United Parks & Resorts Inc. Announces a $500 Million Share Repurchase Authorization and Stockholder Approval of Amended Stockholders Agreement with Hill Path Capital LP

Rhea-AI Summary

United Parks & Resorts Inc. (NYSE: PRKS) announced the approval of a $500.0 million share repurchase program by its stockholders. The company also amended its stockholders agreement with Hill Path Capital LP. The approval received over 97% support from stockholders, indicating strong alignment on capital allocation priorities.

Insights

Market Analyst

The authorization of a $500 million share buyback program by United Parks & Resorts Inc. is a strategic financial maneuver that can potentially increase shareholder value. By reducing the number of shares outstanding, the company's earnings per share (EPS) could see an uptick, assuming net income remains constant or grows. This is a common tactic employed by firms looking to utilize excess cash in a way that might benefit investors, especially when organic growth opportunities are not immediately evident or when the management believes the stock is undervalued.

Moreover, the limitation on repurchasing shares to avoid Hill Path's ownership exceeding 50% is a safeguard to prevent any single entity from gaining a controlling interest inadvertently through the buyback. This indicates a balance between returning capital to shareholders and maintaining corporate governance structures. The market's reaction to such news typically depends on the perceived commitment of a company to creating shareholder value and the current market conditions. The lack of a time limit on the repurchase program provides flexibility, allowing the company to adapt to changing market conditions and to buy back shares opportunistically.

Corporate Governance Expert

The overwhelming approval of both the amendment to the stockholders agreement and the share repurchase program reflects a strong alignment between the board, management and shareholders. It demonstrates shareholder confidence in the company's governance and strategic direction. The amendment with Hill Path Capital LP ensures that no single shareholder gains disproportionate influence, which is a positive sign for minority investors concerned about equitable treatment.

It's important to note that the governance dynamics of share buybacks can be complex. While they can be seen as a positive signal, they also reduce the capital available for future investments, which could be a concern if the company needs to pivot or seize new growth opportunities. The governance aspect of the buyback program, including the authorization process and the checks and balances in place, is essential for ensuring that such financial decisions are made with the long-term health of the company in mind.

Financial Analyst

From a financial perspective, the implementation of a share repurchase program should be considered alongside the company's current financial health and liquidity. The decision to allocate $500 million to buy back shares suggests that United Parks & Resorts Inc. has sufficient liquidity and possibly a strong balance sheet. Investors should assess the impact of this buyback on the company's debt levels, interest coverage ratios and overall financial flexibility.

Additionally, the timing and execution of the buyback will be important to its effectiveness. If executed when shares are perceived to be undervalued, buybacks can be more accretive to EPS. Conversely, if shares are bought back at a high valuation, the benefit to shareholders might not be as significant. The company's mention of alternative investment opportunities as a factor in the buyback decision suggests a strategic approach to capital allocation, balancing buybacks with other potential uses of cash that could generate returns.

ORLANDO, Fla., March 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- United Parks & Resorts Inc. (NYSE: PRKS), a leading theme park and entertainment company, today reported that on Monday, March 25, 2024, its stockholders overwhelmingly approved a $500.0 million buyback authorization and the amendment of the stockholders agreement with Hill Path Capital LP ("Hill Path").

"We thank our stockholders for their quick consideration and vote on this important matter," said Marc Swanson, Chief Executive Officer of United Parks & Resorts Inc. "We are grateful to confirm the strong alignment between our board and our stockholders on our capital allocation priorities."

On March 25, 2024, United Parks & Resorts Inc. held a Special Meeting of Stockholders to: (1) approve the amendment, entered into on February 27, 2024, to the Stockholders Agreement, dated May 27, 2019, by and between Hill Path Capital LP and the Company; and (2) if the Amendment Proposal was approved, to approve and authorize a new $500.0 million share repurchase program of the Company's common stock, subject to the qualification that the Company will not repurchase additional shares if Hill Path's common stock ownership interest percentage would, as a result of any such repurchase, equal or exceed 50%.  Each of the Amendment Proposal and the Share Repurchase Proposal required approval by the holders of a majority of the shares of the Company's common stock outstanding and entitled to vote as of the record date other than shares beneficially owned by Hill Path and its affiliates. Each proposal received over 97% approval.

Under the Share Repurchase Program, the Company is authorized to repurchase shares through open market purchases, privately-negotiated transactions or otherwise in accordance with applicable federal securities laws, including through Rule 10b5-1 trading plans and under Rule 10b-18 of the Exchange Act. The Share Repurchase Program has no time limit and may be suspended or discontinued completely at any time. The number of shares to be purchased and the timing of purchases will be based on the Company's trading windows and available liquidity, general business and market conditions, and other factors, including legal requirements, debt covenant restrictions and alternative investment opportunities.

About United Parks & Resorts Inc.

