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SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2020
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and instructions to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. The condensed consolidated financial statements and these notes are unaudited and exclude some of the disclosures required in annual financial statements. Management believes it has made all necessary adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring items) so that the condensed consolidated financial statements are presented fairly and that estimates made in preparing its condensed consolidated financial statements are reasonable and prudent. The operating results presented for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for any other interim period or for the entire year. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the annual financial statements included in the 2019 Annual Report.
The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company, its wholly-owned or majority-owned subsidiaries, the consolidated entities which are considered to be variable interest entities (“VIEs”) and for which the Company is considered the primary beneficiary, and certain entities which are not considered VIEs but which the Company controls through a majority voting interest. Intercompany accounts and transactions, if any, have been eliminated upon consolidation.
Certain reclassifications, when applicable, have been made to the prior periods’ condensed consolidated financial statements and notes to conform to the current period’s presentation and are disclosed accordingly.
Consolidation
The types of entities with which Apollo is involved generally include subsidiaries (e.g., general partners and management companies related to the funds the Company manages), entities that have all the attributes of an investment company (e.g., funds) and securitization vehicles (e.g., CLOs). Each of these entities is assessed for consolidation on a case by case basis depending on the specific facts and circumstances surrounding that entity.
Pursuant to the consolidation guidance, the Company first evaluates whether it holds a variable interest in an entity. Fees that are customary and commensurate with the level of services provided, and where the Company does not hold other economic interests in the entity that would absorb more than an insignificant amount of the expected losses or returns of the
entity, would not be considered a variable interest. Apollo factors in all economic interests including proportionate interests through related parties, to determine if such interests are considered a variable interest. As Apollo’s interests in many of these entities are solely through market rate fees and/or insignificant indirect interests through related parties, Apollo is not considered to have a variable interest in many of these entities and no further consolidation analysis is performed. For entities where the Company has determined that it does hold a variable interest, the Company performs an assessment to determine whether each of those entities qualify as a VIE.
The determination as to whether an entity qualifies as a VIE depends on the facts and circumstances surrounding each entity and therefore certain of Apollo’s funds may qualify as VIEs under the variable interest model whereas others may qualify as voting interest entities (“VOEs”) under the voting interest model. The granting of substantive kick-out rights is a key consideration in determining whether a limited partnership or similar entity is a VIE and whether or not that entity should be consolidated.
Under the variable interest model, Apollo consolidates those entities where it is determined that the Company is the primary beneficiary of the entity. The Company is determined to be the primary beneficiary when it has a controlling financial interest in the VIE, which is defined as possessing both (i) the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance and (ii) the obligation to absorb losses of the VIE or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that could potentially be significant. When Apollo alone is not considered to have a controlling financial interest in the VIE but Apollo and its related parties under common control in the aggregate have a controlling financial interest in the VIE, Apollo will be deemed the primary beneficiary if it is the party that is most closely associated with the VIE. When Apollo and its related parties not under common control in the aggregate have a controlling financial interest in the VIE, Apollo would be deemed to be the primary beneficiary if substantially all the activities of the entity are performed on behalf of Apollo.
Apollo determines whether it is the primary beneficiary of a VIE at the time it becomes initially involved with the VIE and reconsiders that conclusion continuously. Investments and redemptions (either by Apollo, related parties of Apollo or third parties) or amendments to the governing documents of the respective entity may affect an entity’s status as a VIE or the determination of the primary beneficiary.
Assets and liabilities of the consolidated VIEs are primarily shown in separate sections within the condensed consolidated statements of financial condition. Changes in the fair value of the consolidated VIEs’ assets and liabilities and related interest, dividend and other income and expenses are presented within net gains from investment activities of consolidated variable interest entities in the condensed consolidated statements of operations. The portion attributable to Non-Controlling Interests is reported within net income attributable to Non-Controlling Interests in the condensed consolidated statements of operations. For additional disclosures regarding VIEs, see note 6.
Under the voting interest model, Apollo consolidates those entities it controls through a majority voting interest. Apollo does not consolidate those VOEs in which substantive kick-out rights have been granted to the unrelated investors to either dissolve the fund or remove the general partner.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Apollo considers all highly liquid short-term investments with original maturities of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents include money market funds and U.S. Treasury securities with original maturities of three months or less when purchased. Interest income from cash and cash equivalents is recorded in interest income in the condensed consolidated statements of operations. The carrying values of the money market funds and U.S. Treasury securities were $1.5 billion and $253.5 million as of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively, which approximate their fair values due to their short-term nature and are categorized as Level I within the fair value hierarchy. Substantially all of the Company’s cash on deposit is in interest bearing accounts with major financial institutions and exceed insured limits.
Restricted Cash
Restricted cash includes cash held in reserve accounts used to make required payments in respect of the 2039 Senior Secured Guaranteed Notes. Restricted cash also includes cash deposited at a bank, which is pledged as collateral in connection with leased premises.
U.S. Treasury securities, at fair value
U.S. Treasury securities, at fair value includes U.S. Treasury bills with original maturities greater than three months when purchased. These securities are recorded at fair value. Interest income on such securities is separately presented from the overall change in fair value and is recognized in interest income in the condensed consolidated statements of operations. Any remaining change in fair value of such securities, that is not recognized as interest income, is recognized in net gains (losses) from investment activities in the condensed consolidated statements of operations.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Apollo has elected the fair value option for the Company’s investment in Athene Holding, the assets and liabilities of certain of its consolidated VIEs (including CLOs), the Company’s U.S. Treasury securities with original maturities greater than three months when purchased, and certain of the Company’s other investments. Such election is irrevocable and is applied to financial instruments on an individual basis at initial recognition.
The fair value of a financial instrument is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date under current market conditions.
Except for the Company’s debt obligations, financial instruments are generally recorded at fair value or at amounts whose carrying values approximate fair value. The actual realized gains or losses will depend on, among other factors, future operating results, the value of the assets and market conditions at the time of disposition, any related transaction costs and the timing and manner of sale, all of which may ultimately differ significantly from the assumptions on which the valuations were based.
Fair Value Hierarchy
U.S. GAAP establishes a hierarchical disclosure framework which prioritizes and ranks the level of market price observability used in measuring financial instruments at fair value. Market price observability is affected by a number of factors, including the type of financial instrument, the characteristics specific to the financial instrument and the state of the marketplace, including the existence and transparency of transactions between market participants. Financial instruments with readily available quoted prices in active markets generally will have a higher degree of market price observability and a lesser degree of judgment used in measuring fair value.
Financial instruments measured and reported at fair value are classified and disclosed based on the observability of inputs used in the determination of fair values, as follows:
Level I - Quoted prices are available in active markets for identical financial instruments as of the reporting date. The types of financial instruments included in Level I include listed equities and debt. The Company does not adjust the quoted price for these financial instruments, even in situations where the Company holds a large position and the sale of such position would likely deviate from the quoted price.
Level II - Pricing inputs are other than quoted prices in active markets, which are either directly or indirectly observable as of the reporting date, and fair value is determined through the use of models or other valuation methodologies. Financial instruments that are generally included in this category include corporate bonds and loans, less liquid and restricted equity securities and certain over-the-counter derivatives where the fair value is based on observable inputs. These financial instruments exhibit higher levels of liquid market observability as compared to Level III financial instruments.
Level III - Pricing inputs are unobservable for the financial instrument and includes situations where there is little observable market activity for the financial instrument. The inputs into the determination of fair value may require significant management judgment or estimation. Financial instruments that are included in this category generally include general and limited partner interests in corporate private equity and real assets funds, opportunistic credit funds, distressed debt and non-investment grade residual interests in securitizations and CDOs and CLOs where the fair value is based on observable inputs as well as unobservable inputs.
When a security is valued based on broker quotes, the Company subjects those quotes to various criteria in making the determination as to whether a particular financial instrument would qualify for classification as Level II or Level III. These
criteria include, but are not limited to, the number and quality of the broker quotes, the standard deviations of the observed broker quotes, and the percentage deviation from external pricing services.
In certain cases, the inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, a financial instrument’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment and considers factors specific to the financial instrument when the fair value is based on unobservable inputs.
Equity Method Investments
For investments in entities over which the Company exercises significant influence but which do not meet the requirements for consolidation and for which the Company has not elected the fair value option, the Company uses the equity method of accounting, whereby the Company records its share of the underlying income or loss of such entities. The Company’s share of the underlying net income or loss of such entities is recorded in principal investment income (loss) in the condensed consolidated statements of operations.
