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   Six Flags Entertainment Corporation 2015 Annual Report

Six Flags Entertainment Corporation 2015 Annual Report/media/Files/S/Six...In 2015, we took Six Flags to new heights as we achieved our sixth consecutive year of record performance

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Page 1: Six Flags Entertainment Corporation 2015 Annual Report/media/Files/S/Six...In 2015, we took Six Flags to new heights as we achieved our sixth consecutive year of record performance

   

Six Flags Entertainment Corporation

2015 Annual Report

Page 2: Six Flags Entertainment Corporation 2015 Annual Report/media/Files/S/Six...In 2015, we took Six Flags to new heights as we achieved our sixth consecutive year of record performance

Dear Six Flags Shareholders,

As the new President and Chief Executive Officer of Six Flags Entertainment, I am honored and excited to lead this great company into the future given our excellent momentum and outstanding growth potential.

In 2015, we took Six Flags to new heights as we achieved our sixth consecutive year of record performance. Attendance grew 11 percent, park guests continued to give us their highest ratings ever, and team morale has never been higher. Revenue grew seven percent to $1.3 billion, Adjusted EBITDA(1)

increased 10 percent, and Operating Cash Flow improved 21 percent to nearly one-half a billion dollars. In addition, we increased our dividend in the fourth quarter by 11 percent to an annual run rate of $2.32 per share, providing one of the most attractive dividend yields in the U.S. market. As a result of these achievements and the future prospects for our business, Six Flags shareholders were rewarded with a 33 percent return on their investment in 2015.

We have been able to deliver these types of results through consistent execution of our business strategy, the foundation of which is based on safety, innovation, and delighting our guests. A key part of our success is our industry-leading innovation, including the new rides and attractions we introduce at every park every year—many of which are industry firsts. Another key area of focus is expanding our operating season during the fall and winter months, when our parks host unique and immersive Halloween- and holiday-themed events that provide guests yet another reason to visit the parks. Our food and beverage offerings also provide us opportunity to grow through programs such as our All Season Dining Pass that allows season pass holders and members to eat in our parks for a fixed price all season long. In addition, our strategy to license our brands outside of North America, where we work with long-term partners to develop Six Flags-branded theme parks, has seen early success and we believe this element of our strategy has significant potential for long-term growth.

As we look to 2016 and beyond, our sights are set on reaching new heights for the company, including ensuring the safety of our guests and employees, delighting our guests, leading the industry in innovation, and attaining our aspirational goal of $600 million of Modified EBITDA(1) by 2017. Our team is excited about our future and committed to success.

Thank you for your ongoing support of Six Flags and our entire team. Our goal is to create consistently strong returns for our shareholders over the long-term.

John M. Duffey President and Chief Executive Officer Six Flags Entertainment Corporation

(1) See the inside back cover of this annual report for the definition of Adjusted EBITDA and Modified EBITDA, and a reconciliation of these measures to U.S. GAAP financial measures.

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2015 2014 2013 2012Net income 192,855$ 114,034$ 156,873$ 403,039$

- (545) (549) (7,273) Income tax expense (benefit) 70,369 46,522 47,601 (184,154)

Other expense, net(1) 223 356 1,054 2,733 Loss on debt extinguishment 6,557 - 789 587 Equity in loss of investee - - - 2,222 Interest expense, net 75,903 72,589 74,145 46,624 Loss on disposal of assets 9,882 5,860 8,579 8,105 Gain of sale of investee - (10,031) - (67,319) Amortization 2,623 2,658 14,393 15,648 Depreciation 104,788 105,449 113,682 132,397 Stock-based compensation 56,233 140,038 27,034 62,875

160 369 594 993

Modified EBITDA(3) 519,593 477,299 444,195 416,477

Third party interest in EBITDA of certain operations(4) (38,165)

Adjusted EBITDA(3) 481,428$ 439,287$ 404,112$ 382,629$

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

Twelve Months Ended December 31,

Income from discontinued operations

Impact of Fresh Start valuation adjustments(2)

(38,012) (40,083)

Amounts recorded as valuation adjustments and included in reorganization items for the month of April 2010 that would have beenincluded in Modified EBITDA and Adjusted EBTIDA, 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.

"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 thatModified EBITDA is useful to investors, equity analysts and rating agencies as a measure of the Company's performance. The Companybelieves that Modified EBITDA is a measure that can be readily compared to other companies, and the Company uses Modified EBITDAin 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, necash 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 measurespresented by other companies.

"Adjusted EBITDA", a non-GAAP measure, is defined as Modified EBITDA minus the interests of third parties in the Adjusted EBITDAof properties that are less than wholly owned (consisting of Six Flags Over Georgia, Six Flags White Water Atlanta, Six Flags OverTexas, and Six Flags Great Escape Lodge & Indoor Waterpark (the "Lodge) of which the Company purchased the noncontrolling interestsfrom 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 EBTIDA from equity investees that is not distributed to the company in cashon 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 continuingoperations, 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 titledmeasures presented by other companies.

Represents interests of third parties in the Adjusted EBITDA of Six Flags Over Georgia, Six Flags Over Texas, Six Flags White WaterAtlanta and the Lodge, plus the Company's interest in the Adjusted EBITDA of dick clark productions, inc., which were 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.

Reconciliation of Net Income to Modified EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA

(33,848)

Includes a nominal recovery of costs related to reorganization items for the year ended December 31, 2013 and $2.2 million of costs and expenses directly related to the reorganization, including fees associated with advisors to the Debtors, certain creditors and the creditors' committee, for the year ended December 31, 2012.

The following table sets forth a reconciliation of net income to Modified EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA for the periods shown (in thousands)

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