seas-8k_20200317.htm

Delaware	001-35883	27-1220297
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

6240 Sea Harbor Drive Orlando, Florida		32821
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)		(Zip Code)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instructions A.2. below):

☐	Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
☐	Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
☐	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
☐	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))


Title of each class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share	SEAS	New York Stock Exchange

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Item 2.03 Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.

As previously disclosed, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Inc. (“SWPE”), a direct, wholly-owned subsidiary of SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. (the “Company”) is party to a senior secured credit agreement, dated as of December 1, 2009 as amended, supplemented, modified or restated from time to time (the “Senior Secured Credit Facilities”). The Senior Secured Credit Facilities consist of Term B-5 loans and a revolving credit facility (the “Revolving Credit Facility”). The material terms of the Senior Secured Credit Facilities including the Revolving Credit Facility are described under “Note 11- Long-Term Debt” in the Company’s notes to the consolidated financial statements, which are included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on February 27, 2020 (the “Form 10-K”), as supplemented by the Company’s Form 8-K dated March 10, 2020 which disclosed an increase in the Company’s Revolving Credit Facility to $332.5 million and filed with the SEC on March 11, 2020, and which descriptions are incorporated by reference herein.

On March 17, 2020, the Company provided notice to its lenders to borrow the remaining available amount, or approximately $187.5 million, under its Revolving Credit Facility. As a result of this borrowing, the Company now has approximately $312.5 million outstanding on its Revolving Credit Facility and approximately $19.9 million of outstanding letters of credit. The interest rate for borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility is as described in under “Note 11- Long-Term Debt” in the Company’s notes to the consolidated financial statements, which are included in the Company’s Form 10-K.

The Company increased its borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility as a precautionary measure to increase its cash position, provide liquidity for a sustained period and to preserve financial flexibility in light of current uncertainty in the global markets resulting from the COVID-19 outbreak. The proceeds from the incremental Revolving Credit Facility borrowings are currently being held on the Company’s balance sheet, resulting in total unrestricted cash and cash equivalents of approximately $202.6 million as of March 20, 2020. In accordance with the terms of the Senior Secured Credit Facilities, the proceeds from the incremental Revolving Credit Facility borrowings may be used for working capital, general corporate or other purposes.

Given the uncertainty of the impact created by the COVID-19 virus and the temporary closure of its parks, the Company no longer expects to achieve its previously stated goal of $475 million to $500 million dollars of Adjusted EBITDA by the end of 2020.

The Company has taken meaningful actions to significantly reduce, defer and / or eliminate costs and capital expenditures. The Company continues to evaluate all material elements of its business to further reduce cash outflows while its parks are closed.

The Company also continues to monitor guidance from Federal, State and Local authorities to determine when it is able to re-open its parks. As soon as it is safe and permitted do so, the Company will announce the opening of its parks so that guests can once again enjoy all the meaningful and inspirational experiences the Company has to offer.

The information in this Current Report on Form 8-K is being furnished pursuant to Item 7.01 and shall not be deemed to be filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) or otherwise be subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall they be deemed to be incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, whether made before or after the date hereof, and regardless of any incorporation language in such filing.

This Current Report on Form 8-K contains statements relating to future results (including certain projections and business trends) that are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws. The Company generally uses the words such as “might,” “will,” “may,” “should,” “estimates,” “expects,” “continues,” “contemplates,” “anticipates,” “projects,” “plans,” “potential,” “predicts,” “intends,” “believes,” “forecasts,” “future,” “guidance,” “targeted,” “goal” and variations of such words or similar expressions in this press release and any attachment to identify forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical facts included in this Current Report, including statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, expectations, beliefs, business strategies, future events, business conditions, results of operations, financial position, business outlook, earnings guidance, business trends and other information are forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are not historical facts, and are based upon current expectations, estimates and projections, and various assumptions, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and beyond management’s control. All expectations, beliefs, estimates and projections are expressed in good faith and the Company believes there is a reasonable basis for them. However, there can be no assurance that management’s expectations, beliefs, estimates and projections will result or be achieved and actual results may vary materially from what is expressed in or indicated by the forward-looking statements.

These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and other important factors, many of which are beyond management’s control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this press release, including among others: COVID-19 and its impact on the length of time the Company’s parks will be required to remain closed and the impact of these or other potential closures on the Company and its stakeholders, complex federal and state regulations governing the treatment of animals, which can change, and claims and lawsuits by activist groups; activist and other third-party groups and/or media can pressure governmental agencies, vendors, partners, and/or regulators, bring action in the courts or create negative publicity about us; factors beyond the Company’s control adversely affecting attendance and guest spending at its theme parks, including, but not limited to, weather, natural disasters, foreign exchange rates, consumer confidence, the potential spread of travel-related health concerns including pandemics and epidemics, travel related concerns, and governmental actions; incidents or adverse publicity concerning the Company’s theme parks, the theme park industry or zoological facilities; a decline in discretionary consumer spending or consumer confidence; risks affecting the States of Florida, California and Virginia which generate a significant portion of the Company’s revenues such as natural disasters, severe weather and travel-related disruptions or incidents; inability to compete effectively in the highly competitive theme park industry; animal exposure to infectious disease; high fixed cost structure of theme park operations; changing consumer tastes and preferences; cyber security risks and failure to maintain the integrity of internal or guest data; technology interruptions or failures that impair access to the Company’s websites or information technology systems; increased labor costs, including minimum wage increases, and employee health and welfare benefits; adverse litigation judgments or settlements; inability to protect the Company’s intellectual property or the infringement on intellectual property rights of others; the loss of licenses and permits required to exhibit animals or the violation of laws and regulations; loss of key personnel; unionization activities or labor disputes; inability to meet workforce needs; risks associated with the Company’s cost optimization program, capital allocation plans, share repurchases, acquisitions or other strategic initiatives and financing transactions; inability to maintain certain commercial licenses; inadequate insurance coverage; inability to purchase or contract with third party manufacturers for rides and attractions or construction delays; environmental regulations, expenditures and liabilities; suspension or termination of any of the Company’s business licenses, including by legislation at federal, state or local levels; delays, restrictions or inability to obtain or maintain permits; financial distress of strategic partners or other counterparties; changes to immigration, foreign trade, investments or other policies; inability to realize the full value of the Company’s intangible assets; changes in tax laws; tariffs or other trade restrictions; and other risks, uncertainties and factors set forth in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in the Company’s most recently available Annual Report on Form 10-K, as such risks, uncertainties and factors may be updated in the Company’s periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).

Although the Company believes that these statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, it cannot guarantee future results and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect management’s opinions only as of the date of this Current Report. There can be no assurance that (i) the Company has correctly measured or identified all of the factors affecting its business or the extent of these factors’ likely impact, (ii) the available information with respect to these factors on which such analysis is based is complete or accurate, (iii) such analysis is correct or (iv) the Company’s strategy, which is based in part on this analysis, will be successful. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect new information or events or circumstances that occur after the date of this press release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events or otherwise. Readers are advised to review the Company’s filings with the SEC (which are available from the SEC’s EDGAR database at www.sec.gov and via the Company’s website at www.seaworldinvestors.com).

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

		SEAWORLD ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

Date: March 23, 2020	By:	/s/ G. Anthony (Tony) Taylor
	Name:	G. Anthony (Tony) Taylor
	Title:	Chief Legal Officer, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary