v3.3.0.814
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (Tables)
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2015
Financial Assets and Liabilities at Fair Value

The following tables summarize the valuation of the Partnership’s financial assets and liabilities by the fair value hierarchy and NAV:

 

    September 30, 2015  
    Level I     Level II     Level III     NAV     Total  

Assets

         

Investments of Consolidated Blackstone Funds (a)

         

Investment Funds

  $ —        $ —        $ —        $ 154,183      $ 154,183   

Equity Securities

    65,038        53,506        92,311        —          210,855   

Partnership and LLC Interests

    —          118,342        507,939        —          626,281   

Debt Instruments

    —          171,179        32,044        —          203,223   

Assets of Consolidated CLO Vehicles

         

Corporate Loans

    —          2,992,996        201,588        —          3,194,584   

Corporate Bonds

    —          347,700        3,974        —          351,674   

Freestanding Derivatives — Foreign Currency Contracts

    —          2,345        —          —          2,345   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Investments of Consolidated Blackstone Funds

    65,038        3,686,068        837,856        154,183        4,743,145   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Blackstone’s Treasury Cash Management Strategies

         

Investment Funds

    235,427        —          —          —          235,427   

Equity Securities

    242,534        —          —          —          242,534   

Debt Instruments

    —          1,385,369        44,593        117,790        1,547,752   

Other

    —          —          —          132,877        132,877   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Blackstone’s Treasury Cash Management Strategies

    477,961        1,385,369        44,593        250,667        2,158,590   

Money Market Funds

    308,504        —          —          —          308,504   

Freestanding Derivatives

         

Interest Rate Contracts

    661        599        —          —          1,260   

Foreign Currency Contracts

    —          2,443        —          —          2,443   

Loans and Receivables

    —          —          179,255        —          179,255   

Other Investments

    29,282        —          103,704        26,070        159,056   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
  $ 881,446      $ 5,074,479      $ 1,165,408      $ 430,920      $ 7,552,253   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

     September 30, 2015  
      Level I      Level II      Level III      Total  

Liabilities

           

Liabilities of Consolidated Funds and CLO Vehicles (a)

           

Senior Secured Notes (b)

   $ —         $ 3,244,579       $ —         $ 3,244,579   

Subordinated Notes (b)

     —           111,029         —           111,029   

Freestanding Derivatives — Foreign Currency Contracts

     —           5,975         —           5,975   

Freestanding Derivatives — Credit Default Swaps

     —           4,454         —           4,454   

Net Investment Hedges — Foreign Currency Contracts

     —           244         —           244   

Freestanding Derivatives

           

Interest Rate Contracts

     3,827         8,007         —           11,834   

Foreign Currency Contracts

     —           1,849         —           1,849   

Credit Default Swaps

     —           6,413         —           6,413   

Securities Sold, Not Yet Purchased

     —           173,707         —           173,707   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 3,827       $ 3,556,257       $ —         $ 3,560,084   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

    December 31, 2014  
    Level I     Level II     Level III     NAV     Total  

Assets

         

Investments of Consolidated Blackstone Funds (a)

         

Investment Funds

  $ —        $ —        $ —        $ 1,103,210      $ 1,103,210   

Equity Securities

    58,934        114,115        179,311        —          352,360   

Partnership and LLC Interests

    —          187,140        1,496,422        —          1,683,562   

Debt Instruments

    —          1,502,314        105,970        —          1,608,284   

Assets of Consolidated CLO Vehicles

         

Corporate Loans

    —          5,691,517        588,075        —          6,279,592   

Corporate Bonds

    —          292,690        —          —          292,690   

Freestanding Derivatives — Foreign Currency Contracts

    —          8,915        —          —          8,915   

Freestanding Derivatives — Interest Rate Contracts

    —          2,281        —          —          2,281   

Other

    13        19,455        25,045        —          44,513   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Investments of Consolidated Blackstone Funds

    58,947        7,818,427        2,394,823        1,103,210        11,375,407   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Blackstone’s Treasury Cash Management Strategies

         

Investment Funds

    307,111        —          —          —          307,111   

Equity Securities

    71,746        —          —          —          71,746   

Debt Instruments

    —          1,090,794        84,894        50,507        1,226,195   

Other

    —          —          —          61,009        61,009   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Blackstone’s Treasury Cash Management Strategies

    378,857        1,090,794        84,894        111,516        1,666,061   

Money Market Funds

    198,278        —          —          —          198,278   

Net Investment Hedges — Foreign Currency Contracts

    —          523        —          —          523   

Freestanding Derivatives

         

