  |  |  | 343,685 |  |
Total revenues |  |  |  | $ | 1,521,304 |  |  |  |  | $ | 1,043,399 |  |  |  |  | $ | 351,378 |  |
 |
For unconsolidated entities, revenues were attributed to each country based on the country in which a majority of each entity’s employees were situated. For consolidated entities, revenues were attributed to each country based on the location of the underlying investments from which the revenue was generated.
 |  |
11. | SUBSEQUENT EVENTS |
In January 2007, Fortress increased its capital commitment to one of its private equity funds by $80 million.
In January 2007, as a result of a realization event on one of Fortress’s private equity Portfolio Companies, Fortress Operating Group received distributions of incentive income from three private equity funds aggregating approximately $100.6 million, net of the employees’ share of such incentive income.
In January 2007, in connection with a capital raise, Newcastle issued 242,000 options to purchase shares of its common stock at $31.30 per share to Fortress, which were valued at $0.8 million. Fortress assigned 121,605 of these options to employees, recording compensation expense of $0.4 million.
In February 2007, one of the consolidated hybrid hedge funds raised $1.2 billion of capital commitments from existing and new limited partners, of which 18% was called in March 2007 and 8% was called in April 2007. During the capital commitment period, which expires on the earlier of when it is fully drawn or December 31, 2008, no other new investors will be permitted in this fund.
In February 2007, Fortress had its first closing of a new private equity Fortress Fund, Long Dated Value Fund III (‘‘LDVF III’’), with $201.4 million in capital commitments. A second closing was held in March 2007 resulting in total commitments of $275.3 million. Fortress, its affiliates and employees represent $23.0 million of the total commitments. Fortress will manage LDVF III under similar terms to the other private equity Fortress Funds.
In February 2007, Fortress entered into a preliminary agreement with two employees who were departing from Fortress to form their own investment management company. Fortress received a minority ownership interest in the management company, and as part of the transaction a Fortress Fund received certain rights to invest at discounted fee rates in the fund being formed by the departing employees, and committed to invest $200 million in that fund subject to certain conditions. The entire transaction was approved by the advisory board of the Fortress Fund.
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Table of ContentsFORTRESS OPERATING GROUP
(Limited Liability Companies)
NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2006
(dollar amounts in tables shown in thousands)
In February 2007, a Fortress Fund originated a $1.2 billion loan in connection with a transaction between two third parties. As part of the syndication of this loan, Fortress formed four managed account relationships totaling $425 million, syndicated $300 million to a third party participant and retained the remainder in certain Fortress Funds. Fortress will earn incentive fees from the managed account relationships based upon the performance of the underlying investment.
In March 2007, a departing Fortress employee entered into a sourcing agreement with a Fortress Fund pursuant to which the Fortress Fund agreed to make contingent payments to the former employee based on the employee sourcing future transactions for that Fortress Fund.
In March 2007, $11.6 million of Fortress’s remaining capital commitment to one of its private equity funds was extinguished.
In March 2007, one of the Portfolio Companies leased office space to a company owned by one of the Principals. The Principal pays approximately $0.1 million per annum in rent to the Portfolio Company.
In April 2007, in connection with a capital raise, Newcastle issued 456,000 options to purchase shares of its common stock at $27.75 per share to Fortress, which were valued at $1.2 million. The Principals individually purchased approximately $60 million of the shares sold in this offering directly from the underwriter at the public offering price.
Reorganization of Fortress Operating Group
Fortress Investment Group LLC (the ‘‘Registrant’’) was formed on November 6, 2006 for the purpose of becoming the general partner of Fortress Operating Group and completing the Nomura Transaction (described below), a public offering of shares and related transactions (the ‘‘Transactions’’) in order to carry on the business of Fortress Operating Group as a publicly traded entity. The Registrant completed the Nomura Transaction on January 17, 2007 and its IPO on February 8, 2007. As a result of the Transactions, the Registrant acquired control of Fortress Operating Group and holds, through two intermediate holding companies (FIG Corp. and FIG Asset Co. LLC), approximately 23.3% of the Fortress Operating Group limited partnership units. The Principals retained the remaining 76.7% of the Fortress Operating Group limited partnership units and a 76.7% voting interest in the Registrant. All o f the businesses engaged in by the Registrant will continue to be conducted by Fortress Operating Group. FIG Corp. is a corporation for tax purposes; as a result, the Registrant will be subject to income taxes on that portion of its income which flows through FIG Corp.
As the Registrant is a newly formed company, Fortress Operating Group is considered its predecessor for accounting purposes, and these combined financial statements will become the Registrant’s historical financial statements. Also, because the Principals control Fortress Operating Group before the Transactions and control the Registrant after the Transactions, the Transactions will be accounted for as a reorganization of entities under common control. Accordingly, the Registrant will carry forward unchanged the value of assets and liabilities recognized in Fortress Operating Group’s combined financial statements into its consolidated financial statements. Following completion of the Transactions, substantially all of Fortress’s expenses (other than (i) income tax expenses of Fortress Investment Group LLC, FIG Corp. and FIG Asset Co. LLC, (ii) obligations incurred under the tax receivable agreement (described below) and (iii) payments on i ndebtedness incurred by Fortress Investment Group LLC, FIG Corp. and FIG Asset Co. LLC), including substantially all expenses incurred by or attributable solely to Fortress Investment Group LLC, such as expenses incurred in connection with the Transactions, will be accounted for as expenses of the Fortress Operating Group.
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Table of ContentsFORTRESS OPERATING GROUP
(Limited Liability Companies)
NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2006
(dollar amounts in tables shown in thousands)
In January 2007, in connection with the Nomura transaction and the initial public offering, Fortress Operating Group was reorganized from eight limited liability companies each having individual capital accounts for each of the Principals into four limited partnerships each having a unitized capital structure. The Principals were issued 367,143,000 non-voting limited partner interests in each of the four limited partnerships and Fortress Investment Group LLC, through two intermediate holding companies, was issued the non-economic general partner interest in each of them. The Principals were also issued 367,143,000 non-economic Class B shares of Fortress Investment Group LLC. The term ‘‘Fortress Operating Group unit’’ is used to represent one limited partner interest in each limited partnership. A Fortress Operating Group unit is not a legal interest but is the term used to refer to the aggregate of one limited partnership interest in each reorganized Fortress Operating Group entity.
Nomura Transaction
On December 18, 2006, the Principals entered into a securities purchase agreement with Nomura Investment Managers U.S.A., Inc., a Delaware corporation, or Nomura (whose ultimate parent is Nomura Holdings, Inc., a Japanese corporation), pursuant to which Nomura acquired a 15% indirect stake in Fortress Operating Group for $888 million, all of the proceeds of which went to the Principals. On January 17, 2007, Nomura completed the transaction by purchasing 55,071,450 Class A shares of Fortress Investment Group LLC for $888 million and Fortress Investment Group LLC in turn purchased 55,071,450 Fortress Operating Group limited partnership units, which represented 15% of Fortress Operating Group’s economic interests, from the Principals for $888 million.
IPO
On February 8, 2007, the Registrant completed an initial public offering of 39,428,900 of its Class A shares, including the underwriters’ over allotment option, for net proceeds of approximately $652.6 million. The Registrant contributed the net proceeds from the offering to Fortress Operating Group in exchange for 39,428,900 limited partnership units. Fortress Operating Group applied those proceeds as follows: (a) to pay $250 million outstanding under its term loan facility, as required by the credit agreement, and (b) to pay $85 million currently outstanding under its revolving credit facility, and intends to use the remaining proceeds (a) to fund $169 million of commitments to existing private equity funds, and (b) to use $149 million for general business purposes. As a result of the IPO, the Principals retained, collectively, an approximately 76.7% economic interest in Fortress Operating Group as well as voting contro l of the Registrant, which has an approximately 23.3% economic interest in and general partner control of Fortress Operating Group.
Distributions prior to the IPO
Fortress Operating Group made distributions totaling approximately $409.2 million to the Principals on January 16, 2007. Approximately $372.2 million represented the net proceeds from collection of deferred fee receivables (Note 3) earned in prior periods and reflected as due from affiliates in the combined balance sheet, including increases in the amount of such receivables for the period from December 31, 2006 through the date of distribution. Following this distribution, all of the deferred fee arrangements were terminated. For the period beginning January 17, 2007 to February 8, 2007, Fortress Operating Group distributed to the Registrant and the Principals an aggregate amount of $26.2 million, based on their relative percentage ownership of Fortress
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(Limited Liability Companies)
NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2006
(dollar amounts in tables shown in thousands)
Operating Group. The distribution to the Registrant was, in turn, distributed to Nomura after deducting a tax reserve related to FIG Corp.
If these distributions had been accrued as of December 31, 2006, on an unaudited pro forma basis, Fortress Operating Group’s total liabilities would have increased by the total amount of the distributions of $435.4 million to $6,127.6 million and its members’ equity would have been reduced by the same amount to a deficit of $313.9 million.
Deconsolidation of Fortress Funds
In connection with the IPO, each Fortress subsidiary that acts as a general partner of a consolidated Fortress Fund has granted rights effective March 31, 2007 to the investors in the fund to provide that a simple majority of the fund’s unrelated investors are able to liquidate the fund, without cause, in accordance with certain procedures, or to otherwise have the ability to exert control over the fund. The granting of these rights has led to the deconsolidation of the Fortress Funds from Fortress’s financial statements as of March 31, 2007. The deconsolidation of the Fortress Funds will have significant effects on many of the items within these financial statements but will have no material net effect to net income or equity. The unaudited pro forma effects of the deconsolidation on these financial statements are described in Note 12.
In March 2007, in conjunction with the deconsolidation, Fortress transferred its general partner interests in certain CDO Portfolio Companies to certain Fortress Funds for $6.5 million.
Related Transactions Concurrent with IPO
The Registrant issued 50,919,256 restricted Class A share units to its employees and employees of the Fortress Funds valued at $837.6 million in connection with the IPO and generally subject to vesting conditions.
The Principals entered into an agreement which provides that, in the event a Principal voluntarily terminates his employment with Fortress Operating Group for any reason prior to the fifth anniversary of the IPO, a portion of the equity interests held by that Principal as of the completion of the IPO will be forfeited to the Principals who are employed by Fortress Operating Group generally as of the date that is six months after the date of such termination of employment. As a result of the service requirement, the fair value of Fortress Operating Group limited partnership units subject to the risk of forfeiture of $4,755 million will be charged to compensation expense over the five year service period.
The Principals will have the right to exchange each of their Fortress Operating Group limited partnerships units for one of the Class A shares. The Fortress Operating Group entities intend to make an election under Section 754 of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended, which may result in an adjustment to the tax basis of the assets owned by Fortress Operating Group at the time of an exchange. The exchanges may result in increases in tax deductions and tax basis that would reduce the amount of tax that the corporate taxpayers (i.e. FIG Corp.) would otherwise be required to pay in the future. Additionally, the acquisition of Fortress Operating Group limited partnership units from the Principals, such as in the Nomura transaction, also may result in increases in tax deductions and tax basis that would reduce the amount of tax that the corporate taxpayers would otherwise be required to pay in the future. The corporate taxpayers entered into a tax receivable agreemen t with each of the Principals that will provide for the payment to an exchanging or selling Principal of 85% of the amount of cash savings, if any, in U.S. federal, state,
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Table of ContentsFORTRESS OPERATING GROUP
(Limited Liability Companies)
NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2006
(dollar amounts in tables shown in thousands)
local and foreign income tax that the corporate taxpayers actually realize (or are deemed to realize in the case of an early termination payment by the corporate taxpayers or a change of control, as defined) as a result of these increases in tax basis.
 |  |
12. | PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Unaudited) |
The unaudited pro forma financial information presented below was derived from the application of pro forma adjustments to the combined financial statements of Fortress to give effect to the deconsolidation of the consolidated Fortress Funds. The deconsolidation transaction occurred effective March 31, 2007 as described in Note 11. The unaudited pro forma balance sheet information as of December 31, 2006 has been prepared as if this transaction had occurred on December 31, 2006. The unaudited pro forma income statement and statement of cash flows information for the year ended December 31, 2006 have been prepared as if this transaction had occurred on January 1, 2006.
The primary effects of the deconsolidation transaction on Fortress’s financial position, results of operations and liquidity will be the following:
 |  |  |
| • | Fortress will not record on its balance sheet and income statement the gross assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses and other income of the deconsolidated Fortress Funds, along with the related non-controlling interests of the fund investors in the equity and net income of these funds. |
 |  |  |
| • | Fortress will reflect its investment in these funds on its balance sheet using the equity method of accounting, rather then eliminating the investment in consolidation. |
 |  |  |
| • | Fortress will include the management fees and incentive income earned from these funds on its income statement rather than eliminating the revenue in consolidation. |
 |  |  |
| • | Fortress will record its equity in the income of these funds using the equity method of accounting. However, it will not record any equity in income arising from incentive income arrangements to the extent that the incentive income is subject to contingent repayment. Therefore, Fortress will not need to record deferred incentive income with respect to these funds for incentive income that it is not yet distributed. |
 |  |  |
| • | Fortress will also remove the cash flow activities of the deconsolidated funds from its statement of cash flows and replace them with its cash contributions to and distributions from the deconsolidated funds, which previously were eliminated in consolidation. This would not have any effect on Fortress’s overall net change in cash for the period; however, it would result in significant changes to Fortress’s operating, investing and financing cash flow categories. |
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Table of ContentsFORTRESS OPERATING GROUP
(Limited Liability Companies)
NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2006
(dollar amounts in tables shown in thousands)
The unaudited pro forma effects of the deconsolidation of the Fortress Funds on the December 31, 2006 balance sheet information are as follows:

 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  | As of December 31, 2006 |
|  |  | Combined |  |  | Deconsolidation Adjustments |  |  | Pro Forma Deconsolidated |
Assets |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Cash and cash equivalents |  |  |  | $ | 61,120 |  |  |  |  | $ | — |  |  |  |  | $ | 61,120 |  |
Cash held at consolidated subsidiaries and restricted cash |  |  |  |  | 564,085 |  |  |  |  |  | (564,085 | ) |  |  |  |  | — |  |
Due from affiliates |  |  |  |  | 635,748 |  |  |  |  |  | 50,336 |  |  |  |  |  | 686,084 |  |
Receivables from brokers and counterparties |  |  |  |  | 109,463 |  |  |  |  |  | (109,463 | ) |  |  |  |  | — |  |
Investment company holdings, at fair value |  |  |  |  | 21,944,596 |  |  |  |  |  | (21,944,596 | ) |  |  |  |  | — |  |
Other investments |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Loans and securities |  |  |  |  | 317 |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | 317 |  |
Equity method investees |  |  |  |  | 37,250 |  |  |  |  |  | 452,143 |  |  |  |  |  | 489,393 |  |
Options in affiliates |  |  |  |  | 139,266 |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | 139,266 |  |
Other assets |  |  |  |  | 190,728 |  |  |  |  |  | (118,200 | ) |  |  |  |  | 72,528 |  |
|  |  |  | $ | 23,682,573 |  |  |  |  | $ | (22,233,865 | ) |  |  |  | $ | 1,448,708 |  |
Liabilities and Members’ Equity |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Liabilities |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Due to affiliates |  |  |  | $ | 15,112 |  |  |  |  | $ | (14,660 | ) |  |  |  | $ | 452 |  |
Due to brokers and counterparties |  |  |  |  | 187,495 |  |  |  |  |  | (187,495 | ) |  |  |  |  | — |  |
Accrued compensation and benefits |  |  |  |  | 159,931 |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | 159,931 |  |
Other liabilities |  |  |  |  | 152,604 |  |  |  |  |  | (95,413 | ) |  |  |  |  | 57,191 |  |
Deferred incentive income |  |  |  |  | 1,648,782 |  |  |  |  |  | (1,408,700 | ) |  |  |  |  | 240,082 |  |
Securities sold not yet purchased, at fair value |  |  |  |  | 97,717 |  |  |  |  |  | (97,717 | ) |  |  |  |  | — |  |
Derivative liabilities, at fair value |  |  |  |  | 123,907 |  |  |  |  |  | (122,288 | ) |  |  |  |  | 1,619 |  |
Investment company debt obligations payable |  |  |  |  | 2,619,456 |  |  |  |  |  | (2,619,456 | ) |  |  |  |  | — |  |
Other debt obligations payable |  |  |  |  | 687,153 |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | 687,153 |  |
|  |  |  |  | 5,692,157 |  |  |  |  |  | (4,545,729 | ) |  |  |  |  | 1,146,428 |  |
Commitments and Contingencies |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Non-controlling Interests in Consolidated Subsidiaries |  |  |  |  | 17,868,895 |  |  |  |  |  | (17,688,136 | ) |  |  |  |  | 180,759 |  |
Members’ Equity |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Members’ equity |  |  |  |  | 119,561 |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | 119,561 |  |
Accumulated other comprehensive income |  |  |  |  | 1,960 |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | 1,960 |  |
|  |  |  |  | 121,521 |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | 121,521 |  |
|  |  |  | $ | 23,682,573 |  |  |  |  | $ | (22,233,865 | ) |  |  |  | $ | 1,448,708 |  |
 |
132
Table of ContentsFORTRESS OPERATING GROUP
(Limited Liability Companies)
NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2006
(dollar amounts in tables shown in thousands)
The unaudited pro forma effects of the deconsolidation of the Fortress Funds on the income statement information for the year ended December 31, 2006 are as follows:

 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  | Year Ended December 31, 2006 |
|  |  | Combined |  |  | Deconsolidation Adjustments |  |  | Pro Forma Deconsolidated |
Revenues |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Management fees and expense reimbursements from affiliates |  |  |  | $ | 154,649 |  |  |  |  | $ | 164,355 |  |  |  |  | $ | 319,004 |  |
Incentive income from affiliates |  |  |  |  | 185,364 |  |  |  |  |  | 140,151 |  |  |  |  |  | 325,515 |  |
Other revenues |  |  |  |  | 70,802 |  |  |  |  |  | (58,102 | ) |  |  |  |  | 12,700 |  |
Interest and dividend income – investment company holdings |  |  |  |  | 1,110,489 |  |  |  |  |  | (1,110,489 | ) |  |  |  |  | — |  |
|  |  |  |  | 1,521,304 |  |  |  |  |  | (864,085 | ) |  |  |  |  | 657,219 |  |
Expenses |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Interest expense |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Investment company subsidiaries |  |  |  |  | 505,340 |  |  |  |  |  | (505,340 | ) |  |  |  |  | — |  |
Other |  |  |  |  | 54,026 |  |  |  |  |  | (13,418 | ) |  |  |  |  | 40,608 |  |
Compensation and benefits |  |  |  |  | 436,004 |  |  |  |  |  | (50,914 | ) |  |  |  |  | 385,090 |  |
General, administrative and other expense |  |  |  |  | 115,095 |  |  |  |  |  | (71,262 | ) |  |  |  |  | 43,833 |  |
Depreciation and amortization |  |  |  |  | 6,818 |  |  |  |  |  | (30 | ) |  |  |  |  | 6,788 |  |
|  |  |  |  | 1,117,283 |  |  |  |  |  | (640,964 | ) |  |  |  |  | 476,319 |  |
Other income |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Gains (losses) from investments |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Investment company holdings |  |  |  |  | 6,594,029 |  |  |  |  |  | (6,594,029 | ) |  |  |  |  | — |  |
Other investments |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Net realized losses |  |  |  |  | (13,608 | ) |  |  |  |  | 11,455 |  |  |  |  |  | (2,153 | ) |
Net realized gains from affiliate investments |  |  |  |  | 977 |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | 977 |  |
Net unrealized gains |  |  |  |  | 4,044 |  |  |  |  |  | (28 | ) |  |  |  |  | 4,016 |  |
Net unrealized gains from affiliate investments |  |  |  |  | 182,228 |  |  |  |  |  | (5,894 | ) |  |  |  |  | 176,334 |  |
Earnings from equity method investees |  |  |  |  | 5,039 |  |  |  |  |  | 103,146 |  |  |  |  |  | 108,185 |  |
|  |  |  |  | 6,772,709 |  |  |  |  |  | (6,485,350 | ) |  |  |  |  | 287,359 |  |
Income before Deferred Incentive Income, Non-Controlling Interests in Income of Consolidated Subsidiaries and Income Taxes |  |  |  |  | 7,176,730 |  |  |  |  |  | (6,708,471 | ) |  |  |  |  | 468,259 |  |
Deferred incentive income |  |  |  |  | (1,066,137 | ) |  |  |  |  | 1,066,137 |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |
Non-controlling interests in income of consolidated subsidiaries |  |  |  |  | (5,655,184 | ) |  |  |  |  | 5,636,457 |  |  |  |  |  | (18,727 | ) |
Income before income taxes |  |  |  |  | 455,409 |  |  |  |  |  | (5,877 | ) |  |  |  |  | 449,532 |  |
Income tax expense |  |  |  |  | (12,525 | ) |  |  |  |  | 581 |  |  |  |  |  | (11,944 | ) |
Net Income |  |  |  | $ | 442,884 |  |  |  |  | $ | (5,296 | ) |  |  |  | $ | 437,588 |  |
|  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | (A | ) |  |  |  |  | |  |
 |
(A) | Amount represents the carrying value of Fortress’s options in Northcastle. Upon the decision to liquidate Northcastle, these options were written off by Fortress. This write off was eliminated in consolidation but is retained on a deconsolidated basis. |
133
Table of ContentsFORTRESS OPERATING GROUP
(Limited Liability Companies)
NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2006
(dollar amounts in tables shown in thousands)
The unaudited pro forma effects of the deconsolidation of the Fortress Funds on the statement of cash flows information for the year ended December 31, 2006 are as follows:

 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  | Year Ended December 31, 2006 |
|  |  | Combined |  |  | Deconsolidation Adjustments |  |  | Pro Forma Deconsolidation |
Cash Flows From Operating Activities |  |  | |  |  | |  |  | |
Net income |  |  |  | $ | 442,884 |  |  |  |  | $ | (5,296 | ) |  |  |  | $ | 437,588 |  |
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used in operating activities |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Depreciation and amortization |  |  |  |  | 6,818 |  |  |  |  |  | (30 | ) |  |  |  |  | 6,788 |  |
Other amortization and accretion |  |  |  |  | 6,782 |  |  |  |  |  | (2,324 | ) |  |  |  |  | 4,458 |  |
Earnings from equity method investees |  |  |  |  | (5,039 | ) |  |  |  |  | (103,146 | ) |  |  |  |  | (108,185 | ) |
Distributions of earnings from equity method investees |  |  |  |  | 10,076 |  |  |  |  |  | 129,823 |  |  |  |  |  | 139,899 |  |
Gains from investments |  |  |  |  | (6,767,671 | ) |  |  |  |  | 6,588,497 |  |  |  |  |  | (179,174 | ) |
Recognition of deferred incentive income |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | (9,473 | ) |  |  |  |  | (9,473 | ) |
Deferred incentive income |  |  |  |  | 1,066,137 |  |  |  |  |  | (1,066,137 | ) |  |  |  |  | — |  |
Non-controlling interests in income of consolidated subsidiaries |  |  |  |  | 5,655,184 |  |  |  |  |  | (5,636,457 | ) |  |  |  |  | 18,727 |  |
Deferred tax expense |  |  |  |  | 389 |  |  |  |  |  | (220 | ) |  |  |  |  | 169 |  |
Options received from affiliates |  |  |  |  | (31,588 | ) |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | (31,588 | ) |
Assignments of options to employees |  |  |  |  | 15,947 |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | 15,947 |  |
Cash flows due to changes in Cash held at consolidated subsidiaries and restricted cash |  |  |  |  | (311,471 | ) |  |  |  |  | 311,471 |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |
Due from affiliates |  |  |  |  | (168,216 | ) |  |  |  |  | 46,855 |  |  |  |  |  | (121,361 | ) |
Receivables from brokers and counterparties and other assets |  |  |  |  | (110,107 | ) |  |  |  |  | 77,728 |  |  |  |  |  | (32,379 | ) |
Due to affiliates |  |  |  |  | (42,978 | ) |  |  |  |  | 26,160 |  |  |  |  |  | (16,818 | ) |
Accrued compensation and benefits |  |  |  |  | 181,812 |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | 181,812 |  |
Deferred incentive income |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | 129,348 |  |  |  |  |  | 129,348 |  |
Due to brokers and counterparties and other liabilities |  |  |  |  | 41,338 |  |  |  |  |  | (30,509 | ) |  |  |  |  | 10,829 |  |
Investment company holdings |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Purchases of investments |  |  |  |  | (14,779,729 | ) |  |  |  |  | 14,779,729 |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |
Proceeds from sale of investments |  |  |  |  | 10,205,552 |  |  |  |  |  | (10,205,552 | ) |  |  |  |  | — |  |
Net cash used in operating activities |  |  |  |  | (4,583,880 | ) |  |  |  |  | 5,030,467 |  |  |  |  |  | 446,587 |  |
Cash Flows From Investing Activities |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Purchase of other loan and security investments |  |  |  |  | (353,289 | ) |  |  |  |  | 352,547 |  |  |  |  |  | (742 | ) |
Proceeds from sale of other loan and security investments |  |  |  |  | 733,825 |  |  |  |  |  | (732,199 | ) |  |  |  |  | 1,626 |  |
Purchase of interests in equity method investees |  |  |  |  | (1,732 | ) |  |  |  |  | (347,859 | ) |  |  |  |  | (349,591 | ) |
Cash received (paid) on settlement of derivatives |  |  |  |  | (1,882 | ) |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | (1,882 | ) |
Purchase of fixed assets |  |  |  |  | (14,998 | ) |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | (14,998 | ) |
Net cash used in investing activities |  |  |  |  | 361,924 |  |  |  |  |  | (727,511 | ) |  |  |  |  | (365,587 | ) |
Cash Flows From Financing Activities |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Borrowings under debt obligations |  |  |  |  | 5,862,011 |  |  |  |  |  | (5,007,011 | ) |  |  |  |  | 855,000 |  |
Repayments of debt obligations |  |  |  |  | (4,817,151 | ) |  |  |  |  | 4,416,955 |  |  |  |  |  | (400,196 | ) |
Payment of deferred financing costs |  |  |  |  | (27,875 | ) |  |  |  |  | 34,840 |  |  |  |  |  | 6,965 |  |
Capital distributions |  |  |  |  | (447,027 | ) |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | (447,027 | ) |
Non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries – contributions |  |  |  |  | 6,209,635 |  |  |  |  |  | (6,209,635 | ) |  |  |  |  | — |  |
Non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries – distributions |  |  |  |  | (2,532,746 | ) |  |  |  |  | 2,461,895 |  |  |  |  |  | (70,851 | ) |
Net cash provided by financing activities |  |  |  |  | 4,246,847 |  |  |  |  |  | (4,302,956 | ) |  |  |  |  | (56,109 | ) |
Net Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents |  |  |  |  | 24,891 |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | 24,891 |  |
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Beginning of Period |  |  |  |  | 36,229 |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | 36,229 |  |
Cash and Cash Equivalents, End of Period |  |  |  | $ | 61,120 |  |  |  |  | $ | — |  |  |  |  | $ | 61,120 |  |
 |
134
Table of ContentsFORTRESS OPERATING GROUP
(Limited Liability Companies)
NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2006
(dollar amounts in tables shown in thousands)
 |  |
13. | SUPPLEMENTAL QUARTERLY CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Unaudited) |
The following is unaudited summary information on Fortress’s quarterly operations. The pro forma share data is based on the number of Fortress Operating Group units issued to the Principals upon the reorganization of Fortress in January 2007 in connection with the Nomura transaction and initial public offering (Note 11), as if the units had been outstanding from January 1, 2005.

