SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. (Form: 10-Q, Received: 05/09/2018 17:21:29)

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

☒	QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2018

☐	TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from to

Commission File Number: 001-35883

SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware

27-1220297

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

9205 South Park Center Loop, Suite 400

Orlando, Florida 32819

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

(407) 226-5011

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer	☒		Accelerated filer	☐

Non-accelerated filer	☐	(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)	Smaller reporting company	☐
			Emerging growth company	☐

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. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒

The registrant had outstanding 88,535,512 shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share as of May 3, 2018.

SEAWORLD ENTERTAINMENT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

FORM 10-Q

TABLE OF CONTENTS

		Page No.
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS		1

PART I.	FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.	Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

	Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets	3

	Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss	4

	Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity	5

	Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows	6

	Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements	7

Item 2.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	26

Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	36

Item 4.	Controls and Procedures	37

PART II.	OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.	Legal Proceedings	38

Item 1A.	Risk Factors	38

Item 2.	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds	39

Item 3.	Defaults Upon Senior Securities	39

Item 4.	Mine Safety Disclosures	39

Item 5.	Other Information	40

Item 6.	Exhibits	40

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FO RWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

In addition to historical information, this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), which are subject to the “safe harbor” created by those sections. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, including statements concerning our plans, objectives, goals, beliefs, business strategies, future events, business conditions, our results of operations, financial position and our business outlook, business trends and other information, may be forward-looking statements. Words such as “might,” “will,” “may,” “should,” “estimates,” “expects,” “continues,” “contemplates,” “anticipates,” “projects,” “plans,” “potential,” “predicts,” “intends,” “believes,” “forecasts,” “future,” “targeted” and variations of such words or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are not historical facts, and are based upon our current expectations, beliefs, estimates and projections, and various assumptions, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and beyond our control. Our expectations, beliefs, estimates and projections are expressed in good faith and we believe 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.

There are a number of risks, uncertainties and other important factors, many of which are beyond our control, that could cause our actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Such risks, uncertainties and other important factors that could cause actual results to differ include, among others, the risks, uncertainties and factors set forth under “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 (the “Annual Report on Form 10-K”), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), and under “Part II, Item 1A. Risk Factors” in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as such risk factors may be updated from time to time in our periodic filings with the SEC, including this report, and are accessible on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov, including the following:

•

complex federal and state regulations governing the treatment of animals, which can change, and claims and lawsuits and attempts to generate negative publicity associated with our business by activist groups;

•

various factors beyond our control adversely affecting attendance and guest spending at our theme parks, including the potential spread of travel-related health concerns including pandemics and epidemics such as Ebola, Zika, Influenza H1N1, avian bird flu, SARS and MERS;

•

incidents or adverse publicity concerning our theme parks;

•

a decline in discretionary consumer spending or consumer confidence;

•

significant portion of revenues generated in the States of Florida, California and Virginia and the Orlando market, and any risks affecting such markets, such as natural disasters, severe weather and travel-related disruptions or incidents;

•

seasonal fluctuations;

•

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;

•

increased labor costs 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 our 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 or labor disputes;

•

inability to meet workforce needs;

•

inability to maintain certain commercial licenses;

•

restrictions in our debt agreements limiting flexibility in operating our business;

•

inability to retain our current credit ratings;

•

our substantial leverage;

•

inability to realize the benefits of acquisitions, restructurings or other strategic initiatives;

•

inadequate insurance coverage;

•

inability to purchase or contract with third party manufacturers for rides and attractions and the impact of the costs associated with such activities;

•

inability to realize the full value of our intangible assets;

•

inadequate insurance coverage;

•

inability to purchase or contract with third party manufacturers for rides and attractions;

•

environmental regulations, expenditures and liabilities;

•

suspension or termination of any of our business licenses, including by legislation at federal, state or local levels;

•

delays or restrictions in obtaining permits;

•

policies of the U.S. president and his administration;

•

actions of activist stockholders;

•

the ability of Hill Path Capital LP to significantly influence our decisions;

•

the ability of affiliates of Zhonghong Zhuoye Group Co., Ltd. to significantly influence our decisions;

•

financial distress experienced by our strategic partners or other counterparties could have an adverse impact on us.

•

changes or declines in our stock price, as well as the risk that securities analysts could downgrade our stock or our sector; and

•

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.

We caution you that the risks, uncertainties and other factors referenced above may not contain all of the risks, uncertainties and other factors that are important to you. In addition, we cannot assure you that we will realize the results, benefits or developments that we expect or anticipate or, even if substantially realized, that they will result in the consequences or affect us or our business in the way expected. There can be no assurance that (i) we have correctly measured or identified all of the factors affecting our 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) our strategy, which is based in part on this analysis, will be successful. All forward-looking statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q apply only as of the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or as of the date they were made or as otherwise specified herein and, except as required by applicable law, we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

All references to “we,” “us,” “our,” “Company” or “SeaWorld” in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q mean SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc., its subsidiaries and affiliates.

Website and Social Media Disclosure

We use our websites ( www.seaworldentertainment.com and www.seaworldinvestors.com ) and our corporate Twitter account (@SeaWorld) as channels of distribution of Company information. The information we post through these channels may be deemed material. Accordingly, investors should monitor these channels, in addition to following our press releases, SEC filings and public conference calls and webcasts. In addition, you may automatically receive e-mail alerts and other information about SeaWorld when you enroll your e-mail address by visiting the “E-mail Alerts” section of our website at www.seaworldinvestors.com . The contents of our website and social media channels are not, however, a part of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Trademarks, Service Marks and Trade Names

We own or have rights to use a number of registered and common law trademarks, service marks and trade names in connection with our business in the United States and in certain foreign jurisdictions, including SeaWorld Entertainment, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, SeaWorld ^® , Shamu ^® , Busch Gardens ^® , Aquatica ^® , Discovery Cove ^® , Sea Rescue ^® and other names and marks that identify our theme parks, characters, rides, attractions and other businesses. In addition, we have certain rights to use Sesame Street ^® marks, characters and related indicia through our license agreement with Sesame Workshop.

Solely for convenience, the trademarks, service marks, and trade names referred to hereafter in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are without the ® and ™ symbols, but such references are not intended to indicate, in any way, that we will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, our rights or the rights of the applicable licensors to these trademarks, service marks, and trade names. This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q may contain additional trademarks, service marks and trade names of others, which are the property of their respective owners. All trademarks, service marks and trade names appearing in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are, to our knowledge, the property of their respective owners.

PART I — FINANCI AL INFORMATION

Item 1. Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

SEAWORLD ENTERTAINMENT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

	March 31,			December 31,
	2018			2017
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	39,343		$	33,178
Accounts receivable, net		56,431			38,400
Inventories		37,648			30,887
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		19,940			16,310
Total current assets		153,362			118,775
Property and equipment, at cost		3,000,208			2,952,074
Accumulated depreciation		(1,308,780	)		(1,276,833	)
Property and equipment, net		1,691,428			1,675,241
Goodwill		66,278			66,278
Trade names/trademarks, net		159,436			159,802
Other intangible assets, net		14,682			14,896
Deferred tax assets, net		53,864			32,820
Other assets		19,183			17,970
Total assets	$	2,158,233		$	2,085,782
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	$	125,231		$	100,573
Current maturities of long-term debt		78,707			38,707
Accrued salaries, wages and benefits		20,283			14,554
Deferred revenue		138,805			79,554
Dividends payable		136			470
Other accrued liabilities		25,491			19,612
Total current liabilities		388,653			253,470
Long-term debt, net of debt issuance costs of $8,341 and $9,045 as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively		1,498,839			1,503,609
Other liabilities		32,663			41,237
Total liabilities		1,920,155			1,798,316
Commitments and contingencies (Note 10)
Stockholders’ Equity:
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value—authorized, 100,000,000 shares, no shares issued or outstanding at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017		—			—
Common stock, $0.01 par value—authorized, 1,000,000,000 shares; 92,889,547 and 92,637,403 shares issued at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively		929			926
Additional paid-in capital		647,286			641,324
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)		1,321			(5,076	)
Accumulated deficit		(256,587	)		(194,837	)
Treasury stock, at cost (6,519,773 shares at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017)		(154,871	)		(154,871	)
Total stockholders’ equity		238,078			287,466
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	2,158,233		$	2,085,782

See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

SEAWORLD ENTERTAINMENT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF
COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

	For the Three Months Ended March 31,
	2018			2017
Net revenues:
Admissions	$	130,003		$	115,089
Food, merchandise and other		87,163			71,268
Total revenues		217,166			186,357
Costs and expenses:
Cost of food, merchandise and other revenues		17,051			14,483
Operating expenses (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below and includes equity compensation of $1,563 and $936 for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively)		155,473			157,324
Selling, general and administrative (includes equity compensation of $5,982 and $3,178 for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively)		63,524			52,418
Restructuring and other separation costs		8,835			—
Depreciation and amortization		38,430			38,867
Total costs and expenses		283,313			263,092
Operating loss		(66,147	)		(76,735	)
Other expense (income), net		63			(86	)
Interest expense		19,913			18,261
Loss on early extinguishment of debt and write-off of discounts and debt issuance costs		—			8,020
Loss before income taxes		(86,123	)		(102,930	)
Benefit from income taxes		(23,279	)		(41,801	)
Net loss	$	(62,844	)	$	(61,129	)
Other comprehensive income:
Unrealized gain on derivatives, net of tax		7,491			2,404
Comprehensive loss	$	(55,353	)	$	(58,725	)
Loss per share:
Net loss per share, basic	$	(0.73	)	$	(0.72	)
Net loss per share, diluted	$	(0.73	)	$	(0.72	)
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic		86,209			85,373
Diluted		86,209			85,373

See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

SEAWORLD ENTERTAINMENT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2018

(In thousands, except per share and share amounts)

	Shares of Common Stock Issued			Common Stock			Additional Paid-In Capital			Accumulated Deficit			Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income			Treasury Stock, at Cost			Total Stockholders' Equity
Balance at December 31, 2017		92,637,403		$	926		$	641,324		$	(194,837	)	$	(5,076	)	$	(154,871	)	$	287,466
Impact of adoption of ASU 2018-02		—			—			—			1,094			(1,094	)		—			—
Equity-based compensation		—			—			7,545			—			—			—			7,545
Unrealized gain on derivatives, net of tax expense of $2,774		—			—			—			—			7,491			—			7,491
Vesting of restricted shares		360,092			4			(4	)		—			—			—			—
Shares withheld for tax withholdings		(108,432	)		(1	)		(1,633	)		—			—			—			(1,634	)
Exercise of stock options		484			—			7			—			—			—			7
Adjustments to previous dividend declarations		—			—			47			—			—			—			47
Net loss		—			—			—			(62,844	)		—			—			(62,844	)
Balance at March 31, 2018		92,889,547		$	929		$	647,286		$	(256,587	)	$	1,321		$	(154,871	)	$	238,078

See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

SEAWORLD ENTERTAINMENT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

	For the Three Months Ended March 31,
	2018			2017
Cash Flows From Operating Activities:
Net loss	$	(62,844	)	$	(61,129	)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		38,430			38,867
Amortization of debt issuance costs and discounts		1,157			1,324
Loss on early extinguishment of debt and write-off of discounts and debt issuance costs		—			8,020
Loss on sale or disposal of assets		396			1,739
Deferred benefit from income tax		(23,817	)		(41,801	)
Equity-based compensation		7,545			4,114
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable		(21,218	)		(5,055	)
Inventories		(6,761	)		(4,812	)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		(3,141	)		(4,046	)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses		16,540			27,198
Accrued salaries, wages and benefits		5,729			(3,332	)
Deferred revenue		62,162			54,875
Other accrued liabilities		5,879			(12,087	)
Other assets and liabilities		260			1,817
Net cash provided by operating activities		20,317			5,692
Cash Flows From Investing Activities:
Capital expenditures		(45,822	)		(56,853	)
Net cash used in investing activities		(45,822	)		(56,853	)
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
Proceeds from issuance of debt		—			998,306
Repayments of long-term debt		(5,927	)		(1,006,336	)
Proceeds from draw on revolving credit facility		45,000			60,649
Repayments of revolving credit facility		(5,000	)		(20,000	)
Debt issuance costs		—			(15,390	)
Dividends paid to stockholders		(287	)		(110	)
Payment of tax withholdings on equity-based compensation through shares withheld		(1,634	)		(749	)
Exercise of stock options		7			—
Net cash provided by financing activities		32,159			16,370
Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents, including Restricted Cash		6,654			(34,791	)
Cash and Cash Equivalents, including Restricted Cash—Beginning of period		33,997			69,378
Cash and Cash Equivalents, including Restricted Cash—End of period	$	40,651		$	34,587
Supplemental Disclosures of Noncash Investing and Financing Activities
Capital expenditures in accounts payable	$	32,744		$	12,237
Dividends declared, but unpaid	$	136		$	815

See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

SEAWORLD ENTERTAINMENT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

1. DESCRIPTION OF THE BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

Description of the Business

SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc., through its wholly-owned subsidiary, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Inc. (“SEA”) (collectively, the “Company”), owns and operates twelve theme parks within the United States. The Company operates SeaWorld theme parks in Orlando, Florida; San Antonio, Texas; and San Diego, California, and Busch Gardens theme parks in Tampa, Florida, and Williamsburg, Virginia. The Company operates water park attractions in Orlando, Florida (Aquatica); San Antonio, Texas (Aquatica); San Diego, California (Aquatica); Tampa, Florida (Adventure Island); and Williamsburg, Virginia (Water Country USA). The Company also operates a reservations-only theme park in Orlando, Florida (Discovery Cove) and a seasonal park in Langhorne, Pennsylvania (Sesame Place).

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) regarding interim financial reporting. Certain information and note disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. Therefore, these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes for the year ended December 31, 2017 included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC. The unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2017 was derived from the audited consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K.

In the opinion of management, such unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all normal recurring adjustments necessary to present fairly the financial position, results of operations, and cash flows for the interim periods, but are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations for the year ending December 31, 2018 or any future period due to the seasonal nature of the Company’s operations. Based upon historical results, the Company typically generates its highest revenues in the second and third quarters of each year and incurs a net loss in the first and fourth quarters, in part because seven of its theme parks are only open for a portion of the year.

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, including SEA. All intercompany accounts have been eliminated in consolidation.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Significant estimates and assumptions include, but are not limited to, the accounting for self-insurance, deferred tax assets, deferred revenue, equity compensation and the valuation of goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Segment Reporting

The Company maintains discrete financial information for each of its twelve theme parks, which is used by the Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”), identified as the Chief Executive Officer, as a basis for allocating resources. Each theme park has been identified as an operating segment and meets the criteria for aggregation due to similar economic characteristics. In addition, all of the theme parks provide similar products and services and share similar processes for delivering services. The theme parks have a high degree of similarity in the workforces and target similar consumer groups. Accordingly, based on these economic and operational similarities and the way the CODM monitors and makes decisions affecting the operations, the Company has concluded that its operating segments may be aggregated and that it has one reportable segment.

SEAWORLD ENTERTAINMENT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

Restricted Cash

Restricted cash was $1,308 and $819 as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively, and is recorded in other current assets in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets. Restricted cash consists primarily of funds received from strategic partners for use in approved marketing and promotional activities.

	March 31,		December 31,
	2018		2017
Cash and cash equivalents	$	39,343	$	33,178
Restricted cash, included in other current assets		1,308		819
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	$	40,651	$	33,997

Revenue Recognition

Effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”), Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers , using the modified retrospective transition method. The adoption of ASC 606 did not have a material impact on the Company’s existing or new contracts as of January 1, 2018; therefore, no cumulative adjustment to beginning retained earnings was required as a result of adoption.

ASC 606 is based on the principle that revenue is recognized to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. To determine revenue recognition for arrangements within the scope of ASC 606, the Company performs the following five steps: (i) identify the contracts with customers; (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (iii) determine the transaction price; (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (v) recognize revenue when or as the company satisfies the performance obligations. ASC 606 also requires additional disclosure about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from customer contracts. Total revenues in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive loss are presented net of sales-related taxes collected from guests and remitted or payable to government taxing authorities.

Admissions Revenue

Admissions revenue primarily consists of single-day tickets, annual or season passes or other multi-day or multi-park admission products. As allowed by the practical expedient available to public companies under ASC 606, admission products with similar characteristics are analyzed using a portfolio approach for each separate park as the Company expects that the effects on the consolidated financial statements of applying this guidance to the portfolio does not differ materially from applying the guidance to individual contracts within the portfolio. For single-day tickets, the Company recognizes revenue at a point in time, upon admission to the park. Annual passes, season passes or other multi-day or multi-park passes allow guests access to specific parks over a specified time period. For these pass and multi-use products, revenue is deferred and recognized over the terms of the admission product based on estimated redemption rates for similar products and is adjusted periodically. The Company estimates a redemption rate using historical and forecasted growth rates and attendance trends by park for similar products. Attendance trends factor in seasonality factors and are adjusted based on actual trends periodically. Revenue is recognized on a pro-rata basis based on the estimated allocated selling price of the admission product. For multi-day admission products, revenue is allocated based on the number of visits included in the pass and recognized ratably based on each admission into the theme park.

The Company has also entered into agreements with certain external theme park, zoo and other attraction operators to jointly market and sell single and multi-use admission products. These joint products allow admission to both a Company park and an external park, zoo or other attraction. The agreements with the external partners specify the allocation of revenue to the Company from any jointly sold products. Whether the Company or the external partner sells the product, the Company’s portion of revenue is deferred until the first time the product is redeemed at one of its parks and recognized over its related use in a manner consistent with the Company’s own admission products.

Additionally, the Company barters theme park admission products and sponsorship opportunities for advertising, employee recognition awards, and various other services. The fair value of the products or services is recognized into admissions revenue and related expenses at the time of the exchange and approximates the estimated fair value first of the goods or services provided then received, whichever is more readily determinable. For the three months ended March 31, 2018, approximately $2,900 was included within admissions revenue with an offset to either selling, general and administrative expenses or operating expenses in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive loss related to bartered ticket transactions.

SEAWORLD ENTERTAINMENT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

Deferred revenue includes revenue associated with pass products and contract liability balances related to licensing and international agreements collected in advance of the Company’s performance and expected to be recognized in future periods. At Ma rch 31, 2018, $10,606 is included in other liabilities in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets related to the long-term portion of deferred revenue, of which $10,000 relates to the Company’s international agreement, as discussed in the following section, which the Company expects to recognize over the term of the respective license agreement beginning when substantially all of the services have been performed, which is expected to be upon opening. The following table reflects th e changes in deferred revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017:

	2018			2017
Deferred revenue, including long-term portion as of January 1,	$	90,437		$	89,400
Additions		197,227			173,477
Revenue recognized during the period		(137,509	)		(117,690	)
Other adjustments		(744	)		(1,451	)
Deferred revenue, including long-term portion as of March 31,		149,411			143,736
Less: Deferred revenue, long-term portion, included in other liabilities		10,606			10,494
Deferred revenue, short-term portion as of March 31,	$	138,805		$	133,242

In accordance with the practical expedient available to public companies under ASC 606, the Company does not disclose the value of unsatisfied performance obligations for (i) contracts with an original expected length of one year or less and (ii) contracts for which the Company recognizes revenue at the amount to which it has the right to invoice for services performed. Additionally, the Company generally expenses sales commissions when incurred because the amortization period would have been one year or less. These costs are recorded within selling, general and administrative expenses.

Food, Merchandise and Other Revenue

Food, merchandise and other revenue primarily consists of culinary, merchandise and other in-park experiences and also includes other miscellaneous revenue which is not significant in the periods presented, including revenue related to the Company’s international agreements as discussed below. The Company recognizes revenue for food, merchandise and other in-park revenue when the related products or services are received by the guests. Certain admission products may also include bundled products at the time of purchase, such as culinary or merchandise items. The Company conducts an analysis of bundled products to identify separate distinct performance obligations that are material in the context of the contract. For those products that are determined to be distinct performance obligations and material in the context of the contract, the Company allocates a portion of the transaction price to each distinct performance obligation using each performance obligation’s standalone price. If the bundled product is related to a pass product and offered over time, revenue will be recognized over time accordingly.

International Agreements

In March 2017, the Company entered into a Park Exclusivity and Concept Design Agreement (the “ECDA”) and a Center Concept and Preliminary Design Support Agreement (the “CDSA”) (collectively, the “ZHG Agreements”) with Zhonghong Holding, Co. Ltd. (“Zhonghong Holding”), an affiliate of ZHG Group, a related party, to provide design, support and advisory services for various potential projects and grant exclusive rights in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau (the “Territory”). Under the terms of the ECDA, the Company will work with Zhonghong Holding and a top theme park design company, to create and produce concept designs and development analysis for theme parks, water parks and interactive parks in the Territory. Under the terms of the CDSA, the Company will provide guidance, support, input, and expertise relating to the initial strategic planning, concept and preliminary design of Zhonghong Holding’s family entertainment and other similar centers. The Company analyzed the ZHG Agreements under ASC 606 and determined that the agreements should be combined for accounting purposes and the performance obligations under the agreements should be combined into a single performance obligation which meets the criteria to be recognized over time. Additionally, the services related to the agreements are provided ratably over the contract term, as such, the Company recognizes revenue under the ZHG Agreements on a straight line basis over the contractual term of the agreement including approximately $1,300 in the three months ended March 31, 2018, which is included in food, merchandise and other revenue in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive loss.

SEAWORLD ENTERTAINMENT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

The Company has also received $10,000 in deferred revenue recorded in other liabilities related to a nonrefundable payment received from a partner in connection with a potential project in the Middle East (the “Middle East Project”) to provide certain services pertaining to the planning and design of the Middle East Project, with funding received exp ected to offset internal expenses. Approximately $3,300 of costs incurred related to the Middle East Project are recorded in other assets in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2018. The Company has recognized an asset for the costs incurred to fulfill the contract as the costs are specifically identifiable, enhance resources that will be used to satisfy performance obligations in the future and are expected to be recovered. The related deferred revenue and expe nse will begin to be recognized when substantially all of the services have been performed. The Company continually monitors performance on the contract and will make adjustments, if necessary. The Middle East Project is subject to various conditions, incl uding, but not limited to, the parties completing the design development and there is no assurance that the Middle East Project will be completed or advance to the next stages.

2. RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

The Company reviews new accounting pronouncements as they are issued or proposed by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”).

Recently Implemented Accounting Standards

In February 2018, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2018-02, Income Statement – Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income. This ASU gives companies the option to reclassify to retained earnings any tax effects related to items in accumulated other comprehensive income or loss that are stranded due to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”). Companies are able to early adopt this ASU in any interim or annual period for which financial statements have not yet been issued and apply it either (1) in the period of adoption or (2) retrospectively to each period in which the income tax effects of the Tax Act related to items in accumulated other comprehensive income or loss are recognized. When adopted, the ASU requires all entities to make new disclosures, regardless of whether they elect to reclassify stranded amounts. Companies are required to disclose whether or not they elected to reclassify the tax effects related to the Tax Act as well as their policy for releasing income tax effects from accumulated other comprehensive income or loss. The guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those annual reporting periods with early adoption permitted. On January 1, 2018, the Company elected to early adopt the ASU and applied the amendments in the period of adoption. As a result, the Company reclassified $1,094 of “stranded” tax effects of the Tax Act from accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income to accumulated deficit in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet and the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated statements of changes in stockholders’ equity.

In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-09, Compensation–Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope of Modification Accounting. This ASU was issued to provide clarity and reduce diversity in practice regarding the application of guidance on the modification of equity awards. The guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those annual reporting periods with early adoption permitted and should be applied prospectively to an award modified on or after the adoption date. The Company adopted this standard on January 1, 2018. The adoption of ASU 2017-17 did not have a material impact on the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements as the Company historically has accounted for all modifications in accordance with Topic 718 and has not been subject to the exception described under this ASU.

In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18, Restricted Cash–a Consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force . This ASU requires companies to include restricted cash balances with cash and cash equivalent balances in the statement of cash flows. The guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those annual reporting periods with early adoption permitted, and should be applied using a retrospective transition method. The Company adopted this standard on January 1, 2018 using the retrospective transition method. The adoption of ASU 2016-18 decreased net cash used in investing activities and increased cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash by $950 when compared to the previously reported amounts in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated statement of cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2017.

In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-16, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory . ASU 2016-16 simplifies the income tax accounting of intra-entity transfers of an asset other than inventory by requiring an entity to recognize the income tax effect when the transfer occurs. The guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim reporting periods within those annual reporting periods and early adoption is permitted. The Company adopted this standard on January 1, 2018. The adoption of ASU 2016-16 did not have a material impact on the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

SEAWORLD ENTERTAINMENT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments. This ASU provides guidance on the presentation and classification of eight specific cash flow issues that previously resulted in diversity in practice. The ASU is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and interim periods therein. The Company adopted this standard on January 1, 2018 using a retrospective transition method to each p eriod presented. The adoption of ASU 2016-15 did not have a material impact on the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated statements of cash flows.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) , which supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in Topic 605, Revenue Recognition . Under this ASU and subsequently issued amendments, revenue is recognized at the time a good or service is transferred to a customer for the amount of consideration expected to be received. Entities may use a full retrospective approach or report the cumulative effect as of the date of adoption. The Company adopted this standard and subsequently issued amendments on January 1, 2018, using the modified retrospective transition method. The adoption of ASU 2014-09 and its subsequently issued amendments did not have a material impact on the Company’s existing or new contracts as of January 1, 2018; therefore, no cumulative adjustment to beginning retained earnings was required as a result of adoption. See Note 1 “Description of the Business and Basis of Presentation” subtopic “ Revenue Recognition ” for additional disclosure.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-12, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815)–Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities . ASU 2017-12 aims to improve reporting of hedging relationships to better portray the economic results of an entity’s risk management activities in its financial statements and simplify the application of the hedge accounting guidance. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018 and interim periods within those annual reporting periods with early adoption permitted. For cash flow and net investment hedges existing as of the adoption date, the guidance requires a cumulative-effect adjustment as of the beginning of the fiscal year that an entity adopts the amendments; however, the presentation and disclosure guidance should be applied prospectively. The Company is currently assessing the impact of this ASU on its unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and does not expect a material impact. However, the new ASU may impact the Company’s presentation and disclosures.

