Use of Estimates

        The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Principles of Consolidation

        The Company evaluates the risk, rewards, and significant terms of each of its Affiliate and other investments to determine the appropriate method of accounting. Majority-owned or otherwise controlled investments are consolidated. In many of its Affiliate investments, AMG is, directly or indirectly, the sole general partner (in the case of Affiliates which are limited partnerships), managing partner (in the case of Affiliates which are limited liability partnerships), sole manager member (in the case of Affiliates which are limited liability companies) or principal shareholder (in the case of Affiliates which are corporations). As a result, the Company generally consolidates its Affiliate investments. Investments that are determined to be variable interest entities ("VIEs") are consolidated if AMG or a consolidated Affiliate is the primary beneficiary of the investment.

        For consolidated Affiliates, the portion of the income allocated to owners other than AMG is included in Net income (non-controlling interests) in the Consolidated Statements of Income. Non-controlling interests on the Consolidated Balance Sheets includes capital and undistributed income owned by the managers of the consolidated Affiliates. The current redemption value of non-controlling interests has been presented as Redeemable non-controlling interests on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. All material intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.

        AMG applies the equity method of accounting to investments where AMG does not hold a majority equity interest but has the ability to exercise significant influence over operating and financial matters. AMG also applies the equity method when their unaffiliated minority shareholders or partners have certain rights to remove AMG or have rights to participate in substantive operating decisions (e.g. approval of annual operating budgets, major financings, selection of senior management, etc.). For equity method investments, AMG's portion of income before taxes is included in Income from equity method investments. Other investments in which AMG owns less than a 20% interest and does not exercise significant influence are accounted for under the cost method. Under the cost method, income is recognized as dividends when, and if, declared.

        The effect of any changes in the Company's equity interests in its consolidated Affiliates resulting from the issuance or repurchase of an Affiliate's equity by the Company or one of its Affiliates is included as a component of stockholders' equity, net of the related income tax effect in the period of the change.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

        The Company considers all highly liquid investments, including money market mutual funds, with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents are stated at cost, which approximates market value due to the short-term maturity of these investments.

Investments in Marketable Securities

        Investments in marketable securities are classified as either trading or available-for-sale and carried at fair value. Unrealized gains or losses on investments classified as available-for-sale are reported, net of tax, as a separate component of Accumulated other comprehensive income in Equity until realized. Unrealized gains or losses related to trading securities are reported within Other operating expenses in the period they occur. If a decline in the fair value of an available-for-sale investment is determined to be other than temporary, the carrying amount of the asset is reduced to its fair value, and the difference is charged to income in the period incurred.

Other Investments

        Assets of consolidated partnerships are reported within Prepaid expenses and other current assets. A majority of these assets are held by investors that are unrelated to the Company, and are therefore reported within Redeemable non-controlling interests. Income from these partnerships is presented as Investment and other (income) loss. The portion of this income or loss that is attributable to investors that are unrelated to the Company is reported within Net income (non-controlling interests).

        Investments in partnerships that are not consolidated are reported within Other assets, with income from these partnerships presented as Investment and other (income) loss. Investments accounted for under the cost method are reported within Other assets, with dividend income presented, when and if declared, as Investment and other (income) loss.

Fixed Assets

        Fixed assets are recorded at cost and depreciated using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives. The estimated useful lives of office equipment and furniture and fixtures range from three to ten years. Computer software developed or obtained for internal use is amortized using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of the software, generally three years or less. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of their estimated useful lives or the term of the lease, and the building is amortized over 39 years. The costs of improvements that extend the life of a fixed asset are capitalized, while the cost of repairs and maintenance are expensed as incurred. Land is not depreciated.

Leases

        The Company and its Affiliates currently lease office space and equipment under various leasing arrangements. As these leases expire, it can be expected that in the normal course of business they will be renewed or replaced. Leases are classified as either capital leases or operating leases, as appropriate. Most lease agreements classified as operating leases contain renewal options, rent escalation clauses or other inducements provided by the landlord. Rent expense is accrued to recognize lease escalation provisions and inducements provided by the landlord, if any, on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

Equity Investments in Affiliates

        For equity method investments, the Company's portion of income or loss before taxes is included in Income from equity method investments. The Company's share of income taxes incurred directly by Affiliates accounted for under the equity method are recorded within Income taxes—current because these taxes generally represent the Company's share of the taxes incurred by the Affiliate. Deferred income taxes incurred as a direct result of the Company's investment in Affiliates accounted for under the equity method have been included in Income taxes—intangible-related deferred. The associated deferred tax liabilities have been classified as a component of Deferred income taxes in the Consolidated Balance Sheet.