 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  | Quarter Ended |  |  | |
|  |  | March 31 |  |  | June 30 |  |  | September 30 |  |  | December 31 |  |  | Year Ended December 31 |
2006 |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Total revenues |  |  |  | $ | 344,692 |  |  |  |  | $ | 353,608 |  |  |  |  | $ | 335,168 |  |  |  |  | $ | 487,836 |  |  |  |  | $ | 1,521,304 |  |
Total expenses |  |  |  |  | (233,387 | ) |  |  |  |  | (268,414 | ) |  |  |  |  | (271,097 | ) |  |  |  |  | (344,385 | ) |  |  |  |  | (1,117,283 | ) |
Total other income |  |  |  |  | 1,001,197 |  |  |  |  |  | 473,522 |  |  |  |  |  | 1,305,320 |  |  |  |  |  | 3,992,670 |  |  |  |  |  | 6,772,709 |  |
Income Before Deferred Incentive Income, Non-Controlling Interests in Income of Consolidated Subsidiaries and Income Taxes |  |  |  |  | 1,112,502 |  |  |  |  |  | 558,716 |  |  |  |  |  | 1,369,391 |  |  |  |  |  | 4,136,121 |  |  |  |  |  | 7,176,730 |  |
Deferred incentive income |  |  |  |  | (151,706 | ) |  |  |  |  | (109,701 | ) |  |  |  |  | (214,248 | ) |  |  |  |  | (590,482 | ) |  |  |  |  | (1,066,137 | ) |
Non-controlling interests in income of consolidated subsidiaries |  |  |  |  | (825,372 | ) |  |  |  |  | (489,164 | ) |  |  |  |  | (1,088,810 | ) |  |  |  |  | (3,251,838 | ) |  |  |  |  | (5,655,184 | ) |
Income tax expense |  |  |  |  | (5,144 | ) |  |  |  |  | (2,126 | ) |  |  |  |  | (1,628 | ) |  |  |  |  | (3,627 | ) |  |  |  |  | (12,525 | ) |
Net Income |  |  |  | $ | 130,280 |  |  |  |  | $ | (42,275 | ) |  |  |  | $ | 64,705 |  |  |  |  | $ | 290,174 |  |  |  |  | $ | 442,884 |  |
Earnings per Fortress Operating Group unit, pro forma, basic and diluted |  |  |  | $ | 0.35 |  |  |  |  | $ | (0.11 | ) |  |  |  | $ | 0.18 |  |  |  |  | $ | 0.79 |  |  |  |  | $ | 1.21 |  |
Weighted average number of Fortress Operating Group units outstanding, pro forma, basic and diluted |  |  |  |  | 367,143,000 |  |  |  |  |  | 367,143,000 |  |  |  |  |  | 367,143,000 |  |  |  |  |  | 367,143,000 |  |  |  |  |  | 367,143,000 |  |
2005 |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
Total revenues |  |  |  | $ | 132,492 |  |  |  |  | $ | 176,457 |  |  |  |  | $ | 231,869 |  |  |  |  | $ | 502,581 |  |  |  |  | $ | 1,043,399 |  |
Total expenses |  |  |  |  | (82,150 | ) |  |  |  |  | (112,576 | ) |  |  |  |  | (226,435 | ) |  |  |  |  | (264,068 | ) |  |  |  |  | (685,229 | ) |
Total other income |  |  |  |  | 235,239 |  |  |  |  |  | 730,928 |  |  |  |  |  | 491,122 |  |  |  |  |  | 1,494,335 |  |  |  |  |  | 2,951,624 |  |
Income Before Deferred Incentive Income, Non-Controlling Interests in Income of Consolidated Subsidiaries and Income Taxes |  |  |  |  | 285,581 |  |  |  |  |  | 794,809 |  |  |  |  |  | 496,556 |  |  |  |  |  | 1,732,848 |  |  |  |  |  | 3,309,794 |  |
Deferred incentive income |  |  |  |  | (43,745 | ) |  |  |  |  | (92,588 | ) |  |  |  |  | (87,930 | ) |  |  |  |  | (220,304 | ) |  |  |  |  | (444,567 | ) |
Non-controlling interests in income of consolidated subsidiaries |  |  |  |  | (231,291 | ) |  |  |  |  | (664,491 | ) |  |  |  |  | (421,103 | ) |  |  |  |  | (1,346,041 | ) |  |  |  |  | (2,662,926 | ) |
Income tax expense |  |  |  |  | (812 | ) |  |  |  |  | (2,171 | ) |  |  |  |  | (147 | ) |  |  |  |  | (6,495 | ) |  |  |  |  | (9,625 | ) |
Net Income |  |  |  | $ | 9,733 |  |  |  |  | $ | 35,559 |  |  |  |  | $ | (12,624 | ) |  |  |  | $ | 160,008 |  |  |  |  | $ | 192,676 |  |
Earnings per Fortress Operating Group unit, pro forma, basic and diluted |  |  |  | $ | 0.03 |  |  |  |  | $ | 0.10 |  |  |  |  | $ | (0.03 | ) |  |  |  | $ | 0.44 |  |  |  |  | $ | 0.52 |  |
Weighted average number of Fortress Operating Group units outstanding, pro forma, basic and diluted |  |  |  |  | 367,143,000 |  |  |  |  |  | 367,143,000 |  |  |  |  |  | 367,143,000 |  |  |  |  |  | 367,143,000 |  |  |  |  |  | 367,143,000 |  |
 |
135
Table of ContentsReport of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the member of Fortress Investment Group Holdings LLC
We have audited the accompanying balance sheet of Fortress Investment Group Holdings LLC (the ‘‘Company’’) as of December 31, 2006. This balance sheet is the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on this balance sheet based on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the balance sheet is free of material misstatement. We were not engaged to perform an audit of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Our audit included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall balance sh eet presentation. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the balance sheet referred to above presents fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Fortress Investment Group Holdings LLC at December 31, 2006, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
 | /s/ Ernst & Young LLP |
New York, New York
April 12, 2007
136
Table of ContentsFORTRESS INVESTMENT GROUP HOLDINGS LLC
BALANCE SHEET
DECEMBER 31, 2006

 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Assets |  |  |  |  | |  |
Cash |  |  |  | $ | 400 |  |
Total Assets |  |  |  | $ | 400 |  |
Member’s Interest |  |  |  |  | |  |
Common interests, no par value, 100 units issued and outstanding |  |  |  | $ | 400 |  |
Total Member’s Interest |  |  |  | $ | 400 |  |
 |
1. Organization and Purpose
Fortress Investment Group Holdings LLC (the ‘‘Registrant’’) was formed in Delaware on November 6, 2006. In connection with its formation, the Registrant issued 100 common interests for $400 to Randal Nardone, as the sole member of the Registrant. The member’s liability is limited to its contributed capital. Under the terms of the Limited Liability Company Agreement, the Registrant shall have perpetual existence, unless the member votes for dissolution or dissolution is required by law.
The Registrant was formed for the purpose of completing a public offering and related transactions (the ‘‘Transactions’’) in order to carry on the business of Fortress Operating Group as a publicly-traded entity. Fortress Operating Group is comprised of the limited partnerships through which the Principals, Wesley Edens, Peter Briger, Robert Kauffman, Randal Nardone and Michael Novogratz, currently operate the business.
2. Subsequent Events
Reorganization of Fortress Operating Group
As a result of the Transactions, the Registrant acquired control of Fortress Operating Group and holds, through two intermediate holding companies (FIG Corp. and FIG Asset Co. LLC), approximately 23.3% of the Fortress Operating Group limited partnership units. The Principals retained the remaining 76.7% of the Fortress Operating Group limited partnership units and a 76.7% voting interest in the Registrant. All of the businesses engaged in by the Registrant will continue to be conducted by Fortress Operating Group. FIG Corp. is a corporation for tax purposes; as a result, the Registrant will be subject to income taxes on that portion of its income which flows through FIG Corp. The consolidated group subsequent to the Transactions is referred to as ‘‘Fortress.’’
As the Registrant is a newly formed company, Fortress Operating Group is considered its predecessor for accounting purposes, and their combined financial statements will become the Registrant’s historical financial statements. Also, because the Principals control Fortress Operating Group before the Transactions and control the Registrant after the Transactions, the Transactions will be accounted for as a reorganization of entities under common control. Accordingly, the Registrant will carry forward unchanged the value of assets and liabilities recognized in Fortress Operating Group’s combined financial statements into its consolidated financial statements. Following completion of the Transactions, substantially all of Fortress’s expenses (other than (i) income tax expenses of Fortress Investment Group LLC, FIG Corp. and FIG Asset Co. LLC, (ii) obligations incurred under the tax receivable agreement (described below) and (iii) payments on indebt edness incurred by Fortress Investment Group LLC, FIG Corp. and FIG Asset Co. LLC), including substantially all expenses incurred by or attributable solely to Fortress Investment Group LLC, such as expenses incurred in connection with the Transactions, will be accounted for as expenses of the Fortress Operating Group.
137
Table of ContentsFORTRESS INVESTMENT GROUP HOLDINGS LLC
BALANCE SHEET
DECEMBER 31, 2006
In January 2007, in connection with the Nomura transaction and the initial public offering, Fortress Operating Group was reorganized from eight limited liability companies each having individual capital accounts for each of the Principals into four limited partnerships each having a unitized capital structure. The Principals were issued 367,143,000 non-voting limited partner interests in each of the four limited partnerships and Fortress Investment Group LLC, through two intermediate holding companies, was issued the non-economic general partner interest in each of them. The Principals were also issued 367,143,000 non-economic Class B shares of Fortress Investment Group LLC. The term ‘‘Fortress Operating Group unit’’ is used to represent one limited partner interest in each limited partnership. A Fortress Operating Group unit is not a legal interest but is the term used to refer to the aggregate of one limited partnership interest in each reorganized Fortress Operating Group entity.
Nomura Transaction
On December 18, 2006, the Principals entered into a securities purchase agreement with Nomura Investment Managers U.S.A., Inc., a Delaware corporation, or Nomura (whose ultimate parent is Nomura Holdings, Inc., a Japanese corporation), pursuant to which Nomura acquired a 15% indirect stake in Fortress Operating Group for $888 million, all of the proceeds of which went to the Principals. On January 17, 2007, Nomura completed the transaction by purchasing 55,071,450 Class A shares of Fortress Investment Group LLC for $888 million and Fortress Investment Group LLC in turn purchased 55,071,450 Fortress Operating Group limited partnership units, which represented 15% of Fortress Operating Group’s economic interests, from the Principals for $888 million.
IPO
On February 8, 2007, the Registrant completed an initial public offering of 39,428,900 of its Class A shares, including the underwriters’ over allotment option, for net proceeds of approximately $652.6 million. The Registrant contributed the net proceeds from the offering to Fortress Operating Group in exchange for 39,428,900 limited partnership units. Fortress Operating Group applied those proceeds as follows: (a) to pay $250 million outstanding under its term loan facility, as required by the credit agreement, and (b) to pay $85 million currently outstanding under its revolving credit facility, and intends to use the remaining proceeds (a) to fund $169 million of commitments to existing private equity funds, and (b) to use $149 million for general business purposes.
As a result of the IPO, the Principals retained, collectively, an approximately 76.7% economic interest in Fortress Operating Group as well as voting control of the Registrant, which has an approximately 23.3% economic interest in and general partner control of Fortress Operating Group.
Deconsolidation of Fortress Investment Funds
In connection with the IPO, each Fortress subsidiary that acts as a general partner of a consolidated Fortress Fund has granted rights effective March 31, 2007 to the investors in the fund to provide that a simple majority of the fund’s unrelated investors are able to liquidate the fund, without cause, in accordance with certain procedures, or to otherwise have the ability to exert control over the fund. The granting of these rights has led to the deconsolidation of the Fortress Funds from the Registrant’s financial statements as of March 31, 2007.
Related Transactions Concurrent with IPO
The Registrant issued 50,919,256 restricted Class A share units to its employees and employees of the Fortress Funds valued at $837.6 million in connection with the IPO and generally subject to vesting conditions.
138
Table of ContentsFORTRESS INVESTMENT GROUP HOLDINGS LLC
BALANCE SHEET
DECEMBER 31, 2006
The Principals entered into an agreement which provides that, in the event a Principal voluntarily terminates his employment with Fortress Operating Group for any reason prior to the fifth anniversary of the IPO, a portion of the equity interests held by that Principal as of the completion of the IPO will be forfeited to the Principals who are employed by Fortress Operating Group generally as of the date that is six months after the date of such termination of employment. As a result of the service requirement, the fair value of Fortress Operating Group limited partnership units subject to the risk of forfeiture of $4,755 million will be charged to compensation expense over the five year service period.
The Principals will have the right to exchange each of their Fortress Operating Group limited partnerships units for one of the Class A shares. The Fortress Operating Group entities intend to make an election under Section 754 of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended, which may result in an adjustment to the tax basis of the assets owned by Fortress Operating Group at the time of an exchange. The exchanges may result in increases in tax deductions and tax basis that would reduce the amount of tax that the corporate taxpayers (i.e. FIG Corp.) would otherwise be required to pay in the future. Additionally, the acquisition of Fortress Operating Group limited partnership units from the Principals, such as in the Nomura transaction, also may result in increases in tax deductions and tax basis that would reduce the amount of tax that the corporate taxpayers would otherwise be required to pay in the future. The corporate taxpayers entered into a tax receivable agreemen t with each of the Principals that will provide for the payment to an exchanging or selling Principal of 85% of the amount of cash savings, if any, in U.S. federal, state, local and foreign income tax that the corporate taxpayers actually realize (or are deemed to realize in the case of an early termination payment by the corporate taxpayers or a change of control, as defined) as a result of these increases in tax basis.
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.
None.
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures.
Disclosure Controls and Procedures. The Company’s management, with the participation of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the ‘‘Exchange Act’’)) as of the end of the period covered by this report. The Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurance that information is recorded, processed, summarized and reported accurately and on a timely basis. Based on such evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of the end of such period, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective.
Item 9B. Other Information.
None.
139
Table of ContentsPART III
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.
The following table sets forth certain information about our directors and executive officers. Each of our executive officers serves at the pleasure of our board of directors, subject to rights under their employment agreements and the rights of our Class A shareholders, as described below. Our shareholders agreement provides that so long as our principals and their permitted transferees collectively own more than 50% of the total combined voting power of all our outstanding Class A and Class B shares, our board of directors will nominate individuals designated by the principals such that the principals will have six designees (out of a total possible eleven members) to the board, and if the principals own more than 10% and equal to or less than 50% of the total combined voting power of all our outstanding Class A and Class B shares, our board of directors will nominate individuals designated by the principals such that the principals will have between two and f ive designees to the board, based on their collective ownership of our outstanding shares. Our principals designated themselves to our board of directors and have not elected to designate a sixth member at this time. The Investor Shareholder Agreement with Nomura provides that, so long as Nomura and its permitted transferees beneficially own securities representing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all our outstanding Class A and Class B shares, our board of directors will nominate individuals designated by Nomura such that Nomura will have one designee (out of a total possible eleven members) to the board. Nomura has designated Takumi Shibata to our board of directors. Each director listed below has been elected by the vote of a plurality of our Class A and Class B shareholders, voting as a single class, to serve until his or her successor is duly elected or appointed and qualified or until his or her earlier death, retirement, disqualification, resignation or removal. Our board consists o f eleven members, a majority of which have been determined to be ‘‘independent’’ as defined under the rules of the NYSE.
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 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Name |  |  | Age |  |  | Position |
Wesley R. Edens |  |  | 45 |  |  | Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors |
Peter L. Briger, Jr |  |  | 43 |  |  | President and Director |
Robert I. Kauffman |  |  | 43 |  |  | President – Europe and Director |
Randal A. Nardone |  |  | 51 |  |  | Chief Operating Officer and Director |
Michael E. Novogratz |  |  | 42 |  |  | President and Director |
Daniel N. Bass |  |  | 40 |  |  | Chief Financial Officer |
Fredric B. Garonzik |  |  | 64 |  |  | Director |
Richard N. Haass |  |  | 55 |  |  | Director |
Douglas L. Jacobs |  |  | 59 |  |  | Director |
Daniel H. Mudd |  |  | 48 |  |  | Director |
Howard Rubin |  |  | 51 |  |  | Director |
Takumi Shibata |  |  | 54 |  |  | Director |
 |
Wesley R. Edens has been a principal and the Chairman of the Management Committee of Fortress since co-founding the company in May 1998. Mr. Edens is responsible for the company’s private equity and publicly traded alternative investment businesses. He is Chairman of the board of directors of each of Aircastle Limited, Brookdale Senior Living Inc., Newcastle Investment Corp., Eurocastle Investment Limited, GateHouse Media, Inc. and Mapeley Limited and a director of Crown Castle International Corp. and GAGFAH S.A. Mr. Edens was Chief Executive Officer of Global Signal Inc. from February 2004 to April 2006 and Chairman of the board of directors from October 2002 to January 2007. Mr. Edens serves in various capacities in the following five registered investment companies: Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Trustee of Fortress Registered Investment Trust and Fortress Investment Trust II; Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Fortress Brookdale Investment Fund LLC and Fortress Pinnacle Investment Fund LLC and Chief Executive Officer of RIC Coinvestment Fund GP LLC. Prior to forming Fortress, Mr. Edens was a partner and managing director of BlackRock Financial Management Inc., where he headed BlackRock Asset
140
Table of ContentsInvestors, a private equity fund. In addition, Mr. Edens was formerly a partner and managing director of Lehman Brothers. Mr. Edens received a B.S. in Finance from Oregon State University.
