Six Flags Delivers Record Full Year 2011 Adjusted EBITDA of $350 Million and Industry-Leading Modified EBITDA Margin of 37.4 Percent
Record Fourth Quarter Revenue and EBITDA Increase 13 Percent and 60 Percent Respectively
Feb 15, 2012, 08:00 ET
GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas, Feb. 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Six Flags Entertainment Corporation (NYSE: SIX) announced today that Adjusted EBITDA(1) reached a record $350 million for full year 2011, an improvement of $55 million or 19 percent over 2010, primarily as a result of higher guest spending and lower cash operating costs. Full year 2011 Modified EBITDA(2) margin, the most directly comparable measure of the parks' performance, reached an industry high of 37.4 percent—also a record high for the company—and represented a 430 basis point improvement over 2010. Revenue for the full year 2011 increased $37 million to $1.0 billion, representing a 4 percent gain primarily due to a $44 million or 5 percent increase in guest spending, offset by a collective $6 million decline in sponsorship, international licensing, management fees and accommodations revenue.
"With all-time-high guest satisfaction ratings and record financial performance, our team has delivered an exceptional year for guests and shareholders alike," said Jim Reid-Anderson, Chairman, President and CEO. "I am particularly pleased that we achieved our aspirational Adjusted EBITDA target of $350 million in 2011. Our success is directly attributable to a focused business strategy, quality execution and the dedication of our employees—our company's most important asset."
Fourth quarter 2011 Adjusted EBITDA was $35 million, a $13 million or 60 percent improvement over prior year driven by strong revenue growth. Revenue of $138 million increased $16 million or 13 percent. Admissions revenue per capita declined $0.36 or 2 percent to $19.21 due to strong season pass attendance. In-park revenue per capita of $15.61 increased $0.07 while total guest spending per capita of $34.82 declined $0.29 due to the high season pass attendance mix. Guest attendance increased 16 percent to 3.6 million guests. In the quarter, total cash expenses increased $3 million or 3 percent primarily due to higher labor and marketing costs associated with the highly successful expanded Fright Fest and Holiday in the Park offerings.
For the full year 2011, admissions revenue per capita of $22.30 increased $1.24 or 6 percent over 2010 while in-park revenue per capita of $17.03 increased $0.54 or 3 percent. Guest spending per capita for 2011 was $39.33, compared to $37.55 for full year 2010, representing an increase of $1.78 or 5 percent. Full year attendance was 24.3 million guests. Cash expenses decreased $22 million or 3 percent in 2011 primarily due to lower costs associated with marketing, compensation and utility costs.
Cash earnings per share(3) in 2011 was $3.51. Since the company emerged from Chapter 11 on April 30, 2010 with a new capital structure, the comparable prior period cash earnings per share figure is not meaningful. The company believes cash earnings per share is a meaningful metric given the current $1.1 billion accumulated tax loss carryforward and the net depreciation and amortization impacts relating to fresh-start accounting. The 2011 reported loss per share was $0.41.
Free Cash Flow(4) was $193 million for full year 2011—an increase of $65 million or 51 percent. Capital expenditures, net of property insurance recoveries, were $91 million for full year 2011.
Net Debt(5) as of December 31, 2011 was $726 million, compared to $784 million as of December 31, 2010 — a reduction of $58 million. In the fourth quarter the company repurchased $18.5 million or approximately 452,000 shares of its stock. During 2011 the company repurchased $60 million of its common stock, paid a $30 million arbitration settlement, incurred $25 million of debt refinancing fees and issued $10 million of dividends. The company had $231 million of cash on hand as of December 31, 2011 and a net debt to Adjusted EBITDA ratio of 2.1 times as compared to 2.7 times as of December 31, 2010.
Recently Announced Events
In December 2011 the company entered into a new $1.135 billion credit facility that, assuming current LIBOR rates, reduces annual cash interest costs by more than $13 million, provides the company incremental financial flexibility, and extends maturities to 2018.
In January 2012 the company's Board of Directors authorized a four-year, $250 million share repurchase plan.
In February 2012 the company increased its quarterly dividend from $0.06 to $0.60 per common share, representing an annual dividend of $2.40 per share.
Conference Call
At 8:00 a.m. Central Time today, the company will host a conference call to discuss its fourth quarter and full year 2011 financial results. The call is accessible through the Six Flags Investor Relations website at sixflags.com/investors or by dialing 1-888-282-0415 in the United States or +1-415-228-4945 outside the United States and requesting the Six Flags earnings call. A replay of the call will be available by dialing 1-800-679-9657 or +1-203-369-3317 through February 22, 2012.
