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8-K - CEDAR FAIR L Pq22011earningsrelease.htm
Exhibit 99.1

 
 
For Immediate Release
August 3, 2011
Contact:
Stacy Frole
(419) 627-2227

CEDAR FAIR REPORTS INCREASED ATTENDANCE AND REVENUES IN SECOND QUARTER FOLLOWING RECORD YEAR IN 2010
Net revenues increase 3% to $284.5 million in second quarter
Attendance in July up 5%, or 314,000 visits
Reaffirms guidance of full-year adjusted EBITDA in the range of $350 million to $370 million
Company declares $0.12 quarterly distribution payable September 15th; says it is on track to pay $1.00 per unit in distributions in 2011

SANDUSKY, OHIO, August 3, 2011 - Cedar Fair Entertainment Company (NYSE: FUN), a leader in regional amusement parks, water parks and active entertainment, today announced results for the second quarter ended June 26, 2011, and discussed its strong attendance and revenue trends through July.
Second Quarter Results
Cedar Fair's net revenues for the second quarter increased $8.9 million to $284.5 million, up 3% from $275.6 million in the second quarter ended June 27, 2010. Net income for the current quarter was $4.7 million, or $0.08 per diluted limited partner unit, versus a net loss of $4.2 million, or $0.08 per diluted limited partner unit, for the same period in 2010.
Adjusted EBITDA, which management believes is a meaningful measure of the Company's park-level operating results, increased $3.8 million, or 4 percent, to $95.9 million, compared with $92.1 million during the same period last year. The increase in adjusted EBITDA is primarily attributable to the strong revenue and attendance trends experienced by the parks in the second quarter. See the attached table for a reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA to net income (loss).
“As we reach the calendar mid-point of 2011 - and proceed with our all-important summer season - we are certainly pleased with the continued momentum growing throughout our industry-leading properties,” said Dick Kinzel, Cedar Fair's chief executive officer. “During the second quarter, our parks entertained 6.7 million visitors, an increase of approximately 93,000 visitors compared with this time last year. The western region leads the way in increased attendance as these parks continue our innovative marketing campaigns which include a renewed focus on their respective season pass programs. Equally pleasing is the fact that

Cedar Fair Entertainment Company - One Cedar Point Drive, Sandusky, Ohio 44870-5259 419-627-2233

Cedar Fair Announces Strong 2011 Second-Quarter Results
August 3, 2011
Page 2

our average in-park guest per capita spending trends remain positive across all of our regions year-over-year.”
For the second quarter of 2011, average in-park guest per capita spending increased 1%, or $0.39, to $38.95 and out-of-park revenues increased 4% to $28.8 million compared with $27.8 million for the second quarter of 2010. "The strength of our operations and new offerings within our parks has allowed us to increase the average in-park guest per capita spending while increasing the mix of repeat customers through our season pass program," said Kinzel.
For the second quarter, costs and expenses decreased 2%, or $3.1 million, to $189.3 million from $192.4 million in 2010, the net result of a $761,000 increase in cost of food, merchandise and games, a $4.0 million increase in operating expenses and a $7.9 million decrease in selling, general and administrative costs. The 3% increase in operating expenses is primarily attributable to timing differences in maintenance costs and operating supplies through the first half of the year compared with this time last year, as well as higher seasonal wage costs. The timing variances in maintenance costs and operating supplies are expected to be offset in the third quarter of this year. The decrease in selling, general and administrative costs in the period principally reflects the impact of costs from the terminated merger and legal and other costs incurred on the Company's debt refinancing efforts during the second quarter of 2010. These prior year costs were somewhat offset by legal and professional costs incurred in the current period, including expenses and costs for SEC compliance matters related to multiple Special Meeting requests during the second quarter of 2011.
After depreciation, amortization and other non-cash costs, operating income for the second quarter of 2011 was $52.4 million, or a more than 35% increase, when compared with operating income of $37.8 million for the same period in 2010.
Interest expense for the second quarter in 2011 increased $9.4 million to $42.2 million compared with $32.8 million for the same period a year ago. The increase in interest expense is primarily due to higher interest-rates as a result of the July 2010 debt refinancing and February 2011 amendment to the credit agreement.
A tax provision of $3.8 million was recorded to account for publicly traded partnership taxes and the tax attributes of the Company's corporate subsidiaries during the second quarter of 2011, compared with a tax provision of $7.2 million in the same period a year ago. The year-over-year variation in the tax benefit recorded is primarily due to a lower estimated annual effective tax rate for the 2011 year, which was impacted by lower expected foreign taxes for 2011. Actual cash taxes paid or payable are estimated to be between $8 million to $10 million for the 2011 calendar year.

Cedar Fair Entertainment Company - One Cedar Point Drive, Sandusky, Ohio 44870-5259 419-627-2233

Cedar Fair Announces Strong 2011 Second-Quarter Results
August 3, 2011
Page 3

After interest expense, tax provision, and a minimal non-cash benefit to income for the net effect of swaps, the net income for the three months ended June 26, 2011 totaled $4.7 million, or $0.08 per diluted limited partner unit, compared with a net loss of $4.2 million, or $0.08 per unit in 2010.
Six-Month Results
Cedar Fair generated net revenues of $311.4 million for the six-months ended June 26, 2011 and a net loss of $80.0 million, or $1.45 per diluted limited partner unit. For the same period last year, the Company reported net revenues of $302.9 million and a net loss of $44.1 million, or $0.80 per diluted limited partner unit. The increase in net loss is due primarily to the lower estimated annual effective tax rate for the 2011 year and the seasonal impact of accounting for income taxes. The seasonal impact of this non-cash item will reverse in the third quarter.
For the first six-months of 2011, adjusted EBITDA decreased $2.8 million to $36.7 million from $39.5 million a year ago. The decline in adjusted EBITDA is primarily attributable to timing differences in maintenance expense and operating supplies which were incurred in the second quarter 2011 and are expected to be offset in the third quarter 2011. These costs were somewhat offset by the stronger year-over-year revenues.
Preliminary July Results Show Continued Growth
Based on preliminary July results, revenues during the first five weeks of the third quarter of 2011 were up 6%, or approximately $18 million, compared with the same period a year ago. This increase was largely due to a 5%, or 314,000 visit, increase in attendance, and an approximately $800,000 increase in out-of-park revenues. Over the same five-week period, average in-park guest per capita spending was up 2% from a year ago.
When factoring in these preliminary July results, revenues for the first seven months of the year were approximately $611 million compared with $587 million for the same period a year ago. This is a result of an increase in attendance to 13.8 million visitors compared with 13.4 million in 2010, an increase of 1% in average in-park guest per capita spending to approximately $39.58, and an increase in out-of-park revenues of $2 million to approximately $66 million, primarily due to increases in hotel occupancy.
“Through this past weekend, we continue to see strength in our season pass and group business along with our walk-up customers,” said Kinzel. “The increased attendance and guest per capita spending speaks to both the effectiveness of our innovative marketing campaigns, as well as the compelling entertainment value we provide our guests.”

Cedar Fair Entertainment Company - One Cedar Point Drive, Sandusky, Ohio 44870-5259 419-627-2233

Cedar Fair Announces Strong 2011 Second-Quarter Results
August 3, 2011
Page 4

Cash and Liquidity Remains Strong
“We ended the second quarter of 2011 in sound financial condition in terms of both liquidity and cash flow,” added Kinzel. As of June 26, 2011, the Company had $1.18 billion of variable-rate debt (before giving consideration to fixed-rate interest rate swaps), $399.8 million of fixed-rate debt and $85.0 million in borrowings under its revolving credit facilities. As of July 25, 2011 the revolving credit facility was fully repaid. Of the total term debt, $11.8 million is scheduled to mature within the next 12 months. The Company expects to pay cash interest costs of approximately $150 million in 2011. The Company expects cash interest costs to decrease to between $100 million and $115 million annually upon the expiration of several interest-rate swap agreements in October 2011 and February 2012.
Distribution Declaration
The Company's Board of Directors also announced today the declaration of a quarterly cash distribution of $0.12 per limited partner unit. The distribution will be paid on September 15, 2011, to holders of record as of September 6, 2011. Assuming results continue to meet expectations, the Company intends to pay $1.00 per unit in distributions in 2011 with a goal to increase distributions to $2.00 or more per unit in 2013.
Outlook
“While we have approximately 45% of our operating season still ahead of us, we feel very good about how the year is tracking thus far as we head into the next peak vacation month of August and into the fall season. WindSeeker, our 301-foot-tall swing ride, introduced at three of our largest properties, has received rave reviews from thrill seekers, while Planet Snoopy, new at Valleyfair, Dorney Park and Worlds of Fun, has been very popular with our younger guests. Dinosaurs Alive!, the world's largest collection of animatronic dinosaurs at Kings Island, is also proving to be another attraction that the whole family can enjoy. Given the strong and positive guest response to our 2011 capital programs, as well as our new pricing initiatives, we fully anticipate we will continue to attract families looking for entertainment closer to home,” said Kinzel. “Based on the strength of our preliminary results through July, we are reaffirming our full-year guidance of net revenues of $975 million to $1.0 billion and full-year adjusted EBITDA between $350 million and $370 million, which follows last year's record results.”