Peter L. Briger, Jr. has been a principal and a member of the Management Committee of Fortress since March 2002. Mr. Briger is responsible for the hybrid hedge fund business, which includes running the Drawbridge Special Opportunities Funds. Prior to joining Fortress, Mr. Briger spent 15 years at Goldman, Sachs & Co., or Goldman Sachs, where he became a partner in 1996. Over the course of his career at Goldman Sachs, he held the positions of co-head of the Whole Loan Sales and Trading business, co-head of the Fixed Income Principal Investments Group, co-head of the Asian Distressed Debt business, co-head of the Goldman Sachs Special Opportunities (Asia) Fund LLC and co-head of the Asian Real Estate Private Equity business. In addition, he was a member of the Goldman Sachs Global Control and Compliance Committee, a member of the Go ldman Sachs Asian Management Committee and a member of the Goldman Sachs Japan Executive Committee. Mr. Briger received a B.A. from Princeton University and an M.B.A. from Wharton. Mr. Briger currently serves on the board of directors of the Princeton University Investment Company.
Robert I. Kauffman has been a principal and a member of the Management Committee of Fortress since co-founding the company in 1998. Mr. Kauffman is responsible for the management of Fortress’s European private equity investment operations. Mr. Kauffman is the Chairman of the Supervisory Board of GAGFAH S.A., which is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. Prior to joining Fortress, Mr. Kauffman was a managing director of UBS from May 1997 to May 1998, and prior to that, was a principal of BlackRock Financial Management Inc. Mr. Kauffman was with Lehman Brothers from 1986 to 1994 and served as executive director of Lehman Brothers International in London beginning in 1992. Mr. Kauffman received a B.S. in Business Administration from Northeastern University.
Randal A. Nardone has been a principal and a member of the Management Committee of Fortress since co-founding the company in 1998. Mr. Nardone oversees Fortress’s structured finance and legal matters. Mr. Nardone is a director of GAGFAH S.A., which is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, and Eurocastle Investment Limited, which is listed on the Euronext Amsterdam Exchange. Mr. Nardone was previously a managing director of UBS from May 1997 to May 1998. Prior to joining UBS in 1997, Mr. Nardone was a principal of BlackRock Financial Management, Inc. Prior to joining BlackRock, Mr. Nardone was a partner and a member of the executive committee at the law firm of Thacher Proffitt & Wood. Mr. Nardone received a B.A. in English and Biology from the University of Connecticut and a J.D. from Boston University School of Law.
Michael E. Novogratz has been a principal and a member of the Management Committee of Fortress since March 2002. Mr. Novogratz is responsible for the liquid hedge fund business, which includes running the Drawbridge Global Macro Funds. Prior to joining Fortress, Mr. Novogratz spent 11 years at Goldman Sachs, where he became a partner in 1998. Mr. Novogratz held the positions of president of Goldman Sachs Latin America and the head of Fixed Income, Currencies and Commodities Risk in Asia, where he lived from 1992 to 1999. Mr. Novogratz received a B.A. from Princeton University, and served as a helicopter pilot in the U.S. Army.
Daniel N. Bass joined Fortress as Chief Financial Officer in November 2003. Prior to joining Fortress, Mr. Bass spent 11 years at Deutsche Bank. Over the course of his career at Deutsche Bank, he held the positions of managing director of DB Capital Partners and managing director, Global Business Area Controller of Deutsche Bank’s Corporate Investments Division. Prior to that, Mr. Bass was a Senior Associate in the International Tax Practice at Coopers & Lybrand. Mr. Bass received both a B.S. and a Masters in Accounting from Florida State University.
Fredric B. Garonzik became a member of our board of directors in February 2007. Mr. Garonzik retired from Goldman, Sachs Group in November 1999 where he was co-head of the Fixed Income Currency and Commodities Division. From 1988-1994 he was head of Fixed Income and Capital Markets in Europe, based in London. He was named a General Partner in 1984. He is on the Board of Overseers of the Thomas J. Watson Institute for International Studies, a member of the Corporation of Brown University (Investment Committee Chairman) and has recently served on the boards of the Wharton Financial Institution, the American Federation for Aging Research
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Table of Contents(Treasurer), the Union Settlement (Finance Chairman) and the Buckley School. Mr. Garonzik is an Advisory Director to the Asian Special Opportunities Fund at Goldman Sachs and serves on the Advisory Boards of several for-profit entities. He received an A.B. from Brown University in 1964 and an M.B.A. from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania in 1967.
Dr. Richard N. Haass became a member of our board of directors in February 2007. Mr. Haass is president of the Council on Foreign Relations, a position he has held since July 2003. Prior to his current position, Mr. Haass was director of policy planning for the U.S. Department of State, where he was a principal adviser to Secretary of State Colin Powell on a broad range of foreign policy concerns, and acted as U.S. coordinator for policy toward the future of Afghanistan and the lead U.S. government official in support of the Northern Ireland peace process. From 1989 to 1993, Mr. Haass was special assistant to President George Bush and senior director for Near East and South Asian affairs on the staff of the National Security Council. Previously, he served in various posts in the United States Departments of State and Defense. Mr.&nb sp;Haass has received the State Department’s Distinguished Honor Award and the Presidential Citizens Medal. Mr. Haass has been director of foreign policy studies at the Brookings Institution and taught at or been associated in various capacities with Hamilton College, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government and the International Institute for Strategic Studies. Mr. Haass holds a bachelor’s from Oberlin College and both a Master and Doctor of Philosophy degrees from Oxford University.
Douglas L. Jacobs became a member of our board of directors in February 2007. Mr. Jacobs was a director and Chairman of the Audit Committee for Global Signal Inc. from February 2004 until January 2007 when Global Signal was sold to Crown Castle International Corp. Since November of 2004, Mr. Jacobs has been a director of ACA Capital Holdings, Inc., a financial guaranty company, where he is Chairman of the Audit Committee and a member of the Compensation Committee and the Risk Management Committees. Mr. Jacobs has also been a director of Hanover Capital Mortgage Holdings, Inc since 2003. From 1988 to 2003, Mr. Jacobs was an Executive Vice President and Treasurer at FleetBoston Financial Group, managing the company’s funding, securitization, capital, and asset and liability management activities in addition to its securities, derivat ives, and mortgage loan portfolios. Prior to joining FleetBoston, Mr. Jacobs was active in a variety of positions at Citicorp over 17 years, culminating in his role as Division Executive of the Mortgage Finance Group. Mr. Jacobs holds a B.A. from Amherst College and an M.B.A. from Wharton.
Daniel H. Mudd became a member of our board of directors in February 2007. Mr. Mudd is President and Chief Executive Officer of Fannie Mae, the nation’s largest financer of home mortgages. Prior to being appointed to his current post in June 2005, Mr. Mudd served as the Vice Chairman and Chief Operating Officer of Fannie Mae. As Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Mudd was responsible for originations, marketing, operations, systems, local outreach and administration. Prior to joining Fannie Mae in February 2000, Mr. Mudd served as President and Chief Executive Officer of GE Capital, Japan. During his career at GE Capital, Mr. Mudd served in Business Development, International Financing and European Fleet Services. He served as President of GE Capital Asia-Pacific from 1996 to 1999. Prior to his tenure at GE Capital, Mr. Mudd he ld positions in management consulting and financial services with Xerox Corporation, Ayers Whitmore and Company, and the World Bank. Mr. Mudd holds a B.A. in American History from the University of Virginia and a Master in Public Administration from the John F. Kennedy School at Harvard University. Mr. Mudd serves on the Boards of Directors of Fannie Mae and Ryder Systems, Inc. Mr. Mudd also serves on the boards of the Local Initiatives Support Corporation, the Center for the Study of the Presidency, Homes for Working Families, Hampton University and the University of Virginia Board of Managers.
Howard Rubin became a member of our board of directors in February 2007. Mr. Rubin is a director of Capstead Mortgage Corporation (head of the Audit Committee), Deerfield Triarc Capital Corp. (member of Audit Committee) and GateHouse Media (member of Audit Committee). In addition, he served as a director of Global Signal from February 2004 until January 2007 when Global Signal was sold to Crown Castle International Corp. He has over twenty years of experience trading mortgage-backed securities. From 1987 to his retirement in 1999, Mr. Rubin was a Senior Managing Director at Bear Stearns, where he ran the Collateralized Mortgage Obligations desk. Mr. Rubin
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Table of Contentsreceived a Masters of Business Administration from Harvard Business School and a B.S.E. in Chemical Engineering from Lafayette College.
Takumi Shibata became a member of our board of directors in February 2007. Mr. Shibata is Chief Executive Officer of the Asset Management Division of Nomura Holdings, Inc. and sits on Nomura’s Group Management Council. Prior to his current position, Mr. Shibata headed a variety of businesses at Nomura, including: global support functions, during 2004 and 2005, global wholesale business, during 2002 and 2003, global investment banking operations, during 2001 and 2002, and European business from 1997 through 2001. Mr. Shibata sits on the Japanese Government’s Business Accounting Council. Mr. Shibata has been Chairman of the Self Regulation Planning Committee of the Japan Securities Dealers Association, a Board Member of the International Primary Market Association (London), and a Board Member of the Securities Institute (London). Mr.&nbs p;Shibata holds a B.A. in economics from Keio University and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.
Board of Directors
Our board of directors is divided into three classes that are, as nearly as possible, of equal size. Each class of directors is elected for a three-year term of office, but the terms are staggered so that the term of only one class of directors expires at each annual general meeting. The current terms of the Class I, Class II and Class III directors will expire in 2008, 2009 and 2010, respectively. Messrs. Nardone, Haass and Rubin each serve as a Class I director, Messrs. Kauffman, Novogratz, Garonzik and Shibata each serve as a Class II director and Messrs. Briger, Edens, Jacobs and Mudd each serve as a Class III director. All officers serve at the discretion of the board of directors. Under our shareholders agreement, the principals are entitled to designate up to six directors for election to our board of directors, depending upon the level of ownership of the principals. Our board consists of eleven directors. Our board of directors has determined that six o f our directors, Messrs. Garonzik, Haass, Jacobs, Mudd, Rubin and Shibata, are ‘‘independent’’ directors as defined under the rules of the NYSE.
Committees of the Board of Directors
We have established the following committees of our board of directors:
Audit Committee
The audit committee:
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| • | reviews the audit plans and findings of our independent registered public accounting firm and our internal audit and risk review staff, as well as the results of regulatory examinations, and tracks management’s corrective action plans where necessary; |
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| • | reviews our financial statements, including any significant financial items and/or changes in accounting policies, with our senior management and independent registered public accounting firm; |
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| • | reviews our financial risk and control procedures, compliance programs and significant tax, legal and regulatory matters; and |
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| • | has the sole discretion to appoint annually our independent registered public accounting firm, evaluate its independence and performance and set clear hiring policies for employees or former employees of the independent registered public accounting firm. |
We appointed Douglas L. Jacobs, as chair, and Fredric B. Garonzik and Howard Rubin as our audit committee members. All three members were determined to be ‘‘independent’’ as defined under NYSE rules and under section 10A-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. Douglas L. Jacobs was designated as the audit committee financial expert.
Nominating, Corporate Governance and Conflicts Committee
The nominating, corporate governance and conflicts committee:
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| • | reviews the performance of our board of directors and makes recommendations to the board regarding the selection of candidates, qualification and competency requirements for service on the board and the suitability of proposed nominees as directors; |
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| • | advises the board with respect to the corporate governance principles applicable to us; |
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| • | oversees the evaluation of the board and management; |
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| • | reviews and approves in advance any related party transaction, other than those that are pre-approved pursuant to pre-approval guidelines or rules established by the committee; and |
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| • | establishes guidelines or rules to cover specific categories of transactions. |
We appointed Daniel H. Mudd, as chair, and Fredric B. Garonzik and Richard N. Haass as our nominating and corporate governance committee members. All three members were determined to be ‘‘independent’’ as defined under NYSE rules.
Compensation Committee
The compensation committee:
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| • | reviews and recommends to the board the salaries, benefits and equity incentive grants for all employees, consultants, officers, directors and other individuals we compensate; |
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| • | reviews and approves corporate goals and objectives relevant to Chief Executive Officer compensation, evaluates the Chief Executive Officer’s performance in light of those goals and objectives, and determines the Chief Executive Officer’s compensation based on that evaluation; and |
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| • | oversees our compensation and employee benefit plans. |
We appointed Howard Rubin, as chair, and Douglas L. Jacobs and Takumi Shibata as our compensation committee members. All three members were determined to be ‘‘independent’’ as defined under NYSE rules.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires our directors and executive officers, and persons who own more than 10% of a registered class of our equity securities, to file with the SEC and NYSE reports of ownership on Form 3 and changes in ownership on Forms 4 and 5. Such executive officers, directors and greater than 10% shareholders are required by SEC rules to furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file.
Because our initial public offering did not occur until the 2007 fiscal year, such executive officers, directors and greater than 10% shareholders were not required to file beneficial ownership reports during the 2006 fiscal year.
Corporate Governance
Fortress Investment Group LLC has a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that applies to all directors, employees, and officers, including our chief executive officer, chief financial officer and controller. Readers can find our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics on our web site at www.fortressinv.com. We will post to our web site any amendments to the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, and any waivers that are required to be disclosed by the rules of either the SEC or the NYSE.
Employment, Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation Agreements with Principals
In connection with the Nomura transaction, Fortress entered into an employment, non-competition and non-solicitation agreement with each principal (each referred to as an ‘‘officer’’ in this section describing such agreements). Each officer who is a principal also serves as an officer
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Table of Contentsand director of a number of Fortress entities. The initial term of the agreement is the first five years from the completion of our initial public offering. The agreement’s term automatically renews for an additional year each year thereafter, unless notice of intention not to renew is given by either party in accordance with the agreement. Each officer has the right to voluntarily terminate his employment with Fortress at any time.
Each officer is entitled during his employment to an annual salary of $200,000, which may be increased, but not decreased, at the discretion of the board of directors, and the officer is entitled to participate in all employee retirement and welfare benefit plans of Fortress. The agreement requires the officer to protect the confidential information of Fortress both during and after employment. The agreement also requires the officer to refrain from soliciting employees or interfering with Fortress’s relationships with investors both during and for a period of 24 months after termination of employment.
Any termination of the employment of the officer during the agreement’s term will have certain consequences. If Fortress terminates an officer’s employment without ‘‘cause’’ (as defined below) during the agreement’s term, Fortress will pay the officer a separation payment equal to three times his then-current annual salary plus his accrued but unpaid salary through the date of termination. Termination of an officer without ‘‘cause’’ is subject to approval of the holders of our Class B shares. If we terminate an officer’s employment with cause, such terminated officer is entitled to accrued but unpaid salary and accrued but unused vacation pay through the date of such termination. If during the agreement’s term the officer’s employment is terminated by reason of death or disability, or if an officer terminates his employment voluntarily, the officer (or his estate) will be paid hi s accrued but unpaid salary and accrued but unused vacation pay through the date of termination.
Without regard to whether the employment agreement has been terminated or has expired as a result of not having been renewed, if an officer terminates his employment agreement voluntarily or if Fortress terminates his employment with cause, the officer will be subject to an eighteen-month post-employment covenant requiring the officer to refrain from competing with Fortress. This covenant also applies while the officer is employed. The enforcement of this covenant and the non-solicitation, non-interference and confidentiality covenants will be the exclusive remedy of Fortress in the event of such terminations.
‘‘Cause’’ means:
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| (i) | the willful engaging by the officer in illegal or fraudulent conduct or gross misconduct which, in each case, is materially and demonstrably injurious (x) to Fortress, (y) to the reputation of either the officer or Fortress or (z) to any of Fortress’s material funds or businesses, or |
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| (ii) | conviction of a felony or guilty or nolo contendere plea by the officer with respect thereto, or |
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| (iii) | a material breach by the officer of the non-competition or non-solicitation covenants contained in the agreement, if such breach is curable and is not cured within 30 business days following receipt of a notice of such breach or if such breach is not curable. |
For purposes of this provision, no act or failure to act on the part of the officer shall be considered ‘‘willful’’ unless it is done, or omitted to be done, by the officer in bad faith or without reasonable belief that the officer’s action or omission was in the best interests of Fortress or was done or omitted to be done with reckless disregard to the consequences. Any act, or failure to act, based upon authority given pursuant to a resolution duly adopted by the board or based upon the advice of counsel for Fortress shall be conclusively presumed to be done, or omitted to be done, by the officer in good faith and in the best interests of Fortress. The cessation of employment of the officer shall not be deemed to be for cause unless and until there shall have been delivered to the officer a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members of the board at a meeting of the board called and held for such purpose (after reasonable notice is provided to the officer and the officer is given an opportunity, together with counsel, to be heard before the board), finding that in the good faith opinion of the board, the officer is guilty of the conduct constituting cause and specifying the particulars thereof in detail.
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Table of ContentsEmployment Letter with Principal Financial Officer
Through our subsidiary, FIG LLC, we have a letter agreement dated January 25, 2007, with our principal financial officer, Daniel N. Bass, which replaces his letter agreement dated October 27, 2003, and states certain terms and conditions of his continuing employment. This employment letter provides that Mr. Bass is an employee ‘‘at will,’’ whose employment may be terminated at any time, either by us or by him.
The employment letter provides for a base salary of $200,000 and possible discretionary bonuses. Mr. Bass is eligible to participate in our 401(k) plan and in other benefit plans and arrangements generally made available to our senior executives from time to time and is entitled to twenty days of vacation per year. The letter’s exhibits document certain profit sharing interests held by Mr. Bass in a variety of Fortress funds. Mr. Bass agrees not to compete with us during his employment, and, if we terminate his employment with ‘‘cause’’ (as defined in the employment letter) or he resigns, he must not compete with us for twelve months after termination. Mr. Bass is prohibited from making critical statements about us that are likely to become public. During his employment and for two years thereafter he will not solicit any of our employees to leave our employment or hire any of our former employees within one year of such employee’s termination. During his employment and for two years thereafter he will not intentionally interfere with our relationship with, or endeavor to entice away, any of our investors.
Item 11. Executive Compensation
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
Upon the consummation of our initial public offering, our board of directors formed a compensation committee. We appointed Howard Rubin, as chair, and Douglas L. Jacobs and Takumi Shibata as our compensation committee members. All three members were determined to be ‘‘independent’’ as defined under NYSE rules. Our principals have historically made all determinations regarding executive officer compensation, including compensation decisions during the year ended December 31, 2006.
Compensation Committee Report
The compensation committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis set forth below with each of our executive officers and, based upon such review and discussions, the compensation committee recommended to our board of directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this report. Each of Messrs. Rubin, Jacobs and Shibata approved such inclusion in this report.
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
A primary goal for many companies in designing executive compensation arrangements has been to align the interests of their top executives with the interests of the shareholders. Our fundamental philosophy is premised on alignment with our investors. That alignment has been and will continue to be evidenced by our significant capital investment in the funds we manage; similar alignment with our Class A shareholders will be evidenced by the continued significant ownership by our principals in the Fortress Operating Group. Our principals are Wesley Edens, Peter Briger, Robert Kauffman, Randal Nardone and Michael Novogratz.
Prior to completion of the Nomura transaction, there were no formal compensation arrangements in effect for the principals. As they developed the Fortress Operating Group, they benefited primarily by the increased value of their ownership interests in the Fortress Operating Group and by distributions with respect to those interests.
In connection with the Nomura transaction, we entered into a five-year employment, non-competition and non-solicitation agreement with each principal which will automatically renew for
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Table of Contentsan additional year each year thereafter, unless either party gives notice of intention not to renew in accordance with the agreement. The agreements are more fully described above in Item 10. Each agreement provides for a salary of $200,000. We believe that the salary provided is significantly below-market-rate compensation for the principals. The principals will receive distributions with respect to their ownership of Fortress Operating Group units, in the same amount per unit and at the same time as distribution is made to us in respect of the Fortress Operating Group units we hold, creating an alignment of interest with our Class A shareholders that is consistent with our fundamental philosophy. We expect to re-examine the concept of below-market-rate compensation as we approach the end of the initial five year term of the employment agreements and to then adjust the compensation of each principal to a market rate. The agreements require the principals to protect the confidential information of Fortress, both during and after employment, and to refrain from soliciting employees or interfering with Fortress’s relationships with investors, both during and for a 24-month period after employment. These post-termination covenants survive any termination or expiration of the principal’s agreement. Each principal has the right to voluntarily terminate his employment with Fortress.
Under the agreements, if we terminate a principal’s employment during the agreement’s term without cause, we will pay the principal a separation payment equal to three times his then-current salary. There will be no special change-in-control provisions in the agreements. Our reasoning was that the principals, through their ownership of Class B shares, exercise control over matters requiring shareholder approval, and should not receive special benefits as the result of any change in control which they might approve as shareholders.
The agreements require the principals to refrain from competing with us during employment. If we terminate an principal’s employment for cause or if the principal terminates his own employment voluntarily the agreement will impose an eighteen-month post-termination covenant requiring the executive to refrain from competing with Fortress, whether or not the termination occurs during the term of the principal’s agreement or as a result of the failure to renew such agreement.
Executive Compensation
Prior to the consummation of our initial public offering, our business was conducted through the Fortress Operating Group. The following summary compensation table sets forth information concerning the compensation earned by, awarded to or paid to our principal executive officer, our principal financial officer and our four other most highly compensated executive officers in 2006 for services rendered to the Fortress Operating Group. The officers named in the table, other than our principal financial officer, are referred to elsewhere in this report as our ‘‘principals,’’ who benefited primarily during their development of the Fortress Operating Group by the increased value of their ownership interests and by distributions with respect to those interests. They did not receive any salary or bonus during 2006. As discussed in Item 10 above, we entered into an employment agreement with each of them that provides for a specified salary and ot her benefits.
