Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Principles of Consolidation The Partnership consolidates all entities that it controls either through a majority voting interest or as the primary beneficiary of variable interest entities (“VIEs”). The Partnership evaluates (1) whether it holds a variable interest in an entity, (2) whether the entity is a VIE, and (3)whether the Partnership's involvement would make it the primary beneficiary. In evaluating whether the Partnership holds a variable interest, fees (including management fees, incentive fees and performance allocations) that are customary and commensurate with the level of services provided, and where the Partnership does not hold other economic interests in the entity that would absorb more than an insignificant amount of the expected losses or returns of the entity, are not considered variable interests. The Partnership considers all economic interests, including indirect interests, to determine if a fee is considered a variable interest. For those entities where the Partnership holds a variable interest, the Partnership determines whether each of these entities qualifies as a VIE and, if so, whether or not the Partnership is the primary beneficiary. The assessment of whether the entity is a VIE is generally performed qualitatively, which requires judgment. These judgments include: (a) determining whether the equity investment at risk is sufficient to permit the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support, (b) evaluating whether the equity holders, as a group, can make decisions that have a significant effect on the economic performance of the entity, (c) determining whether two or more parties' equity interests should be aggregated, and (d) determining whether the equity investors have proportionate voting rights to their obligations to absorb losses or rights to receive returns from an entity. For entities that are determined to be VIEs, the Partnership consolidates those entities where it has concluded it is the primary beneficiary. The primary beneficiary is defined as the variable interest holder with (a) the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance and (b) the obligation to absorb losses of the entity or the right to receive benefits from the entity that could potentially be significant to the VIE. In evaluating whether the Partnership is the primary beneficiary, the Partnership evaluates its economic interests in the entity held either directly or indirectly by the Partnership. As of March 31, 2018 , assets and liabilities of the consolidated VIEs reflected in the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets were $5.5 billion and $5.3 billion , respectively. Except to the extent of the consolidated assets of the VIEs, the holders of the consolidated VIEs’ liabilities generally do not have recourse to the Partnership. Substantially all of our Consolidated Funds are CLOs, which are VIEs that issue loans payable that are backed by diversified collateral asset portfolios consisting primarily of loans or structured debt. In exchange for managing the collateral for the CLOs, the Partnership earns investment management fees, including in some cases subordinated management fees and contingent incentive fees. In cases where the Partnership consolidates the CLOs (primarily because of a retained interest that is significant to the CLO), those management fees have been eliminated as intercompany transactions. As of March 31, 2018 , the Partnership held $242.7 million of investments in these consolidated CLOs which represents its maximum risk of loss. The Partnership’s investments in these CLOs are generally subordinated to other interests in the entities and entitle the Partnership to receive a pro rata portion of the residual cash flows, if any, from the entities. Investors in the CLOs have no recourse against the Partnership for any losses sustained in the CLO structure. Entities that do not qualify as VIEs are generally assessed for consolidation as voting interest entities. Under the voting interest entity model, the Partnership consolidates those entities it controls through a majority voting interest. All significant inter-entity transactions and balances of entities consolidated have been eliminated. Investments in Unconsolidated Variable Interest Entities The Partnership holds variable interests in certain VIEs that are not consolidated because the Partnership is not the primary beneficiary, including its investments in certain CLOs and strategic investment in NGP Management Company, L.L.C. (“NGP Management” and, together with its affiliates, “NGP”). Refer to Note 4 for information on the strategic investment in NGP. The Partnership’s involvement with such entities is in the form of direct equity interests and fee arrangements. The maximum exposure to loss represents the loss of assets recognized by the Partnership relating to its variable interests in these unconsolidated entities. The assets recognized in the Partnership’s unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets related to the Partnership’s variable interests in these non-consolidated VIEs and the Partnership’s maximum exposure to loss relating to unconsolidated VIEs were as follows: As of March 31, 2018 December 31, 2017 (Dollars in millions) Investments $ 1,129.3 $ 1,066.2 Due from affiliates, net 0.1 0.1 Maximum Exposure to Loss $ 1,129.4 $ 1,066.3 Additionally, as of March 31, 2018 , the Partnership had $72.8 million and $10.9 million recognized in the condensed consolidated balance sheet related to accrued performance allocations and management fee receivables, respectively, related to the unconsolidated VIEs. Basis of Accounting The accompanying financial statements are prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Management has determined that the Partnership’s Funds are investment companies under U.S. GAAP for the purposes of financial reporting. U.S. GAAP for an investment company requires investments to be recorded at estimated fair value and the unrealized gains and/or losses in an investment’s fair value are recognized on a current basis in the statements of operations. Additionally, the Funds do not consolidate their majority-owned and controlled investments (the “Portfolio Companies”). In the preparation of these condensed consolidated financial statements, the Partnership has retained the specialized accounting for the Funds. All of the investments held and notes issued by the Consolidated Funds are presented at their estimated fair values in the Partnership’s condensed consolidated balance sheets. Interest and other income of the Consolidated Funds as well as interest expense and other expenses of the Consolidated Funds are included in the Partnership’s condensed consolidated statements of operations. Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make assumptions and estimates that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Management’s estimates are based on historical experiences and other factors, including expectations of future events that management believes to be reasonable under the circumstances. It also requires management to exercise judgment in the process of applying the Partnership’s accounting policies. Assumptions and estimates regarding the valuation of investments and their resulting impact on performance allocations and incentive fees involve a higher degree of judgment and complexity and these assumptions and estimates may be significant to the consolidated financial statements and the resulting impact on performance allocations and incentive fees. Actual results could differ from these estimates and such differences could be material. Revenue Recognition On January 1, 2018, the Partnership adopted ASU 2014-9, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) (“ASU 2014-9”) under the modified retrospective method. ASU 2014-9, and related amendments, provide comprehensive guidance for recognizing revenue from contracts with customers. Revenue is recognized when the entity transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. The guidance includes a five-step framework that requires an entity to: (i) identify the contract(s) with a customer, (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract, (iii) determine the transaction price, (iv) allocated the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract, and (v) recognize revenue when the entity satisfies a performance obligation. Upon adoption of ASU 2014-9, performance allocations that represent a performance-based capital allocation from fund limited partners to the Partnership (commonly known as “carried interest”, which comprises substantially all of the Partnership's previously reported performance fee revenues) are accounted for as earnings from financial assets within the scope of ASC 323, Investments - Equity Method and Joint Ventures , and therefore are not in the scope of ASU 2014-9. In accordance with ASC 323, the Partnership records equity method income (losses) as a component of investment income based on the change in our proportionate claim on net assets of the investment fund, including performance allocations, assuming the investment fund was liquidated as of each reporting date pursuant to each fund's governing agreements. The Partnership applied this change in accounting principle on a full retrospective basis, which resulted in a reclassification of amounts previously reported as accrued performance fees to investments in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and amounts previously reported as performance fees to performance allocations within investment income (loss) in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. See Note 4 for additional information on the components of investments and investment income following this change in accounting principle. Amounts previously reported as performance fees that do not meet the definition of performance-based capital allocations are in the scope of ASU 2014-9 and are included in incentive fees in the consolidated statements of operations. The following table shows the impact of this reclassification to our previously reported amounts in the unaudited condensed consolidated statement of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2017: Three Months Ended March 31, 2017 As Previously Reported Reclassifications As Adjusted (Dollars in millions) Performance fees 1 Realized $ 83.2 $ (77.6 ) $ 5.6 Unrealized 598.4 (598.4 ) — Total performance fees 1 $ 681.6 $ (676.0 ) $ 5.6 Investment income (loss) 2 Realized $ (0.2 ) $ 77.6 $ 77.4 Unrealized 46.5 598.4 644.9 Total investment income 2 $ 46.3 $ 676.0 $ 722.3 (1) As adjusted, amounts now labeled as incentive fees in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations. (2) As adjusted, amounts now labeled as performance allocations and principal investment income within investment income (loss) in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations. The adoption of ASU 2014-9 did not materially change our historical pattern of recognizing revenue for management fees, incentive fees, and performance allocations (for arrangements within the scope of ASC 323). The Partnership has applied the guidance in ASU 2014-9 only to contracts that are not completed as of January 1, 2018. The Partnership recorded an adjustment of $0.8 million for the cumulative effect of adoption in partners' capital on January 1, 2018, which reduced total partners' capital. Additionally, while the determination of who is the customer in a contractual arrangement will be made on a contract-by-contract basis, the customer will generally be the investment fund for our significant management and advisory contracts. The customer determination impacts the Partnership's analysis of the accounting for contract costs. Also, the recovery of certain costs incurred on behalf of Carlyle funds, primarily travel and entertainment costs, that were previously presented net in our unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations are presented gross beginning on January 1, 2018 as the Partnership controls the inputs to its investment management performance obligation. For the three months ended March 31, 2018, these costs were approximately $6.1 million and are presented in interest and other income and general, administrative and other expenses in our unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations. Fund Management Fees The Partnership provides management services to funds in which it holds a general partner interest or has a management agreement. The Partnership considers the performance obligations in its contracts with its funds to be the promise to provide (or to arrange for third parties to provide) investment management services related to the management, policies and operations of the funds. As it relates to the Partnership’s