Investments

The Company’s investments reported on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition consist of investments in private equity partnerships, Trilantic and other investments in unconsolidated affiliated companies. The Company’s investments are relatively high-risk and illiquid assets.

The Company’s investments in private equity partnerships consist of investment interests in private equity funds which are voting interest entities. Realized and unrealized gains and losses on the private equity investments are included within Investment Management Revenue, as the Company considers this activity integral to its Private Equity business.

The Company also has investments in G5 ǀ Evercore, ABS and Atalanta Sosnoff, which are voting interest entities. The Company's investment in Pan became a VIE and was subsequently sold in December 2013. The Company’s share of earnings (losses) on its investments in G5 ǀ Evercore, ABS, Pan (prior to its consolidation on March 15, 2013) and Atalanta Sosnoff (after its deconsolidation on December 31, 2015; see Note 4 for further information) are included within Income from Equity Method Investments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Investments in Private Equity

Private Equity Funds

The Company’s investments related to private equity partnerships and associated entities include investments in Evercore Capital Partners II, L.P. ("ECP II"), Discovery Americas I, L.P. (the "Discovery Fund"), Evercore Mexico Capital Partners II, L.P. ("EMCP II"), Evercore Mexico Capital Partners III, L.P. ("EMCP III"), CSI Capital, L.P. ("CSI Capital"), Trilantic Capital Partners Associates IV, L.P. ("Trilantic IV") and Trilantic Capital Partners V, L.P. ("Trilantic V"). Portfolio holdings of the private equity funds are carried at fair value. Accordingly, the Company reflects its pro rata share of the unrealized gains and losses occurring from changes in fair value. Additionally, the Company reflects its pro rata share of realized gains, losses and carried interest associated with any investment realizations.

On December 31, 2014, ECP II was terminated. The Company's investment at December 31, 2015 of $983 is comprised of remaining interest in the general partner, including $748 in cash, $87 in cash escrow balances, $66 in a seller note and $82 in securities.

In 2013, the Company held a fourth and final closing on EMCP III, a private equity fund focused on middle market investments in Mexico. The total subscribed capital commitments of $201,000 included a capital commitment of $10,750 by the general partner of EMCP III, Evercore Mexico Partners III ("EMP III"), of which $1,000 relates to the Company and $9,750 relates to noncontrolling interest holders. At December 31, 2015, unfunded commitments of EMP III were $4,665, including $391 due from the Company.

A summary of the Company’s investment in the private equity funds as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 was as follows:



	December 31,
	2015		2014
ECP II	$	983	$	4,043
Discovery Fund	6,632		2,867
EMCP II	6,091		12,630
EMCP III	5,786		7,272
CSI Capital	35		3,030
Trilantic IV	2,829		3,798
Trilantic V	4,117		2,911
Total Private Equity Funds	$	26,473	$	36,551

Net realized and unrealized gains on private equity fund investments were $5,086, $7,858 and $8,060 for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. During the year ended December 31, 2015, ECP II, EMCP II, CSI Capital and Trilantic IV made distributions of $3,000, $3,194, $2,909 and $2,907, respectively. In the event the funds perform poorly, the Company may be obligated to repay certain carried interest previously distributed. As of December 31, 2015, there was no previously distributed carried interest that was subject to repayment.

General Partners of Private Equity Funds which are VIEs

The Company has concluded that Evercore Partners II, L.L.C. ("EP II L.L.C."), the general partner of ECP II, is a VIE pursuant to ASC 810. The Company owned 8%-9% of the carried interest earned by the general partner of ECP II. The Company’s assessment of the design of EP II L.L.C. resulted in the determination that the Company is not acting as an agent for other members of the general partner and is a passive holder of interests in the fund, evidenced by the fact that the Company is a non-voting, non-managing member of the general partner and, therefore, has no authority in directing the management operations of the general partner. Furthermore, the Company does not have the obligation to absorb significant losses or the right to receive benefits that could potentially have a significant impact to EP II L.L.C. Accordingly, the Company has concluded that it is not the primary beneficiary of EP II L.L.C. and has not consolidated EP II L.L.C. in the Company's consolidated financial statements.