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Table of Contents Summary Compensation Table
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 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Name and Principal Position |  |  | Year |  |  | Salary ($) |  |  | Bonus ($) |  |  | All Other Compensation ($) |  |  | Total ($) |
Wesley R. Edens Principal Executive Officer |  |  |  |  | 2006 |  |  |  |  | $ | 0 |  |  |  |  | $ | 0 |  |  |  |  | $ | 388,188 | 1 |  |  |  | $ | 388,188 |  |
Daniel N. Bass Principal Financial Officer |  |  |  |  | 2006 |  |  |  |  | $ | 200,000 |  |  |  |  | $ | 1,130,000 |  |  |  |  | $ | 1,667,231 | 2 |  |  |  | $ | 2,997,231 |  |
Peter L. Briger, Jr. President |  |  |  |  | 2006 |  |  |  |  | $ | 0 |  |  |  |  | $ | 0 |  |  |  |  | $ | 135,078 | 3 |  |  |  | $ | 135,078 |  |
Robert I. Kauffman President – Europe |  |  |  |  | 2006 |  |  |  |  | $ | 0 |  |  |  |  | $ | 0 |  |  |  |  | $ | 274,538 | 4 |  |  |  | $ | 274,538 |  |
Randal A. Nardone Chief Operating Officer |  |  |  |  | 2006 |  |  |  |  | $ | 0 |  |  |  |  | $ | 0 |  |  |  |  | $ | 153,745 | 5 |  |  |  | $ | 153,745 |  |
Michael Novogratz President |  |  |  |  | 2006 |  |  |  |  | $ | 0 |  |  |  |  | $ | 0 |  |  |  |  | $ | 348,643 | 6 |  |  |  | $ | 348,643 |  |
 |
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Table of Contents(1) | Consists of $219,392, the total cost of the compensation and benefits paid to an executive assistant the company provides for the use of Mr. Edens; $59,536, comprised of one-third of the amortizable costs and running expenses associated with the car and the compensation and benefits costs associated with the driver the company provides for the use of three of the principals (‘‘Auto Expenses’’); $94,208, one-third of the total cost of the compensation and benefits paid to the personal financial administrator the company provides for the use of three of the principals in New York City and a pro-rata cost allocation for office space occupied (‘‘Administrative Expenses’’); and $15,051 in amortizable costs and management fee and insurance expenses associated with a helicopter the company provides for the use of the principals (‘‘Other Transportation Expenses’’). |
(2) | Includes $1,667,231 of income earned by Mr. Bass in 2006 in respect of the ‘‘profit sharing interest’’ (that is, the rights to a portion of the incentive income) held by Mr. Bass in a variety of Fortress Funds. In addition to the compensation received from the company set forth in this table, Mr. Bass received awards entitling him to 0.5% of the ‘‘profit sharing interest’’ or incentive income that will be generated in respect to the investments made by the following private equity funds that were raised in 2006: Fortress Investment Fund IV, Fortress Investment Fund IV Coinvestment Fund, Fortress RIC Coinvestment Fund, Fortress Intrawest Coinvestment Fund, Fortress Holiday Investment Fund and Long Dated Value Fund II. |
(3) | Consists of Other Transportation Expenses. |
(4) | Consists of $94,208 of Administrative Expenses; and $180,330, comprised of apartment rental costs in London and related expatriate expenses the company provides for the use of Mr. Kauffman. |
(5) | Consists of $59,536 in Auto Expenses; and $94,208 in Administrative Expenses. |
(6) | Consists of $59,536 in Auto Expenses; and $289,107 in Other Transportation Expenses. |
Compensation of Directors
Messrs. Garonzik, Haass, Jacobs, Mudd, Shibata and Rubin were each granted 16,216 restricted Class A shares on the date immediately following the pricing of our initial public offering. These restricted shares will become vested in three equal portions on the day immediately preceding our annual shareholders meetings in each of 2008, 2009 and 2010, provided the director is still serving as of the applicable vesting date. The directors holding these restricted shares are entitled to all dividends that become payable on such shares during the restricted period. We pay an annual fee to each non-employee director equal to $30,000, payable semi-annually. In addition, annual fees of $20,000, $15,000 and $15,000 are paid to the chairs of the audit, compensation, and nominating corporate governance and conflicts committees of the board of directors, respectively, and the members of each such committee receive annual fees of $10,000. We do not, and do not intend to, sepa rately compensate our directors who are also our employees or who are otherwise affiliated with us. Fees to independent directors may be paid in Class A shares, based on the value of such Class A shares, at the date of issuance, rather than in cash, provided that any such issuance does not prevent such director from being determined to be independent. All members of the board of directors will be reimbursed for reasonable costs and expenses incurred in attending meetings of our board of directors.
Indemnification Agreements
We have entered into separate indemnification agreements with our directors and officers. Each indemnification agreement provides, among other things, for indemnification to the fullest extent permitted by law and our operating agreement against (i) any and all expenses and liabilities, including judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement of any claim with our approval and counsel fees and disbursements, (ii) any liability pursuant to a loan guarantee, or otherwise, for any of Fortress’s indebtedness, and (iii) any liabilities incurred as a result of acting on our behalf (as a fiduciary or otherwise) in connection with an employee benefit plan. The indemnification agreements
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Table of Contentsprovide for the advancement or payment of all expenses to the indemnitee and for reimbursement to us if it is found that such indemnitee is not entitled to such indemnification under applicable law and our operating agreement.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling us pursuant to the foregoing provisions, we have been informed that, in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable. We maintain directors’ and officers’ liability insurance for our officers and directors.
 |  |
Item 12. | Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters |
Equity Incentive Plan
A new equity incentive plan for our employees, the Fortress Investment Group LLC 2007 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan, or the Plan, was adopted by our board of directors and approved by our shareholders prior to the consummation of our initial public offering. The purposes of the Plan are to provide additional incentive to selected employees and directors of, and consultants to, the company or its subsidiaries or affiliates, to strengthen their commitment, motivate them to faithfully and diligently perform their responsibilities and to attract and retain competent and dedicated people or employees who are essential to the success of our business and whose efforts will result in our long-term growth and profitability. We granted awards under the Plan in connection with our initial public offering to a select group of employees and to our independent directors. To accomplish such purposes, the Plan permits us to make grants of share options, share appreciation right s, restricted shares, restricted share units, deferred shares, performance shares, distribution equivalent rights, unrestricted shares and other share-based awards, or any combination of the foregoing.
In connection with our initial public offering we granted to employees a total of 50,919,256 restricted Class A share units. A portion of such grants were made in connection with changes in profit sharing arrangements with our employees. While we may issue restricted shares and other share-based awards in the future to employees as a recruiting and retention tool, we have not established specific parameters regarding future grants. Our board of directors (or the compensation committee of the board of directors) will determine the specific criteria surrounding other equity issuances under the Plan. A total of 115,000,000 Class A shares has been initially reserved for issuance under the Plan. Beginning in 2008, the Class A shares reserved under the Plan will be increased on the first day of each fiscal year during the Plan’s term by the lesser of (x) the excess of (i) 15% of the number of outstanding Class A and Class B shares of the company on the last day of the immediately preceding fiscal year over (ii) the number of shares reserved and available for issuance under the Plan as of such date or (y) 60,000,000 shares. The number of shares reserved under the Plan is also subject to adjustment in the event of a share split, share dividend, or other change in our capitalization. Generally, employee shares that are forfeited or canceled from awards under the Plan will be available for future awards.
The Plan will initially be administered by our board of directors, although it may be administered by either our board of directors or any committee of our board of directors, including a committee that complies with the applicable requirements of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and any other applicable legal or stock exchange listing requirements (the board or committee being sometimes referred to as the ‘‘plan administrator’’). The plan administrator may interpret the Plan and may prescribe, amend and rescind rules and make all other determinations necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan. The Plan permits the plan administrator to select the directors, employees, and consultants who will receive awards, to determine the terms and conditions of those awards, including but not limited to the exercise price, the number of shares subject to awards, the term of the awards, the performance goals and the vesting schedule appli cable to awards, to determine the restrictions applicable to awards of restricted shares or deferred shares and the conditions under which such restrictions will lapse, and to amend the terms and conditions of outstanding awards.
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Table of ContentsNotwithstanding the foregoing, the plan administrator shall not take any action with respect to an award that would be treated, for accounting purposes, as a ‘‘repricing’’ of such award at a lower exercise, base or purchase price, unless such action is approved by our shareholders. All employees, directors, or consultants of the company or its subsidiaries or affiliates are eligible to participate in our share incentive plan.
We may issue share options under the Plan. The option exercise price of all share options granted under the Plan will be determined by the plan administrator. The term of all share options granted under the Plan will be determined by the plan administrator, but may not exceed ten years. Each share option will be exercisable at such time and pursuant to such terms and conditions as determined by the plan administrator in the applicable share option agreement.
Unless the applicable share option agreement provides otherwise, in the event of an optionee’s termination of employment or service for any reason other than cause, retirement, disability or death, such optionee’s share options (to the extent exercisable at the time of such termination) generally will remain exercisable until 90 days after such termination, and then expire. Unless the applicable share option agreement provides otherwise, in the event of an optionee’s termination of employment or service due to retirement, disability or death, such optionee’s share options (to the extent exercisable at the time of such termination) generally will remain exercisable until one year after such termination and will then expire. Share options that were not exercisable on the date of termination will expire at the close of business on the date of such termination. In the event of an optionee’s termination of employment or service for cause , such optionee’s outstanding share options will expire at the commencement of business on the date of such termination.
Restricted shares, deferred shares or performance shares and other share-based awards may be granted under the Plan. The plan administrator will determine the purchase price and performance objectives, if any, with respect to the grant of restricted shares, deferred shares and performance shares. Participants with restricted shares and performance shares generally have all of the rights of a shareholder; participants generally will not have any rights of a shareholder with respect to deferred shares. Subject to the provisions of the Plan and applicable award agreement, the plan administrator has sole discretion to provide for the lapse of restrictions in installments or the acceleration or waiver of restrictions (in whole or in part) under certain circumstances, including, but not limited to, the attainment of certain performance goals, a participant’s termination of employment or service or a participant’s death or disability.
Share appreciation rights may also be granted under the Plan. These rights may be granted either alone or in conjunction with all or part of any options granted under the Plan, so long as the shares underlying the share appreciation rights are traded on an ‘‘established securities market’’ within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code. The plan administrator will determine the number of shares to be awarded, the price per share and all other conditions of share appreciation rights. The provisions of share appreciation rights need not be the same with respect to each participant. The prospective recipients of share appreciation rights will not have any rights with respect to such awards unless and until such recipient has executed an award agreement. The plan administrator has sole discretion to determine the times at which share appreciation rights are exercisable, and the term of such rights.
Other share-based awards under the Plan will include awards that may be denominated in or payable in, or valued in whole or in part by reference to, our Class A shares, including but not limited to restricted share units, distribution equivalents, Long Term Incentive Plan (‘‘LTIP’’) units or performance units, each of which may be subject to the attainment of performance goals, a period of continued employment, or other terms or conditions as permitted under the Plan. We may make awards in the form of long-term incentive units, or LTIP units. LTIP units may be issued pursuant to a separate series of Fortress Operating Group units. LTIP units, which can be granted as free-standing awards or in tandem with other awards under the Plan, will be valued by reference to the value of our Class A shares, and will be subject to such conditions and restrictions as the Plan administrator may determine, including continued employment or service, compu tation of financial metrics and/or achievement of pre-established performance goals and objectives. If applicable conditions and/or restrictions are not attained, participants would forfeit their LTIP units. LTIP unit awards, whether
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Table of Contentsvested or unvested, may entitle the participant to receive, currently or on a deferred or contingent basis, dividends or dividend equivalent payments with respect to the number of shares of our Class A shares corresponding to the LTIP award or other distributions from the Fortress Operating Group and the plan administrator may provide that such amounts (if any) shall be deemed to have been reinvested in additional Class A shares or LTIP units. The Plan provides, that on terms and conditions determined by the plan administrator, including, but not limited to the conversion ratio, the LTIP units granted under those plans in the limited partnership units of the operating and investing entities may be converted into our Class A shares in the same manner as applicable to the principals.
LTIP units may be structured as ‘‘profits interests’’ for federal income tax purposes, and we do not expect the grant, vesting or conversion of LTIP units to produce a tax deduction for us. As profits interests, LTIP units initially will not have full parity, on a per unit basis, with the Fortress Operating Group units with respect to liquidating distributions. Upon the occurrence of specified events, LTIP units can over time achieve full parity with the units and therefore accrete to an economic value for the participant equivalent of such units. Ordinarily, we anticipate that each LTIP unit awarded will be equivalent to an award of one Class A share reserved under the Plan, thereby reducing the number of shares available for other equity awards on a one-for-one basis. However, the plan administrator has the authority under the Plan to determine the number of shares underlying an award of LTIP units in light of all applicable circumstanc es, including performance-based vesting conditions, operating partnership ‘‘capital account allocations,’’ to the extent set forth in the partnership agreements for Fortress Operating Group, Code, or Treasury Regulations, value accretion factors and conversion ratios.
The Plan provides that the board may amend, alter or terminate the Plan, but no such action may impair the rights of any participant with respect to outstanding awards without the participant’s consent. The plan administrator may amend an award, prospectively or retroactively, but no such amendment may impair the rights of any participant without the participant’s consent. Unless the board determines otherwise, shareholder approval of any such action will be obtained if required to comply with applicable law. The Plan will terminate on the tenth anniversary of the effective date of the Plan.
We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-140576) covering the shares issuable under the Plan.
Beneficial Ownership
The following table sets forth, as of April 13, 2007, the beneficial ownership of our Class A shares and Fortress Operating Group units (and corresponding Class B shares), which at any time and from time to time are exchangeable for Class A shares, and related transactions by (1) each person known to us to beneficially own more than 5% of any class of the outstanding shares of Fortress Investment Group LLC, (2) each of our directors, (3) each of our named executive officers and (4) all directors and executive officers as a group.
Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC. To our knowledge, each person named in the table below has sole voting and investment power with respect to all of the Class A shares, Class B shares and Fortress Operating Group units shown as beneficially owned by such person, except as otherwise set forth in the notes to the table and pursuant to applicable community property laws. Unless otherwise indicated, the address of each person named in the table is c/o Fortress Investment Group LLC, 1345 Avenue of Americas, 46th Floor, New York, New York 10105.
152
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 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  | Class A Shares Beneficially Owned |  |  | Class B Shares Beneficially Owned(1) |
|  |  | Number of Shares |  |  | Percent(2) |  |  | Number of Shares |  |  | Number of Shares |  |  | Percent(2) |
Peter L. Briger, Jr.(3) |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | 66,575,264 |  |  |  |  |  | 66,575,264 |  |  |  |  |  | 21.3 |  |
Wesley R. Edens(4) |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | 72,816,694 |  |  |  |  |  | 72,816,694 |  |  |  |  |  | 23.3 |  |
Robert I. Kauffman(5) |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | 53,052,164 |  |  |  |  |  | 53,052,164 |  |  |  |  |  | 17.0 |  |
Randal A. Nardone(6) |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | 53,052,164 |  |  |  |  |  | 53,052,164 |  |  |  |  |  | 17.0 |  |
Michael E. Novogratz(7) |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | 66,575,264 |  |  |  |  |  | 66,575,264 |  |  |  |  |  | 21.3 |  |
Daniel N. Bass |  |  |  |  | 12,000 |  |  |  | * |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |
Fredric B. Garonzik |  |  |  |  | 44,216 |  |  |  | * |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |
Richard N. Haass |  |  |  |  | 19,216 |  |  |  | * |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |
Douglas L. Jacobs |  |  |  |  | 62,066 |  |  |  | * |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |
Daniel H. Mudd |  |  |  |  | 22,216 |  |  |  | * |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |
Howard Rubin |  |  |  |  | 100,000 |  |  |  | * |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |
Takumi Shibata |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | * |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |
All directors and executive officers as a group (12 persons) |  |  |  |  | 259,714 |  |  |  | * |  |  |  |  | 312,071,550 |  |  |  |  |  | 312,071,550 |  |  |  |  |  | 100.0 |  |
Nomura(8) |  |  |  |  | 55,087,666 |  |  |  |  |  | 58.2 |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |
 |
(1) | Each of the principals also beneficially owns a number of Fortress Operating Group units that is identical to the number of Class B shares listed in the table above, subject to the footnotes to this table. Consequently, each of them beneficially owns the following percentage of the Fortress Operating Group units outstanding, which equals their percentage ownership of the voting power of the company: Mr. Briger: 16.6%; Mr. Edens: 18.1%; Mr. Kauffman: 13.2%; Mr. Nardone: 13.2%; and Mr. Novogratz: 16.6%. |
(2) | The percentage of beneficial ownership of our shares is based on 94,597,696 Class A shares (including 97,296 restricted Class A shares granted to directors in connection with the consummation of our initial public offering) and 312,071,550 Class B shares outstanding and assumes no exchange of Fortress Operating Group units for our Class A shares. The percentage of beneficial ownership excludes 50,920,503 restricted Class A share units to be granted to certain employees. |
(3) | All 66,575,264 of Mr. Briger’s Fortress Operating Group units are held by Wainscott Holdings, LLC, a limited liability company of which Mr. Briger is the sole member. The economic interest with respect to 33,953,385 of the Fortress Operating Group units held by Wainscott Holdings, LLC is held by Brigfam Capital Investors LLC, a limited liability company of which Mr. Briger is the sole managing member; Mr. Briger disclaims beneficial ownership of the Fortress Operating Group units in which the economic interest is owned by Brigfam Capital Investors LLC except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein. |
(4) | 14,000,000 of Mr. Edens’ Fortress Operating Group units are held by The Wesley R. Edens 2007 Annuity Trust, a Delaware trust of which Mr. Edens is the trustee and 440,000 of Mr. Edens’ Fortress Operating Group units are held by The Edens Family 2007 Annuity Trust, a Delaware trust of which Mr. Edens is the trustee. Mr. Edens disclaims beneficial ownership of the Fortress Operating Group units held by The Wesley R. Edens 2007 Annuity Trust and The Edens Family 2007 Annuity Trust except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein. |
(5) | All 53,052,164 of Mr. Kauffman’s Fortress Operating Group units are held by Aldel LLC, a limited liability company of which Mr. Kauffman is the sole member. |
(6) | 14,000,000 of Mr. Nardone’s Fortress Operating Group units are held by The Randal A. Nardone 2007 Annuity Trust, a Delaware trust of which Mr. Nardone is the trustee, 300,000 of Mr. Nardone’s Fortress Operating Group units are held by The Nardone Family 2007 Annuity |
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Table of Contents | Trust #1, a Delaware trust of which Mr. Nardone is the trustee, and 300,000 of Mr. Nardone’s Fortress Operating Group units are held by The Nardone Family 2007 Annuity Trust #2, a Delaware trust of which Mr. Nardone is the trustee. Mr. Nardone disclaims beneficial ownership of the Fortress Operating Group units owned by The Randal A. Nardone 2007 Annuity Trust, The Nardone Family 2007 Annuity Trust #1 and The Nardone Family 2007 Annuity Trust #2 except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein. |
(7) | 8,008,108 of Mr. Novogratz’s Fortress Operating Group units are held by MN1 LLC, a limited liability company of which Mr. Novogratz is the sole managing member; Mr. Novogratz disclaims beneficial ownership of the Fortress Operating Group units held by MN1 LLC except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein. 29,233,578 of Mr. Novogratz’s Fortress Operating Group units are held by The Michael E. Novogratz 2007 Annuity Trust, a Delaware trust of which Mr. Novogratz is the trustee, and 2,702,703 of Mr. Novogratz’s Fortress Operating Group units are held by The Novogratz Family 2007 Annuity Trust, a Delaware trust of which Mr. Novogratz is the trustee. Mr. Novogratz disclaims beneficial ownership of the Fortress Operatin g Group units owned by The Michael E. Novogratz 2007 Annuity Trust and The Novogratz Family 2007 Annuity Trust except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein. |
(8) | Nomura Investment Managers U.S.A., Inc. c/o Nomura Holdings, Inc., 1-9-1, Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 103-8645 Japan. |
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Table of ContentsItem 13. Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions, and Director Independence
Formation Transactions
Our business is presently conducted by Fortress Operating Group. Fortress Investment Group LLC was formed as a Delaware limited liability company for the purpose of completing the Nomura transaction, our initial public offering and the related transactions in order to carry on our business as a publicly-traded entity. As a result of the Nomura transaction and the transactions contemplated by our initial public offering, Fortress Investment Group LLC acquired control of the Fortress Operating Group and holds approximately 23.3% of the Fortress Operating Group units.
