Sea World Profits Soar by 300%

[GrnMtnMan]

News release from yesterday from Sea World

SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. Announces Record Performance
January 13, 2014
Results fueled by record fourth-quarter attendance in the Company's SeaWorld-branded parks

ORLANDO, Fla., Jan. 13, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: SEAS) today announced preliminary revenue results for fiscal year 2013. The results are subject to completion of the Company's audit procedures.

Driven by record fourth quarter total attendance at the Company's SeaWorld-branded parks in Orlando, Fla., San Diego, Calif. and San Antonio, Texas, total revenue for 2013 is expected to be approximately $1.46 billion which would represent a full-year record for the Company in its 50-year operating history.

Additionally, the Company reaffirmed its full-year 2013 Adjusted EBITDA guidance range of $432 million to $442 million. Final earnings anywhere within the guidance range also would represent a full-year record for the Company.

"We are very pleased with our fourth quarter performance, particularly for the SeaWorld-branded parks in Orlando and San Diego, which helped us to achieve record revenue for the year," said Jim Atchison, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company.

The Company expects to release final fourth quarter and fiscal year 2013 results in March 2014.

"In addition to the great holiday events that proved so popular last month, we have launched our year-long celebration of SeaWorld's 50th Anniversary. The success of the SeaWorld parks in 2013 suggests that the extraordinary experience offered in these parks is as meaningful today as at any point in our history," Atchison said. "But as strong as last year was for us, we are looking forward to another great year in 2014."

The fourth quarter also saw several other notable events for the Company, including Standard and Poor's upgrade of the Company's corporate credit rating as well as the completion of an underwritten secondary offering by the selling stockholders affiliated with The Blackstone Group L.P. of 18 million shares of the Company's common stock and the concurrent repurchase by the Company of 1.5 million shares of the Company's common stock directly from such selling stockholders.

In addition to noteworthy financial performance, Atchison said the Company also achieved a different kind of milestone in 2013: The Company's stranded animal rehabilitation program passed the 23,000-rescue mark late last year.

About SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc.™

SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: SEAS) is a leading theme park and entertainment company delivering personal, interactive and educational experiences that blend imagination with nature and enable its customers to celebrate, connect with and care for the natural world we share. The Company owns or licenses a portfolio of globally recognized brands including SeaWorld®, Shamu® and Busch Gardens®. Over its more than 50-year history, the Company has built a diversified portfolio of 11 destination and regional theme parks that are grouped in key markets across the United States, many of which showcase its one-of-a-kind collection of approximately 67,000 marine and terrestrial animals. The Company's theme parks feature a diverse array of rides, shows and other attractions with broad demographic appeal which deliver memorable experiences and a strong value proposition for its guests. In addition to its theme parks, the Company has recently begun to leverage its brands into media, entertainment and consumer products.

Copies of this and other news releases as well as additional information about SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. can be obtained online at www.seaworldentertainment.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 such 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 Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which are subject to the "safe harbor" created by those sections. The Company generally uses the words "may", "will", "could", "expect", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "plan", "intend", and similar expressions in this press release to identify forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical facts included in this press release, including statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, beliefs, business strategies, future events, business conditions, results of operations, financial position and 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 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 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 and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this press release, including among others: various factors beyond management's control adversely affecting discretionary spending and attendance at the Company's theme parks; inability to protect intellectual property or the infringement on intellectual property rights of others; incidents or adverse publicity concerning the Company's theme parks; outbreak of infectious disease affecting the Company's animals; change in federal and state regulations governing the treatment of animals; and other risks, uncertainties and factors set forth in the section entitled "Risk Factors," in the Company's final prospectus as filed on December 11, 2013 with the 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.seaworldentertainment.com).

