FUN 10-Q Quarterly Report Sept. 25, 2011 | Alphaminr

FUN 10-Q Quarter ended Sept. 25, 2011

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10-Q 1 cedarfair-10qx3x2011.htm QUARTERLY REPORT Cedar Fair-10Q-3-2011
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
x
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended September 25, 2011
OR
o
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 1-9444
CEDAR FAIR, L.P.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
DELAWARE
34-1560655
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
One Cedar Point Drive, Sandusky, Ohio 44870-5259
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(419) 626-0830
(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 x No o
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 x No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer
x
Accelerated filer
o
Non-accelerated filer
o (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company
o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes o No x
Title of Class
Units Outstanding As Of November 1, 2011
Units Representing
Limited Partner Interests
55,345,858


CEDAR FAIR, L.P.
INDEX
FORM 10 - Q



PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

CEDAR FAIR, L.P.
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands)
9/25/2011
12/31/2010
9/26/2010
ASSETS
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
$
96,312

$
9,765

$
61,701

Receivables
38,539

12,340

34,764

Inventories
36,946

32,142

34,930

Current deferred tax asset
5,874

5,874

6,725

Prepaid insurance
2,155

5,009

842

Other current assets
7,144

5,204

5,657

186,970

70,334

144,619

Property and Equipment:
Land
311,877

309,980

307,139

Land improvements
332,853

324,734

335,210

Buildings
578,249

575,725

593,601

Rides and equipment
1,437,590

1,398,403

1,426,720

Construction in progress
17,315

16,746

4,544

2,677,884

2,625,588

2,667,214

Less accumulated depreciation
(1,044,353
)
(948,947
)
(933,247
)
1,633,531

1,676,641

1,733,967

Goodwill
242,149

246,259

242,374

Other Intangibles, net
40,067

40,632

41,000

Other Assets
56,622

48,578

41,528

$
2,159,339

$
2,082,444

$
2,203,488

LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS’ EQUITY
Current Liabilities:
Current maturities of long-term debt
$


11,750

Accounts payable
28,458

10,787

24,841

Deferred revenue
32,694

26,328

27,437

Accrued interest
13,968

20,409

16,219

Accrued taxes
33,093

15,144

29,314

Accrued salaries, wages and benefits
41,109

18,220

29,234

Self-insurance reserves
21,942

21,487

21,631

Current derivative liability
59,366

47,986


Other accrued liabilities
12,247

8,491

11,885

242,877

168,852

172,311

Deferred Tax Liability
125,588

131,830

153,563

Derivative Liability
33,835

54,517

110,940

Other Liabilities
2,872

10,406

6,662

Long-Term Debt:
Revolving credit loans

23,200


Term debt
1,156,100

1,157,062

1,163,250

Notes
400,154

399,441

399,434

1,556,254

1,579,703

1,562,684

Partners’ Equity:
Special L.P. interests
5,290

5,290

5,290

General partner

(1
)
(1
)
Limited partners, 55,346, 55,334 and 55,331 units outstanding at September 25, 2011, December 31, 2010 and September 26, 2010, respectively
221,611

165,555

242,239

Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(28,988
)
(33,708
)
(50,200
)
197,913

137,136

197,328

$
2,159,339

$
2,082,444

$
2,203,488

The accompanying Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these statements.

3


CEDAR FAIR, L.P.
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands, except per unit amounts)
Three months ended
Nine months ended
Twelve months ended
9/25/2011
9/26/2010
9/25/2011
9/26/2010
9/25/2011
9/26/2010
Net revenues:






Admissions
$
333,924

$
320,920

$
505,155

$
488,391

$
585,526

$
553,331

Food, merchandise and games
191,494

183,268

307,265

296,030

348,591

329,344

Accommodations and other
46,850

40,812

71,207

63,482

79,199

70,798


572,268

545,000

883,627

847,903

1,013,316

953,473

Costs and expenses:





