Record Revenue and Earnings in the Second Quarter at Six Flags

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Guest Spending Per Capita Rises Ten Percent in First Half of 2014 While Active Pass Base Grows 9 Percent

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas, July 21, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Six Flags Entertainment Corporation SIX, the world's largest regional theme park company, today announced record financial performance in the second quarter 2014 as revenue grew $13 million or 4 percent to $377 million, fueled by higher guest spending. Adjusted EBITDA1 for the same three-month period was $145 million, a $7 million or 5 percent increase. Revenue for the first six months of the year was flat to prior year while Adjusted EBITDA increased 2 percent.

"We are squarely focused on executing our long-term strategy and remain confident in our ability to deliver yet another record year in 2014," said Jim Reid-Anderson, Chairman, President and CEO. "The nine percent growth in our Active Pass Base, record-high guest satisfaction ratings, and robust guest spending per capita through the first six months of the year all indicate continued strength in our business. We remain solidly on track to deliver our $500 million Modified EBITDA Target by 2015."

For the twelve-month period ending June 30, 2014, Adjusted EBITDA was $406 million and Modified EBITDA2 was $445 million. Modified EBITDA margin remained an industry high of 40.1 percent.

In the second quarter, total guest spending per capita grew $4.21 or 11 percent to $43.73, with admissions revenue per capita increasing $2.56 or 11 percent to $25.15 and in-park revenue per capita increasing $1.65 or 10 percent to $18.58. Attendance for the second quarter decreased 8 percent to 8.2 million guests primarily due to the lingering effects of the long, harsh winter that expanded school calendars and slowed early-season attendance, especially among existing members and season pass holders.

In the first six months of 2014, total guest spending per capita grew $4.01 or 10 percent to $43.75, with admissions revenue per capita increasing $2.51 or 11 percent to $25.13 and in-park revenue per capita increasing $1.50 or 9 percent to $18.62.

The Active Pass Base, which includes season pass holders and guests in the company's membership program, increased 9 percent from June 30, 2013 to June 30, 2014.

Cash earnings per share3 for the twelve-month period ending June 30, 2014 was $2.23

During the first six months of 2014 the company invested $81 million in new capital, paid dividends of $90 million, or $0.47 per common share per quarter, and repurchased $8 million or 0.2 million shares of its common stock. Net Debt4 as of June 30, 2014 was $1,281 million, which translates to a 3.2 times net leverage ratio.

During the quarter the company announced a new strategic partnership to build multiple Six Flags-branded theme parks in China. "Our ongoing initiative to expand the Six Flags brand internationally is an exciting and important component of our long-term growth strategy," noted Reid-Anderson. "We look forward to ongoing success in this area and working closely with our new partners in China and the Middle East."

Conference Call

The company will host a conference call at 8:00 a.m. Central Time today to discuss its second quarter 2014 financial performance. The call is accessible either through the Six Flags Investor Relations website at www.sixflags.com/investors or by dialing 1-855-889-1976 in the United States or +1-937-641-0558 outside the United States and requesting the Six Flags earnings call. A replay of the call will be available through July 28, 2014 by dialing (855) 859-2056 or +1(404) 537-3406, Conference ID 64896107.

About Six Flags Entertainment Corporation

Six Flags Entertainment Corporation is the world's largest regional theme park company with $1.1 billion in revenue and 18 parks across the United States, Mexico and Canada. For 53 years, Six Flags has entertained millions of families with world-class coasters, themed rides, thrilling water parks and unique attractions including up-close animal encounters, Fright Fest® and Holiday in the Park®. For more information, visit www.sixflags.com.

