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Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

2. Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Accounting and Presentation

The interim financial statements presented herein have been prepared by the Company, without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) applicable to interim financial information. Certain information and disclosures normally included in the annual financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. In the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the interim periods have been made (consisting of normal recurring adjustments). Results of operations for the current interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the full fiscal year. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. These consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated audited financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Commission on June 5, 2012, from which the balance sheet information as of December 31, 2011 was derived.

Investments in Eldorado and Mesquite (Notes 4 and 5) are accounted for using the equity method of accounting. Accordingly, the Company measures all of its assets and liabilities on the historical cost basis of accounting except as required by GAAP. Such assets are evaluated at least annually (and more frequently when circumstances warrant) to determine if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. Examples of such events or changes in circumstances that might indicate impairment might include an adverse change in the legal, regulatory or business climate relative to gaming nationally or in the jurisdictions in which the Company’s investees operate, or a significant long term decline in historical or forecasted earnings or cash flows of an investee or the fair value of its property or business, possibly as a result of competitive or other economic or political factors. In evaluating whether a loss in value is other than temporary, the Company considers: (1) the length of time and the extent to which the fair value has been less than cost; (2) the financial condition and near-term prospects of the investee, including any specific events which may influence the operations; (3) the Company’s intent and ability to retain its investments in the investee for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery in fair value; (4) the condition and trend of the economic cycle; (5) the investee’s historical and forecasted financial performance; (6) trends in the general market; and (7) the investee’s capital strength and liquidity.

In determining whether the carrying value of the Company’s investment in an investee is less than the estimated fair value of the investment, a discounted cash flow approach to value is used and is based on Level 3 inputs as defined by GAAP. The Company’s valuation model incorporates an estimated weighted-average cost of capital (effectively, a discount rate) and terminal value multiples that are used by market participants. The estimated weighted-average cost of capital is based on the risk free interest rate at the time, adjusted for specific risk factors. The Company also considers the metrics of specific business transactions that may be comparable to varying degrees. The weight assigned to these approaches to value in the Company’s impairment evaluation may vary from period to period depending upon evolving events. Forecasted prospective financial information used in the model is based on management’s excepted course of action. Sensitivity analysis is performed related to key assumptions used, including possible variations in the weighted-average cost of capital and terminal value multiples, among others.

Change of Year-end

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q is the final one to be filed on the basis of a December 31st year end. On June 4, 2012, the Company’s Board of Managers approved management’s recommendation to change the Company’s year-end for financial reporting purposes from the last day of December to the last day of February. For the two months ended February 29, 2012 and February 28, 2011, the Company had no significant operations or change in accounting principles. See the Company’s Transition Report on Form 10-Q for the period January 1, 2012 to February 29, 2012, which was filed with the Commission on June 5, 2012.

Change in accounting method

At the request of, and for the convenience of, the Company, disbursements of the Company for operating expenses are made by the Newport Funds directly to vendors and investees, and certain distributions from the Company’s investees may be received directly by the Company’s members and/or their beneficial owners. Prior to January 1, 2012, these activities were treated as non-cash operating and financing transactions. Subsequently, such transactions are treated as constructive cash inflows and outflows in the statements of cash flow, which management believes is a preferable method because it more accurately reflects the Company’s operating requirements and capital resources. Under this method, net cash used by operating activities and cash provided by financing activities are each $60,147 higher for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and $18,594 higher for the three months ended March 31, 2011, respectively, after reclassification of 2011 amounts for comparability with the current period presentation.

Use of estimates

Timely preparation of financial statements in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Commission requires management to make estimates that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, as well as the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Management estimates that the Company will eventually sell its investments in unconsolidated investees following an expected economic recovery at a price sufficient to realize the carrying value of the Company’s assets which estimates are subject to material variation over the next year.