Stockholders' Equity (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Equity [Abstract]

Schedule of Share Repurchase Authorized by Board of Directors

Share Repurchase Program—During the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013, the Board of Directors of Lazard authorized the repurchase of Class A common stock as set forth in the table below.

Date	Repurchase Authorization		Expiration
October, 2013	$	100,000		December 31, 2015
April, 2014	$	200,000		December 31, 2015
February, 2015	$	150,000		December 31, 2016

Schedule of Share Repurchase Program

The Company expects that the share repurchase program will primarily be used to offset a portion of the shares that have been or will be issued under the Lazard Ltd 2008 Incentive Compensation Plan (the “2008 Plan”) and the Lazard Ltd 2005 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2005 Plan”). Pursuant to the share repurchase program, purchases have been made in the open market or through privately negotiated transactions. The rate at which the Company purchases shares in connection with the share repurchase program may vary from quarter to quarter due to a variety of factors. Purchases with respect to such program are set forth in the table below:

	Number  of Shares Purchased		Average Price  Per Share
Years Ended December 31:
2013		3,488,101	$	37.98
2014		4,114,206	$	46.83
2015		3,438,789	$	50.24

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax—The tables below reflect the balances of each component of AOCI at December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 and activity during the years then ended:

	Currency Translation Adjustments			Employee Benefit Plans			Total AOCI			Amount Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests			Total Lazard Ltd AOCI
Balance, January 1, 2015	$	(46,102	)	$	(154,665	)	$	(200,767	)	$	(1	)	$	(200,766	)
Activity January 1 to December 31, 2015:
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications		(51,182	)		11,283			(39,899	)		–			(39,899	)
Adjustments for items reclassified to earnings, net of tax		–			6,309			6,309			–			6,309
Net other comprehensive income (loss)		(51,182	)		17,592			(33,590	)		–			(33,590	)
Balance, December 31, 2015	$	(97,284	)	$	(137,073	)	$	(234,357	)	$	(1	)	$	(234,356	)

	Currency Translation Adjustments			Employee Benefit Plans			Total AOCI			Amount Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests			Total Lazard Ltd AOCI
Balance, January 1, 2014	$	3,869		$	(137,431	)	$	(133,562	)	$	(558	)	$	(133,004	)
Activity January 1 to December 31, 2014:
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications		(49,971	)		(21,983	)		(71,954	)		557			(72,511	)
Adjustments for items reclassified to earnings, net of tax		–			4,749			4,749			–			4,749
Net other comprehensive income (loss)		(49,971	)		(17,234	)		(67,205	)		557			(67,762	)
Balance, December 31, 2014	$	(46,102	)	$	(154,665	)	$	(200,767	)	$	(1	)	$	(200,766	)

	Currency Translation Adjustments			Interest Rate Hedge			Employee Benefit Plans			Total AOCI			Amount Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests			Total Lazard Ltd AOCI
Balance, January 1, 2013	$	19,405		$	(2,502	)	$	(128,536	)	$	(111,633	)	$	(1,092	)	$	(110,541	)
Activity January 1 to December 31, 2013:
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications		(15,536	)		–			(13,500	)		(29,036	)		495			(29,531	)
Adjustments for items reclassified to earnings, net of tax		–			2,502			4,605			7,107			39			7,068
Net other comprehensive income (loss)		(15,536	)		2,502			(8,895	)		(21,929	)		534			(22,463	)
Balance, December 31, 2013	$	3,869		$	–		$	(137,431	)	$	(133,562	)	$	(558	)	$	(133,004	)

Adjustments for Items Reclassified Out of AOCI

The table below reflects adjustments for items reclassified out of AOCI, by component, for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2015		2014		2013
Amortization of interest rate hedge (a)	$	–	$	–	$	2,502
Amortization relating to employee benefit plans (b)		7,816		6,672		6,534
Less – related income taxes		1,507		1,923		1,929
Net of tax		6,309		4,749		4,605
Total reclassifications, net of tax	$	6,309	$	4,749	$	7,107

(a) Included in “interest expense” on the consolidated statements of operations.

(b) Included in the computation of net periodic benefit cost (see Note 15). Such amounts are included in “compensation and benefits” expense on the consolidated statements of operations.

Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests

The tables below summarize net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 and noncontrolling interests as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 in the Company’s consolidated financial statements:

	Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests Year Ended December 31,
	2015		2014		2013
Edgewater	$	6,557	$	6,153	$	3,913
LAZ-MD Holdings		–		631		1,198
Other		2		2		(209	)
Total	$	6,559	$	6,786	$	4,902

	Noncontrolling Interests As Of December 31,
	2015		2014
Edgewater	$	53,132	$	62,584
Other		719		729
Total	$	53,851	$	63,313