The carrying amounts of equity method investments are recorded in investments in the condensed consolidated statements of financial condition. As the underlying entities that the Company manages and invests in are, for U.S. GAAP purposes, primarily investment companies which reflect their investments at estimated fair value, the carrying value of the Company’s equity method investments in such entities approximates fair value.
Financial Instruments held by Consolidated VIEs
The Company measures both the financial assets and financial liabilities of the consolidated CLOs in its condensed consolidated financial statements using the fair value of the financial assets or financial liabilities of the consolidated CLOs, whichever are more observable.
Where financial assets are more observable, the financial assets of the consolidated CLOs are measured at fair value and the financial liabilities are measured in consolidation as: (i) the sum of the fair value of the financial assets and the carrying value of any nonfinancial assets that are incidental to the operations of the CLOs less (ii) the sum of the fair value of any beneficial interests retained by the Company (other than those that represent compensation for services) and the Company’s carrying value of any beneficial interests that represent compensation for services. The resulting amount is allocated to the individual financial liabilities (other than the beneficial interest retained by the Company) using a reasonable and consistent methodology.
Where financial liabilities are more observable, the financial liabilities of the consolidated CLOs are measured at fair value and the financial assets are measured in consolidation as: (i) the sum of the fair value of the financial liabilities, and the carrying value of any nonfinancial liabilities that are incidental to the operations of the CLOs less (ii) the carrying value of any nonfinancial assets that are incidental to the operations of the CLOs. The resulting amount is allocated to the individual financial assets using a reasonable and consistent methodology.
Under the measurement alternative, net income attributable to Apollo Global Management, Inc. reflects the Company’s own economic interests in the consolidated CLOs including (i) changes in the fair value of the beneficial interests retained by the Company and (ii) beneficial interests that represent compensation for collateral management services.
The consolidated VIEs hold investments that could be traded over-the-counter. Investments in securities that are traded on a securities exchange or comparable over-the-counter quotation systems are valued based on the last reported sale price at that date. If no sales of such investments are reported on such date, and in the case of over-the-counter securities or other investments for which the last sale date is not available, valuations are based on independent market quotations obtained from market participants, recognized pricing services or other sources deemed relevant, and the prices are based on the average of the “bid” and “ask” prices, or at ascertainable prices at the close of business on such day. Market quotations are generally based on valuation pricing models or market transactions of similar securities adjusted for security-specific factors such as relative capital structure priority and interest and yield risks, among other factors. When market quotations are not available, a model based approach is used to determine fair value.
Certain consolidated VIEs have applied the fair value option for certain investments in private debt securities that otherwise would not have been carried at fair value with gains and losses in net income.
Deferred Revenue
Apollo records deferred revenue, which is a type of contract liability, when consideration is received in advance of management services provided.
Apollo also earns management fees subject to the Management Fee Offset (described below). When advisory and transaction fees are earned by the management company, the Management Fee Offset reduces the management fee obligation of the fund. When the Company receives cash for advisory and transaction fees, a certain percentage of such advisory and/or transaction fees, as applicable, is allocated as a credit to reduce future management fees, otherwise payable by such fund. Such credit is recorded as deferred revenue in the condensed consolidated statements of financial condition. A portion of any excess advisory and transaction fees may be required to be returned to the limited partners of certain funds upon such fund’s liquidation. As the management fees earned by the Company are presented on a gross basis, any Management Fee Offsets calculated are presented as a reduction to advisory and transaction fees in the condensed consolidated statements of operations.
Additionally, Apollo earns advisory fees pursuant to the terms of the advisory agreements with certain of the portfolio companies that are owned by the funds Apollo manages. When Apollo receives a payment from a portfolio company that exceeds the advisory fees earned at that point in time, the excess payment is recorded as deferred revenue in the condensed consolidated statements of financial condition. The advisory agreements with the portfolio companies vary in duration and the associated fees are received monthly, quarterly or annually.
Deferred revenue is reversed and recognized as revenue over the period that the agreed upon services are performed. There was $78.7 million of revenue recognized during the nine months ended September 30, 2020 that was previously deferred as of January 1, 2020.