performance obligation to provide investment management services, the Partnership typically satisfies this performance obligation over time as the services are rendered (under the output method described in ASC 606), since the funds simultaneously receive and consume the benefits provided as the Partnership performs the service. The transaction price is the amount of consideration to which the Partnership expects to be entitled in exchange for transferring the promised services to the funds. Management fees earned from each investment management contract over the contract life represent variable consideration because the consideration the Partnership is entitled to varies based on fluctuations in the basis for the management fee, for example fund net asset value ("NAV") or AUM. Given that the management fee basis is susceptible to market factors outside of the Partnership’s influence, management fees are constrained. Accordingly, estimates of future period management fees are generally not included in the transaction price because these estimates are constrained. The transaction price for the investment management services provided is generally the amount determined at the end of the period because that is when the uncertainty for that period is resolved. For closed-end carry funds in the Corporate Private Equity, Real Assets and Global Credit segments, management fees generally range from 1.0% to 2.0% of commitments during the fund's investment period based on limited partners' capital commitments to the funds. Following the expiration or termination of the investment period, management fees generally are based on the lower of cost or fair value of invested capital and the rate charged may also be reduced to between 0.6% and 2.0% . For certain separately managed accounts and longer-dated carry funds, with expected terms greater than ten years , management fees generally range from 0.2% to 1.0% based on contributions for unrealized investments or the current value of the investment. The Partnership will receive management fees during a specified period of time, which is generally ten years from the initial closing date, or, in some instances, from the final closing date, but such termination date may be earlier in certain limited circumstances or later if extended for successive one -year periods, typically up to a maximum of two years . Depending upon the contracted terms of investment advisory or investment management and related agreements, these fees are generally called semi-annually in advance and are recognized as earned over the subsequent six month period. For certain longer-dated carry funds, management fees are called quarterly over the life of the funds. Within the Global Credit segment, for CLOs and other structured products, management fees generally range from 0.3% to 0.6% based on the total par amounts of assets or the aggregate principal amount of the notes in the CLO and are due quarterly or semi-annually based on the terms and recognized over the respective period. Management fees for the CLOs and other structured products are governed by indentures and collateral management agreements. The Partnership will receive management fees for the CLOs until redemption of the securities issued by the CLOs, which is generally five to ten years after issuance. Management fees for the business development companies are due quarterly in arrears at annual rates that range from 0.25% to 1.5% of gross assets, excluding cash and cash equivalents. Management fees for the Partnership's private equity and real estate carry fund vehicles in the Investment Solutions segment generally range from 0.25% to 1.0% of the vehicle’s capital commitments during the commitment fee period of the relevant fund or the weighted-average investment period of the underlying funds. Following the expiration of the commitment fee period or weighted-average investment period of such funds, the management fees generally range from 0.25% to 1.0% on (i) the lower of cost or fair value of the capital invested, (ii) the net asset value for unrealized investments, or (iii) the contributions for unrealized investments; however, certain separately managed accounts earn management fees at all times on contributions for unrealized investments or on the initial commitment amount. Management fees for the Investment Solutions carry fund vehicles are generally due quarterly and recognized over the related quarter. As of both March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 , management fee receivables were $47.7 million and are included in due from affiliates and other receivables, net, in our unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets. The Partnership also provides transaction advisory and portfolio advisory services to the portfolio companies, and where covered by separate contractual agreements, recognizes fees for these services when the service has been provided and collection is reasonably assured. Fund management fees includes transaction and portfolio advisory fees of $6.6 million and $11.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 , respectively, net of any offsets as defined in the respective partnership agreements. Fund management fees generally exclude the reimbursement of any partnership expenses paid by the Partnership on behalf of the Carlyle funds pursuant to the limited partnership agreements, including amounts related to the pursuit of actual, proposed, or unconsummated investments, professional fees, expenses associated with the acquisition, holding and disposition of investments, and other fund administrative expenses. For the professional fees that the Partnership arranges for the investment funds, the Partnership concluded that the nature of its promise is to arrange for the services to be provided and it does not control the services provided by third parties before they are transferred to the customer. Therefore, the Partnership concluded it is acting in the capacity of an agent. Accordingly, the reimbursement for these professional fees paid on behalf of the investment funds is presented on a net basis in general, administrative and other expenses in our unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations. The Partnership also incurs certain costs, primarily employee travel and entertainment costs, employee compensation and systems costs, for which it receives reimbursement from the investment funds in connection