7.	Variable interest entities

The Company’s policy is to consolidate all subsidiaries in which it has a controlling financial interest, as well as any variable interest entities (“VIEs”) where the Company is deemed to be the primary beneficiary, when it has the power to make the decisions that most significantly affect the economic performance of the VIE and has the obligation to absorb significant losses or the right to receive benefits that could potentially be significant to the VIE. The Company reviews factors, including the rights of the equity holders and obligations of equity holders to absorb losses or receive expected residual returns, to determine if the investee is a VIE. In evaluating whether the Company is the primary beneficiary, the Company evaluates its economic interests in the entity held either directly or indirectly by the Company. The consolidation analysis is generally performed qualitatively. This analysis, which requires judgment, is performed at each reporting date. ASU No. 2010-10, “Amendments for Certain Investment Funds,” defers the application of the revised consolidation rules for a reporting entity’s interest in an entity if certain conditions are met. An entity that qualifies for the deferral will continue to be assessed for consolidation under the overall guidance on VIEs, before its amendment, and other applicable consolidation guidance. Generally, the Company would consolidate those entities when it absorbs a majority of the expected losses or a majority of the expected residual returns, or both, of the entities.

For entities that the Company has concluded are not VIEs, the Company then evaluates whether the fund is a partnership or similar entity. If the fund is a partnership or similar entity, the Company evaluates the fund under the partnership consolidation guidance. Pursuant to that guidance, the Company consolidates funds in which it is the general partner and/or manages through a contract, unless presumption of control by the Company can be overcome. This presumption is overcome only when unrelated investors in the fund have the substantive ability to liquidate the fund or otherwise remove the Company as the general partner without cause, based on a simple majority vote of unaffiliated investors, or have other substantive participating rights. If the presumption of control can be overcome, the Company accounts for its interest in the fund pursuant to the equity method of accounting.

A subsidiary of the Company serves as general partner of hedge funds and private equity funds that were established for the purpose of providing investment alternatives to both its institutional and qualified retail clients. The Company holds variable interests in these funds as a result of its right to receive management and incentive fees. The Company’s investment in and additional capital commitments to these hedge funds and private equity funds are also considered variable interests. The Company’s additional capital commitments are subject to call at a later date and are limited in amount.

The Company assesses whether it is the primary beneficiary of the hedge funds and private equity funds in which it holds a variable interest in the form of the total general and limited partner interests held in these funds by all parties. In each instance, the Company has determined that it is not the primary beneficiary and therefore need not consolidate the hedge funds or private equity funds. The subsidiaries’ general partnership interests, additional capital commitments, and management fees receivable represent its maximum exposure to loss. The subsidiaries’ general partnership interests and management fees receivable are included in other assets on the consolidated balance sheet.

The following tables set forth the total VIE assets, the carrying value of the subsidiaries’ variable interests, and the Company’s maximum exposure to loss in Company-sponsored non-consolidated VIEs in which the Company holds variable interests and other non-consolidated VIEs in which the Company holds variable interests at December 31, 2013 and 2012:


(Expressed in thousands)
	December 31, 2013
	Total VIE Assets (1)		Carrying Value of the Company’s Variable Interest				Capital Commitments		Maximum Exposure to Loss in Non-consolidated VIEs
	Total VIE Assets (1)		Assets (2)		Liabilities		Capital Commitments		Maximum Exposure to Loss in Non-consolidated VIEs
Hedge funds	$	2,282,144	$	738	$	—	$	—	$	738
Private equity funds		64,475		29		—		5		34

Total	$	2,346,619	$	767	$	—	$	5	$	772

(1)	Represents the total assets of the VIEs and does not represent the Company’s interests in the VIEs.

(2)	Represents the Company’s interests in the VIEs and is included in other assets on the consolidated balance sheet.


(Expressed in thousands)
	December 31, 2012
	Total VIE Assets (1)		Carrying Value of the Company’s Variable Interest				Capital Commitments		Maximum Exposure to Loss in Non-consolidated VIEs
	Total VIE Assets (1)		Assets (2)		Liabilities		Capital Commitments		Maximum Exposure to Loss in Non-consolidated VIEs
Hedge funds	$	1,868,178	$	372	$	—	$	—	$	372
Private equity funds		171,169		32		—		8		40

Total	$	2,039,347	$	404	$	—	$	8	$	412

(1)	Represents the total assets of the VIEs and does not represent the Company’s interests in the VIEs.

(2)	Represents the Company’s interests in the VIEs and is included in other assets on the consolidated balance sheet.