Under the terms of the funds’ partnership agreements, Apollo is normally required to bear organizational expenses over a set dollar amount and placement fees or costs in connection with the offering and sale of interests in the funds it manages to investors. The placement fees are payable to placement agents, who are independent third parties that assist in identifying potential investors, securing commitments to invest from such potential investors, preparing or revising offering and marketing materials, developing strategies for attempting to secure investments by potential investors and/or providing feedback and insight regarding issues and concerns of potential investors, when a limited partner either commits or funds a commitment to a fund. In certain instances the placement fees are paid over a period of time. Based on the management agreements with the funds, Apollo considers placement fees and organizational costs paid in determining if cash has been received in excess of the management fees earned. Placement fees and organizational costs are normally the obligation of Apollo but can be paid for by the funds. When these costs are paid by the fund, the resulting obligations are included within deferred revenue. The deferred revenue balance will also be reduced during future periods when management fees are earned but not paid.
Revenues
The Company’s revenues are reported in four separate categories that include (i) management fees; (ii) advisory and transaction fees, net; (iii) investment income, which is comprised of performance allocations and principal investment income; and (iv) incentive fees.
Management Fees
Management fees are recognized over time during the periods in which the related services are performed in accordance with the contractual terms of the related agreement. Management fees are generally based on (1) a percentage of the capital committed during the commitment period, and thereafter based on the remaining invested capital of unrealized investments, or (2) net asset value, gross assets or as otherwise defined in the respective agreements. Included in management fees are certain expense reimbursements where the Company is considered the principal under the agreements and is required to record the expense and related reimbursement revenue on a gross basis.
Advisory and Transaction Fees, Net
Advisory fees, including management consulting fees and directors’ fees, are generally recognized over time as the underlying services are provided in accordance with the contractual terms of the related agreement. The Company receives such fees in exchange for ongoing management consulting services provided to portfolio companies of funds it manages. Transaction fees, including structuring fees and arranging fees are generally recognized at a point in time when the underlying services rendered are complete.
The amounts due from fund portfolio companies are recorded in due from related parties, which is discussed further in note 15. Under the terms of the limited partnership agreements for certain funds, the management fee payable by the funds may be subject to a reduction based on a certain percentage of such advisory and transaction fees, net of applicable broken deal costs (“Management Fee Offset”). Advisory and transaction fees are presented net of the Management Fee Offset in the condensed consolidated statements of operations.
Underwriting fees, which are also included within advisory and transaction fees, net, include gains, losses and fees, arising from securities offerings in which one of the Company’s subsidiaries participates in the underwriter syndicate. Underwriting fees are recognized at a point in time when the underwriting is completed. Underwriting fees recognized but not received are recorded in other assets on the condensed consolidated statements of financial condition.
During the normal course of business, the Company incurs certain costs related to certain transactions that are not consummated (“broken deal costs”). These costs (e.g., research costs, due diligence costs, professional fees, legal fees and other related items) are determined to be broken deal costs upon management’s decision to no longer pursue the transaction. In accordance with the related fund agreement, in the event the deal is deemed broken, all of the costs are reimbursed by the funds and then included as a component of the calculation of the Management Fee Offset. If a deal is successfully completed, Apollo is reimbursed by the fund or fund’s portfolio company for all costs incurred and no offset is generated. As the Company acts as an agent for the funds it manages, any transaction costs incurred and paid by the Company on behalf of the respective funds relating to successful or broken deals are recorded net on the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations, and any receivable from the respective funds is recorded in due from related parties on the condensed consolidated statements of financial condition.
Investment Income
Investment income is comprised of performance allocations and principal investment income.
Performance Allocations
Performance allocations are a type of performance revenue (i.e., income earned based on the extent to which an entity’s performance exceeds predetermined thresholds). Performance allocations are generally structured from a legal standpoint as an allocation of capital in which the Company’s capital account receives allocations of the returns of an entity when those returns exceed predetermined thresholds. The determination of which performance revenues are considered performance allocations is primarily based on the terms of an agreement with the entity.
The Company recognizes performance allocations within investment income along with the related principal investment income (as described further below) in the condensed consolidated statements of operations and within the investments line in the condensed consolidated statements of financial condition.
When applicable, the Company may record a general partner obligation to return previously distributed performance allocations. The general partner obligation is based upon an assumed liquidation of a fund’s net assets as of the reporting date and is reported within due to related parties. The actual determination and any required payment of any such general partner obligation would not take place until the final disposition of a fund’s investments based on the contractual termination of the fund or as otherwise set forth in the respective limited partnership agreement or other governing document of the fund.