Cost of food, merchandise and games revenues
48,758

45,591

79,981

75,822

90,778

86,387

Operating expenses
161,452

152,314

351,558

336,005

426,955

403,015

Selling, general and administrative
51,978

48,443

110,126

110,935

133,192

135,087

Depreciation and amortization
62,619

63,746

109,173

111,624

124,345

130,765

Loss on impairment of goodwill and other intangibles



1,390

903

5,890

Loss on impairment / retirement of fixed assets, net
880

319

1,076

319

63,509

345


325,687

310,413

651,914

636,095

839,682

761,489

Operating income
246,581

234,587

231,713

211,808

173,634

191,984

Interest expense
41,353

41,487

124,650

103,886

171,049

137,598

Net effect of swaps
(3,962
)
3,306

(3,507
)
12,915

1,772

19,001

Loss on early debt extinguishment

35,289


35,289


35,289

Unrealized/realized foreign currency (gain) loss
18,549

(8,178
)
14,704

(8,182
)
2,323

(8,139
)
Other (income) expense
(250
)
(1,042
)
835

(1,080
)
761

(1,166
)
Income (loss) before taxes
190,891

163,725

95,031

68,980

(2,271
)
9,401

Provision (benefit) for taxes
38,161

87,977

22,327

37,380

(11,808
)
4,093

Net income
152,730

75,748

72,704

31,600

9,537

5,308

Net income (loss) allocated to general partner
2


1


1

(1
)
Net income allocated to limited partners
$
152,728

$
75,748

$
72,703

$
31,600

$
9,536

$
5,309

Basic earnings per limited partner unit:
Weighted average limited partner units outstanding
55,346

55,328

55,345

55,310

55,342

55,284

Net income per limited partner unit
$
2.76

$
1.37

$
1.31

$
0.57

$
0.17

$
0.10

Diluted earnings per limited partner unit:





Weighted average limited partner units outstanding
55,828

55,772

55,847

55,803

55,886

55,837

Net income per limited partner unit
$
2.74

$
1.36

$
1.30

$
0.57

$
0.17

$
0.10

The accompanying Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these statements.

4


CEDAR FAIR, L.P.
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF PARTNERS’ EQUITY
FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 25, 2011
(In thousands)

Nine months ended
9/25/11
Limited Partnership Units Outstanding
Beginning balance
55,334

Limited partnership unit options exercised

Issuance of limited partnership units as compensation
12

55,346

Limited Partners’ Equity
Beginning balance
$
165,555

Net income
72,703

Partnership distribution declared ($0.30 per limited partnership unit)
(16,604
)
Expense (income) recognized for limited partnership unit options
(228
)
Tax effect of units involved in option exercises and treasury unit transactions
5

Issuance of limited partnership units as compensation
180

221,611

General Partner’s Equity
Beginning balance
(1
)
Net income
1


Special L.P. Interests
5,290

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment:
Beginning balance
(4,053
)
Current period activity, net of tax $986
2,354

(1,699
)
Unrealized loss on cash flow hedging derivatives:
Beginning balance
(29,655
)
Current period activity, net of tax $5,256
2,366

(27,289
)
(28,988
)
Total Partners’ Equity
$
197,913

Summary of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income
$
72,704

Other comprehensive income
4,720

Total Comprehensive Income (Loss)
$
77,424





The accompanying Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of this statement.


5


CEDAR FAIR, L.P.
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)

Nine months ended
Twelve months ended
9/25/2011
9/26/2010
9/25/2011
9/26/2010
CASH FLOWS FROM (FOR) OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income
72,704

31,600

$
9,537

$
5,308

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from (for) operating activities:
Non-cash expense
130,105

107,562

138,905

128,572

Loss on early extinguishment of debt

35,289


35,289

Loss on impairment of goodwill and other intangibles

1,390

903

5,890

Loss on impairment / retirement of fixed assets, net
1,076

319

63,509

345

Net effect of swaps
(3,507
)
12,915

1,772

19,001

Net change in working capital
30,463

12,142

10,604

(21,435
)
Net change in other assets/liabilities
(8,476
)
9,894

(31,006
)
(3,783
)
Net cash from operating activities
222,365

211,111

194,224

169,187

CASH FLOWS FROM (FOR) INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital expenditures
(72,880
)
(59,669
)
(84,914
)
(75,609
)
Net cash (for) investing activities
(72,880
)
(59,669
)
(84,914
)
(75,609
)
CASH FLOWS FROM (FOR) FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Net borrowings (payments) on revolving credit loans
(23,200
)
(86,300
)


Term debt borrowings
22,938

1,175,000

22,938

1,175,000

Note borrowings

399,383


399,383

Term debt payments, including early termination penalties
(23,900
)
(1,548,952
)
(41,838
)
(1,609,066
)
Distributions paid to partners
(16,604
)

(30,438
)
(13,802
)
Exercise of limited partnership unit options


7


Payment of debt issuance costs
(20,490
)
(40,997
)
(22,757
)
(40,997
)
Net cash (for) financing activities
(61,256
)
(101,866
)
(72,088
)
(89,482
)
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
(1,682
)
197

(2,611
)
1,402

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
Net increase for the period
86,547

49,773

34,611

5,498

Balance, beginning of period
9,765

11,928

61,701

56,203

Balance, end of period
$
96,312

$
61,701

$
96,312

$
61,701

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
Cash payments for interest expense
$
124,875

$
89,210

$
165,480

$
126,557

Interest capitalized
868

1,200

1,011

1,713

Cash payments for income taxes
6,020

16,331

8,763

21,888

The accompanying Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these statements.

6


CEDAR FAIR, L.P.
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE PERIODS ENDED SEPTEMBER 25, 2011 AND SEPTEMBER 26, 2010
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared from the financial records of Cedar Fair, L.P. (the Partnership) without audit and reflect all adjustments which are, in the opinion of management, necessary to fairly present the results of the interim periods covered in this report.
Due to the highly seasonal nature of the Partnership’s amusement and water park operations, the results for any interim period are not indicative of the results to be expected for the full fiscal year. Accordingly, the Partnership has elected to present financial information regarding operations and cash flows for the preceding fiscal twelve-month periods ended September 25, 2011 and September 26, 2010 to accompany the quarterly results. Because amounts for the fiscal twelve months ended September 25, 2011 include actual 2010 season operating results, they may not be indicative of 2011 full calendar year operations.

(1) Significant Accounting and Reporting Policies:
The Partnership’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for the periods ended September 25, 2011 and September 26, 2010 included in this Form 10-Q report have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies described in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2010 , which were included in the Form 10-K filed on March 1, 2011 . Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles have been condensed or omitted pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission). These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Form 10-K referred to above.

(2) Interim Reporting:
The Partnership owns and operates eleven amusement parks, six separately gated outdoor water parks, one indoor water park and five hotels. In order to better facilitate discussion of trends in attendance and guest per capita spending than would be possible on a consolidated basis, the Partnership's eleven amusement parks and six separately gated water parks have been grouped into regional designations. Parks in the Partnership’s northern region include Cedar Point and the adjacent Soak City water park in Sandusky, Ohio; Kings Island near Cincinnati, Ohio; Canada’s Wonderland in Toronto, Canada; Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom near Allentown, Pennsylvania; Valleyfair, near Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota; Geauga Lake’s Wildwater Kingdom near Cleveland, Ohio; and Michigan’s Adventure near Muskegon, Michigan. In the southern region are Kings Dominion near Richmond, Virginia; Carowinds near Charlotte, North Carolina; and Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun in Kansas City, Missouri. The western region parks include Knott’s Berry Farm, near Los Angeles in Buena Park, California; California’s Great America located in Santa Clara, California; and three Knott’s Soak City water parks located in California. The Partnership also owns and operates the Castaway Bay Indoor Waterpark Resort in Sandusky, Ohio, and operates Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park in Gilroy, California under a management contract. Virtually all of the Partnership’s revenues from its seasonal amusement parks, as well as its outdoor water parks and other seasonal resort facilities, are realized during a 130- to 140-day operating period beginning in early May, with the major portion concentrated in the third quarter during the peak vacation months of July and August.
To assure that these highly seasonal operations will not result in misleading comparisons of current and subsequent interim periods, the Partnership has adopted the following accounting and reporting procedures for its seasonal parks: (a) revenues on multi-day admission tickets are recognized over the estimated number of visits expected for each type of ticket and are adjusted periodically during the season, (b) depreciation, advertising and certain seasonal operating costs are expensed during each park’s operating season, including certain costs incurred prior to the season which are amortized over the season, and (c) all other costs are expensed as incurred or ratably over the entire year.

(3) Long-Lived Assets:
Long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment upon the occurrence of events or changes in circumstances that would indicate that the carrying value of the assets may not be recoverable. In order to determine if an asset has been impaired, assets are grouped and tested at the lowest level for which identifiable, independent cash flows are available. A significant amount of judgment is involved in determining if an indicator of impairment has occurred. Such indicators may include, among others: a significant decline in expected future cash flows; a sustained, significant decline in equity price and market capitalization; a significant adverse change in legal factors or in the business climate; unanticipated competition; and slower growth rates. Any adverse change in these factors could have a significant impact on the recoverability of these assets and could have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.


7


The long-lived asset impairment test involves a two-step process. The first step is a comparison of each asset group's carrying value to its estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to result from the use of the assets, including disposition. Projected future cash flows reflect management's best estimates of economic and market conditions over the projected period, including growth rates in revenues and costs, estimates of future expected changes in operating margins and cash expenditures. Other significant estimates and assumptions include terminal value growth rates and future estimates of capital expenditures. If the carrying value of the asset group is higher than its undiscounted future cash flows, there is an indication that impairment exists and the second step must be performed to measure the amount of impairment loss. The amount of impairment is determined by comparing the implied fair value of the asset group to its carrying value in a manner consistent with the highest and best use of those assets. The Partnership estimates fair value using an income (discounted cash flows) approach, which uses an asset group's projection of estimated operating results and cash flows that is discounted using a weighted-average cost of capital reflective of current market conditions. If the implied fair value of the assets is less than their carrying value, an impairment charge is recorded for the difference.

At the end of the fourth quarter of 2010, the Partnership concluded based on 2010 operating results, as well as updated forecasts, that a review of the carrying value of long-lived assets at California's Great America was warranted. After performing its review, the Partnership determined that a portion of the park's fixed assets, the majority of which were originally recorded with the PPI acquisition, were impaired. As a result, the Partnership recognized $62.0 million of fixed-asset impairment during the fourth quarter of 2010 which is recorded in "Loss on impairment / retirement of fixed assets, net" on the condensed consolidated statement of operations.

(4) Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets:
In accordance with the applicable accounting rules, goodwill is not amortized, but, along with indefinite-lived trade-names, is evaluated for impairment on an annual basis or more frequently if indicators of impairment exist. Historically, goodwill related to parks acquired prior to 2006 has been annually tested for impairment as of October 1, while goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangibles, including trade-name intangibles, related to the Paramount Parks (PPI) acquisition in 2006 have been annually tested for impairment as of April 1. Effective in December 2010, the Partnership changed the date of its annual goodwill impairment tests from April 1 and October 1 to December 31 to more closely align the impairment testing procedures with its long-range planning and forecasting process, which occurs in the fourth quarter each year. The Partnership believes the change is preferable since the long-term cash flow projections are a key component in performing its annual impairment tests of goodwill. In addition, the Partnership changed the date of its annual impairment test for other indefinite-lived intangibles from April 1 to December 31.

During 2010, the Partnership tested goodwill for impairment as of April 1, 2010 or October 1, 2010, as applicable, and again as of December 31, 2010. The tests indicated no impairment of goodwill as of any of those dates. During 2010, the Partnership tested other indefinite-lived intangibles for impairment as of April 1, 2010 and December 31, 2010. After performing the April 1, 2010 impairment test, it was determined that a portion of trade-names at certain PPI parks were impaired as the carrying values of those trade-names exceeded their fair values. As a result the Partnership recognized $1.4 million of trade-name impairment during the second quarter of 2010. This impairment was driven mainly by an increase in the Partnership’s cost of capital in 2010 and lower projected growth rates for certain parks as of the test date. After performing the December 31, 2010 test of indefinite-lived intangibles, it was determined that a portion of the trade-names at California's Great America, originally recorded with the PPI acquisition, were impaired. As a result, the Partnership recognized $0.9 million of additional trade-name impairment during the fourth quarter of 2010 which is recorded in "Loss on impairment of goodwill and other intangibles" on the consolidated statement of operations.

