Deconsolidation of Caesars Entertainment Operating Company

Chapter 11 Filing for Reorganization

As previously disclosed in our 2014 10-K, on January 15, 2015 (the “Petition Date”), CEOC and certain of its United States subsidiaries (the “Debtors”) voluntarily filed for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for Northern District of Illinois in Chicago (the “Bankruptcy Court”) in order to implement a restructuring plan for balance sheet deleveraging. The Debtors will continue to operate their businesses as “debtors-in-possession” under the jurisdiction of the Bankruptcy Court and in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Bankruptcy Code and orders of the Bankruptcy Court. CEC, exclusive of its subsidiaries, CERP, and CGP are separate entities with independent capital structures and have not filed for bankruptcy relief. In addition, all Caesars Entertainment properties, and those owned by CEOC, are continuing to operate in the ordinary course. Under the proposed plans, Caesars Entertainment will make substantial cash and other contributions as part of implementing the ultimate restructuring plans if they are agreed upon by the applicable parties and approved by the Bankruptcy Court (see Note 11).

Deconsolidation of CEOC

CEOC’s filing for reorganization was a reconsideration event for Caesars Entertainment to reevaluate whether consolidation of CEOC continued to be appropriate. We have concluded that CEOC is a VIE, subsequent to its filing for bankruptcy, because the holders of equity at risk (including us as an 89% equity holder) as a group no longer had the power to make the primary decisions. Our assessment focused on indicators that CEC did not have significant influence over the operating and financial policies of CEOC, primarily including:

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CEOC expanded its board of directors and added two independent directors. The CEOC board then delegated certain key decision-making authority regarding the bankruptcy and related party matters to two committees, which are comprised of primarily the independent directors. Additionally, as a result of the bankruptcy proceedings, critical decisions are now subject to the overall jurisdiction of the Bankruptcy Court and the Creditors Committee (described below).


•	The Bankruptcy Court established the Creditors Committee to represent the rights of the creditors during the bankruptcy proceedings. Through the Creditors Committees, creditors have the right to object to recommendations presented by CEOC’s management or the Board of Directors.


•	CEOC’s executive leadership is comprised of individuals who are independent of CEC.

Accordingly, we are not the primary beneficiary of CEOC because we have concluded that the equity owners, including CEC, only possess non-substantive voting rights; CEC is not operating CEOC as debtor-in-possession as the CEC Board has ceded its authority to the Bankruptcy Court; CEC management cannot carry on activities necessary for the ordinary course of business without Bankruptcy Court approval; and CEOC still manages day-to-day operations, but does not have discretion to make significant capital or operating budgetary changes or decisions, purchase or sell significant assets, or approve management or employee compensation arrangements. Ultimately, CEOC’s material decisions are still subject to review by the Creditors Committees and the Bankruptcy Court.

In addition to the above, we assessed the inherent uncertainties associated with the outcome of the Chapter 11 reorganization process and the anticipated duration thereof, and concluded that it was appropriate to deconsolidate CEOC effective on the Petition Date.

We further considered how to account for our continuing investment in CEOC after deconsolidation and concluded that for similar reasons, we do not have significant influence over CEOC during the pendency of the bankruptcy; therefore, Caesars Entertainment accounts for its investment in CEOC as a cost method investment subsequent to the deconsolidation.

Upon the deconsolidation of CEOC, Caesars Entertainment recognized a $7.1 billion gain and recorded a cost method investment in CEOC of zero due to the negative equity associated with CEOC’s underlying financial position. In addition, as of December 31, 2014, CEOC represented total assets of $11.0 billion, total liabilities of $18.6 billion, and total long-term debt of $15.9 billion. For the 2015 period prior to the deconsolidation, CEOC segment net revenues totaled $158 million, net loss attributable to Caesars totaled $76 million, and negative cash flow from operating activities totaled $220 million.

Related Party Relationship

Subsequent to the Petition Date, CEOC will continue to fund all expenses related to its operations that are being provided by CES and can continue to perform on its intercompany obligations to all Caesars entities. However, upon filing for Chapter 11 and the subsequent deconsolidation, transactions with CEOC are no longer eliminated in consolidation and are treated as related party transactions for Caesars Entertainment. These transactions include items such as casino management fees paid to CEOC, insurance expenses related to insurance coverage provided to CEOC by Caesars Entertainment, and rent payments by CEOC to CERP under the Octavius Tower lease agreement (see Note 18, “Related Party Transactions”).