Interest Rate Contracts

    263        144        —          —          407   

Foreign Currency Contracts

    —          2,798        —          —          2,798   

Credit Default Swaps

    —          85        —          —          85   

Loans and Receivables

    —          —          40,397        —          40,397   

Other Investments

    31,731        436        104,491        9,593        146,251   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
  $ 668,076      $ 8,913,207      $ 2,624,605      $ 1,224,319      $ 13,430,207   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

    December 31, 2014  
    Level I     Level II     Level III     Total  

Liabilities

       

Liabilities of Consolidated Funds and CLO Vehicles (a)

       

Senior Secured Notes

  $ —        $ —        $ 6,448,352      $ 6,448,352   

Subordinated Notes

    —          —          348,752        348,752   

Freestanding Derivatives — Foreign Currency Contracts

    —          21,875        —          21,875   

Freestanding Derivatives — Credit Default Swaps

    —          2,514        —          2,514   

Freestanding Derivatives

       

Interest Rate Contracts

    1,357        3,233        —          4,590   

Foreign Currency Contracts

    —          681        —          681   

Credit Default Swaps

    —          868        —          868   

Securities Sold, Not Yet Purchased

    —          85,878        —          85,878   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
  $ 1,357      $ 115,049      $ 6,797,104      $ 6,913,510   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(a) Pursuant to GAAP consolidation guidance, the Partnership is required to consolidate all VIEs in which it has been identified as the primary beneficiary, including certain CLO vehicles, and other funds in which a consolidated entity of the Partnership, as the general partner of the fund, is presumed to have control. While the Partnership is required to consolidate certain funds, including CLO vehicles, for GAAP purposes, the Partnership has no ability to utilize the assets of these funds and there is no recourse to the Partnership for their liabilities since these are client assets and liabilities.
(b) Senior and subordinate notes issued by CLO vehicles are classified based on the more observable fair value of CLO assets less (a) the fair value of any beneficial interests held by Blackstone, and (b) the carrying value of any beneficial interests that represent compensation for services.
Summary of Fair Value Transfers Between Level I and Level II

The following table summarizes the fair value transfers between Level I and Level II for positions that existed as of September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively:

 

     Three Months Ended September 30,      Nine Months Ended September 30,  
           2015                  2014                  2015                  2014        

Transfers from Level I into Level II (a)

   $ 287       $ —         $ 287       $ —     

Transfers from Level II into Level I (b)

   $ 26,534       $ —         $ 32,312       $ 67,327   

 

(a) Transfers out of Level I represent those financial instruments for which restrictions exist and adjustments were made to an otherwise observable price to reflect fair value at the reporting date.
(b) Transfers into Level I represent those financial instruments for which an unadjusted quoted price in an active market became available for the identical asset.
Summary of Quantitative Inputs and Assumptions for Items Categorized in Level III of Fair Value Hierarchy

The following table summarizes the quantitative inputs and assumptions used for items categorized in Level III of the fair value hierarchy as of September 30, 2015:

 

    Fair
Value
    Valuation
Techniques
  Unobservable
Inputs
  Ranges   Weighted-
Average (a)

Financial Assets

         

Investments of Consolidated Blackstone Funds

         

Equity Securities

  $ 70,957      Discounted Cash Flows   Discount Rate   7.8% - 25.0%   13.2%
      Revenue CAGR   -5% - 60.6%   8.1%
      Exit Multiple - EBITDA   5.0x - 18.2x   9.6x
      Exit Multiple - P/E   10.5x - 17.0x   11.0x
    15,683      Transaction Price   N/A   N/A   N/A
    166      Market Comparable Companies   EBITDA Multiple   6.7x - 7.3x   6.8x
    58      Third Party Pricing   N/A   N/A   N/A
    5,447      Other   N/A   N/A   N/A

Partnership and LLC Interests

    465,131      Discounted Cash Flows   Discount Rate   4.4% - 25.7%   9.4%
      Revenue CAGR   -5.8% - 35.6%   8.0%
      Exit Multiple - EBITDA   0.2x - 23.3x   10.5x
      Exit Capitalization Rate   2.6% - 10.5%   6.3%
    28,185      Transaction Price   N/A   N/A   N/A
    12,410      Third Party Pricing   N/A   N/A   N/A
    1,907      Other   N/A   N/A   N/A
    306      Market Comparable   EBITDA Multiple   0.4x   N/A
    Companies      

