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VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES | 6 Months Ended
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Jun. 30, 2012
VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES |
9. | VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES
Pursuant to GAAP consolidation guidance, the Partnership consolidates certain VIEs in which it is determined that the Partnership is the primary beneficiary either directly or indirectly, through a consolidated entity or affiliate. VIEs include certain private equity, real estate, credit-oriented or funds of hedge funds entities and CLO vehicles. The purpose of such VIEs is to provide strategy specific investment opportunities for investors in exchange for management and performance based fees. The investment strategies of the Blackstone Funds differ by product; however, the fundamental risks of the Blackstone Funds have similar characteristics, including loss of invested capital and loss of management fees and performance based fees. In Blackstone’s role as general partner or investment adviser, it generally considers itself the sponsor of the applicable Blackstone Fund. The Partnership does not provide performance guarantees and has no other financial obligation to provide funding to consolidated VIEs other than its own capital commitments. The assets of consolidated variable interest entities may only be used to settle obligations of these consolidated Blackstone Funds. In addition, there is no recourse to the Partnership for the consolidated VIEs’ liabilities including the liabilities of the consolidated CLO vehicles. The Partnership holds variable interests in certain VIEs which are not consolidated as it is determined that the Partnership is not the primary beneficiary. The Partnership’s involvement with such entities is in the form of direct equity interests and fee arrangements. The maximum exposure to loss represents the loss of assets recognized by Blackstone relating to non-consolidated entities, any amounts due to non-consolidated entities and any clawback obligation relating to previously distributed Carried Interest. The assets and liabilities recognized in the Partnership’s Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition related to the Partnership’s interest in these non-consolidated VIEs and the Partnership’s maximum exposure to loss relating to non-consolidated VIEs were as follows:
|  | June 30, 2012 |  |  | December 31, 2011 |
Investments |  | $ | 296,796 |  |  | $ | 238,503 |
Receivables |  |  | 80,148 |  |  |  | 94,050 |
Total VIE Assets |  |  | 376,944 |  |  |  | 332,553 |
VIE Liabilities |  |  | 1,142 |  |  |  | 48 |
Potential Clawback Obligation |  |  | 30,803 |  |  |  | 14,876 |
Maximum Exposure to Loss |  | $ | 408,889 |  |  | $ | 347,477 |

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- Definition Disclosure of Variable Interest Entities + References No definition available. + Details
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