The change in accounting principle related to changing the annual goodwill impairment testing date did not delay, accelerate, avoid or cause an impairment charge. As it was impracticable to objectively determine operating and valuation estimates for periods prior to December 31, 2010, the Partnership has prospectively applied the change in the annual goodwill impairment testing date from December 31, 2010.
A summary of changes in the Partnership’s carrying value of goodwill for the nine months ended September 25, 2011 is as follows:

(In thousands)
Goodwill
(gross)
Accumulated
Impairment
Losses
Goodwill
(net)
Balance at December 31, 2010
$
326,127

$
(79,868
)
$
246,259

Foreign currency translation
(4,110
)

(4,110
)
September 25, 2011
$
322,017

$
(79,868
)
$
242,149


8


At September 25, 2011 , December 31, 2010, and September 26, 2010 the Partnership’s other intangible assets consisted of the following:

September 25, 2011
Gross
Carrying
Amount
Accumulated
Amortization
Net
Carrying
Value
(In thousands)
Other intangible assets:
Trade names
$
39,645

$

$
39,645

License / franchise agreements
734

312

422

Non-compete agreements
200

200


Total other intangible assets
$
40,579

$
512

$
40,067

December 31, 2010
(In thousands)
Other intangible assets:
Trade names
$
40,227

$

$
40,227

License / franchise agreements
13,569

13,184

385

Non-compete agreements
200

180

20

Total other intangible assets
$
53,996

$
13,364

$
40,632

September 26, 2010
(In thousands)
Other intangible assets:
Trade names
$
40,580

$

$
40,580

License / franchise agreements
13,564

13,174

390

Non-compete agreements
200

170

30

Total other intangible assets
$
54,344

$
13,344

$
41,000

Amortization expense of other intangible assets for the nine months ended September 25, 2011 and September 26, 2010 was $49,000 and $53,000 , respectively. The estimated amortization expense for the remainder of 2011 is $9,000 . Estimated amortization expense is expected to total less than $100,000 in each year from 2012 through 2015.

(5) Long-Term Debt:

In July 2010, the Partnership issued $405 million of 9.125% senior unsecured notes, maturing in 2018 , in a private placement, including $5.6 million of Original Issue Discount to yield 9.375% . Concurrently with this offering, the Partnership entered into a new $1,435 million credit agreement (the "2010 Credit Agreement”), which included a new $1,175 million senior secured term loan facility and a new $260 million senior secured revolving credit facility. The net proceeds from the offering of the notes, along with proceeds from the 2010 Credit Agreement, were used to repay in full all amounts outstanding under our previous credit facilities.

Terms of the 2010 Credit Agreement included a reduction in the Partnership's previous $310 million revolving credit facilities to a combined $260 million facility. Under the 2010 Credit Agreement, the Canadian portion of the revolving credit facility has a limit of $15 million . U.S. denominated loans made under the revolving credit facility bear interest at a rate of LIBOR plus 400 basis points (bps) (with no LIBOR floor). Canadian denominated loans made under the Canadian portion of the facility also bear interest at a rate of LIBOR plus 400 bps (with no LIBOR floor). The revolving credit facility, which matures in July 2015 , also provides for the issuance of documentary and standby letters of credit.

In February 2011 , the Partnership amended its 2010 Credit Agreement (as so amended, the “Amended 2010 Credit Agreement”) including to extend the maturity date of the U.S. term loan portion of the credit facilities by one year. The extended U.S. term loan, which amortizes at $11.8 million per year beginning in 2011, matures in December 2017 and bears interest at a rate of LIBOR plus 300 bps, with a LIBOR floor of 100 bps. As the result of an optional $18.0 million debt prepayment made in August 2011, the Partnership has no term-debt principal payments due within the next twelve months.

9



The Partnership's $405 million of senior unsecured notes pay interest semi-annually in February and August, with the principal due in full on August 1, 2018 . The notes may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at any time prior to August 1, 2014 at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes redeemed plus a “make-whole” premium together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date. Thereafter, the notes may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at various prices depending on the date redeemed. Prior to August 1, 2013 , up to 35% of the notes may be redeemed with the net cash proceeds of certain equity offerings at 109.125% .