SOURCE SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc.
Investor Relations Inquiries - SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc., 855.797.8625, investors@seaworld.com, or Media Inquiries - Fred Jacobs, Vice President of Communications, Fred.Jacobs@SeaWorld.com
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[Rumors Rocks]

http://www.wdwinfo.com/news/seaworld/Trace_Adkins_cancels_SeaWorld_performance.htm

Trace Adkins is the ninth musical act to cancel an upcoming performance at SeaWorld's Bands, Brew and BBQ event. Eight other groups canceled in December, citing their fans' displeasure with Blackfish, the anti-SeaWorld documentary. Adkins' reason is slightly different than the previous bands. A statement from his representative said, "Trace prefers that the focus of his performances be on music, not on controversy. Therefore, he has decided not to proceed with this show in the midst of this debate."

SeaWorld says all the bands will be replaced, but they will not be announcing the replacements until the full schedule has been secured.

 

[lexandme]

http://www.wdwinfo.com/news/seaworld/SeaWorld_profits_up_300_percent.htm

This is merely assumption. The true figures will not be available until March.

 

[livndisney]

http://www.wdwinfo.com/news/seaworld/Trace_Adkins_cancels_SeaWorld_performance.htm

Looks like Trace has his own "issues".
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-...trace-adkins/?utm_hp_ref=homepage&ir=homepage

 

[lexandme]

Looks like Trace has his own "issues".
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-...trace-adkins/?utm_hp_ref=homepage&ir=homepage

That is indeed tragic. Addiction is a horrible illness. I hope he gets the help he needs.

 

[Rumors Rocks]

Looks like Trace has his own "issues".
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-...trace-adkins/?utm_hp_ref=homepage&ir=homepage

Sad, indeed-hope he recovers soon.

 

[ToyStoryMania1]

I have never been a fan of animals in captivity that are of such size as whales. The movie Blackfish makes good points about how species live in pods and its harmful to remove them from that environment.

I will not deny Sea World has probably done some good, but can not in good faith attend their parks anymore based on many (not just Blackfish) articles, movies, and research I have seen.

And before some of you point to Animal Kingdom, I am merely pointing to a particular group of animals behavior in a natural environment. And in terms of roaming area to size and natural roam of the species its expansively more than that of Sea World.

 

[wayne1975]

The whole Blackfish film hasn't done Sea World any favours. The major problem with all of it is that sea worlds excuses and cover ups have shown little care to themselves and the public. Wether you agree with sea world or black fish is your own choice. I won't be visiting sea world again. It has never been on of my favourite parks in Orlando and since watching the film it has slid down even further on my list of entertainment value. Which is a shame as they were sitting on an excellent conservation park if they really thought about it

 

[Ero_FL]

We went to Seaworld twice. Once for Mother's day with family that treated us. The last time we went for 4th of July fireworks. They were not prepared for the crowds- they should have stopped entry because it was literally impossible to move after about 30 minutes before the fireworks. My 4yr old (at the time) had to go to the bathroom and we couldn't get to the bathrooms. We ended up under a tree, literally sitting in ground-cover bushes and she ended up going in her clothes. I had a change of clothes for her but changing her out in public in scratchy bushes was no picnic. Luckily I carry baby wipes all the time.

All of that- and the view of the fireworks was terrible, there are trees all along the lake.

I believe the Blackfish movie- though I haven't seen it. I have seen too many articles about Orca. If they really cared about conservation, they'd be less worried about picking the "prettiest" and youngest specimens, breaking up pod groups and confining such large animals to such small environments and teaching them parlor tricks. It is not comparable to other mammals in zoos who have a much more natural habitat and don't have to do acrobatics that they are not designed for and don't do in the wild.

 

[Rumors Rocks]

http://www.wdwinfo.com/news/seaworld/SeaWorld_speaks_out_about_Blackfish_documentary.htm

SeaWorld is finally responding to all the controversy surrounding the Blackfish documentary. The documentary, shown on CNN, showed a negative side of the marine parks and claimed that they had been treating their animals poorly. Until now, SeaWorld has not said much about all the negative press, but they are now speaking out, calling the film "propaganda with an anti-captivity agenda."

