| Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (a) Organization and Nature of Operations Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. (the “Company”) is a leading partner to independent active investment management firms globally. AMG’s strategy is to generate long-term value by investing in a diverse array of partner-owned investment firms, referred to as “Affiliates.” The Company’s Affiliates provide a comprehensive and diverse range of active, return-oriented strategies designed to assist institutional, retail, and high net worth clients worldwide in achieving their investment objectives. The Company operates in one segment, global asset management. Each of the Company’s Affiliates operates through distinct legal entities, which affords the Company the flexibility to design a separate operating agreement for each Affiliate. Each operating agreement reflects the specific terms of the Company’s economic participation in the Affiliate, which, in each case, uses a “structured partnership interest.” For a majority of Affiliates, the Company uses structured partnership interests in which the Company contractually shares in the Affiliate’s revenue without regard to expenses. In this type of structured partnership interest, the Affiliate allocates a specified percentage of its revenue to the Company and Affiliate management, while using the remainder of its revenue for operating expenses and for additional distributions to Affiliate management. The Company and Affiliate management, therefore, participate in any increase or decrease in revenue and only Affiliate management participates in any increase or decrease in expenses. Under these structured partnership interests, the Company’s contractual share of revenue generally has priority over distributions to Affiliate management. For other Affiliates, the Company uses structured partnership interests in which the Company contractually shares in the Affiliate’s revenue less agreed-upon expenses. This type of partnership interest allows the Company to benefit from any increase in revenue or any decrease in the agreed-upon expenses, but also exposes the Company to any decrease in revenue or any increase in such expenses. The degree of the Company’s exposure to expenses from these structured partnership interests varies by Affiliate and includes Affiliates in which the Company fully shares in the expenses of the business. (b) Basis of Presentation and Use of Estimates The Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. (“GAAP”). All dollar amounts, except per share data in the text and tables herein, are stated in millions unless otherwise indicated. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior period’s financial statements to conform to the current period’s presentation. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates. (c) Principles of Consolidation In evaluating whether an investment must be consolidated, the Company evaluates the risk, rewards, and significant terms of each of its Affiliates and other investments to determine if an investment is considered a voting rights entity (“VRE”) or a variable interest entity (“VIE”). An entity is a VRE when the total equity investment at risk is sufficient to enable the entity to finance its activities independently, and when the equity holders have the obligation to absorb losses, the right to receive residual returns, and the right to direct the activities of the entity that most significantly impact its economic performance. An entity is a VIE when it lacks one or more of the characteristics of a VRE, which, for the Company, are Affiliate investments structured as partnerships (or similar entities) where the Company is a limited partner and lacks substantive kick-out or substantive participation rights over the general partner. Assessing whether an entity is a VRE or VIE involves judgment. Upon the occurrence of certain events, management reviews and reconsiders its previous conclusion regarding the status of an entity as a VRE or a VIE. The Company consolidates VREs when it has control over significant operating, financial, and investing decisions of the entity. When the Company lacks such control, but is deemed to have significant influence, the Company accounts for the VRE under the equity method. Other investments in which the Company does not have rights to exercise significant influence are recorded at fair value on the Consolidated Balance Sheets, with changes in fair value included in Investment and other income on the Consolidated Statements of Income. The Company consolidates VIEs when it is the primary beneficiary of the entity, which is defined as having the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance and the obligation to absorb losses of, or the right to receive benefits from, the entity that could potentially be significant to the VIE. Substantially all of the Company’s consolidated Affiliates considered VIEs are controlled because the Company holds a majority of the voting interests or it is the managing member or general partner. Furthermore, an Affiliate’s assets can be used for purposes other than the settlement of the respective Affiliate’s obligations. The Company applies the equity method of accounting to VIEs where the Company is not the primary beneficiary, but has the ability to exercise significant influence over operating and financial matters of the VIE. See Note 5. Investments in Affiliates Substantially all of the Company’s Affiliates are considered VIEs and are either consolidated or accounted for under the equity method. A limited number of the Company’s Affiliates are considered VREs and most of these are accounted for under the equity method. When an Affiliate is consolidated, the portion of the earnings attributable to Affiliate management’s equity ownership is included in Net income (non-controlling interests) in the Consolidated Statements of Income. Undistributed earnings attributable to Affiliate managements’ equity ownership, along with their share of any tangible or intangible net assets, are presented within Non-controlling interests on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Affiliate equity interests where the holder has certain rights to demand settlement are presented, at their current redemption values, as Redeemable non-controlling interests on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company periodically issues, sells, and