United Parks & Resorts Inc. Announces a $500 Million Share Repurchase Authorization

Rhea-AI Summary

United Parks & Resorts (NYSE:PRKS) announced that its stockholders have approved a $500 million share repurchase program on September 3, 2025. The company's CEO Marc Swanson highlighted their strong balance sheet and significant free cash flow generation as key factors enabling this capital return initiative.

The buyback program comes with a specific qualification that prevents repurchases that would cause Hill Path's ownership to reach or exceed 70%. The program will be executed through various methods including open market purchases and privately-negotiated transactions, with no time limit set. The timing and volume of purchases will be determined by factors including trading windows, liquidity, market conditions, and other legal and financial considerations.

Positive

• Authorization of substantial $500 million share repurchase program
• Company reports strong balance sheet and significant free cash flow generation
• Flexible implementation with no time limit on the buyback program

Negative

• Buyback limited by Hill Path ownership restriction of 70%
• Program may be suspended or discontinued at any time
• Execution subject to debt covenant restrictions and other limitations

Insights

Corporate Finance Expert

United Parks & Resorts announced a $500M buyback program, signaling management confidence while balancing major shareholder influence.

United Parks & Resorts has secured shareholder approval for a substantial $500 million share repurchase program, representing a significant capital return initiative. This buyback authorization comes with a notable qualification - the company won't repurchase shares if it would cause Hill Path's ownership to reach or exceed 70%.

The structure of this buyback reveals interesting dynamics at play. The program required approval from majority shareholders excluding Hill Path and affiliates, indicating Hill Path already maintains a substantial ownership position. This ownership ceiling protection suggests careful governance considerations to prevent excessive concentration of control.

From a financial perspective, management's commentary about their "strong balance sheet and significant free cash flow generation" provides crucial context. Companies typically initiate buybacks when executives believe shares are undervalued and when they have excess cash beyond operational and growth investment needs. CEO Marc Swanson's characterization of the buyback as "a very attractive opportunity" signals management's confidence in the company's intrinsic value relative to current market price.

The flexibility built into the repurchase program is worth noting - it has no time limit and can be suspended at any time. This gives management discretion to time purchases strategically based on market conditions, trading windows, and other investment opportunities. The company has multiple execution options including open-market purchases and privately-negotiated transactions.

For investors, this program represents potential share price support and earnings per share accretion as the outstanding share count decreases. However, the Hill Path ownership cap adds complexity to forecasting the full execution of the authorization and underscores the influence of this significant stakeholder in company affairs.

ORLANDO, Fla., Sept. 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- United Parks & Resorts Inc. (NYSE: PRKS), a leading theme park and entertainment company, today reported that on Wednesday September 3, 2025, its stockholders approved a $500.0 million buyback authorization.

"We thank our stockholders for their vote on this important matter," said Marc Swanson, Chief Executive Officer of United Parks & Resorts Inc. "With our strong balance sheet and significant free cash flow generation, we are excited to be able to take advantage of what we believe to be a very attractive opportunity to invest in the shares of our own Company via a share repurchase and return capital to our stockholders."

On September 3, 2025, United Parks & Resorts Inc. held a Special Meeting of Stockholders to approve and authorize a new $500.0 million share repurchase program of the Company's common stock, subject to the qualification that the Company will not repurchase additional shares if Hill Path's common stock ownership interest percentage would, as a result of any such repurchase, equal or exceed 70%.  The Share Repurchase Proposal required approval by the holders of a majority of the shares of the Company's common stock outstanding and entitled to vote as of the record date other than shares beneficially owned by Hill Path and its affiliates. 

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 Company's trading windows and available liquidity, general business and market conditions, and other factors, including legal requirements, debt covenant restrictions and alternative investment opportunities.

About United Parks & Resorts Inc.

United Parks & Resorts Inc. (NYSE: PRKS) is a global theme park and entertainment company that owns or licenses a diverse portfolio of award-winning park brands and experiences, including SeaWorld®, Busch Gardens®, Discovery Cove, Sesame Place®, Water Country USA, Adventure Island, and Aquatica®. The Company's seven world-class brands span 13 parks in seven markets across the United States and Abu Dhabi, offering experiences that matter with exhilarating thrill and family-friendly rides, coasters, and experiences, inspiring up-close and educational presentations with wildlife, and other various special events throughout the year. In addition, the Company collectively cares for one of the largest zoological collections in the world, is a global leader in animal welfare, training, and veterinary care, and is one of the leading marine animal rescue organizations in the world with a legacy of rescuing and caring for animals that spans nearly 60 years, including coming to the aid of over 42,000 animals in need. To learn more, visit www.UnitedParks.com. 

Copies of this and other news releases as well as additional information about United Parks & Resorts Inc. can be obtained online at www.unitedparks.com. Shareholders and prospective investors can also register to automatically receive the Company's press releases, SEC filings and other notices by e-mail by registering at that website.

