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Cedar Fair rejects SeaWorld's sweetened takeover offer

Published 02/15/2022, 08:21 PM
Updated 02/16/2022, 11:36 AM
© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Visitors attend the animal theme park SeaWorld in San Diego, California March 19, 2014   REUTERS/Mike Blake

(Reuters) -SeaWorld Entertainment Inc said on Tuesday amusement park operator Cedar Fair (NYSE:FUN) LP has rejected the company's takeover offer and it does not see a path to a transaction now.

The sweetened offer was not in Cedar Fair's "best interest", the company said on Wednesday, sending its shares down about 6% to $58.

Cedar Fair Chief Executive Officer Richard Zimmerman said the company had first received a $60-per-share offer, which SeaWorld (NYSE:SEAS) later informally raised to $63. Cedar Fair then rejected the revised bid, which had valued it at $3.58 billion.

SeaWorld, a Florida-based theme park and entertainment company, had earlier this month offered to buy Cedar Fair for $3.4 billion in cash, according to a person familiar with the matter.

At the time, Sandusky, Ohio-based Cedar Fair confirmed it had received an unsolicited proposal but did not disclose the offer price.

© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Visitors attend the animal theme park SeaWorld in San Diego, California March 19, 2014   REUTERS/Mike Blake

In 2019, Cedar Fair rejected a takeover offer of $4 billion, or about $70 per share, from larger peer Six Flags (NYSE:SIX) Entertainment Corp.

Separately, Cedar Fair on Wednesday reported fourth-quarter revenue of $350.9 million, surpassing analysts' average expectation of $301 million, according to Refinitiv IBES data, as more people returned to its parks.

Latest comments

$FUN is crazy for now taking the offer as they can't compete against the warm weather based parks alone.
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