In connection with the closing of the Nomura transaction, we formed FIG Corp. as a Delaware corporation and FIG Asset Co. LLC as a Delaware limited liability company, our two wholly-owned intermediate holding companies. In connection with the consummation of our initial public offering, we completed the following transactions:
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| • | we granted rights to the investors in the consolidated Fortress Funds to provide a simple majority of the respective unrelated limited partners with the right to accelerate the date on which the fund is liquidated, without cause, in accordance with certain procedures, or otherwise the ability to exert control over the fund, which resulted in our deconsolidation of these funds as of March 31, 2007; |
 |  |  |
| • | subsequent to December 31, 2006, we distributed $431.5 million to our principals in the period prior to the consummation of our initial public offering; |
 |  |  |
| • | subsequent to December 31, 2006, we collected $372.1 million pursuant to certain contractual arrangements from our offshore hedge funds representing a portion of receivables relating to previously earned fees, and used the proceeds, net of non-controlling interests, to partially fund the distributions to our principals described immediately above; |
 |  |  |
| • | we issued Class A shares to Nomura for net proceeds of $888.0 million; |
 |  |  |
| • | we contributed $609.8 million of the net proceeds from the Nomura transaction to FIG Corp., which in turn used those net proceeds, together with the proceeds it received from FIG Asset Co. LLC under the demand note, as described below, to purchase from the principals a 15% limited partner interest in each of the Operating Entities (which was approximately 13.7% upon consummation of our initial public offering). In connection with its admission as a limited partner to the Operating Entities, FIG Corp. became the sole general partner in each Operating Entity; |
 |  |  |
| • | we contributed $278.2 million of the net proceeds from the Nomura transaction to FIG Asset Co. LLC, which (i) loaned a portion of these net proceeds to FIG Corp. pursuant to a demand note and (ii) used the remaining portion of these proceeds to purchase from the principals a 15% limited partner interest in Principal Holdings (which was approximately 13.7% upon consummation of our initial public offering), the Fortress Operating Group entity, which, among other things, holds certain of our principal investments. In connection with its admission as a limited partner to Principal Holdings, FIG Asset Co. LLC became the sole general partner in Principal Holdings; |
 |  |  |
| • | FIG Corp. and FIG Asset Co. LLC (on behalf of any affiliated corporation) entered into a tax receivable agreement with our principals, as described below; |
 |  |  |
| • | we entered into an employment agreement with each of our principals, as described in Item 10 above; |
 |  |  |
| • | we entered into an investor shareholder agreement with Nomura, as described below; |
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Table of Contents |  |  |
| • | we issued Class A shares in our initial public offering for net proceeds of approximately $652.6 million; |
 |  |  |
| • | we contributed $508.2 million of the net proceeds from our initial public offering to FIG Corp. which in turn contributed those net proceeds, together with the proceeds it received from FIG Asset Co. LLC under a demand note, as described below, to the Operating Entities in exchange for an additional approximately 8.6% limited partner interest in each of the Operating Entities; |
 |  |  |
| • | we contributed $144.4 million of the net proceeds from our initial public offering to FIG Asset Co. LLC, which (i) loaned a portion of these net proceeds to FIG Corp. pursuant to an intercompany demand note and (ii) contributed the remaining portion of these proceeds in exchange for an approximately 8.6% limited partner interest in Principal Holdings; |
 |  |  |
| • | Fortress Operating Group used a portion of the net proceeds from our initial public offering: (a) to pay $250 million under our term loan facility and (b) to pay $85 million then outstanding under our revolving credit facility |
 |  |  |
| • | we granted pursuant to our equity incentive plan, effective upon consummation of our initial public offering, restricted Class A shares, and restricted Class A share units to certain directors and employees having a fair value of $1.8 million and $837.6 million, respectively; and |
 |  |  |
| • | we entered into a shareholders agreement with our principals, and our principals entered into the principals agreement, in each case as described below. |
We refer to the foregoing collectively as the ‘‘Transactions.’’
As a result of the Transactions:
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| • | Fortress Investment Group LLC is a holding company, and our primary assets are our indirect controlling general partner interest in the Fortress Operating Group and approximately 23.3% of the Fortress Operating Group units, held through the intermediate holding companies; |
 |  |  |
| • | our principals’ percentage ownership of the Fortress Operating Group units decreased to approximately 76.7% and our principals’ Class B shares represented 76.7% of the total combined voting power in the public company, by means of which they will maintain control of the company; |
 |  |  |
| • | FIG Corp. or FIG Asset Co. LLC, as applicable, became the sole general partner of each of the entities that constitute the Fortress Operating Group. Accordingly, we operate and control the business of the Fortress Operating Group and its subsidiaries; and |
 |  |  |
| • | net profits, net losses and distributions of the Fortress Operating Group were allocated and made to its unitholders, on a pro rata basis in accordance with their respective Fortress Operating Group units. Accordingly, net profits and net losses allocable to Fortress Operating Group unitholders were initially allocated, and distributions were initially made, approximately 23.3% indirectly to us and approximately 76.7% to our principals. |
The remaining Transactions collectively comprise the reorganization pursuant to which the principals, Nomura and the public acquired 100% of our outstanding Class A and Class B shares, and our concurrent acquisition, through two intermediate holding companies, of the controlling general partner interest in the Fortress Operating Group and approximately 23.3% of the Fortress Operating Group units.
Our deconsolidation of the Fortress Funds took place on March 31, 2007. Consequently, the deconsolidation is not reflected in our financial statements as of December 31, 2006. In future periods, our deconsolidation of the Fortress Funds will have significant effects on many of the items within our financial statements but will have no net effect to our net income (loss) or equity. For additional
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Table of Contentsinformation regarding the impact of the deconsolidation on our financial statements, see Note 12 to Item 8, ‘‘Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.’’
As we are a newly formed company, Fortress Operating Group is considered our predecessor for accounting purposes and its combined financial statements are our historical financial statements following completion of the Transactions. Also, because the principals controlled Fortress Operating Group before the Transactions and continue to control us after the Transactions, we accounted for the Transactions as a reorganization of entities under common control. Accordingly, we carried forward unchanged the value of assets and liabilities recognized in Fortress Operating Group’s combined financial statements into our consolidated financial statements. Following completion of our initial public offering, substantially all of Fortress’s expenses (other than (i) income tax expenses of Fortress Investment Group LLC, FIG Corp. and FIG Asset Co. LLC, (ii) obligations incurred under the tax receivable agreement and (iii) payments on indebtedness incurred by Fortr ess Investment Group LLC, FIG Corp. and FIG Asset Co. LLC), including substantially all expenses incurred by or attributable solely to Fortress Investment Group LLC, such as expenses incurred in connection with our initial public offering, are accounted for as expenses of the Fortress Operating Group.
We have continued the operations of the Fortress business and hold all of our assets through the Fortress Operating Group. Our principal investments are made either through FIG Corp. and its subsidiaries or, for assets that are appropriate, through Principal Holdings. FIG Asset Co. LLC, our direct wholly-owned subsidiary, is the general partner and a limited partner of Principal Holdings. Transfers of funds among subsidiaries, to the extent necessary to fund operations, are made by various means, including by intercompany notes. In particular, FIG Asset Co. LLC loaned a portion of the proceeds of our initial public offering to FIG Corp. FIG Asset Co. LLC may demand, at any time and from time to time, repayment of all or any portion of the note to satisfy any funding obligations of Principal Holdings. The principals are not under any obligation, nor have any preemptive right, to fund any ongoing operations or investment of Fortress Operating Group. Accordingly, a ny contribution of capital to the Fortress Operating Group will reduce the aggregate percentage ownership of the principals in the Fortress Operating Group.
We generally intend to hold all our assets through the Fortress Operating Group. In the future, if we make a significant tax-free corporate acquisition, we may add additional intermediate holding companies in the event we are unable to effect such acquisition through the Fortress Operating Group because of various business, financial or tax constraints.
Agreement Among Principals
Prior to the consummation of our initial public offering, the principals entered into the Principals Agreement, which provides, that in the event a principal voluntarily terminates his employment with us for any reason prior to the fifth anniversary of the consummation of our initial public offering, a portion of the Fortress Operating Group units (and corresponding Class B shares and certain rights under the tax receivable agreement) held by that principal as of the completion of our initial public offering (the ‘‘Initial Class B Shares’’ and ‘‘Initial Partnership Units,’’ respectively, and, together with the applicable rights under the tax receivable agreement and all securities and/or cash into which such Initial Class B Shares or Initial Partnership Units are exchanged, including Class A shares into which Fortress Operating Group units shall have been exchanged, collectively, the ‘‘Forfeitable Inter ests’’) will be forfeited as of the Forfeiture Date (as defined below) to the principals (‘‘Continuing Principals’’) who continue to be employed by Fortress as of the applicable Forfeiture Date, as follows: (i) in the event such termination occurs prior to the first anniversary of the consummation of our initial public offering, 82.5% of such principal’s Forfeitable Interests (and such percentage of all distributions received with respect to such Forfeitable Interests after the date such principal voluntarily terminates his employment with us) shall be forfeited; (ii) in the event such termination occurs after the first anniversary but prior to the second anniversary of the consummation of our initial public offering, 66% of such principal’s Forfeitable Interests (and such percentage of all distributions received with respect to such Forfeitable Interests after the date such principal voluntarily terminates his employment with us) shall be forfeited; (iii) in t he event such termination occurs after the second anniversary but prior to the third anniversary of the consummation of our
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Table of Contentsinitial public offering, 49.5% of such principal’s Forfeitable Interests (and such percentage of all distributions received with respect to such Forfeitable Interests after the date such principal voluntarily terminates his employment with us) shall be forfeited; (iv) in the event such termination occurs after the third anniversary but prior to the fourth anniversary of the consummation of our initial public offering, 33% of such principal’s Forfeitable Interests (and such percentage of all distributions received with respect to such Forfeitable Interests after the date such principal voluntarily terminates his employment with us) shall be forfeited; and (v) in the event such termination occurs after the fourth anniversary but prior to the fifth anniversary of the consummation of our initial public offering, 16.5% of such principal’s Forfeitable Interests (and such percentage of all distributions received with respect to such Forfeitable Interests after the date such principal voluntarily t erminates his employment with us) shall be forfeited.
The Principals Agreement may be amended and the terms and conditions of the Principals Agreement may be changed or modified upon the approval of a majority of the principals who are then employed by the Fortress Operating Group. We, our shareholders and the Fortress Operating Group have no ability to enforce any provision thereof or to prevent the principals from amending the Principals Agreement or waiving any forfeiture obligation.
For the purposes of the Principals Agreement, ‘‘Forfeiture Date’’ means, as to the Forfeitable Interests to be forfeited to any continuing principal, the date which is the earlier of (i) the date that is six months after the applicable date of termination of employment and (ii) the date on or after such termination date that is six months after the date of the latest publicly-reported disposition of our equity securities by any such continuing principals, which disposition is not exempt from the application of the provisions of Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Shareholders Agreement
Prior to the consummation of our initial public offering, we entered into a shareholders agreement with our principals. The shareholders agreement provides the principals with certain rights with respect to the approval of certain matters and the designation of nominees to serve on our board of directors, as well as registration rights for our securities that they own.
Principals’ Approval
The shareholders agreement provides that, so long as the principals and their permitted transferees collectively own securities representing more than 40% of the total combined voting power of all of our outstanding Class A and Class B shares, our board shall not authorize, approve or ratify any action described below without the prior approval (which approval may be in the form of an action by written consent) of principals that are employed by the Fortress Operating Group holding our outstanding shares representing greater than 50% of the total combined voting power of all of our outstanding Class A and Class B shares held by such principals, collectively:
 |  |  |
| • | any incurrence of indebtedness, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, by us or any of our subsidiaries in an amount in excess of approximately 10% of the then existing long-term indebtedness of us and our subsidiaries; |
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| • | any issuance by us, in any transaction or series of related transactions, of equity or equity-related outstanding shares which would represent, after such issuance, or upon conversion, exchange or exercise, as the case may be, at least 10% of the total combined voting power of our outstanding Class A and Class B shares other than (1) pursuant to transactions solely among us and our wholly-owned subsidiaries, or (2) upon conversion of convertible securities or upon exercise of warrants or options, which convertible securities, warrants or options are either outstanding on the date of, or issued in compliance with, the shareholders agreement; |
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| • | any equity or debt commitment or investment or series of related equity or debt commitments or investments in an entity or related group of entities in an amount greater than $250 million; |
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| • | any entry by us or any of our controlled affiliates into a new line of business that does not involve investment management and that requires a principal investment in excess of $100 million; |
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| • | the adoption of a shareholder rights plan; |
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| • | any appointment of a chief executive officer or co-chief executive officer; or |
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| • | the termination of the employment of a principal with us or any of our material subsidiaries without cause. |
Board Representation
The shareholders agreement requires that we take all reasonably necessary action to effect the following:
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| • | so long as the principals and their permitted transferees beneficially own (i) shares representing more than 50% of the total combined voting power of all our outstanding Class A and Class B shares, our board of directors shall nominate individuals designated by the principals such that the principals will have six designees on the board; (ii) shares representing more than 40% and less than 50% of the total combined voting power of all our outstanding Class A and Class B shares, our board of directors shall nominate individuals designated by the principals such that the principals will have five designees on the board; (iii) shares representing more than 25% and less than 40% of the total combined voting power of our outstanding Class A and Class B share s, our board of directors shall nominate individuals designated by the principals such that the principals will have four designees on the board; (iv) shares representing more than 10% and less than 25% of the total combined voting power of our outstanding Class A and Class B shares, our board of directors shall nominate individuals designated by the principals such that the principals will have two designees on the board; and (v) shares representing less than 10% of the total combined voting power of our outstanding Class A and Class B shares, the board shall have no obligation to nominate any individual that is designated by the principals. |
Our operating agreement provides that we may not expand the size of our board of directors without the approval of holders of our shares representing greater than 50% of the total combined voting power of our shares.
Transfer Restrictions
Each principal and his permitted transferee(s) (as defined below) may not, directly or indirectly, voluntarily effect cumulative transfers of more than (i) 17.5% of their initial Fortress Operating Group units (and corresponding Class B shares), and all securities which such initial units (and corresponding Class B shares) are exchanged for (collectively, the ‘‘Equity Interests’’), during the first year after the completion of our initial public offering, (ii) 34% of their Equity Interests during the first two years after the completion of our initial public offering, (iii) 50.5% of their Equity Interests during the first three years after the completion of our initial public offering, (iv) 67% of their Equity Interests during the first four years after the completion of our initial public offering, and (v) 83.5% of their Equity Interests during the first five years after the completion of our initial public offering, other than, in each case, with respect to transfers from one principal to another principal or to a permitted transferee of such principal. Any Equity Interests received by a principal pursuant to the forfeiture provisions of the Principals Agreement will remain subject to the foregoing restrictions in the receiving principal’s hands; provided, that each principal shall be permitted to sell without regard to the foregoing restrictions such number of forfeitable interests received by him as are required to pay taxes payable as a result of the receipt of such interests, calculated based on the maximum combined U.S. federal, New York State and New York City tax rate applicable to individuals; and provided further that each principal who is not required to pay taxes in the applicable fiscal quarter in which he receives Equity Interests as a result of being in the federal income tax ‘‘safe harbor’’ will not effect any such sales prior to the six month anniversary of the applicable termination date which gave rise to
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Table of Contentsthe receipt of such Equity Interests. After five years, each principal and his Permitted Transferee(s) may transfer all of the Equity Interests of such principal to any person or entity in accordance with Rule 144, in a registered public offering or in a transaction exempt from the registration requirements of Securities Act. The above transfer restrictions shall lapse with respect to a principal if such principal dies or becomes disabled.
The principals may exchange their Fortress Operating Group units for Class A shares at any time, which Class A shares also are subject to the foregoing transfer restrictions. When the principals exchange their Fortress Operating Group units for Class A shares, the Class B shares corresponding to the Fortress Operating Group units will be cancelled.
A ‘‘permitted transferee’’ shall mean, with respect to each principal and his permitted transferees (a) such principal’s spouse, (b) a lineal descendant of such principal’s maternal or paternal grandparents (or any such descendant’s spouse), (c) a charitable institution, (d) a trustee of a trust (whether inter vivos or testamentary), the current beneficiaries and presumptive remaindermen of which are one or more of such principal and persons described in clauses (a) through (c) above, (e) a corporation, limited liability company or partnership, of which all of the outstanding shares of capital stock or interests therein are owned by one or more of such principal and persons described in clauses (a) through (d) above, (f) an individual mandated under a qualified domestic relations order, (g) a legal or personal representative of such principal in the event of his death or disability (h) any other principal with respect to transactions contemplated by the shareholder agreement, and (i) any other principal who is then employed by Fortress or any of its affiliates or any permitted transferee of such principal in respect of any transaction not contemplated by the agreement.
Registration Rights
Demand Rights. We have granted to the principals registration rights that allow them at any time after six months following the consummation of our initial public offering to request that we register the resale under the Securities Act of 1933, of an amount of shares representing at least 2.5% of the total combined voting power of all our outstanding Class A and Class B shares, based on the aggregate amount of shares issued and outstanding immediately after the consummation of our initial public offering, that they own, subject to the transfer restrictions discussed above. Each principal, together with his permitted transferees, shall be entitled to an aggregate of two demand registrations. We are not required to maintain the effectiveness of any resale registration statement for more than 90 days. We are also not required to effect any demand reg istration within six months of a ‘‘firm commitment’’ underwritten offering to which all principals which held ‘‘piggyback’’ rights (as described below) were given the opportunity to sell shares in such offering and which offering included at least 50% of the shares collectively requested by the principals with piggyback rights to be included. We are not obligated to grant a request for a demand registration within four months of any other demand registration, and may refuse a request for demand registration if, in our reasonable judgment, it is not feasible for us to proceed with the registration because of the unavailability of audited financial statements, provided that we use our reasonable best efforts to obtain such financial statements as promptly as practicable.
Piggyback Rights. For so long as a principal, together with his permitted transferees and their respective permitted transferees, beneficially owns an amount of shares representing at least 1% of the total combined voting power of all our outstanding Class A and Class B shares, based on the aggregate amount of shares issued and outstanding immediately after the consummation of our initial public offering (a ‘‘Piggyback Registrable Amount’’), the principal shall also have ‘‘piggyback’’ registration rights that allows him to include the shares that he owns in any public offering of equity securities initiated by us (other than those public offerings pursuant to registration statements on Forms S-4 or S-8 or any successor form thereto) or by any of our other holders of equity securities that have regist ration rights, subject to the transfer restrictions discussed above. The ‘‘piggyback’’ registration rights of these holders of equity securities are subject to proportional cutbacks based on the manner of such offering and the identity of the party initiating such offering.
Shelf Registration. We have granted each principal, for so long as each principal, together with his permitted transferees and their respective permitted transferees, beneficially owns an amount of
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Table of Contentsshares representing at least 2.5% of the total combined voting power of all our outstanding Class A and Class B shares, based on the aggregate amount of shares issued and outstanding immediately after the consummation of our initial public offering, the right to request a shelf registration on Form S-3, providing for resales thereof to be made on a continuous basis, subject to a time limit on our efforts to keep the shelf registration statement continuously effective and our right to suspend the use of the shelf registration prospectus for a reasonable period of time (not exceeding 90 days in succession or 180 days in the aggregate in any 12 month period) if we determine that certain disclosures required by the shelf registration statement would be detrimental to us or our holders of equity securities, and also subject to the transfer restrictions discussed above. In addition, each principal that, together with his permitted transferees and their respective permitted transferees, beneficially owns a Piggybac k Registrable Amount and which has not made a request for a shelf registration may elect to participate in such shelf registration within ten days after notice of the registration is given.
Indemnification; Expenses. We have agreed to indemnify each principal against any losses or damages resulting from any untrue statement or omission of material fact in any registration statement or prospectus pursuant to which they sell our shares, unless such liability arose from such principal’s misstatement or omission, and each such principal has agreed to indemnify us against all losses caused by his misstatements or omissions. We will pay all expenses incident to our performance under the shareholders agreement, and the principals will pay their respective portions of all underwriting discounts, commissions and transfer taxes relating to the sale of their shares under the shareholders agreement.
Clawback Guaranty Indemnity Agreement
Incentive income from certain of the private equity funds may be distributed to us on a current basis generally subject to the obligation of the subsidiary of the Fortress Operating Group that acts as general partner of the fund to repay the amounts so distributed in the event certain specified return thresholds are not ultimately achieved. The principals have personally guaranteed, subject to certain limitations, the obligation of these subsidiaries in respect of this ‘‘clawback’’ obligation. The shareholders agreement contains our agreement to indemnify each of our principals against all amounts that the principal pays pursuant to any of these personal guaranties in favor of our private equity funds (including costs and expenses related to investigating the basis for or objecting to any claims made in respect of the guaranties).
Exchange Agreement
In connection with the completion of our initial public offering, the principals entered into an exchange agreement with us under which, at any time and from time to time, each principal (or certain transferees thereof) has the right to exchange one of his Fortress Operating Group units (together with the corresponding Class B shares) for one of our Class A shares. Under the exchange agreement, to effect an exchange, a principal must simultaneously exchange one Fortress Operating Group unit – being an equal limited partner interest in each Fortress Operating Group entity. As a principal exchanges his Fortress Operating Group units, our interest in the Fortress Operating Group units will be correspondingly increased and his corresponding Class B shares will be cancelled.
Expense Allocation Agreement
We have entered into an Expense Allocation Agreement with the Fortress Operating Group entities pursuant to which substantially all of Fortress’s expenses (other than (i) income tax expenses of Fortress Investment Group LLC, FIG Corp. and FIG Asset Co. LLC, (ii) obligations incurred under the tax receivable agreement and (iii) payments on indebtedness incurred by Fortress Investment Group LLC, FIG Corp. and FIG Asset Co. LLC), including substantially all expenses incurred by or attributable solely to Fortress Investment Group LLC, such as expenses incurred in connection with our initial public offering (including expenses related to or other amounts payable in connection with any obligations to indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities), are accounted for as expenses of the Fortress Operating Group.
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Table of ContentsTax Receivable Agreement
As described above, at any time and from time to time, each principal has the right to exchange each of his Fortress Operating Group units for one of our Class A shares in a taxable transaction. The Fortress Operating Group entities intend to make an election under Section 754 of the Code, which may result in an adjustment to the tax basis of the assets owned by the Fortress Operating Group at the time of the exchange. The taxable exchanges may result in increases in the tax depreciation and amortization deductions, as well as the increase in the tax basis of other assets, of the Fortress Operating Group that otherwise would not have been available. These increases in tax depreciation and amortization deductions, as well as the increase in the tax basis of other assets, would reduce the amount of tax that FIG Corp. or FIG Asset Co. LLC (on behalf of any affiliated corporation that holds an interest in a Fortress Operating Group entity), as applicable, would othe rwise be required to pay in the future. Additionally, our acquisition of Fortress Operating Group units from the principals, such as in the Nomura Transaction, also resulted in increases in tax deductions and tax basis that reduces the amount of tax that the corporate taxpayers would otherwise be required to pay in the future.
In connection with the closing of the Nomura transaction, the corporate taxpayers entered into a tax receivable agreement with our principals that provides for the payment by the corporate taxpayers to an exchanging or selling principal of 85% of the amount of cash savings, if any, in U.S. federal, state, local and foreign income tax that the corporate taxpayers actually realize (or deemed to realize in the case of an early termination payment by the corporate taxpayers or a change of control, as discussed below) as a result of these increases in tax deductions and tax basis, and certain other tax benefits, including imputed interest expense, related to entering into the tax receivable agreement. The corporate taxpayers expect to benefit from the remaining 15% of cash savings, if any, in income tax savings that they realize. The tax savings that the corporate taxpayers actually realize will equal the difference between (i) the income taxes that the corporate tax payers would pay if the tax basis of the assets was as shown on the corporate taxpayers’ books at the time of a taxable exchange, and (ii) the income taxes that the corporate taxpayers actually pay, taking into account payments made under the tax receivable agreement as well as depreciation and amortization deductions attributable to the fair market value basis in the assets of the Fortress Operating Group. 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 the corporate taxpayers would have been required to pay had there been no increase to the tax basis of the tangible and intangible assets of the applicable Fortress Operating Group entity as a result of the transaction and had the corporate taxpayers not entered into the tax receivable agreement. The term of the tax receivable agreement will be applicable to the Transactions and will continue until all such tax benefits have been utilized or expired, unless the corporate taxpayers exercise the right to terminate the tax receivable agreement by paying an amount based on the present value of payments remaining to be made under the agreement with respect to units which have been exchanged or sold and units which have not yet been exchanged or sold. Such present value will be determined based on certain assumptions, including that the corporate taxpayers would have sufficient taxable income to fully utilize the deductions that would have arisen from the increased tax deductions and tax basis and other benefits related to entering into the tax receivable agreement. No payments will be made if a principal elects to exchange his Fortress Operating Group units in a tax-free transaction.