Principal Investment Income
Principal investment income includes the Company’s income or loss from equity method investments and certain other investments in entities in which the Company is generally eligible to receive performance allocations. Income from equity method investments includes the Company’s share of net income or loss generated from its investments, which are not consolidated, but in which the Company exerts significant influence.
Incentive Fees
Incentive fees are a type of performance revenue. Incentive fees differ from performance allocations in that incentive fees do not represent an allocation of capital but rather a contractual fee arrangement with the entity.
Incentive fees are considered a form of variable consideration as they are subject to clawback or reversal and therefore must be deferred until the fees are probable to not be significantly reversed. Accrued but unpaid incentive fees are reported within incentive fees receivable in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of financial condition. The Company’s incentive fees primarily relate to the credit segment and are generally received from CLOs, managed accounts and AINV.
Compensation and Benefits
Equity-Based Compensation
Equity-based awards granted to employees and non-employees as compensation are measured based on the grant date fair value of the award. Equity-based awards that do not require future service (i.e., vested awards) are expensed immediately. Equity-based employee awards that require future service are expensed over the relevant service period. In addition, certain restricted share units (“RSUs”) granted by the Company vest based on both continued service and the Company’s receipt of performance revenues, within prescribed periods, sufficient to cover the associated equity-based compensation expense. In accordance with U.S. GAAP, equity-based compensation expense for such awards, if and when granted, will be recognized on an accelerated recognition method over the requisite service period to the extent the performance revenue metrics are met or deemed probable. The Company accounts for forfeitures of equity-based awards when they occur.
Profit Sharing
Profit sharing expense and profit sharing payable primarily consist of a portion of performance revenues earned from certain funds that are allocated to employees and former employees. Profit sharing amounts are recognized as the related performance revenues are earned. Accordingly, profit sharing amounts can be reversed during periods when there is a decline in performance revenues that were previously recognized.
Profit sharing amounts are generally not paid until the related performance revenue is distributed to the general partner upon realization of the fund’s investments. Under certain profit sharing arrangements, the Company requires that a portion of certain of the performance revenues distributed to its employees be used to purchase restricted Class A Common Stock issued under the Company’s Equity Plan. Prior to distribution of the performance revenue, the Company records the value of the equity-based awards expected to be granted in other assets and other liabilities within the condensed consolidated statements of financial condition. Such equity-based awards are recorded as equity-based compensation expense over the relevant service period once granted.
Additionally, profit sharing amounts previously distributed may be subject to clawback from employees and former employees. When applicable, the accrual for potential clawback of previously distributed profit sharing amounts, which is a component of due from related parties on the condensed consolidated statements of financial condition, represents all amounts previously distributed to employees and former employees that would need to be returned to the general partner if the Apollo funds were to be liquidated based on the fair value of the underlying funds’ investments as of the reporting date. The actual general partner receivable, however, would not become realized until the final disposition of a fund’s investments based on the contractual termination of the fund or as otherwise set forth in the respective limited partnership agreement or other governing document of the fund.
Profit sharing payable also includes contingent consideration obligations that were recognized in connection with certain Apollo acquisitions. Changes in the fair value of the contingent consideration obligations are reflected in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations as profit sharing expense.
The Company has a performance-based incentive arrangement for certain Apollo partners and employees designed to more closely align compensation on an annual basis with the overall realized performance of the Company. This arrangement enables certain partners and employees to earn discretionary compensation based on performance revenue earned by the Company in a given year, which amounts are reflected in profit sharing expense in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements. The Company may also use dividends it receives from investments in MidCap, ARI and AINV to compensate employees. These amounts are recorded as profit sharing expense in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations.
401(k) Savings Plan
The Company sponsors a 401(k) savings plan (the “401(k) Plan”) whereby U.S.-based employees are entitled to participate in the 401(k) Plan based upon satisfying certain eligibility requirements. The Company matches 50% of eligible annual employee contributions up to 3% of the eligible employees’ annual compensation. Matching contributions vest after three years of service.
General, Administrative and Other
General, administrative and other primarily includes professional fees, occupancy, depreciation and amortization, travel, information technology and administration expenses.