Forward Looking Statements

The information contained in this release, other than historical information, consists of forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act. These statements may involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in such statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among others, (i) the adequacy of cash flows from operations, available cash and available amounts under our credit facilities to meet our future liquidity needs, (ii) our ability to roll out our capital enhancements in a timely and cost effective manner, (iii) our ability to improve operating results by implementing strategic cost reductions, and organizational and personnel changes without adversely affecting our business, (iv) our operations and results of operations, and (v) the risk factors or uncertainties listed from time to time in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). In addition, important factors, including factors impacting attendance, local conditions, contagious diseases, events, disturbances and terrorist activities, recall of food, toys and other retail products which we sell, risk of accidents occurring at the company's parks or other parks in the industry and adverse publicity concerning our parks or other parks in the industry, inability to achieve desired improvements and financial performance targets set forth in our aspirational goals, adverse weather conditions such as excess heat or cold, rain and storms, general financial and credit market conditions, economic conditions (including customer spending patterns), changes in public and consumer tastes, construction delays in capital improvements or ride downtime, competition with other theme parks and other entertainment alternatives, dependence on a seasonal workforce, unionization activities and labor disputes, laws and regulations affecting labor and employee benefit costs, including potential increases in state and federally mandated minimum wages, and healthcare reform, pending, threatened or future legal proceedings and the significant expenses associated with litigation, cyber security risks and other factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the company's expectations. Although the company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will be realized and actual results could vary materially. Reference is made to a more complete discussion of forward-looking statements and applicable risks contained under the captions "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" and "Risk Factors" in the company's Annual and Quarterly Reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q, and its other filings and submissions with the SEC, each of which are available free of charge on the company's investor relations website at  www.sixflags.com/investors and on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.

Footnotes

(1)

See the following financial statements and Note 3 to those financial statements for a discussion of Adjusted EBITDA and its reconciliation to net income (loss).



(2)

See Note 3 to the following financial statements for a discussion of Modified EBITDA and its reconciliation to net income (loss).



(3)

Cash EPS (or Cash Earnings Per Share), which is defined as Free Cash Flow divided by the weighted average basic shares outstanding, is not a U.S. GAAP defined measure. The company believes this measure provides meaningful profitability metrics, given current accumulated tax loss carryforwards and the net depreciation/amortization impacts relating to the revaluation of assets in connection with the company's emergence from Chapter 11 in April 2010.



(4)

Net Debt represents total long-term debt, including current portion, less cash and cash equivalents.

 

Statement of Operations Data (1)








Three Months Ended

(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)

June 30, 2014


June 30, 2013

Theme park admissions

$

205,428



$

199,666


Theme park food, merchandise and other

151,772



149,669


Sponsorship, licensing and other fees

15,543



10,582


Accommodations revenue

3,808



3,784


Total revenue

376,551



363,701


Operating expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization shown separately below)

126,531



122,312


Selling, general and administrative expense (excluding depreciation, amortization and stock-based compensation shown separately below)

54,420



52,919


Costs of products sold

31,348



31,000


Depreciation

25,511



27,564


Amortization

665



3,599


Stock-based compensation

5,740



7,322


Loss on disposal of assets

781



1,564


Gain on sale of investee

(10,031)




Interest expense, net

17,787



18,580


Other (income) expense, net

(64)



426


Income before income taxes

123,863



98,415


Income tax expense

38,551



32,355


Net income

85,312



66,060


Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

(19,006)



(18,699)


Net income attributable to Six Flags Entertainment Corporation

$

66,306



$

47,361








Weighted-average common shares outstanding:






Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding — basic

95,224



95,751


Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding — diluted

99,162



100,466








Net income per average common share outstanding:






Net income per average common share outstanding — basic

$

0.70



$

0.49


Net income per average common share outstanding — diluted

$

0.67



$

0.47


 

 

Statement of Operations Data (1)








Six Months Ended

(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)

June 30, 2014


June 30, 2013

Theme park admissions

$

240,138



$

241,198


Theme park food, merchandise and other

177,739



182,501


Sponsorship, licensing and other fees

23,721



18,475


Accommodations revenue

8,671



9,048


Total revenue

450,269



451,222


Operating expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization shown separately below)

208,159



206,531


Selling, general and administrative expense (excluding depreciation, amortization and stock-based compensation shown separately below)

83,395



85,520


Costs of products sold

37,591



38,925


Depreciation

52,540



59,111


Amortization

1,330



7,198


Stock-based compensation

11,099



14,419


Loss on disposal of assets

2,573



2,634


Gain on sale of investee

(10,031)




Interest expense, net

35,816



36,977


Other (income) expense, net

(254)



4


Income (loss) before income taxes

28,051



(97)


Income tax expense (benefit)

3,940



(4,044)


Net income

24,111



3,947


Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

(19,006)



(19,113)


Net income (loss) attributable to Six Flags Entertainment Corporation

$

5,105



$

(15,166)








Weighted-average common shares outstanding:






Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding — basic

95,091



98,822


Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding — diluted

99,008



98,822








Net income (loss) per average common share outstanding:






Net income (loss) per average common share outstanding — basic

$

0.05



$

(0.15)