Debt Instruments

    9,994      Discounted Cash Flows   Discount Rate   6.5% - 37.1%   14.5%
      Revenue CAGR   7.2% - 20.0%   16.3%
      Exit Multiple - EBITDA   6.3x - 12.0x   10.4x
      Exit Capitalization Rate   1.0% - 4.8%   2.2%
    19,742      Third Party Pricing   N/A   N/A   N/A
    2,043      Transaction Pricing   N/A   N/A   N/A
    265      Market Comparable Companies   EBITDA Multiple   6.4x   N/A

Assets of Consolidated CLO Vehicles

    120,373      Third Party Pricing   N/A   N/A   N/A
    84,872      Market Comparable Companies   EBITDA Multiple   3.7x - 9.0x   6.1x
    317      Other
  N/A   N/A   N/A
 

 

 

         

Total Investments of Consolidated Blackstone Funds

    837,856       

Blackstone’s Treasury Cash Management Strategies

  $ 34,376      Discounted Cash Flows                Default Rate   1.1% - 2.0%   1.9%
      Recovery Rate   30.0% - 70.0%   66.6%
      Recovery Lag   12 months   N/A
      Pre-payment Rate   20.0% - 30.0%   25.4%
      Reinvestment Rate   LIBOR + 350 bps   LIBOR + 396 bps
        LIBOR + 400 bps  
      Discount Rate   5.8% - 13.0%   7.5%
    10,217      Third Party Pricing   N/A   N/A   N/A

Loans and Receivables

    158,180      Discounted Cash Flows   Discount Rate   11.9% - 16.0%   12.3%
    21,075      Third Party Pricing   N/A   N/A   N/A

Other Investments

    85,404      Discounted Cash Flows   Discount Rate   1.4% - 12.5%   3.1%
      Default Rate   2.0%   N/A
      Recovery Rate   70.0%   N/A
      Recovery Lag   12 months   N/A
      Pre-payment Rate   20.0%   N/A
      Reinvestment Rate   LIBOR + 400 bps   N/A
    453      Market Comparable Companies   EBITDA Multiple   7.0x   N/A
    17,847      Transaction Price   N/A   N/A   N/A
 

 

 

         

Total

  $ 1,165,408           
 

 

 

         

 

The following table summarizes the quantitative inputs and assumptions used for items categorized in Level III of the fair value hierarchy as of December 31, 2014:

 

    Fair Value     Valuation
Techniques
  Unobservable
Inputs
  Ranges   Weighted-
Average (a)

Financial Assets

         

Investments of Consolidated Blackstone Funds

         

Equity Securities

  $ 106,727      Discounted Cash Flows   Discount Rate   8.4% - 24.7%   11.8%
      Revenue CAGR   0.7% - 24.4%   7.1%
      Exit Multiple - EBITDA   5.0x - 13.0x   10.1x
      Exit Multiple - P/E   10.5x - 17.0x   11.2x
    67,706      Transaction Price   N/A   N/A   N/A
    163      Market Comparable Companies   EBITDA Multiple   6.7x - 7.6x   6.9x
    45      Third Party Pricing   N/A   N/A   N/A
    4,670      Other   N/A   N/A   N/A

Partnership and LLC Interests

    485,748      Discounted Cash Flows   Discount Rate   4.4% - 21.5%   9.5%
      Revenue CAGR   -4.4% - 41.7%   6.5%
      Exit Multiple - EBITDA   1.0x - 19.1x   9.7x
      Exit Capitalization Rate   2.0% - 19.1%   6.8%
    996,199      Transaction Price   N/A   N/A   N/A
    13,793      Third Party Pricing   N/A   N/A   N/A
    682      Other   N/A   N/A   N/A

Debt Instruments

    9,570      Discounted Cash Flows   Discount Rate   8.8% - 24.7%   16.1%
      Revenue CAGR   4.7% - 6.8%   5.0%
      Exit Multiple - EBITDA   5.9x - 11.3x   11.0x
      Exit Capitalization Rate   1.0% - 12.4%   9.3%
      Default Rate   2%   N/A
      Recovery Rate   30.0% - 70.0%   66.0%
      Recovery Lag   12 months   N/A
      Pre-payment Rate   20%   N/A
      Reinvestment Rate   LIBOR + 400 bps   N/A
    95,542      Third Party Pricing   N/A   N/A   N/A
    686      Transaction Price   N/A   N/A   N/A
    172      Market Comparable   EBITDA Multiple   6.6x - 7.9x   6.6x
    Companies      

Assets of Consolidated CLO Vehicles

    318,636      Third Party Pricing   N/A   N/A   N/A
    290,658      Market Comparable   EBITDA Multiple   3.8x - 15.0x   6.1x
    Companies      
    3,826      Discounted Cash Flows   Discount Rate   8.0%   N/A
 

 

 

         