Decisions made by the principals in the course of running our business, in particular decisions made with respect to the sale or disposition of assets or change of control, may influence the timing and amount of payments that are received by an exchanging or selling principal under the tax receivable agreement. In general, earlier disposition of assets following an exchange or acquisition transaction will tend to accelerate such payments and increase the present value of the tax receivable agreement, and disposition of assets before an exchange or acquisition transaction will increase a principal’s tax liability without giving rise to any rights to receive payments under the tax receivable agreement.
Although we are not aware of any issue that would cause the IRS to challenge a tax basis increase, our principals will not reimburse the corporate taxpayers for any payments made by them
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Table of Contentsunder the tax receivable agreement. As a result, in certain circumstances, payments could be made to our principals under the tax receivable agreement in excess of the corporate taxpayers’ cash tax savings. The payments that the corporate taxpayers may make to our principals could be material in amount. However, our principals receive 85% of our cash tax savings, leaving the corporate taxpayers with 15% of the benefits of the tax savings. In general, estimating the amount of payments that may be made to the principals under the tax receivable agreement is by its nature, imprecise, in the absence of an actual transaction, insofar as the calculation of amounts payable depends on a variety of factors. The actual increase in tax basis and the amount and timing of any payments under the tax receivable agreement will vary depending upon a number of factors, including:
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| • | The timing of the transactions – For instance, the increase in any tax deductions will vary depending on the fair market value, which may fluctuate over time, of the depreciable or amortizable assets of the Fortress Operating Group entities at the time of the transaction; |
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| • | The price of our Class A shares at the time of the transaction – The increase in any tax deductions, as well as tax basis increase in other assets, of the Fortress Operating Group entities, is directly proportional to the price of the Class A shares at the time of the transaction; |
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| • | The taxability of exchanges – If an exchange is not taxable for any reason, increased deductions will not be available; and |
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| • | The amount and timing of our income – The corporate taxpayers will be required to pay 85% of the tax savings as and when realized, if any. If a corporate taxpayer does not have taxable income, the corporate taxpayer is not required to make payments under the tax receivable agreement for that taxable year because no tax savings were actually realized. |
In addition, the tax receivable agreement provides that, upon a merger, asset sale or other form of business combination or certain other changes of control, the corporate taxpayers’ (or their successors’) obligations with respect to exchanged or acquired units (whether exchanged or acquired before or after such change of control) would be based on certain assumptions, including that the corporate taxpayers would have sufficient taxable income to fully utilize the deductions arising from the increased tax deductions and tax basis and other benefits related to entering into the tax receivable agreement. As noted above, no payments will be made if a principal elects to exchange his Fortress Operating Group units in a tax-free transaction.
Our purchase, through our intermediate holding companies, of 15% of the principals’ Fortress Operating Group units as part of the Nomura transaction resulted in an increase in the tax basis of the assets for which tax receivable payments could be made of approximately $810 million, and likely will result in us making payments under the tax receivable agreement. Any payments under the tax receivable agreement will give rise to additional tax benefits and additional potential payments under the tax receivable agreement. Any payments under the tax receivable agreement will depend upon whether FIG Corp. has taxable income to utilize the benefit of the increase in the tax basis of the assets owned by the Fortress Operating Group.
Investor Shareholder Agreement
Upon consummation of the sale of Class A shares in connection with the Nomura transaction, we entered into an Investor Shareholder Agreement with Nomura. The Investor Shareholder Agreement provides Nomura with certain rights with respect to the designation of a nominee to serve on our board of directors or an observer to attend meetings of our board of directors, as well as registration rights for our securities that it owns, and places certain restrictions on actions that Nomura may take with respect to us and our securities.
Board Representation
The Investor Shareholder Agreement requires that following our initial public offering, so long as Nomura and its permitted transferees beneficially own securities representing more than 10% of the
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Table of Contentstotal voting power of all our securities, our board of directors shall nominate an individual designated by Nomura such that the Nomura will have one designee on the board. So long as Nomura has this right, it may, in its sole discretion, elect to waive this right and instead appoint a non-voting observer to attend meetings of our board of directors, but not meetings of committees of our board of directors.
Transfer Restrictions
Nomura and its permitted transferees may not, directly or indirectly, voluntarily effect any transfer of Class A shares acquired pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement for a period of one year from the date of the agreement other than with respect to transfers from Nomura to a permitted transferee (i.e., a controlled affiliate of Nomura) of Nomura and between permitted transferees of Nomura, provided that such permitted transferee is an ‘‘Investor’’ for all purposes of the Investor Shareholder Agreement or, in connection with such transfer, executes a joinder to the Investor Shareholder Agreement to become an ‘‘Investor’’ for all purposes of the Investor Shareholder Agreement. After one year, Nomura and its permitted transferees may transfer any or all of the Class A shares acquired pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement. The company has agreed not to waive for at least 120 days Nomura’s standst ill agreement, described below.
For the purposes of the Investor Shareholder Agreement, a ‘‘permitted transferee’’ of Nomura means any of Nomura’s subsidiaries or controlled affiliates.
Standstill Provision
Except as otherwise expressly provided in the Investor Shareholder Agreement, or as specifically approved by a majority of the members of our board of directors, including at least a majority of the principals who are members of our board of directors, no Investor or any of its affiliates shall, directly or indirectly, (i) by purchase or otherwise, beneficially own, acquire, agree to acquire or offer to acquire any of our voting securities or direct or indirect rights or options to acquire our voting securities other than the Class A Shares acquired pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement, (ii) enter, propose to enter into, solicit or support any merger or business combination or similar transaction involving us or any of our subsidiaries, or purchase, acquire, propose to purchase or acquire or solicit or support the purchase or acquisition of any portion of the business or assets of us or any of our subsidiaries (except for proposals to purchase or a cquire a non-material portion of our assets or the assets of any of our subsidiaries that are not required to be publicly disclosed), (iii) initiate or propose any security holder proposal without the approval of our board of directors granted in accordance with the Investor Shareholder Agreement or make, or in any way participate in, any ‘‘solicitation’’ of ‘‘proxies’’ (as such terms are used in the proxy rules promulgated by the SEC under the Exchange Act) to vote, or seek to advise or influence any person with respect to the voting of, any of our voting securities or request or take any action to obtain any list of our security holders for such purposes with respect to any matter (or, as to such matters, solicit any person in a manner that would require the filing of a proxy statement under Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act), (iv) form, join or in any way participate in a group (other than a group consisting solely of Nomura and its respective aff iliates) formed for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting or disposing of or taking any other action with respect to our voting securities, (v) deposit any of our voting securities in a voting trust or enter into any voting agreement or arrangement with respect thereto (other than the Investor Shareholder Agreement and such voting trusts or agreements which are solely between Nomura and its affiliates or made between Nomura and its affiliates and us pursuant to the Investor Shareholder Agreement), (vi) seek representation on our board of directors, the removal of any directors from our board of directors or a change in the size or composition of our board of directors (in each case, other than as provided in the Investor Shareholder Agreement), (vii) make any request to amend or waive any of the foregoing provisions, which request would require public disclosure under applicable law, rule or regulation, (viii) disclose any intent, purpose, plan, arrangement or proposal inconsistent with the foregoing (in cluding any such intent, purpose, plan, arrangement or proposal that is conditioned on or would require the waiver, amendment, nullification or invalidation of any of the foregoing) or take any action that would require public disclosure of any such intent,
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Table of Contentspurpose, plan, arrangement or proposal, (ix) take any action challenging the validity or enforceability of the foregoing or (x) assist, advise, encourage or negotiate with any person with respect to, or seek to do, any of the foregoing; provided that (a) it shall not be a violation of clause (x) above to sell the Class A shares acquired by Nomura in connection with the Nomura transaction and (b) it shall not be a violation of any of the restrictions set forth in clauses (i)-(x) above by an ‘‘Investor’’ for purposes of the Investor Shareholder Agreement to (1) trade our securities or the securities of our subsidiaries for the accounts of its customers in the ordinary course of trading, investment management, financing and brokerage activities subject to appropriate information barriers being in place or (2) participate in any coinvestment opportunities offered to it by us or certain of our subsidiaries.
Registration Rights
Demand Rights. We have granted to Nomura and its permitted transferees ‘‘demand’’ registration rights that allow them at any time after six months following the consummation of our initial public offering, to request that we register under the Securities Act, an amount of shares representing at least 2.5% of the total voting power of all our securities, subject to the transfer restrictions discussed above. Nomura and its permitted transferees are entitled to an aggregate of two demand registrations. We are not required to maintain the effectiveness of the registration statement for more than 90 days. We are also not required to effect any demand registration within six months of a ‘‘firm commitment’’ underwritten offering in which Nomura and its permitted transferees held ‘‘piggyback&rsqu o;’ rights (as described below) and were given the opportunity to sell shares in the offering and which offering included at least 50% of the shares collectively requested by such persons to be included. We are not obligated to grant a request for a demand registration within four months of any other demand registration, and may refuse a request for demand registration if in our reasonable judgment, it is not feasible for us to proceed with the registration because of the unavailability of audited or other financial statements, provided that we use our reasonable best efforts to obtain such financial statements as promptly as practicable.
Piggyback Rights. For so long as Nomura, together with its permitted transferees and their respective permitted transferees, beneficially own an amount of shares representing at least 1% of the total voting power of all our securities, such holder of our equity securities shall also have ‘‘piggyback’’ registration rights that allow them to include the shares that they own in any public offering of equity securities initiated by us (other than those public offerings pursuant to registration statements on Forms S-4 or S-8 or any successor form thereto) or by any of our other holders of equity securities that have registration rights, subject to the transfer restrictions discussed above. The ‘‘piggyback’’ registration rights of these holders of equity securities are subject to proportional cutbacks base d on the manner of such offering and the identity of the party initiating such offering.
Indemnification; Expenses. We have agreed to indemnify Nomura and its permitted transferees against any losses or damages resulting from any untrue statement or omission of material fact in any registration statement or prospectus pursuant to which they sell our shares, unless such liability arose from such holder’s misstatement or omission, and such holders have agreed to indemnify us against all losses caused by their misstatements or omissions. We will pay all expenses incident to our performance under the Investor Shareholder Agreement, and Nomura and its permitted transferees will pay their respective portions of all underwriting discounts, commissions and transfer taxes relating to the sale of its shares under the Investor Shareholder Agreement.
Most Favored Nations. Except for shelf registration rights and the number of demand rights granted to our principals and their permitted transferees pursuant to the shareholder agreement, we have agreed that if we grant superior or more favorable demand, piggyback or incidental registration rights than those provided to Nomura and its permitted transferees, any such superior or more favorable rights and/or terms shall be deemed to have been granted simultaneously to Nomura and its permitted transferees.
Exchanges; Repurchases; Recapitalization.
Unless otherwise provided in the Investor Shareholder Agreement, neither we nor any of our subsidiaries shall effect any repurchase, recapitalization, reorganization, reclassification, merger,
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Table of Contentsconsolidation, share exchange, liquidation, spin-off, stock split, dividend, distribution or stock consolidation, subdivision or combination that would not afford to each holder of Class A shares the same type and amount of consideration per Class A share or Fortress Operating Group unit (and the corresponding Class B shares). In addition, neither we nor any of our subsidiaries shall effect any repurchase or redemption of Class A Shares or Fortress Operating Group units (and the corresponding Class B shares) from any holder of Class A shares or Fortress Operating Group units (and the corresponding Class B shares), other than on a pro rata basis from all holders of Class A shares and all holders of Fortress Operating Group units (and the corresponding Class B shares) participating in such repurchase or redemption at the same type and amount of consideration except for repurchases of Class A shares or Fortress Operating Group units (and the corresponding Class B shares) that affect the Class A shares and Fortr ess Operating Group Units (and the corresponding Class B shares) on a pro rata basis.
Other Related Party Transactions
From time to time, we may advance amounts on behalf of affiliates for short periods. In such cases, those affiliates generally incur interest charges. One of our indirect subsidiaries acts as the loan origination platform for our hybrid hedge funds. In this respect, it holds commercial lending licenses in various states and receives nominal fees for its loan origination duties.
We have entered into cost sharing arrangements with the operating subsidiaries of the private equity funds, including subleases of certain of our office space. Furthermore, the operating subsidiaries of the private equity funds have a separate cost sharing arrangement with each other.
Fortress Funds and/or their portfolio companies (both funds which are consolidated under GAAP on our historical financial statements and funds which are not so consolidated) have engaged in a number of related party transactions. Neither the company, Fortress Operating Group nor any of our investment management subsidiaries was a party to any of these transactions. These transactions are transactions that, if entered into following deconsolidation of the consolidated Fortress Funds, we would not consider as related party transactions, since we are not a party to any of these transactions:
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| • | One of the Fortress Funds has investments in two real estate related joint ventures with one of our Castles, which aggregated approximately $41.3 million as of December 31, 2006. |
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| • | Certain of our portfolio companies and funds are co-owned by, have merged with, or have engaged in transactions with, other portfolio companies and funds. Generally, co-ownership arrangements are entered into due to transaction size limitations in individual funds and transactions between portfolio companies take advantage of synergies between these entities. |
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| • | In some instances, portfolio companies have entered into contracts with other portfolio companies or with certain of our equity method investees to provide services to, or receive services from, these entities, including asset management, consulting and loan servicing. These contracts were entered into because the entity providing the service possessed relevant expertise. |
Our employees are permitted to participate in our Fortress Funds by investing in these funds alongside non-employee third party investors. Many of our employees, including our principals and other executive officers, have invested in these funds. In many cases, participation is limited by law to individuals who qualify under applicable legal regimes. These funds generally do not require employees to pay management fees and do not deduct incentive fees or ‘carried interest’ from the funds’ distributions to these employees.
Distributions to our fiscal 2006 executive officers (or persons or entities affiliated with them) of profits earned on investments made by, and other income from, any fund for which amounts that were distributed (including return of capital invested by such directors or officers*) to or, in the case of
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* | In fiscal 2006, the return of capital invested by such persons in such funds over several years was as follows: Mr.��Bass – $66,222; Mr. Briger – $5,679,110; Mr. Edens – $5,679,110; Mr. Kauffman – $3,822,195; Mr. Nardone – $3,822,195; Mr. Novogratz – $4,750,652. |
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Table of Contentshedge funds, that could have been withdrawn by such director or officer exceeded $120,000 in fiscal 2006 were, in the aggregate, as follows: Mr. Bass – $107,505; Mr. Briger – $6,658,152; Mr. Edens – $6,902,766; Mr. Kauffman – $5,017,719; Mr. Nardone – $4,066,921; and Mr. Novogratz – $6,314,486.
Fortress generally bears overhead, administrative and other expenses for, and may provide certain other services free of charge to, these funds. In addition, certain of our executive officers from time to time invest their personal funds directly in affiliates of our funds on the same terms and with the same conditions as the other investors in these affiliates, who are not our directors, executive officers or employees.
A brother of one of our Presidents, Mr. Novogratz, is employed by us as a managing director in our investor relations group and earned in 2006 a base salary of $200,000, a bonus of $650,000 plus usual and customary benefits.
A brother-in-law of one of our Presidents, Mr. Briger, was employed by us an associate in the Drawbridge Special Opportunities area during part of 2006 and earned $154,000 in total compensation.
One of our principals owns an aircraft that Fortress uses for business purposes in the course of its operations. The payments made or accrued to such principal for this use were based on estimated current market rates for chartering aircraft and totaled $0.6 million in 2006, including $0.4 million from consolidated Fortress Funds.
In February 2007, Fortress entered into a preliminary agreement with two employees who were departing from Fortress to form their own investment management company. Fortress received a minority ownership interest in the management company, and as part of the transaction a Fortress Fund received certain rights to invest at discounted fee rates in the fund being formed by the departing employees, and committed to invest $200 million in that fund subject to certain conditions. The entire transaction was approved by the advisory board of the Fortress Fund.
In March 2007, one of the portfolio companies of a Fortress Fund leased office space to a company owned by one of the principals. The principal pays approximately $0.1 million per annum in rent to the portfolio company.
In April 2007, Newcastle Investment Corp. consummated a registered public offering of its common stock, for which it received net proceeds of approximately $125 million. The principals individually purchased approximately $60 million of the shares sold in this offering directly from the underwriter at the public offering price.
Fortress Operating Group Limited Partnership Agreements and Our Operating Agreement
Operating Agreement of Fortress Investment Group LLC
Organization and Duration
Our limited liability company was formed on November 6, 2006 as Fortress Investment Group Holdings LLC, and was subsequently renamed Fortress Investment Group LLC on February 1, 2007, and will remain in existence until dissolved in accordance with our operating agreement.
Purpose
Under our operating agreement, we are permitted to engage in any business activity that lawfully may be conducted by a limited liability company organized under Delaware law and, in connection therewith, to exercise all of the rights and powers conferred upon us pursuant to the agreements relating to such business activity; provided, however, that, except if our board of directors determines that it is no longer in our best interests, our management shall not cause us to engage, directly or indirectly, in any business activity that our board of directors determines would cause us to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise taxable as an entity for federal income tax purposes.
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Table of ContentsRelationship with Fortress Operating Group Entities
Under our operating agreement, we must receive the consent of the principals (who own a majority of our Class B shares) before engaging in the following actions:
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| (i) | directly or indirectly entering into or conducting any business or holding any assets other than (a) business conducted and assets held by the Fortress Operating Group and its subsidiaries, (b) ownership, acquisition and disposition of equity interests in our subsidiaries, (c) the management of the business of the Fortress Operating Group, (d) making loans and incurring indebtedness that is otherwise not prohibited under our operating agreement, (e) the offering, sale, syndication, private placement or public offering of securities or other interests in compliance with our operating agreement, (f) any financing or refinancing related to the Fortress Operating Group and its subsidiaries, (g) any activity or transaction contemplated by the Invest or Shareholder Agreement, the Shareholders Agreement or the Exchange Agreement, and (h) any activities incidental to the foregoing; |
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| (ii) | incurring or guaranteeing any indebtedness other than that incurred in connection with an exchange under the Exchange Agreement and indebtedness to the company or any of its subsidiaries; |
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| (iii) | owning any assets other than permitted equity interests, permitted indebtedness, and such cash and cash equivalents as the board of directors deems reasonably necessary for us and our subsidiaries to carry out our respective responsibilities contemplated under our operating agreement; |
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| (iv) | disposing of any interest in FIG Corp., FIG Asset Co. LLC or the Fortress Operating Group, or owning any interest in any person other than the Fortress Operating Group entities or a wholly owned subsidiary that directly or indirectly owns an interest in the Fortress Operating Group entities; |
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| (v) | issuing equity securities unless the proceeds of the issuance are contributed to the Fortress Operating Group entities in exchange for equity securities of the Fortress Operating Group entities with preferences, rights, terms and provisions that are substantially the same as those of such company equity securities and equal in number to the number of company equity securities issued; |
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| (vi) | contributing cash or other assets to the Fortress Operating Group entities other than proceeds from the issuance of equity securities; |
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| (vii) | effecting any share split, subdivision, reverse share split, combination, pro rata distribution or any other recapitalization or reclassification of the Class A or Class B common shares or units of the company or any Fortress Operating Group entity, unless similar transactions are effected concurrently such that (a) the ratio of outstanding Class A common shares or units to outstanding Class B common shares or units is maintained and (b) the company and all Fortress Operating Group entities have the same number of Class A and Class B common shares or units outstanding; |
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| (viii) | making any capital contribution to any Fortress Operating Group entity unless a capital contribution is concurrently made to all of the Fortress Operating Group entities and the values of the capital contributions to all Fortress Operating Group entities are proportional to their relative equity values at the time; |
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| (ix) | permitting any Fortress Operating Group entity to issue any equity securities to the company or any of its subsidiaries unless each other Fortress Operating Group entity concurrently issues equity securities that are equal in number to and have substantially the same provisions as the equity securities issued by such Fortress Operating Group entity; |
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| (x) | causing the Fortress Operating Group entity to establish record dates for distribution payments unless they coincide with the record dates for distribution payments paid by the company; |
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| (xi) | preventing any Class B units from being converted into an equal number of Class A units by the Fortress Operating Group entities if, as a result of an exchange pursuant to the exchange agreement, we or our subsidiaries acquire any Class B units issued by the Fortress Operating Group; and |
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| (xii) | repurchasing or redeeming any equity securities from us or any of our subsidiaries (excluding the Fortress Operating Group and their subsidiaries) except pursuant to our operating agreement. |
Agreement to be Bound by our Operating Agreement; Power of Attorney
By purchasing our Class A shares, our shareholders are admitted as members of our limited liability company and are deemed to have agreed to be bound by the terms of our operating agreement. Pursuant to this agreement, each shareholder and each person who acquires a Class A share or a Class B share from a shareholder grants to certain of our officers (and, if appointed, a liquidator) a power of attorney to, among other things, execute and file documents required for our qualification, continuance or dissolution. The power of attorney also grants certain of our officers the authority to make certain amendments to, and to make consents and waivers under and in accordance with, our operating agreement.
Duties of Officers and Directors
Our operating agreement provides that our business and affairs shall be managed under the direction of our board of directors, which shall have the power to appoint our officers. Our operating agreement further provides that the authority and function of our board of directors and officers shall be identical to the authority and functions of a board of directors and officers of a corporation organized under the Delaware General Corporation Law, or DGCL, except as expressly modified by the terms of the operating agreement. Finally, our operating agreement provides that except as specifically provided therein, the fiduciary duties and obligations owed to our limited liability company and to our members shall be the same as the respective duties and obligations owed by officers and directors of a corporation organized under the DGCL to their corporation and stockholders, respectively.