About Six Flags Entertainment Corporation
Six Flags Entertainment Corporation is the world's largest regional theme park company with $1.0 billion in revenue and 19 parks across the United States, Mexico and Canada. For more than 50 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 sixflags.com.
Fresh Start Reporting
In connection with the company's emergence from Chapter 11 on April 30, 2010 and the application of fresh start reporting upon emergence in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 852, "Reorganizations", the results for the three- and twelve-month periods ended December 31, 2011 and the three- and eight-month periods ended December 31, 2010, respectively (the company is referred to during such periods as the "Successor") and the results for the four-month period ended April 30, 2010 (the company is referred to during such period as the "Predecessor") are presented separately. This presentation is required by United States generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), as the Successor is considered to be a new entity for financial reporting purposes, and the results of the Successor reflect the application of fresh-start reporting. Accordingly, the company's financial statements after April 30, 2010, are not comparable to its financial statements for any period prior to its emergence from Chapter 11. For illustrative purposes in this earnings release, the company has combined the Successor and Predecessor results to derive combined results for the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2010. However, because of various adjustments to the consolidated financial statements in connection with the application of fresh start reporting, including asset valuation adjustments and liability adjustments, the results of operations for the Successor are not comparable to those of the Predecessor. The financial information accompanying this earnings release provides the Successor and the Predecessor GAAP results for the applicable periods, along with the combined results described above. The company believes that subject to consideration of the impact of fresh start reporting, the combined results provide meaningful information about revenues and costs, which would not be available if the prior year twelve-month period was not combined to accommodate analysis.
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 improve operating results by implementing strategic cost reductions, and organizational and personnel changes without adversely affecting our business, (iii) our operations and results of operations, and (iv) 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, events, disturbances and terrorist activities, risk of accidents occurring at the company's parks, adverse weather conditions, general financial and credit market conditions, economic conditions (including consumer spending patterns), competition, pending, threatened or future legal proceedings 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 earnings per share", which is defined as Free Cash Flow divided by the weighted average 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. |
|
(4) |
The company defines Free Cash Flow as Adjusted EBITDA less capital expenditures (net of property insurance recoveries), cash paid for interest, net and cash taxes. See Note 5 to the following financial statements for a more detailed discussion and definition of Free Cash Flow. |
|
(5) |
Net Debt represents total long-term debt, including current portion, less cash and cash equivalents. |
|
Six Flags Entertainment Corporation |
||||||
(In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts) |
||||||
Statements of Operations Data (1) |
Three Months Ended |
|||||
December 31, |
||||||
2011 |
2010 |
|||||
Theme park admissions |
$ 68,457 |
$ 59,971 |
||||
Theme park food, merchandise and other |
55,626 |
47,613 |
||||
Sponsorship, licensing and other fees |
10,962 |
11,806 |
||||
Accommodations revenue |
2,516 |
2,399 |
||||
Total revenue |
137,561 |
121,789 |
||||
Operating expenses (excluding depreciation and |
||||||
amortization shown separately below) |
69,749 |
66,729 |
||||
Selling, general and administrative expense (excluding |
||||||
depreciation, amortization and stock-based |
||||||
compensation shown separately below) |
28,929 |
28,896 |
||||
Costs of products sold |