Forward-Looking Statements

In addition to historical information, this press release contains statements relating to future results (including certain projections and business trends) that are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws. The Company generally uses the words such as "might," "will," "may," "should," "estimates," "expects," "continues," "contemplates," "anticipates," "projects," "plans," "potential," "predicts," "intends," "believes," "forecasts," "future," "guidance," "targeted," "goal" and variations of such words or similar expressions in this press release and any attachment to identify forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical facts included in this press release, including statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, expectations, beliefs, business strategies, future events, business conditions, results of operations, financial position, business outlook, earnings guidance, business trends and other information are forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are not historical facts, and are based upon current expectations, beliefs, estimates and projections, and various assumptions, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and beyond management's control. All expectations, beliefs, estimates and projections are expressed in good faith and the Company believes there is a reasonable basis for them. However, there can be no assurance that management's expectations, beliefs, 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. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and other important factors, many of which are beyond management's control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this press release, including among others: various factors beyond our control adversely affecting attendance and guest spending at our theme parks, including, but not limited to, weather, natural disasters, labor shortages, inflationary pressures, supply chain delays or shortages, foreign exchange rates, consumer confidence, the potential spread of travel-related health concerns including pandemics and epidemics, travel related concerns, adverse general economic related factors including increasing interest rates, economic uncertainty, and recent geopolitical events outside of the United States, and governmental actions; failure to retain and/or hire employees; a decline in discretionary consumer spending or consumer confidence, including any unfavorable impacts from Federal Reserve interest rate actions and inflation which may influence discretionary spending, unemployment or the overall economy; the ability of Hill Path Capital LP and its affiliates to significantly influence our decisions and their interests may conflict with ours or yours in the future; increased labor costs, including minimum wage increases, and employee health and welfare benefit costs; complex federal and state regulations governing the treatment of animals, which can change, and claims and lawsuits by activist groups before government regulators and in the courts; activist and other third-party groups and/or media can pressure governmental agencies, vendors, partners, guests and/or regulators, bring action in the courts or create negative publicity about us; incidents or adverse publicity concerning our theme parks, the theme park industry and/or zoological facilities; a significant portion of our revenues have historically been generated in the States of Florida, California and Virginia, and any risks affecting such markets, such as natural disasters, closures due to pandemics, severe weather and travel-related disruptions or incidents; technology interruptions or failures that impair access to our websites and/or information technology systems; cyber security risks to us or our third-party service providers, failure to maintain or protect the integrity of internal, employee or guest data, and/or failure to abide by the evolving cyber security regulatory environment; 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; seasonal fluctuations in operating results; changing consumer tastes and preferences; adverse litigation judgments or settlements; inability to grow our business or fund theme park capital expenditures; inability to realize the benefits of developments, restructurings, acquisitions or other strategic initiatives, and the impact of the costs associated with such activities; the effects of public health events on our business and the economy in general; unionization activities and/or labor disputes; 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; 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 leverage and interest rate risk; inadequate insurance coverage; inability to purchase or contract with third party manufacturers for rides and attractions, construction delays or impacts of supply chain disruptions on existing or new rides and attractions; tariffs or other trade restrictions; environmental regulations, expenditures and liabilities; suspension or termination of any of our business licenses, including by legislation at federal, state or local levels; delays, restrictions or inability to obtain or maintain permits; inability to remediate an identified material weakness; financial distress of strategic partners or other counterparties; actions of activist stockholders; the policies of the U.S. President and their administration or any changes to tax laws; changes or declines in our stock price, as well as the risk that securities analysts could downgrade our stock or our sector; risks associated with the Company's capital allocation plans and share repurchases, including the risk that the Company's share repurchase program could increase volatility and fail to enhance stockholder value, uncertainties and factors set forth in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the Company's most recently available Annual Report on Form 10-K, as such risks, uncertainties and factors may be updated in the Company's periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Although the Company believes that these statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, it cannot guarantee future results and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect management's opinions only as of the date of this press release. There can be no assurance that (i) the Company has correctly measured or identified all of the factors affecting its business or the extent of these factors' likely impact, (ii) the available information with respect to these factors on which such analysis is based is complete or accurate, (iii) such analysis is correct or (iv) the Company's strategy, which is based in part on this analysis, will be successful. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect new information or events or circumstances that occur after the date of this press release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events or otherwise. Readers are advised to review the Company's filings with the SEC (which are available from the SEC's EDGAR database at www.sec.gov and via the Company's website at www.unitedparksinvestors.com).

CONTACT:

Investor Relations:
Matthew Stroud
Investor Relations
888-410-1812
Investors@unitedparks.com

Media:
Chris Petrikin
United Parks & Resorts Inc.
chris.petrikin@unitedparks.com 

 

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SOURCE United Parks and Resorts Inc.

FAQ

How much is United Parks & Resorts' (PRKS) share buyback program worth?

United Parks & Resorts announced a $500 million share repurchase program authorized by stockholders on September 3, 2025.

What restrictions apply to PRKS's 2025 share buyback program?

The program is restricted by a condition that prevents repurchases that would cause Hill Path's ownership to reach or exceed 70%. It's also subject to debt covenant restrictions and can be suspended at any time.

When does United Parks & Resorts' 2025 share repurchase program expire?

The share repurchase program has no time limit, though it can be suspended or discontinued at any time based on market conditions and other factors.

How will United Parks & Resorts execute its $500M buyback program?

The company will execute the buyback through open market purchases, privately-negotiated transactions, and other methods in accordance with federal securities laws, including Rule 10b5-1 trading plans and Rule 10b-18.

What factors will determine PRKS's share repurchase timing and volume?

The timing and volume will be based on trading windows, available liquidity, business and market conditions, legal requirements, debt covenant restrictions, and alternative investment opportunities.