On February 25, 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases . This ASU establishes a new lease accounting model that, for many companies, eliminates the concept of operating leases and requires entities to record lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet for certain types of leases. Under this ASU, an entity is required to recognize right-of-use assets and lease liabilities on its balance sheet and disclose key information about leasing arrangements. Lessees and lessors are required to disclose qualitative and quantitative information about leasing arrangements to enable financial statement users to assess the amount, timing and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases. The ASU will be effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods therein. Early adoption will be permitted for all entities. The provisions of the ASU are to be applied using a modified retrospective approach. The Company has not yet adopted this ASU and is currently evaluating the impact of this ASU on its unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements. Upon adoption of this ASU, the Company expects its San Diego land lease, among other operating leases, to be recorded as a right-of-use asset with a corresponding lease liability.

3. LOSS PER SHARE

Loss per share is computed as follows (in thousands, except per share data):

	For the Three Months Ended March 31,
	2018								2017
	Net Loss			Shares		Per Share Amount			Net Loss			Shares		Per Share Amount
Basic loss per share	$	(62,844	)		86,209	$	(0.73	)	$	(61,129	)		85,373	$	(0.72	)
Effect of dilutive incentive-based awards					—								—
Diluted loss per share	$	(62,844	)		86,209	$	(0.73	)	$	(61,129	)		85,373	$	(0.72	)

In accordance with the Earnings Per Share Topic of the ASC, basic loss per share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period (excluding treasury stock and unvested restricted stock). The shares of unvested restricted stock are eligible to receive dividends; however, dividend rights will be forfeited if the award does not vest. Accordingly, only vested shares of outstanding restricted stock are included in the calculation of basic earnings per share. The weighted average number of repurchased shares during the period, if any, which are held as treasury stock, are excluded from shares of common stock outstanding.

SEAWORLD ENTERTAINMENT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

Diluted loss per share is determined using the treasury stock method based on the dilutive effect of unv ested restricted stock and certain shares of common stock that are issuable upon exercise of stock options. There were approximately 4,495,000 and 4,920,000 potentially dilutive shares excluded from the computation of diluted loss per share during the thre e months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, as their effect would have been anti-dilutive due to the Company’s net loss in those periods. The Company’s outstanding performance-vesting restricted awards of approximately 2,730,000 and 3,140,000 as of March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, are considered contingently issuable shares and are excluded from the calculation of diluted loss per share until the performance measure criteria is met as of the end of the reporting period.

4. INCOME TAXES

Income tax expense or benefit is recognized based on the Company’s estimated annual effective tax rate which is based upon the tax rate expected for the full calendar year applied to the pretax income or loss of the interim period. The Company’s consolidated effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2018 was 27.0% and differs from the recently enacted statutory federal income tax rate of 21.0% primarily due to state income taxes and other permanent items. The Company’s consolidated effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2017 was 40.6% and differs from th e previously effective statutory federal income tax rate of 35.0% primarily due to state income taxes and other permanent items.

The Company has determined that there are no positions currently taken that would rise to a level requiring an amount to be recorded or disclosed as an unrecognized tax benefit. If such positions do arise, it is the Company’s intent that any interest or penalty amount related to such positions will be recorded as a component of the income tax provision (benefit) in the applicable period.

On December 22, 2017, the United States enacted the Tax A ct which makes significant modifications to the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, including but not limited to a corporate tax rate decrease from 35% to 21% effective January 1, 2018. The Company has calculated the impact of the Tax Act in accordance with its current interpretation and available guidance, particularly as it relates to the future deductibility of executive compensation items and state conformity to the Tax Act. As such, these assumptions may change as further clarification and guidance is provided by taxing authorities.

5. OTHER ACCRUED LIABILITIES

Other accrued liabilities at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, consisted of the following:

	March 31,		December 31,
	2018		2017
Accrued property taxes	$	2,827	$	1,280
Accrued interest		839		6,078
Self-insurance reserve		7,084		7,084
Other		14,741		5,170
Total other accrued liabilities	$	25,491	$	19,612

As of March 31, 2018, other liabilities above include $11,500 related to a proposed legal settlement (see further discussion in Note 10–Commitments and Contingencies). As of December 31, 2017, accrued interest above includes $5,050 relating to the Company’s fourth quarter 2017 interest payable on its Term B-2 Loans, which was paid on January 5, 2018.

SEAWORLD ENTERTAINMENT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

6. LONG-TERM DEBT

Long-term debt as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 consisted of the following:

	March 31,			December 31,
	2018			2017
Term B-5 Loans (effective interest rate of 5.30% and 4.69% at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively)	$	988,323		$	990,819
Term B-2 Loans (effective interest rate of 4.55% and 3.94% at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively)		550,796			554,227
Revolving credit facility (effective interest rate of 4.49% and 4.24% at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively)		55,000			15,000
Total long-term debt		1,594,119			1,560,046
Less discounts		(8,232	)		(8,685	)
Less debt issuance costs		(8,341	)		(9,045	)
Less current maturities		(78,707	)		(38,707	)
Total long-term debt, net	$	1,498,839		$	1,503,609

SEA is the borrower under the senior secured credit facilities, as amended pursuant to a credit agreement (the “Existing Credit Agreement”) dated as of December 1, 2009, as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or modified from time to time (the “Senior Secured Credit Facilities”). On March 31, 2017, SEA entered into a refinancing amendment, Amendment No. 8 (the “Amendment”), to its Existing Credit Agreement. In connection with the Amendment, SEA borrowed $998,306 of additional term loans (the “Term B-5 Loans”) of which the proceeds, along with cash on hand, were used to redeem all of the then outstanding principal of the Term B-3 loans (the “Term B-3 Loans”), with a principal amount equal to $244,713 and a portion of the outstanding principal of the Term B-2 loans (the “Term B-2 Loans”), with a principal amount equal to $753,593, and pay other fees, costs and expenses in connection with the Amendment and related transactions. Additionally, pursuant to the Amendment, SEA terminated the existing revolving credit commitments (the “Terminated Revolving Credit Facility”) and replaced them with a new tranche with an aggregate commitment amount of $210,000 (the “Revolving Credit Facility”).

In connection with the issuance of the Term B-5 Loans, SEA recorded a discount of $4,992 and debt issuance costs of $44 during the three months ended March 31, 2017. Additionally, SEA wrote-off debt issuance costs of $7,987, which is included in loss on early extinguishment of debt and write-off of discounts and debt issuances costs in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive loss during the three months ended March 31, 2017. Such loss on early extinguishment of debt and write-off of discounts and debt issuance costs also includes $33 related to a write-off of discounts and debt issuance costs resulting from a mandatory prepayment of debt on March 30, 2017.

Debt issuance costs and discounts are amortized to interest expense using the effective interest method over the term of the related debt and are included in long-term debt, net, in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets. Unamortized debt issuance costs and discounts for the Term B-5 Loans, Term B-2 Loans and Revolving Credit Facility were $11,413, $2,939 and $2,221, respectively, at March 31, 2018. Unamortized debt issuance costs and discounts for the Term B-5 Loans, Term B-2 Loans and Revolving Credit Facility were $11,904, $3,302 and $2,524, respectively, at December 31, 2017.

As of March 31, 2018, SEA was in compliance with all covenants contained in the documents governing the Senior Secured Credit Facilities.

Senior Secured Credit Facilities

As of March 31, 2018, the Senior Secured Credit Facilities consisted of $988,323 in Term B-5 Loans which will mature on March 31, 2024, $550,796 in Term B-2 Loans, which will mature on May 14, 2020 and the $210,000 Revolving Credit Facility, of which $55,000 was outstanding as of March 31, 2018. The Revolving Credit Facility will mature on the earlier of (a) March 31, 2022 and (b) the 91st day prior to the earlier of (1) the maturity of the Term B-2 Loans with an aggregate principal amount greater than $50,000 and (2) the maturity date of any indebtedness incurred to refinance the Term B-2 Loans with an aggregate principal amount greater than $50,000. The outstanding balance on the Revolving Credit Facility was included in current maturities of long-term debt in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, due to the Company’s intent to repay the borrowings within the following twelve month period. Subsequent to March 31, 2018, SEA borrowed an additional $10,000 on the Revolving Credit Facility for general working capital purposes and repaid $25,000.

SEAWORLD ENTERTAINMENT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

The Term B-2 Loans amortize in equal quarterly installments in an aggregate annual amount equal to 1.0% of the original principal amount of the Term B-2 Loans on May 14, 2013, with the balance due on the final maturity date of May 14, 2020. The Term B-5 Loans amortize in equal quarterly installments in an aggregate annual amount equal to 1.0% of the original principal amount of the Term B-5 Loans on March 31, 2017, with the balance due on the final mat urity date of March 31, 2024. SEA may voluntarily repay amounts outstanding under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities at any time without premium or penalty, other than customary “breakage” costs with respect to LIBOR loans.

SEA is required to prepay the outstanding Term B-2 Loans and Term B-5 Loans, subject to certain exceptions, with

(i)

50% of SEA’s annual “excess cash flow” (with step-downs to 25% and 0%, as applicable, based upon achievement by SEA of a certain secured net leverage ratio), subject to certain exceptions;

(ii)

100% of the net cash proceeds of certain non-ordinary course asset sales or other dispositions subject to reinvestment rights and certain exceptions; and

(iii)

100% of the net cash proceeds of any incurrence of debt by SEA or any of its restricted subsidiaries, other than debt permitted to be incurred or issued under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities.

Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, each lender of term loans has the right to reject its pro rata share of mandatory prepayments described above, in which case SEA may retain the amounts so rejected. The foregoing mandatory prepayments will be applied pro rata to installments of term loans in direct order of maturity. During the first quarter of 2017, the Company made a mandatory prepayment of approximately $6,300 based on its excess cash flow calculation as of December 31, 2016. Approximately $3,500 of the mandatory prepayment was accepted by the lenders and applied ratably to the Term B-2 and Term B-3 Loans prior to the Amendment on March 31, 2017, and the remainder of $2,800 was applied as a voluntary prepayment to the Term B-2 Loans in the second quarter of 2017. There were no mandatory prepayments made during the three months ended March 31, 2018.

As of March 31, 2018, SEA had $21,291 of outstanding letters of credit and $55,000 outstanding on its Revolving Credit Facility leaving $133,709 available for borrowing.

Restrictive Covenants

The Senior Secured Credit Facilities contain a number of customary negative covenants. Such covenants, among other things, restrict, subject to certain exceptions, the ability of SEA and its restricted subsidiaries to incur additional indebtedness; make guarantees; create liens on assets; enter into sale and leaseback transactions; engage in mergers or consolidations; sell assets; make fundamental changes; pay dividends and distributions or repurchase SEA’s capital stock; make investments, loans and advances, including acquisitions; engage in certain transactions with affiliates; make changes in the nature of the business; and make prepayments of junior debt. The Senior Secured Credit Facilities also contain covenants requiring SEA to limit annual capital expenditures and maintain a maximum total net leverage ratio and a minimum interest coverage ratio. All of the net assets of SEA and its consolidated subsidiaries are restricted and there are no unconsolidated subsidiaries of SEA.

The Senior Secured Credit Facilities permit restricted payments in an aggregate amount per annum equal to the sum of (A) $25,000 plus (B) an amount, if any, equal to (1) if the total net leverage ratio on a pro forma basis after giving effect to the payment of any such restricted payment, is no greater than 3.50 to 1.00, an unlimited amount, (2) if the total net leverage ratio on a pro forma basis after giving effect to the payment of any such restricted payment is no greater than 4.00 to 1.00 and greater than 3.50 to 1.00, the greater of (a) $95,000 and (b) 7.50% of Market Capitalization (as defined in the Senior Secured Credit Facilities), (3) if the total net leverage ratio on a pro forma basis after giving effect to the payment of any such restricted payment is no greater than 4.50 to 1.00 and greater than 4.00 to 1.00, $95,000 and (4) if the total net leverage ratio on a pro forma basis after giving effect to the payment of any such restricted payment is no greater than 5.00 to 1.00 and greater than 4.50 to 1.00, $65,000.

As of March 31, 2018, the total net leverage ratio as calculated under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities was 4.70 to 1.00, which would result in the Company having a $90,000 available capacity for restricted payments in 2018. The amount available for dividend declarations, share repurchases and certain other restricted payments under the covenant restrictions in the debt agreements adjusts at the beginning of each quarter, as set forth above. The total net leverage ratio as calculated under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities is not permitted to be greater than 5.75 to 1.00 as of the last day of any fiscal quarter.

Long-term debt at March 31, 2018 is repayable as follows, and does not include the impact of any future voluntary prepayments. The outstanding balance under the Revolving Credit Facility is included in current maturities of long-term debt in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2018, due to the Company’s intent to repay the borrowings within the next twelve months.

SEAWORLD ENTERTAINMENT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

Years Ending December 31,
2018	$	72,780
2019		23,707
2020		536,763
2021		9,983
2022		9,983
Thereafter		940,903
Total	$	1,594,119

Interest Rate Swap Agreements

As of March 31, 2018, the Company has five interest rate swap agreements (the “Interest Rate Swap Agreements”) which effectively fix the interest rate on the three month LIBOR-indexed interest payments associated with $1,000,000 of SEA’s outstanding long-term debt. The Interest Rate Swap Agreements became effective on September 30, 2016; have a total notional amount of $1,000,000; mature on May 14, 2020; require the Company to pay a weighted-average fixed rate of 2.45% per annum; the Company receives a variable rate of interest based upon the greater of 0.75% or the three month BBA LIBOR; and have interest settlement dates occurring on the last day of September, December, March and June through maturity.

SEA designated the Interest Rate Swap Agreements above as qualifying cash flow hedge accounting relationships as further discussed in Note 7–Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities which follows.

Cash paid for interest relating to the Senior Secured Credit Facilities and the Interest Rate Swap Agreements, net of amounts capitalized, as applicable, was $23,995 and $31,040 in the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Cash paid for interest in the three months ended March 31, 2018, includes $5,050 relating to the Company’s fourth quarter 2017 interest payable on its Senior Secured Credit Facilities which was paid on January 5, 2018. Cash paid for interest in the three months ended March 31, 2017 includes $12,904 relating to the Company’s fourth quarter 2016 interest payable on its Senior Secured Credit Facilities which was paid on January 3, 2017.

7. DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES

Risk Management Objective of Using Derivatives

The Company is exposed to certain risks arising from both its business operations and economic conditions. The Company principally manages its exposures to a wide variety of business and operational risks through management of its core business activities. The Company manages economic risks, including interest rate, liquidity and credit risk primarily by managing the amount, sources and duration of its debt funding and the use of derivative financial instruments. Specifically, the Company enters into derivative financial instruments to manage exposures that arise from business activities that result in the receipt or payment of future known and uncertain cash amounts, the value of which are determined by interest rates. The Company’s derivative financial instruments are used to manage differences in the amount, timing and duration of the Company’s known or expected cash receipts and its known or expected cash payments principally related to the Company’s borrowings. The Company does not speculate using derivative instruments.

As of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the Company did not have any derivatives outstanding that were not designated in hedge accounting relationships.

Cash Flow Hedges of Interest Rate Risk

The Company’s objectives in using interest rate derivatives are to add stability to interest expense and to manage its exposure to interest rate movements. To accomplish this objective, the Company primarily uses interest rate swaps as part of its interest rate risk management strategy. During the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, such derivatives were used to hedge the variable cash flows associated with existing variable-rate debt.

As of March 31, 2018, the Company has five Interest Rate Swap Agreements which effectively fix the interest rate on the three month LIBOR-indexed interest payments associated with $1,000,000 of SEA’s outstanding long-term debt.

SEAWORLD ENTERTAINMENT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

The interest rate swap agreements are designated as cash flow hedges of interest rate risk. The effective portion of changes in the fair value of derivatives designated and that qualify as cash flow hedges is re corded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) and is subsequently reclassified into earnings in the period that the hedged forecasted transaction affects earnings. The ineffective portion of the change in fair value of the derivatives is recogniz ed directly in earnings. During the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, there was no ineffectiveness on cash flow hedges. Amounts reported in accumulated other comprehensive gain (loss) related to derivatives will be reclassified to interest expens e as interest payments are made on the Company’s variable-rate debt. During the next 12 months, the Company estimates that an additional $767 will be reclassified as an increase to interest expense.

Tabular Disclosure of Fair Values of Derivative Instruments on the Balance Sheet

The table below presents the fair value of the Company’s derivative financial instruments as well as their classification in the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017:

Asset Derivatives

Liability Derivatives

As of March 31, 2018

As of December 31, 2017

Balance Sheet

Location

Fair Value

Balance Sheet

Location

Fair Value

Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:

Interest rate swap agreements

Other assets

1,810

Other liabilities

8,455

Total derivatives designated as hedging instruments

1,810

8,455

Tabular Disclosure of the Effect of Derivative Instruments on the Statements of Comprehensive Loss

The table below presents the pretax effect of the Company’s derivative financial instruments in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive loss for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017:

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2018			2017
Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships:
Gain related to effective portion of derivatives recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss	$	12,116		$	7,638
Loss related to effective portion of derivatives reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss to interest expense	$	(1,851	)	$	(3,636	)

Credit Risk-Related Contingent Features

The Company has agreements with each of its derivative counterparties that contain a provision where if the Company defaults on any of its indebtedness, including default where repayment of the indebtedness has not been accelerated by the lender, then the Company could also be declared in default on its derivative obligations. As of March 31, 2018, the termination value of derivatives in a net asset position, which includes accrued interest but excludes any adjustment for nonperformance risk, related to these agreements was $1,754.

Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (loss)

The following table reflects the changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) for the three months ended March 31, 2018, net of tax:

Accumulated other comprehensive gain (loss):	(Losses) Gains on Cash Flow Hedges
Accumulated other comprehensive loss at December 31, 2017	$	(5,076	)
Effects of adoption of ASU 2018-02		(1,094	)
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications		8,842
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income to interest expense		(1,351	)
Unrealized gain on derivatives, net of tax		7,491
Accumulated other comprehensive income at March 31, 2018	$	1,321

SEAWORLD ENTERTAINMENT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

8. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

Fair value is a market-based measurement, not an entity-specific measurement. Therefore, a fair value measurement is required to be determined based on the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. As a basis for considering market participant assumptions in fair value measurements, fair value accounting standards establish a fair value hierarchy that distinguishes between market participant assumptions based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity. The standard describes three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:

Level 1 - Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets.

Level 2 - Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active and model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs and significant value drivers are observable in active markets.

Level 3 – Valuations derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs or significant value drivers are unobservable.

The Company has determined that the majority of the inputs used to value its derivative financial instruments using the income approach fall within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. The Company uses readily available market data to value its derivatives, such as interest rate curves and discount factors. ASC 820, Fair Value Measurement also requires consideration of credit risk in the valuation. The Company uses a potential future exposure model to estimate this credit valuation adjustment (“CVA”). The inputs to the CVA are largely based on observable market data, with the exception of certain assumptions regarding credit worthiness which make the CVA a Level 3 input. Based on the magnitude of the CVA, it is not considered a significant input and the derivatives are classified as Level 2. Of the Company’s long-term obligations, the Term B-2 Loans and Term B-5 Loans are classified in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017. The fair value of the term loans as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 approximate their carrying value, excluding unamortized debt issuance costs and discounts, due to the variable nature of the underlying interest rates and the frequent intervals at which such interest rates are reset.

There were no transfers between Levels 1, 2 or 3 during the three months ended March 31, 2018. The following table presents the Company’s estimated fair value measurements and related classifications for assets and liabilities measured on a recurring basis as of March 31, 2018:

	Quoted Prices in
	Active Markets		Significant
	for Identical		Other		Significant
	Assets and		Observable		Unobservable		Balance at
	Liabilities		Inputs		Inputs		March 31,
	(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)		2018
Assets:
Derivative financial instruments ^(a)	$	—	$	1,810	$	—	$	1,810
Liabilities:
Long-term obligations ^(b)	$	—	$	1,594,119	$	—	$	1,594,119

(a)	Reflected at fair value in the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet as other assets of $1,810.

(b)	Reflected at carrying value, net of unamortized debt issuance costs and discounts, in the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet as current maturities of long-term debt of $78,707 and long-term debt of $1,498,839 as of March 31, 2018.

SEAWORLD ENTERTAINMENT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

There were no transfers between Levels 1, 2 or 3 during the year ended December 31, 2017. The Company did not have any assets measu red on a recurring basis at fair value as of December 31, 2017. The following table presents the Company’s estimated fair value measurements and related classifications for liabilities measured on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2017:

	Quoted Prices in
	Active Markets		Significant
	for Identical		Other		Significant
	Assets and		Observable		Unobservable		Balance at
	Liabilities		Inputs		Inputs		December 31,
	(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)		2017
Liabilities:
Derivative financial instruments ^(a)	$	—	$	8,455	$	—	$	8,455
Long-term obligations ^(b)	$	—	$	1,560,046	$	—	$	1,560,046

(a)	Reflected at fair value in the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet as other liabilities of $8,455.

(b)	Reflected at carrying value, net of unamortized debt issuance costs and discounts, in the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet as current maturities of long-term debt of $38,707 and long-term debt of $1,503,609 as of December 31, 2017.

9. RELATED-PARTY TRANSACTIONS

On May 8, 2017 an affiliate of Zhonghong Zhuoye Group Co., Ltd. (“ZHG Group”), Sun Wise (UK) Co., LTD (“ZHG” or “Buyer”) acquired approximately 21% of the outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the “ZHG Transaction”) from several limited partnerships (the “Seller”) ultimately owned by affiliates of the Blackstone Group L.P. (“Blackstone”) and certain co-investors, pursuant to a stock purchase agreement between ZHG and Seller (the “Stock Purchase Agreement”).

In connection with the ZHG Transaction, Sellers reimbursed the Company for approximately $4,000 of related costs and expenses incurred by the Company during the year ended December 31, 2017.

On March 24, 2017, the Company entered into the ZHG Agreements with Zhonghong Holding, an affiliate of ZHG Group. In exchange for providing services under the ZHG Agreements, the Company is expected to receive fees as well as a travel stipend per year through 2019. The Company recognizes revenue under the ZHG Agreements on a straight-line basis over the contractual term of the agreements including approximately $1,300 in the three months ended March 31, 2018. Related revenue during the three months ended March 31, 2017 was not material. As of March 31, 2018, a receivable related to the ZHG Agreements of approximately $3,200 was included in accounts receivable in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet.

10. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Securities Class Action Lawsuit

On September 9, 2014, a purported stockholder class action lawsuit consisting of purchasers of the Company’s common stock during the periods between April 18, 2013 to August 13, 2014, captioned Baker v. SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc., et al., Case No. 14-CV-02129-MMA (KSC), was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California against the Company, the Chairman of the Company’s Board, certain of its executive officers and Blackstone. On February 27, 2015, Court-appointed Lead Plaintiffs, Pensionskassen For Børne- Og Ungdomspædagoger and Arkansas Public Employees Retirement System, together with additional plaintiffs, Oklahoma City Employee Retirement System and Pembroke Pines Firefighters and Police Officers Pension Fund (collectively, “Plaintiffs”), filed an amended complaint against the Company, the Chairman of the Company’s Board, certain of its executive officers, Blackstone, and underwriters of the initial public offering and secondary public offerings. The amended complaint alleges, among other things, that the prospectus and registration statements filed contained materially false and misleading information in violation of the federal securities laws and seeks unspecified compensatory damages and other relief. Plaintiffs contend that defendants knew or were reckless in not knowing that Blackfish was impacting SeaWorld’s business at the time of each public statement. On May 29, 2015, the Company and the other defendants filed motions to dismiss the amended complaint. On March 31, 2016, the Court granted the motions to dismiss the amended complaint, in its entirety, without prejudice. On May 31, 2016, Plaintiffs filed a second amended consolidated class action complaint (“Second Amended Complaint”), which, among other things, no longer names the Company’s Board or underwriters as defendants. On September 30, 2016, the Court denied the renewed motion to dismiss the Second Amended Complaint. On May 19, 2017, Plaintiffs filed a motion for class certification which the Court granted on November 29, 2017. On December 13, 2017, Defendants filed a petition with the Ninth Circuit for permission to appeal the Court’s class certification order which petition is still pending. Discovery is currently ongoing with the trial scheduled for 2019.

SEAWORLD ENTERTAINMENT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

Shareholder Derivative Lawsuit

On December 8, 2014, a putative derivative lawsuit captioned Kistenmacher v. Atchison, et al., Civil Action No. 10437, was filed in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware against, among others, the Chairman of the Company’s Board, certain of the Company’s executive officers, directors and shareholders, and Blackstone. The Company is a “Nominal Defendant” in the lawsuit. On March 30, 2015, the plaintiff filed an amended complaint against the same set of defendants. The amended complaint alleges, among other things, that the defendants breached their fiduciary duties, aided and abetted breaches of fiduciary duties, violated Florida Blue Sky laws and were unjustly enriched by (i) including materially false and misleading information in the prospectus and registration statements; and (ii) causing the Company to repurchase certain shares of its common stock from certain shareholders at an alleged artificially inflated price. The Company does not maintain any direct exposure to loss in connection with this shareholder derivative lawsuit as the lawsuit does not assert any claims against the Company. The Company’s status as a “Nominal Defendant” in the action reflects the fact that the lawsuit is maintained by the named plaintiff on behalf of the Company and that the plaintiff seeks damages on the Company’s behalf. The case is currently stayed in favor of the securities class action captioned Baker v. SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc., et al. described above.

Consumer Class Action Lawsuits

On March 25, 2015, a purported class action was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California against the Company, captioned Holly Hall v. SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc., Case No. 3:15-cv-00600-CAB-RBB (the “Hall Matter”). The complaint identifies three putative classes consisting of all consumers nationwide who at any time during the four-year period preceding the filing of the original complaint, purchased an admission ticket, a membership or a SeaWorld “experience” that includes an “orca experience” from the SeaWorld amusement park in San Diego, California, Orlando, Florida or San Antonio, Texas respectively. The complaint alleges causes of action under California Unfair Competition Law, California Consumers Legal Remedies Act (“CLRA”), California False Advertising Law, California Deceit statute, Florida Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Act, Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, as well as claims for Unjust Enrichment. Plaintiffs’ claims are based on their allegations that the Company misrepresented the physical living conditions and care and treatment of its orcas, resulting in confusion or misunderstanding among ticket purchasers, and omitted material facts regarding its orcas with intent to deceive and mislead the plaintiff and purported class members. The complaint further alleges that the specific misrepresentations heard and relied upon by Holly Hall in purchasing her SeaWorld tickets concerned the circumstances surrounding the death of a SeaWorld trainer. The complaint seeks actual damages, equitable relief, attorney’s fees and costs. Plaintiffs claim that the amount in controversy exceeds $5,000, but the liability exposure is speculative until the size of the class is determined (if certification is granted at all). In addition, four other purported class actions were filed against the Company and its affiliates. Such actions were subsequently dismissed or consolidated with the Hall matter described above.