9,805 |
9,408 |
||||
Depreciation |
37,131 |
39,807 |
||||
Amortization |
4,507 |
4,511 |
||||
Stock-based compensation |
19,945 |
13,447 |
||||
Loss on disposal of assets |
1,510 |
10,599 |
||||
Interest expense, net |
15,939 |
19,354 |
||||
Equity in loss of investee |
98 |
343 |
||||
Loss on debt extinguishment |
46,520 |
17,536 |
||||
Other expense (income), net |
266 |
(4,704) |
||||
Restructure (recovery) costs |
(60) |
5,955 |
||||
Loss from continuing operations before |
||||||
reorganization items, income taxes and |
||||||
discontinued operations |
(96,778) |
(90,092) |
||||
Reorganization items, net |
1,012 |
2,509 |
||||
Loss from continuing operations |
||||||
before income taxes and discontinued operations |
(97,790) |
(92,601) |
||||
Income tax expense |
6,000 |
2,634 |
||||
Loss from continuing operations before |
||||||
discontinued operations |
(103,790) |
(95,235) |
||||
Income from discontinued operations |
1,314 |
50 |
||||
Net loss |
$ (102,476) |
$ (95,185) |
||||
Less: Net loss attributable to |
||||||
noncontrolling interests |
468 |
891 |
||||
Net loss attributable to |
||||||
Six Flags Entertainment Corporation |
$ (102,008) |
$ (94,294) |
||||
Net loss applicable to Six Flags Entertainment |
||||||
Corporation common stockholders |
$ (102,008) |
$ (94,294) |
||||
Per share - basic and diluted: |
||||||
Loss from continuing operations |
||||||
applicable to Six Flags Entertainment |
||||||
Corporation common stockholders |
$ (1.88) |
$ (1.69) |
||||
Income from discontinued operations |
||||||
applicable to Six Flags Entertainment |
||||||
Corporation common stockholders |
$ 0.03 |
$ 0.00 |
||||
Net loss applicable to Six Flags Entertainment |
||||||
Corporation common stockholders |
$ (1.85) |
$ (1.69) |
||||
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic and diluted |
54,997 |
55,713 |
||||
Six Flags Entertainment Corporation |
|||||||||||||
(In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts) |
|||||||||||||
Statements of Operations Data (1) |
Twelve Months Ended |
Eight Months Ended |
Four Months Ended |
||||||||||
December 31, |
December 31, |
April 30, |
|||||||||||
2011 |
2010 |
2010 |
2010 |
||||||||||
Successor |
Combined |
Successor |
Predecessor |
||||||||||
Theme park admissions |
$ 541,744 |
$ 511,459 |
$ 452,189 |
$ 59,270 |
|||||||||
Theme park food, merchandise and other |
413,844 |
400,606 |
348,552 |
52,054 |
|||||||||
Sponsorship, licensing and other fees |
42,380 |
49,136 |
37,877 |
11,259 |
|||||||||
Accommodations revenue |
15,206 |
14,688 |
9,194 |
5,494 |
|||||||||
Total revenue |
1,013,174 |
975,889 |
847,812 |
128,077 |
|||||||||
Operating expenses (excluding depreciation and |
|||||||||||||
amortization shown separately below) |
397,874 |
408,186 |
292,550 |
115,636 |
|||||||||
Selling, general and administrative expense (excluding |
|||||||||||||
depreciation, amortization and stock-based |
|||||||||||||
compensation shown separately below) |
160,798 |
170,301 |
123,411 |
46,890 |
|||||||||
Costs of products sold |
77,286 |
79,097 |
66,965 |
12,132 |
|||||||||
Depreciation |
150,952 |
151,688 |
106,315 |
45,373 |
|||||||||
Amortization |
18,047 |
12,336 |
12,034 |
302 |
|||||||||
Stock-based compensation |
54,261 |
19,386 |
18,668 |
718 |
|||||||||
Loss on disposal of assets |
7,615 |
13,650 |
11,727 |
1,923 |
|||||||||
Interest expense, net |
65,217 |
127,976 |
53,842 |
74,134 |
|||||||||
Equity in loss (income) of investee |
3,111 |
778 |
1,372 |
(594) |
|||||||||
Loss on debt extinguishment |
46,520 |
18,493 |
18,493 |
- |
|||||||||
Other expense (income), net |
73 |
154 |
956 |
(802) |
|||||||||
Restructure costs |
25,086 |
37,417 |
37,417 |
- |
|||||||||
Income (loss) from continuing operations before |
|||||||||||||
reorganization items, income taxes and |
|||||||||||||
discontinued operations |
6,334 |
(63,573) |
104,062 |
(167,635) |
|||||||||
Reorganization items, net |
2,455 |
(811,994) |
7,479 |
(819,473) |
|||||||||
Income from continuing operations |
|||||||||||||
before income taxes and discontinued operations |
3,879 |
748,421 |
96,583 |
651,838 |
|||||||||
Income tax (benefit) expense |
(8,065) |
123,825 |
11,177 |
112,648 |
|||||||||
Income from continuing operations before |
|||||||||||||
discontinued operations |
11,944 |
624,596 |
85,406 |
539,190 |
|||||||||
