10. EQUITY BASED COMPENSATION

The following table summarizes the expense associated with equity based compensation for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2013		2012
KKR Holdings Principal Awards	$	32,837	$	73,889
KKR Holdings Restricted Equity Units	1,463		4,129
Equity Incentive Plan Units	27,418		16,263
Discretionary Compensation	19,932		20,060
Total	$	81,650	$	114,341

KKR Holdings Equity Awards—Principal Awards

KKR principals and certain non-employee consultants and service providers received grants of KKR Holdings units (“Principal Awards”) which are exchangeable for KKR Group Partnership Units. These units are generally subject to minimum retained ownership requirements and in certain cases, transfer restrictions, and allow for their exchange into common units of KKR & Co. L.P. on a one-for-one basis. As of March 31, 2013, KKR Holdings owned approximately 61.9%, or 424,979,965, of the outstanding KKR Group Partnership Units.

Except for any Principal Awards that vested on the date of grant, Principal Awards are subject to service based vesting, generally over a three to five year period from the date of grant. The transfer restriction period will generally last for a minimum of (i) one year with respect to one-half of the interests vesting on any vesting date and (ii) two years with respect to the other one-half of the interests vesting on such vesting date. While providing services to KKR, these individuals may also be subject to minimum retained ownership rules requiring them to continuously hold 25% of their vested interests. Upon separation from KKR, certain individuals will be subject to the terms of a non-compete agreement that may require the forfeiture of certain vested and unvested units should the terms of the non-compete agreement be violated. Holders of KKR Group Partnership Units held through KKR Holdings are not entitled to participate in distributions made on KKR Group Partnership Units until such units are vested.

Because KKR Holdings is a partnership, all of the 424,979,965 KKR Holdings units have been legally allocated, but the allocation of 28,516,582 of these units has not been communicated to each respective principal. The units that have not been communicated are subject to performance based vesting conditions, which include profitability and other similar criteria. These criteria are not sufficiently specific to constitute performance conditions for accounting purposes, and the achievement, or lack thereof, will be determined based upon the exercise of judgment by the general partner of KKR Holdings. Each principal will ultimately receive between zero and 100% of the units initially allocated. The allocation of these units has not yet been communicated to the award recipients as this was management’s decision on how to best incentivize its principals. It is anticipated that additional service-based vesting conditions will be imposed at the time the allocation is initially communicated to the respective principals. KKR applied the guidance of Accounting Standards Code (“ASC”) 718 and concluded that these KKR Holdings units do not yet meet the criteria for recognition of compensation cost because neither the grant date nor the service inception date has occurred. In reaching a conclusion that the service inception date has not occurred, KKR considered (a) the fact that the vesting conditions are not sufficiently specific to constitute performance conditions for accounting purposes, (b) the significant judgment that can be exercised by the general partner of KKR Holdings in determining whether the vesting conditions are ultimately achieved, and (c) the absence of communication to the principals of any information related to the number of units they were initially allocated. The allocation of these units will be communicated to the award recipients when the performance-based vesting conditions have been met, and currently there is no plan as to when the communication will occur. The determination as to whether the award recipients have satisfied the performance-based vesting conditions is made by the general partner of KKR Holdings, and is based on multiple factors primarily related to the award recipients’ individual performance.

The fair value of Principal Awards is based on the closing price of KKR & Co. L.P. common units on the date of grant. KKR determined this to be the best evidence of fair value as a KKR & Co. L.P. common unit is traded in an active market and has an observable market price. Additionally, a KKR Holdings unit is an instrument with terms and conditions similar to those of a KKR & Co. L.P. common unit. Specifically, units in both KKR Holdings and KKR & Co. L.P. represent ownership interests in KKR Group Partnership Units and, subject to any vesting, minimum retained ownership requirements and transfer restrictions referenced above, each KKR Holdings unit is exchangeable into a KKR Group Partnership Unit and then into a KKR & Co. L.P. common unit on a one-for-one basis.