The Company filed a motion to dismiss the entirety of the plaintiffs’ Second Consolidated Amended Complaint (“SAC”) with prejudice on February 25, 2016. The United States District Court for the Southern District of California granted the Company’s motion to dismiss the entire SAC with prejudice and entered judgment for the Company on May 13, 2016. Plaintiffs filed their notice of appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (the “Ninth Circuit”) on June 10, 2016. The appeal has been fully briefed and argued and the Company awaits the Court’s decision.

On April 13, 2015, a purported class action was filed in the Superior Court of the State of California for the City and County of San Francisco against SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Inc., captioned Marc Anderson, et. al., v. SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Inc., Case No. CGC-15-545292 (the “Anderson Matter”). The putative class consists of all consumers within California who, within the past four years, purchased tickets to SeaWorld San Diego. The complaint (as amended) alleges causes of action under the California False Advertising Law, California Unfair Competition Law and California CLRA. Plaintiffs’ claims are based on their allegations that the Company misrepresented the physical living conditions and care and treatment of its orcas, resulting in confusion or misunderstanding among ticket purchasers, and omitted material facts regarding its orcas with intent to deceive and mislead the plaintiff and purported class members. The complaint seeks actual damages, equitable relief, attorneys’ fees and costs. Based on plaintiffs’ definition of the class, the amount in controversy exceeds $5,000, but the liability exposure is speculative until the size of the class is determined (if certification is granted at all). On May 14, 2015, the Company removed the case to the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, Case No. 15: cv-2172-SC.

The Company filed a motion for summary judgment on October 30, 2017 which the Court granted in part and denied in part. All three named plaintiffs continue to have claims for individual restitution and injunctive relief. The case is in the preliminary stages of discovery and the plaintiffs’ motion for class certification is scheduled to be filed on June 1, 2018.

SEAWORLD ENTERTAINMENT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

The Company believes tha t the above-described lawsuits are without merit and intends to defend these lawsuits vigorously; however, there can be no assurance regarding the ultimate outcome of these lawsuits.

EZPay Plan Class Action Lawsuit

On December 3, 2014, a purported class action lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Tampa Division against SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Inc., captioned Jason Herman, Joey Kratt, and Christina Lancaster, as individuals and on behalf of all others similarly situated, v. SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Inc. Case no: 8:14-cv-03028-MSS-JSS. The certified class action currently consists of two claims for breach of contract, unjust enrichment and violation of federal Electronic Funds Transfer Act, 15 U.S.C. section 1693 et seq . on behalf of three individual plaintiffs as well as on behalf of a two classes: (i) individuals in the states of Florida, Texas, Virginia and California who paid for an annual pass through EZ pay in “less than twelve months,” had their passes automatically renewed and did not use the renewed passes after the first year or were not issued a full refund of payments made after the twelfth payment; and (ii) all of these same individuals who used debit cards.

In April 2018, the Company reached a preliminary agreement in principle to settle this matter for a payment of $11,500, plus certain administrative costs and expenses associated with the proposed settlement. The proposed settlement is still subject to further documentation and court approval. The Company has accrued $11,500 related to this proposed settlement in other accrued liabilities as of March 31, 2018 on the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet.

License Agreement

On May 16, 2017, SEA entered into a License Agreement (the “License Agreement”) with Sesame Workshop (“Sesame”), a New York not-for-profit corporation. SEA’s principal commitments pursuant to the License Agreement include: (i) opening a new Sesame Place theme park no later than mid-2021 in a location to be determined; (ii) building a new Sesame Land in SeaWorld Orlando by fall 2022; (iii) investing in minimum annual capital and marketing thresholds; and (iv) providing support for agreed upon sponsorship and charitable initiatives. The Company estimates the combined obligations for these commitments could be up to approximately $150,000 over the term of the agreement. After the opening of the second Standalone Park (counting the existing Sesame Place Standalone Park in Langhorne, Pennsylvania), SEA will have the option to build additional Standalone Parks in the Sesame Territory within agreed upon timelines. The License Agreement has an initial term through December 31, 2031, with an automatic additional 15 year extension plus a five year option added to the term of the License Agreement from December 31st of the year of each new Standalone Park opening. On May 2, 2018, the Company announced that it plans to open a new Sesame Land in SeaWorld Orlando by Spring of 2019.

Pursuant to the License Agreement with Sesame Workshop, the Company pays a specified annual license fee, as well as a specified royalty based on revenues earned in connection with sales of licensed products, all food and beverage items utilizing the licensed elements and any events utilizing such elements if a separate fee is paid for such event.

Anheuser-Busch, Incorporated has granted the Company a perpetual, exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to use the Busch Gardens trademark and certain related domain names in connection with the operation, marketing, promotion and advertising of certain of the Company’s theme parks, as well as in connection with the production, use, distribution and sale of merchandise sold in connection with such theme parks. Under the license, the Company is required to indemnify ABI against losses related to the use of the marks.

Other Matters

The Company is a party to various other claims and legal proceedings arising in the normal course of business. In addition, from time to time the Company is subject to audits, inspections and investigations by, or receives requests for information from, various federal and state regulatory agencies, including, but not limited to, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the California Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Cal-OSHA), the Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission (FWC), the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

On April 6, 2018, the Company received a written “Wells” notice from the SEC relating to a previously disclosed investigation by the SEC. The Wells notice indicated that staff (the “Staff”) of the SEC has made a preliminary determination to recommend to the SEC that a civil enforcement action or administrative proceeding be brought against the Company. No individual currently employed by the Company has received a Wells notice.

SEAWORLD ENTERTAINMENT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

A Wells notice is not a formal allegation or a finding of wrongdoing by the Company. In addition, under the SEC procedures, a recipient of a Wells notice has an opportunity to respond in the form o f a Wells submission that provides the Company’s position that such an action should not be brought.

The Wells notice issued to the Company states that the proposed action against the Company would allege violations of certain provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws. The Wells notice states that the Staff’s recommendation may involve various civil or administrative actions or proceedings, and may seek remedies that include an injunction, a cease-and-desist order, disgorgement, pre-judgment interest and civil money penalties. The Company will continue to cooperate with the SEC and is responding through a Wells submission to the SEC setting forth the reasons why the Company believes no action should be commenced against it.

From time to time, various parties also bring other lawsuits against the Company. Matters where an unfavorable outcome to the Company is probable and which can be reasonably estimated are accrued. Such accruals, which are not material for any period presented, are based on information known about the matters, the Company’s estimate of the outcomes of such matters, and the Company’s experience in contesting, litigating and settling similar matters. Matters that are considered reasonably possible to result in a material loss are not accrued for, but an estimate of the possible loss or range of loss is disclosed, if such amount or range can be determined. At this time, management does not expect any such known claims, legal proceedings or regulatory matters to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

11. EQUITY-BASED COMPENSATION

In accordance with ASC 718, Compensation-Stock Compensation , the Company measures the cost of employee services rendered in exchange for share-based compensation based upon the grant date fair market value. The cost is recognized over the requisite service period, which is generally the vesting period unless service or performance conditions require otherwise. The Company recognizes the impact of forfeitures as they occur. The Company has granted stock options, time-vesting restricted shares, time-vesting restricted stock units, performance-vesting restricted shares and performance-vesting restricted stock units.

Total equity compensation expense was $7,545 and $4,114 for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Equity compensation expense for the three months ended March 31, 2018 includes approximately $4,500 related to certain equity awards which were accelerated to vest in the first quarter of 2018 in connection with the departure of certain executives as required by their respective employment agreements. See Note 13–Restructuring Program and Other Separation Costs for further details. Equity compensation expense is included in selling, general and administrative expenses and in operating expenses in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive loss. Total unrecognized equity compensation expense for all equity compensation awards probable of vesting as of March 31, 2018 was approximately $34,600 which is expected to be recognized over the respective service periods.

The activity related to the Company’s time-vesting and performance-vesting awards during the three months ended March 31, 2018 is as follows:

						Performance-Vesting Restricted shares/units
	Time-Vesting Restricted shares/units					Bonus Performance Restricted shares/units					Long-Term Incentive Performance Restricted shares/units					2.75x Performance Restricted shares
	Shares/Units			Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value per Share/Unit		Shares/Units			Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value per Share/Unit		Shares/Units			Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value per Share/Unit		Shares			Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value per Share
Outstanding at December 31, 2017		1,852,512		$	17.09		805,245		$	18.09		864,572		$	18.50		616,793		$	3.56
Granted		188,577		$	14.71		707,981		$	14.66		1,122,526		$	14.74		—			—
Vested		(281,861	)	$	18.90		(69,221	)	$	18.07		(9,010	)	$	18.79		—			—
Forfeited		(432,341	)	$	18.12		(754,750	)	$	18.01		(554,388	)	$	18.34		(3,893	)	$	13.93
Outstanding at March 31, 2018		1,326,887		$	16.04		689,255		$	14.66		1,423,700		$	15.60		612,900		$	3.49

SEAWORLD ENTERTAINMENT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

The activity related to t he Company’s stock option awards during the three months ended March 31, 2018 is as follows:

	Options			Weighted Average Exercise Price		Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (in years)		Aggregate Intrinsic Value
Outstanding at December 31, 2017		2,923,448		$	18.78
Granted		—			—
Forfeited		(323,903	)	$	18.11
Expired		(33,641	)	$	18.65
Exercised		(484	)	$	14.17
Outstanding at March 31, 2018		2,565,420		$	18.86		7.34	$	57
Exercisable at March 31, 2018		2,094,948		$	19.14		7.24	$	15

Omnibus Incentive Plan

The Company has reserved 15,000,000 shares of common stock for issuance under its Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Omnibus Incentive Plan”), of which approximately 7,650,000 shares are available for future issuance as of March 31, 2018.

As part of the Company’s annual compensation-setting process and in accordance with the Company’s Equity Award Grant Policy (the “Equity Grant Policy”), the Compensation Committee approved an annual bonus plan (the “2018 Bonus Plan”) and a long-term incentive plan grant (the “2018 Long-Term Incentive Grant”) for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2018 (“Fiscal 2018”).

Bonus Performance Restricted Awards

The 2018 Bonus Plan provides for bonus awards payable 50% in cash and 50% in performance-vesting restricted units (the “Bonus Performance Restricted Units”) and is based upon the Company’s achievement of specified performance goals with respect to Fiscal 2018, as defined by the 2018 Bonus Plan. The total number of shares eligible to vest is based on the level of achievement of the targets for Fiscal 2018 which ranges from 0% (if below threshold performance), to 50% (for threshold performance), to 100% (for target performance) and up to 150% (at or above maximum performance). Pursuant to the Equity Grant Policy, Bonus Performance Restricted Units representing the total units that could be earned under the maximum performance level of achievement were granted during the three months ended March 31, 2018.

The Company also had an annual bonus plan for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 (“Fiscal 2017”), under which certain employees were eligible to vest in performance-vesting restricted shares (the “Bonus Performance Restricted Shares”) based upon the Company’s achievement of certain performance goals with respect to Fiscal 2017. Based on the Company’s actual Fiscal 2017 results, a portion of these Bonus Performance Restricted Shares vested in the three months ended March 31, 2018 and the remaining forfeited in accordance with their terms.

Long-Term Incentive Awards

The 2018 Long-Term Incentive Grant is comprised of time-vesting restricted units (the “Long-Term Incentive Time Restricted Units”) and performance-vesting restricted units (the “Long-Term Incentive Performance Restricted Units”) (collectively, the “Long-Term Incentive Awards”). Pursuant to the Equity Grant Policy, the Long-Term Incentive Awards related to the 2018 Long-Term Incentive Grant were granted during the three months ended March 31, 2018.

Long-Term Incentive Time Restricted Units

Certain Long-Term Incentive Time Restricted Units granted under the 2018 Long-Term Incentive Grant vest over five years, with one-third vesting on each of the third, fourth and fifth anniversaries of the date of grant, subject to continued employment through the applicable vesting date. Equity compensation expense for these units is recognized using the straight line method with one-third recognized over the initial three year vesting period and the remaining two-thirds recognized over the remaining vesting period.

Other Long-Term Incentive Time Restricted Units granted under the 2018 Long-Term Incentive Grant vest over three years, with all of the units vesting on the third anniversary of the date of grant, subject to continued employment through the applicable vesting date. Equity compensation expense for these units is recognized using the straight line method over the three year vesting period.

SEAWORLD ENTERTAINMENT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

Long-Term Incentive Performance Restricted Units

The Long-Term Incentive Performance Restricted Units granted under the 2018 Long-Term Incentive Plan are expected to vest following the end of the three-year performance period beginning on January 1, 2018 and ending on December 31, 2020 based upon the Company’s achievement of specified performance goals for Fiscal 2020, as defined by the 2018 Long-Term Incentive Grant. The total number of Long-Term Incentive Performance Restricted Units eligible to vest will be based on the level of achievement of the performance goals and ranges from 0% (if below threshold performance), to 50% (for threshold performance), to 100% (for target performance), and up to 200% (for at or above maximum performance). For actual performance between the specified threshold, target and maximum levels, the resulting vesting percentage will be adjusted on a linear basis. The 2018 Long-Term Incentive Grant provides additional incentive for early achievement of the Adjusted EBITDA target as follows: if the Company’s Fiscal 2020 Adjusted EBITDA target is achieved in 2018, 30% of target Long-Term Incentive Performance Restricted Units will be earned and delivered in 2019; if the Company’s Fiscal 2020 Adjusted EBITDA target is achieved in 2019, 20% of target Long-Term Incentive Performance Restricted Units will be earned and delivered in 2020, in each case subject to the overall maximum award of 200% of target. Pursuant to the Equity Grant Policy, Long-Term Incentive Performance Restricted Units representing the total units that could be earned under the maximum performance level of achievement were granted during the three months ended March 31, 2018.

Other

The Company also has outstanding Long-Term Incentive Time Restricted shares, Long-Term Incentive Performance Restricted shares and Long-Term Incentive Options granted under previous long-term incentive plan grants. During the three months ended March 31, 2018, a portion of the previously granted Long-Term Incentive Performance Restricted Shares related to completed performance periods vested, with the remainder forfeiting in accordance with their terms. The remaining outstanding Long-Term Incentive Performance Restricted Shares are eligible to vest based upon the Company’s achievement of pre-established performance goals for the respective performance period, as defined.

The Company recognizes equity compensation expense for its performance-vesting restricted awards ratably over the related performance period, if the performance condition is probable of being achieved. Based on the Company’s progress towards its respective performance goals, a portion of its performance-vesting restricted awards are considered probable of vesting as of March 31, 2018; therefore, equity compensation expense has been recorded accordingly. If the probability of vesting related to these awards changes in a subsequent period, all equity compensation expense related to those awards that would have been recorded over the requisite service period had the awards been considered probable at the new percentage from inception, will be recorded as a cumulative catch-up at such subsequent date.

Total unrecognized equity compensation expense for all outstanding performance-vesting restricted awards not probable of vesting was approximately $13,300 as of March 31, 2018.

2.75x Performance Restricted Shares

The Company has awarded under both its Omnibus Incentive Plan and its previous incentive plan (the “Pre-IPO Incentive Plan”) certain performance-vesting restricted shares (the “2.75x Performance Restricted shares”). During the first quarter of 2017, the Company modified the 2.75x Performance Restricted shares to vest 60% upon the closing of the ZHG Transaction (see Note 9–Related-Party Transactions). Under the terms of the Stock Purchase Agreement, if in certain circumstances the Buyer acquires a majority of the Company’s then outstanding common shares prior to the one-year anniversary of the closing of the ZHG Transaction, then the Buyer is required as a condition to the closing of the acquisition that results in such majority ownership, to pay to the Seller, in respect of each share of common stock sold to the Buyer at the closing of the ZHG Transaction, the excess, if any, of the highest price per share paid by the Buyer for shares of the Company’s common stock over $23.00 (the “Additional Payment”). As such, the outstanding unvested 2.75x Performance Restricted shares continued to be eligible to vest in accordance with their terms if Seller had received an Additional Payment from the Buyer sufficient to satisfy the 2.75x cumulative return multiple in the twelve month period following the closing of the ZHG Transaction. The period expired on May 8, 2018, as such, these shares forfeited in the second quarter of 2018.

The ZHG Transaction was considered a liquidity event and was subject to customary closing conditions (including expiration of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act). As the modification discussed above was based on a liquidity event, for accounting purposes, the 2.75x Performance Restricted shares were not considered probable of vesting until such time the ZHG Transaction was consummated. In accordance with the guidance in ASC 718, Compensation-Stock Compensation , as the 2.75x Performance Restricted shares were not considered probable of vesting before or after the date of modification, the Company used the respective modification date fair value to record equity compensation expenses related to the modified shares when the liquidity event occurred. As a result, the Company recognized non-cash equity compensation expense related to all of the 2.75x

SEAWORLD ENTERTAINMENT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

Performance Restricted shares of approximately $8,400 upon closing of the ZHG Transaction on May 8, 2017 and paid cash accumulated dividends of approximately $1,300 in the second quarter of 2017.

12. STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

As of March 31, 2018, 92,889,547 shares of common stock were issued in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet, which excludes 2,202,672 unvested shares of common stock and 1,850,070 unvested restricted stock units held by certain participants in the Company’s equity compensation plans (see Note 11–Equity-Based Compensation) and includes 6,519,773 shares of treasury stock held by the Company.

Dividends

Prior to September 19, 2016, the Board had a policy to pay, subject to legally available funds, regular quarterly dividends. The payment and timing of cash dividends was within the discretion of the Board and depended on many factors, including, but not limited to, the Company’s results of operations, financial condition, level of indebtedness, capital requirements, contractual restrictions, restrictions in its debt agreements and in any preferred stock, business prospects and other factors that the Board deemed relevant. On September 19, 2016, the Board suspended the Company’s quarterly dividend policy to allow greater flexibility to deploy capital to opportunities that offer the greatest long term returns to shareholders, such as, but not limited to, investments in new attractions, debt repayments or share repurchases.

As of March 31, 2018, the Company had $136 of cash dividends recorded as dividends payable in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet which relates to unvested time restricted shares and unvested performance restricted shares with a performance condition considered probable of being achieved. These shares, which were granted prior to the dividend suspension, carry dividend rights and therefore the dividends accumulate and will be paid as the shares vest in accordance with the underlying equity compensation grants. These dividend rights will be forfeited if the shares do not vest.

Share Repurchase Program

In 2014, the Board authorized the repurchase of up to $250,000 of the Company’s common stock (the “Share Repurchase Program”). 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 level of the Company’s cash balances, general business and market conditions, and other factors, including legal requirements, debt covenant restrictions and alternative investment opportunities.

The Company has remaining authorization for up to $190,000 for future repurchases under the Share Repurchase Program as of March 31, 2018. There were no share repurchases during the three months ended March 31, 2018.

13. RESTRUCTURING PROGRAM AND OTHER SEPARATION COSTS

Restructuring Costs

In October 2017, the Company committed to and implemented a restructuring program in an effort to reduce costs, increase efficiencies, reduce duplication of functions and improve the Company’s operations (the “2017 Restructuring Program”). The 2017 Restructuring Program involved the elimination of approximately 350 positions across certain of the Company’s theme parks and corporate headquarters. As a result, the Company recorded $5,200 in pre-tax restructuring and other related costs associated primarily with severance and other termination benefits related to the 2017 Restructuring Program during the three months ended December 31, 2017. The Company does not expect to incur any additional costs associated with the 2017 Restructuring Program as all continuing service obligations were completed as of December 31, 2017.

SEAWORLD ENTERTAINMENT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

The 2017 Restructuring Program activity for the three months ended March 31, 2018 was as follows:

	Severance and Other Employment Expenses
Liability as of December 31, 2017	$	1,234
Payments made		(495	)
Liability as of March 31, 2018	$	739

The remaining liability as of March 31, 2018 relates to restructuring and other related costs to be paid as contractually obligated by December 31, 2018 and is included in accrued salaries, wages and benefits in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet.

Other Separation Costs

Restructuring and other separation costs for the three months ended March 31, 2018 primarily relate to severance and other employment expenses for certain executives who stepped down from their respective positions during the first quarter of 2018. In particular, on February 27, 2018, the Company announced that its President and Chief Executive Officer (the “Former CEO”) had stepped down from his position and resigned as a member of the Board. In connection with his departure, the Former CEO received a lump sum cash payment of approximately $6,700 in severance related expenses, in accordance with his employment agreement. Also in March 2018, the Company’s Chief Creative Officer (the “Former CCO”) and Chief Marketing Officer stepped down from their respective positions and received severance related benefits in accordance with the terms of the respective employment agreement or relevant company plan, as applicable. These severance expenses are also included in restructuring and other separation costs in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive loss for the three months ended March 31, 2018 .

Additionally, in accordance with their employment agreements, certain unvested equity awards for both the Former CEO and Former CCO were accelerated to vest in the first quarter of 2018. As a result, the Company recorded non-cash equity compensation expense of approximately $4,500 during the three months ended March 31, 2018, which is included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive loss. See Note 11–Equity-Based Compensation for further details.

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following discussion contains management’s discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations and should be read together with the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and the related notes thereto included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. This discussion contains forward-looking statements that reflect our plans, estimates and beliefs and involve numerous risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, those described in the “Risk Factors” section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K, as such risk factors may be updated from time to time in our periodic filings with the SEC. Actual results may differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. You should carefully read “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Business Overview

We are a leading theme park and entertainment company providing experiences that matter and inspiring guests to protect animals and the wild wonders of our world. We own or license a portfolio of globally recognized brands, including SeaWorld, Busch Gardens, Aquatica, Sesame Place and Sea Rescue. Over our more than 50-year history, we have built a diversified portfolio of 12 highly differentiated theme parks and water parks that are grouped in key markets across the United States. Many of our parks showcase our one of a kind zoological collection and all of our parks feature a diverse array of thrill and family rides, shows, educational demonstrations and/or other attractions with broad demographic appeal which deliver memorable experiences and a strong value proposition for our guests.

During the three months ended March 31, 2018, we hosted approximately 3.2 million guests in our theme parks, generated total revenues of $217.2 million and reported a net loss of $62.8 million. We typically generate our highest revenues in the second and third quarters of each year and incur a net loss in the first and fourth quarters, in part because seven of our theme parks are only open for a portion of the year (see the “― Seasonality ” section which follows).

Attendance and revenue trends in the first quarter of 2018 were positive with attendance increasing by 14.9% and total revenue increasing by 16.5% over the first quarter of 2017 . We believe the improved attendance results from a combination of factors including our new marketing and communications initiatives, the anticipation and receptivity of our new rides, attractions and events and new promotional pricing strategies. Attendance also benefited from the earlier timing of the Easter holiday in 2018, which impacted the timing of spring break for a number of schools from our key markets (see the “― Trends Affecting our Results of Operations ” section which follows) . We also expect to deliver the remainder of our previously announced $40.0 million in total net cost savings and the additional $25.0 million of cost savings we announced in late 2017 by the end of 2018.

Key Business Metrics Evaluated by Management

Attendance

We define attendance as the number of guest visits to our theme parks. Attendance drives admissions revenue as well as total in-park spending. The level of attendance at our theme parks is a function of many factors, including affordability, the opening of new attractions and shows, competitive offerings, weather, fluctuations in foreign exchange rates and global and regional economic conditions, travel patterns of both our domestic and international guests, consumer confidence, external perceptions of our brands and reputation and other factors beyond our control. Attendance patterns have significant seasonality, driven by the timing of holidays, school vacations and weather conditions. Attendance consists of local guests and other guests who live within 300 miles from our respective park locations, U.S. domestic guests outside of the 300 mile radius to the park locations and international guests.

Total Revenue Per Capita

Total revenue per capita, defined as total revenue divided by total attendance, consists of admission per capita and in-park per capita spending:

•

Admission Per Capita . We calculate admission per capita for any period as total admissions revenue divided by total attendance. Admissions revenue primarily consists of single-day tickets, annual or season passes or other multi-day or multi-park admission products. Theme park admissions accounted for approximately 60% and 62% of our total revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Admission per capita is primarily driven by ticket pricing, the admissions product mix and the park attendance mix, among other factors. The admissions product mix is defined as the mix of tickets purchased such as single day, multi-day or annual passes and the park attendance mix is defined as the mix of theme parks visited. The mix of theme parks visited can impact admission per capita based on the theme park’s respective pricing which on average is lower for our water parks compared to our other theme parks.

•

In-Park Per Capita Spending . We calculate in-park per capita spending for any period as total food, merchandise and other revenue divided by total attendance. Food, merchandise and other revenue primar ily consists of culinary, merchandise and other in-park experiences and also includes other miscellaneous revenue, not necessarily generated in our parks, which is not significant in the periods presented, including revenue related to our international agr eements. For the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, food, merchandise and other revenue accounted for approximately 40% and 38% of our total revenue, respectively. In-park per capita spending is primarily driven by pricing changes, penetration l evels (percentage of guests purchasing), new product offerings, the mix of guests (such as local, passholders, domestic or international guests) and the mix of in-park spending, among other factors. As an example, international guests tend to drive higher in-park per capita spending when compared to other guests. See further discussion in the “Results of Operations” section which follows.

Trends Affecting Our Results of Operations

Total attendance increased in the first quarter of 2018 by approximately 418,000 guests, or 14.9% compared to the prior year quarter. We believe the improved attendance results from a combination of factors including our new marketing and communications initiatives, the anticipation and receptivity of our new rides, attractions and events and new promotional pricing strategies. Attendance also benefited from the earlier timing of the Easter holiday in 2018, which impacted the timing of spring break for a number of schools from our key markets. Thus far in 2018, we are seeing encouraging signs of progress as attendance, revenue and season pass sales are up through the end of April. Looking ahead to the rest of 2018, we believe we have one of the most compelling line-ups of new rides, attractions and events across our parks in the Company’s history. We are also focusing more on operational execution, enhancing our marketing and communications activities and refining our pricing strategies.

As discussed in the preceding section, “ Key Business Metrics Evaluated by Management-Attendance,” attendance trends could be impacted by a variety of factors, including the external perceptions of our brands and reputation. As previously disclosed, in recent years, we believe public perception issues and negative media attention have created a barrier to attendance at some of our parks. However, thus far in 2018, we have seen improved attendance and season pass sales. We continue to monitor all of the factors that can impact our attendance trends to react accordingly, if needed.

In 2017, we experienced a decline in international attendance from multiple markets, with a significant portion of that decline coming from the United Kingdom. International attendance is impacted by a number of factors including affordability, foreign currency exchange rates, international marketing and sales efforts, competition and the external perceptions of our brands and reputation. In the first quarter of 2018, we have been the subject of negative publicity related to our relationships with ticket resellers in the United Kingdom. Total international attendance improved in the first quarter of 2018 when compared to the prior year period, however, we continue to see a decline from the United Kingdom, and are monitoring these trends closely. Historically, attendance from the United Kingdom represents approximately 5% of our total annual attendance.

Our success depends on our ability to grow our business, in part through targeted capital investments to improve our existing theme parks, rides, attractions and shows. Our growth and innovation strategies require significant commitments of management resources and capital investments designed to improve guest satisfaction and generate returns. As a result, we make annual investments to support and improve our existing theme park facilities and attractions. Maintaining and improving our theme parks, as well as opening new attractions, is critical to remaining competitive, growing revenue, and increasing our guests’ length of stay. We are investing in capital spending on new attractions for 2018, which include a new thrill roller coaster at SeaWorld San Diego, a river raft ride at SeaWorld Orlando, a wooden-steel hybrid coaster at Sesame Place, new water slides at Aquatica Orlando, Aquatica San Antonio, and Adventure Island and a new virtual reality attraction at Busch Gardens Williamsburg.

Both attendance and total revenue per capita at our theme parks are key drivers of our revenue and profitability, and reductions in either can materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

Recent Developments

License Agreement

On May 16, 2017, SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, entered into a License Agreement (the “License Agreement”) with Sesame Workshop (“Sesame”), a New York not-for-profit corporation. Among other commitments, the agreement makes it possible for Sesame Street characters to continue to appear at the existing distinct Sesame Street lands inside our two Busch Gardens theme parks and SeaWorld theme parks in San Diego and San Antonio, as well as a new Sesame Street land to be built in SeaWorld Orlando by fall 2022. On May 2, 2018, we announced that we plan to open the new Sesame Land in SeaWorld Orlando by Spring of 2019.

Leadership Changes

On February 26, 2018, Joel K. Manby stepped down from his position as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and resigned as a member of our Board of Directors. The Board of Directors appointed John T. Reilly, our Chief Parks Operations Officer to serve as Interim Chief Executive Officer and approved a decrease in its size from nine to eight members/directors. In connection with the departure of Mr. Manby and the appointment of Mr. Reilly as Interim Chief Executive Officer, the Board of Directors appointed the Chairman of the Board, Yoshikazu Maruyama to serve as Executive Chairman of the Board, effective February 26, 2018, until a successor for Mr. Manby is appointed on a permanent basis, at which time Mr. Maruyama is expected to resume his position as Chairman of the Board. Also in March 2018, the Company’s Chief Creative Officer and Chief Marketing Officer stepped down from their respective positions.

U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act

On December 22, 2017, the United States enacted the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”). The Tax Act makes significant modifications to the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, including but not limited to a corporate tax rate decrease from 35% to 21% effective January 1, 2018. We have calculated the impact of the Tax Act in accordance with our understanding and available guidance, particularly as it relates to the future deductibility of executive compensation items and state conformity to the Tax Act. As such, these assumptions may change as further clarification and guidance is provided by taxing authorities. See Note 4–Income Taxes in our notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

International Development Strategy

We believe that in addition to the growth potential that exists domestically, our brands can also have significant appeal in certain international markets. We are currently assessing these opportunities while maintaining a conservative and disciplined approach towards the execution of our international development strategy. Thus far, we have identified our international market priorities as well as our international partners within select markets. The market priorities were developed based on a specific set of criteria to ensure we expand our brands into the most attractive markets.

We continue to make progress in our partnership with Miral Asset Management LLC to develop SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, a first-of-its-kind marine life themed park on Yas Island (the “Middle East Project”). As part of this partnership, we are providing certain services pertaining to the planning and design of the Middle East Project, with funding received from our partner in the Middle East expected to offset our internal expenses. SeaWorld Abu Dhabi is expected to open by 2022. The Middle East Project is subject to various conditions, including, but not limited to, the parties completing the design development and there is no assurance that the Middle East Project will be completed or advance to the next stage.

In March 2017, we announced that an affiliate of Zhonghong Zhuoye Group Co., Ltd. (“ZHG Group”) entered into an agreement to acquire approximately 21% of the outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the “ZHG Transaction”) from affiliates of The Blackstone Group L.P. (“Seller”), pursuant to a Stock Purchase Agreement between ZHG and Seller (the “Stock Purchase Agreement”). The ZHG Transaction closed on May 8, 2017. Also in March 2017, we entered into a Park Exclusivity and Concept Design Agreement (the “ECDA”) and a Center Concept & Preliminary Design Support Agreement (the “CDSA”) with Zhonghong Holding, an affiliate of ZHG Group, to provide design, support and advisory services for various potential projects and granting exclusive rights in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau (the “Territory”). Under the terms of the ECDA, we will work with Zhonghong Holding and a top theme park design company, to create and produce concept designs and development analysis for theme parks, water parks and interactive parks in the Territory. Under the terms of the CDSA, we will provide guidance, support, input, and expertise relating to the initial strategic planning, concept and preliminary design of Zhonghong Holding’s family entertainment and other similar centers. See Note 9–Related Party Transactions to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for further details.

For a discussion of certain risks associated with our international development strategy, see the “Risk Factors” section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K, as such risk factors may be updated from time to time in our periodic filings with the SEC.

Seasonality

The theme park industry is seasonal in nature. Historically, we generate the highest revenues in the second and third quarters of each year, in part because seven of our theme parks are only open for a portion of the year. Approximately two-thirds of our attendance and revenues are generated in the second and third quarters of the year and we typically incur a net loss in the first and fourth quarters. The percent mix of revenues by quarter is relatively constant each year, but revenues can shift between the first and second quarters due to the timing of Easter and spring break holidays and between the first and fourth quarters due to the timing of Christmas and New Year. Even for our five theme parks open year-round, attendance patterns have significant seasonality, driven by holidays, school vacations and weather conditions.

Principal Factors Affecting Our Results of Operations

Revenues

Our revenues are driven primarily by attendance in our theme parks and the level of per capita spending for admission to the theme parks and per capita spending inside the theme parks for culinary, merchandise and other in-park experiences. The level of attendance in our theme parks is a function of many factors, including affordability, the opening of new attractions and shows, competitive offerings, weather, fluctuations in foreign exchange rates and global and regional economic conditions, travel patterns of both our domestic and international guests, consumer confidence, external perceptions of our brands and reputation and other factors beyond our control. Admission per capita is primarily driven by ticket pricing, the admissions product mix and the park attendance mix, among other factors. In-park per capita spending is primarily driven by pricing changes, penetration levels (percentage of guests purchasing), new product offerings, the mix of guests (such as local, domestic or international guests) and the mix of in-park spending, among other factors. For other factors affecting our revenues, see the “Risk Factors” section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K, as such risk factors may be updated from time to time in our periodic filings with the SEC.

Costs and Expenses

The principal costs of our operations are employee salaries and benefits, advertising, maintenance, animal care, utilities and insurance. Factors that affect our costs and expenses include minimum wage legislation, competitive wage pressures, commodity prices, costs for construction, repairs and maintenance, other inflationary pressures and attendance levels. For factors affecting our costs and expenses, see the “Risk Factors” section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K, as such risk factors may be updated from time to time in our periodic filings with the SEC.

Following a fundamental review of our cost structure, in 2016, we announced a comprehensive cost optimization program that was originally expected to provide $40.0 million in net savings by the end of 2018. Additionally, during the second half of 2017, we identified an additional $25.0 million in potential cost savings opportunities. As a part of these efforts, in October 2017, we executed a restructuring program (the “2017 Restructuring Program”) to reduce costs, increase efficiencies, reduce duplication of functions and improve our operations. The 2017 Restructuring Program involved the elimination of approximately 350 positions by the end of the fourth quarter of 2017 across certain of our theme parks and corporate headquarters. See Note 13–Restructuring Program and Other Separation Costs to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for further details.

We barter theme park admission products and sponsorship opportunities for advertising and various other products and services. The fair value of the products or services is recognized into admissions revenue and related expenses at the time of the exchange and approximates the estimated fair value first of the goods or services provided then received, whichever is more readily determinable.

Results of Operations

The following discussion provides an analysis of our operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017. This data should be read in conjunction with our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Comparison of the Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 and 2017

The following table presents key operating and financial information for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017:

	For the Three Months Ended
	March 31,						Variance
	2018			2017			$			%
Summary Financial Data:	(In thousands, except per capita data and %)
Net revenues:
Admissions	$	130,003		$	115,089		$	14,914			13.0	%
Food, merchandise and other		87,163			71,268			15,895			22.3	%
Total revenues		217,166			186,357			30,809			16.5	%
Costs and expenses:
Cost of food, merchandise and other revenues		17,051			14,483			2,568			17.7	%
Operating expenses (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below and includes equity compensation of $1,563 and $936 for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively)		155,473			157,324			(1,851	)		(1.2	%)
Selling, general and administrative (includes equity compensation of $5,982 and $3,178 for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively)		63,524			52,418			11,106			21.2	%
Restructuring and other separation costs		8,835			—			8,835		ND
Depreciation and amortization		38,430			38,867			(437	)		(1.1	%)
Total costs and expenses		283,313			263,092			20,221			7.7	%
Operating loss		(66,147	)		(76,735	)		10,588			13.8	%
Other expense (income), net		63			(86	)		149			173.3	%
Interest expense		19,913			18,261			1,652			9.0	%
Loss on early extinguishment of debt and write-off of discounts and debt issuance costs		—			8,020			(8,020	)	NM
Loss before income taxes		(86,123	)		(102,930	)		16,807			16.3	%
Benefit from income taxes		(23,279	)		(41,801	)		18,522			44.3	%
Net Loss	$	(62,844	)	$	(61,129	)	$	(1,715	)		(2.8	%)
Other data:
Attendance		3,224			2,806			418			14.9	%
Total revenue per capita	$	67.36		$	66.41		$	0.95			1.4	%

ND-Not determinable.

NM-Not meaningful.

Admissions revenue . Admissions revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2018 increased $14.9 million, or 13.0%, to $130.0 million as compared to $115.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017. The increase in admissions revenue was primarily a result of an increase in attendance of approximately 418,000 guests, or 14.9%. We believe the improved attendance results from a combination of factors including our new marketing and communications initiatives, the anticipation and receptivity of our new rides, attractions and events and new promotional pricing strategies. Attendance also benefited from the earlier timing of the Easter holiday in 2018, which impacted the timing of spring break for a number of schools from our key markets. Admission per capita decreased by 1.7% to $40.32 for the first quarter of 2018 compared to $41.02 in the prior year quarter. The decline primarily results from the park attendance mix, among other factors, partially offset by net price increases in our admission products when compared to the first quarter of 2017.

Food, merchandise and other revenue. Food, merchandise and other revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2018 increased $15.9 million, or 22.3%, to $87. 2 million as compared to $71.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017, primarily as a result of the increase in attendance, along with an increase in in-park per capita spending. In-park per capita spending increased by 6.4% to $27.04 in the fi rst quarter of 2018 compared to $25.40 in the first quarter of 2017. In-park per capita spending improved primarily due to the increased sales of in-park products, particularly culinary and other in-park offerings and also benefitted from other revenue in creases mainly associated with our international agreements.

Costs of food, merchandise and other revenues. Costs of food, merchandise and other revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2018 increased $2.6 million, or 17.7%, to $17.1 million as compared to $14.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017, primarily due to the increase in volume. These costs represent 19.6% and 20.3% of the related revenue earned for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Operating expenses. Operating expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2018 decreased $1.9 million, or 1.2%, to $155.5 million as compared to $157.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017. The decrease primarily results from a focus on cost efficiencies and the impact of cost savings initiatives resulting from the 2017 Restructuring Program.

Selling, general and administrative . Selling, general and administrative expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2018 increased $11.1 million, or 21.2%, to $63.5 million as compared to $52.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017. The increase primarily relates to $8.1 million recorded in the first quarter of 2018 related to a legal settlement accrual and an increase in equity compensation expense, primarily related to approximately $4.5 million recorded in the first quarter of 2018 due to equity awards which were accelerated in connection with the departure of certain executives, as required by their respective employment agreements. These factors were partially offset by a decrease in salary costs due in part to cost savings initiatives. See Note 10–Commitments and Contingencies and Note 11–Equity-Based Compensation in our notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

Restructuring and other separation costs. Restructuring and other separation costs for the three months ended March 31, 2018 primarily relates to severance and other employment expenses for certain executives whose employment terminated during the first quarter of 2018. In particular, in connection with his departure and in accordance with his employment agreement, our Former CEO received a lump sum cash payment of approximately $6.7 million in severance related expenses. Also in March 2018, in connection with their departure, our Former Chief Creative and Chief Marketing Officers received severance related benefits in accordance with the terms of the relevant employment agreement or company plan, as applicable. See Note 13–Restructuring and Other Separation Costs in our notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

Depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization expense for the three months ended March 31, 2018 decreased $0.4 million, or 1.1%, to $38.4 million as compared to $38.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017.

Interest expense. Interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2018 increased $1.7 million, or 9.0%, to $19.9 million as compared to $18.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017. The increase primarily relates to increased LIBOR rates and the impact of Amendment 8 to our Senior Secured Credit Facilities entered into on March 31, 2017, partially offset by the impact of interest rate swap agreements. See Note 6–Long-Term Debt in our notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and the “ Our Indebtedness ” section which follows for further details.

Loss on early extinguishment of debt and write-off of discounts and debt issuance costs. Loss on early extinguishment of debt and write-off of discounts and debt issuance costs of $8.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 primarily relates to a write-off of discounts and debt issuance costs resulting from Amendment 8 to our Senior Secured Credit Facilities entered into on March 31, 2017. See Note 6–Long-Term Debt in our notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and the “ Our Indebtedness ” section which follows for further details.

Benefit from income taxes. Benefit from income taxes in the three months ended March 31, 2018 was $23.3 million compared to $41.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017. Our consolidated effective tax rate was 27.0% for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to 40.6% for the three months ended March 31, 2017. The effective tax rate decreased primarily due to the Tax Act reduction in the corporate federal tax rate from 35% to 21% effective January 1, 2018 .

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Overview

Our principal sources of liquidity are cash generated from operations, funds from borrowings and existing cash on hand. Our principal uses of cash include the funding of working capital obligations, debt service, investments in theme parks (including capital projects), and could also include common stock dividends and share repurchases. As of March 31, 2018, we had a working capital ratio (defined as current assets divided by current liabilities) of 0.4, due in part to a significant deferred revenue balance from revenues paid in advance for our theme park admissions products and high turnover of in-park products that results in a limited inventory balance. We typically operate with a working capital ratio less than 1 and we expect that we will continue to do so in the future. Our cash flow from operations, along with our revolving credit facilities, have allowed us to meet our liquidity needs.

As market conditions warrant and subject to our contractual restrictions and liquidity position, we, our affiliates and/or our stockholders, may from time to time purchase our outstanding equity and/or debt securities, including our outstanding bank loans in privately negotiated or open market transactions, by tender offer or otherwise. Any such purchases may be funded by incurring new debt, including additional borrowings under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities. Any new debt may also be secured debt. We may also use available cash on our balance sheet. The amounts involved in any such transactions, individually or in the aggregate, may be material. Further, since some of our debt may trade at a discount to the face amount among current or future syndicate members, any such purchases may result in our acquiring and retiring a substantial amount of any particular series, with the attendant reduction in the trading liquidity of any such series. Depending on conditions in the credit and capital markets and other factors, we will, from time to time, consider other financing transactions, the proceeds of which could be used to refinance our indebtedness or for other purposes.

Dividends

Prior to September 19, 2016, the Board had a policy to pay, subject to legally available funds, a regular quarterly dividend. The payment and timing of cash dividends was within the discretion of the Board and depended on many factors, including, but not limited to, our results of operations, financial condition, level of indebtedness, capital requirements, contractual restrictions, restrictions in our debt agreements and in any preferred stock, business prospects and other factors that the Board deemed relevant. In September 2016, the Board suspended the Company’s quarterly dividend policy to allow greater flexibility to deploy capital to opportunities that offer the greatest long-term returns to shareholders such as, but not limited to, share repurchases, investments in new attractions or debt repayments. See the “Covenant Compliance” section which follows for further details on covenants that could restrict our ability to make certain restricted payments, including dividend payments and share repurchases.

Share Repurchases

Our Board has authorized a share repurchase program of up to $250.0 million of our common stock (the “Share Repurchase Program”). Under the Share Repurchase Program, we are 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 level of our cash balances, general business and market conditions, and other factors, including legal requirements, debt covenant restrictions and alternative investment opportunities.

Pursuant to the Share Repurchase Program, we have approximately up to $190.0 million authorized and available for future repurchases as of March 31, 2018. There were no share repurchases during the three months ended March 31, 2018. See Note 12–Stockholders’ Equity in our notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for further details.

Other

As of March 31, 2018, we have five interest rate swap agreements (the “Interest Rate Swap Agreements”) which effectively fix the interest rate on the three month LIBOR-indexed interest payments associated with $1.0 billion of SEA’s outstanding long-term debt. The Interest Rate Swap Agreements became effective on September 30, 2016; have a total notional amount of $1.0 billion; and mature on May 14, 2020. See Note 6 – Long-Term Debt and Note 7 – Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for further details.

We believe that existing cash and cash equivalents, cash flow from operations, and available borrowings under our revolving credit facility will be adequate to meet the capital expenditures and working capital requirements of our operations for at least the next 12 months.

The following table presents a summary of our cash flows provided by (used in) operating, investing, and financing activities for the periods indicated:

	For the Three Months Ended March 31,
	2018			2017
	(In thousands)
Net cash provided by operating activities	$	20,317		$	5,692
Net cash used in investing activities		(45,822	)		(56,853	)
Net cash provided by financing activities		32,159			16,370
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents, including restricted cash	$	6,654		$	(34,791	)

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

Net cash provided by operating activities was $20.3 million during the three months ended March 31, 2018 as compared to $5.7 million during the three months ended March 31, 2017. The change in net cash provided by operating activities was primarily impacted by improved operating performance.

Cash Flows from Investing Activities

Investing activities consist principally of capital investments we make in our theme parks for future attractions and infrastructure. Net cash used in investing activities during the three months ended March 31, 2018 consisted of capital expenditures of $45.8 million largely related to future attractions.

Net cash used in investing activities during the three months ended March 31, 2017 consisted of $56.9 million of capital expenditures largely related to attractions that opened in 2017. The amount of our capital expenditures may be affected by general economic and financial conditions, among other things, including restrictions imposed by our borrowing arrangements. We generally expect to fund our capital expenditures through our operating cash flow.

Cash Flows from Financing Activities

Net cash provided by financing activities during the three months ended March 31, 2018 results primarily from net draws of $40.0 million on our revolving credit facility, partially offset net repayments on long-term debt of $5.9 million. See Note 6–Long-term Debt in our notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for further details.

Net cash used in financing activities during the three months ended March 31, 2017 results primarily from net draws of $40.6 million on our revolving credit facility, partially offset by $15.4 million of debt issuance costs paid in connection with Amendment No. 8 to our Senior Secured Credit Facilities, as defined below, and net repayments on long-term debt of $8.0 million. See Note 6–Long-term Debt in our notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for further details.

Our Indebtedness

The Company is a holding company and conducts its operations through its subsidiaries, which have incurred or guaranteed indebtedness as described below.

Senior Secured Credit Facilities

SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Inc. (“SEA”) is the borrower under our senior secured credit facilities (the “Senior Secured Credit Facilities”) pursuant to a credit agreement dated as of December 1, 2009, by and among SEA, as borrower, Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, collateral agent, letter of credit issuer and swing line lender and the other agents and lenders party thereto, as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or modified from time to time. On March 31, 2017, SEA entered into a refinancing amendment, Amendment No. 8 (the “Amendment”), to the existing Senior Secured Credit Facilities.

As of March 31, 2018, our Senior Secured Credit Facilities consisted of $988.3 million in Term B-5 Loans which will mature on March 31, 2024 and $550.8 million in Term B-2 Loans which will mature on May 14, 2020, along with a $210.0 million senior secured New Revolving Credit Facility, of which $55.0 million was outstanding as of March 31, 2018. The New Revolving Credit Facility will mature on the earlier of (a) March 31, 2022 and (b) the 91st day prior to the earlier of (1) the maturity of the Term B-2 Loans with an aggregate principal amount greater than $50.0 million and (2) the maturity date of any indebtedness incurred to refinance the Term B-2 Loans with an aggregate principal amount greater than $50.0 million. Subsequent to March 31, 2018, SEA borrowed an additional $10.0 million on the New Revolving Credit Facility and repaid $25.0 million. Additionally, as of March 31, 2018, SEA had approximately $21.3 million of outstanding letters of credit, leaving approximately $133.7 million available for borrowing.

See Note 6–Long-Term Debt in our notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for further details concerning our long-term debt.

Covenant Compliance

As of March 31, 2018, SEA was in compliance with all covenants in the credit agreement governing the Senior Secured Credit Facilities.

The credit agreement governing the Senior Secured Credit Facilities provides for certain events of default which, if any of them were to occur, would permit or require the principal of and accrued interest, if any, on the loans under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities to become or be declared due and payable (subject, in some cases, to specified grace periods).

Under the credit agreement governing the Senior Secured Credit Facilities, our ability to engage in activities such as incurring additional indebtedness, making investments, refinancing certain indebtedness, paying dividends and entering into certain merger transactions is governed, in part, by our ability to satisfy tests based on Adjusted EBITDA.

The Senior Secured Credit Facilities defines “Adjusted EBITDA” as net income before interest expense, income tax expense, depreciation and amortization, as further adjusted to exclude certain unusual, non-cash, and other items permitted in calculating covenant compliance under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities. Adjusted EBITDA as defined in the Senior Secured Credit Facilities is consistent with our reported Adjusted EBITDA.

The Senior Secured Credit Facilities contain a number of covenants that, among other things, restrict our ability and the ability of our restricted subsidiaries to, among other things, make certain restricted payments (as defined in the Senior Secured Credit Facilities), including dividend payments and share repurchases. See Note 6–Long-Term Debt in our notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for further details concerning the calculation of the Total Leverage Ratio (as defined in the Senior Secured Credit Facilities). As of March 31, 2018, the Total Leverage Ratio as calculated under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities was 4.70 to 1.00, which would result in the Company having a $90,000 available capacity for restricted payments in 2018. The amount available for share repurchases and certain other restricted payments under the covenant restrictions in the credit agreement adjusts at the beginning of each quarter as set forth in Note 6–Long-Term Debt to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

Adjusted EBITDA

We believe that the presentation of Adjusted EBITDA is appropriate as it eliminates the effect of certain non-cash and other items not necessarily indicative of a company’s underlying operating performance. We use Adjusted EBITDA in connection with certain components of our executive compensation program. In addition, investors, lenders, financial analysts and rating agencies have historically used EBITDA related measures in our industry, along with other measures, to estimate the value of a company, to make informed investment decisions and to evaluate companies in the industry. In addition, the presentation of Adjusted EBITDA provides additional information to investors about the calculation of, and compliance with, certain financial covenants in the Senior Secured Credit Facilities. Adjusted EBITDA is a material component of these covenants.

Adjusted EBITDA is not a recognized term under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”), should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for a measure of our financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP and is not indicative of income from operations as determined under GAAP. Adjusted EBITDA and other non-GAAP financial measures have limitations which should be considered before using these measures to evaluate our financial performance. Adjusted EBITDA, as presented by us, may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies due to varying methods of calculation.

The following table reconciles Adjusted EBITDA to net loss for the periods indicated:

SEAWORLD ENTERTAINMENT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

	For the Three Months Ended March 31,
	2018			2017
	(Unaudited, in thousands)
Net loss	$	(62,844	)	$	(61,129	)
Benefit from income taxes		(23,279	)		(41,801	)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt and write-off of discounts and debt issuance costs ^(a)		—			8,020
Interest expense		19,913			18,261
Depreciation and amortization		38,430			38,867
Equity-based compensation expense ^(b)		7,545			4,114
Other non-cash expenses ^(c)		395			217
Business optimization and strategic initiative costs ^(d)		10,786			2,117
Development and certain investment costs ^(e)		752			935
State franchise taxes		106			36
Other adjusting items ^(f)		8,079			—
Adjusted EBITDA	$	(117	)	$	(30,363	)

The credit agreement governing our Senior Secured Credit Facilities limits the amount of certain add-backs as described in footnotes (d), (f) and (g) below. The following table summarizes the add-backs not included in Adjusted EBITDA calculation above due to limitations in the our credit agreement:
	For the Three Months Ended March 31,
	2018			2017
Items not reflected in Adjusted EBITDA calculation above:	(Unaudited, in thousands)
Certain expenses over credit agreement limit ^(d)	$	—		$	—
Taxes related to other adjusting items ^(f)	$	2,415		$	—
Estimated savings over credit agreement limit ^(g)	$	3,700		(g)

(a)	Reflects primarily the write-off of $8.0 million in debt issuance costs incurred on the Term B-5 Loans during the three months ended March 31, 2017. See Note 6–Long-Term Debt in our notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for further details.

(b)

Reflects non-cash equity compensation expenses associated with the grants of equity compensation and for the three months ended March 31, 2018, includes approximately $4.5 million related to equity awards which were accelerated in connection with the departure of certain executives, as required by their respective employment agreements (see Note 11–Equity-Based Compensation in our notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for further details).

