seas-8k_20210813.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. ☐

As previously disclosed, on August 5, 2021, SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. and its direct wholly-owned subsidiary, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Inc. (the “Issuer” and, together with SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. and its other subsidiaries, the “Company”), commenced the marketing of a new seven-year $1.2 billion (upsized from $1.1 billion) senior secured first lien term loan facility (the “New Term Loan Facility” and the term loans thereunder, the “New Term Loans”) and a five-year, $385.0 million senior secured first lien revolving credit facility (the “New Revolving Credit Facility” and the revolving loans thereunder, the “New Revolving Loans”).

On August 13, 2021, the Company was informed that $385.0 million in revolving commitments from revolving lenders and commitments for $1.2 billion in term loans from term lenders were successfully allocated by the lead arranger.

The Company intends to use the proceeds from the New Term Loan Facility, together with the proceeds from the offering of the Notes (as defined below) and cash on hand, to redeem $450.0 million aggregate principal amount of the Issuer’s outstanding 9.500% Second-Priority Senior Secured Notes due 2025, to refinance the Issuer’s existing term loan facility and its existing revolving credit facility, and to pay related expenses of the offering and refinancing (the “Refinancing”). The Company expects that the Refinancing and the establishment of the New Term Loan Facility and the New Revolving Credit Facility will be completed and become effective on or about August 25, 2021 (the “Closing Date”).

Borrowings of the New Term Loans shall bear interest at a fluctuating rate per annum equal to, at the Company’s option, (i) a base rate equal to the higher of (a) the federal funds rate plus 1/2 of 1%, (b) the rate of interest quoted in the print edition of the Wall Street Journal, Money Rates Section as the prime rate as in effect from time to time and (c) one-month Adjusted LIBOR plus 1% per annum (“ABR”), in each case, plus an applicable margin of 2.00% or (ii) a LIBOR rate for the applicable interest period (provided that in no event shall such LIBOR rate with respect to the New Term Loans be less than 0.50% per annum) (“LIBOR”) plus an applicable margin of 3.00%.

Borrowings of the New Revolving Loans shall bear interest at a fluctuating rate per annum equal to, at the Company’s option, (i) ABR plus an applicable margin equal to 1.75% or (ii) LIBOR plus an applicable margin of 2.75%. The applicable margin for borrowings under the New Revolving Credit Facility are subject to one 25 basis point step-down upon achievement by the Company of certain corporate credit ratings.

The information in this Item 7.01 is being furnished and shall not be deemed “filed” for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that Section. The information in this Item 7.01 shall not be incorporated by reference into any registration statement or other document pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

On August 13, 2021, the Company issued a press release announcing the pricing of the previously announced private offering of $725.0 million (downsized from $825.0 million) in aggregate principal amount of the Issuer’s 5.250% senior notes due 2029 (the “Notes”). A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated by reference herein.

As noted above, the Company intends to use the proceeds from the issuance of the Notes, together with cash on hand and the New Term Loans, in connection with the Refinancing.

The Notes are being offered only to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and outside the United States, only to non-U.S. investors pursuant to Regulation S. The Notes will not be registered under the Securities Act or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state laws.

This Current Report on Form 8-K shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy shares of common stock, the Notes or any other securities, and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

This report contains statements relating to future events and/or results (including certain projections and business trends) that are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws. SeaWorld Entertainment Inc. (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 report release and any attachment to identify forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical facts included in this report, including statements concerning the 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 report, including among others: COVID-19 or any related mutations and its impact on the Company’s business and the economy in general, complex federal and state regulations governing the treatment of animals, which can change, and claims and lawsuits by activist groups before government regulators and in the courts; 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 and/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, closures due to pandemics, severe weather and travel-related disruptions or incidents; seasonal fluctuations in operating results, inability to compete effectively in the highly competitive theme park industry; interactions between animals and our employees and our guests at attractions at our theme parks, 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 and/or information technology systems; increased labor costs, including minimum wage increases, and employee health and welfare benefits; inability to grow our business or fund theme park capital expenditures, 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 and/or labor disputes; inability to meet workforce needs; inability to realize the benefits of developments, restructurings, acquisitions or other strategic initiatives, and the impact of the costs associated with such activities; restrictions in our debt agreements limiting flexibility in operating our business; changes in the method for determining LIBOR and the potential replacement of LIBOR may affect our cost of capital; inability to retain our current credit ratings; our substantial leverage; 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 and/or other policies; inability to realize the full value of the Company’s intangible assets; changes in tax laws; tariffs or other trade restrictions; actions of activist stockholders; the ability of Hill Path Capital LP to significantly influence our decisions; changes or declines in our stock price, as well as the risk that securities analysts could downgrade our stock or our sector; risks associated with our capital allocation plans and share repurchases, including the risk that our share repurchase program could increase volatility and fail to enhance stockholder value 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 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 report 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).

Exhibit No.		Description

99.1		Press release dated August 13, 2021
104		Cover page interactive data filed (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).

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: August 13, 2021	By:	/s/ G. Anthony (Tony) Taylor
	Name:	G. Anthony (Tony) Taylor
	Title:	Chief Legal Officer, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary