EQUITY COMPENSATION (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2016

EQUITY COMPENSATION

Schedule of equity-based compensation expense, net of assumed forfeitures

	For the three months ended
	March 31,
	2016		2015
Restricted units	$	4,761	$	3,445
Options		3,913		3,853
Phantom units		499		623
Equity-based compensation expense	$	9,173	$	7,921

Summary of unvested restricted units' activity

	2016				2015
			Weighted Average				Weighted Average
			Grant Date Fair				Grant Date Fair
	Restricted Units		Value Per Unit		Restricted Units		Value Per Unit
Balance - January 1		4,657,761	$	18.01		4,776,053	$	18.08
Granted		1,789,545		11.26		171,444		17.27
Vested		(4,342)		18.05		—		—
Forfeited		(239,224)		17.30		(75,920)		18.05
Balance - March 31		6,203,740	$	16.10		4,871,577	$	18.06

Schedule of effect of adoption of ASU 2016-09

	Partners' Capital			Non-Controlling Interest in Ares Operating Group Entities		Redeemable Interest in Ares Operating Group Entities
Balance at December 31, 2015	$	251,537	$	397,883	$	23,505
Retained earnings		(3,357)		(5,470)		(38)
Paid-in-capital - Equity compensation		3,767		6,138		43
Distributions - dividend equivalent		(410)		(668)		(5)
Balance at December 31, 2015 (as adjusted)	$	251,537	$	397,883	$	23,505