(c)	Reflects non-cash expenses related to miscellaneous asset write-offs.

(d)

For the three months ended March 31, 2018, reflects business optimization and other strategic initiative costs primarily related to $8.8 million of severance and other employment costs associated with the departure of certain executives during the first quarter of 2018 as well as $2.0 million of third party consulting costs. See Note 13–Restructuring and Other Separation Costs in our notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for further details. For the three months ended March 31, 2017, reflects business optimization and other strategic initiative costs primarily composed of $1.7 million of third party consulting costs and also includes a net $0.4 million of separation costs for certain positions eliminated not related to a formal restructuring program or cost saving initiative.

Due to limitations under the credit agreement governing our Senior Secured Credit Facilities, the amount which the Company is able to add back to Adjusted EBITDA for certain adjusting items including business optimization and other strategic initiative costs and product and intellectual property development costs, is limited to $15.0 million in any fiscal year. The Company did not have any costs exceeding this limit in the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017.

(e)	Reflects primarily product and intellectual property development costs incurred for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017.

(f)

Reflects the impact of certain expenses incurred primarily related to legal matters during the three months ended March 31, 2018, which we are permitted to exclude under the credit agreement governing our Senior Secured Credit Facilities due to the unusual nature of the items. The credit agreeme nt allows these items to be excluded on an after-tax basis only; accordingly, these items are presented net of related taxes of approximately $2.4 million in the three months ended March 31, 2018.

(g)

The credit agreement governing our Senior Secured Credit Facilities permits the Company’s calculations of Adjusted EBITDA to reflect, subject to certain limitations, estimated savings resulting from certain specified actions, including restructurings and cost savings initiatives. The credit agreement limits the amount of such estimated savings which may be reflected in the calculation of Adjusted EBITDA to $10.0 million for any four consecutive fiscal quarters. As the Company added-back $10.0 million in estimated savings in its Adjusted EBITDA calculation in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017, the Adjusted EBITDA calculation presented above does not reflect approximately $3.7 million of net annualized estimated savings the Company expects to realize over the subsequent four quarters which were identified in 2018 related to savings initiatives resulting from certain specified actions taken in 2018. These estimated savings are calculated net of the amount of actual benefits realized during such period for estimated savings added back in prior periods. These estimated savings are a non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA add-back item only that does not impact the Company’s reported GAAP net (loss) income. The Company has not prepared the calculation for the comparable period presented.

Contractual Obligations

There have been no material changes to our contractual obligations from those previously disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K .

Critical Accounting Policies

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of certain assets and liabilities, revenues and expenses, and disclosure of contingencies during the reporting period. Significant estimates and assumptions include the valuation and useful lives of long-lived tangible and intangible assets, the valuation of goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets, the accounting for income taxes, the accounting for self-insurance and revenue recognition. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The critical accounting estimates associated with these policies are described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” These critical accounting policies include property and equipment, impairment of long-lived assets, goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets, accounting for income taxes, self-insurance reserves, and revenue recognition. There have been no material changes to our significant accounting policies as compared to the significant accounting policies described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed on February 28, 2018, except as disclosed in Note 1–Description of the Business and Basis of Presentation in our notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements , related to the adoption of Accounting Standards Codification, Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We had no off-balance sheet arrangements as of March 31, 2018.

Recently Issued Financial Accounting Standards

Refer to Note 2–Recent Accounting Pronouncements in our notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for further details.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Inflation

The impact of inflation has affected, and will continue to affect, our operations significantly. Our costs of food, merchandise and other revenues are influenced by inflation and fluctuations in global commodity prices. In addition, costs for construction, repairs and maintenance are all subject to inflationary pressures.

Interest Rate Risk

We are exposed to market risks from fluctuations in interest rates, and to a lesser extent on currency exchange rates, from time to time, on imported rides and equipment. The objective of our financial risk management is to reduce the potential negative impact of interest rate and foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations to acceptable levels. We do not acquire market risk sensitive instruments for trading purposes.

We manage interest rate risk through the use of a combination of fixed-rate long-term debt and interest rate swaps that fix a portion of our variable-rate long-term debt.

The effective portion of changes in the fair value of derivatives designated and that qualify as cash flow hedges is recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss and is subsequently reclassified into earnings in the period that the hedged forecasted transaction affects earnings. The ineffective portion of the change in fair value of the derivatives is recognized directly in earnings. Amounts reported in accumulated other comprehensive loss related to derivatives will be reclassified to interest expense as interest payments are made on our variable-rate debt. During the next 12 months, our estimate is th at an additional $0.8 million will be reclassified as an increase to interest expense.

After considering the impact of interest rate swap agreements, at March 31, 2018, approximately $1.0 billion of our outstanding long-term debt represents fixed-rate debt and approximately $539.1 million represents variable-rate debt. Assuming an average balance on our revolving credit borrowings of approximately $40.0 million, a hypothetical 100 bps increase in 3 month LIBOR on our variable-rate debt would lead to an increase of approximately $5.8 million in annual cash interest costs due to the impact of our fixed-rate swap agreements.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), require public companies, including us, to maintain “disclosure controls and procedures,” which are defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and Rule 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act to mean a company’s controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required or necessary disclosures. In designing and evaluating our disclosure controls and procedures, management recognizes that disclosure controls and procedures, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the disclosure controls and procedures are met. Additionally, in designing disclosure controls and procedures, our management necessarily was required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible disclosure controls and procedures. Our principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded, based on the evaluation of the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures by our management as of the end of the fiscal quarter covered by this Quarterly Report, that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to accomplish their objectives at a reasonable assurance level.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

Regulations under the Exchange Act require public companies, including our Company, to evaluate any change in our “internal control over financial reporting” as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) and Rule 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act. There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the fiscal quarter covered by this Quarterly Report that have materially affected, or that are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II — OTHE R INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

See Note 10–Commitments and Contingencies in our notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for further details concerning our legal proceedings.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

There have been no material changes to the risk factors set forth in Item 1A. to Part I of our Annual Report on Form 10-K, as filed on February 28, 2018, except as noted below and except to the extent factual information disclosed elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q relates to such risk factors.

Financial distress experienced by our strategic partners or other counterparties could have an adverse impact on us.

We are party to numerous contracts of varying durations. Certain of our agreements are comprised of a mixture of firm and non-firm commitments, varying tenures and varying renewal terms, among other terms. There can be no guarantee that, upon the expiry of our contracts, we will be able to renew such contracts on terms as favorable to us, or at all.

Although we attempt to assess the creditworthiness of our strategic partners and other contract counterparties, there can be no assurance that our assessments will be accurate or that there will not be a rapid or unanticipated deterioration in the creditworthiness of any such strategic partner or contract counterparty. Financial distress experienced by our strategic partners or other counterparties could have an adverse impact in the event such parties are unable to pay us for the services we provide or otherwise fulfill their contractual obligations.

We are exposed to the risk of loss in the event of non-performance by such strategic partners or other counterparties. Some of these counterparties may be highly leveraged and subject to their own operating, market and regulatory risks, and some are experiencing, or may experience in the future, severe financial problems that have had or may have a significant impact on their creditworthiness. For example, in April 2018, it was reported that an affiliate of ZHG Group was experiencing financial distress. The inability of affiliates of ZHG Group to pay amounts due to us or otherwise fulfill their obligations to us under their agreements with us, including the ECDA and/or the CDSA, could have an adverse impact on us. In addition, the sale or transfer of our common stock owned by affiliates of ZHG Group, or the perception that such sales or transfers could occur, could harm the prevailing market price of shares of our common stock.

We cannot provide any assurance that our strategic partners and other contractual counterparties will not become financially distressed or that such financially distressed strategic partners or counterparties will not default on their obligations to us or file for bankruptcy or other creditor protection. If one of such strategic partners or counterparties files for bankruptcy or other creditor protection, we may be unable to collect all, or even a significant portion, of amounts owed to us. Contracts with such strategic partners or counterparties could also be subject to renegotiation or rejection under applicable provisions of the United States Bankruptcy Code. If any such contract is rejected, we would be left with a general unsecured claim against such contract counterparty’s bankruptcy estate. The recovery rate on general unsecured claims is speculative and inherently uncertain, and it is possible that we may receive little to no recovery on account of such claim. Accordingly, significant strategic partner and other counterparty defaults and bankruptcy filings could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Any material nonpayment or nonperformance from our contract counterparties due to inability or unwillingness to perform or adhere to contractual arrangements could have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations, financial condition and ability to make cash distributions to its shareholders. Furthermore, in the case of financially distressed strategic partners, such events might otherwise force such strategic partners to curtail their commercial relationships with us, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition, and cash flows.

Adverse litigation judgments or settlements resulting from legal proceedings in which we may be involved in the normal course of our business could reduce our profits or limit our ability to operate our business.

We are subject to allegations, claims and legal actions arising in the ordinary course of our business, which may include claims by third parties, including guests who visit our theme parks, our employees or regulators. We are currently subject to securities litigation. The Company is also subject to audits, inspections and investigations by, or receives requests for information from, various federal and state regulatory agencies, including, but not limited to, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the California Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Cal-OSHA), state departments of labor, the Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission (FWC), the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). From time to time, various parties may also bring lawsuits against the Company.

For example, in June 2017, the Company received a subpoena in connection with an investigation by the DOJ concerning certain disclosures and public statements made by the Company and certain individuals on or before A ugust 2014 and trading in the Company’s securities. The Company also has received subpoenas from the staff of the SEC in connection with these matters. In addition, in April 2018, the Company received a written “Wells” notice from the SEC indicating that staff of the SEC has made a preliminary determination to recommend to the SEC that a civil enforcement action or administrative proceeding be brought against the Company. The Company has cooperated and intends to continue to cooperate with any government requests or inquiries.

We discuss the Wells notice, securities litigation and other litigation to which we are subject in greater detail in Note 10–Commitments and Contingencies to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

The outcome of many of these proceedings cannot be predicted. If any proceedings, audits, inspections or investigations were to be determined adversely against us or resulted in legal actions, claims, regulatory proceedings, enforcement actions, or judgments, fines, or settlements involving a payment of material sums of money, or if injunctive relief were issued against us, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected. Even the successful defense of legal proceedings may cause us to incur substantial legal costs and may divert management’s attention and resources.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

The Company had no unregistered sales of equity securities during the first quarter of 2018. The following table sets forth information with respect to shares of our common stock purchased by the Company during the periods indicated:

Period Beginning	Period Ended	Total Number of Shares Purchased ⁽¹⁾		Average Price Paid per Share		Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs		Maximum Number (or Approximate Dollar Value) of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs ⁽²⁾
January 1, 2018	January 31, 2018		3,093	$	13.71		—	$	190,000,035
February 1, 2018	February 28, 2018		64,569	$	15.43		—		190,000,035
March 1, 2018	March 31, 2018		40,770	$	14.61		—		190,000,035
			108,432				—	$	190,000,035

(1)

All purchases were made pursuant to the Company’s Omnibus Incentive Plan, under which participants may satisfy tax withholding obligations incurred upon the vesting of restricted stock by requesting the Company to withhold shares with a value equal to the amount of the withholding obligation.

(2)

In 2014, the Company announced a share repurchase program approved by the Board authorizing the repurchase of up to $250.0 million of the Company’s common stock (the “Share Repurchase Program”). 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.

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities

None.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

Not applicable.

Item 5. Othe r Information

Rule 10b5-1 Plans

Our policy governing transactions in our securities by our directors, officers and employees permits such persons to adopt stock trading plans pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 promulgated by the SEC under the Exchange Act. Our directors, officers and employees have in the past and may from time to time establish such stock trading plans. We do not undertake any obligation to disclose, or to update or revise any disclosure regarding, any such plans and specifically do not undertake to disclose the adoption, amendment, termination or expiration of any such plans.

Item 6. Exhibits

The following is a list of all exhibits filed or furnished as part of this report:

Exhibit No.		Description

10.1†*		Form of Performance Stock Unit Grant Notice and Performance Stock Unit Agreement (Employees – Annual Incentive Award)

10.2†*		Form of Restricted Stock Unit Grant Notice and Restricted Stock Unit Agreement (Employees – Time-Based Restricted Stock Units)

10.3†*		Form of Performance Stock Unit Grant Notice and Performance Stock Unit Agreement (Employees – Performance-Based Restricted Stock Units)

10.4†*		Sixth Amended and Restated Outside Director Compensation Policy, effective April 11, 2018

10.5†*		Form of Deferred Stock Unit Grant Notice and Deferred Stock Unit Agreement (Non-Employee Directors)


10.6†*		Letter Agreement, dated February 26, 2018, between SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. and John T. Reilly

10.7†*		Restricted Stock Unit Grant Notice and Restricted Stock Unit Agreement between SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. and John T. Reilly
31.1*		Certification of Periodic Report by Chief Executive Officer under Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
31.2*		Certification of Periodic Report by Chief Financial Officer under Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

32.1*		Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

32.2*		Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002


101.INS*		XBRL Instance Document.

101.SCH*		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.

101.CAL*		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.

101.DEF*		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.

101.LAB*		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.

101.PRE*		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.

†	Identifies exhibits that consist of a management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.

*	Filed herewith.

The agreements and other documents filed as exhibits to this report are not intended to provide factual information or other disclosure other than with respect to the terms of the agreements or other documents themselves, and you should not rely on them for that purpose. In particular, any representations and warranties made by us in these agreements or other documents were made solely within the specific context of the relevant agreement or document and may not describe the actual state of affairs as of the date they were made or at any other time.

SIGNATURES

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 thereunto duly authorized.

		SEAWORLD ENTERTAINMENT, INC.
		(Registrant)
Date: May 9, 2018		By: /s/ Marc G. Swanson
Date: May 9, 2018		Marc. G. Swanson Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer) By: /s/ Elizabeth C. Gulacsy
		Elizabeth C. Gulacsy
		Chief Accounting Officer
		(Principal Accounting Officer)

Exhibit 10.1

FORM OF

Performance STOCK UNIT GRANT NOTICE
UNDER THE
SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc.
2017 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN

(Employees – Annual Incentive Plan Award)

SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), pursuant to its 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as it may be amended and restated from time to time (the “ Plan ”), hereby grants to the Participant set forth below, the maximum number of Restricted Stock Units set forth below. The Restricted Stock Units are subject to all of the terms and conditions as set forth herein, in the Restricted Stock Unit Agreement (attached hereto or previously provided to the Participant in connection with a prior grant), and in the Plan, all of which are incorporated herein in their entirety. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning set forth in the Plan.

Participant :

[ Insert Participant Name ]

Date of Grant :

[ Date of Grant ]

Performance Period:

The period commencing on January 1, 2018 and ending on December 31, 2018 (the “ Performance Period ”).

Target Number of

Restricted Stock Units :

[ Insert Target No. of Restricted Stock Units Granted ]

Maximum Number of

Restricted Stock Units :

[ Insert Maximum No. of Restricted Stock Units Granted ]

Vesting Schedule :

The Restricted Stock Units shall vest at such times and in such amounts as set forth in Exhibit A to the Restricted Stock Unit Agreement.

* *

THE UNDERSIGNED PARTICIPANT ACKNOWLEDGES RECEIPT OF THIS RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT GRANT NOTICE, THE RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AGREEMENT AND THE PLAN, AND, AS AN EXPRESS CONDITION TO THE GRANT OF RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS HEREUNDER, AGREES TO BE BOUND BY THE TERMS OF THIS RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT GRANT NOTICE, THE RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AGREEMENT AND THE PLAN.

SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. Participant ¹

________________________________ ________________________________
By: Jack Roddy [ Insert Participant Name ]
Title: Chief Human Resources & Culture Officer

¹	To the extent that the Company has established, either itself or through a third-party plan administrator, the ability to accept this award electronically, such acceptance shall constitute the Participant’s signature hereof.

[ Signature Page to Restricted Stock Unit Award ]

FORM OF

RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AGREEMENT
UNDER THE
SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc.
2017 Omnibus INCENTIVE PLAN

Pursuant to the Restricted Stock Unit Grant Notice (the “ Grant Notice ”) delivered to the Participant (as defined in the Grant Notice), and subject to the terms of this Restricted Stock Unit Agreement (this “ Restricted Stock Unit Agreement ”) and the SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as it may be amended and restated from time to time, (the “ Plan ”), SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc., a Delaware corporation, (the “ Company ”) and the Participant agree as follows. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the same meaning as set forth in the Plan.

1. Grant of Restricted Stock Units . Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the Plan, the Company hereby grants to the Participant the number of Restricted Stock Units provided in the Grant Notice (with each Restricted Stock Unit representing an unfunded, unsecured right to receive one share of Common Stock). The Company may make one or more additional grants of Restricted Stock Units to the Participant under this Restricted Stock Unit Agreement by providing the Participant with a new Grant Notice, which may also include any terms and conditions differing from this Restricted Stock Unit Agreement to the extent provided therein. The Company reserves all rights with respect to the granting of additional Restricted Stock Units hereunder and makes no implied promise to grant additional Restricted Stock Units.

2. Vesting . Subject to the conditions contained herein and in the Plan, the Restricted Stock Units shall vest as provided in Exhibit A attached hereto.

3. Settlement of Restricted Stock Units . The provisions of Section 9(d)(ii) of the Plan are incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof and, in accordance therewith, any vested Restricted Stock Units shall be settled in shares of Common Stock as soon as reasonably practicable (and, in any event, within two and one-half months) following the expiration of the applicable Restricted Period. With respect to any Restricted Stock Unit, the period of time on and prior to the Vesting Date (as defined in Exhibit A attached hereto) in which such Restricted Stock Unit is subject to vesting shall be its Restricted Period. Notwithstanding anything in this Restricted Stock Unit Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall have no obligation to issue or transfer any shares of Common Stock as contemplated by this Restricted Stock Unit Agreement unless and until such issuance or transfer complies with all relevant provisions of law and the requirements of any stock exchange on which the Company’s shares of Common Stock are listed for trading.

4. Treatment of Restricted Stock Units Upon Termination . The provisions of Section 9(b) of the Plan are incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof. In the event the Participant undergoes a Termination, the treatment of the unvested Restricted Stock Units shall be as set forth in Exhibit A attached hereto.

5. Company; Participant .

(a) The term “ Company ” as used in this Restricted Stock Unit Agreement with reference to employment shall include the Company and its Subsidiaries.

(b) Whenever the word “ Participant ” is used in any provision of this Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under circumstances where the provision should logically be construed to apply to the executors, the administrators, or the person or persons to whom the Restricted Stock Units may be transferred by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, the word “ Participant ” shall be deemed to include such person

or persons.

6. Non-Transferability . The Restricted Stock Units are not transferable by the Participant (unless such transfer is specifically required pursuant to a domestic relations order or by applicable law) except to Permitted Transferees in accordance with Section 15(b) of the Plan. Except as otherwise provided herein, no assignment or transfer of the Restricted Stock Units, or of the rights represented thereby, whether voluntary or involuntary, by operation of law or otherwise, shall vest in the assignee or transferee any interest or right herein whatsoever, but immediately upon such assignment or transfer the Restricted Stock Units shall terminate and become of no further effect.

7. Rights as Stockholder; Dividend Equivalents . The Participant shall have no rights as a stockholder with respect to any share of Common Stock underlying a Restricted Stock Unit (including no rights with respect to voting or to receive dividends or dividend equivalents) unless and until the Participant shall have become the holder of record or the beneficial owner of such Common Stock, and no adjustment shall be made for dividends or distributions or other rights in respect of such share of Common Stock for which the record date is prior to the date upon which the Participant shall become the holder of record or the beneficial owner thereof. The Restricted Stock Units shall be entitled to be credited with dividend equivalent payments upon the payment by the Company of dividends on shares of Common Stock. Such dividend equivalents will be provided in shares of Common Stock having a Fair Market Value on the date that the Restricted Stock Units are settled equal to the amount of such applicable dividends, and shall be payable at the same time as the Restricted Stock Units are settled in accordance with Section 3 above. In the event that any Restricted Stock Unit is forfeited by its terms, the Participant shall have no right to dividend equivalent payments in respect of such forfeited Restricted Stock Units.

8. Tax Withholding . The provisions of Section 15(d) of the Plan are incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof.

9. Notice . Every notice or other communication relating to this Restricted Stock Unit Agreement between the Company and the Participant shall be in writing, and shall be mailed to or delivered to the party for whom it is intended at such address as may from time to time be designated by such party in a notice mailed or delivered to the other party as herein provided; provided that, unless and until some other address be so designated, all notices or communications by the Participant to the Company shall be mailed or delivered to the Company at its principal executive office, to the attention of the Corporate Secretary, and all notices or communications by the Company to the Participant may be given to the Participant personally or may be mailed to the Participant at the Participant’s last known address, as reflected in the Company’s records. Notwithstanding the above, all notices and communications between the Participant and any third-party plan administrator shall be mailed, delivered, transmitted or sent in accordance with the procedures established by such third-party plan administrator and communicated to the Participant from time to time.

10. No Right to Continued Service . This Restricted Stock Unit Agreement does not confer upon the Participant any right to continue as an employee or service provider to the Service Recipient or any other member of the Company Group.

11. Binding Effect . This Restricted Stock Unit Agreement shall be binding upon the heirs, executors, administrators and successors of the parties hereto.

Committee. No waiver by either of the parties hereto of their rights hereunder shall be deemed to constitute a waiver with respect to any subsequent occurrences or transactions hereunder unless such waiver specifically states that it is to be construed as a continuing waiver.

13. Clawback/Repayment . This Restricted Stock Unit Agreement shall be subject to reduction, cancellation, forfeiture or recoupment to the extent necessary to comply with (i) any clawback, forfeiture or other similar policy adopted by the Board or the Committee and as in effect from time to time and (ii) applicable law. In addition, if the Participant receives any amount in excess of what the Participant should have received under the terms of this Restricted Stock Unit Agreement for any reason (including, without limitation, by reason of a financial restatement, mistake in calculations or other administrative error), then the Participant shall be required to repay any such excess amount to the Company.

14. Detrimental Activity . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in the Plan, if the Participant has engaged in or engages in any Detrimental Activity, as determined by the Committee, then the Committee may, in its sole discretion, take actions permitted under the Plan, including, but not limited to, (i) cancelling any and all Restricted Stock Units, or (ii) requiring that the Participant forfeit any gain realized on the vesting of the Restricted Stock Units and repay such gain to the Company.

15. Right to Offset . The provisions of Section 15(x) of the Plan are incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof.

13. Governing Law . This Restricted Stock Unit Agreement shall be construed and interpreted in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the principles of conflicts of law thereof. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Restricted Stock Unit Agreement, the Grant Notice or the Plan to the contrary, if any suit or claim is instituted by the Participant or the Company relating to this Restricted Stock Unit Agreement, the Grant Notice or the Plan, the Participant hereby submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of and venue in the courts of Delaware. THE PARTICIPANT IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY SUIT, ACTION OR OTHER PROCEEDING INSTITUTED BY OR AGAINST SUCH PARTICIPANT IN RESPECT OF THE PARTICIPANT’S RIGHTS OR OBLIGATIONS HEREUNDER.

14. Plan . The terms and provisions of the Plan are incorporated herein by reference. In the event of a conflict or inconsistency between the terms and provisions of the Plan and the provisions of this Restricted Stock Unit Agreement (including the Grant Notice), the Plan shall govern and control.

15. Section 409A . It is intended that the Restricted Stock Units granted hereunder shall be exempt from Section 409A of the Code pursuant to the “short-term deferral” rule applicable to such section, as set forth in the regulations or other guidance published by the Internal Revenue Service thereunder.

Exhibit A

1. Vesting of Restricted Stock Units .

(a) The Performance Period shall mean the period from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018. The “Target Number of Restricted Stock Units” provided on the Grant Notice will be eligible to be earned based on the following performance metrics: 50%—Adjusted EBITDA Component (as set forth in Section 1(b)(A) below); 20%—Total Revenue Component (as set forth in Section 1(b)(B) below); 20%—Free Cash Flow Component (as set forth in Section 1(b)(C) below); and 10%—Individual Objectives Component (as set forth in Section 1(b)(D) below); in each case, based on a multiple from 0% up to a maximum of 150% pursuant to Section 1(b) below at the end of the Performance Period and the Earned Amount (as defined below) will be eligible to become vested pursuant to Section 1(c) below. The Adjusted EBITDA Component, the Total Revenue Component, the Free Cash Flow Component, and the Individual Objectives Component, below shall collectively be referred to herein as the “ Performance Components ” and the applicable portion of the “Target Number of Restricted Stock Units” shall each be referred to herein as the applicable “ Performance Component Percentage ”.


Performance Component	Performance Component Percentage
Adjusted EBITDA	50%
Total Revenue	20%
Free Cash Flow	20%
Individual Objectives	10%

(b) During the first 90 days of the Performance Period, the Committee will determine:

(A) Adjusted EBITDA Component . A projected Adjusted EBITDA target for the Performance Period (the “ Adjusted EBITDA Target ”). For purposes of this Exhibit A, the term “ Adjusted EBITDA ” shall mean the Adjusted EBITDA which is publicly disclosed in (or otherwise calculated in a manner consistent with) the Company’s earnings release for the applicable fiscal year during the Performance Period.

(B) Total Revenue Component . A projected Net Revenue for the Performance Period (the “ Revenue Target ”). For purposes of this Exhibit A, the term “ Net Revenue ” shall mean the Company’s net revenue, as reported in (or otherwise calculated in a manner consistent with) the Company’s Form 10-Ks and Form 10-Qs as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for the fiscal year during the Performance Period.

(C) Free Cash Flow Component . A projected Free Cash Flow target for the Performance Period (the “ Free Cash Flow Target ”). For purposes of this Exhibit A, the term “ Free Cash Flow ” shall mean the Free Cash Flow which is publicly disclosed in (or otherwise calculated in a manner consistent with) the Company’s earnings release for the applicable fiscal year during the Performance Period.

(D) Individual Objective Component . A projected Individual Objective target for the Performance Period (the “ Individual Objective Target ”). For purposes of this Exhibit A, the term “ Individual Objective ” shall be as determined by the Committee.

In connection with the foregoing, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer shall certify in writing to the Committee the Adjusted EBITDA, the Net Revenue, Free Cash Flow and Individual Objective.