Income (loss) from discontinued operations |
1,201 |
9,194 |
(565) |
9,759 |
|||||||||
Net income |
$ 13,145 |
$ 633,790 |
$ 84,841 |
$ 548,949 |
|||||||||
Less: Net income attributable to |
|||||||||||||
noncontrolling interests |
(35,805) |
(34,864) |
(34,788) |
(76) |
|||||||||
Net (loss) income attributable to |
|||||||||||||
Six Flags Entertainment Corporation |
$ (22,660) |
$ 598,926 |
$ 50,053 |
$ 548,873 |
|||||||||
Net (loss) income applicable to Six Flags Entertainment |
|||||||||||||
Corporation common stockholders |
$ (22,660) |
$ 598,926 |
$ 50,053 |
$ 548,873 |
|||||||||
Per share - basic and diluted: |
|||||||||||||
(Loss) income from continuing operations |
|||||||||||||
applicable to Six Flags Entertainment |
|||||||||||||
Corporation common stockholders |
$ (0.43) |
$ 0.92 |
$ 5.50 |
||||||||||
Income (loss) from discontinued operations |
|||||||||||||
applicable to Six Flags Entertainment |
|||||||||||||
Corporation common stockholders |
$ 0.02 |
$ (0.01) |
$ 0.10 |
||||||||||
Net (loss) income applicable to Six Flags Entertainment |
|||||||||||||
Corporation common stockholders |
$ (0.41) |
$ 0.91 |
$ 5.60 |
||||||||||
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic and diluted |
55,075 |
55,300 |
98,054 |
||||||||||
The following table sets forth a reconciliation of net loss to Adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow for the |
|||||||
periods shown (in thousands): |
|||||||
Three Months Ended |
|||||||
December 31, |
|||||||
2011 |
2010 |
||||||
Net loss |
$ (102,476) |
$ (95,185) |
|||||
Income from discontinued operations |
(1,314) |
(50) |
|||||
Income tax expense |
6,000 |
2,634 |
|||||
Restructure (recovery) costs |
(60) |
5,955 |
|||||
Reorganization items, net |
1,012 |
2,509 |
|||||
Other expense (income), net |
266 |
(4,704) |
|||||
Loss on debt extinguishment |
46,520 |
17,536 |
|||||
Equity in loss of investee |
98 |
343 |
|||||
Interest expense, net |
15,939 |
19,354 |
|||||
Loss on disposal of assets |
1,510 |
10,599 |
|||||
Amortization |
4,507 |
4,511 |
|||||
Depreciation |
37,131 |
39,807 |
|||||
Stock-based compensation |
19,945 |
13,447 |
|||||
Impact of Fresh Start valuation adjustments (2) |
393 |
888 |
|||||
Modified EBITDA (3) |
29,471 |
17,644 |
|||||
Third party interest in EBITDA |
|||||||
of certain operations (4) |
5,312 |
4,156 |
|||||
Adjusted EBITDA (3) |
$ 34,783 |
$ 21,800 |
|||||
Cash paid for interest, net |
(22,862) |
(24,855) |
|||||
Capital expenditures (net of property insurance recoveries in 2010) |
(21,891) |
(18,381) |
|||||
Cash taxes |
(1,056) |
(1,002) |
|||||
Free Cash Flow (5) |
$ (11,026) |
$ (22,438) |
|||||
The following table sets forth a reconciliation of net income to Adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow for the |
||||||||||||||
periods shown (in thousands): |
||||||||||||||
Twelve Months Ended |
Eight Months Ended |
Four Months Ended |
||||||||||||
December 31, |
December 31, |
April 30, |
||||||||||||
2011 |
2010 |
2010 |
2010 |
|||||||||||
Successor |
Combined |
Successor |
Predecessor |
|||||||||||
Net income |
$ 13,145 |
$ 633,790 |
$ 84,841 |
$ 548,949 |
||||||||||
(Income) loss from discontinued operations |
(1,201) |
(9,194) |
565 |
(9,759) |
||||||||||
Income tax (benefit) expense |
(8,065) |
123,825 |
11,177 |
112,648 |
||||||||||
Restructure costs |
25,086 |
37,417 |
37,417 |
- |
||||||||||
Reorganization items, net |
2,455 |
(811,994) |
7,479 |
(819,473) |
||||||||||
Other expense (income), net |
73 |
154 |
956 |
(802) |
||||||||||
Loss on debt extinguishment |
46,520 |
18,493 |
18,493 |
- |
||||||||||
Equity in loss (income) of investee |
3,111 |
778 |
1,372 |
(594) |
||||||||||
Interest expense, net |
65,217 |
127,976 |
53,842 |
74,134 |
||||||||||
Loss on disposal of assets |
7,615 |
13,650 |
11,727 |
1,923 |
||||||||||
Amortization |
18,047 |
12,336 |
12,034 |
302 |
||||||||||
Depreciation |
150,952 |
151,688 |
106,315 |
45,373 |
||||||||||
Stock-based compensation |
54,261 |
19,386 |
18,668 |
718 |
||||||||||
Impact of Fresh Start valuation adjustments (2) |
1,535 |
4,562 |
4,562 |
- |
||||||||||
Modified EBITDA (3) |
378,751 |
322,867 |
369,448 |
(46,581) |
||||||||||
Third party interest in EBITDA |
||||||||||||||
of certain operations (4) |
(28,417) |
(27,826) |
(30,571) |
2,745 |
||||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA (3) |