with its performance obligation to provide investment and management services. For reimbursable travel, compensation and systems costs, the Partnership concluded it controls the services provided by its employees and the resources used to develop applicable systems before they are transferred to the customer and therefore is a principal. Accordingly, the reimbursement for these costs incurred by the Partnership to manage the fund limited partnerships are presented on a gross basis in interest and other income in our unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations and the expense in general, administrative and other expenses or base compensation in our unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations. Incentive Fees In connection with management contracts from certain of its Global Credit funds, the Partnership is also entitled to receive performance-based incentive fees when the return on assets under management exceeds certain benchmark returns or other performance targets. In such arrangements, incentive fees are recognized when the performance benchmark has been achieved. Incentive fees are variable consideration because they are contingent upon the investment vehicle achieving stipulated investment return hurdles. Investment returns are highly susceptible to market factors outside of the Partnership’s influence. Accordingly, incentive fees are constrained until all uncertainty is resolved. Estimates of future period incentive fees are generally not included in the transaction price because these estimates are constrained. The transaction price for incentive fees is generally the amount determined at the end of each accounting period to which they relate because that is when the uncertainty for that period is resolved, as these fees are not subject to clawback. Investment Income (Loss), including Performance Allocations Investment income (loss) represents the unrealized and realized gains and losses resulting from the Partnership's equity method investments, including any associated general partner performance allocations, and other principal investments, including CLOs. General partner performance allocations consist of the allocation of profits from certain of the funds to which the Partnership is entitled (commonly known as carried interest). For closed-end carry funds in the Corporate Private Equity, Real Assets and Global Credit segments, the Partnership is generally entitled to a 20% allocation (or 10% to 20% on certain longer-dated carry funds, certain credit funds, and external co-investment vehicles, or approximately 2% to 10% for most of the Investment Solutions segment carry fund vehicles) of the net realized income or gain as a carried interest after returning the invested capital, the allocation of preferred returns of generally 7% to 9% (or 4% to 7% for certain longer-dated carry funds) and return of certain fund costs (generally subject to catch-up provisions as set forth in the fund limited partnership agreement). Carried interest is recognized upon appreciation of the funds’ investment values above certain return hurdles set forth in each respective partnership agreement. The Partnership recognizes revenues attributable to performance allocations based upon the amount that would be due pursuant to the fund partnership agreement at each period end as if the funds were terminated at that date. Accordingly, the amount recognized as investment income for performance allocations reflects the Partnership’s share of the gains and losses of the associated funds’ underlying investments measured at their then-current fair values relative to the fair values as of the end of the prior period. Because of the inherent uncertainty, these estimated values may differ significantly from the values that would have been used had a ready market for the investments existed, and it is reasonably possible that the difference could be material. Carried interest is ultimately realized when: (i) an underlying investment is profitably disposed of, (ii) certain costs borne by the limited partner investors have been reimbursed, (iii) the fund’s cumulative returns are in excess of the preferred return and (iv) the Partnership has decided to collect carry rather than return additional capital to limited partner investors. Realized carried interest may be required to be returned by the Partnership in future periods if the funds’ investment values decline below certain levels. When the fair value of a fund’s investments remains constant or falls below certain return hurdles, previously recognized performance allocations are reversed. In all cases, each fund is considered separately in this regard, and for a given fund, performance allocations can never be negative over the life of a fund. If upon a hypothetical liquidation of a fund’s investments at their then-current fair values, previously recognized and distributed carried interest would be required to be returned, a liability is established for the potential giveback obligation. As of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 , the Partnership has recognized $64.8 million and $66.8 million , respectively, for giveback obligations. Principal investment income (loss) includes the related amortization of the basis difference between the Partnership’s carrying value of its investment and the Partnership’s share of underlying net assets of the investee, as well as the compensation expense associated with compensatory arrangements provided by the Partnership to employees of its equity method investee, as it relates to its investments in NGP (see Note 4). Principal investment income (loss) is realized when the Partnership redeems all or a portion of its investment or when the Partnership receives or is due cash income, such as dividends or distributions. Unrealized principal investment income (loss) results from changes in the fair value of the underlying investment as well as the reversal of unrealized gain (loss) at the time an investment is realized. Interest Income Interest income is recognized when earned. For debt securities representing non-investment grade beneficial interests in securitizations, the effective yield is determined based on the estimated cash flows of the security. Changes in the effective yield of these securities due to changes in estimated cash flows are recognized on a prospective basis as adjustments to interest income in future periods. Interest income earned by the Partnership is included in interest and other income in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations. Interest income of the Consolidated Funds was $46.0 million and $40.