Following the completion of the Performance Period, the Committee will determine the “Actual Performance Percentage” for each Performance Component by calculating for the applicable Performance Component the percentage by which the Adjusted EBITDA, Net Revenue, Free Cash Flow and Individual Objective Component, as applicable, met or exceeded the Adjusted EBITDA Target, Revenue Target, Free Cash Flow Target and Individual Objective Target, respectively. The number of Restricted Stock Units that will be earned (the “ Earned Amount ”) with respect to each Performance Component will be based on the achievement of the Actual Performance Percentage as set forth in the tables below times the applicable Performance Component Percentage set forth in the table above:


Actual Performance Percentage for the Adjusted EBITDA Component and Free Cash Flow Component*	Percentage of Restricted Stock Units Earned for the Adjusted EBITDA Component and Free Cash Flow Component***
Actual Performance Percentage less than [threshold]%	0%
Actual Performance Percentage greater than or equal to [threshold]%	50%
Actual Performance Percentage greater than or equal to [target]%	100%
Actual Performance Percentage greater than or equal to [maximum]%	150%

* For an Actual Performance Percentage at least equal to [threshold]% which falls in between the levels set forth in the table above, the Committee shall apply straight-line interpolation to determine the Earned Amount for the applicable Performance Component, provided that in no event shall the Earned Amount exceed 150% of such Performance Component.


Actual Performance Percentage for the Total Revenue Component and Individual Objective Component**	Percentage of Restricted Stock Units Earned for the Total Revenue Component and Individual Objective Component***
Actual Performance Percentage less than [threshold]%	0%
Actual Performance Percentage greater than or equal to [threshold]%	50%
Actual Performance Percentage greater than or equal to [target]%	100%
Actual Performance Percentage greater than or equal to [maximum]%	150%

** For an Actual Performance Percentage at least equal to [threshold]% which falls in between the levels set forth in the table above, the Committee shall apply straight-line interpolation to determine the Earned Amount for the applicable Performance Component, provided that in no event shall the Earned Amount exceed 150% of any such Performance Component.

*** By way of illustration, if the “Target Number of Restricted Stock Units” is [●] Restricted Stock Units and the Company’s Actual Performance Percentage (w) for the Adjusted EBITDA Component is [●]%, (x) for the Free Cash Flow Component is [●]%, (y) for the Total Revenue Component is [●]% and (z) the Individual Objective Component is [●]%, then the Earned Amount with respect to Adjusted EBITDA Component, Free Cash Flow Component, Total Revenue Component and Individual Objective Component will be [●] units ([●] units x [●]%),[●] units ([●] units x [●]%),[●] units ([●] units x [●]%) and [●] units ([●] units x [●]%), respectively. [●] Restricted Stock Units will vest on the date the Committee determines the Actual Performance Percentages for the Performance Period.

The sum of the Earned Amount for each Performance Component is referred to as the “ Total Earned Amount ”. A number of Restricted Stock Units equal to the Total Earned Amount will be eligible to vest pursuant to Section 1(c) below.

(c) Provided the Participant has not undergone a Termination on or prior to the Vesting Date (as defined below), a number of Restricted Stock Units shall vest and the restrictions on such Restricted Stock Units shall lapse on the date (the “ Vesting Date ”) the Committee determines the Actual Performance Percentages of the Performance Period and the Company publicly discloses the Adjusted EBITDA for the Performance Period in the Company’s earnings release which date shall not be later than March 15 in the year following the end of the Performance Period. Any remaining unvested Restricted Stock Units that do not become vested in accordance with preceding sentence (if any) shall immediately be forfeited by the Participant for no consideration as of the Vesting Date. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Restricted Stock Unit Agreement, the Grant Notice or the Plan to the contrary, no Restricted Stock Units shall vest in the event the Actual Performance Percentage for the Adjusted EBITDA Component is less than [threshold]% and, in such event, all Restricted Stock Units shall immediately be forfeited to the Company by the Participant for no consideration as of the Vesting Date.

2. Treatment of Restricted Stock Units Upon Termination .

In the Event of Participant’s Termination for any reason on or prior to the Vesting Date, all unvested Restricted Stock Units shall be forfeited by the Participant for no consideration as of the date of such Termination.

Exhibit 10.2

FORM OF

RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT GRANT NOTICE
UNDER THE
SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc.
2017 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN

(Employees – Time-Based Restricted Stock Units)

SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), pursuant to its 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as it may be amended and restated from time to time (the “ Plan ”), hereby grants to the Participant set forth below, the number of Restricted Stock Units set forth below. The Restricted Stock Units are subject to all of the terms and conditions as set forth herein, in the Restricted Stock Unit Agreement (attached hereto or previously provided to the Participant in connection with a prior grant), and in the Plan, all of which are incorporated herein in their entirety. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning set forth in the Plan.

Participant :

[ Insert Participant Name ]

Date of Grant :

[ Date of Grant ]

Number of

Restricted Stock Units :

[ Insert No. of Restricted Stock Units Granted ]

Vesting Schedule :

Provided the Participant has not undergone a Termination prior to each applicable vesting date, 33% of the Restricted Stock Units shall vest, on each of the first three anniversaries of the Date of Grant.

* **

SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. Participant ¹

________________________________ ________________________________
By: Jack Roddy [ Insert Participant Name ]
Title: Chief Human Resources & Culture Officer

¹	To the extent that the Company has established, either itself or through a third-party plan administrator, the ability to accept this award electronically, such acceptance shall constitute the Participant’s signature hereof.

[ Signature Page to Restricted Stock Unit Award ]

FORM OF

RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AGREEMENT
UNDER THE
SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc.
2017 Omnibus INCENTIVE PLAN

Pursuant to the Restricted Stock Unit Grant Notice (the “ Grant Notice ”) delivered to the Participant (as defined in the Grant Notice), and subject to the terms of this Restricted Stock Unit Agreement (this “ Restricted Stock Unit Agreement ”) and the SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as it may be amended and restated from time to time (the “ Plan ”), SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc., a Delaware corporation, (the “ Company ”) and the Participant agree as follows. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the same meaning as set forth in the Plan.

2. Vesting . Subject to the conditions contained herein and in the Plan, the Restricted Stock Units shall vest as provided in the Grant Notice.

3. Settlement of Restricted Stock Units . The provisions of Section 9(d)(ii) of the Plan are incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof and, in accordance therewith, any vested Restricted Stock Units shall be settled in shares of Common Stock as soon as reasonably practicable (and, in any event, within two and one-half months) following the expiration of the applicable Restricted Period. With respect to any Restricted Stock Unit, the period of time on and prior to the applicable vesting date in which such Restricted Stock Unit is subject to vesting shall be its Restricted Period. Notwithstanding anything in this Restricted Stock Unit Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall have no obligation to issue or transfer any shares of Common Stock as contemplated by this Restricted Stock Unit Agreement unless and until such issuance or transfer complies with all relevant provisions of law and the requirements of any stock exchange on which the Company’s shares of Common Stock are listed for trading.

4. Treatment of Restricted Stock Units Upon Termination .

(a) The provisions of Section 9(b) of the Plan are incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof. In the event of (A) the Participant’s Termination by the Company other than for Cause, or (B) the Participant’s Termination due to death or Disability, in each case, within 12 months following a Change in Control, the outstanding Restricted Stock Units shall become fully vested and the restrictions thereon shall immediately lapse as of the date of such Termination. In addition to (and not in lieu of) the foregoing, in the event of the Participant’s Termination due to (i) death or Disability prior to the third anniversary of the Date of Grant and other than within 12 months following a Change in Control, or (ii) Qualified Retirement prior to the third anniversary of the Date of Grant, a pro-rata portion (rounded up to the nearest whole number) of the next (33%) tranche of the Restricted Stock Units that was scheduled to vest on the next vesting date immediately following Participant’s Termination due to death or Disability or Qualified Retirement shall vest (and the restrictions thereon shall immediately lapse) as of the date of such Termination based on a fraction (x) the numerator of which is equal to the number of completed months

that have elapsed in the one-year period ending on such next vesting date through and including the date of such Termination and (y) the denominator of which is equal to 12.

(b) If the Participant undergoes a Termination other than under circumstances described in Section 4(a), then all unvested shares of Restricted Stock Units shall be forfeited to the Company by the Participant for no consideration as of the date of such Termination.

5. Company; Participant .

(a) The term “ Company ” as used in this Restricted Stock Unit Agreement with reference to employment shall include the Company and its Subsidiaries.

(c) The term “ Qualified Retirement ” as used in this Restricted Stock Unit Agreement shall mean the Participant undergoes a Termination (other than when grounds existed for a termination for Cause at the time thereof) when the Participant is at least age 55 with a combination of age and service years with the Company of at least 65.

8. Tax Withholding . The provisions of Section 15(d) of the Plan are incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof.

in a notice mailed or delivered to the other party as herein provided; provided that, unless and until some other address be so designated, all notices or communications by the Participant to the Company shall be mailed or delivered to the Company at its principal executive office, to the attention of the Corporate Secretary, and all notices or communications by the Company to the Participant may be given to the Participant personally or may be mailed to the Participant at the Participant’s last known address, as reflected in the Company’s records. Notwithstanding the above, all notices and communications between the Participant and any third-party plan administrator shall be mailed, delivered, transmitted or sent in accordance with the procedures established by such third-party plan administrator and communicated to the Participant from time to time.

11. Binding Effect . This Restricted Stock Unit Agreement shall be binding upon the heirs, executors, administrators and successors of the parties hereto.

12. Waiver and Amendments . Except as otherwise set forth in Section 14 of the Plan, any waiver, alteration, amendment or modification of any of the terms of this Restricted Stock Unit Agreement shall be valid only if made in writing and signed by the parties hereto; provided, however , that any such waiver, alteration, amendment or modification is consented to on the Company’s behalf by the Committee. No waiver by either of the parties hereto of their rights hereunder shall be deemed to constitute a waiver with respect to any subsequent occurrences or transactions hereunder unless such waiver specifically states that it is to be construed as a continuing waiver.

13. Clawback/Repayment . This Restricted Stock Unit Agreement shall be subject to reduction, cancellation, forfeiture or recoupment to the extent necessary to comply with (i) any clawback, forfeiture or other similar policy adopted by the Board or the Committee and as in effect from time to time; and (ii) applicable law. In addition, if the Participant receives any amount in excess of what the Participant should have received under the terms of this Restricted Stock Unit Agreement for any reason (including, without limitation, by reason of a financial restatement, mistake in calculations or other administrative error), then the Participant shall be required to repay any such excess amount to the Company.

14. Restrictive Covenants; Detrimental Activity .

(a) Participant acknowledges and recognizes the highly competitive nature of the businesses of the Company and its Affiliates and accordingly agrees, in his capacity as an equity (and/or equity-based Award) holder in the Company, to the provisions of Appendix A to this Restricted Stock Unit Agreement (the “ Restrictive Covenants ”). Participant acknowledges and agrees that the Company’s remedies at law for a breach or threatened breach of any of the provisions of Section 1 of Appendix A (or a material breach or material threatened breach of any of the provisions of Section 2 of Appendix A of this Restricted Stock Unit Agreement) would be inadequate and the Company would suffer irreparable damages as a result of such breach or threatened breach. In recognition of this fact, Participant agrees that, in the event of such a breach or threatened breach, in addition to any remedies at law, the Company, without posting any bond, shall be entitled to cease making any payments or providing any benefit otherwise required by this Restricted Stock Unit Agreement and obtain equitable relief in the form of specific performance, temporary restraining order, temporary or permanent injunction or any other equitable remedy which may then be available. Notwithstanding the foregoing and Appendix A , the provisions of Section 1(a)(i), (ii), (iii) and (iv)(B) of Appendix A shall not apply to the Participant if Participant’s principal place of employment is located in the State of California. The Restricted Stock Units granted hereunder shall be subject to Participant’s continued compliance with such restrictions. For the avoidance of doubt, the

Restrictive Covenants contained in this Restricted Stock Unit Agreement are in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other restrictive covenants or similar covenants or agreements between the Participant and the Company or any of its Affiliates.

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in the Plan, if the Participant has engaged in or engages in any Detrimental Activity, as determined by the Committee (including, without limitation, a breach of any of the covenants contained in Appendix A to this Restricted Stock Unit Agreement), then the Committee may, in its sole discretion, take actions permitted under the Plan, including, but not limited to: (i) cancelling any and all Restricted Stock Units, or (ii) requiring that the Participant forfeit any gain realized on the vesting of the Restricted Stock Units, and repay such gain to the Company.

15. Right to Offset . The provisions of Section 15(x) of the Plan are incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof.

16. Governing Law . This Restricted Stock Unit Agreement shall be construed and interpreted in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the principles of conflicts of law thereof. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Restricted Stock Unit Agreement, the Grant Notice or the Plan to the contrary, if any suit or claim is instituted by the Participant or the Company relating to this Restricted Stock Unit Agreement, the Grant Notice or the Plan, the Participant hereby submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of and venue in the courts of Delaware. THE PARTICIPANT IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY SUIT, ACTION OR OTHER PROCEEDING INSTITUTED BY OR AGAINST SUCH PARTICIPANT IN RESPECT OF THE PARTICIPANT’S RIGHTS OR OBLIGATIONS HEREUNDER.

17. Plan . The terms and provisions of the Plan are incorporated herein by reference. In the event of a conflict or inconsistency between the terms and provisions of the Plan and the provisions of this Restricted Stock Unit Agreement (including the Grant Notice), the Plan shall govern and control.

18. Section 409A . It is intended that the Restricted Stock Units granted hereunder shall be exempt from Section 409A of the Code pursuant to the “short-term deferral” rule applicable to such section, as set forth in the regulations or other guidance published by the Internal Revenue Service thereunder.

Appendix A

Restrictive Covenants

Non-Competition; Non-Solicitation; Non-Disparagement .

(a) Participant acknowledges and recognizes the highly competitive nature of the businesses of the Company and its Affiliates and accordingly agrees as follows:

(i) During Participant’s employment with the Company or its Subsidiaries (the “ Employment Term ”) and for a period of one year following the date Participant ceases to be employed by the Company or its Subsidiaries (the “ Restricted Period ”), Participant will not, whether on Participant’s own behalf or on behalf of or in conjunction with any person, firm, partnership, joint venture, association, corporation or other business organization, entity or enterprise whatsoever (“ Person ”), directly or indirectly solicit or assist in soliciting in competition with the Restricted Group in the Business, the business of any then current or prospective client or customer with whom Participant (or his direct reports) had personal contact or dealings on behalf of the Company during the one-year period preceding Participant’s termination of employment.

(ii) During the Restricted Period, Participant will not directly or indirectly:

(A) engage in the Business in any geographical area that is within 100 miles of any geographical area where the Restricted Group engages in the Business, including the greater metropolitan areas of Orlando, Florida, Tampa, Florida, San Diego, California, San Antonio, Texas, Williamsburg, Virginia and Philadelphia/Langhorne, Pennsylvania;

(B) enter the employ of, or render any services to, a Core Competitor, except where such employment or services do not relate in any manner to the Business;

(C) acquire a financial interest in, or otherwise become actively involved with, any Person engaged in the Business, directly or indirectly, as an individual, partner, shareholder, officer, director, principal, agent, trustee or consultant; or

(D) intentionally and adversely interfere with, or attempt to adversely interfere with, business relationships between the members of the Restricted Group and any of their clients, customers, suppliers, partners, members or investors.

(iii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Appendix A , Participant may, directly or indirectly own, solely as an investment, securities of any Person engaged in a Business (including, without limitation, a Core Competitor) which are publicly traded on a national or regional stock exchange or on the over-the-counter market if Participant (i) is not a controlling person of, or a member of a group which controls, such person and (ii) does not, directly or indirectly, own 2% or more of any class of securities of such Person.

(iv) During the Employment Term and for a period of two years from the date Participant ceases to be an employed by the Company or its Subsidiaries, Participant will not, whether on Participant’s own behalf or on behalf of or in conjunction with any Person, directly or indirectly:

(A) solicit or encourage any employee of the Restricted Group to leave the employment of the Restricted Group;

A-1

(B) hire any executive-level employee who was employed by the Restricted Group as of the date of Participant’s termination of employment with the Company or who left the employment of the Restricted Group coincident with, or within one year prior to or after, the termination of Participant’s employment with the Company; or

(v) For purposes of this Appendix A :

(A) “ Restricted Group ” shall mean, collectively, the Company and its Subsidiaries and, to the extent engaged in the Business, their respective Affiliates.

(B) “ Business ” shall mean the entertainment and theme park business.

(C) “ Core Competitor ” shall mean Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, Universal Studios, Six Flags, Inc., Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, Merlin Entertainments Group Ltd. or Herschend Family Entertainment, and each of their respective Affiliates.

(b) Non-Disparagement . Participant will not at any time (whether during or after Participant’s Employment Term) make public statements or public comments intended to be (or having the effect of being) of defamatory or disparaging nature regarding (including any statements or comments likely to be harmful to the business, business reputation or personal reputation of) the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any of their respective businesses, shareholders, members, partners, employees, agents, officers, directors or contractors (it being understood that comments made in Participant’s good faith performance of his duties hereunder shall not be deemed disparaging or defamatory for purposes of this paragraph); provided that the Participant shall be permitted to make truthful disclosures that are required by applicable law, regulations or order of a court or government agency.

(c) It is expressly understood and agreed that although Participant and the Company consider the restrictions contained in this Section 1 to be reasonable, if a final judicial determination is made by a court of competent jurisdiction that the time or territory or any other restriction contained in this Appendix A is an unenforceable restriction against Participant, the provisions of this Appendix A shall not be rendered void but shall be deemed amended to apply as to such maximum time and territory and to such maximum extent as such court may judicially determine or indicate to be enforceable. Alternatively, if any court of competent jurisdiction finds that any restriction contained in this Appendix A is unenforceable, and such restriction cannot be amended so as to make it enforceable, such finding shall not affect the enforceability of any of the other restrictions contained herein.

(d) The period of time during which the provisions of Section 1(a) shall be in effect shall be extended by the length of time during which Participant is in breach of the terms hereof as determined by any court of competent jurisdiction on the Company’s application for injunctive relief.

(e) The provisions of Section 1 hereof shall survive the termination of Participant’s employment for any reason, including but not limited to, any termination other than for Cause (except as otherwise set forth in Section 1 hereof).

(f) The provisions of Section 1(a)(i), (ii), (iii) and (iv)(B) hereof shall not apply if Participant’s principal place of employment is in the state of California.

Confidentiality; Intellectual Property .

A-2

(a) Confidentiality .

(i) Participant will not at any time (whether during or after Participant’s Employment Term) (x) retain or use for the benefit, purposes or account of Participant or any other Person; or (y) disclose, divulge, reveal, communicate, share, transfer or provide access to any Person outside the Company (other than its professional advisers who are bound by confidentiality obligations or otherwise in performance of Participant’s duties under Participant’s employment and pursuant to customary industry practice), any non-public, proprietary or confidential information—including without limitation trade secrets, know-how, research and development, software, databases, inventions, processes, formulae, technology, designs and other intellectual property, information concerning finances, investments, profits, pricing, costs, products, services, vendors, customers, clients, partners, investors, personnel, compensation, recruiting, training, advertising, sales, marketing, promotions, government and regulatory activities and approvals—concerning the past, current or future business, activities and operations of the Company, its Subsidiaries or Affiliates and/or any third party that has disclosed or provided any of same to the Company on a confidential basis (“ Confidential Information ”) without the prior written authorization of the Board.

(ii) “Confidential Information” shall not include any information that is (a) generally known to the industry or the public other than as a result of Participant’s breach of this covenant; (b) made legitimately available to Participant by a third party without breach of any confidentiality obligation of which Participant has knowledge; or (c) required by law to be disclosed; provided that with respect to subsection (c) Participant shall give prompt written notice to the Company of such requirement, disclose no more information than is so required, and reasonably cooperate with any attempts by the Company to obtain a protective order or similar treatment.

(iii) Except as required by law, Participant will not disclose to anyone, other than Participant’s family (it being understood that, in this Restricted Stock Unit Agreement, the term “family” refers to Participant, Participant’s spouse, children, parents and spouse’s parents) and advisors, the existence or contents of this Restricted Stock Unit Agreement; provided that Participant may disclose to any prospective future employer the provisions of this Appendix A . This Section 2(a)(iii) shall terminate if the Company publicly discloses a copy of this Restricted Stock Unit Agreement (or, if the Company publicly discloses summaries or excerpts of this Restricted Stock Unit Agreement) to the extent so disclosed.

(iv) Upon termination of Participant’s employment with the Company for any reason, Participant shall (x) cease and not thereafter commence use of any Confidential Information or intellectual property (including without limitation, any patent, invention, copyright, trade secret, trademark, trade name, logo, domain name or other source indicator) owned or used by the Company, its Subsidiaries or Affiliates and (y) immediately destroy, delete, or return to the Company, at the Company’s option, all originals and copies in any form or medium (including memoranda, books, papers, plans, computer files, letters and other data) in Participant’s possession or control (including any of the foregoing stored or located in Participant’s office, home, laptop or other computer, whether or not Company property) that contain Confidential Information, except that Participant may retain only those portions of any personal notes, notebooks and diaries that do not contain any Confidential Information.

(b) Intellectual Property .

(i) If Participant has created, invented, designed, developed, contributed to or improved any works of authorship, inventions, intellectual property, materials, documents or other

A-3

work product (including without limitation, research, reports, software, databases, systems, applications, presentations, textual works, content, or audiovisual materials) (“ Works ”), either alone or with third parties, prior to Participant’s employment by the Company, that are relevant to or implicated by such employment (“ Prior Works ”), Participant hereby grants the Company a perpetual, non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide, assignable, sublicensable license under all rights and intellectual property rights (including rights under patent, industrial property, copyright, trademark, trade secret, unfair competition and related laws) therein for all purposes in connection with the Company’s current and future business.

(ii) If Participant creates, invents, designs, develops, contributes to or improves any Works, either alone or with third parties, at any time during Participant’s employment by the Company and within the scope of such employment and with the use of any the Company resources (“ Company Works ”), Participant shall promptly and fully disclose same to the Company and hereby irrevocably assigns, transfers and conveys, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, all rights and intellectual property rights therein (including rights under patent, industrial property, copyright, trademark, trade secret, unfair competition and related laws) to the Company to the extent ownership of any such rights does not vest originally in the Company.

(iii) Participant shall take all reasonably requested actions and execute all reasonably requested documents (including any licenses or assignments required by a government contract) at the Company’s expense (but without further remuneration) to assist the Company in validating, maintaining, protecting, enforcing, perfecting, recording, patenting or registering any of the Company’s rights in the Prior Works and Company Works. If the Company is unable for any other reason, after reasonable attempt, to secure Participant’s signature on any document for this purpose, then Participant hereby irrevocably designates and appoints the Company and its duly authorized officers and agents as Participant’s agent and attorney in fact, to act for and in Participant’s behalf and stead to execute any documents and to do all other lawfully permitted acts required in connection with the foregoing.

(iv) Participant shall not improperly use for the benefit of, bring to any premises of, divulge, disclose, communicate, reveal, transfer or provide access to, or share with the Company any confidential, proprietary or non-public information or intellectual property relating to a former employer or other third party without the prior written permission of such third party. Participant shall comply with all relevant policies and guidelines of the Company that are from time to time previously disclosed to Participant, including regarding the protection of Confidential Information and intellectual property and potential conflicts of interest. Participant acknowledges that the Company may amend any such policies and guidelines from time to time, and that Participant remains at all times bound by their most current version from time to time previously disclosed to Participant.

(v) The provisions of Section 2 hereof shall survive the termination of Participant’s employment for any reason (except as otherwise set forth in Section 2(a)(iii) hereof).

3. Permitted Disclosure . Nothing in this Appendix A shall prohibit or impede a Participant from communicating, cooperating or filing a complaint with any United States federal, state or local governmental or law enforcement branch, agency or entity (collectively, a “ Governmental Entity ”) with respect to possible violations of any United States federal, state or local law or regulation, or otherwise making disclosures to any Governmental Entity, in each case, that are protected under the whistleblower provisions of any such law or regulation, provided that in each case such communications and disclosures are consistent with applicable law. Each Participant understands and acknowledges that (i) an individual shall not be held criminally or

A-4

civilly liable under any U.S. federal or state trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that is made (A) in confidence to a U.S. federal, state, or local government official or to an attorney solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law, or (B) in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal, and (ii) an individual who files a lawsuit for retaliation by an employer for reporting a suspected violation of law may disclose the trade secret to the attorney of the individual and use the trade secret information in the court proceeding, if the individual files any document containing the trade secret under seal, and does not disclose the trade secret, except pursuant to court order. A Participant does not need to give prior notice to (or get prior authorization from) the Company regarding any such communication or disclosure. Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph or under applicable law, under no circumstance is a Participant authorized to disclose any information covered by attorney-client privilege or attorney work product or trade secrets of any member of the Company Group without prior written consent of the Company’s Board of Directors or other officer designed by the Company’s Board of Directors.

A-5

Exhibit 10.3

FORM OF

Performance STOCK UNIT GRANT NOTICE
UNDER THE
SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc.
2017 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN

(Employees – Performance-Based Restricted Stock Units)

Participant :

[ Insert Participant Name ]

Date of Grant :

[ Date of Grant ]

Performance Period:

The period commencing on January 1, 2018 and ending on December 31, 2020 (the “ Performance Period ”).

Target Number of

Restricted Stock Units :

[ Insert Target No. of Restricted Stock Units Granted ]

Maximum Number of

Restricted Stock Units :

[ Insert Maximum No. of Restricted Stock Units Granted ]

Vesting Schedule :

The Restricted Stock Units shall vest at such times and in such amounts as set forth in Exhibit A to the Restricted Stock Unit Agreement.

* **

SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. Participant ¹

________________________________ _________________________ _______
By: Jack Roddy [ Insert Participant Name ]
Title: Chief Human Resources & Culture Officer

¹	To the extent that the Company has established, either itself or through a third-party plan administrator, the ability to accept this award electronically, such acceptance shall constitute the Participant’s signature hereof.