Principal Awards give rise to equity-based payment charges in the condensed consolidated statements of operations based on the grant-date fair value of the award. For units vesting on the grant date, expense is recognized on the date of grant based on the fair value of a KKR & Co. L.P. common unit on the grant date multiplied by the number of vested units. Equity-based payment expense on unvested units is calculated based on the fair value of a KKR & Co. L.P. common unit at the time of grant, discounted for the lack of participation rights in the expected distributions on unvested units which currently ranges from 7% to 52%, multiplied by the number of unvested units on the grant date. The grant date fair value of a KKR & Co. L.P. unit reflects a discount for lack of distribution participation rights because equity awards are not entitled to receive distributions while unvested. The discount range was based on management’s estimates of future distributions that unvested equity awards will not be entitled to receive between the grant date and the vesting date. Therefore, units that vest in the earlier periods have a lower discount as compared to units that vest in later periods, which have a higher discount. The discount range will generally increase when the level of expected annual distributions increases relative to the grant date fair value of a KKR & Co. L.P. common unit. A decrease in expected annual distributions relative to the grant date fair value of a KKR & Co. L.P. common unit would generally have the opposite effect.

Principal Awards granted to certain non-employee consultants and service providers give rise to general, administrative and other charges in the condensed consolidated statements of operations. For units vesting on the grant date, expense is recognized on the date of grant based on the fair value of a KKR & Co. L.P. common unit on the grant date multiplied by the number of vested units. General, administrative and other expense recognized on unvested units is calculated based on the fair value of a KKR & Co. L.P. common unit on each reporting date and subsequently adjusted for the actual fair value of the award at each vesting date. Accordingly, the measured value of these units will not be finalized until each vesting date.

The calculation of equity-based payment expense and general administrative and other expense on unvested Principal Awards assumes a forfeiture rate of up to 4% annually based upon expected turnover by class of principal, consultant, or service provider.

As of March 31, 2013, there was approximately $132.0 million of estimated unrecognized equity-based payment and general administrative and other expense related to unvested awards. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 0.8 years, using the graded attribution method, which treats each vesting portion as a separate award.

A summary of the status of unvested Principal Awards from January 1, 2013 through March 31, 2013 are presented below:

	Units		Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Balance, January 1, 2013	64,569,667		$	7.42
Granted	1,686,382		12.00
Vested	—		—
Forfeited	(747,151	)	7.08
Balance, March 31, 2013	65,508,898		$	7.54

The weighted average remaining vesting period over which unvested units are expected to vest is 1.1 years.

The following table summarizes the remaining vesting tranches of Principal Awards:

Vesting Date		Units

April 1, 2013		1,302,727
October 1, 2013		28,874,554
April 1, 2014		1,305,406
October 1, 2014		28,874,613
April 1, 2015		1,305,462
October 1, 2015		2,306,581
April 1, 2016		67,429
October 1, 2016		1,345,833
April 1, 2017		15,000
October 1, 2017		111,293
		65,508,898

KKR Holdings Equity Awards—Restricted Equity Units

Grants of restricted equity units based on KKR Group Partnership Units held by KKR Holdings were made to professionals, support staff, and other personnel (“Holdings REU Awards”). These grants will be funded by KKR Holdings and will not dilute KKR’s interests in the KKR Group Partnerships. The vesting of these Holdings REU Awards occur in installments, generally over a three to five year period from the date of grant. Holdings REU Awards are measured and recognized on a basis similar to Principal Awards except that the fair value of a KKR & Co. L.P. common unit at the time of grant is not discounted for the lack of distribution participation rights since unvested units are entitled to distributions. The calculation assumes a forfeiture rate of up to 4% annually based upon expected turnover by class of professionals, support staff, and other personnel.

As of March 31, 2013, there was approximately $3.0 million of estimated unrecognized expense related to unvested awards. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 0.8 years, using the graded attribution method, which treats each vesting portion as a separate award.

A summary of the status of unvested Holdings REU Awards from January 1, 2013 through March 31, 2013 is presented below:

	Units		Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Balance, January 1, 2013	1,064,712		$	12.03
Granted	—		—
Vested	—		—
Forfeited	(17,073	)	14.20
Balance, March 31, 2013	1,047,639		$	11.99

The weighted average remaining vesting period over which unvested units are expected to vest is 1.0 year.

