13. RESTRUCTURING PROGRAM AND OTHER SEPARATION COSTS

Restructuring Costs

In October 2017, the Company committed to and implemented a restructuring program in an effort to reduce costs, increase efficiencies, reduce duplication of functions and improve the Company’s operations (the “2017 Restructuring Program”). The 2017 Restructuring Program involved the elimination of approximately 350 positions across certain of the Company’s theme parks and corporate headquarters. As a result, the Company recorded $5,200 in pre-tax restructuring and other related costs associated primarily with severance and other termination benefits related to the 2017 Restructuring Program during the three months ended December 31, 2017. The Company does not expect to incur any additional costs associated with the 2017 Restructuring Program as all continuing service obligations were completed as of December 31, 2017.

The 2017 Restructuring Program activity for the three months ended March 31, 2018 was as follows:

	Severance and Other Employment Expenses
Liability as of December 31, 2017	$	1,234
Payments made		(495	)
Liability as of March 31, 2018	$	739

The remaining liability as of March 31, 2018 relates to restructuring and other related costs to be paid as contractually obligated by December 31, 2018 and is included in accrued salaries, wages and benefits in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet.

Other Separation Costs

Restructuring and other separation costs for the three months ended March 31, 2018 primarily relate to severance and other employment expenses for certain executives who stepped down from their respective positions during the first quarter of 2018. In particular, on February 27, 2018, the Company announced that its President and Chief Executive Officer (the “Former CEO”) had stepped down from his position and resigned as a member of the Board. In connection with his departure, the Former CEO received a lump sum cash payment of approximately $6,700 in severance related expenses, in accordance with his employment agreement. Also in March 2018, the Company’s Chief Creative Officer (the “Former CCO”) and Chief Marketing Officer stepped down from their respective positions and received severance related benefits in accordance with the terms of the respective employment agreement or relevant company plan, as applicable. These severance expenses are also included in restructuring and other separation costs in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive loss for the three months ended March 31, 2018.

Additionally, in accordance with their employment agreements, certain unvested equity awards for both the Former CEO and Former CCO were accelerated to vest in the first quarter of 2018. As a result, the Company recorded non-cash equity compensation expense of approximately $4,500 during the three months ended March 31, 2018, which is included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive loss. See Note 11–Equity-Based Compensation for further details.