repurchases the equity of its consolidated Affiliates. Because these transactions take place between entities under common control, any gains or losses attributable to these transactions are required to be included in Additional paid-in capital on the Consolidated Balance Sheets, net of any related income tax effects in the period the transaction occurs. When an Affiliate is accounted for under the equity method, the Company’s share of an Affiliate’s earnings or losses, net of amortization and impairments, is included in Equity method loss (net) in the Consolidated Statements of Income and the carrying value of the Affiliate is reported in Equity method investments in Affiliates (net) in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Deferred taxes recorded on intangible assets upon acquisition of an Affiliate accounted for under the equity method are presented on a gross basis within Equity method investments in Affiliates (net) and Deferred income tax liability (net) in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company’s share of income taxes incurred directly by Affiliates accounted for under the equity method is recorded in Income tax expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income. The Company periodically performs assessments to determine if fair value of an investment may have declined below its related carrying value for its Affiliates accounted for under the equity method for a period that the Company considers to be other-than temporary. Where the Company believes that such declines may have occurred, the Company determines the amount of impairment using valuation methods, such as discounted cash flow analyses. Impairments are recorded as an expense in Equity method loss (net) to reduce the carrying value of the Affiliate to its fair value. Affiliate Sponsored Investment Products The Company’s Affiliates sponsor various investment products where they also act as the investment adviser. These investment products are typically owned primarily by third-party investors; however, certain products are funded with general partner and seed capital investments from the Company and its Affiliates. Third-party investors in Affiliate sponsored investment products are generally entitled to substantially all of the economics of these products, except for the asset and performance based fees earned by the Company’s Affiliates or any gains or losses attributable to the Company’s or its Affiliates’ investments in these products. As a result, the Company does not generally consolidate these products unless the Company’s or its consolidated Affiliates’ interest in the product is considered substantial. When the Company’s or its consolidated Affiliates’ interests are considered substantial and the products are consolidated, the Company retains the specialized investment company accounting principles of the underlying products, and all of the underlying investments are carried at fair value in Investments in marketable securities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets, with corresponding changes in the investments’ fair values included in Investment and other income. Purchases and sales of securities are presented within purchases and sales by consolidated Affiliate sponsored investment products in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows and the third-party investors’ interest is recorded in Redeemable non-controlling interests. When the Company or its consolidated Affiliates no longer control these products, due to a reduction in ownership or other reasons, the products are deconsolidated with only the Company’s or its consolidated Affiliate’s investment in the product reported from the date of deconsolidation. (d) Cash and Cash Equivalents The Company considers all highly liquid investments, including money market mutual funds, with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents are stated at cost, which approximates market value due to the short-term maturity of these investments. Money market mutual funds with a floating net asset value (“NAV”) would not meet the definition of a cash equivalent if the fund has enacted liquidity fees or redemption gates. (e) Receivables The Company’s Affiliates earn asset and performance based fees, which are billed based on the terms of the related contracts. Billed but uncollected asset and performance based fees are presented within Receivables on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and are generally short-term in nature. Certain of the Company’s Affiliates in the UK act as intermediaries between clients and their sponsored investment products. Normal settlement periods on transactions initiated by these clients with the sponsored investment products result in unsettled fund share receivables and payables that are presented on a gross basis within Receivables and Payables and accrued liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The gross presentation of these receivables and offsetting payables reflects the legal relationship between the underlying investor, the Company’s Affiliates and the sponsored investment products. (f) Investments in Marketable Securities Realized and unrealized gains or losses on investments in marketable securities are reported within Investment and other income. Realized gains and losses are recorded on the trade date on a specific identified basis, except for consolidated Affiliate sponsored investment products, which use an average cost basis. (g) Fair Value Measurements The Company determines the fair value of certain investment securities and other financial and non-financial assets and liabilities. Fair value is determined based on the price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants in the principal or most advantageous market at the measurement date, utilizing a hierarchy of three different valuation techniques: Level 1 - Unadjusted quoted market prices for identical instruments in active markets; Level 2 - Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations whose inputs, or significant value drivers, are observable; and Level 3 - Prices that reflect the Company’s own assumptions concerning unobservable inputs to the valuation model. In these valuation models, the Company is required to make judgments about growth rates of assets under management, client attrition, asset and performance based fee rates, and expenses. These valuation models also require judgments about tax benefits, credit risk, interest rates, tax rates, discount rates, and discounts for lack of marketability. These inputs require significant management judgment and reflect the Company’s assumptions that the Company believes market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. (h) Acquired Client Relationships and Goodwill Each Affiliate in which the Company makes an investment has identifiable assets arising from contractual or other legal rights with their clients (“acquired client relationships”). In determining the value of acquired client relationships, the Company analyzes the net present value of these Affiliates’ existing client relationships based on a number of factors, including: the Affiliate’s historical and potential future operating performance; the Affiliate’s historical and potential future rates of attrition of existing clients; the stability and longevity of existing client relationships; the Affiliate’s recent, as well as long-term, investment performance; the characteristics of the firm’s products and investment styles; the stability and depth of the Affiliate’s management team; and the Affiliate’s history and perceived franchise or brand value. The Company has determined that certain of its acquired client relationships meet the criteria to be considered indefinite-lived assets because the Company expects the contracts to be renewed annually and, therefore, the cash flows generated by these contracts to continue indefinitely. Accordingly, the Company does not amortize these intangible assets, but instead assesses these assets annually or more frequently whenever events or circumstances occur indicating that the recorded indefinite-lived acquired client relationship may be impaired. Each reporting period, the Company assesses whether events or circumstances have occurred that indicate that the indefinite life criteria are no longer met. The Company has determined that certain of its acquired client relationships meet the criteria to be considered definite-lived assets, including investment advisory contracts between its Affiliates and their underlying investors, and are amortized over their expected period of economic benefit. The expected period of economic benefit of definite-lived acquired client relationships is a judgment based on the historical and projected attrition rates of each Affiliate’s existing clients, and other factors that may influence the expected future economic benefit the Company will derive from these relationships. The expected lives of definite-lived acquired client relationships are analyzed annually or more frequently whenever events or circumstances have occurred that indicate the expected period of economic benefit may no longer be appropriate. The Company assesses for the possible impairment of indefinite and definite-lived acquired client relationships annually or more frequently whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the asset may not be recoverable. If such indicators exist, the Company considers various qualitative and quantitative factors (including market multiples) to determine if the fair value of each asset is greater than its carrying value. If the carrying value is greater than the fair value, an expense would be recorded in Intangible amortization and impairments in the Consolidated Statements of Income to reduce the carrying value of the asset to fair value. Goodwill represents the future economic benefits arising from assets acquired in a business combination that are not separately recognized. Goodwill is not amortized, but is instead reviewed for impairment. The Company performs an impairment assessment annually or more frequently whenever events or circumstances occur indicating that the carrying value of its single reporting unit is in excess of its fair value. In this assessment, the Company typically measures the fair value of its reporting unit using various qualitative and quantitative factors (including the Company’s market capitalization and market multiples for asset management businesses). If a potential impairment is more-likely-than-not, then the Company will perform a single step assessment with any excess of carrying value over fair value recorded as an expense in Intangible amortization and impairments. (i) Fixed Assets Fixed assets are recorded at cost and depreciated using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives. The estimated useful lives of office equipment and furniture and fixtures range from two years to ten years. Computer software developed or obtained for internal use is amortized over the estimated useful life of the software, generally two years to five years. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of their estimated useful lives or the term of the lease. Buildings are amortized over their expected useful lives, generally not to exceed 39 years. The costs of improvements that extend the life of a fixed asset are capitalized, while the cost of repairs and maintenance are expensed as incurred. Land and artwork are not depreciated; artwork is included in Other assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. (j) Leases Leases are classified as either operating leases or finance leases. The Company and its Affiliates currently lease office space and equipment primarily under operating lease arrangements. As these leases expire, it is expected that, in the normal course of business, they will be renewed or replaced. Whether a lease is classified as an operating lease or a finance lease, the Company and its Affiliates must record a right-of-use asset and a lease liability at the commencement date of the lease, other than for leases with an initial term of 12 months or less. As permitted under Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) 2016-02 Leases (and related ASUs), the Company and its Affiliates elect not to record short-term leases with an initial lease term less than 12 months on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets. Right-of-use assets and lease liabilities are reported in Other assets and Other liabilities, respectively, on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. A lease liability is initially and subsequently reported at the present value of the outstanding lease payments determined by discounting those lease payments over the remaining lease term using the incremental borrowing rate of the legal entity entering into the lease as of