Cedar Fair Entertainment Company - One Cedar Point Drive, Sandusky, Ohio 44870-5259 419-627-2233

Cedar Fair Announces Strong 2011 Second-Quarter Results
August 3, 2011
Page 5

Conference Call
The Company will host a conference call with analysts today, August 3, 2011, at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time, which will be web cast live in “listen only” mode via the Cedar Fair website (www.cedarfair.com). It will also be available for replay starting at approximately 5:00 p.m. ET, Wednesday, August 3, 2011, until 11:59 p.m. ET, Wednesday, August 17, 2011. In order to access the replay of the earnings call, please dial 1-877-870-5176 followed by the access code 4457373.
About Cedar Fair
Cedar Fair is a publicly traded partnership headquartered in Sandusky, Ohio, and one of the largest regional amusement-resort operators in the world. The Company owns and operates 11 amusement parks, six outdoor water parks, one indoor water park and five hotels. Amusement parks in the Company's northern region include two in Ohio: Cedar Point, consistently voted “Best Amusement Park in the World” in Amusement Today polls and Kings Island; as well as Canada's Wonderland, near Toronto; Dorney Park, PA; Valleyfair, MN; and Michigan's Adventure, MI. In the southern region are Kings Dominion, VA; Carowinds, NC; and Worlds of Fun, MO. Western parks in California include: Knott's Berry Farm; California's Great America; and Gilroy Gardens, which is managed under contract.
Forward-Looking Statements
Some of the statements contained in this news release constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements as to the Company's expectations, beliefs and strategies regarding the future. These statements may involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in such statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct. Important factors, including general economic conditions, competition for consumer leisure time and spending, adverse weather conditions, unanticipated construction delays and other factors discussed from time to time by the Company in reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) could affect attendance at its parks and cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations. Additional information on risk factors that may affect the business and financial results of the Company can be found in filings the Company has made with the SEC. The Company undertakes no obligation to correct or update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
###
(Tables Follow)


Cedar Fair Entertainment Company - One Cedar Point Drive, Sandusky, Ohio 44870-5259 419-627-2233

Cedar Fair Announces Strong 2011 Second-Quarter Results
August 3, 2011
Page 6

CEDAR FAIR, L.P.
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands, except per unit amounts)

 
 
Three months ended
 
Six months ended
 
Twelve months ended
 
 
6/26/2011
 
6/27/2010
 
6/26/2011
 
6/27/2010
 
6/26/2011
 
6/27/2010
Net revenues:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Admissions
 
$
160,619

 
$
156,507

 
$
171,231

 
$
167,471

 
$
572,522

 
$
539,422

Food, merchandise and games
 
103,989

 
100,852

 
115,771

 
112,762

 
340,365

 
321,667

Accommodations and other
 
19,882

 
18,228

 
24,357

 
22,670

 
73,161

 
67,297

 
 
284,490

 
275,587

 
311,359

 
302,903

 
986,048

 
928,386

Costs and expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cost of food, merchandise and games revenues
 
27,111

 
26,350

 
31,223

 
30,231

 
87,611

 
86,413

Operating expenses
 
124,978

 
120,939

 
190,106

 
183,691

 
417,817

 
407,297

Selling, general and administrative
 
37,233

 
45,141

 
58,148

 
62,492

 
129,657

 
139,877

Depreciation and amortization
 
42,764

 
43,989

 
46,554

 
47,878

 
125,472

 
133,432

Loss on impairment of goodwill and other intangibles
 

 
1,390

 

 
1,390

 
903

 
5,890

Loss on impairment / retirement of fixed assets, net
 

 

 
196

 

 
62,948

 
214

Gain on sale of other assets
 

 

 

 

 

 
(23,098
)
 
 
232,086

 
237,809

 
326,227

 
325,682

 
824,408

 
750,025

Operating income (loss)
 
52,404

 
37,778

 
(14,868
)
 
(22,779
)
 
161,640

 
178,361

Interest expense
 
42,185

 
32,785

 
83,297

 
62,399

 
171,183

 
127,294

Net effect of swaps
 
(1,432
)
 
2,034

 
455

 
9,609

 
9,040

 
18,779

Loss on early debt extinguishment
 

 

 

 

 
35,289

 

Unrealized/realized foreign currency (gain) loss
 
3,043

 
19

 
(3,845
)
 
(4
)
 
(24,404
)
 
623

Other (income) expense
 
177

 
(3
)
 
1,085

 
(38
)
 
(31
)
 
800

Income (loss) before taxes
 
8,431

 
2,943

 
(95,860
)
 
(94,745
)
 
(29,437
)
 
30,865

Provision (benefit) for taxes
 
3,765

 
7,158

 
(15,834
)
 
(50,597
)
 
38,008

 
(6,309
)
Net income (loss)
 
4,666

 
(4,215
)
 
(80,026
)
 
(44,148
)
 
(67,445
)
 
37,174

Net income (loss) allocated to general partner
 

 

 
(1
)
 

 
(1
)
 

Net income (loss) allocated to limited partners
 
$
4,666

 
$
(4,215
)
 
$
(80,025
)
 
$
(44,148
)
 
$
(67,444
)
 
$
37,174

Basic earnings per limited partner unit:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average limited partner units outstanding
 
55,346

 
55,324

 
55,341

 
55,266

 
55,338

 
55,254

Net income (loss) per limited partner unit
 
$
0.08

 
$
(0.08
)
 
$
(1.45
)
 
$
(0.80
)
 
$
(1.22
)
 
$
0.67

Diluted earnings per limited partner unit:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average limited partner units outstanding
 
55,825

 
55,324

 
55,341

 
55,266

 
55,338

 
55,841

Net income (loss) per limited partner unit
 
$
0.08

 
$
(0.08
)
 
$
(1.45
)
 
$
(0.80
)
 
$
(1.22
)
 
$
0.67




Cedar Fair Entertainment Company - One Cedar Point Drive, Sandusky, Ohio 44870-5259 419-627-2233

Cedar Fair Announces Strong 2011 Second-Quarter Results
August 3, 2011
Page 7

CEDAR FAIR, L.P.
UNAUDITED BALANCE SHEET DATA
SECOND QUARTER
 
 
 
 
(In thousands)
6/26/2011
 
6/27/2010
Cash and cash equivalents
$
35,679

 
$
23,930

Total assets
$
2,173,732

 
$
2,260,856

Long-Term Debt, including current maturities:
 
 
Revolving credit loans
$
85,000

 
$
197,000

Term debt
1,177,050

 
1,496,161

Notes
399,756

 

 
$
1,661,806

 
$
1,693,161

Total partners' equity
$
52,207

 
$
110,238


CEDAR FAIR, L.P.
RECONCILIATION OF ADJUSTED EBITDA
SECOND QUARTER
(unaudited)
 
 
Three months ended
 
Six months ended
 
Twelve months ended
 
 
6/26/2011
 
6/27/2010
 
6/26/2011
 
6/27/2010
 
6/26/2011
 
6/27/2010
 
 
(In thousands )
Net income (loss)
 
$
4,666

 
$
(4,215
)
 
$
(80,026
)
 
$
(44,148
)
 
$
(67,445
)
 
$
37,174

Interest expense
 
42,185

 
32,785

 
83,297

 
62,399

 
171,183

 
127,294

Interest income
 
(7
)
 
(3
)
 
(88
)
 
(38
)
 
(1,204
)
 
(59
)
Provision (benefit) for taxes
 
3,765

 
7,158

 
(15,834
)
 
(50,597
)
 
38,008

 
(6,309
)
Depreciation and amortization
 
42,764

 
43,989

 
46,554

 
47,878

 
125,472

 
133,432

EBITDA
 
93,373

 
79,714

 
33,903

 
15,494

 
266,014

 
291,532

Loss on early extinguishment of debt
 

 

 

 

 
35,289

 

Net effect of swaps
 
(1,432
)
 
2,034

 
455

 
9,609

 
9,040

 
18,779

Unrealized foreign currency (gain) loss on Notes
 
2,831

 

 
(4,090
)
 

 
(21,554
)
 

Non-cash option expense (income)
 

 

 
(228
)
 
(10
)
 
(307
)
 
(495
)
Loss on impairment of goodwill and other intangibles
 

 
1,390

 

 
1,390

 
903

 
5,890

Loss on impairment/retirement of fixed assets, net
 

 

 
196

 

 
62,948

 
214

Gain on sale of other assets
 

 

 

 

 

 
(23,098
)
Terminated merger costs
 
80

 
6,442

 
80

 
10,267

 
188

 
15,886

Refinancing costs
 
161

 
2,517

 
1,150

 
2,517

 
(1,367
)
 
2,517

Licensing dispute settlement costs
 

 

 

 

 

 
1,980

Class action settlement costs
 

 

 

 
276

 

 
9,754

Other non-recurring items (as defined)
 
847

 

 
5,271

 

 
5,271

 

Adjusted EBITDA (a)
 
$
95,860

 
$
92,097

 
$
36,737

 
$
39,543

 
$
356,425

 
$
322,959

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

(a)
Adjusted EBITDA represents earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, other non-cash items, and adjustments as defined in the Amended 2010 Credit Agreement. The Company believes adjusted EBITDA is a meaningful measure of park-level operating profitability. Adjusted EBITDA is not a measurement of operating performance computed in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and is not intended to be a substitute for operating income, net income, or cash flow from operating activities, as defined under generally accepted accounting principles. In addition, adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies.

This news release and prior releases are available on the Cedar Fair website at www.cedarfair.com

Cedar Fair Entertainment Company - One Cedar Point Drive, Sandusky, Ohio 44870-5259 419-627-2233