Our operating agreement does not expressly modify the duties and obligations owed by officers and directors under the DGCL. However, there are certain provisions in our operating agreement regarding exculpation and indemnification of our officers and directors that differ from the DGCL. First, our operating agreement provides that to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law our directors or officers will not be liable to us. Under the DGCL, a director or officer would be liable to us for (i) breach of duty of loyalty to us or our shareholders; (ii) intentional misconduct or knowing violations of the law that are not done in good faith; (iii) improper redemption of stock or declaration of a dividend, or (iv) a transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.
Second, our operating agreement provides that we indemnify our directors and officers for acts or omissions to the fullest extent permitted by law. Under the DGCL, a corporation can only indemnify directors and officers for acts or omissions if the director or officer acted in good faith, in a manner he reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the corporation, and, in a criminal action, if the officer or director had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.
Third, our operating agreement provides that in the event a potential conflict of interest exists or arises between any of our principals, our directors or their respective affiliates, on the one hand, and us, any of our subsidiaries or any of our shareholders, on the other hand, a resolution or course of action by our board of directors shall be deemed approved by all of our shareholders, and shall not constitute a breach of the fiduciary duties of members of the board to us or our shareholders, if such resolution or course of action is (i) approved by our nominating, corporate governance and conflicts committee, which is composed of independent directors, (ii) approved by shareholders holding a majority of our shares that are disinterested parties, (iii) on terms no less favorable than those generally provided to or available from unrelated third parties, or (iv) fair and reasonable to us. Under the DGCL, a corporation is not permitted to automatically exempt board members from claims of breach of fiduciary duty under such circumstances.
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Table of ContentsIn addition, our operating agreement provides that all conflicts of interest described in this prospectus are deemed to have been specifically approved by all of our shareholders.
Election of Members of Our Board of Directors
Certain members of our board of directors were elected by our shareholders on a staggered basis. Our board of directors consists of eleven directors. Our board is divided into three classes that are, as nearly as possible, of equal size. Each class of directors is elected for a three-year term of office, but the terms are staggered so that the term of only one class of directors expires at each annual general meeting. The current terms of the Class I, Class II, and Class III directors will expire in 2008, 2009 and 2010, respectively. Any vacancy on the board of directors may be filled by a majority of the directors then in office.
Removal of Members of Our Board of Directors
Any director or the entire board of directors may be removed, with or without cause, at any time, by holders of a majority of the total combined voting power of all of our outstanding Class A and Class B shares then entitled to vote at an election of directors. The vacancy in the board of directors caused by any such removal will be filled by a vote of the majority of directors then in office.
Expansion of Board of Directors
Our operating agreement provides that we may not expand the size of our board of directors without the approval of holders representing a majority of the outstanding Class B shares held by our principals.
Investing in FIG Asset Co. LLC
Our operating agreement provides that we may not allow FIG Asset Co. LLC to make any investment, directly or indirectly, without the unanimous approval of all holders of Class B shares when such Class B shareholders would be required to contribute funds in order for such shareholders to maintain their respective ownership percentages in such entity.
Limited Liability
The Delaware LLC Act provides that a member who receives a distribution from a Delaware limited liability company and knew at the time of the distribution that the distribution was in violation of the Delaware LLC Act shall be liable to the company for the amount of the distribution for three years. Under the Delaware LLC Act, a limited liability company may not make a distribution to a member if, after the distribution, all liabilities of the company, other than liabilities to members on account of their shares and liabilities for which the recourse of creditors is limited to specific property of the company, would exceed the fair value of the assets of the company. For the purpose of determining the fair value of the assets of a company, the Delaware LLC Act provides that the fair value of property subject to liability for which recourse of creditors is limited shall be included in the assets of the company only to the extent that the fair value of that proper ty exceeds the nonrecourse liability. Under the Delaware LLC Act, an assignee who becomes a substituted member of a company is liable for the obligations of his assignor to make contributions to the company, except the assignee is not obligated for liabilities unknown to him at the time the assignee became a member and that could not be ascertained from the operating agreement.
Limitations on Liability and Indemnification of Our Directors and Officers
Pursuant to our operating agreement, we have agreed to indemnify each of our directors and officers, to the fullest extent permitted by law, against all expenses and liabilities (including judgments, fines, penalties, interest, amounts paid in settlement with the approval of the company and counsel fees and disbursements on a solicitor and client basis) arising from the performance of any of their
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Table of Contentsobligations or duties in connection with their service to us or the operating agreement, including in connection with any civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or other action, suit or proceeding to which any such person may hereafter be made party by reason of being or having been one of our directors or officers.
Amendment of Our Operating Agreement
Amendments to our operating agreement may be proposed only by or with the consent of our board of directors. To adopt a proposed amendment, our board of directors is required to seek written approval of the holders of the number of shares required to approve the amendment or call a meeting of our shareholders to consider and vote upon the proposed amendment. Except as set forth below, an amendment must be approved by holders of a majority of the total combined voting power of our outstanding Class A and Class B shares and, to the extent that such amendment would have a material adverse effect on the holders of any class or series of shares, by the holders of a majority of the holders of such class or series.
Prohibited Amendments. No amendment may be made that would:
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| • | enlarge the obligations of any shareholder without such shareholder’s consent, unless approved by at least a majority of the type or class of shares so affected; |
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| • | provide that we are not dissolved upon an election to dissolve our limited liability company by our board of directors that is approved by holders of a majority of the total combined voting power of our outstanding Class A and Class B shares; |
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| • | change the term of existence of our company; or |
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| • | give any person the right to dissolve our limited liability company other than our board of directors’ right to dissolve our limited liability company with the approval of holders of a majority of the total combined voting power of our outstanding Class A and Class B shares. |
The provision of our operating agreement preventing the amendments having the effects described in any of the clauses above can be amended upon the approval of holders of at least two-thirds of the total combined voting power of our outstanding Class A and Class B shares, voting together as a single class.
No Shareholder Approval. Our board of directors may generally make amendments to our operating agreement without the approval of any shareholder or assignee to reflect:
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| • | a change in our name, the location of our principal place of our business, our registered agent or our registered office; |
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| • | the admission, substitution, withdrawal or removal of shareholders in accordance with our operating agreement; |
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| • | the merger of our company or any of its subsidiaries into, or the conveyance of all of our assets to, a newly-formed entity if the sole purpose of that merger or conveyance is to effect a mere change in our legal form into another limited liability entity; |
 |  |  |
| • | a change that our board of directors determines to be necessary or appropriate for us to qualify or continue our qualification as a company in which our members have limited liability under the laws of any state or to ensure that we will not be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise taxed as an entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes other than as we specifically so designate; |
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| • | an amendment that our board of directors determines, based upon the advice of counsel, to be necessary or appropriate to prevent us, members of our board, or our officers, agents or trustees from in any manner being subjected to the provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, or ‘‘plan asset’’ regulations adopted under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, or ERISA, whether or not substantially similar to plan asset regulations currently applied or proposed; |
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| • | an amendment or issuance that our board of directors determines to be necessary or appropriate for the authorization of additional securities; |
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| • | any amendment expressly permitted in our operating agreement to be made by our board of directors acting alone; |
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| • | an amendment effected, necessitated or contemplated by a merger agreement that has been approved under the terms of our operating agreement; |
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| • | any amendment that our board of directors determines to be necessary or appropriate for the formation by us of, or our investment in, any corporation, partnership or other entity, as otherwise permitted by our operating agreement; |
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| • | a change in our fiscal year or taxable year and related changes; and |
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| • | any other amendments substantially similar to any of the matters described in the clauses above. |
In addition, our board of directors may make amendments to our operating agreement without the approval of any shareholder or assignee if our board of directors determines that those amendments:
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| • | do not adversely affect the shareholders (including any particular class or series of shares as compared to other classes or series of shares) in any material respect; |
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| • | are necessary or appropriate to satisfy any requirements, conditions or guidelines contained in any opinion, directive, order, ruling or regulation of any federal or state agency or judicial authority or contained in any federal or state statute; |
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| • | are necessary or appropriate to facilitate the trading of shares or to comply with any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any securities exchange on which the shares are or will be listed for trading, compliance with any of which our board of directors deems to be in the best interests of us and our shareholders; |
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| • | are necessary or appropriate for any action taken by our board of directors relating to splits or combinations of shares under the provisions of our operating agreement; or |
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| • | are required to effect the intent expressed in this prospectus or the intent of the provisions of our operating agreement or are otherwise contemplated by our operating agreement. |
Merger, Sale or Other Disposition of Assets
Our board of directors is generally prohibited, without the prior approval of holders of a majority of the total combined voting power of all of our outstanding Class A and Class B shares, from causing us to, among other things, sell, exchange or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our assets in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, or approving on our behalf the sale, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of our assets, provided that our board of directors may mortgage, pledge, hypothecate or grant a security interest in all or substantially all of our assets without the approval of any shareholder. Our board of directors may also sell all or substantially all of our assets under a foreclosure or other realization upon the encumbrances above without that approval.
If the conditions specified in our operating agreement are satisfied, our board of directors may merge our company or any of its subsidiaries into, or convey all of our assets to, a newly-formed entity if the sole purpose of that merger or conveyance is to effect a mere change in our legal form into another limited liability entity, in each case without any approval of our shareholders. The shareholders are not entitled to dissenters’ rights of appraisal under the operating agreement or applicable Delaware law in the event of a merger or consolidation, a sale of all or substantially all of our assets or any other similar transaction or event.
Grantor Trust
In the future, our board of directors may consider implementing a reorganization without the consent of shareholders whereby a Delaware statutory trust (the ‘‘Trust’’) would hold all of our
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Table of Contentsoutstanding Class A shares and each holder of Class A shares would receive common shares of the Trust in exchange for its shares. The board will have the power to decide in its sole discretion to implement such a trust structure. Our Trust would be treated as a grantor trust for U.S. federal income tax purposes. As such, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, each investor would be treated as the beneficial owner of a pro rata portion of the shares held by the Trust and shareholders would receive annual tax information relating to their investment on IRS Forms 1099 (or substantially similar forms as required by law), rather than on IRS Schedules K-1. Our board will not implement such a trust structure if, in its sole discretion, the reorganization would be taxable or otherwise alter the benefits or burdens of ownership of the Class A shares, including, without lim itation, a shareholder’s allocation of items of income, gain, loss, deduction or credit or the treatment of such items for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Our board of directors will also be required to implement the reorganization in such a manner that does not have a material effect on the voting and economic rights of Class A shares and Class B shares.
The IRS could challenge the Trust’s manner of reporting to investors (e.g., if the IRS asserts that the Trust constitutes a partnership or is ignored for U.S. federal income tax purposes). In addition, the Trust could be subject to penalties if it were determined that the Trust did not satisfy applicable reporting requirements.
Termination and Dissolution
We will continue as a limited liability company until terminated under our operating agreement. We will dissolve upon: (1) the election of our board of directors to dissolve us, if approved by holders of a majority of the total combined voting power of all of our outstanding Class A and Class B shares; (2) the sale, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of our assets and those of our subsidiaries; (3) the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of our limited liability company; or (4) at any time that we no longer have any shareholders, unless our business is continued in accordance with the Delaware LLC Act.
Election to be Treated as a Corporation
If the Board of Directors determines that it is no longer in our best interests to continue as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Board of Directors may elect to treat us as an association or as a publicly traded partnership taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal (and applicable state) income tax purposes.
In the event that the board of directors determines the company should seek relief pursuant to Section 7704(e) of the Code to preserve the status of the company as a partnership for federal (and applicable state) income tax purposes, the company and each shareholder shall agree to adjustments required by the tax authorities, and the company shall pay such amounts as required by the tax authorities, to preserve the status of the company as a partnership.
Books and Reports
We are required to keep appropriate books of our business at our principal offices. The books will be maintained for both tax and financial reporting purposes on an accrual basis. For financial reporting purposes, our fiscal year is the calendar year. For tax purposes, our fiscal year end is the same as Nomura’s tax year end, although we may request permission from the IRS to adopt a tax year end of December 31. We have agreed to use reasonable efforts to furnish to our shareholders tax information (including Schedule K-1) as promptly as possible, which describes their allocable share of our income, gain, loss and deduction for our preceding taxable year. In preparing this information, we will use various accounting and reporting conventions to determine their allocable share of income, gain, loss and deduction. Delivery of this information by us may be subject to delay as a result of the late receipt of any necessary tax information from an investmen t in which we hold an interest. It is therefore possible that, in any taxable year, our shareholders will need to apply for extensions of time to file their tax returns.
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Table of ContentsAnti-Takeover Effects, Our Operating Agreement
The following is a summary of certain provisions of our operating agreement that may be deemed to have an anti-takeover effect and may delay, deter or prevent a tender offer or takeover attempt that a shareholder might consider to be in its best interest, including those attempts that might result in a premium over the market price for the interests held by shareholders.
Authorized but Unissued Shares
Our operating agreement authorizes us to issue 1 billion Class A shares, 750 million Class B shares and 250 million preferred shares for the consideration and on the terms and conditions established by our board of directors without the approval of any holders of our shares. However, the listing requirements of the NYSE, which apply so long as the Class A shares remain listed on the NYSE, require approval by shareholders of certain issuances equal to or exceeding 20% of the then outstanding voting power or then outstanding number of Class A shares. These additional Class A shares or equity securities may be utilized for a variety of purposes, including future public offerings to raise additional capital, acquisitions and employee benefit plans. Our ability to issue additional Class A shares and other equity securities could render more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control over us by means of a proxy contest, tender offer, merger or otherwise.
Delaware Business Combination Statute — Section 203
We are a limited liability company organized under Delaware law. Some provisions of Delaware law may delay or prevent a transaction that would cause a change in our control.
Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, which restricts certain business combinations with interested stockholders in certain situations, does not apply to limited liability companies unless they elect to utilize it. Our operating agreement does not currently elect to have Section 203 of the DGCL apply to us. In general, this statute prohibits a publicly held Delaware corporation from engaging in a business combination with an interested stockholder for a period of three years after the date of the transaction by which that person became an interested stockholder, unless the business combination is approved in a prescribed manner. For purposes of Section 203, a business combination includes a merger, asset sale or other transaction resulting in a financial benefit to the interested stockholder, and an interested stockholder is a person who, together with affiliates and associates, owns, or within three years prior, did own, 15% or more of voting sto ck.
Other Provisions of Our Operating Agreement
Certain provisions of our operating agreement may make a change in control of our company more difficult to effect. Our operating agreement provides for a staggered board of directors consisting of three classes of directors. Directors of each class are chosen for three-year terms upon the expiration of their current terms and each year one class of our directors will be elected by our shareholders. The terms of the first, second and third classes will expire in 2008, 2009 and 2010, respectively. We believe that classification of our board of directors will help to assure the continuity and stability of our business strategies and policies as determined by our board of directors. Additionally, there is no cumulative voting in the election of directors, which means that the holders of a majority of our outstanding Class A and Class B shares can elect all of the directors then standing for election currently, and the holders of the Class A shares will not be able to elect any directors. The classified board provision could have the effect of making the replacement of incumbent directors more time consuming and difficult. At least two annual meetings of shareholders, instead of one, generally will be required to effect a change in a majority of our board of directors. Thus, the classified board provision could increase the likelihood that incumbent directors will retain their positions. The staggered terms of directors may delay, defer or prevent a tender offer or an attempt to change control of us, even though a tender offer or change in control might be in the best interest of our shareholders. In addition, our operating agreement provides that directors may be removed with or without cause by holders of a majority of the total voting power of our outstanding Class A and Class B shares then entitled to vote at an election of directors.
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Table of ContentsOur operating agreement also provides that our shareholders (with the exception of our principals if they collectively own shares representing at least 50% of the total combined voting power of all of our Class A and Class B shares) are specifically denied the ability to call a special meeting of the shareholders. Advance notice must be provided by our shareholders to nominate persons for election to our board of directors as well as to propose actions to be taken at an annual meeting.
Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Fortress Operating Group Entities
Each of the amended and restated partnership agreements for the Operating Entities was entered into by FIG Corp. as the general partner and the principals as limited partners, and the amended and restated partnership agreement for Principal Holdings was entered into by FIG Asset Co. LLC as the general amended and restated partner and the principals as limited partners. The amended and restated partnership agreements are substantially similar in form and the following is a summary of certain of the material provisions of each of the amended and restated partnership agreements.
Management
The business and affairs of the limited partnership will be managed exclusively by the general partner. The limited partners, in their capacity as limited partners, will have no part in the management of the limited partnership and have no authority or right to act on behalf of or bind the limited partnership in connection with any matter. All determinations, decisions and actions made or taken by the general partner in accordance with the amended and restated partnership agreement are conclusive and absolutely binding upon the limited partnership and its partners.
Partnership Interests
As of the completion of Nomura Transaction, all limited partner interests in the partnership are designated as either ‘‘Class A common units’’ or ‘‘Class B common units’’, and, except as expressly provided in the partnership agreement, a Class A common unit and a Class B common unit will entitle the holder thereof to equal rights, other than voting rights, under the amended and restated partnership agreement, including with respect to distributions. The general partner holds all of the Class A common units of the limited partnership and our principals and an affiliate of Peter Briger hold all of the Class B common units of the limited partnership.
From time to time, the general partner may establish other classes or series of units, each having such relative rights, powers and duties and interests in profits, losses, allocations and distributions of the limited partnership as may be determined by the general partner. Among other things, the general partner has authority to specify (a) the allocations of items of partnership income, gain, loss, deduction and credit to holders of each such class or series of units; (b) the right of holders of each such class or series of units to share (on a pari passu, junior or preferred basis) in partnership distributions; (c) the rights of holders of each such class or series of units upon dissolution and liquidation of the limited partnership; (d) the voting rights, if any, of holders of each such class or series of units; and (e) the conversion, redemption or exchange rights applicable to each such class or series of units. The total number of units that may be create d pursuant to the foregoing and the issuance thereof that may be authorized by the general partner is not limited.
Distributions
Subject to the terms of any additional classes or series of units established by the general partner, distributions will be made, after distributions for taxes, as and when determined by the general partner, to the partners in accordance with their respective Class A common units and Class B common units. The general partnership interest in the limited partnership held by the general partner will not entitle the general partner to receive any distributions. The general partner may cause the limited partnership to make distributions of cash, units or other assets or property of the limited partnership. No partner has the right to demand that the partnership distribute any assets in kind to such partner.
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Table of ContentsIssuance of Equity Securities by Fortress
If Fortress issues any equity securities, it is expected that: (i) Fortress will immediately contribute the cash proceeds or other consideration received from such issuance, and from the exercise of any rights contained in any such securities, to FIG Corp. and FIG Asset Co. LLC (allocated between them in accordance with their relative values at the time such equity securities are issued); (ii) FIG Corp. will immediately contribute its portion of such cash proceeds or other consideration to the Operating Entities and any other entities that FIG Corp. directly acquires an interest in, to the extent that as of the date of such acquisition FIG Corp. and the principals and their respective permitted transferees own interests in such entity that are in proportion to their respective ownership interests in the other Operating Entities on such date (allocated among them in accordance with their relative values at the time such equity securities are issued); (iii) FIG As set Co. LLC will immediately contribute its portion of such cash proceeds or other consideration to Principal Holdings and any other entities that FIG Asset Co. LLC directly acquires an interest in, to the extent that as of the date of such acquisition FIG Asset Co. LLC and the principals and their respective permitted transferees own interests in such entity that are in proportion to their respective ownership interests in Principal Holdings on such date (allocated among them in accordance with their relative value at the time such equity securities are issued); (iv) in exchange for the portion of such cash proceeds or other consideration contributed to the limited partnership, the general partner will receive (x) in the case of an issuance of Class A shares, Class A common units, and (y) in the case of an issuance of any other equity securities by Fortress, except for Class B shares, a new class or series of units or other equity securities of the limited partnership with designations, preferences and othe r rights, terms and provisions that are substantially the same as those of such Fortress equity securities (with any dollar amounts adjusted to reflect the portion of the total amount of cash proceeds or other consideration received by Fortress that is contributed to the limited partnership); and (v) in the event of any subsequent transaction involving such Fortress equity securities (including a share split or combination, a distribution of additional Fortress equity securities, a conversion, redemption or exchange of such Fortress equity securities), the general partner will concurrently effect a similar transaction with respect to the units or other equity securities issued by the limited partnership in connection with the issuance of such Fortress equity securities.
In the event of any issuance of equity securities by Fortress, and the contribution of the cash proceeds or other consideration received from such issuance as described above, the limited partnership shall pay or reimburse Fortress (directly or indirectly by paying and reimbursing the general partner) for its pro rata portion (based on the portion of the total cash proceeds or other consideration contributed to the limited partnership) of the expenses incurred by Fortress in connection with such issuance, including any underwriting discounts or commissions.
If Fortress issues any equity securities and any of the transactions described above are not effected, then the general partner shall make such modifications to the amended and restated partnership agreement as the general partner reasonably determines to be necessary so that, to the greatest extent possible, subsequent distributions to the holders of Class B common units (including distributions upon liquidation) will be the same as would be the case if such transactions had been effected. Such modifications to the amended and restated partnership agreement may include changes in the rates of distributions or allocations of profit and loss among partners or a requirement that the general partner make future contributions to the limited partnership. The general partner may effect any such modifications without the consent or approval of any limited partner.
Transfer
A limited partner may not transfer all or any of such partner’s units without approval of the general partner, which approval may be granted or withheld in the general partner’s sole and complete discretion; provided, however, that without the general partner’s approval, a limited partner may (i) transfer units pursuant to the Exchange Agreement or exchange letter agreement among FIG Corp. and the principals, (ii) transfer units to a permitted transferee of such partner, or (iii) pledge or assign units to a non-affiliated lending institution. A limited partner may not, without the consent of the general partner, withdraw from the partnership prior to the partnership’s termination.
176
Table of ContentsLimited partners holding a majority of the outstanding Class A common units have the right to remove the general partner at any time, with or without cause. Upon the withdrawal or removal of the general partner, limited partners holding a majority of the outstanding Class A common units shall have the right to appoint a successor general partner; provided, that any successor general partner must be a direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Fortress.
Limitation on Partner Liability
The debts and liabilities of the limited partnership, whether arising in contract, tort or otherwise, are solely the debts and liabilities of the limited partnership, and no limited partner is obligated personally for any such debt, obligation or liability of the limited partnership solely by reason of being a limited partner. Pursuant to the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, FIG Corp. or FIG Asset Co. LLC, as applicable, in its capacity as the general partner of a limited partnership, is liable for the debts and liabilities of the limited partnership to the extent that the limited partnership can not satisfy such debts and liabilities out of its assets.