SeaWorld whale trainers are now beginning to come forward and share their feelings about the film, and it seems that many feel the film is very misleading. One trainer, Holly Byrd, says footage of herself is used in the film, but that it was not used in the correct context. Mark Simmons, another trainer, had been interviewed in the film, but he said his interview was not shown in full. "In almost everything that had particular weight to it that I said, was not included in the film. What really upset me, was this idea that SeaWorld deceived its trainers and the public because that couldn't be further from the truth." Simmons added.

SeaWorld has begun posting a series of online videos giving their side of the story. They say Blackfish "conveys falsehoods, manipulates viewers emotionally, and relies on questionable filmmaking techniques to create 'facts' that support its point of view."

 

[freediverdude]

I don't think SeaWorld is being evil or anything. I think that they mean well, and try to take as good a care of the whales and dolphins as they can- I'm not questioning that. What I do think is that you just can't build a pool large enough to humanely keep these animals, and so I disagree with keeping them in captivity. It's just my own personal belief, and why I won't attend SeaWorld currently. I have not even seen the Blackfish movie. I have held this belief since way before that on my own. Just my 2 cents.

 

[zombiebbq]

(double post by accident)

 

[zombiebbq]

Pretty sad people think Sea World is in any way "educational"- let me start by pointing out they refer to their orcas as killer whales...when orcas are not even whales, they are the largest member of the dolphin family. how educational do you really think SW is if they don't even bother getting the species correct?
Anyone who takes their children there should be ashamed of themselves. The bottom line is, SW only shows you what it wants you to see, and just because those orcas always look like they're smiling doesnt mean they enjoy being SW prisoners.
A few facts for you SW fans out there:
1. SW got their "cash whales" in the 70s, by hunting them in the Puget Sound and Iceland. And they were after the babies, as they were easily transportable. Although the orcas tried to save the babies by splitting up and misleading the boats, other hunters in helicopters saw what the orcas were doing and alerted the boats. When they had rounded them up, they bombed the waters to separate the young, filling the water with blood and dead orcas. (to hide this, they tied weights to the dead orcas so theyd sink hoping the public wouldnt notice.) After capturing the babies, the mothers would vocalize in a horrific manner, like any mother who has had their baby kidnapped, and frantically followed the boats as long as they could. SW did this continually until people DID notice, and had the practice outlawed. and SW claims to be interested in "conservation"? Get a clue people.
2. The orcas do not live nearly as long in the parks as in the wild (although SW staff lies about this, again how *educational* for children!). This is for several reasons, one being the tanks are much smaller than an orca, used to swimming over 100 miles a day, is designed for. The tanks are bathtub prisons essentially. Another reason is that SW now cant capture orcas in the wild, and inbreed them using female orcas that are too young and often reject their calves- something that almost never happens in the wild. Dont forget their star bull orca is the one known to have shown aggressive and violent tendencies, great idea SW! Finally, SW places orcas together haphazardly, causing a lot of violence amongst each other. In the wild, orcas only live with their family pods. for life. they create their own complex langauges and social behaviors. But SW needs whales for each park, and just throw whichever orcas they choose together, often to disasterous results. Next time you are watching one of their precious little shows, if you are close enough check and see if the orcas have open wounds or gashes. this is from the orcas raking each other, or ramming into one another and trying to scratch the other with their teeth. Again, a behavior that almost never happens in the wild, and if it does, the orca victim can escape. not so in SW's tanks, leading to severe injuries and sometimes death.
3. Orcas are highly intelligent and at the parks are severely depressed due to lack of stimulation, isolation (as I mentioned before, orcas dont just become "friends" because SW sticks them in the same tank, their vocalizations are often so different it is like they are speaking different languages), and health problems(most whales have their teeth drilled and filed down because they get infected, not to mention other infections from eating the wrong diet and fighting with each other). Their advanced ecolocation abilities are also never used, as the sounds merely bounce off the tank walls and repeat, further adding to insanity and depression. (find an insane orca funny? they are actually given antidepressents and other drugs in an attempt to combat this rampant problem)
4. There is absolutely nothing educational about orcas performing tricks over and over again to blaring music. nothing. how crazy would you go doing the same tricks over and over for decades, knowing you have to do them for food? they also dont even feed them what they eat in the wild, which is always live animals as opposed to dead fish, so its performing dumb tricks for subpar food to boot.
This is only a small taste of the true life of marine animals at SW. SW doesnt have a defense, but if you want to pull the wool over your eyes to make yourself feel better for paying for animal mistreatment then enjoy. I know SW will keep feeding their fans BS about education and conservation when they never did and will never give 2 craps about orcas. The trainers might, but they are fed the same BS as the parkgoers and many who wake up to the truth leave their jobs. I'm certainly no bleeding heart animal rights activist, but this is just plain lies, cruelty, and outdated practices.I will NEVER go to Sea World, and I beg you not to either.

