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Investments in Affiliates and Affiliate Sponsored Investments Products | 9 Months Ended
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Sep. 30, 2017
Variable Interest Entities |
Investments in Affiliates and Affiliate Sponsored Investments Products | Investments in Affiliates and Affiliate Sponsored Investment Products Investments in Affiliates The Company’s Affiliates are consolidated or accounted for under the equity method, depending upon the underlying structure of and relationship with each Affiliate. A limited number of the Company’s Affiliates are considered voting rights entities (“VREs”) because the total equity investment at risk is sufficient to enable the entities to finance their respective activities independently and each entity’s equity holders have the right to receive residual returns, the obligation to absorb losses and the right to direct the activities of the entity that most significantly impact its economic performance. Most of the Company’s Affiliates considered VREs are accounted for under the equity method because the Company lacks control, but is deemed to have significant influence. Substantially all of the Company’s Affiliates are considered variable interest entities (“VIEs”) because they are structured as partnerships (or similar entities) and the limited partners lack substantive kick-out or substantive participation rights over the general partner. The Company consolidates a VIE when it is the primary beneficiary of the entity, which is defined as having the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance and the right to receive benefits from or the obligation to absorb losses of the entity that could potentially be significant to the VIE. The Company applies the equity method of accounting to a VIE when it is not the primary beneficiary, but is deemed to have significant influence. The unconsolidated assets, net of liabilities and non-controlling interests of equity method Affiliates considered VIEs, and the Company’s maximum risk of loss were as follows:
| December 31, 2016 |  | September 30, 2017
| Unconsolidated VIE Net Assets |  | Carrying Value and Maximum Exposure to Loss |  | Unconsolidated VIE Net Assets |  | Carrying Value and Maximum Exposure to Loss
Affiliates accounted for under the equity method | $ | 1,047.6 |  |  | $ | 2,846.8 |  |  | $ | 1,019.4 |  |  | $ | 2,749.7 |
Affiliate Sponsored Investment Products The Company’s consolidated Affiliates sponsor various investment products for which they also act as the investment advisor. These investment products are primarily owned by third-party investors; however, certain products are funded with general partner and seed capital investments from the Company and its Affiliates. Third-party investors are generally entitled to substantially all of the economics of these products. Certain of the Company’s Affiliate sponsored investment products are considered VIEs because they are structured as partnerships (or similar entities) and the limited partners lack substantive kick-out or substantive participation rights over the general partner. The Company's Affiliates’ involvement with sponsored investment products is generally limited to that of a service provider, and their seed capital investments, if any, represent an insignificant interest in the relevant investment products’ net assets. The Company’s and its consolidated Affiliates’ exposure to risk in these entities is generally limited to any capital contribution made or required to be made and any earned but uncollected management and performance fees. As a result, in most cases these VIEs are not consolidated and are accounted for under the equity method because neither the Company nor its Affiliates are deemed to be the primary beneficiary. The net assets of Affiliate sponsored investment products that were considered VIEs accounted for under the equity method and the Company’s maximum risk of loss were as follows:
| December 31, 2016 |  | September 30, 2017
| Unconsolidated VIE Net Assets |  | Carrying Value and Maximum Exposure to Loss |  | Unconsolidated VIE Net Assets |  | Carrying Value and Maximum Exposure to Loss
Affiliate sponsored investment products | $ | 1,756.6 |  |  | $ | 9.4 |  |  | $ | 1,961.5 |  |  | $ | 9.9 |

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- Definition This element represents the disclosure of variable interest entities (VIE), including, but not limited to the nature, purpose, size, and activities of the VIE, the carrying amount and classification of consolidated assets that are collateral for the VIE's obligations, lack of recourse if creditors (or beneficial interest holders) of a consolidated VIE have no recourse to the general credit of the primary beneficiary. Which also include information related to Sponsored Investment Funds and Trust Preferred Vehicles related to variable interest entities (VIE). + References No definition available. + Details
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