FORM OF

RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AGREEMENT
UNDER THE
SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc.
2017 Omnibus INCENTIVE PLAN

Pursuant to the Restricted Stock Unit Grant Notice (the “ Grant Notice ”) delivered to the Participant (as defined in the Grant Notice), and subject to the terms of this Restricted Stock Unit Agreement (this “ Restricted Stock Unit Agreement ”) and the SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as it may be amended and restated from time to time, (the “ Plan ”) SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc., a Delaware corporation, (the “ Company ”) and the Participant agree as follows. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the same meaning as set forth in the Plan.

2. Vesting . Subject to the conditions contained herein and in the Plan, the Restricted Stock Units shall vest as provided in Exhibit A attached hereto.

3. Settlement of Restricted Stock Units . The provisions of Section 9(d)(ii) of the Plan are incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof and, in accordance therewith, any vested Restricted Stock Units shall be settled in shares of Common Stock as soon as reasonably practicable (and, in any event, within two and one-half months) following the expiration of the applicable Restricted Period. With respect to any Restricted Stock Unit, the period of time on and prior to the 2018 Early Vesting Date (as defined in Exhibit A attached hereto), the 2019 Early Vesting Date (as defined in Exhibit A attached hereto) or the Normal Vesting Date (as defined in Exhibit A attached hereto), as applicable, in which such Restricted Stock Unit is subject to vesting shall be its Restricted Period. Notwithstanding anything in this Restricted Stock Unit Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall have no obligation to issue or transfer any shares of Common Stock as contemplated by this Restricted Stock Unit Agreement unless and until such issuance or transfer complies with all relevant provisions of law and the requirements of any stock exchange on which the Company’s shares of Common Stock are listed for trading.

5. Company; Participant .

(a) The term “Company” as used in this Restricted Stock Unit Agreement with reference to employment shall include the Company and its Subsidiaries.

(b) Whenever the word “Participant” is used in any provision of this Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under circumstances where the provision should logically be construed to apply to the executors, the administrators, or the person or persons to whom the Restricted Stock Units may be transferred by will

or by the laws of descent and distribution, the word “Participant” shall be deemed to include such person or persons.

8. Tax Withholding . The provisions of Section 15(d) of the Plan are incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof.

11. Binding Effect . This Restricted Stock Unit Agreement shall be binding upon the heirs, executors, administrators and successors of the parties hereto.

any such waiver, alteration, amendment or modification is consented to on the Company’s behalf by the Committee. No waiver by either of the parties hereto of their rights hereunder shall be deemed to constitute a waiver with respect to any subsequent occurrences or transactions hereunder unless such waiver specifically states that it is to be construed as a continuing waiver.

13. Clawback/Repayment . This Restricted Stock Unit Agreement shall be subject to reduction, cancellation, forfeiture or recoupment to the extent necessary to comply with (i) any clawback, forfeiture or other similar policy adopted by the Board or the Committee and as in effect from time to time; and (ii) applicable law. In addition, if the Participant receives any amount in excess of what the Participant should have received under the terms of this Restricted Stock Unit Agreement for any reason (including, without limitation, by reason of a financial restatement, mistake in calculations or other administrative error), then the Participant shall be required to repay any such excess amount to the Company.

14. Restrictive Covenants; Detrimental Activity .

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in the Plan, if the Participant has engaged in or engages in any Detrimental Activity, as determined by the Committee (including, without limitation, a breach of any of the covenants contained in Appendix A to this Agreement), then the Committee may, in its sole discretion, take actions permitted under the Plan, including, but not limited to: (i) cancelling any and all Restricted Stock Units, or (ii) requiring that the Participant forfeit any gain realized on the vesting of the Restricted Stock Units, and repay such gain to the Company.

15. Right to Offset . The provisions of Section 15(x) of the Plan are incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof.

hereby submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of and venue in the courts of Delaware. THE PARTICIPANT IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY SUIT, ACTION OR OTHER PROCEEDING I NSTITUTED BY OR AGAINST SUCH PARTICIPANT IN RESPECT OF THE PARTICIPANT’S RIGHTS OR OBLIGATIONS HEREUNDER.

Exhibit A

1. Normal Vesting of Restricted Stock Units .

(a) The “ Performance Period ” shall mean the period from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2020, “ Year 1 of the Performance Period ” shall mean the period from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018, “ Year 2 of the Performance Period ” shall mean the period from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019 and “ Year 3 of the Performance Period ” shall mean the period from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020. Subject to early vesting as provided in Section 2 below, the “Target Number of Restricted Stock Units” provided on the Grant Notice will be eligible to be earned based on the following performance metrics: 75%—Adjusted EBITDA Component (as set forth in Section 1(b)(A) below); and 25%—ROIC Component (as set forth in Section 1(b)(B) below), in each case, based on a multiple from 0% up to a maximum of 200% pursuant to Section 1(b) below at the end of the Performance Period and the Earned Amount (as defined below) will be eligible to become vested pursuant to Section 1(c) below. The Adjusted EBITDA Component and the ROIC Component below shall collectively be referred to herein as the “ Performance Components ” and the applicable portion of the “Target Number of Restricted Stock Units” shall each be referred to herein as the applicable “ Performance Component Percentage ”.


Performance Component	Performance Component Percentage
Adjusted EBITDA	75%
ROIC	25%

(b) During the first 90 days of the Performance Period, the Committee will determine:

(A) Adjusted EBITDA Component . A projected Adjusted EBITDA target for Year 3 of the Performance Period (the “ Adjusted EBITDA Target ”). For purposes of this Exhibit A , the term “ Adjusted EBITDA ” shall mean the Adjusted EBITDA which is publicly disclosed in (or otherwise calculated in a manner consistent with) the Company’s earnings release for the applicable fiscal year and the term “ Performance Period EBITDA ” shall mean the Adjusted EBITDA in Year 3 of the Performance Period.

(B) ROIC Component . A projected ROIC target for the Performance Period (the “ ROIC Target ”). For purposes of this Exhibit A , the term “ ROIC ” means the Company’s return on invested capital over the Performance Period calculated as follows:

(Cumulative NOPAT – (Base Period NOPAT * 3))

Cumulative Cash CAPEX

For purposes of this Exhibit A , the following terms mean:

“ Base Period NOPAT ” means NOPAT for the year immediately preceding the beginning of the Performance Period.

“ Cumulative Cash CAPEX ” means the aggregate “Cash Capital” expenditures as reported on the Company’s Statement of Cash Flows during the Performance Period.

“ Cumulative NOPAT ” means the aggregate NOPAT during the Performance Period.

Exhibit A – 1

“ Depreciation & Amortization ” means as defined by US GAAP and reported on the Company’s Income Statement (NOPAT components will be adjusted for non-cash gains or losses of an unusual o r infrequent type).

“ NOPAT ” means Adjusted EBITDA less Depreciation & Amortization (both NOPAT components will be adjusted for non-cash gains or losses of an unusual or infrequent type).

In connection with foregoing, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer shall certify in writing to the Committee the Performance Period EBITDA and the ROIC.

Following the completion of the Performance Period, the Committee will determine the “ Actual Performance Percentage ” for each Performance Component by calculating for the applicable Performance Component the percentage by which the Performance Period EBITDA and ROIC, as applicable, met or exceeded the Adjusted EBITDA Target and ROIC Target, respectively. The number of Restricted Stock Units that will be earned (the “ Earned Amount ”) with respect to each Performance Component will be based on the achievement of the Actual Performance Percentage as set forth in the table below times the applicable Performance Component Percentage set forth in the table above:


Actual Performance Percentage for the Adjusted EBITDA Component and ROIC Component*	Percentage of Restricted Stock Units Earned for the Adjusted EBITDA Component and ROIC Component Earned**
Actual Performance Percentage less than [threshold]%	0%
Actual Performance Percentage greater than or equal to [threshold]%	50%
Actual Performance Percentage greater than or equal to [target]%	100%
Actual Performance Percentage greater than or equal to [maximum]%	200%

* For an Actual Performance Percentage at least equal to [threshold]% which falls in between the levels set forth in the table above, the Committee shall apply straight-line interpolation to determine the Earned Amount for the Adjusted EBITDA Component and ROIC Component, provided that in no event shall the Earned Amount exceed 200% of such Performance Component.

** By way of illustration, if the “Target Number of Restricted Stock Units” is [●] Restricted Stock Units and the Company’s Actual Performance Percentage (x) for the Adjusted EBITDA Component is [●]% and (y) for the ROIC Component is [●]%, then the Earned Amount with respect to Adjusted EBITDA Component and ROIC Component will be [●] units ([●] units x [●]%) and [●] units ([●] units x [●]%), respectively. [●] Restricted Stock Units will vest on the date the Committee determines the Actual Performance Percentages for the Performance Period.

(c) Subject to Sections 2 and 3 of this Exhibit A , provided the Participant has not undergone a Termination on or prior to the Normal Vesting Date (as defined below), a number of Restricted Stock Units equal to the Total Earned Amount or the Adjusted Total Earned Amount, as applicable, shall vest and the restrictions on such Restricted Stock Units shall lapse on the latter of the date (the “ Normal Vesting Date ”) the Committee determines the Actual Performance Percentages in Year 3 of the Performance Period

Exhibit A – 2

and the Company publicly discloses the Adjusted EBITDA in the Company’s earnings release for Year 3 of the Performance Period, which date shall not be later than March 15 in the year following the end of the Performance Period. Any remaining unvested Restricted Stock Units that do not become vested in accordance with preceding sentence (if any) shall immediately be forfeited by the Participant for no consideration as of t he Normal Vesting Date. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Restricted Stock Unit Agreement, the Grant Notice or the Plan to the contrary, no Restricted Stock Units shall vest on the Normal Vesting Date in the event the Actual Performance Percentag e for the Adjusted EBITDA Component is less than [threshold]% and, in such event, any unvested Restricted Stock Units shall immediately be forfeited to the Company by the Participant for no consideration as of the Normal Vesting Date.

(d) For purposes of this Exhibit A , the term “ Adjusted Total Earned Amount ” shall mean:

(A) in the event Restricted Stock Units vested on the 2018 Early Vesting Date (but not on the 2019 Early Vesting Date) and the Total Earned Amount exceeds [●]% of the “Target Number of Restricted Stock Units” provided on the Grant Notice, a number of Restricted Stock Units equal to 170% of the “Target Number of Restricted Stock Units” provided on the Grant Notice;

(B) in the event Restricted Stock Units vested on the 2019 Early Vesting Date (but not on the 2018 Early Vesting Date) and the Total Earned Amount exceeds [●]% of the “Target Number of Restricted Stock Units” provided on the Grant Notice, a number of Restricted Stock Units equal to 180% of the “Target Number of Restricted Stock Units” provided on the Grant Notice; and

(C) in the event Restricted Stock Units vested on both the 2018 Early Vesting Date and the 2019 Early Vesting Date and the Total Earned Amount exceeds [●]% of the “Target Number of Restricted Stock Units” provided on the Grant Notice, a number of Restricted Stock Units equal to 150% of the “Target Number of Restricted Stock Units” provided on the Grant Notice.

2. Early Vesting of Restricted Stock Units .

(a) 2018 Early Vesting Date . Notwithstanding Section 1 of this Exhibit A , in the event the Adjusted EBITDA Target is achieved in Year 1 of the Performance Period, to the extent outstanding and unvested at such time, a number of unvested Restricted Stock Units equal to 30% of the “Target Number of Restricted Stock Units” provided on the Grant Notice shall vest (and the restrictions thereon shall immediately lapse) on the latter of the date (the “ 2018 Early Vesting Date ”) the Committee determines the Adjusted EBITDA for Year 1 of the Performance Period and the Company publicly discloses such Adjusted EBITDA in the Company’s earnings release, which date shall not be later than March 15 in the year following the end of Year 1 of the Performance Period, provided the Participant has not undergone a Termination on or prior to such latter date. Any remaining unvested Restricted Stock Units that do not become vested pursuant to the preceding sentence (if any) will continue to be eligible to be earned and become vested on the Normal Vesting Date pursuant to Section 1 above.

(b) 2019 Early Vesting Date. Notwithstanding Section 1 of this Exhibit A , in the event the Adjusted EBITDA Target is achieved in Year 2 of the Performance Period, to the extent outstanding and unvested at such time, a number of unvested Restricted Stock Units equal to 20% of the “Target Number of Restricted Stock Units” provided on the Grant Notice shall vest (and the restrictions thereon shall immediately lapse) on the latter of the date (the “ 2019 Early Vesting Date ”) the Committee determines the Adjusted EBITDA for Year 2 of the Performance Period and the Company publicly discloses such Adjusted

Exhibit A – 3

EBITDA in the Company’s earnings release, which date shall not be later than March 15 in the year following the end of Year 2 of the Pe rformance Period, provided the Participant has not undergone a Termination on or prior to such latter date. Any remaining unvested Restricted Stock Units that do not become vested pursuant to the preceding sentence (if any) will continue to be eligible to be earned and become vested on the Normal Vesting Date pursuant to Section 1 above.

3. Treatment of Restricted Stock Units Upon a Change in Control .

(a) Notwithstanding Sections 1 and 2 of this Exhibit A , in the event a Change in Control that occurs during the Participant’s employment and prior to the Normal Vesting Date, to the extent outstanding and unvested at such time, a number of unvested Restricted Stock Units equal to the Specified Number (as defined below) shall remain outstanding and shall vest (and the restrictions thereon shall immediately lapse) on the later of (x) the last day of the Performance Period and (y) the date of the Change in Control, solely based on Participant’s continued employment with the Company through such date (and without regard to the conditions set forth in Sections 1 and 2 of this Exhibit A ). Any remaining unvested Restricted Stock Units that do not become vested pursuant to the preceding sentence (if any) shall immediately be forfeited to the Company by the Participant for no consideration as of the last day of the Performance Period.

(b) For purposes of this Exhibit A , the term “ Specified Number ” shall mean:

(A) in the event a Change in Control occurs at any time prior to the completion of the Performance Period, the actual number of Restricted Stock Units that would have been earned in accordance with Section 1 of this Exhibit A based on the Committee’s good-faith determination of the Actual Performance Percentages for the portion of Performance Period that has elapsed through the date of the Change in Control (the “ Partial Period ”) measured against an adjusted Adjusted EBITDA Target and ROIC Target which shall be pro-rated based on a fraction (i) the numerator of which is the number of days in the Partial Period and (ii) the denominator of which is the number of days in the Performance Period (such resulting number of Restricted Stock Units, the “ Pro-Rata Actual Performance Amount ”); and

(B) in the event a Change in Control occurs at any time after the completion of the Performance Period but before the Normal Vesting Date, the Total Earned Amount or the Adjusted Total Earned Amount, as applicable.

4. Treatment of Restricted Stock Units Upon Certain Termination .

(a) In the Event of Participant’s Termination for any reason on or prior to the Normal Vesting Date other than under circumstances described in Section 4(b) of this Exhibit A , all unvested Restricted Stock Units shall be forfeited by the Participant for no consideration as of the date of such Termination.

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 9 of the Plan:

(A) in the event of (i) Participant’s Termination by the Company other than for Cause, or (ii) Participant’s Termination due to death or Disability, in each case, on or prior to the last day of the Performance Period and within 12 months following a Change in Control, to the extent outstanding and unvested at such time, a number of Restricted Stock Units (if any) equal to the Specified Number shall vest (and

Exhibit A – 4

the restrictions thereon shall immediately lapse) as of the date of such Termination. Any remaining unvested Restricted Stock Units that do not become vested pursuant t o the preceding sentence (if any) shall immediately be forfeited by the Participant for no consideration as of the date of such Termination.

(B) in the event of the Participant’s Termination due to (i) death or Disability on or prior to the last day of the Performance Period and other than within 12 months following a Change in Control, or (ii) Qualified Retirement on or prior to the last day of the Performance Period, in each case, to the extent outstanding and unvested at such time, a number of Restricted Stock Units equal to the product of (x) the D&D Specified Number (as defined below) multiplied by (y) a fraction, the numerator of which is equal to the number of completed months that have elapsed in the Performance Period through and including the date of such Termination and the denominator of which is equal to 36, (rounded up to the nearest whole number) shall vest (and the restrictions thereon shall immediately lapse) as of the date of such Termination. Any remaining unvested Restricted Stock Units that do not become vested pursuant to the preceding sentence (if any) shall immediately be forfeited to the Company by the Participant for no consideration as of the date of such Termination. For purposes of this paragraph, the term “ D&D Specified Number ” shall mean the Specified Number (as defined in Section 3(b) of this Exhibit A ) assuming solely for purposes of this definition (and not for purposes of the vesting of Restricted Stock Units under Section 4(b)(B) of this Exhibit A ) that a Change in Control had occurred on the date of the Participant’s Termination due to death or Disability or Qualified Retirement.

The term “ Qualified Retirement ” as used in this Exhibit A shall mean the Participant undergoes a Termination (other than when grounds existed for a termination for Cause at the time thereof) when the Participant is at least age 55 with a combination of age and service years with the Company of at least 65.

Exhibit A – 5

Appendix A

Restrictive Covenants

Non-Competition; Non-Solicitation; Non-Disparagement .

(a) Participant acknowledges and recognizes the highly competitive nature of the businesses of the Company and its Affiliates and accordingly agrees as follows:

(ii) During the Restricted Period, Participant will not directly or indirectly:

(B) enter the employ of, or render any services to, a Core Competitor, except where such employment or services do not relate in any manner to the Business;

Appendix A – 1

(A) solicit or encourage any employee of the Restricted Group to leave the employment of the Restricted Group;

(v) For purposes of this Appendix A :

(A) “ Restricted Group ” shall mean, collectively, the Company and its Subsidiaries and, to the extent engaged in the Business, their respective Affiliates.

(B) “ Business ” shall mean the entertainment and theme park business.

Appendix A – 2

(f) The provisions of Section 1(a)(i), (ii), (iii) and (iv)(B) hereof shall not apply if Participant’s principal place of employ ment is in the state of California.

Confidentiality; Intellectual Property .

(a) Confidentiality .

Appendix A – 3

(b) Intellectual Property .

(i) If Participant has created, invented, designed, developed, contributed to or improved any works of authorship, inventions, intellectual property, materials, documents or other work product (including without limitation, research, reports, software, databases, systems, applications, presentations, textual works, content, or audiovisual materials) (“ Works ”), either alone or with third parties, prior to Participant’s employment by the Company, that are relevant to or implicated by such employment (“ Prior Works ”), Participant hereby grants the Company a perpetual, non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide, assignable, sublicensable license under all rights and intellectual property rights (including rights under patent, industrial property, copyright, trademark, trade secret, unfair competition and related laws) therein for all purposes in connection with the Company’s current and future business.

(v) The provisions of Section 2 hereof shall survive the termination of Participant’s employment for any reason (except as otherwise set forth in Section 2(a)(iii) hereof).

Appendix A – 4

making disclosures to any Governmental Entity, in each case, that are protected under the whistleblower provisions of any such law or regulation, provided that in each case such communications and disclosures are consistent with applicable law. Each Participant understands and acknowledges that (i) an individual shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any U.S. f ederal or state trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that is made (A) in confidence to a U.S. federal, state, or local government official or to an attorney solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law, or (B) in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal, and (ii) an individual who files a lawsuit for retaliation by an employer for reporting a suspected violation of law may disclose the trade secret to the attorney of the individual and use the trade secret information in the court proceeding, if the individual files any document containing the trade secret under seal, and does not disclose the trade secret, except pursuant to court order. A P articipant does not need to give prior notice to (or get prior authorization from) the Company regarding any such communication or disclosure. Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph or under applicable law, under no circumstance is a Participant au thorized to disclose any information covered by attorney-client privilege or attorney work product or trade secrets of any member of the Company Group without prior written consent of the Company’s Board of Directors or other officer designed by the Compan y’s Board of Directors.

Appendix A – 5

Exhibit 10.4

SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc.

Outside Director Compensation Policy

Effective March 4, 2014

Amended and Restated April 3, 2014

Amended and Restated as of March 3, 2015

Amended and Restated as of April 13, 2016

Amended and Restated as of April 12, 2017

Amended and Restated as of October 11, 2017

Amended and Restated as of April 11, 2018

SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. (the “ Company ”) believes that the granting of equity and cash compensation to its members of the Board of Directors (the “ Board ,” and members of the Board, “ Directors ”) represents a powerful tool to attract, retain and reward Directors who are not employees of the Company (“ Outside Directors ”). This Outside Director Compensation Policy (this “ Policy ”) is intended to formalize the Company’s policy regarding cash compensation and grants of equity to its Outside Directors. The cash compensation and equity grants described in this Policy will be paid or made, as applicable, automatically and without further action of the Board, to each Outside Director. Unless otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms used in this Policy will have the meaning given such terms in the Company’s 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “ Plan ”). Outside Directors will be solely responsible for any tax obligations they incur as a result of the equity and cash payments received under this Policy.

I.	Cash Compensation .

A. Annual Fee . Subject to Section I.B. below, the Company will pay each Outside Director an annual fee of $60,000 for serving on the Board (the “ Annual Fee ”). At the election of the Outside Director, the Annual Fee will be paid, in arrears, either (a) in twelve equal installments on a monthly basis with each monthly payment paid on the last day of the applicable month or (b) in four equal installments on a quarterly basis with each quarterly payment paid on the last day of the applicable quarter.

B. Annual Board Chairperson Fee . In lieu of the Annual Fee, the Company will pay the Outside Director who serves as the Chairperson of the Board an annual fee of $180,000 for such service (the “ Annual Board Chairperson Fee ”). At the election of the Outside Director, the Annual Board Chairperson Fee will be paid, in arrears, either (a) in twelve equal installments on a monthly basis with each monthly payment paid on the last day of the applicable month or (b) in four equal installments on a quarterly basis with each quarterly payment paid on the last day of the applicable quarter.

C. Annual Lead Director Fee . In addition to the Annual Fee, the Company will pay any Outside Director who serves as the Lead Director (as defined in the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines) an annual fee of $25,000 for such service (the “ Annual Lead Director Fee ”). At the election of the Outside Director, the Lead Director Fee will be paid, in arrears, either (a) in twelve equal installments on a monthly basis with each monthly payment paid on the last day of the applicable month or (b) in four equal installments on a quarterly basis with each quarterly payment paid on the last day of the applicable quarter.

D. Annual Committee Chairperson Fee . In addition to the Annual Fee, the Annual Board Chairperson Fee and the Annual Lead Director Fee, as applicable, the Company will pay each Outside Director who serves as the Chairperson of the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, Regulatory & Governmental Affairs Committee, Revenue Committee or Special/Ad Hoc Committee of the Board the applicable annual fee set forth in the table below for such service (the “ Annual Committee Chairperson Fee ”). At the election of the Outside Director, the Annual Committee Chairperson Fee will be paid, in arrears, either (a) in twelve equal installments on a monthly basis with each monthly payment paid on the last day of the applicable month or (b) in four equal installments on a quarterly basis with each quarterly payment paid on the last day of the applicable quarter.

Committee	Annual Committee Chairperson Fee
Audit Committee		$20,000

Compensation Committee		$15,000
Nominating and Corporate Governance		$15,000
Regulatory & Governmental Affairs		$15,000
Revenue Committee		$15,000
Special/Ad Hoc Committee		$20,000

E. Committee Members . In addition to the Annual Fee, the Annual Board Chairperson Fee and the Annual Lead Director Fee, as applicable, the Company will pay each Outside Director who serves as a non-Chairperson member of Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, Regulatory & Governmental Affairs Committee, Revenue Committee or Special/Ad Hoc Committee of the Board (collectively, the “ Committees ”) the applicable annual fee set forth in the table below for such service (the “ Annual Committee Member Fee ”). At the election of the Outside Director, the Annual Committee Member Fee will be paid, in arrears, either (a) in twelve equal installments on a monthly basis with each monthly payment paid on the last day of the applicable month or (b) in four equal installments on a quarterly basis with each quarterly payment paid on the last day of the applicable quarter.

Committee	Annual Committee Member Fee
Audit Committee		$15,000
Compensation Committee		$10,000
Nominating and Corporate Governance		$10,000
Regulatory & Governmental Affairs		$10,000
Revenue Committee		*$10,000
Special/Ad Hoc Committee		$15,000

*The members of the Revenue Committee will receive an Annual Committee Member Fee of $10,000 that will be paid retroactive to January 1, 2017.

F. Meetings of the Board or Committees . There are no per meeting attendance fees for attending Board meetings or meetings of the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, Regulatory & Governmental Affairs Committee, Revenue Committee or Special/Ad Hoc Committee of the Board.

G. Newly Elected or Appointed Outside Director; Ceasing Board Service . The Company will pay each individual who is first elected or appointed as an Outside Director after the effective date of this Policy a prorated portion of the applicable annual fees set forth in this Section I based on the number of days that the Outside Director provided partial service during the year of election or appointment. If any Outside Director ceases to serve on the Board for any reason, the Company will pay such Outside Director a prorated portion of the monthly or quarterly installment due to such Outside Director under this Section I based on the number of days that such Outside Director provided partial service during the applicable month or quarter. Subject to Section I.I. below, after payment of the aforementioned prorated monthly or quarterly installment to any Outside Director that ceases to serve on the Board, the Company will have no further obligations to such Outside Director under this Section I.

H. Reimbursement of Expenses . The Company will reimburse each Outside Director for (i) all reasonable and documented travel and lodging expenses associated with attendance at Board and committee meetings and (ii) subject to approval by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, all reasonable and documented registration, travel and lodging expenses associated with attendance at director continuing education programs in accordance with the Company’s then current policies. The Company will provide

complimentary and discount tickets and passes for Outside Directors and guests to visit the Company’s parks in accordance with the Company’s then curr ent policies.

I. Special Compensation . The Board may provide additional compensation to members of the Board from time to time for “Extraordinary Board Service” (such fees, “ Special Compensation ”). “ Extraordinary Board Service ” shall mean services provided outside of the services typically required and/or expected of members of the Board or the Committees related to events or circumstances that are unusual or infrequent in nature. The Special Compensation payable with respect to such Extraordinary Board Service shall be determined and paid retroactively after the applicable Extraordinary Board Services are completed (intermittently or in a lump sum) but shall be determined based on a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, (i) length of special services, (ii) number of meetings attended outside general Board or Committee meetings, (iii) time demands in between meetings, (iv) travel commitments and (v) anything else the Board determines to be relevant. The Special Compensation shall be determined by the Board based on the Board’s internal comparisons to the various time commitment and obligations of the other Committees. Consistent with Section F of the Policy, per meeting fees will generally not be paid; provided, that, in some instances, fixed per diem rates may be appropriate based on the nature of the Extraordinary Board Service.

