Consolidated Company-Sponsored Investment Funds

We regularly provide seed capital to new company-sponsored investment funds. As such, we may consolidate or de-consolidate a variety of company-sponsored investment funds each quarter. Due to the similarity of risks related to our involvement with each company-sponsored investment fund, disclosures required under the VIE model are aggregated, such as disclosures regarding the carrying amount and classification of assets.

We are not required to provide financial support to company-sponsored investment funds and only the assets of such funds are available to settle each fund's own liabilities. Our exposure to loss in regard to consolidated company-sponsored investment funds is limited to our investment in, and our management fee earned from, such funds. Equity and debt holders of such funds have no recourse to AB’s assets or to the general credit of AB.

The balances of consolidated VIEs and VOEs included in our condensed consolidated statements of financial condition were as follows:



	December 31, 2017							December 31, 2016
	(in thousands)

	VIEs		VOEs			Total		VIEs		VOEs		Total
Cash and cash equivalents	$	326,158	$	360		$	326,518	$	337,525	$	—	$	337,525
Investments	1,189,835		56,448			1,246,283		547,650		23,226		570,876
Other assets	33,931		1,466			35,397		48,480		—		48,480
Total assets	$	1,549,924	$	58,274		$	1,608,198	$	933,655	$	23,226	$	956,881

Liabilities	$	695,997	$	2,104		$	698,101	$	293,510	$	—	$	293,510
Redeemable non-controlling interest	596,241		(18		)	596,223		384,294		—		384,294
Partners' capital attributable to AB Unitholders	256,929		56,188			313,117		221,229		23,226		244,455
Non-redeemable non-controlling interests in consolidated entities	757		—			757		34,622		—		34,622
Total liabilities, redeemable non-controlling interest and partners' capital	$	1,549,924	$	58,274		$	1,608,198	$	933,655	$	23,226	$	956,881

Fair Value

Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, demand deposits, overnight commercial paper and highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less. Due to the short-term nature of these instruments, the recorded value has been determined to approximate fair value.

Valuation of consolidated company-sponsored investment funds' financial instruments by pricing observability levels as of December 31, 2017 and 2016 was as follows (in thousands):



	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		NAV Expedient		Total
December 31, 2017:
Investments - VIEs	$	1,053,824	$	133,796	$	2,205	$	10	$	1,189,835
Investments - VOEs	5,491		50,898		59		—		56,448
Derivatives - VIEs	252		30,384		—		—		30,636
Derivatives - VOEs	49		251		—		—		300
Total assets measured at fair value	$	1,059,616	$	215,329	$	2,264	$	10	$	1,277,219

Short equities - VIEs	$	669,258	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	669,258
Derivatives - VIEs	421		21,820		—		—		22,241
Derivatives - VOEs	12		619		—		—		631
Total liabilities measured at fair value	$	669,691	$	22,439	$	—	$	—	$	692,130

December 31, 2016:
Investments - VIEs	$	341,849	$	199,978	$	5,741	$	82	$	547,650
Investments - VOEs	10,188		12,061		—		977		23,226
Derivatives - VIEs	58		5,649		—		—		5,707
Total assets measured at fair value	$	352,095	$	217,688	$	5,741	$	1,059	$	576,583

Short equities - VIEs	$	248,419	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	248,419
Derivatives - VIEs	67		2,724		—		—		2,791
Total liabilities measured at fair value	$	248,486	$	2,724	$	—	$	—	$	251,210

See Note 9 for a description of the fair value methodologies used for instruments measured at fair value, as well as the general classification of such instruments pursuant to the valuation hierarchy.