In 2013, EMP III amended and restated its Limited Partnership Agreement and admitted certain limited partners, which are related parties of the Company. The Company viewed this modification as a reconsideration event under ASC 810-10, "Noncontrolling Interest in Consolidated Financial Statements - an amendment of ARB No. 51," and concluded that EMP III is a VIE and that the Company is the primary beneficiary of this VIE. Specifically, the Company's general partner interests in EMP III provide the Company the ability to make decisions that significantly impact the economic performance of EMP III, while the limited partners do not possess substantive participating rights over EMP III. The Company's assessment of the primary beneficiary of EMP III included assessing which parties have the power to significantly impact the economic performance of EMP III and the obligation to absorb losses, which could be potentially significant to EMP III, or the right to receive benefits from EMP III that could be potentially significant. The Company had previously consolidated EMP III as a voting interest entity; accordingly, consolidating as a VIE had no impact on the assets and liabilities of the Company. The Company consolidated EMP III assets of $6,030 and liabilities of $164 at December 31, 2015 and assets of $7,327 and liabilities of $75 at December 31, 2014, in the Company's Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition. The assets retained by EMP III are for the benefit of the interest holders of EMP III and the liabilities are generally non-recourse to the Company.

Investment in Trilantic Capital Partners and Others

In 2010, the Company made a limited partnership investment in Trilantic in exchange for 500 Class A LP Units having a fair value of $16,090. This investment gave the Company the right to invest in Trilantic’s current and future private equity funds, beginning with Trilantic Fund IV. The Company accounts for this investment under the cost method, subject to impairment. The Company allocates the cost of this investment to its investments in current and future Trilantic funds, as the Company satisfies the capital calls of these funds. The Company bases this allocation on its expectation of Trilantic’s future fundraising ability and performance. During 2015, $636 and $8 of this investment was allocated to Trilantic Fund V and IV, respectively. During 2014, $689 of this investment was allocated to Trilantic Fund V. During 2013, $825 and $29 of this investment was allocated to Trilantic Fund V and Trilantic Fund IV, respectively. From 2010 to 2012, $1,091 of this investment was allocated to Trilantic Fund IV. This investment had a balance of $12,812 and $13,455 as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The Company has a $5,000 commitment to invest in Trilantic Fund V, of which $3,246 was unfunded at December 31, 2015. The Company and Trilantic anticipate that the Company will participate in the successor funds to Trilantic Fund V. The Company further anticipates that participation in the successor fund will be at approximately $12,000.

In the second quarter of 2015, the Company received an equity security in a private company with a fair value of $1,079 in exchange for advisory services. This investment is accounted for on the cost basis.

Equity Method Investments

A summary of the Company’s other investments accounted for under the equity method of accounting as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 was as follows:



	December 31,
	2015		2014
G5 ǀ Evercore	$	20,730	$	32,756
ABS	41,567		43,825
Atalanta Sosnoff	23,990		—
Total	$	86,287	$	76,581

G5 ǀ Evercore

In 2010, the Company made an investment accounted for under the equity method of accounting in G5 ǀ Evercore. During the second quarter of 2014, the Company settled its contingent consideration arrangement entered into in conjunction with its initial investment in G5 ǀ Evercore. Accordingly, in June 2014 the Company issued 131 shares of restricted Class A common stock, with a fair value of $7,232, and $7,916 of cash to the owners of G5 ǀ Evercore.

At December 31, 2015, the Company’s economic ownership interest in G5 ǀ Evercore was 49%. This investment resulted in earnings (losses) of $662, ($48) and $2,126 for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively, included within Income from Equity Method Investments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. In addition, the investment is subject to currency translation from Brazilian Real to the U.S. Dollar.

ABS

In 2011, the Company made an investment accounted for under the equity method of accounting in ABS. At December 31, 2015, the Company’s economic ownership interest in ABS was 45%. This investment resulted in earnings of $5,388, $5,228 and $6,255 for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively, included within Income from Equity Method Investments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Atalanta Sosnoff

On December 31, 2015, the Company amended the Operating Agreement with Atalanta Sosnoff and deconsolidated its assets and liabilities. The Company will account for its interest in Atalanta Sosnoff under the equity method of accounting from that date forward. The carrying amount of the investment of $23,990, at December 31, 2015, represents its fair value on that date. At December 31, 2015, the Company’s economic ownership interest in Atalanta Sosnoff was 49%. See Note 4 for further information related to this transaction.

Pan

In 2008, the Company made an investment accounted for under the equity method of accounting of $4,158 in Pan. This investment resulted in earnings (losses) of ($55) for the year ended December 31, 2013, included within Income from Equity Method Investments on the Consolidated Statement of Operations. The Company consolidated its investment in Pan on March 15, 2013 and subsequently sold its investment on December 3, 2013.

Other

The Company allocates the purchase price of its equity method investments, in part, to the inherent finite-lived identifiable intangible assets of the investees. The Company’s share of the earnings of the investees has been reduced by the amortization of these identifiable intangible assets inherent in the investments of $2,484, $2,586 and $2,586 for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.