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 , respectively, and is included in interest and other income of Consolidated Funds in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations. Compensation and Benefits Base Compensation – Base compensation includes salaries, bonuses (discretionary awards and guaranteed amounts), performance payment arrangements and benefits paid and payable to Carlyle employees. Bonuses are accrued over the service period to which they relate. Equity-Based Compensation – Compensation expense relating to the issuance of equity-based awards to Carlyle employees is measured at fair value on the grant date. The compensation expense for awards that vest over a future service period is recognized over the relevant service period on a straight-line basis. The compensation expense for awards that do not require future service is recognized immediately. Cash settled equity-based awards are classified as liabilities and are re-measured at the end of each reporting period. The compensation expense for awards that contain performance conditions is recognized when it is probable that the performance conditions will be achieved; in certain instances, such compensation expense may be recognized prior to the grant date of the award. Equity-based awards issued to non-employees are generally recognized as general, administrative and other expenses, except to the extent they are recognized as part of our equity method earnings because they are issued to employees of our equity method investees. The grant-date fair value of equity-based awards granted to Carlyle’s non-employee directors is expensed on a straight-line basis over the vesting period. The cost of services received in exchange for an equity-based award issued to non-employees who are not directors is measured at each vesting date, and is not measured based on the grant-date fair value of the award unless the award is vested at the grant date. Equity-based awards that require the satisfaction of future service criteria are recognized over the relevant service period based on the fair value of the award on each reporting date and adjusted for the actual fair value of the award at each vesting date. Accordingly, the measured value of the award will not be finalized until the vesting date. The Partnership recognizes equity-based award forfeitures in the period they occur as a reversal of previously recognized compensation expense. The reduction in compensation expense is determined based on the specific awards forfeited during that period. Furthermore, the Partnership recognizes all excess tax benefits and deficiencies as income tax benefit or expense in the unaudited condensed consolidated statement of operations. Performance Allocations and Incentive Fee Related Compensation – A portion of the performance allocations and incentive fees earned is due to employees and advisors of the Partnership. These amounts are accounted for as compensation expense in conjunction with the recognition of the related performance allocations and incentive fee revenue and, until paid, are recognized as a component of the accrued compensation and benefits liability. Accordingly, upon a reversal of performance allocations or incentive fee revenue, the related compensation expense, if any, is also reversed. As of both March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 , the Partnership had recorded a liability of $1.9 billion related to the portion of accrued performance allocations and incentive fees due to employees and advisors, respectively, which was included in accrued compensation and benefits in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets. Income Taxes Certain of the wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Partnership and the Carlyle Holdings partnerships are subject to federal, state, local and foreign corporate income taxes at the entity level and the related tax provision attributable to the Partnership’s share of this income is reflected in the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements. Based on applicable federal, foreign, state and local tax laws, the Partnership records a provision for income taxes for certain entities. Tax positions taken by the Partnership are subject to periodic audit by U.S. federal, state, local and foreign taxing authorities. The Partnership accounts for income taxes using the asset and liability method, which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements or tax returns. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the difference between the financial statement reporting and the tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the period in which the difference is expected to reverse. The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred tax assets and liabilities is recognized in the period of the change in the provision for income taxes. Further, deferred tax assets are recognized for the expected realization of available net operating loss and tax credit carry forwards. A valuation allowance is recorded on the Partnership’s gross deferred tax assets when it is “more likely than not” that such asset will not be realized. When evaluating the realizability of the Partnership’s deferred tax assets, all evidence, both positive and negative, is evaluated. Items considered in this analysis include the ability to carry back losses, the reversal of temporary differences, tax planning strategies, and expectations of future earnings. Under U.S. GAAP for income taxes, the amount of tax benefit to be recognized is the amount of benefit that is “more likely than not” to be sustained upon examination. The Partnership analyzes its tax filing positions in all of the U.S. federal, state, local and foreign tax jurisdictions where it is required to file income tax returns, as well as for all open tax years in these jurisdictions. If, based on this analysis, the Partnership determines that uncertainties in tax positions exist, a liability is established, which is included in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities in the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements. The Partnership recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax pos |