Six Flags Entertainment (FUN) 10-Q2024 Q1 Quarterly report

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Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

Our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included in this Form 10-Q report have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies described in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2023, which were included in the Form 10-K filed on February 16, 2024. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles have been condensed or omitted pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission" or the "SEC"). These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and the notes included in the Form 10-K referred to above.

On November 2, 2023, we announced that we entered into a definitive merger agreement to combine with Six Flags Entertainment Corporation (“Six Flags”) (NYSE: SIX). Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the merger agreement, each issued and outstanding unit of limited partnership interest in Cedar Fair will be converted into the right to receive one (1) share of common stock of the new combined entity (subject to certain exceptions and as the same may be adjusted). Following the close of the transaction, the holders of units of Cedar Fair limited partnership interest will own approximately 51.2% of the outstanding shares of the combined company and the holders of Six Flags common stock will own approximately 48.8% of the outstanding shares of the combined company. The merger is expected to close in the first half of 2024, following regulatory approvals and satisfaction of other customary closing conditions. On March 12, 2024, Six Flags' stockholders voted to approve the adoption of the merger agreement. During the three months ended March 31, 2024, we incurred costs related to the proposed merger totaling $10.1 million, which included $6.4 million of third-party legal and consulting costs related to the transaction and $3.7 million of third-party integration consulting costs. These costs were recorded within "Selling, general and administrative" in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss.

We are a party to a number of lawsuits in the normal course of business. In the opinion of management, none of these matters, beyond what has been disclosed in this Form 10-Q, are expected to have a material effect in the aggregate on the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

In November 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures ("ASU 2023-07"). ASU 2023-07 requires the disclosure of incremental segment information on an annual and interim basis, including the disclosure of significant segment expense categories. ASU 2023-07 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023 and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted. The amendments should be applied retrospectively to all prior periods presented in the financial statements. We are in the process of evaluating the effect this standard will have on the consolidated financial statement disclosures.

We are one of the largest regional amusement park operators in the world with 13 properties in our portfolio consisting of amusement parks, water parks and complementary resort facilities. Our parks operate seasonally except for Knott's Berry Farm, which is open daily on a year-round basis. Our seasonal parks are generally open daily from Memorial Day until Labor Day. Outside of daily operations, our seasonal parks are open during select weekends, including at most properties in the fourth quarter for Halloween and winter events. As a result, a substantial portion of our revenues from these seasonal parks are generated from Memorial Day through Labor Day with the major portion concentrated during the peak vacation months of July and August.

As disclosed within the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss, revenues are generated from sales of (1) admission to our amusement parks and water parks, (2) food, merchandise and games both inside and outside the parks, and (3) accommodations, extra-charge products, and other revenue sources. Admission revenues include amounts paid to gain admission into our parks, including parking fees. Revenues related to extra-charge products, including premium benefit offerings such as front-of-line products, and online transaction fees charged to customers are included in "Accommodations, extra-charge products and other".

Long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment upon the occurrence of events or changes in circumstances that would indicate that the carrying value of the assets may not be recoverable. In order to determine if an asset has been impaired, assets are grouped and tested at the lowest level for which identifiable, independent cash flows are available. A significant amount of judgment is involved in determining if an indicator of impairment has occurred. Such indicators may include, among others: a significant decrease in the market price of a long-lived asset; a significant adverse change in the extent or manner in which a long-lived asset is being used or in its physical condition; a significant adverse change in legal factors or in the business climate; an accumulation of costs significantly in excess of the amount originally expected for the acquisition or construction of a long-lived asset; past, current or future operating or cash flow losses that demonstrate continuing losses associated with the use of a long-lived asset; and a current expectation that a long-lived asset will be sold or disposed significantly before the end of its previously estimated useful life. Any adverse change in these factors could have a significant impact on the recoverability of these assets and could have a material impact on the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements. We concluded no indicators of impairment existed during the first three months of 2024 and the first three months of 2023. We based our conclusions on our financial performance projections, as well as an updated analysis of macroeconomic and industry-specific conditions.

Goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets, including trade names, are reviewed for impairment annually, or more frequently if indicators of impairment exist. We concluded no indicators of impairment existed during the first three months of 2024 and the first three months of 2023. We based our conclusions on our financial performance projections, as well as an updated analysis of macroeconomic and industry-specific conditions.

In April 2017, we amended and restated our credit agreement (the "2017 Credit Agreement") which included a senior secured revolving credit facility and a senior secured term loan facility. During 2022, we fully repaid the term loan facility.

The 2017 Credit Agreement, as amended, included a senior secured leverage ratio of 3.75x Total First Lien Senior Secured Debt-to-Consolidated EBITDA (as defined in the 2017 Credit Agreement). This financial covenant was only required to be tested at the end of any fiscal quarter in which revolving credit facility borrowings were outstanding. We were in compliance with the applicable financial covenants under our credit agreement during the three months ended March 31, 2024.