 

[mvk]

Pretty sad people think Sea World is in any way "educational"-

Thanks for the propaganda. I'm sure you know the orcas are severely depressed.

 

[zombiebbq]

Its not propoganda, I have 0 to gain in giving you this info. Its called scientific research. Try harder next time buddy, not interested in smart *** comments.

 

[Borishack]

Its called scientific research

Yes, of the junk variety. Here are the classic signs of the latter:

• It's science by press release (AKA anything PETA is involved in, ergo the source of all the talking points in your propaganda post). Its never, ever a good sign when so-called "scientists" announce dramatic results before publishing in a peer-reviewed journal. When this happens, we generally find out later that they were either self-deluded or functioning as political animals rather than scientists.
• The "science" is presented as rhetoric that always implies impending doom or disaster. The argument slides from a theory being supported by evidence to a terrible catastrophe looms over us if our theory is true, therefore we cannot risk disbelieving it. The promoters of this variant of junk science are trying to panic the herd into stampeding so they don't have to provide evidence for their theory.
• The science is presented as rhetoric that focuses on moral warfare. When the argument for a theory slides from the theory is supported by evidence to only bad/sinful/uncaring people disbelieve the theory", you can be even more sure that the theory is junk science.

 

[surferdave]

Its not propoganda, I have 0 to gain in giving you this info. Its called scientific research. Try harder next time buddy, not interested in smart *** comments.

Wow, are you a marine biologist?

 

[LoveBWVVBR]

Yes, of the junk variety. Here are the classic signs of the latter:

• It's science by press release (AKA anything PETA is involved in, ergo the source of all the talking points in your propaganda post). Its never, ever a good sign when so-called "scientists" announce dramatic results before publishing in a peer-reviewed journal. When this happens, we generally find out later that they were either self-deluded or functioning as political animals rather than scientists.
• The "science" is presented as rhetoric that always implies impending doom or disaster. The argument slides from a theory being supported by evidence to a terrible catastrophe looms over us if our theory is true, therefore we cannot risk disbelieving it. The promoters of this variant of junk science are trying to panic the herd into stampeding so they don't have to provide evidence for their theory.
• The science is presented as rhetoric that focuses on moral warfare. When the argument for a theory slides from the theory is supported by evidence to only bad/sinful/uncaring people disbelieve the theory", you can be even more sure that the theory is junk science.

 

[mrsklamc]

Pretty sad people think Sea World is in any way "educational"- let me start by pointing out they refer to their orcas as killer whales...when orcas are not even whales, they are the largest member of the dolphin family. how educational do you really think SW is if they don't even bother getting the species correct?

So we can all ignore Blackfish since they aren't fish? Cool.

 

[Planogirl]

Its not propoganda, I have 0 to gain in giving you this info. Its called scientific research. Try harder next time buddy, not interested in smart *** comments.

I was interested in your post until you said that parents should be ashamed. That type of comment is unnecessary IMO.

Also, orcas have been called killer whales for a very long time so it's silly to blame SeaWorld for that.

Finally, yes propaganda.