Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2013

Basis of Accounting

Basis of Presentation

Our Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company and the International Association of CEC Entertainment, Inc. (the “Association”), a variable interest entity in which we have a controlling financial interest. The Association primarily administers the collection and disbursement of funds (the “Association Funds”) used for advertising, entertainment and media programs that benefit both us and our franchisees. We and our franchisees are required to contribute a percentage of gross sales to these funds and could be required to make additional contributions to fund any deficits that may be incurred by the Association. We include the Association in our Consolidated Financial Statements, as we concluded that we are the primary beneficiary of its variable interests because we (a) have the power to direct the majority of its significant operating activities; (b) provide it unsecured lines of credit; and (c) own the majority of the store locations that benefit from the Association’s advertising, entertainment and media expenditures. The assets, liabilities and operating results of the Association are not material to our Consolidated Financial Statements.

Because the Association Funds are required to be segregated and used for specified purposes, we do not reflect franchisee contributions to the Association Funds as revenue, but rather record franchisee contributions as an offset to reported advertising expenses. Our contributions to the Association Funds are eliminated in consolidation. Contributions to the advertising, entertainment and media funds from our franchisees were $0.8 million and $0.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and April 1, 2012, respectively.

Interim Financial Statements

The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements as of March 31, 2013 and for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and April 1, 2012 are unaudited and are presented in accordance with the requirements for quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and, consequently, do not include all of the information and footnote disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). In the opinion of management, the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements include all adjustments (consisting solely of normal recurring adjustments) necessary for the fair statement of its consolidated results of operations, financial position and cash flows as of the dates and for the periods presented in accordance with GAAP and the rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).

Consolidated results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for the full year. The unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2012, filed with the SEC on February 21, 2013.

Fair Value Disclosures

Fair Value Disclosures

Fair value is defined as the price that we would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability (an exit price) in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. In determining fair value, U.S. GAAP establishes a three-level hierarchy used in measuring fair value, as follows:

Level 1 –	inputs are quoted prices available for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.
Level 2 –	inputs are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, including quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data.
Level 3 –	inputs are unobservable and reflect our own assumptions.

Our financial instruments consist of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, revolving credit facility and capital lease obligations. The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable approximates fair value because of their short maturities. We believe that the carrying amount of borrowings under our revolving credit facility approximates fair value because the interest rates are adjusted regularly based on current market conditions. We may also adjust the carrying amount of certain nonfinancial assets to fair value on a non-recurring basis when they are impaired. The fair values of our long-lived assets held and used are determined using Level 3 inputs based on the estimated discounted future cash flows of the respective store over its expected remaining lease term. Due to uncertainties in the estimates and assumptions used, actual results could differ from the estimated fair values. See Note 2 “Asset Impairments” for the fair value disclosures of stores we have impaired.

During the three months ended March 31, 2013 and April 1, 2012, there were no significant transfers among level 1, 2 or 3 fair value determinations.

Recently Issued Accounting Guidance

Recently Issued Accounting Guidance

Accounting Guidance Adopted: In July 2012, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2012-02, Testing Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets for Impairment. This amendment allows an entity to first assess relevant qualitative factors in order to determine whether it is necessary to perform the two-step quantitative impairment test for indefinite-lived intangible assets. Unless the entity determines, based on the qualitative assessment, that it is more likely than not that the asset is impaired, it would not be required to calculate the fair value of an indefinite-lived intangible asset in connection with the impairment test. The adoption of this amendment during the first quarter of 2013 did not have a significant impact on our quarterly impairment analysis.

In February 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-02, Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income. This amendment requires an entity to provide the effects on net income of significant reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income by component on a prospective basis. The adoption of this amendment during the first quarter of 2013 requires additional disclosure but did not have an impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements.

Earnings Per Share

Basic earnings per share (“EPS”) represents net income divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Common shares outstanding consist of shares of our common stock and certain unvested shares of restricted stock containing nonforfeitable dividend rights. As of March 31, 2013, there are no unvested shares of restricted stock with nonforfeitable dividend rights. Diluted EPS represents net income divided by the basic weighted average number of common shares and, if dilutive, potential common shares outstanding during the period. Potential common shares represent the incremental common shares issuable upon the vesting of unvested shares of restricted stock. The dilutive effect of potential common shares is determined using the treasury stock method, whereby unamortized stock-based compensation cost of unvested restricted stock, and any associated excess tax benefits are assumed to be used to repurchase our common stock at the average market price during the period.