United Parks & Resorts Inc. (NYSE: PRKS) is a global theme park and entertainment company that owns or licenses a diverse portfolio of award-winning park brands and experiences, including SeaWorld®, Busch Gardens®, Discovery Cove, Sesame Place®, Water Country USA, Adventure Island, and Aquatica®. The Company's seven world-class brands span 13 parks in seven markets across the United States and Abu Dhabi, offering experiences that matter with exhilarating thrill and family-friendly rides, coasters, and experiences, inspiring up-close and educational presentations with wildlife, and other various special events throughout the year. In addition, the Company collectively cares for one of the largest zoological collections in the world, is a global leader in animal welfare, training, and veterinary care, and is one of the leading marine animal rescue organizations in the world with a legacy of rescuing and caring for animals that spans nearly 60 years, including coming to the aid of over 41,000 animals in need. To learn more, visit www.UnitedParks.com.

Copies of this and other news releases as well as additional information about United Parks & Resorts Inc. can be obtained online at www.unitedparks.com. Shareholders and prospective investors can also register to automatically receive the Company's press releases, SEC filings and other notices by e-mail by registering at that website.

Forward-Looking Statements

In addition to historical information, this press release 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 press release, 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, beliefs, 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: various factors beyond the Company's control adversely affecting attendance and guest spending at the Company's theme parks, including, but not limited to, weather, natural disasters, labor shortages, inflationary pressures, supply chain delays or shortages, foreign exchange rates, consumer confidence, the potential spread of travel-related health concerns including pandemics and epidemics, travel related concerns, adverse general economic related factors including increasing interest rates, economic uncertainty, and recent geopolitical events outside of the United States, and governmental actions; failure to retain and/or hire employees; a decline in discretionary consumer spending or consumer confidence, including any unfavorable impacts from Federal Reserve interest rate actions and inflation which may influence discretionary spending, unemployment or the overall economy; the ability of Hill Path Capital LP and its affiliates to significantly influence the Company's decisions and their interests may conflict with ours or yours in the future; increased labor costs, including minimum wage increases, and employee health and welfare benefit costs; 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, guests and/or regulators, bring action in the courts or create negative publicity about us; incidents or adverse publicity concerning the Company's theme parks, the theme park industry and/or zoological facilities; a significant portion of the Company's revenues have historically been generated in the States of Florida, California and Virginia, and any risks affecting such markets, such as natural disasters, closures due to pandemics, severe weather and travel-related disruptions or incidents; technology interruptions or failures that impair access to the Company's websites and/or information technology systems; cyber security risks to us or the Company's third-party service providers, failure to maintain or protect the integrity of internal, employee or guest data, and/or failure to abide by the evolving cyber security regulatory environment; inability to compete effectively in the highly competitive theme park industry; interactions between animals and the Company's employees and the Company's guests at attractions at the Company's theme parks; animal exposure to infectious disease; high fixed cost structure of theme park operations; seasonal fluctuations in operating results; changing consumer tastes and preferences; inability to grow the Company's business or fund theme park capital expenditures; inability to realize the benefits of developments, restructurings, acquisitions or other strategic initiatives, and the impact of the costs associated with such activities; the effects of public health events on the Company's business and the economy in general; 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; unionization activities and/or labor disputes; inability to maintain certain commercial licenses; restrictions in the Company's debt agreements limiting flexibility in operating the Company's business; inability to retain the Company's current credit ratings; the Company's leverage and interest rate risk; inadequate insurance coverage; inability to purchase or contract with third party manufacturers for rides and attractions, construction delays or impacts of supply chain disruptions on existing or new rides and attractions; 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; inability to remediate an identified material weakness; financial distress of strategic partners or other counterparties; tariffs or other trade restrictions; actions of activist stockholders; the policies of the U.S. President and his administration or any changes to tax laws; changes or declines in the Company's stock price, as well as the risk that securities analysts could downgrade the Company's stock or the Company's sector; risks associated with the Company's capital allocation plans and share repurchases, including the risk that the Company's share repurchase program could increase volatility and fail to enhance stockholder value, 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 press release. 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.unitedparks.com).

CONTACT:

Investor Relations:
Matthew Stroud
Investor Relations
(888) 410-1812
Investors@unitedparks.com

Media:
Libby Panke
FleishmanHillard
(314) 719-7521
Libby.Panke@fleishman.com 

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SOURCE United Parks and Resorts Inc.

FAQ

What did United Parks & Resorts Inc. announce regarding its stockholders?

United Parks & Resorts Inc. announced the approval of a $500.0 million share repurchase program by its stockholders.

Who is the Chief Executive Officer of United Parks & Resorts Inc.?

Marc Swanson is the Chief Executive Officer of United Parks & Resorts Inc.

When did the approval for the share repurchase program take place?

The approval for the share repurchase program took place on March 25, 2024.

What percentage of approval did the Amendment Proposal and the Share Repurchase Proposal receive?

Each proposal received over 97% approval.

How will the Company repurchase shares under the Share Repurchase Program?

The Company is authorized to repurchase shares through open market purchases, privately-negotiated transactions, or otherwise in accordance with applicable federal securities laws.