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Variable Interest Entities
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2019
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]  
Variable Interest Entities
Variable Interest Entities
The Company, in the normal course of business, engages in certain activities that involve variable interest entities ("VIEs"), which are legal entities in which the equity investors as a group lack any of the characteristics of a controlling interest. The primary beneficiary of a VIE is generally the enterprise that has both the power to direct the activities most significant to the economic performance of the VIE and the obligation to absorb losses or receive benefits that could potentially be significant to the VIE. The Company evaluates its interest in certain entities to determine if these entities meet the definition of a VIE and whether the Company is the primary beneficiary and should consolidate the entity based on the variable interests it held both at inception and when there is a change in circumstances that requires a reconsideration. If the Company is determined to be the primary beneficiary of a VIE, it must account for the VIE as a consolidated subsidiary. If the Company is determined not to be the primary beneficiary of a VIE but holds a variable interest in the entity, such variable interests are accounted for under accounting standards as deemed appropriate. As of and for the periods ended September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 we are not the primary beneficiary of any VIEs.
Unconsolidated VIEs
The table below summarizes select information related to variable interests held by the Company as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, of which we are not the primary beneficiary:
 
 
September 30, 2019
 
December 31, 2018
 
 
Total Assets
 
Maximum Exposure
 
Total Assets
 
Maximum Exposure
 
(in millions)
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates
 
$
454.0

 
$
454.0

 
$
9.2

 
$
9.2


Investments in Unconsolidated Affiliates
The Company holds variable interests in certain unconsolidated affiliates, outlined in the table above, which are primarily comprised of Dun & Bradstreet (see Note D) and, to a lesser extent, funds that hold minority ownership interests primarily in healthcare-related entities. The principal risk to which these investments and funds are exposed is the credit risk of the underlying investees. We do not provide any implicit or explicit liquidity guarantees or principal value guarantees to these VIEs. The assets are included in investments in unconsolidated affiliates on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets and accounted for under the equity method of accounting.