Cedar Fair, L.P. announces 2006 second quarter earnings

Tuesday, 01 August 2006

Cedar Fair, L.P. Press Release

SANDUSKY, OHIO, July 31, 2006 -- Cedar Fair, L.P. (NYSE: FUN), a publicly traded partnership which owns and operates twelve amusement parks, five outdoor water parks, one indoor water park and six hotels, today announced results for the second quarter ended June 25, 2006. The second quarter results exclude operating results of the five Paramount Parks, which were acquired on June 30, 2006.

Net revenues for the quarter, decreased 2% to $145.4 million from $148.9 million in 2005, while net income decreased $1.2 million to $11.1 million, or $0.20 per diluted limited partner unit, compared to net income of $12.3 million, or $0.22 per unit, a year ago. Adjusted EBITDA, which management believes is a very meaningful measure of the Partnership’s park-level operating results, decreased $1.8 million to $38.1 million versus $39.9 million for the same period in 2005. Adjusted EBITDA represents earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and other non-cash items. See the attached table for a reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA to net income (loss).

“The decrease in revenues and the resulting decrease in operating income and adjusted EBITDA was primarily due to a decrease in attendance at several of our northern parks, including Cedar Point, Dorney Park and Geauga Lake, where heavy rains impacted operations in late June,” said Dick Kinzel, chairman, president and chief executive officer. “In addition, economic pressures in the Ohio and Michigan areas continue to adversely affect attendance and revenues. Our attendance shortfalls were slightly offset by improved operating results at Worlds of Fun, which benefited from the successful debut of its new inverted roller coaster, Patriot. An increase in out-of-park revenues at Knott’s Berry Farm, which includes results from the Knott’s Berry Farm Hotel and the adjacent TGI Friday’s, also contributed nicely. Over this same period, average in-park guest per capita spending at our twelve properties remained unchanged from 2005.”

Excluding depreciation and other non-cash charges, total cash operating costs and expenses for the quarter decreased 2%, or $1.6 million, to $107.3 million from 108.9 million in 2005, due in large part to the later timing of the advertising program at Knott’s Berry Farm, as well as the fewer operating days in the period. After depreciation and other non-cash charges, operating income for the quarter decreased to $19.9 million from $22.4 million a year ago.

Interest expense for the quarter increased approximately $1.2 million to $8.0 million, due in large part to higher short-term rates. After interest expense and a small tax provision, net income for the period was $11.1 million, or $0.20 per diluted limited partner unit, compared to net income of $12.3 million, or $0.22 per unit, a year ago.

Commenting on results through the first six months of the year, Kinzel said, “First half net revenues were down 3% from last year, on a 2%, or 82,000 visit, decrease in combined attendance, a 1%, or $230,000, increase in out-of-park revenues and average in-park guest per capita spending that remained unchanged. Over this same period, cash operating costs and expenses decreased 1%, or $1.3 million, from a year ago to $155.5 million..”

Kinzel added that through July 30 combined attendance on a same-park basis was down 2%, or 140,000 visits, from 2005. Over this same period, average in-park guest per capita spending was down less than 1% and out-of-park revenues were up $250,000. Overall, combined revenues through the end of July decreased 2%, or $6.7 million, to $322.3 million in 2006 from $329.0 million through the first seven months of 2005, on a same-park basis.

Including results from the Paramount Parks since their acquisition, combined revenues through July 30 totaled $428.2 million. Over this same period, combined attendance totaled 9.7 million visits, average in-park guest per capita spending was $38.22, and out-of-park revenues totaled $56.7 million. “We are very pleased that we were able to acquire the Paramount Parks prior to the peak-season operating months of July and August,” Kinzel said. “Over the last several weeks, I have had the opportunity to visit all of the Paramount Parks and they truly are beautiful properties and are a great addition to our family of parks.

“Although we have not met all of our park-level attendance objectives to this point, we remain pleased by the performance of most of our parks, particularly given the economic uncertainty and continued pressure on families due to increased prices at the gas pumps,” he continued. “With almost half of our budgeted attendance still ahead of us, we are hopeful that we can improve attendance and our operating income. At this time, based on preliminary results through July and taking into consideration the operating results of the acquired Paramount Parks less estimated restructuring costs, we now expect to generate full-year revenue between $835-$855 million and full-year adjusted EBITDA between $295-$315 million.”

Kinzel concluded by noting that virtually all of Cedar Fair’s revenues from its seasonal amusement parks, water parks, and other seasonal resort facilities are realized during a five-month operating period beginning in early May, with the major portion concentrated in the peak vacation months of July and August. Castaway Bay and Knott’s Berry Farm are the Partnership’s only year-round properties, but Knott’s Berry Farm operates at its highest level of attendance during the third quarter of the year.

Management will host a conference call with analysts at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, August 1, 2006, which will be web cast live in “listen only” mode via the Cedar Fair web site (www.cedarfair.com). It will be available for replay starting at approximately 1:00 p.m. ET, Tuesday, August 1, 2006, until midnight ET, Tuesday, August 15, 2006. In order to access the replay of the earnings call, please dial 1-877-519-4471 followed by the access code #7644862.

Cedar Fair, L.P. (NYSE: “FUN”) is a publicly traded partnership headquartered in Sandusky, Ohio. The Partnership, which owns and operates twelve amusement parks, five outdoor water parks, one indoor water park and six hotels, is one of the largest regional amusement park operators in the world. Its parks are located in Ohio, California, North Carolina, Virginia / District of Columbia, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Missouri, Michigan, and Toronto, Ontario. Cedar Fair also owns and operates Star Trek: The Experience, an interactive adventure located in Las Vegas, and operates the Bonfante Gardens in Gilroy, California under a management contract. Cedar Fair’s flagship park, Cedar Point, has been voted the “Best Amusement Park in the World” for eight consecutive years in a prestigious annual poll conducted by Amusement Today newspaper.

Some of the statements contained in this news release constitute forward-looking statements. These statements may involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in such statements. Although the Partnership believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct. Important factors, including general economic conditions, competition for consumer leisure time and spending, adverse weather conditions, unanticipated construction delays and other factors could affect attendance at our parks and cause actual results to differ materially from the Partnership’s expectations. In addition, risks and uncertainties concerning the acquisition of the Paramount Parks include, but are not limited to the ability of the Partnership to combine the operations and take advantage of growth, savings and synergy opportunities.

Cedar Fair, L.P. 2006 Second Quarter Earnings Table (PDF)