$ 350,334 |
$ 295,041 |
$ 338,877 |
$ (43,836) |
||||||||||
Cash paid for interest, net |
(57,950) |
(79,365) |
(43,611) |
(35,754) |
||||||||||
Capital expenditures (net of property insurance recoveries) |
(91,144) |
(79,411) |
(42,286) |
(37,125) |
||||||||||
Cash taxes |
(7,945) |
(8,073) |
(4,068) |
(4,005) |
||||||||||
Free Cash Flow (5) |
$ 193,295 |
$ 128,192 |
$ 248,912 |
$ (120,720) |
||||||||||
Balance Sheet Data |
||||||||
(In Thousands) |
||||||||
Balance Sheet Data |
December 31, 2011 |
December 31, 2010 |
||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
||||||||
(excluding restricted cash) |
$ 231,427 |
$ 187,061 |
||||||
Total assets |
2,648,178 |
2,733,253 |
||||||
Current portion of long-term debt |
35,296 |
32,959 |
||||||
Long-term debt (excluding current |
||||||||
portion) |
921,940 |
938,195 |
||||||
Redeemable noncontrolling interests |
440,427 |
441,655 |
||||||
Total equity |
767,148 |
868,163 |
||||||
Shares outstanding |
54,642 |
55,728 |
||||||
(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) |
“Adjusted EBITDA”, a non-GAAP measure, is defined as the Company’s consolidated income (loss) from continuing operations: (i) excluding the cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles, fresh start accounting valuation adjustments, discontinued operations, income tax expense or benefit, reorganization items, restructure costs, other income or expense, gain or loss on early extinguishment of debt, equity in income or loss of investees, interest expense (net), amortization, depreciation, stock-based compensation, gain or loss on disposal of assets, interests of third parties in the Adjusted EBITDA of properties that are less than wholly owned by the Company (consisting of Six Flags Over Georgia, Six Flags Over Texas, Six Flags White Water Atlanta and Six Flags Great Escape Lodge & Indoor Waterpark (the "Lodge"), and (ii) plus the Company’s share of the Adjusted EBITDA of dick clark productions, inc. 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. The Company believes that Adjusted EBITDA is useful to investors, equity analysts and rating agencies as a measure of the Company's performance. The Company uses Adjusted EBITDA in its internal evaluation of operating effectiveness and decisions regarding the allocation of resources. In addition, Adjusted EBITDA is approximately equal to “Parent Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA” as defined in the Company’s secured credit facilities, 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. |
|
"Modified EBITDA", a non-GAAP measure, is defined as Adjusted EBITDA plus the interests of third parties in the Adjusted EBITDA of the properties that are less than wholly owned (consisting of Six Flags Over Georgia, Six Flags White Water Atlanta, Six Flags Over Texas, the Lodge plus the Company's interest in the Adjusted EBITDA of dick clark productions, inc.). The Company believes that Modified EBITDA is useful in the same manner as Adjusted EBITDA, with the distinction of representing a measure that can be more readily compared to other companies that do not have interests of third parties in any of their properties or equity investments. 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. |
||
(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. |
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(5) |
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 (which includes $8.0 million of proceeds, in the third quarter of 2010, related to the final settlement of an insurance claim for Six Flags New Orleans), and (iii) cash taxes. The Company has excluded from the definition of Free Cash Flow the $70.3 million in post-petition interest paid to the holders of the Six Flags Operations notes that were extinguished in April 2010, the deferred financing costs related to the Company's new debt of $41.8 million incurred in the second quarter of 2010, the deferred financing costs related to the Company's debt refinancing of $11.8 million incurred in the fourth quarter of 2010 and the deferred financing costs related to the Company's debt refinancing of $16.0 million incurred in the fourth quarter of 2011 due to the unusual 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. |
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SOURCE Six Flags Entertainment Corporation