Total Investments of Consolidated Blackstone Funds

    2,394,823           

Blackstone’s Treasury Cash Management Strategies

  $ 26,167      Discounted Cash Flows   Default Rate   1.0%   N/A
      Recovery Rate   30.0% - 70.0%   66.0%
      Recovery Lag   12 months   N/A
      Pre-payment Rate   30.0%   N/A
      Reinvestment Rate   LIBOR + 450 bps   N/A
      Discount Rate   5.8% - 10.0%   7.2%
    54,257      Third Party Pricing   N/A   N/A   N/A
    4,470      Transaction Price   N/A   N/A   N/A

Loans and Receivables

    26,247      Discounted Cash Flows   Discount Rate   10.5% - 12.2%   10.9%
    14,150      Transaction Price   N/A   N/A   N/A

Other Investments

    11,887      Transaction Price   N/A   N/A   N/A
    92,604      Discounted Cash Flows   Discount Rate   1.3% - 12.5%   2.9%
      Default Rate   2.0%   N/A
      Recovery Rate   30.0% - 70.0%   66.0%
      Recovery Lag   12 months   N/A
      Pre-payment Rate   20.0%   N/A
      Reinvestment Rate   LIBOR + 400 bps   N/A
 

 

 

         

Total

  $ 2,624,605           
 

 

 

         

Financial Liabilities

         

Liabilities of Consolidated CLO Vehicles

  $ 6,797,104      Discounted Cash Flows   Default Rate   2.0%   N/A
 

 

 

         
      Recovery Rate   30.0% - 70.0%   66.0%
      Recovery Lag   12 months   N/A
      Pre-payment Rate   20.0%   N/A
      Discount Rate   0.3% - 19.3%   2.3%
      Reinvestment Rate   LIBOR + 400 bps   N/A

 

N/A Not applicable.
CAGR Compound annual growth rate.
EBITDA Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization.
Exit Multiple Ranges include the last twelve months EBITDA, forward EBITDA and price/earnings exit multiples.
(a) Unobservable inputs were weighted based on the fair value of the investments included in the range.
Summary of Changes in Financial Assets Measured at Fair Value for Which Level III Inputs Were Used
    Level III Financial Assets at Fair Value
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
    2015     2014  
    Investments
of
Consolidated
Funds
    Loans
and
Receivables
    Other
Investments (c)
    Total     Investments
of
Consolidated
Funds
    Loans
and
Receivables
    Other
Investments (c)
    Total  

Balance, Beginning of Period

  $ 937,149      $ 36,440      $ 151,734      $ 1,125,323      $ 2,260,856      $ 42,725      $ 167,516      $ 2,471,097   

Transfer Out Due to Deconsolidation

    —          —          —          —          (64,634     —          —          (64,634

Transfer In to Level III (b)

    43,920        —          5,194        49,114        161,332        —          20,452        181,784   

Transfer Out of Level III (b)

    (143,531     —          (9,171     (152,702     (212,108     —          (9,913     (222,021

Purchases

    122,676        144,058        5,240        271,974        165,838        69,255        19,914        255,007   

Sales

    (139,229     —          (2,792     (142,021     (190,383     (42,261     (6,736     (239,380

Settlements

    —          (1,405     (140     (1,545     —          (526     (123     (649

Changes in Gains (Losses) Included in Earnings and Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

    16,871        162        (1,768     15,265        11,581        601        (8,733     3,449   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance, End of Period

  $ 837,856      $ 179,255      $ 148,297      $ 1,165,408      $ 2,132,482      $ 69,794      $ 182,377      $ 2,384,653   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Changes in Unrealized Gains (Losses) Included in Earnings Related to Investments Still Held at the Reporting Date

  $ (41,807   $ 162      $ (1,837   $ (43,482   $ (8,606   $ 601      $ (8,371   $ (16,376
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    Level III Financial Assets at Fair Value
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
    2015     2014  
    Investments
of
Consolidated
Funds
    Loans
and
Receivables
    Other
Investments (c)
    Total     Investments
of
Consolidated
Funds
    Loans
and
Receivables
    Other
Investments (c)
    Total  

Balance, Beginning of Period (a)

  $ 2,394,821      $ 40,397      $ 189,384      $ 2,624,602      $ 2,460,908      $ 137,788      $ 44,773      $ 2,643,469   

Transfer In Due to Consolidation and Acquisition (d)

    —          —          —          —          205,890        —          —          205,890   

Transfer Out Due to Deconsolidation

    (1,460,538     —          —          (1,460,538     (335,357     —          —          (335,357

Transfer In to Level III (b)

    47,035        —          25,092        72,127        273,934        —          28,424        302,358   

Transfer Out of Level III (b)

    (181,429     —          (56,336     (237,765     (315,067     —          (20,657     (335,724

Purchases

    304,012        150,244        38,579        492,835        346,144        162,899        153,344        662,387   

Sales

    (321,121     (9,535     (39,765     (370,421     (618,008     (230,324     (14,309     (862,641

Settlements

    —          (3,485     (358     (3,843     —          (1,170     (424     (1,594

Changes in Gains (Losses) Included in Earnings and Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

    55,076        1,634        (8,299     48,411        114,038        601        (8,774     105,865   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance, End of Period

  $ 837,856      $ 179,255      $ 148,297      $ 1,165,408      $ 2,132,482      $ 69,794      $ 182,377      $ 2,384,653   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Changes in Unrealized Gains (Losses) Included in Earnings Related to Investments Still Held at the Reporting Date

  $ (25,614   $ 1,505      $ (329   $ (24,438   $ 96,217      $ 601      $ (7,199   $ 89,619   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
Summary of Changes in Financial Liabilities Measured at Fair Value for Which Level III Inputs Were Used
    Level III Financial Liabilities at Fair Value
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
    2015     2014  
    Collateralized
Loan
Obligations
Senior

Notes
    Collateralized
Loan
Obligations
Subordinated
Notes
    Total     Collateralized
Loan
Obligations
Senior

Notes
    Collateralized
Loan
Obligations
Subordinated
Notes
    Total  

Balance, Beginning of Period

  $ —        $ —        $ —        $ 6,407,838      $ 474,757      $ 6,882,595   

Transfer In Due to Consolidation and Acquisition (d)

    —          —          —          495,610        29,828        525,438   

Transfer Out Due to Deconsolidation

    —          —          —          (778,461     (104,049     (882,510

Settlements

    —          —          —          (570,785     —          (570,785

Changes in (Gains) Losses Included in Earnings and Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

    —          —          —          (231,554     (40,264     (271,818
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance, End of Period

  $ —        $ —        $ —        $ 5,322,648      $ 360,272      $ 5,682,920   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Changes in Unrealized (Gains) Losses Included in Earnings Related to Liabilities Still Held at the Reporting Date

  $ —        $ —        $ —        $ (233,376   $ (40,264   $ (273,640
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

     Level III Financial Liabilities at Fair Value
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
     2015     2014  
     Collateralized
Loan
Obligations
Senior

Notes
    Collateralized
Loan
Obligations
Subordinated
Notes
    Total     Collateralized
Loan
Obligations
Senior

Notes
    Collateralized
Loan
Obligations
Subordinated
Notes
    Total  

Balance, Beginning of Period

   $ 6,448,352      $ 348,752      $ 6,797,104      $ 8,302,572      $ 610,435      $ 8,913,007   

Transfer In Due to Consolidation and Acquisition (d)

     —          —          —          967,629        116,009        1,083,638   

Transfer Out Due to Deconsolidation

     (4,168,405     (261,934     (4,430,339     (2,231,853     (277,301     (2,509,154

Transfer Out Due to Amended CLO Guidance (e)

     (2,279,947     (86,818     (2,366,765     —          —          —     

Issuances

     —          —          —          32,197        10,000        42,197   

Settlements

     —          —          —          (1,569,416     (110     (1,569,526

Changes in (Gains) Losses Included in Earnings and Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

                   —          (178,481     (98,761     (277,242
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance, End of Period

   $      $      $ —        $ 5,322,648      $ 360,272      $ 5,682,920   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Changes in Unrealized (Gains) Losses Included in Earnings Related to Liabilities Still Held at the Reporting Date

   $ —        $ —        $ —        $ (184,395   $ (98,761   $ (283,156
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(a) Beginning of period 2015 balances have been adjusted to remove investments for which fair value is based on NAV. Pursuant to amended fair value guidance, disclosure in the fair value hierarchy is no longer required.
(b) Transfers in and out of Level III financial assets and liabilities were due to changes in the observability of inputs used in the valuation of such assets and liabilities.
(c) Represents Blackstone’s Treasury Cash Management Strategies and Other Investments.
(d) Represents the transfer into Level III of financial assets and liabilities as a result of the consolidation of certain fund entities.
(e) Transfers out due to amended CLO measurement guidance represents the transfer out of Level III for liabilities of consolidated CLO vehicles for which fair value is based on the more observable fair value of CLO assets. Such liabilities are classified as Level II within the fair value hierarchy. As the guidance was adopted as of January 1, 2015, there are no transfers for the three months ending September 30, 2015.