        The Company periodically evaluates its equity method investments for impairment. In such impairment evaluations, the Company assesses if the fair value of the investment has declined below its carrying value for a period considered to be other than temporary. If the Company determines that a decline in fair value below the carrying value of the investment is other than temporary, then the reduction in carrying value would be recognized in Income from equity method investments in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

Acquired Client Relationships and Goodwill

        Each acquired Affiliate has identifiable assets arising from contractual or other legal rights with their clients ("acquired client relationships"). In determining the value of acquired client relationships, the Company analyzes the net present value of each acquired Affiliate's existing client relationships based on a number of factors including: the Affiliate's historical and potential future operating performance; the Affiliate's historical and potential future rates of attrition among existing clients; the stability and longevity of existing client relationships; the Affiliate's recent, as well as long-term, investment performance; the characteristics of the firm's products and investment styles; the stability and depth of the Affiliate's management team and the Affiliate's history and perceived franchise or brand value.

        The Company has determined that certain of its mutual fund acquired client relationships meet the criteria to be considered indefinite-lived assets because the Company expects both the renewal of these contracts and the cash flows generated by these assets to continue indefinitely. Accordingly, the Company does not amortize these intangible assets, but instead reviews these assets annually or more frequently whenever events or circumstances occur indicating that the recorded indefinite-lived assets may be impaired. Each reporting period, the Company assesses whether events or circumstances have occurred which indicate that the indefinite life criteria are no longer met. If the indefinite life criteria are no longer met, the Company would assess whether the carrying value of the assets exceeds its fair value, an impairment loss would be recorded in an amount equal to any such excess and these assets would be reclassified to definite-lived.

        The expected useful lives of definite-lived acquired client relationships are analyzed each period and determined based on an analysis of the historical and projected attrition rates of each Affiliate's existing clients, and other factors that may influence the expected future economic benefit the Company will derive from the relationships. The Company tests for the possible impairment of definite-lived intangible assets annually or more frequently whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the asset is not recoverable. If such indicators exist, the Company compares the undiscounted cash flows related to the asset to the carrying value of the asset. If the carrying value is greater than the undiscounted cash flow amount, an impairment charge is recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Income for amounts necessary to reduce the carrying value of the asset to fair value.

        Goodwill represents the future economic benefits arising from assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized, and is reported within the segments in which the business operates. Goodwill is not amortized, but is instead reviewed for impairment. The Company assesses goodwill for impairment at least annually, or more frequently whenever events or circumstances occur indicating that the recorded goodwill may be impaired. If the carrying amount of goodwill exceeds the fair value, an impairment loss may be recorded.

Revenue Recognition

        The Company's consolidated revenue primarily represents advisory fees billed monthly, quarterly and annually by Affiliates for managing the assets of clients. Asset-based advisory fees are recognized as services are rendered and are based upon a percentage of the value of client assets managed. Any fees collected in advance are deferred and recognized as income over the period earned. Performance based advisory fees are generally assessed as a percentage of the investment performance realized on a client's account, generally over an annual period. Performance-based advisory fees are recognized when they are earned (i.e. when they become billable to customers) based on the contractual terms of agreements and when collection is reasonably assured. Also included in revenue are commissions earned by broker dealers, recorded on a trade date basis, and other service fees recorded as earned.

Issuance Costs

        Issuance costs incurred in securing credit facility financing are amortized over the remaining term of the credit facility. Costs incurred to issue debt are amortized over the shorter of the period to the first investor put or the Company's estimate of the expected term of the security. Costs associated with financial instruments that are not required to be accounted for separately as derivative instruments are charged directly to stockholders' equity.

Derivative Financial Instruments

        The Company is exposed to interest rate risk inherent in its variable rate debt obligations. The Company's risk management strategy may utilize financial instruments, specifically interest rate derivative contracts to hedge certain interest rate exposures. In entering into these contracts, the Company intends to offset cash flow gains and losses that occur on its existing debt obligations with cash flow gains and losses on the contracts hedging these obligations.

        From time to time, derivatives are used to hedge the anticipated issuance of fixed-rate debt. These exposures are hedged with treasury rate locks (e.g., a 10-year treasury lock hedging the anticipated underlying U.S. Treasury interest rate related to issuance of 10-year debt).

