USA: SeaWorld Entertainment Records Growth in First Half-Year Term 2019

US operating group SeaWorld Entertainment recently released the results for the first six months of its 2019 fiscal year, recording growth in both terms revenues and attendance. Compared to the same time period of fiscal year 2018 (cf. EAP News f. 10th Aug 18), visitor numbers at the SeaWorld-related parks increased by 1.7 percent to a total of 9.8 million visitors. Also, revenues rose by 2.9 percent to a total of 626.6 million USD (approx. 559 million EUR) in the first half of 2019. The net income of this period is 15.6 million USD (approx. 13.9 million EUR).

Adjusted EBITDA increased by 33.6 percent to 166.1 million USD (approx. 148.18 million EUR). In addition, SeaWorld announced to have repurchased approx. 5.6 million shares of common stock in the second quarter of 2019 and to have increased its authorization to buy back shares to 250 million USD (approx. 223 million EUR).

This past July, SeaWorld announced personnel changes related to its management board: Charles Koppelman has been named director of the company effective 19th July, rising the number of seven directors to eight. Yoshikazu Maruyama has stepped down from his role as Chairman (cp. EAP News of 10 May 17) but will remain in the SeaWorld management team as a director. New non-executive Chairman of the board is SeaWorld director Scott Ross.

SeaWorld Entertainment currently operates twelve theme and water parks in the US. (eap)