J. Stock Election with respect to Cash Compensation . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section I, an Outside Director may elect (an “ Election ”) to receive shares of Common Stock in lieu of all or a portion of the Annual Fee, the Annual Board Chairperson Fee, the Annual Lead Director Fee, the Annual Committee Chairperson Fee, the Annual Committee Member Fee, and/or the fees payable in respect of service on a special committee (if any) and/or Special Compensation (if any), in each case, to the extent applicable (the “ Election Amount ”). An Outside Director must make any such Election in writing to the Company at least 15 days prior to the applicable payment date of the cash fee(s). If a timely Election is made, the Outside Director will receive a number of shares of Common Stock (rounded down to the nearest whole number) with a Fair Market Value equal to the Election Amount, measured as of the date such fee(s) would normally be paid to the Outside Director. Any remaining portion of the Election Amount which would have resulted in the delivery of fractional shares of Common Stock to the Outside Director will be paid to the Outside Director in cash on the normal payment date of such fee(s).

II.	equity Compensation .

Outside Directors will be entitled to receive all types of Awards (except Incentive Stock Options) under the Plan, including discretionary Awards not covered under this Policy. All grants of Awards to Outside Directors pursuant to this Section II will be automatic and will be made in accordance with the following provisions:

Initial Award . Each individual who is first elected or appointed as an Outside Director after the effective date of this Policy, will automatically be granted, on the date of such initial election or appointment, an Award (“ Initial Award ”) of deferred stock units payable in shares of Common Stock of the Company upon settlement (i.e. the earliest to occur of a Change in Control or one year following an Outside Director’s termination of services from the Board) (each such deferred stock unit, a “ Deferred Stock Unit ”) with an aggregate Fair Market Value of $120,000 on the Date of Grant.

B. Annual Award . On the date of each Annual Stockholders Meeting of the Company, beginning with the 2014 Annual Stockholders Meeting of the Company, but after any stockholder votes are taken on such date, each Outside Director who is to continue to serve as such will automatically be granted an Award (“ Annual Award ”) of Deferred Stock Units with an aggregate Fair Market Value of $120,000 on the Date of Grant, provided that such Outside Director has served on the Board for at least the preceding six (6) months .

C. Vesting . Each Initial Award and each Annual Award granted prior to the 2016 Annual Stockholders Meeting of the Company will vest in three equal installments, with one-third vesting on each of the first, second and third anniversaries of the date of grant, subject to the Outside Director’s continued service on the Board through each such vesting date. Each Annual Award granted on or after the 2016 Annual Stockholders Meeting of the Company will vest 100% on the day before the next Annual Stockholders Meeting

of t he Company occurring after the date of grant, subject to the Outside Director’s continued service on the Board through each such vesting date. For clarification purposes, each Initial Award granted on or after the 2016 Annual Stockholders Meeting of the C ompany will continue to vest in three equal installments consistent with the Company’s past practices. In addition, each Initial Award and Annual Award will become fully vested upon the occurrence of a Change in Control (as defined in the Plan) provided t hat the Outside Director serves on the Board through the date of such Change in Control.

D. Award Agreement . Each Initial Award and Annual Award granted pursuant to this Policy will be made solely by and subject to the terms set forth in a written agreement in a form, consistent with the terms of the Plan, approved by the Board (or the Compensation Committee of the Board) and duly executed by an executive officer of the Company .

III.

AMENDMENT, MODIFICATION AND TERMINATION .

This Policy may be amended, modified or terminated by the Board in the future at its sole discretion.

Exhibit 10.5

FORM OF

DEFERRED STOCK UNIT GRANT NOTICE
UNDER THE
SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc.
2017 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN
(Non-Employee Directors)

SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), pursuant to its 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as it may be amended and restated from time to time (the “ Plan ”), hereby grants to the Participant set forth below, the number of Deferred Stock Units set forth below. The Deferred Stock Units are subject to all of the terms and conditions as set forth herein, in the Deferred Stock Unit Agreement (attached hereto or previously provided to the Participant in connection with a prior grant), and in the Plan, all of which are incorporated herein in their entirety. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning set forth in the Plan.

Participant :

[ Insert Participant Name ]

Date of Grant :

[ Insert Grant Date ]

Vesting Commencement Date:

[ Insert Vesting Commencement Date ]

Number of

Deferred Stock Units :

[ Insert No. of Deferred Stock Units Granted ]

Vesting Schedule :

Provided the Participant has not undergone a Termination at the time of the applicable vesting date (or event)[, 100% of the Deferred Stock Units will vest on the day before the next regularly scheduled annual meeting of the stockholders of the Company following the Vesting Commencement Date][1/3 ^rd of the Deferred Stock Units will vest on each of the first, second and third anniversaries of the Date of Grant].

In addition, in the event of a Change in Control prior to the applicable vesting date (or event) and provided Participant has not undergone a Termination prior to such Change in Control, such Participant shall fully vest in such Participant’s Deferred Stock Units to the extent not then vested or previously forfeited or cancelled.

All unvested Deferred Stock Units shall be forfeited upon a Termination for any reason or no reason.

* **

THE UNDERSIGNED PARTICIPANT ACKNOWLEDGES RECEIPT OF THIS DEFERRED STOCK UNIT GRANT NOTICE, THE DEFERRED STOCK UNIT AGREEMENT AND THE PLAN, AND, AS AN EXPRESS CONDITION TO THE GRANT OF DEFERRED STOCK UNITS HEREUNDER, AGREES TO BE BOUND BY THE TERMS OF THIS DEFERRED STOCK UNIT GRANT NOTICE, THE DEFERRED STOCK UNIT AGREEMENT AND THE PLAN.

SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. Participant ¹

________________________________ ________________________________
By: Jack Roddy [ Insert Participant Name ]
Title: Chief Human Resources & Culture Officer

¹	To the extent that the Company has established, either itself or through a third-party plan administrator, the ability to accept this award electronically, such acceptance shall constitute the Participant’s signature hereof.

[ Signature Page to Deferred Stock Unit Award ]

FORM OF

DEFERRED STOCK UNIT AGREEMENT
UNDER THE
SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc.
2017 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN
(Non-Employee Directors)

Pursuant to the Deferred Stock Unit Grant Notice (the “ Grant Notice ”) delivered to the Participant (as defined in the Grant Notice), and subject to the terms of this Deferred Stock Unit Agreement (this “ Deferred Stock Unit Agreement ”) and the SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as it may be amended and restated from time to time, (the “ Plan ”), SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc., a Delaware corporation, (the “ Company ”) and the Participant agree as follows. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the same meaning as set forth in the Plan.

1. Grant of Deferred Stock Units; DSU Account .

(a) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the Plan, the Company hereby grants to the Participant the number of Deferred Stock Units provided in the Grant Notice (with each Deferred Stock Unit representing an unfunded, unsecured right to receive one share of Common Stock). The Company may make one or more additional grants of Deferred Stock Units to the Participant under this Deferred Stock Unit Agreement by providing the Participant with a new Grant Notice, which may also include any terms and conditions differing from this Deferred Stock Unit Agreement to the extent provided therein. The Company reserves all rights with respect to the granting of additional Deferred Stock Units hereunder and makes no implied promise to grant additional Deferred Stock Units.

(b) The Company shall cause an account (the “ Unit Account ”) to be established and maintained on the books of the Company to record the number of Deferred Stock Units credited to the Participant under the terms of the Grant Notice and this Deferred Stock Unit Agreement.

2. Vesting . Subject to the conditions contained herein and in the Plan, the Deferred Stock Units shall vest as provided in the Grant Notice.

3. Settlement of Deferred Stock Units . The Company will deliver to the Participant, without charge, as soon as reasonably practicable (and, in any event, within 30 days) following the earliest to occur of (a) the one year anniversary of the date the Participant undergoes a “separation from service” from the Company and its Subsidiaries (as defined in Section 409A of the Code) for any reason and (b) a Change in Control; provided , that such Change in Control also constitutes a “change in ownership or effective control” for purposes of Section 409A of the Code, one share of Common Stock for each Deferred Stock Unit (as adjusted under the Plan, as applicable) which becomes vested hereunder and such vested Deferred Stock Unit shall be cancelled upon such delivery. Upon the issuance of the shares of Common Stock to the Participant, such Participant’s Unit Account shall be eliminated. Notwithstanding anything in this Deferred Stock Unit Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall have no obligation to issue or transfer any shares of Common Stock as contemplated by this Deferred Stock Unit Agreement unless and until such issuance or transfer complies with all relevant provisions of law and the requirements of any stock exchange on which the Company’s shares of Common Stock are listed for trading.

4. Company; Participant .

(a) The term “ Company ” as used in this Deferred Stock Unit Agreement with reference to service shall include the Company and its Subsidiaries.

(b) Whenever the word “ Participant ” is used in any provision of this Deferred Stock Unit

Agreement under circumstances where the provision should logically be construed to apply to the executors, the administrators, or the person or persons to whom the Deferred Stock Units may be transferred by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, the word “ Participant ” shall be deemed to include such person or persons.

5. Non-Transferability . The Deferred Stock Units are not transferable by the Participant (unless such transfer is specifically required pursuant to a domestic relations order or by applicable law) except to Permitted Transferees in accordance with Section 15(b) of the Plan. Except as otherwise provided herein, no assignment or transfer of the Deferred Stock Units, or of the rights represented thereby, whether voluntary or involuntary, by operation of law or otherwise, shall vest in the assignee or transferee any interest or right herein whatsoever, but immediately upon such assignment or transfer the Deferred Stock Units shall terminate and become of no further effect.

6. Rights as Stockholder; Dividend Equivalents . The Participant or a permitted transferee of the Deferred Stock Units shall have no rights as a stockholder with respect to any share of Common Stock underlying a Deferred Stock Unit (including no rights with respect to voting or to receive dividends or dividend equivalents) unless and until the Participant shall have become the holder of record or the beneficial owner of such Common Stock, and no adjustment shall be made for dividends or distributions or other rights in respect of such share of Common Stock for which the record date is prior to the date upon which the Participant shall become the holder of record or the beneficial owner thereof. The Deferred Stock Units shall be entitled to be credited with dividend equivalent payments upon the payment by the Company of dividends on shares of Common Stock. Such dividend equivalents will be provided in additional Deferred Stock Units having a Fair Market Value on the date that the underlying Deferred Stock Units are settled in accordance with Section 3 above equal to the amount of such applicable dividends as of the date such dividends were made, and shall be payable at the same time as the underlying Deferred Stock Units to which such dividends relate are settled in accordance with Section 3 above. In the event that any Deferred Stock Unit is forfeited by its terms, the Participant shall have no right to dividend equivalent payments in respect of such forfeited Deferred Stock Units.

7. Tax Withholding . The provisions of Section 15(d) of the Plan are incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof. The Participant shall satisfy such Participant’s withholding liability, if any, referred to in Section 15(d) of the Plan by having the Company withhold from the number of shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable or deliverable pursuant to the settlement of the Award a number of shares of Common Stock with a Fair Market Value, on the date that the Deferred Stock Units are settled, equal to such withholding liability; provided , that the number of such shares of Common Stock may not have a Fair Market Value greater than the minimum required statutory withholding liability unless determined by the Committee not to result in adverse accounting consequences. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Participant acknowledges and agrees that to the extent consistent with applicable law and the Participant’s status as an independent consultant for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Company does not intend to withhold any amounts as federal income tax withholdings under any other state or federal laws, and the Participant hereby agrees to make adequate provision for any sums required to satisfy all applicable federal, state, local and foreign tax withholding obligations of the Company which may arise in connection with the grant of Deferred Stock Units.

8. Notice . Every notice or other communication relating to this Deferred Stock Unit Agreement between the Company and the Participant shall be in writing, and shall be mailed to or delivered to the party for whom it is intended at such address as may from time to time be designated by such party in a notice mailed or delivered to the other party as herein provided; provided , that unless and until some other address be so designated, all notices or communications by the Participant to the Company shall be mailed or delivered to the Company at its principal executive office, to the attention of the Corporate Secretary, and all notices or communications by the Company to the Participant may be given to the

Participant personally or may be mailed to the Participant at the Participant’s last known address, as reflected in the Company’s records. Notwithstanding the above, all notices and communications between the Participant and any third-party plan administrator shall be mailed, delivered, transmitted or sent in accordance with the procedures established by such third-party plan administrator and communicated to the Participant from time to time.

9. No Right to Continued Service . This Deferred Stock Unit Agreement does not confer upon the Participant any right to continue as an employee or service provider to the Service Recipient or any other member of the Company Group.

10. Binding Effect . This Deferred Stock Unit Agreement shall be binding upon the heirs, executors, administrators and successors of the parties hereto.

11. Waiver and Amendments . Except as otherwise set forth in Section 14 of the Plan, any waiver, alteration, amendment or modification of any of the terms of this Deferred Stock Unit Agreement shall be valid only if made in writing and signed by the parties hereto; provided, however , that any such waiver, alteration, amendment or modification is consented to on the Company’s behalf by the Committee. No waiver by either of the parties hereto of their rights hereunder shall be deemed to constitute a waiver with respect to any subsequent occurrences or transactions hereunder unless such waiver specifically states that it is to be construed as a continuing waiver.

12. Clawback/Repayment . This Deferred Stock Unit Agreement shall be subject to reduction, cancellation, forfeiture or recoupment to the extent necessary to comply with (i) any clawback, forfeiture or other similar policy adopted by the Board or the Committee and as in effect from time to time and (ii) applicable law. In addition, if the Participant receives any amount in excess of what the Participant should have received under the terms of this Deferred Stock Unit Agreement for any reason (including, without limitation, by reason of a financial restatement, mistake in calculations or other administrative error), then the Participant shall be required to repay any such excess amount to the Company.

13. Right to Offset . The provisions of Section 15(x) of the Plan are incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof.

13. Governing Law . This Deferred Stock Unit Agreement shall be construed and interpreted in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the principles of conflicts of law thereof. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Deferred Stock Unit Agreement, the Grant Notice or the Plan to the contrary, if any suit or claim is instituted by the Participant or the Company relating to this Deferred Stock Unit Agreement, the Grant Notice or the Plan, the Participant hereby submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of and venue in the courts of Delaware. THE PARTICIPANT IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY SUIT, ACTION OR OTHER PROCEEDING INSTITUTED BY OR AGAINST SUCH PARTICIPANT IN RESPECT OF THE PARTICIPANT’S RIGHTS OR OBLIGATIONS HEREUNDER.

14. Plan . The terms and provisions of the Plan are incorporated herein by reference. In the event of a conflict or inconsistency between the terms and provisions of the Plan and the provisions of this Deferred Stock Unit Agreement (including the Grant Notice), the Plan shall govern and control.

15. Section 409A .

(a) It is intended that the Deferred Stock Units granted hereunder shall be compliant with Section 409A of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder and shall be interpreted as such, including, without limitation, by delaying the issuance of shares of Common Stock contemplated hereunder.

(b) Notwithstanding anything in this Deferred Stock Unit Agreement to the contrary, if a Participant is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, no payments in respect of any Deferred Stock Unit that is “deferred compensation” subject to Section 409A of the Code and which would otherwise be payable upon the Participant’s “separation from service” (as defined in Section 409A of the Code) shall be made to such Participant prior to the date that is six months after the date of such Participant’s “separation from service” or, if earlier, the date of the Participant’s death. Following any applicable six month delay, all such delayed payments will be paid in a single lump sum on the earliest date permitted under Section 409A of the Code that is also a business day.

Exhibit 10.6

[Letterhead of SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc.]

February 26, 2018

John T. Reilly

141 Glenridge Way

Winter Park, FL 32789

Dear Mr. Reilly,

Reference is made to the Key Employee Severance Plan, as amended and restated March 1, 2017 (the “ Plan ”), of SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”).

The Company agreed that, in the event of any termination by the Company of your employment with the Company without Cause during the period of your service as Interim CEO of the Company (and continuing for one year after you cease to be Interim CEO), you will be eligible for severance benefits equal to that of a “Tier 1” employee under the Plan.

Sincerely,

SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc.

________________________________
By: Jack Roddy
Title: Chief Human Resources & Culture Officer

Exhibit 10.7

RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT GRANT NOTICE
UNDER THE
SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc.
2017 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN

(Employees – Time-Based Restricted Stock Units)

SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), pursuant to its 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as it may be amended and restated from time to time (the “ Plan ”), hereby grants to the Participant set forth below, the number of Restricted Stock Units set forth below. The Restricted Stock Units are subject to all of the terms and conditions as set forth herein, in the Restricted Stock Unit Agreement (attached hereto or previously provided to the Participant in connection with a prior grant), and in the Plan, all of which are incorporated herein in their entirety. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning set forth in the Plan.

Participant :

John T. Reilly

Date of Grant :

March 2, 2018

Number of

Restricted Stock Units :

34,106

Vesting Schedule :

Provided the Participant has not undergone a Termination, 100% of the Restricted Stock Units shall vest, on the third anniversary of the Date of Grant.

* **

THE UNDERSIGNED PARTICIPANT ACKNOWLEDGES RECEIPT OF THIS RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT GRANT NOTICE, THE RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AGREEMENT AND THE PLAN, AND, AS AN EXPRESS CONDITION TO THE GRANT OF RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS HEREUNDER, AG REES TO BE BOUND BY THE TERMS OF THIS RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT GRANT NOTICE, THE RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AGREEMENT AND THE PLAN.

SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. Participant ¹

________________________________ /s/ John T. Reilly
By: Jack Roddy John T. Reilly
Title: Chief Human Resources & Culture Officer

¹	To the extent that the Company has established, either itself or through a third-party plan administrator, the ability to accept this award electronically, such acceptance shall constitute the Participant’s signature hereof.

[ Signature Page to Restricted Stock Unit Award ]

RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AGREEMENT
UNDER THE
SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc.
2017 Omnibus INCENTIVE PLAN

Pursuant to the Restricted Stock Unit Grant Notice (the “ Grant Notice ”) delivered to the Participant (as defined in the Grant Notice), and subject to the terms of this Restricted Stock Unit Agreement (this “ Restricted Stock Unit Agreement ”) and the SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as it may be amended and restated from time to time (the “ Plan ”), SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc., a Delaware corporation, (the “ Company ”) and the Participant agree as follows. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the same meaning as set forth in the Plan.

2. Vesting . Subject to the conditions contained herein and in the Plan, the Restricted Stock Units shall vest as provided in the Grant Notice.

3. Settlement of Restricted Stock Units . The provisions of Section 9(d)(ii) of the Plan are incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof and, in accordance therewith, any vested Restricted Stock Units shall be settled in shares of Common Stock as soon as reasonably practicable (and, in any event, within two and one-half months) following the expiration of the applicable Restricted Period. With respect to any Restricted Stock Unit, the period of time on and prior to the applicable vesting date in which such Restricted Stock Unit is subject to vesting shall be its Restricted Period. Notwithstanding anything in this Restricted Stock Unit Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall have no obligation to issue or transfer any shares of Common Stock as contemplated by this Restricted Stock Unit Agreement unless and until such issuance or transfer complies with all relevant provisions of law and the requirements of any stock exchange on which the Company’s shares of Common Stock are listed for trading.

4. Treatment of Restricted Stock Units Upon Termination .

(a) The provisions of Section 9(b) of the Plan are incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof. In the event of (A) the Participant’s Termination by the Company other than for Cause prior to the third anniversary of the Date of Grant, or (B) the Participant’s Termination due to death or Disability within 12 months following a Change in Control, the outstanding Restricted Stock Units shall become fully vested and the restrictions thereon shall immediately lapse as of the date of such Termination. In addition to (and not in lieu of) the foregoing, in the event of the Participant’s Termination due to (i) death or Disability prior to the third anniversary of the Date of Grant and other than within 12 months following a Change in Control, or (ii) Qualified Retirement prior to the third anniversary of the Date of Grant, a pro-rata portion (rounded up to the nearest whole number) of the Restricted Stock Units shall vest (and the restrictions thereon shall immediately lapse) as of the date of such Termination based on a fraction (x) the numerator of which is equal to the number of completed months that have elapsed in the three-year period ending on the third anniversary of the Date of Grant through and including the date of such Termination and (y) the denominator of which is equal to 36.

(b) If the Participant undergoes a Termination other than under circumstances described in Section 4(a), then all unvested shares of Rest ricted Stock Units shall be forfeited to the Company by the Participant for no consideration as of the date of such Termination.

5. Company; Participant .

(a) The term “ Company ” as used in this Restricted Stock Unit Agreement with reference to employment shall include the Company and its Subsidiaries.

8. Tax Withholding . The provisions of Section 15(d) of the Plan are incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof.

Secretary, and al l notices or communications by the Company to the Participant may be given to the Participant personally or may be mailed to the Participant at the Participant’s last known address, as reflected in the Company’s records. Notwithstanding the above, all not ices and communications between the Participant and any third-party plan administrator shall be mailed, delivered, transmitted or sent in accordance with the procedures established by such third-party plan administrator and communicated to the Participant from time to time.

11. Binding Effect . This Restricted Stock Unit Agreement shall be binding upon the heirs, executors, administrators and successors of the parties hereto.

13. Clawback/Repayment . This Restricted Stock Unit Agreement shall be subject to reduction, cancellation, forfeiture or recoupment to the extent necessary to comply with (i) any clawback, forfeiture or other similar policy adopted by the Board or the Committee and as in effect from time to time; and (ii) applicable law. In addition, if the Participant receives any amount in excess of what the Participant should have received under the terms of this Restricted Stock Unit Agreement for any reason (including, without limitation, by reason of a financial restatement, mistake in calculations or other administrative error), then the Participant shall be required to repay any such excess amount to the Company.

14. Restrictive Covenants; Detrimental Activity .

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in the Plan, if the Part icipant has engaged in or engages in any Detrimental Activity, as determined by the Committee (including, without limitation, a breach of any of the covenants contained in Appendix A to this Restricted Stock Unit Agreement), then the Committee may, in its sole discretion, take actions permitted under the Plan, including, but not limited to: (i) cancelling any and all Restricted Stock Units, or (ii) requiring that the Participant forfeit any gain realized on the vesting of the Restricted Stock Units, and rep ay such gain to the Company.

15. Right to Offset . The provisions of Section 15(x) of the Plan are incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof.

Appendix A

Restrictive Covenants

Non-Competition; Non-Solicitation; Non-Disparagement .

(a) Participant acknowledges and recognizes the highly competitive nature of the businesses of the Company and its Affiliates and accordingly agrees as follows:

(ii) During the Restricted Period, Participant will not directly or indirectly:

(B) enter the employ of, or render any services to, a Core Competitor, except where such employment or services do not relate in any manner to the Business;

(A) solicit or encourage any employee of the Restricted Group to leave the employment of the Restricted Group;

A-1

(v) For purposes of this Appendix A :

(A) “ Restricted Group ” shall mean, collectively, the Company and its Subsidiaries and, to the extent engaged in the Business, their respective Affiliates.

(B) “ Business ” shall mean the entertainment and theme park business.

(f) The provisions of Section 1(a)(i), (ii), (iii) and (iv)(B) hereof shall not apply if Participant’s principal place of employment is in the state of California.

Confidentiality; Intellectual Property .

A-2

(a) Confidentiality .

(b) Intellectual Property .

(i) If Participant has created, invented, designed, developed, contributed to or improved any works of authorship, inventions, intellectual property, materials, documents or other

A-3

work product (including without limitation, research, reports, software, databases, systems, applications, presentations, textual works, content, or audiovisual materials) (“ Works ”), either alone or with third parties, prior to Participa nt’s employment by the Company, that are relevant to or implicated by such employment (“ Prior Works ”), Participant hereby grants the Company a perpetual, non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide, assignable, sublicensable license under all rights and intelle ctual property rights (including rights under patent, industrial property, copyright, trademark, trade secret, unfair competition and related laws) therein for all purposes in connection with the Company’s current and future business.

(v) The provisions of Section 2 hereof shall survive the termination of Participant’s employment for any reason (except as otherwise set forth in Section 2(a)(iii) hereof).

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civilly liable under any U.S. federal or state trade secret law for th e disclosure of a trade secret that is made (A) in confidence to a U.S. federal, state, or local government official or to an attorney solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law, or (B) in a complaint or other documen t filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal, and (ii) an individual who files a lawsuit for retaliation by an employer for reporting a suspected violation of law may disclose the trade secret to the attorney of the individua l and use the trade secret information in the court proceeding, if the individual files any document containing the trade secret under seal, and does not disclose the trade secret, except pursuant to court order. A Participant does not need to give prior notice to (or get prior authorization from) the Company regarding any such communication or disclosure. Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph or under applicable law, under no circumstance is a Participant authorized to disclose any information co vered by attorney-client privilege or attorney work product or trade secrets of any member of the Company Group without prior written consent of the Company’s Board of Directors or other officer designed by the Company’s Board of Directors.

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Exhibit 31.1

CERTIFICATION OF PERIODIC REPORT UNDER SECTION 302 OF

THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, John T. Reilly, certify that:

1.	I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2018 of SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc.;

2.	Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.	Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

(a)

Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b)

Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c)

Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d)

Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5.	The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a)

All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b)

Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: May 9, 2018	Signature:	/s/ John T. Reilly
		John T. Reilly
		Interim Chief Executive Officer
		(Principal Executive Officer)

Exhibit 31.2

CERTIFICATION OF PERIODIC REPORT UNDER SECTION 302 OF

THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Marc G. Swanson, certify that:

1.	I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2018 of SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc.;

2.	Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.	Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

5.	The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a)

(b)

Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: May 9 2018	Signature:	/s/ Marc G. Swanson
		Marc G. Swanson
		Chief Financial Officer
		(Principal Financial Officer)

Exhibit 32.1

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906

OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report of SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2018 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, John T. Reilly, Interim Chief Executive Officer of the Company, do hereby certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

•	The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

•	The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company for the periods presented therein.

Date: May 9, 2018

/s/ John T. Reilly

John T. Reilly

Interim Chief Executive Officer

(Principal Executive Officer )

Exhibit 32.2

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906

OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report of SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2018 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Marc G. Swanson, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, do hereby certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

•	The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

•	The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company for the periods presented therein.

Date: May 9, 2018

/s/ Marc G. Swanson

Marc G. Swanson

Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial Officer)