        The Company records all derivatives on the balance sheet at fair value. If the Company's derivatives qualify as cash flow hedges, the effective portion of the unrealized gain or loss is recorded in Accumulated other comprehensive income as a separate component of stockholders' equity and reclassified into earnings when the hedged cash flows are recorded in earnings. Hedge effectiveness is generally measured by comparing the present value of the cumulative change in the expected future variable cash flows of the hedged contract with the present value of the cumulative change in the expected future variable cash flows of the hedged item. To the extent that the critical terms of the hedged item and the derivative are not identical, hedge ineffectiveness would be reported in earnings as Interest expense. If the Company's derivatives do not qualify as cash flow or fair value hedges, changes in the fair value of the derivatives are recognized as a gain or loss in Investment and other (income) loss.

Contingent Payment Arrangements

        The Company periodically enters into contingent payment arrangements in connection with its business combinations. In these arrangements, the Company agrees to pay additional consideration to the sellers to the extent that certain levels of revenue growth are achieved. For consolidated Affiliates, the Company estimates the fair value of these potential future obligations at the time a business combination is consummated and records a liability on its Consolidated Balance Sheet. The Company then accretes the obligation to its expected payment amount over the period until the arrangement is measured. If the Company's expected payment amount subsequently changes, the obligation is reduced or increased in the current period resulting in a gain or loss. Both gains and losses resulting from changes to expected payments and the accretion of these obligations to their expected payment amounts are reflected within Imputed interest expense and contingent payment arrangements in the Company's Consolidated Statements of Income. For Affiliates accounted for under the equity method, the Company records an obligation when a payment becomes probable with a corresponding increase to the carrying value of the Affiliate.

        The Company accounts for income taxes using the liability method. Under this method, deferred taxes are recognized for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the book carrying amounts and tax bases of the Company's assets and liabilities. Deferred tax liabilities are generally attributable to intangible assets, convertible securities and deferred revenue. Deferred tax assets are generally attributable to state and foreign loss carryforwards, deferred compensation and the benefit of uncertain tax positions.

        In measuring the amount of deferred taxes each period, the Company must project the impact on its future tax payments of any reversal of deferred tax liabilities (which would increase the Company's tax payments), and any use of its state and foreign loss carryforwards (which would decrease its tax payments). In forming these estimates, the Company makes assumptions about future federal, state and foreign income tax rates and the apportionment of future taxable income to jurisdictions in which the Company has operations. An increase or decrease in federal or state income tax rates could have a material impact on the Company's deferred income tax liabilities and assets and would result in a current income tax charge or benefit.

        The Company recognizes the financial statement benefit of an uncertain tax position only after considering the probability that a tax authority would sustain the position in an examination. For tax positions meeting a "more-likely-than-not" threshold, the amount recognized in the financial statements is the benefit expected to be realized upon settlement with the tax authority. For tax positions not meeting the threshold, no financial statement benefit is recognized. The Company recognizes interest and other charges relating to unrecognized tax benefits as additional tax expense.

        In the case of the Company's deferred tax assets, the Company regularly assesses the need for valuation allowances, which would reduce these assets to their recoverable amounts. In forming these estimates, the Company makes assumptions of future taxable income that may be generated to utilize these assets, which have limited lives. If the Company determines that these assets will be realized, the Company records an adjustment to the valuation allowance, which would decrease tax expense in the period such determination was made. Likewise, should the Company determine that it would be unable to realize additional amounts of deferred tax assets, an adjustment to the valuation allowance would be charged to tax expense in the period such determination was made.

Foreign Currency Translation

        The assets and liabilities of Affiliates whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar are translated into U.S. dollars using exchange rates in effect as of the balance sheet date. The revenue and expenses of these Affiliates are translated into U.S. dollars using average exchange rates for the relevant period. Because of the permanent nature of the Company's investments, net translation exchange gains and losses are excluded from Net income but are recorded in Other comprehensive income. Foreign currency transaction gains and losses are reflected in Investment and other income.

Share-Based Compensation Plans

        The Company recognizes expenses for all share-based payments based on their grant date fair values over the requisite service period.

        The Company reports any tax benefits realized upon the exercise of stock options that are in excess of the expense recognized for reporting purposes as a financing activity in the Company's Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. If the tax benefit realized is less than the expense, the tax shortfall is recognized in stockholders' equity. To the extent the expense exceeds available windfall tax benefits, it is recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Income. The Company was permitted to calculate its cumulative windfall tax benefits for the purposes of accounting for future tax shortfalls. The Company elected to apply the long-form method for determining the pool of windfall tax benefits.