A summary of the remaining vesting tranches of Holdings REU Awards is presented below:

Vesting Date		Units
April 1, 2013		199,177
October 1, 2013		259,411
April 1, 2014		168,409
October 1, 2014		252,751
April 1, 2015		142,360
October 1, 2015		25,531
		1,047,639

KKR & Co. L.P. 2010 Equity Incentive Plan

Under the Equity Incentive Plan, KKR is permitted to grant equity awards representing ownership interests in KKR & Co. L.P. common units. Vested awards under the Equity Incentive Plan dilute KKR & Co. L.P. common unitholders and KKR Holdings pro rata in accordance with their respective percentage interests in the KKR Group Partnerships.

The total number of common units that may be issued under the Equity Incentive Plan is equivalent to 15% of the number of fully diluted common units outstanding, subject to annual adjustment. As of March 31, 2013, equity awards relating to 32,051,565 KKR & Co. L.P. common units have been granted under the Equity Incentive Plan and are subject to service based vesting, which vest generally over a three to five year period from the date of grant. In certain cases, these awards are subject to transfer restrictions and minimum retained ownership requirements. The transfer restriction period, if applicable, lasts for (i) one year with respect to one-half of the interests vesting on any vesting date and (ii) two years with respect to the other one-half of the interests vesting on such vesting date. While providing services to KKR, if applicable, certain of these individuals are also subject to minimum retained ownership rules requiring them to continuously hold common unit equivalents equal to at least 15% of their cumulatively vested interests.

Expense associated with the vesting of these awards is based on the closing price of the KKR & Co. L.P. common units on the date of grant, discounted for the lack of participation rights in the expected distributions on unvested units, which currently ranges from 7% to 52% multiplied by the number of unvested units on the grant date. The grant date fair value of a KKR & Co. L.P. unit reflects a discount for lack of distribution participation rights because equity awards are not entitled to receive distributions while unvested. The discount range was based on management’s estimates of future distributions that unvested equity awards will not be entitled to receive between the grant date and the vesting date. Therefore, units that vest in the earlier periods have a lower discount as compared to units that vest in later periods, which have a higher discount. The discount range will generally increase when the level of expected annual distributions increases relative to the grant date fair value of a KKR & Co. L.P. common unit. A decrease in expected annual distributions relative to the grant date fair value of a KKR & Co. L.P. common unit would generally have the opposite effect. Expense is recognized on a straight line basis over the life of the award and assumes a forfeiture rate of up to 4% annually based upon expected turnover by class of recipient.

As of March 31, 2013, there was approximately $215.9 million of estimated unrecognized expense related to unvested awards. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.4 years, using the straight line method.

A summary of the status of awards granted under the Equity Incentive Plan from January 1, 2013 through March 31, 2013 is presented below:

	Units		Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Balance, January 1, 2013	17,920,926		$	9.11
Granted	10,073,460		11.57
Vested	—		—
Forfeited	(173,053	)	9.40
Balance, March 31, 2013	27,821,333		$	10.00

The weighted average remaining vesting period over which unvested awards are expected to vest is 1.7 years.

A summary of the remaining vesting tranches of awards granted under the Equity Incentive Plan is presented below:

Vesting Date		Units

April 1, 2013		2,995,026
October 1, 2013		3,595,220
April 1, 2014		4,623,595
October 1, 2014		3,900,038
April 1, 2015		4,521,424
October 1, 2015		2,991,037
April 1, 2016		2,195,642
October 1, 2016		1,897,555
April 1, 2017		42,434
October 1, 2017		318,979
October 1, 2018		740,383
		27,821,333

Discretionary Compensation

All KKR principals and other employees of certain consolidated entities are eligible to receive discretionary cash bonuses. While cash bonuses paid to most employees are borne by KKR and certain consolidated entities and result in customary compensation and benefits expense, cash bonuses that are paid to certain of KKR’s principals are currently borne by KKR Holdings. These bonuses are funded with distributions that KKR Holdings receives on KKR Group Partnership Units held by KKR Holdings but are not then passed on to holders of unvested units of KKR Holdings. Because KKR principals are not entitled to receive distributions on units that are unvested, any amounts allocated to principals in excess of a principal’s vested equity interests are reflected as employee compensation and benefits expense. These compensation charges are recorded based on the unvested portion of quarterly earnings distributions received by KKR Holdings at the time of the distribution.