Net income (loss) per average common share outstanding — diluted

$

0.05



$

(0.15)


 

 

The following table sets forth a reconciliation of net income to Adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow for the three months ended June 30, 2014 and June 30, 2013:


Three Months Ended

(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)

June 30, 2014


June 30, 2013

Net income

$

85,312



$

66,060


Income tax expense

38,551



32,355


Other (income) expense, net

(64)



426


Interest expense, net

17,787



18,580


Loss on disposal of assets

781



1,564


Gain on sale of investee

(10,031)




Amortization

665



3,599


Depreciation

25,511



27,564


Stock-based compensation

5,740



7,322


Impact of Fresh Start valuation adjustments (2)

91



147


Modified EBITDA (3)

164,343



157,617


Third party interest in EBITDA of certain operations (4)

(19,006)



(19,269)


Adjusted EBITDA (3)

145,337



138,348


Cash paid for interest, net

(5,909)



(6,748)


Capital expenditures, net of property insurance recoveries in 2014

(39,225)



(35,739)


Cash taxes (5)

(1,908)



(2,611)


Free Cash Flow (6)

$

98,295



$

93,250








Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding — basic

95,224



95,751








Cash Earnings Per Share

$

1.03



$

0.97


 

 

The following table sets forth a reconciliation of net income to Adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow for the six months ended June 30, 2014 and June 30, 2013:


Six Months Ended

(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)

June 30, 2014


June 30, 2013

Net income

$

24,111



$

3,947


Income tax expense (benefit)

3,940



(4,044)


Other (income) expense, net

(254)



4


Interest expense, net

35,816



36,977


Loss on disposal of assets

2,573



2,634


Gain on sale of investee

(10,031)




Amortization

1,330



7,198


Depreciation

52,540



59,111


Stock-based compensation

11,099



14,419


Impact of Fresh Start valuation adjustments (2)

183



292


Modified EBITDA (3)

121,307



120,538


Third party interest in EBITDA of certain operations (4)

(19,006)



(20,295)


Adjusted EBITDA (3)

102,301



100,243


Cash paid for interest, net

(33,004)



(13,247)


Capital expenditures, net of property insurance recoveries in 2014

(81,345)



(72,339)


Cash taxes (5)

(6,338)



(8,019)


Free Cash Flow (6)

$

(18,386)



$

6,638








Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding — basic

95,091



98,822








Cash (Loss) Earnings Per Share

$

(0.19)



$

0.07


 

 

The following table sets forth a reconciliation of net income to Adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow for the twelve months ended June 30, 2014 and June 30, 2013:


Last Twelve Months Ended

(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)

June 30, 2014


June 30, 2013

Net income

$

177,037



$

431,224


Income from discontinued operations

(549)



(7,325)


Income tax expense (benefit)

55,585



(185,636)


Reorganization items, net



939


Other expense, net

796



1,333


Loss on debt extinguishment

789



587


Equity in loss of investee



1,652


Interest expense, net

72,984



60,786


Loss on disposal of assets

8,518



8,284


Gain on sale of investee

(10,031)



(67,319)


Amortization

8,525



14,427


Depreciation

107,111



122,517


Stock-based compensation

23,714



45,161


Impact of Fresh Start valuation adjustments (2)

485



797


Modified EBITDA (3)

444,964



427,427


Third party interest in EBITDA of certain operations (4)

(38,794)



(39,648)


Adjusted EBITDA (3)

406,170



387,779


Cash paid for interest, net

(71,106)



(34,259)


Capital expenditures, net of property insurance recoveries in 2014

(110,859)



(106,529)


Cash taxes (5)

(12,087)



(11,027)


Free Cash Flow (6)

$

212,118



$

235,964








Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding — basic

95,089



102,938








Cash Earnings Per Share

$

2.23



$

2.29


 

 

Balance Sheet Data (1)








As of

(Amounts in thousands)

June 30, 2014


December 31, 2013

Cash and cash equivalents (excluding restricted cash)

$

117,242



$

169,310


Total assets

2,728,839



2,607,814








Deferred income

128,909



60,443


Current portion of long-term debt

6,279



6,269


Long-term debt (excluding current portion)

1,391,772



1,394,334








Redeemable noncontrolling interests

456,551



437,569








Total equity

303,491



373,337








Shares outstanding

95,421



94,857




(1)

Revenues and expenses of international operations are converted into U.S. dollars on an average basis as provided by GAAP.