Indemnification and Exculpation
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the general partner and its officers, directors and employees are indemnified and held harmless by the limited partnership for and from any liabilities, losses, fees, penalties, damages, costs and expenses incurred by persons by reason of any act performed or omitted by such persons in connection with the affairs of the limited partnership in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed by such person to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the limited partnership. All indemnity claims will be paid out of partnership assets only and no limited partner has any personal liability for any such claims.
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the general partner and its officers, directors and employees are not liable to the limited partnership or any limited partner or any affiliate of any limited partner for any damages incurred by reason of any act performed or omitted by such person in good faith on behalf of the limited partnership in a manner reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the limited partnership. The general partner and its officer, directors and employees are fully protected in relying in good faith upon the records of the limited partnership and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the limited partnership by any person as to matters the general partner or its officers, directors or employees reasonably believes are within such other person’s professional or expert competence and who has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the limited partnership.
Dissolution
The limited partnership will be dissolved and its affairs will be wound up upon the first to occur of (i) the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of the limited partnership under Section 17-802 of the Delaware Uniform Limited Partnership Act; and (ii) the determination of the general partner to dissolve the limited partnership. Except as provided in the amended and restated partnership agreement, the death, disability, resignation, expulsion, bankruptcy or dissolution of any partner or the occurrence of any other event which terminates the continued partnership of any partner in the partnership shall not cause the partnership to be dissolved or its affairs wound up; provided, however, that at any time after the bankruptcy of the general partner, the holders of a majority of the Class A common units in the aggregate may replace the general partner with another person or entity, who will become a successor general partner of the limited partnership, will be vested with the powers and rights of the general partner, and will be liable for all obligations and responsible for all duties of the general partner from the date of such replacement. The holders of Class B common units will not have the right to vote their Class B common units with respect to the removal of the general partner in the event of the bankruptcy of the general partner. Upon the winding up of the limited partnership, after payment in full of all amounts owed to the limited partnership’s creditors, and after payment in full of all amounts owed to holders of units having liquidation preferences, if any, the holders of Class A common units and Class B common units will be entitled to receive the remaining assets of the limited partnership available for distribution in accordance with and to the extent of positive balances in the respective capital accounts of such holders after taking into account certain adjustments.
177
Table of ContentsAmendments
Except as may be otherwise required by law, the amended and restated partnership agreement may be amended by the general partner without the consent or approval of any partners, expect that (i) if an amendment adversely affects the rights of a unit holder other than on a pro rata basis with other unit holders of the same class, such unit holders must consent to the amendment, (ii) no amendment may adversely affect the rights of a class of unit holders without the consent of a majority of the holders of the outstanding units of such class, and (iii) the consent rights of the principals may not be amended without the written consent of the principals that hold a majority of the Class B common units then owned by all principals and their permitted transferees.
Indemnification Agreements
Please see the section included in Item 11 entitled ‘‘Indemnification Agreements’’ for a description of these agreements.
Policies and Procedures for Related Party Transactions
Prior to the completion of our initial public offering, our board of directors adopted a Policy and Procedures With Respect to Related Person Transactions, which we refer to as our Related Person Policy. Pursuant to the terms of the Related Person Policy, the nominating, corporate governance and conflicts committee of our board of directors must review and approve in advance any related party transaction, other than those that are pre-approved pursuant to pre-approval guidelines or rules that may be established by such committee to cover specific categories of transactions, including the guidelines described below. All Related Persons (defined below) are required to report to our legal department any such related person transaction prior to its completion and the legal department will determine whether it should be submitted to the nominating, corporate governance and conflicts committee for consideration.
Our Related Person Policy covers all transactions, arrangements or relationships (or any series of similar transactions, arrangements or relationships) in which the company (including any of its consolidated subsidiaries (that is, not including the Fortress Funds)) was, is or will be a participant and the amount involved exceeds $120,000, and in which any Related Person had, has or will have a direct or indirect material interest.
Our Related Person Policy provides that the following transactions shall be deemed pre-approved by the nominating, corporate governance and conflicts committee, even if the aggregate of any one or more of such transactions exceeds $120,000: (i) any investment by a Related Person in a private investment fund or other private collective investment vehicle managed by us or any of our subsidiaries or affiliates with respect to which management and incentive fees are waived (partially or in full), so long as it is not in violation of such fund’s organizational documents; (ii) any investment by a Related Person in an offering of securities of an issuer (other than securities of an entity covered by clause (i) above) controlled or managed by us or any of our subsidiaries or affiliates; and (iii) any other investment by a Related Person or any other transaction arrangement or relationship in which a Related Person participates so long as such investment, transacti on, arrangement or relationship is also generally available to our senior employees.
A ‘‘Related Person’’, as defined in our Related Person Policy, means any person who is, or at any time since the beginning of the company’s last fiscal year was, a director or executive officer of the company or a nominee to become a director of the company; any person who is known to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of any class of the company’s voting securities; any immediate family member of any of the foregoing persons, which means any child, stepchild, parent, stepparent, spouse, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law of the director, executive officer, nominee or more than 5% beneficial owner, and any person (other than a tenant or employee) sharing the household of such director, executive officer, nominee or more than 5% beneficial owner; and any firm, corporation or other entity in which any of the foregoing persons is employed or is a general partn er or principal or in a similar position or in which such person has a 5% or greater beneficial ownership interest.
178
Table of ContentsItem 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.
During the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, we engaged Ernst & Young LLP to provide us with audit, tax and other services. Services provided included the examination of annual financial statements, limited review of unaudited quarterly financial information, review and consultation regarding filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Internal Revenue Service, consultation on financial and tax accounting and reporting matters, and due diligence and other services pertaining to business acquisitions/dispositions. Fees for 2006 and 2005, including fees incurred by all consolidated Fortress Funds, but not unconsolidated Fortress Funds or Portfolio Companies, were as follows:
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 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Year Ended December 31, |  |  | Audit and Audit-Related Fees |  |  | Tax-Related Fees |  |  | Other Fees |  |  | Total Fees |
2006 |  |  |  | $ | 18,894,407 |  |  |  |  | $ | 6,967,719 |  |  |  |  | $ | 8,534,765 |  |  |  |  | $ | 34,396,891 |  |
2005 |  |  |  | $ | 6,211,217 |  |  |  |  | $ | 1,918,769 |  |  |  |  | $ | — |  |  |  |  | $ | 8,129,986 |  |
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Audit and Audit-Related Fees
Audit and audit-related fees are fees billed for the consolidated financial statements as well as required audits of certain subsidiaries, consultation on audit related matters and required review of SEC filings. Audit-related fees principally included attest services not required by statute or regulation.
Tax Fees
Tax fees related to tax planning and compliance and return preparation.
All Other Fees
Other fees principally related to due diligence and other services pertaining to business acquisitions/dispositions.
The Audit Committee has considered all services provided by the independent registered public accounting firm to us and concluded this involvement is compatible with maintaining the auditors’ independence.
The Audit Committee is responsible for appointing the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm and approving the terms of the independent registered public accounting firm’s services. The Audit Committee has a policy for the pre-approval of all audit and permissible non-audit services to be provided by the independent registered public accounting firm.
This policy is subject to certain guidelines and pre-approved services that, in the judgment of management and the auditor, would not violate the auditors’ independence. At each regularly scheduled Audit Committee meeting, management reports the services performed to the Audit Committee to review and approve.
179
Table of ContentsPART IV
Item 15. Exhibits; Financial Statement Schedules.
 |  |  |
| (a) | and (c) Financial statements and schedules: |
See ‘‘Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.’’
Exhibits filed with this Form 10-K:
 |  |  |
| 3.1 | Certificate of Formation of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-138514), Exhibit 3.1). |
 |  |  |
| 3.2 | Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Formation of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-138514), Exhibit 3.2). |
 |  |  |
| 3.3 | Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Agreement of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-138514), Exhibit 3.3). |
 |  |  |
| 4.1 | Specimen Certificate evidencing the Registrant’s Class A shares (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-138514), Exhibit 4.1). |
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| 4.2 | Form of Shareholders Agreement, by and among the Registrant, Peter Briger, Wesley Edens, Randal Nardone, Robert Kauffman, and Michael Novogratz (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-138514), Exhibit 4.2). |
 |  |  |
| 4.3 | Investor Shareholder Agreement, dated January 17, 2007, by and between the Registrant and Nomura Investment Managers U.S.A., Inc. (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-138514), Exhibit 4.3). |
 |  |  |
| 10.1 | Form of Agreement Among Principals, by and among Peter Briger, Wesley Edens, Randal Nardone, Robert Kauffman, and Michael Novogratz (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-138514), Exhibit 10.1). |
 |  |  |
| 10.2 | Fortress Investment Group LLC 2007 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-138514), Exhibit 10.2). |
 |  |  |
| 10.3 | Amended and Restated Tax Receivable Agreement dated February 1, 2007, by and among FIG Corp., FIG Asset Co. LLC, the entities set forth on the signature pages thereto and each of the parties thereto identified as partners (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-138514), Exhibit 10.3). |
 |  |  |
| 10.4 | Employment, Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation Agreement, dated January 17, 2007, by and between Peter Briger and the Registrant (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-138514), Exhibit 10.4). |
 |  |  |
| 10.5 | Employment, Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation Agreement, dated January 17, 2007, by and between Wesley Edens and the Registrant (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-138514), Exhibit 10.5.). |
 |  |  |
| 10.6 | Employment, Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation Agreement, dated January 17, 2007, by and between Randal Nardone and the Registrant (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-138514), Exhibit 10.6). |
180
Table of Contents |  |  |
| 10.7 | Employment, Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation Agreement, dated January 17, 2007, by and between Robert Kauffman and the Registrant (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-138514), Exhibit 10.7). |
 |  |  |
| 10.8 | Employment, Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation Agreement, dated January 17, 2007, by and between Michael Novogratz and the Registrant (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-138514), Exhibit 10.8). |
 |  |  |
| 10.9 | Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of June 23, 2006, among Fortress Investment Group LLC and certain of its Affiliates, as Borrowers; Fortress Investment Holdings LLC, Fortress Principal Investment Holdings LLC, Fortress Principal Investment Group LLC, and Fortress Investment Fund GP (Holdings) LLC, as Guarantors; Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent; Bank of America, N.A., Deutsche Bank AG, New York Branch, Goldman Sachs Credit Partners L.P., Lehman Commercial Paper Inc., Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, KeyBank National Association, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Lenders (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-138514), Exhibit 10.9). |
 |  |  |
| 10.10 | First Amendment to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, entered into and effective as of September 13, 2006 among Fortress Investment Group LLC and certain of its Affiliates, certain Subsidiaries and Affiliates of the Borrowers, the Lenders party hereto and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent and L/C Issuer (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-138514), Exhibit 10.10). |
 |  |  |
| 10.11 | Second Amendment to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, entered into and effective as of November 30, 2006 among Fortress Investment Group LLC and certain of its Affiliates, certain Subsidiaries and Affiliates of the Borrowers, the Lenders party hereto and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent and L/C Issuer (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-138514), Exhibit 10.11). |
 |  |  |
| 10.12 | Form of Indemnification Agreement, by and between Fortress Investment Group LLC and the executive officers and directors of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-138514), Exhibit 10.12). |
 |  |  |
| 10.13 | Certificate of Incorporation of FIG Corp. (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-138514), Exhibit 10.13). |
 |  |  |
| 10.14 | By-Laws of FIG Corp. (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-138514), Exhibit 10.14). |
 |  |  |
| 10.15 | Certificate of Formation of FIG Asset Co. LLC (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-138514), Exhibit 10.15). |
 |  |  |
| 10.16 | Operating Agreement of FIG Asset Co. LLC (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-138514), Exhibit 10.16). |
 |  |  |
| 10.17 | Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of Fortress Operating Entity I LP (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-138514), Exhibit 10.17). |
181
Table of Contents |  |  |
| 10.18 | Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of Fortress Operating Entity II LP (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-138514), Exhibit 10.18). |
 |  |  |
| 10.19 | Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of Fortress Operating Entity III LP (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-138514), Exhibit 10.19). |
 |  |  |
| 10.20 | Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of Principal Holdings I LP (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-138514), Exhibit 10.20). |
 |  |  |
| 10.21 | Third Amendment to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, entered into effective as of December 18, 2006 among Fortress Investment Group LLC and certain of its Affiliates, certain Subsidiaries and Affiliates of the Borrowers, the Lenders party hereto and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent and L/C Issuer (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-138514), Exhibit 10.21). |
 |  |  |
| 10.22 | Fourth Amendment to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, entered into effective as of January 29, 2007 among Fortress Investment Group LLC and certain of its Affiliates, certain Subsidiaries and Affiliates of the Borrowers, the Lenders party hereto and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent and L/C Issuer (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-138514), Exhibit 10.22). |
 |  |  |
| 10.23 | Form of Exchange Agreement among FIG Corp., FIG Asset Co. LLC, Peter Briger, Wesley Edens, Randal Nardone, Robert Kauffman, Michael Novogratz, Fortress Operating Entity I LP, Fortress Operating Entity II LP, Fortress Operating Entity III LP, and Principal Holdings I LP (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-138514), Exhibit 10.23). |
 |  |  |
| 10.24 | Employment Agreement by and between Daniel Bass and the Registrant (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-138514), Exhibit 10.24). |
 |  |  |
| 21.1 | Subsidiaries of the Registrant |
 |  |  |
| 23.1 | Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm |
 |  |  |
| 31.1 | Certification of Chief Executive Officer as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
 |  |  |
| 31.2 | Certification of Chief Financial Officer as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
 |  |  |
| 32.1 | Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
 |  |  |
| 32.2 | Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
182
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized:
 | FORTRESS INVESTMENT GROUP LLC |
 | April 16, 2007 |
 | By: /s/ Wesley R. Edens Wesley R. Edens Chairman of the Board |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, this report has been signed below by the following person on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
By: |  |  | /s/ Wesley R. Edens |  |  | By: |  |  | /s/ Frederic Garonzik |
Wesley R. Edens Chief Executive Officer |  |  | Frederic Garonzik Director |
April 16, 2007 |  |  | April 16, 2007 |
|  |  | |  |  | |  |  | |
By: |  |  | /s/ Daniel N. Bass |  |  | By: |  |  | /s/ Richard N. Haass |
Daniel N. Bass Chief Financial Officer |  |  | Douglas L. Jacobs Director |
|  |  | |  |  | |  |  | |
April 16, 2007 |  |  | April 16, 2007 |
|  |  | |  |  | |  |  | |
By: |  |  | /s/ Jonathan R. Brown |  |  | By: |  |  | /s/ Douglas L. Jacobs |
Jonathan R. Brown Chief Accounting Officer |  |  | Douglas L. Jacobs Director |
|  |  | |  |  | |  |  | |
April 16, 2007 |  |  | April 16, 2007 |
|  |  | |  |  | |  |  | |
By: |  |  | /s/ Peter L. Briger, Jr |  |  | By: |  |  | /s/ Daniel H. Mudd |
Peter L. Briger, Jr. Director |  |  | Daniel H. Mudd Director |
|  |  | |  |  | |  |  | |
April 16, 2007 |  |  | April 16, 2007 |
|  |  | |  |  | |  |  | |
By: |  |  | /s/ Robert I. Kauffman |  |  | By: |  |  | /s/ Howard Rubin |
Robert I. Kauffman Director |  |  | Howard Rubin Director |
|  |  | |  |  | |  |  | |
April 16, 2007 |  |  | April 16, 2007 |
|  |  | |  |  | |  |  | |
By: |  |  | /s/ Randal A. Nardone |  |  | By: |  |  | /s/ Takumi Shibata |
Randal A. Nardone Director |  |  | Takumi Shibata Director |
|  |  | |  |  | |  |  | |
April 16, 2007 |  |  | April 16, 2007 |
|  |  | |  |  | |  |  | |
By: |  |  | /s/ Michael E. Novogratz |  |  | |  |  | |
Michael E. Novogratz Director |  |  | |  |  | |
|  |  | |  |  | |  |  | |
April 16, 2007 |  |  | |  |  | |
 |
Exhibit Index
Exhibits filed with this Form 10-K:

 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
 | 3 | .1 |  |  |  | Certificate of Formation of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-138514), Exhibit 3.1). |
 | 3 | .2 |  |  |  | Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Formation of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-138514), Exhibit 3.2). |
 | 3 | .3 |  |  |  | Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Agreement of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-138514), Exhibit 3.3). |
 | 4 | .1 |  |  |  | Specimen Certificate evidencing the Registrant’s Class A shares (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-138514), Exhibit 4.1). |
 | 4 | .2 |  |  |  | Form of Shareholders Agreement, by and among the Registrant, Peter Briger, Wesley Edens, Randal Nardone, Robert Kauffman, and Michael Novogratz (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-138514), Exhibit 4.2). |
 | 4 | .3 |  |  |  | Investor Shareholder Agreement, dated January 17, 2007, by and between the Registrant and Nomura Investment Managers U.S.A., Inc. (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-138514), Exhibit 4.3). |
 | 10 | .1 |  |  |  | Form of Agreement Among Principals, by and among Peter Briger, Wesley Edens, Randal Nardone, Robert Kauffman, and Michael Novogratz (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-138514), Exhibit 10.1). |
 | 10 | .2 |  |  |  | Fortress Investment Group LLC 2007 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-138514), Exhibit 10.2). |
 | 10 | .3 |  |  |  | Amended and Restated Tax Receivable Agreement dated February 1, 2007, by and among FIG Corp., FIG Asset Co. LLC, the entities set forth on the signature pages thereto and each of the parties thereto identified as partners (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-138514), Exhibit 10.3). |
 | 10 | .4 |  |  |  | Employment, Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation Agreement, dated January 17, 2007, by and between Peter Briger and the Registrant (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-138514), Exhibit 10.4). |
 | 10 | .5 |  |  |  | Employment, Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation Agreement, dated January 17, 2007, by and between Wesley Edens and the Registrant (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-138514), Exhibit 10.5.). |
 | 10 | .6 |  |  |  | Employment, Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation Agreement, dated January 17, 2007, by and between Randal Nardone and the Registrant (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-138514), Exhibit 10.6). |
 | 10 | .7 |  |  |  | Employment, Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation Agreement, dated January 17, 2007, by and between Robert Kauffman and the Registrant (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-138514), Exhibit 10.7). |
 | 10 | .8 |  |  |  | Employment, Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation Agreement, dated January 17, 2007, by and between Michael Novogratz and the Registrant (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-138514), Exhibit 10.8). |
 |

 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
 | 10 | .9 |  |  |  | Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of June 23, 2006, among Fortress Investment Group LLC and certain of its Affiliates, as Borrowers; Fortress Investment Holdings LLC, Fortress Principal Investment Holdings LLC, Fortress Principal Investment Group LLC, and Fortress Investment Fund GP (Holdings) LLC, as Guarantors; Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent; Bank of America, N.A., Deutsche Bank AG, New York Branch, Goldman Sachs Credit Partners L.P., Lehman Commercial Paper Inc., Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, KeyBank National Association, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N .A., as Lenders (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-138514), Exhibit 10.9). |
 | 10 | .10 |  |  |  | First Amendment to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, entered into and effective as of September 13, 2006 among Fortress Investment Group LLC and certain of its Affiliates, certain Subsidiaries and Affiliates of the Borrowers, the Lenders party hereto and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent and L/C Issuer (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-138514), Exhibit 10.10). |
 | 10 | .11 |  |  |  | Second Amendment to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, entered into and effective as of November 30, 2006 among Fortress Investment Group LLC and certain of its Affiliates, certain Subsidiaries and Affiliates of the Borrowers, the Lenders party hereto and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent and L/C Issuer (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-138514), Exhibit 10.11). |
 | 10 | .12 |  |  |  | Form of Indemnification Agreement, by and between Fortress Investment Group LLC and the executive officers and directors of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-138514), Exhibit 10.12). |
 | 10 | .13 |  |  |  | Certificate of Incorporation of FIG Corp. (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-138514), Exhibit 10.13). |
 | 10 | .14 |  |  |  | By-Laws of FIG Corp. (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-138514), Exhibit 10.14). |
 | 10 | .15 |  |  |  | Certificate of Formation of FIG Asset Co. LLC (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-138514), Exhibit 10.15). |
 | 10 | .16 |  |  |  | Operating Agreement of FIG Asset Co. LLC (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-138514), Exhibit 10.16). |
 | 10 | .17 |  |  |  | Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of Fortress Operating Entity I LP (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-138514), Exhibit 10.17). |
 | 10 | .18 |  |  |  | Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of Fortress Operating Entity II LP (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-138514), Exhibit 10.18). |
 | 10 | .19 |  |  |  | Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of Fortress Operating Entity III LP (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-138514), Exhibit 10.19). |
 | 10 | .20 |  |  |  | Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of Principal Holdings I LP (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-138514), Exhibit 10.20). |
 |
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 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
 | 10 | .21 |  |  |  | Third Amendment to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, entered into effective as of December 18, 2006 among Fortress Investment Group LLC and certain of its Affiliates, certain Subsidiaries and Affiliates of the Borrowers, the Lenders party hereto and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent and L/C Issuer (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-138514), Exhibit 10.21). |
 | 10 | .22 |  |  |  | Fourth Amendment to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, entered into effective as of January 29, 2007 among Fortress Investment Group LLC and certain of its Affiliates, certain Subsidiaries and Affiliates of the Borrowers, the Lenders party hereto and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent and L/C Issuer (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-138514), Exhibit 10.22). |
 | 10 | .23 |  |  |  | Form of Exchange Agreement among FIG Corp., FIG Asset Co. LLC, Peter Briger, Wesley Edens, Randal Nardone, Robert Kauffman, Michael Novogratz, Fortress Operating Entity I LP, Fortress Operating Entity II LP, Fortress Operating Entity III LP, and Principal Holdings I LP (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-138514), Exhibit 10.23). |
 | 10 | .24 |  |  |  | Employment Agreement by and between Daniel Bass and the Registrant (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-138514), Exhibit 10.24). |
 | 21 | .1 |  |  |  | Subsidiaries of the Registrant |
 | 23 | .1 |  |  |  | Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm |
 | 31 | .1 |  |  |  | Certification of Chief Executive Officer as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
 | 31 | .3 |  |  |  | Certification of Chief Financial Officer as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
 | 32 | .1 |  |  |  | Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
 | 32 | .2 |  |  |  | Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
 |