The table below presents the balances of assets and liabilities measured at fair value as of March 31, 2024, December 31, 2023, and March 26, 2023 on a recurring basis as well as the fair values of other financial instruments, including their locations within the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets:

Net loss per limited partner unit was calculated based on the following unit amounts:

There were approximately 0.9 million and 0.6 million potentially dilutive units excluded from the computation of diluted loss per limited partner unit for the three month periods ended March 31, 2024 and March 26, 2023, respectively, as their effect would have been anti-dilutive due to the net loss in the periods.

We are subject to publicly traded partnership tax ("PTP tax") on certain partnership level gross income (net revenues less cost of food, merchandise, and games revenues), state and local income taxes on partnership income, U.S. federal, state and local income taxes on income from our corporate subsidiaries and foreign income taxes on our foreign subsidiary. As such, the total provision (benefit) for taxes includes amounts for the PTP gross income tax and federal, state, local and foreign income taxes. Under applicable accounting rules, the total provision (benefit) for income taxes includes the amount of taxes payable for the current year and the impact of deferred tax assets and liabilities, which represents future tax consequences of events that are recognized in different periods in the financial statements than for tax purposes.

On August 3, 2022, we announced that our Board of Directors approved a unit repurchase program authorizing the Partnership to repurchase units for an aggregate amount of not more than $250 million. There were 1.2 million limited partnership units repurchased under the August 2022 repurchase program during the three months ended March 26, 2023 at an average price of $43.84 per limited partner unit for an aggregate amount of $54.6 million. There was no remaining availability under the August 2022 repurchase program following our repurchase of units under that program during April 2023. Accordingly, there were no limited partnership units repurchased under the August 2022 repurchase program during the three months ended March 31, 2024.

On May 1, 2024, we entered into the 2024 Credit Agreement, which includes a $1.0 billion senior secured term loan facility and a $300 million revolving credit facility. The revolving credit facility replaced the existing revolving credit facility under the 2017 Credit Agreement, as amended. The facilities provided under the 2024 Credit Agreement are collateralized by substantially all of the assets of the Partnership and its wholly owned domestic subsidiaries, subject to customary exceptions set forth in the 2024 Credit Agreement.

We generate our revenues from sales of (1) admission to our amusement parks and water parks, (2) food, merchandise and games both inside and outside our parks, and (3) accommodations, extra-charge products, and other revenue sources. Our principal costs and expenses, which include salaries and wages, operating supplies, maintenance and advertising, are relatively fixed for a typical operating season and do not vary significantly with attendance.

On November 2, 2023, we announced that we entered into a definitive merger agreement to combine with Six Flags. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the merger agreement, each issued and outstanding unit of limited partnership interest in Cedar Fair will be converted into the right to receive one (1) share of common stock of the new combined entity (subject to certain exceptions and as the same may be adjusted). Following the close of the transaction, the holders of units of Cedar Fair limited partnership interest will own approximately 51.2% of the outstanding shares of the combined company and the holders of Six Flags common stock will own approximately 48.8% of the outstanding shares of the combined company. The merger is expected to close in the first half of 2024, following receipt of regulatory approvals and satisfaction of other customary closing conditions. On March 12, 2024, Six Flags' stockholders voted to approve the adoption of the merger agreement.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations is based upon our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, which were prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These principles require us to make judgments, estimates and assumptions during the normal course of business that affect the amounts reported in the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements. Actual results could differ significantly from those estimates under different assumptions and conditions.

In the first quarter of 2024, there were no changes in the above critical accounting policies from those previously disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.

First quarter operating results represent approximately 5% of our full-year net revenues and attendance. First quarter results include normal off-season operating, maintenance and administrative expenses at our seasonal amusement and water parks, daily operations at Knott's Berry Farm which is open year-round, limited operating days at a few of our seasonal amusement parks, and some out-of-park attractions, including limited hotel operations. The current three-month period included 117 operating days compared with 161 operating days for the three-month period ended March 26, 2023. The 44 operating day decrease was primarily attributable to fewer operating days at Carowinds, Kings Dominion and California's Great America. These parks were open additional days in January and February in the prior period that were not planned in the current period. This decrease in days was somewhat offset by an additional calendar week in the current period due to a fiscal calendar shift. As a result of the fiscal calendar shift, the current quarter included 13 weeks of results while the prior quarter included 12 weeks of results.

Adjusted EBITDA represents earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, other non-cash items, and adjustments as defined in our current and prior credit agreements. Adjusted EBITDA is not a measurement of operating performance computed in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") and should not be considered as a substitute for operating income, net income or cash flows from operating activities computed in accordance with GAAP. Management believes Adjusted EBITDA is a meaningful measure of park-level operating profitability and we use it for measuring returns on capital investments, evaluating potential acquisitions, determining awards under incentive compensation plans, and calculating compliance with certain loan covenants. Adjusted EBITDA is widely used by analysts, investors and comparable companies in our industry to evaluate our operating performance on a consistent basis, as well as more easily compare our results with those of other companies in our industry. This measure is provided as a supplemental measure of our operating results and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies.