the commencement date. A right-of-use asset is initially reported at the present value of the corresponding lease liability plus any prepaid lease payments and initial direct costs of entering into the lease, and reduced by any lease incentives. Subsequently, a right-of-use asset is reported at the present value of the lease liability adjusted for any prepaid or accrued lease payments, remaining balances of any lease incentives received, unamortized initial direct costs of entering into the lease and any impairments of the right-of-use asset. The Company and its Affiliates test for possible impairments of right-of-use assets annually or more frequently whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of a right-of-use asset may exceed its fair value. If the carrying value of the right-of-use asset exceeds its fair value, then the carrying value of the right-of-use asset is reduced to its fair value and the expense is recorded in Other expenses (net) on the Consolidated Statements of Income. Subsequent to an impairment, the carrying value of the right-of-use asset is amortized on a straight-line basis over the remaining lease term. Lease liabilities and right-of-use assets based on variable lease payments that depend on an index or rate are initially measured using the index or rate at the commencement date with any subsequent changes in variable lease payments reported in Other expenses (net) as incurred. Most lease agreements for office space that are classified as operating leases contain renewal options, rent escalation clauses or other lease incentives provided by the lessor. Lease expense is accrued to recognize lease escalation provisions and renewal options that are reasonably certain to be exercised, as well as lease incentives provided by the lessor, on a straight-line basis over the lease term and is reported in Other expenses (net). If a right-of-use asset is impaired, the lease expense is subsequently reported in Other expenses (net) as the straight-line amortization of the right-of-use asset and the accretion of the lease liability, thereby transitioning to a front-loaded expense recognition profile for the associated lease. The Company and its Affiliates combine lease and non-lease components for their office space leases and separate non-lease components for their equipment leases in calculating their lease liabilities. Sublease income is reported in Investment and other income. (k) Issuance Costs Issuance costs related to the Company’s senior bank debt are amortized over the remaining term of the senior unsecured multicurrency revolving credit facility (the “revolver”) and the senior unsecured term loan facility (the “term loan” and, together with the revolver, the “credit facilities”), which approximates the effective interest method. Issuance costs associated with the revolver are included in Other assets. Issuance costs associated with the term loan are included as a reduction of the related debt balance. Issuance costs associated with the Company’s senior notes, junior subordinated notes and junior convertible securities are amortized over the expected term of the security, and are included as a reduction of Debt in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The expense resulting from the amortization of these issuance costs is reported in Interest expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income. (l) Derivative Financial Instruments The Company and its Affiliates may use derivative financial instruments to offset exposure to changes in interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates and markets. The Company records derivatives in the Consolidated Balance Sheets at fair value. If the Company’s or its Affiliates’ derivative financial instruments do not qualify as cash flow, net investment or fair value hedges, changes in the fair value of the derivatives are recorded as a gain or loss in Investment and other income. If the Company’s or its Affiliates’ derivative financial instruments qualify as cash flow or net investment hedges, the effective portion of the unrealized gain or loss is recorded in Other comprehensive income (loss) as a separate component of stockholders’ equity and reclassified to earnings with the hedged item. The Company assesses hedge effectiveness on a quarterly basis. For interest rate swaps designated as cash flow hedges, we use a qualitative method of assessing hedge effectiveness by comparing the notional amount, timing of payments, and interest rates of the swap to the interest payments hedged. If the qualitative assessment indicates ineffectiveness, then we perform a quantitative assessment which is generally measured by comparing the present value of the cumulative change in the expected future cash flows of the hedged contract with the present value of the cumulative change in the expected future cash flows of the hedged item. For net investment hedges, hedge effectiveness is measured using the spot rate method. For fair value hedges, the entire change in the fair value of the hedging instrument is presented within earnings with the hedged item, unless the changes in fair value are not equal, which would result in hedge ineffectiveness which is presented within Investment and other income. Changes in the fair values of cash flow hedges are reported in Change in net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on derivative financial instruments in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. Upon termination of cash flow hedges, any gain or loss recognized will be reclassified into earnings. Changes in the fair values of the effective net investment hedges are reported in Foreign currency translation gain (loss) in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. Upon the sale or liquidation of the underlying investment, any gain or loss remaining in Accumulated other comprehensive loss will be reclassified to earnings. Changes in fair value of a hedging instrument that are excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness, also known as excluded components, are recorded in earnings and amortized on a straight-line basis over the respective period of the contracts as a reduction to Interest expense. (m) Revenue Recognition Consolidated revenue primarily represents asset and performance based fees earned by the Company and its Affiliates for managing the assets of clients. Substantially all of the Company’s and its Affiliates’ contracts contain a single performance obligation, which is the provision of investment management services. Investment management, broker-dealer, and administrative services are performed and consumed simultaneously and, therefore, the Company recognizes these asset based fees ratably over time. Substantially all the Company’s asset based fees for services are based on the value of client assets over time, which are typically determined using observable market data. Services may be invoiced in advance or in arrears and are payable upon receipt. Any asset based fees collected in advance are deferred and recognized as the services are performed and consumed. Consolidated revenue recognized by the Company is adjusted for any expense reimbursement arrangements. Performance based fees, including carried interests, are recognized only upon the satisfaction of performance obligations, the resolution of any constraints, which include exceeding performance benchmarks or hurdle rates that may extend over one or more reporting periods, and when it is improbable that there will be a significant reversal in the amount of revenue recognized. As a result, any performance based fees or carried interest recognized in the current reporting period may relate to performance obligations satisfied in a previous reporting period. The Company and its Affiliates have contractual arrangements with third parties to provide distribution-related services. Fees received and expenses incurred under these arrangements are primarily based on the value of client assets over time. Distribution-related fees are presented within Consolidated revenue gross of any related expenses when the Company and its Affiliates are the principal in their role as primary obligor under their distribution-related services arrangements. Distribution-related expenses are presented within Selling, general and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Income. The Company and its Affiliates may enter into contracts for which the costs to obtain or fulfill the contract are based upon a percentage of the value of a client’s future assets under management. The Company records these variable costs when incurred because they are subject to market volatility and are not estimable upon the inception of a contract with a client. Any expenses paid in advance are capitalized and amortized on a systematic basis, consistent with the transfer of services, which is the equivalent of recognizing the costs as incurred. (n) Contingent Payment Arrangements The Company periodically enters into contingent payment arrangements in connection with its investments in Affiliates. In these arrangements, the Company agrees to pay additional consideration to the sellers to the extent that certain specified financial targets are achieved. For consolidated Affiliates, the Company estimates the fair value of these potential future obligations at the time the investment in an Affiliate is consummated and records a liability in Other liabilities. The Company then accretes the obligation to its expected payment amount over the period until the arrangement is measured. If the Company’s expected payment amount subsequently changes, the obligation is reduced or increased in the current period resulting in a gain or loss, respectively. Gains and losses resulting from changes to expected payments are included in Other expenses (net) and the accretion of these obligations to their expected payment amounts are included in Interest expense. For Affiliates accounted for under the equity method of accounting, the Company records a liability in Payables and accrued liabilities when a payment becomes probable, with a corresponding increase to the carrying value of the Affiliate in Equity method investments in Affiliates (net). (o) Income Taxes The Company accounts for income taxes using the asset and liability method, which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of differences between the financial reporting bases of assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases, using tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recorded in Income tax expense in the period when the change is enacted. The Company regularly assesses the recoverability of its deferred income tax assets to determine whether these assets are more-likely-than-not to be realized. In making such a determination, the Company considers all available positive and negative evidence, including future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, projected future taxable income, tax planning strategies and results of recent operations. If the Company determines it would not be able to realize its deferred tax assets, it records a valuation allowance to reflect the deferred tax assets at their current value. The recording of adjustments to the valuation allowance will increase or decrease Income tax expense. The Company records unrecognized tax benefits based on whether it is more-likely-than-not that the uncertain tax positions will be sustained on the basis of the technical merits of the position. If it is determined that an uncertain tax position is more-likely-than-not to be sustained, the Company records the largest amount of tax benefit that is more than 50% likely to be realized upon ultimate settlement with the related tax authority in Income tax expense. Interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits are also recorded in Income tax expense. The Company has elected to treat taxes due on U.S. inclusions in taxable income related to Global Intangible Low Taxed Income (“GILTI”) as a current period expense when incurred (the “period cost method”). (p) Foreign Currency Translation Assets and liabilities denominated in a functional currency other than the U.S. dollar are translated into U.S. dollars using exchange rates in effect as of the balance sheet date. Revenue and expenses denominated in a functional currency other than the U.S. dollar are translated into U.S. dollars using average exchange rates for the relevant period. Because of the long-term nature of the Company’s investments in its Affiliates, net translation exchange gains and losses resulting from foreign currency translation are recorded in Accumulated other comprehensive loss as a separate component of stockholders’ equity on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Foreign currency transaction gains and losses are included in Inves |
