Members, Log In. Not a member? Sign Up

Ultimate Rollercoaster > Discussion Forums > Roller Coasters, Parks & Attractions > Cedar Fair and Six Flags merger (?)

Cedar Fair and Six Flags merger (?)

Posted: 11/2/23 at 6:35:41 PM
Views: 2234

I just heard on the news that Cedar Fair and Six Flags have merged.
Anyone know what the "new" company will be called?
Or did one company buy the other (like the Paramount buyout).

Re: Cedar Fair and Six Flags merger (?) by AirBear AirBear Profile at 11/7/23 5:22:08 PM
Hi Rob,

I was certainly blindsided by this, but then I do not own shares in either company. Here's a few basics of what I've been reading about this proposed merger, which has only been approved by the 2 boards of directors but not by full votes yet.

They are calling it a merger of equals, whatever that means, but current Cedar Fair unitholders will own 51.2% of the combined company while current Six Flags shareholders will own 48.8%. Cedar Fair unitholders will receive 1 share of the new company for each unit, while Six Flags shareholders will receive 0.58 shares of the new company for each share. Six Flags shareholders will also received some sort of special dividend right before the transaction closes.

They are saying the combined company will trade using the FUN ticker, but will operate under the Six Flags name. What that may mean for any possible rebranding of parks, I have no idea.

As for governing structure, the current President and CEO of Cedar Fair (Zimmerman) will serve the same role in the combined company, while the current President and CEO of Six Flags (Bassoul) will serve as the Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors. The Board of 12 will be comprised of 6 Directors from Cedar Fair, and 6 from Six Flags. The current Chief Financial Officer of Cedar Fair (Witherow) will serve the same role in the combined company, while the current CFO of Six Flags (Mick) will serve as the Chief Integration Officer.

I'm skeptical that the combined company can achieve the cost savings they claim in their press release ($200 million annually). And operationally, who knows what the hell this will all mean at the individual park level.

And please, for the sake of all that is right and good in the world ... no Six Flags Knott's Berry Farm!

Rick W - AirBear

Re: Cedar Fair and Six Flags merger (?) by RobLec RobLec Profile at 11/14/23 8:12:13 PM
Thanks for the lowdown, Rick. Hopefully both brands will continue to operate without major disruption, perhaps not unlike the Busch/Seaworld collaboration. No SFKBF and no SFKI.
Re: Cedar Fair and Six Flags merger (?) by Eric_Gieszl Eric_Gieszl Profile at 11/27/23 4:42:21 PM
I feel it would be a big mistake to apply the Six Flags brand name to the Cedar Fair properties and especially parks like Knott's Berry Farm, Cedar Point, and Kings Island.

For most markets where Cedar Fair has an existing park the Six Flags brand does not carry a positive reputation in comparison to their own.

--
Eric
Ultimate Rollercoaster Moderator
Re: Cedar Fair and Six Flags merger (?) by mugen828 mugen828 Profile at 12/2/23 11:04:03 PM
I feel like it would be a waste as well, for Six Flags names to crop up on the Cedar Fair locations.

Could you image Six Flags Cedar Point? or Sic Flags Ohio?? yuck.

- mugen828
157 Coasters -- Favorite Coaster -- Nitro (SFGAdv)
117 Steel -- 40 Wood -- Home Park: SFGADv
Re: Cedar Fair and Six Flags merger (?) by TheBatFliesAgain TheBatFliesAgain Profile at 12/3/23 1:00:53 PM
mugen828 said:

I feel like it would be a waste as well, for Six Flags names to crop up on the Cedar Fair locations.


Could you image Six Flags Cedar Point? or Sic Flags Ohio?? yuck.

Six Flags Ohio? That sounds like a great idea, totally nothing would go wrong! (sarcasm)
I've been throwing that around with ny friends, hahaha. but for real, I doubt they'll be renaming any of the parks. I think I read that they won't be renaming them somewhere, I could be wrong.

-Sawyer Rose
"If you fall in a bottomless pit, you'd die of starvation". -Teen Girl Squad
26 credits - Ridden The Bat 111 times!
(count last updated 11/3/24)
Re: Cedar Fair and Six Flags merger (?) by RobLec RobLec Profile at 12/6/23 2:08:35 PM
Six Flags Geauga Lake?

I just read that Aurora OH may renovate the park!

City of Aurora may reopen Geauga Lake