Our principal sources of liquidity include cash from operating activities, funding from our long-term debt obligations and existing cash on hand. Due to the seasonality of our business, we fund pre-opening operations with revolving credit borrowings, which are reduced with positive cash flow during the seasonal operating period. Our primary uses of liquidity include operating expenses, capital expenditures, interest payments, partnership distributions, income tax obligations, and, in 2022 and 2023, limited partnership unit repurchases. As of March 31, 2024, we had cash on hand of $35.1 million and availability under our revolving credit facility of $122.1 million. Based on this level of liquidity, we concluded that we will have sufficient liquidity to satisfy cash obligations at least through the second quarter of 2025.

Net cash for operating activities for the first three months of 2024 totaled $110.6 million, an increase of $3.5 million compared with the same period in the prior year. The increase was primarily due to costs associated with the proposed merger with Six Flags offset somewhat by improved operating results in the current period.

Net cash from financing activities for the first three months of 2024 totaled $137.9 million, an increase of $43.7 million compared with the same period in the prior year. The increase was primarily attributable to repurchases of limited partnership units in the prior period offset somewhat by less revolving credit facility borrowings in the current period.

As of March 31, 2024, our primary contractual obligations consisted of outstanding long-term debt agreements. Before reduction for debt issuance costs, our long-term debt agreements consisted of the following:

Some of the statements contained in this report (including the "Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" section) that are not historical in nature are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including statements as to our expectations, beliefs, goals and strategies regarding the future. These forward-looking statements may involve current plans, estimates, expectations and ambitions that are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict, may be beyond our control and could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in such statements. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct, that our growth and operational strategies will achieve the target results, that the proposed transaction with Six Flags will close or that the Company will realize the anticipated benefits thereof. Important risk factors that may cause such a difference and could adversely affect attendance at our parks, our future financial performance, our growth strategies and/or the proposed transaction, and could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations or otherwise to fluctuate or decrease, include, but are not limited to: general economic conditions; the impacts of public health concerns; adverse weather conditions; competition for consumer leisure time and spending; unanticipated construction delays; changes in our capital investment plans and projects; the expected timing and likelihood of completion of the proposed transaction, including the timing, receipt and terms and conditions of any required governmental and regulatory approvals of the proposed transaction; anticipated tax treatment, unforeseen liabilities, future capital expenditures, revenues, expenses, earnings, synergies, economic performance, indebtedness, financial condition, losses, future prospects, business and management strategies for the management, expansion and growth of the combined company’s operations and other conditions to the completion of the proposed transaction, including the possibility that any of the anticipated benefits of the proposed transaction will not be realized or will not be realized within the expected time period; the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the merger agreement; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Cedar Fair, Six Flags or their respective directors and others following announcement of the merger agreement and proposed transaction; the inability to consummate the transaction due to the failure to satisfy other conditions to complete the transaction; the potential adverse effects on the market price of either or both Cedar Fair units or Six Flags common stock; risks that the proposed transaction disrupts and/or harms current plans and operations of Cedar Fair or Six Flags, including that management’s time and attention will be diverted on transaction-related issues; the amount of the costs, fees, expenses and charges related to the transaction, including the possibility that the transaction may be more expensive to complete than anticipated; the ability of Cedar Fair and Six Flags to successfully integrate their businesses and to achieve anticipated synergies and value creation; potential adverse restrictions during the pendency of the proposed transaction to pursue certain business opportunities and strategic transactions; potential adverse reactions or changes to business relationships resulting from the announcement or completion of the proposed transaction; legislative, regulatory and economic developments and changes in laws, regulations, and policies affecting Cedar Fair and Six Flags; potential business uncertainty, including the outcome of commercial negotiations and changes to existing business relationships during the

pendency of the proposed transaction that could affect Cedar Fair’s and/or Six Flags’ financial performance and operating results; acts of terrorism or outbreak of war, hostilities, civil unrest, and other political or security disturbances; the impacts of pandemics or other public health crises, including the effects of government responses on people and economies; risks related to the potential impact of general economic, political and market factors on the companies or the proposed transaction; other factors we discuss from time to time in our reports filed with the SEC; and those risks that are described in the registration statement on Form S-4 and the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus. Additional information on risk factors that may affect our business and financial results can be found in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and in the filings we make from time to time with the SEC, including this Form 10-Q. We do not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect future events, information or circumstances that arise after the filing date of this document.

We are exposed to market risks from fluctuations in interest rates and currency exchange rates on our operations in Canada, and from time to time, on imported rides and equipment. The objective of our financial risk management is to reduce the potential negative impact of interest rate and foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations to acceptable levels. We do not acquire market risk sensitive instruments for trading purposes.