Income Taxes
Prior to the Conversion, certain entities in the Apollo Operating Group operated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes. As a result, these entities were not subject to U.S. federal income taxes. However, certain of these entities were subject to New York City unincorporated business taxes (“NYC UBT”) and certain non-U.S. entities were subject to non-U.S. corporate income taxes. Effective September 5, 2019, Apollo Global Management, LLC converted from a Delaware limited liability company to a Delaware corporation named Apollo Global Management, Inc. Subsequent to the Conversion, generally all of the income is subject to U.S. corporate income taxes, which could result in an overall higher income tax expense (or benefit) in periods subsequent to the Conversion.
Significant judgment is required in determining tax expense and in evaluating tax positions, including evaluating uncertainties. The Company recognizes the tax benefits of uncertain tax positions only where the position is “more likely than not” to be sustained upon examination, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefit is measured as the largest amount of benefit that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement. If a tax position is not considered more likely than not to be sustained, then no benefits of the position are recognized. The Company’s tax positions are reviewed and evaluated quarterly to determine whether or not the Company has uncertain tax positions that require financial statement recognition.
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the expected future tax consequences of differences between the carrying amount of assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis using currently enacted tax rates. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period during which the change is enacted. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.
Non-Controlling Interests
For entities that are consolidated, but not 100% owned, a portion of the income or loss and corresponding equity is allocated to owners other than Apollo. The aggregate of the income or loss and corresponding equity that is not owned by the Company is included in Non-Controlling Interests in the condensed consolidated financial statements. The Non-Controlling Interests relating to Apollo Global Management, Inc. primarily include the ownership interest in the Apollo Operating Group held by Managing Partners and Contributing Partners through their limited partner interests in Holdings. Additionally, Athene holds Non-Controlling Interests in the Apollo Operating Group as a result of the Transaction Agreement. Non-Controlling Interests also include ownership interests in certain consolidated funds and VIEs.
Non-Controlling Interests are presented as a separate component of stockholders’ equity on the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of financial condition. The primary components of Non-Controlling Interests are separately presented in the Company’s consolidated statements of changes in stockholders’ equity to clearly distinguish the interest in the Apollo Operating Group and other ownership interests in the consolidated entities. Net income includes the net income attributable to the holders of Non-Controlling Interests on the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations. Profits and losses are allocated to Non-Controlling Interests in proportion to their relative ownership interests regardless of their basis.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of the condensed consolidated financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the condensed consolidated financial
statements, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Apollo’s most significant estimates include goodwill, intangible assets, income taxes, performance allocations, incentive fees, contingent consideration obligation related to an acquisition, non-cash compensation, and fair value of investments and debt. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been uncertainty and disruption in the global economy and financial markets. The Company is unable to predict the adverse impact the COVID-19 pandemic will ultimately have. While such impact may change considerably over time, the estimates and assumptions affecting the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements are based on information available as of September 30, 2020. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In June 2016, the FASB issued guidance intended to provide financial statement users with more useful information about the expected credit losses on financial instruments held by a reporting entity at each reporting date. To achieve this objective, the new guidance replaces the incurred loss methodology in current U.S. GAAP with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses. The new guidance will affect entities to varying degrees depending on the credit quality of the assets held by the entity, their duration, and how the entity applies current U.S. GAAP. The new guidance is effective for the Company on January 1, 2020. The new guidance did not have a material impact on the condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company.
In January 2017, the FASB issued guidance intended to simplify the test for goodwill impairment. The guidance removes the requirement to perform a hypothetical purchase price allocation to measure goodwill impairment (Step 2). Under the guidance, a goodwill impairment is calculated as the amount by which a reporting unit’s carrying value exceeds its fair value, not to exceed the carrying amount of goodwill in the reporting unit. The guidance is effective for annual or any interim goodwill impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and should be performed prospectively. The guidance did not have a material impact on the condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company.
    
In August 2018, the FASB issued guidance which changes the fair value disclosure requirements. The guidance includes new fair value disclosure requirements and eliminates and modifies certain other fair value disclosure requirements. The Company previously early adopted the eliminated and modified disclosure requirements upon issuance of the guidance during the three month period ended September 30, 2018. The remaining guidance was adopted by the Company on January 1, 2020 and did not have a material impact on the condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company.
In December 2019, the FASB issued guidance intended to simplify the accounting for income taxes. The new guidance eliminates certain exceptions to the existing approach in ASC 740, and clarifies other guidance within the standard. It is effective for the Company on January 1, 2021. The guidance is not expected to have a material impact on the condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company.