Caesars, Apollo/TPG, CalPERS/CalSTRS debacle

JSTAT's concern of billions of dollars lost to Caesars Entertainment Corp. by California's teachers pensions (CalSTRS) and public workers (CalPERS) to private equity fat cats, Apollo Management and TPG Capital in 2008. Did you know CalSTRS/CalPERS are major limited partners in the world's largest casino entertainment company? Caesars Entertainment Corporation has managed to lose $10 billion to the detriment of hard working teachers and police officers in California. The taxpayers of California also have a piece of the action by betting on Black. Apollo Management's CEO, Leon Black, raided the pensions through a placement agent (Alfred Villalobos) who collected $60 million from Black's private equity firm Apollo Management. The placement agent wined and dined CalPERS officials to persuade them to invest $600 million for 10% of Apollo Global Management. Apollo Management paid for a private jet to transport a CalPERS high ranked official to New York City from Sacramento. The official and Villalobos attended a high society benefit honoring Black. The CalPERS official pushed through the Apollo Management sale a month later. Caesars Entertainment extended much of its debt obligations to 2015 and required teachers and law enforcement pensions to take a haircut in the process. The billions lost to Caesars Entertainment won't be known until then. Who allowed California's teachers and public workers to be owners of the world largest casino?

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• IPO
• Caesars Palace
• stock
• Harrah's
• JSTAT
• Apollo Management
• Gary Loveman
• Leon Black
• TPG Capital
• Caesars Entertainment
• private equity
• hedge fund
• Apollo Global Management
• casinos