SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2016

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all normal recurring adjustments, which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for the fair presentation of the Company’s results for the interim periods presented. The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and entities established to complete secured financing transactions that are considered to be variable interest entities (“VIEs”) and for which the Company is the primary beneficiary. Also included in the condensed consolidated financial statements are the financial results of certain entities, which are not considered VIEs, but in which the Company is presumed to have control. The ownership interests held by third parties are reflected as noncontrolling interests in the accompanying financial statements.

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions 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. The Company uses historical experience and various other assumptions and information that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances in developing its estimates and judgments. Estimates and assumptions about future events and their effects cannot be predicted with certainty and, accordingly, these estimates may change as new events occur, as more experience is acquired, as additional information is obtained and as the Company’s operating environment changes. While the Company believes that the estimates and assumptions used in the preparation of the condensed consolidated financial statements are appropriate, actual results could differ from those estimates.

Consolidation

Consolidation

KKR Financial CLO 2007‑1, Ltd. (“CLO 2007‑1”), KKR Financial CLO 2007‑A, Ltd. (“CLO 2007‑A”), KKR Financial CLO 2012‑1, Ltd. (“CLO 2012‑1”), KKR Financial CLO 2013‑1, Ltd. (“CLO 2013‑1”), KKR Financial CLO 2013‑2, Ltd. (“CLO 2013‑2”), KKR CLO 9, Ltd. (“CLO 9”), KKR CLO 10, Ltd. (“CLO 10”), KKR CLO 11, Ltd ("CLO 11") and KKR CLO 13, Ltd ("CLO 13") (collectively the “Cash Flow CLOs”) are entities established to complete secured financing transactions. During 2016, the Company called KKR Financial CLO 2011‑1, Ltd. (“CLO 2011‑1”) and during 2015, the Company called KKR Financial CLO 2005‑2, Ltd. (“CLO 2005‑2”), KKR Financial CLO 2005‑1, Ltd. (“CLO 2005‑1”) and KKR Financial CLO 2006-1, Ltd ("CLO 2006-1"), whereby the Company repaid all senior and mezzanine notes outstanding. These entities are VIEs which the Company consolidates as the Company has determined it has the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact these entities’ economic performance and the Company has both the obligation to absorb losses of these entities and the right to receive benefits from these entities that could potentially be significant to these entities. In CLO transactions, subordinated notes have the first risk of loss and conversely, the residual value upside of the transactions. 

The Company finances the majority of its corporate debt investments through its CLOs. As of March 31, 2016, the Company’s CLOs held $4.8 billion par amount, or $4.5 billion estimated fair value, of corporate debt investments. As of December 31, 2015, the Company's CLOs held $5.5 billion par amount, or $5.1 billion estimated fair value, of corporate debt investments. The assets in each CLO can be used only to settle the debt of the related CLO. As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the aggregate par amount of CLO debt totaled $4.5 billion and $4.9 billion, respectively, held by unaffiliated third parties.

The Company consolidates all non‑VIEs in which it holds a greater than 50 percent voting interest. Specifically, the Company consolidates majority owned entities for which the Company is presumed to have control. The ownership interests of these entities held by third parties are reflected as noncontrolling interests in the accompanying financial statements. The Company began consolidating a majority of these non‑VIE entities as a result of the asset contributions from its Parent during the second half of 2014. For certain of these entities, the Company previously held a percentage ownership, but following the incremental contributions from its Parent, were presumed to have control.

In addition, the Company has noncontrolling interests in joint ventures and partnerships that do not qualify as VIEs and do not meet the control requirements for consolidation as defined by GAAP.

All inter‑company balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Consolidation

In February 2015, the FASB issued guidance which eliminates the presumption that a general partner should consolidate a limited partnership and also eliminates the consolidation model specific to limited partnerships. The amendments also clarify how to treat fees paid to an asset manager or other entity that makes the decisions for the investment vehicle and whether such fees should be considered in determining when a variable interest entity should be reported on an asset manager's balance sheet. The guidance is effective for reporting periods starting after December 15, 2015 and for interim periods within the fiscal year. Early adoption is permitted, and a full retrospective or modified retrospective approach is required. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements.

Financial Instruments

In January 2016, the FASB issued amended guidance that (i) requires equity investments (except those accounted for under the equity method of accounting or those that result in consolidation of the investee) to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income; (ii) eliminates the requirement to disclose the method(s) and significant assumptions used to estimate the fair value that is currently required to be disclosed for financial instruments measured at fair value; (iii) requires an entity to present separately in other comprehensive income the portion of the total change in the fair value of a liability resulting from a change in the instrument-specific credit risk when the entity has elected to measure the liability at fair value in accordance with the fair value option for financial instruments and (iv) requires separate presentation of financial assets and financial liabilities by measurement category and form of financial asset (that is, securities or loans and receivables) on the balance sheet or the accompanying notes to the financial statements. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years and should be applied by means of a cumulative-effect adjustment to the balance sheet as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. The amended guidance related to equity securities without readily determinable fair values (including the disclosure requirements) should be applied prospectively to equity investments that exist as of the date of adoption. The Company is currently evaluating the impact on its financial statements.