(2)

Amounts recorded as valuation adjustments and included in reorganization items for the month of April 2010 that would have been included in Modified EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA, had fresh start accounting not been applied. Balance consists primarily of discounted insurance reserves that will be accreted through the statement of operations each quarter through 2018.



(3)

"Modified EBITDA", a non-GAAP measure, is defined as the Company's consolidated income (loss) from continuing operations: excluding the cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles, discontinued operations gains or losses, income tax expense or benefit, restructure costs or recoveries, reorganization items (net), other income or expense, gain or loss on early extinguishment of debt, equity in income or loss of investees, interest expense (net), gain or loss on disposal of assets, gain or loss on the sale of investees, amortization, depreciation, stock-based compensation, and fresh start accounting valuation adjustments. The Company believes that Modified EBITDA is useful to investors, equity analysts and rating agencies as a measure of the Company's performance. The Company believes that Modified EBITDA is a measure that can be readily compared to other companies, and the Company uses Modified EBITDA in its internal evaluation of operating effectiveness and decisions regarding the allocation of resources. Modified EBITDA is not defined by GAAP and should not be considered in isolation or as an alternative to net income (loss), income (loss) from continuing operations, net cash provided by (used in) operating, investing and financing activities or other financial data prepared in accordance with GAAP or as an indicator of the Company's operating performance. Modified EBITDA as defined herein may differ from similarly titled measures presented by other companies.




"Adjusted EBITDA", a non-GAAP measure, is defined as Modified EBITDA minus the interests of third parties in the Adjusted EBITDA of properties that are less than wholly owned (consisting of Six Flags Over Georgia, Six Flags White Water Atlanta, Six Flags Over Texas, and Six Flags Great Escape Lodge & Indoor Waterpark (the "Lodge") of which the Company purchased the noncontrolling interests from its partners in the Lodge in 2013) plus the Company's interest in the Adjusted EBITDA of dick clark productions, inc., which was sold in September 2012. The Company believes that Adjusted EBITDA provides useful information to investors regarding the Company's operating performance and its capacity to incur and service debt and fund capital expenditures. Adjusted EBITDA is approximately equal to "Parent Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA" as defined in the Company's secured credit agreement, except that Parent Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA excludes Adjusted EBITDA from equity investees that is not distributed to the Company in cash on a net basis and has limitations on the amounts of certain expenses that are excluded from the calculation. Adjusted EBITDA is not defined by GAAP and should not be considered in isolation or as an alternative to net income (loss), income (loss) from continuing operations, net cash provided by (used in) operating, investing and financing activities or other financial data prepared in accordance with GAAP or as an indicator of the Company's operating performance. Adjusted EBITDA as defined herein may differ from similarly titled measures presented by other companies.



(4)

Represents interests of third parties in the Adjusted EBITDA of Six Flags Over Georgia, Six Flags Over Texas, Six Flags White Water Atlanta and the Lodge, plus the Company's interest in the Adjusted EBITDA of dick clark productions, inc., which are less than wholly owned. The Company purchased the noncontrolling interests from its partners in the Lodge in 2013 and sold its interest in dick clark productions, inc. in September 2012.



(5)

Based on our current federal net operating loss carryforwards, we believe we will continue to pay minimal amounts for cash taxes for the next three to four years. Cash taxes paid represents statutory taxes paid, primarily in Mexico.



(6)

Free Cash Flow, a non-GAAP measure, is defined as Adjusted EBITDA less (i) cash paid for interest expense net of interest income receipts, (ii) capital expenditures net of property insurance recoveries, and (iii) cash taxes. The Company has excluded from the definition of Free Cash Flow deferred financing costs related to the Company's debt due to the nature of these items. The Company believes that Free Cash Flow is useful to investors, equity analysts and rating agencies as a performance measure. The Company uses Free Cash Flow in its internal evaluation of operating effectiveness and decisions regarding the allocation of resources. Free Cash Flow is not defined by GAAP and should not be considered in isolation or as an alternative to net income (loss), income (loss) from continuing operations, net cash provided by (used in) operating, investing and financing activities or other financial data prepared in accordance with GAAP or as an indicator of the Company's operating performance. Free Cash Flow as defined herein may differ from similarly titled measures presented by other companies.



 

SOURCE Six Flags Entertainment Corporation

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