The change in carrying value associated with Level 3 financial instruments carried at fair value within consolidated company-sponsored investment funds was as follows:



	December 31,
	2017			2016
	(in thousands)

Balance as of beginning of period	$	5,741		$	—
Impact of adoption of ASU 2015-02	—			14,740
Deconsolidated funds	(7,267		)	(368		)
Transfers (out) in	480			(24,605		)
Purchases	6,127			3,032
Sales	(3,120		)	(5,007		)
Realized gains (losses), net	2			(3,391		)
Unrealized gains (losses), net	286			21,355
Accrued discounts	15			(15		)
Balance as of end of period	$	2,264		$	5,741

The Level 3 securities primarily consist of corporate bonds that are vendor priced with no ratings available, bank loans, non-agency collateralized mortgage obligations and asset-backed securities.

Transfers into and out of all levels of the fair value hierarchy are reflected at end-of-period fair values. Realized and unrealized gains and losses on Level 3 financial instruments are recorded in investment gains and losses in the condensed consolidated statements of income.

Derivative Instruments

As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the VIEs held $8.4 million and $2.9 million (net), respectively, of futures, forwards, options and swaps within their portfolios. For the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively we recognized $21.5 million and $0.8 million of gains on these derivatives. These gains and losses are recognized in investment gains (losses) in the consolidated statements of income. As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the VIEs held $0.2 million and $0.5 million, respectively, of cash collateral payable to trade counterparties. This obligation to return cash is reported in the liabilities of consolidated company-sponsored investment funds in our consolidated statements of financial condition. As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the VIEs delivered $2.9 million and $3.3 million, respectively, of cash collateral into brokerage accounts. The VIEs report this cash collateral in the consolidated company-sponsored investment funds cash and cash equivalents in our consolidated statements of financial condition.

As of December 31, 2017, the VOEs held $0.3 million (net) of futures, forwards, options and swaps within their portfolios. For the year ended December 31, 2017 we recognized $0.4 million of losses on these derivatives. These gains and losses are recognized in the investment gains (losses) in the consolidated statements of income. As of December 31, 2017, the VOEs held $0.2 million of cash collateral in brokerage accounts. The VOEs report this cash collateral in the consolidated company-sponsored investment funds cash and cash equivalents in our consolidated statements of financial condition.

Offsetting Assets and Liabilities

Offsetting of derivative assets of consolidated company-sponsored investment funds as of December 31, 2017 and 2016 was as follows:



	Gross Amounts of Recognized Assets		Gross Amounts Offset in the Statement of Financial Condition		Net Amounts of Assets Presented in the Statement of Financial Condition		Financial Instruments		Cash Collateral Received			Net Amount
	(in thousands)
December 31, 2017:
Derivatives - VIEs	$	30,636	$	—	$	30,636	$	—	$	(194	)	$	30,442
Derivatives - VOEs	$	300	$	—	$	300	$	—	$	(37	)	$	263
December 31, 2016:
Derivatives - VIEs	$	5,707	$	—	$	5,707	$	—	$	(461	)	$	5,246

Offsetting of derivative liabilities of consolidated company-sponsored investment funds as of December 31, 2017 and 2016 was as follows:



	Gross Amounts of Recognized Liabilities		Gross Amounts Offset in the Statement of Financial Condition		Net Amounts of Liabilities Presented in the Statement of Financial Condition		Financial Instruments		Cash Collateral Pledged			Net Amount
	(in thousands)
December 31, 2017:
Derivatives - VIEs	$	22,241	$	—	$	22,241	$	—	$	(2,884	)	$	19,357
Derivatives - VOEs	$	631	$	—	$	631	$	—	$	(228	)	$	403
December 31, 2016:
Derivatives - VIEs	$	2,791	$	—	$	2,791	$	—	$	(2,791	)	$	—

Cash collateral, whether pledged or received on derivative instruments, is not considered material and, accordingly, is not disclosed by counterparty.

Non-Consolidated VIEs

As of December 31, 2017, the net assets of company-sponsored investment products that are non-consolidated VIEs are approximately $53.6 billion, and our maximum risk of loss is our investment of $7.9 million in these VIEs and advisory fee receivables from these VIEs, which are not material.