Six Flags Faces Another Sale Push, More X2 Lawsuits
Key Takeaways
- JANA Partners is pushing Six Flags to explore a potential sale for a second time this year, driven largely by disappointing second-quarter results and mounting pressure from high debt loads.
- With a significant portion of Six Flags' roughly $5 billion in debt tied to variable interest rates, recent Federal Reserve rate hikes and higher refinancing costs are putting immense pressure on the company's financial model.
- Three additional riders have filed lawsuits against Six Flags Magic Mountain over alleged brain injuries sustained on the X2 roller coaster, with their legal representation claiming over 100 more clients are slated to file.
- The new X2 lawsuits introduce serious allegations of fraudulent concealment, claiming the park continued operating the ride despite knowing about prior injuries.
- Industry experts note that while exploring a sale and managing high debt are normal business practices, finding a buyer with deep enough pockets to take on Six Flags' massive financial obligations in the current economic climate remains a major hurdle.
JANA Partners is pushing Six Flags to explore a sale again, according to The Wall Street Journal. It's JANA's second push this year, but this time there's no public letter and no statement from Six Flags. JANA pointed to disappointing second-quarter results, and Philip thinks interest rates explain the timing. About $1.48 billion of Six Flags' roughly $5 billion in debt has a variable rate, so the Fed's September hike adds about $4 million a year in interest, and each bond that comes due will likely be refinanced at a higher rate. That debt also makes a sale harder, because any buyer is mostly buying the debt.
Meanwhile, three more riders have sued Six Flags Magic Mountain over brain injuries they say they suffered on X2, and their law firm says more than 100 others have hired it. The complaints allege fraudulent concealment, claiming the park kept running the ride after learning of injuries. None of it has been proven, but the story keeps getting worse for Six Flags.
Enchanted Parks is running Halloween at all six of its parks, including its first season at the parks it bought from Six Flags. Every park has a daytime family event, four add haunted houses at night for an extra fee, and all of them offer allergy-safe trick-or-treating. Running both formats in a transition year lets the new owner see which one pays.
Finally, five Six Flags parks made the top 10 of a Stasher study of America's most overrated attractions, with Great Adventure at number two. The Hollywood Walk of Fame ranked first and Plymouth Rock third, so take the list with a grain of salt.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is JANA Partners pushing Six Flags to sell?
JANA Partners is pushing Six Flags to explore a sale due to disappointing second-quarter results and mounting financial pressures from the company's massive debt load in a rising interest rate environment.
How much debt does Six Flags have?
Six Flags carries roughly $5 billion in total debt, with approximately $1.48 billion of that tied to variable interest rates that become more expensive with every Federal Reserve rate hike.
What are the latest lawsuits against Six Flags Magic Mountain about?
Three additional riders have sued Six Flags Magic Mountain alleging brain injuries sustained while riding the X2 roller coaster, bringing new claims of fraudulent concealment against the park.
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