The Company is committed to continuous improvement and regularly evaluates operations to ensure it is properly organized for performance and efficiency. As a result, during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, the Company recorded approximately $1.2 million and $3.8 million, respectively, in pre-tax charges primarily consisting of severance and other termination benefits related to positions eliminated in 2019, which is included in restructuring and other separation costs in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

In August 2018, the Company announced a restructuring program (the “2018 Restructuring Program”) focused on reducing costs, improving operating margins and streamlining its management structure to create efficiencies and better align with its strategic business objectives. The 2018 Restructuring Program involved the elimination of approximately 125 positions during the third quarter of 2018 across the Company’s theme parks and its corporate headquarters. As a result, during the nine months ended September 30, 2018, the Company recorded approximately $5.5 million in pre-tax restructuring charges primarily related to severance and other termination benefits, of which, $3.8 million was incurred during the three months ended September 30, 2018, which is included in restructuring and other separation costs in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income. The Company will not incur any additional costs associated with the 2018 Restructuring Program in 2019 as all continuing service obligations were completed as of December 31, 2018.

	2019 Restructuring and other Separation Costs			2018 Restructuring Program
	(In thousands)
Liability as of December 31, 2018	$	—		$	537
Costs incurred		3,839			—
Payments made		(2,669	)		(537	)
Liability as of September 30, 2019	$	1,170		$	—

The remaining liability as of September 30, 2019 relates to restructuring and other related costs to be paid as contractually obligated by December 31, 2019 and is included in accrued salaries, wages and benefits in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2018, restructuring and other separation costs also includes severance and other employment expenses for certain executives who separated from the Company during 2018. In particular, on February 27, 2018, the Company announced that its then 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 $6.7 million in severance-related benefits, in accordance with his employment agreement. Certain other executives who separated from the Company during 2018 also received severance-related benefits in accordance with the terms of their respective employment agreements or relevant company plan, as applicable. These severance expenses are included in restructuring and other separation costs in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018.

Additionally, during the nine months ended September 30, 2018, certain equity awards were accelerated to vest in connection with the departure of specific executives as required by their respective employment agreements. As a result, the Company recorded incremental non-cash equity compensation expense during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 related to these awards, which is included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income. See Note 12–Equity-Based Compensation for further details.