The Amended 2010 Credit Agreement requires the Partnership to maintain specified financial ratios, which if breached for any reason, including a decline in operating results, could result in an event of default under the agreement. The most critical of these ratios is the Consolidated Leverage Ratio which is measured on a trailing-twelve month quarterly basis. Since the third quarter of 2010, this ratio has been set at 6.25 x consolidated total debt (excluding the revolving debt)-to-Consolidated EBITDA. Beginning with the fourth quarter of 2011, this ratio will decrease to 6.0 x consolidated total debt (excluding the revolving debt)-to-Consolidated EBITDA, and the ratio will decrease further each fourth quarter beginning with the fourth quarter of 2013. As of September 25, 2011 , the Partnership’s Consolidated Leverage Ratio was 4.25 x, providing $117.4 million of consolidated EBITDA cushion on the ratio as of the end of the third quarter. The Partnership was in compliance with all other covenants as of September 25, 2011 .

The Amended 2010 Credit Agreement also includes provisions that allow the Partnership to make restricted payments of up to $60 million in 2011 and a minimum of $20 million annually thereafter (plus the Available Amount of Excess Cash Flow as defined in the Amended 2010 Credit Agreement), at the discretion of the Board of Directors, so long as no default or event of default has occurred and is continuing. These restricted payments are not subject to any specific covenants. Beginning in 2012, additional restricted payments are allowed to be made based on an Excess-Cash-Flow formula, should the Partnership’s pro-forma Consolidated Leverage Ratio be less than or equal to 4.50 x. Per the terms of the indenture governing the Partnership's notes, the ability to make restricted payments in 2011 and beyond is permitted should the Partnership's trailing-twelve-month Total-Indebtedness-to-Consolidated-Cash-Flow Ratio be less than or equal to 4.75 x, measured on a quarterly basis.

In addition to the above, among other covenants and provisions, the Amended 2010 Credit Agreement contains an initial three-year requirement (from July 2010) that at least 50% of our aggregate term debt and senior notes be subject to either a fixed interest rate or interest rate protection.
(6) Derivative Financial Instruments:
Derivative financial instruments are only used within the Partnership’s overall risk management program to manage certain interest rate and foreign currency risks from time to time. The Partnership does not use derivative financial instruments for trading purposes.
The Partnership has effectively converted a total of $1.0 billion of its variable-rate debt to fixed rates through the use of several interest rate swap agreements. Cash flows related to these interest rate swap agreements are included in interest expense over the term of the agreements. These interest rate swap agreements are set to expire in October 2011 . The Partnership has designated all of these interest rate swap agreements and hedging relationships as cash flow hedges. The fair market value of these agreements at September 25, 2011 was recorded as a liability of $4.8 million in “Current derivative liability” on the condensed consolidated balance sheet. As a part of the regular quarterly regression analysis testing of the effectiveness of these cash flow swaps, these swaps were deemed to be ineffective as of October 2009 and continued to be ineffective through September 25, 2011 . As a result of this ineffectiveness, losses recorded in “Accumulated other comprehensive income” (AOCI) are being amortized through October 2011 (the original hedge period). The amount recorded in AOCI to be amortized was $91.8 million at the time of ineffectiveness, and was fully amortized as of September 25, 2011 .
In 2007, the Partnership entered into two cross-currency swap agreements, which effectively converted $268.7 million of term debt at the time, and the associated interest payments, related to its wholly owned Canadian subsidiary from variable U.S. dollar denominated debt to fixed-rate Canadian dollar denominated debt. The Partnership originally designated these cross-currency swaps as foreign currency cash flow hedges. Cash flows related to these swap agreements, which expire in February 2012 , are included in interest expense over the term of the agreement. The fair market value of the cross-currency swaps was a liability of $37.7 million at September 25, 2011 , which was recorded in “Current derivative liability” on the condensed consolidated balance sheet. As a result of paying down underlying Canadian term debt with net proceeds from the sale of surplus land near Canada’s Wonderland in August 2009, the notional amounts of the underlying debt and the cross currency swaps no longer match. Because of the mismatch of the notional amounts, the Partnership determined the swaps were no longer highly effective, resulting in the de-designation of the swaps as of the end of August 2009. As a result of this de-designation, losses recorded in AOCI are being amortized through February 2012 (the original hedge period). The amount recorded in AOCI to be amortized was $15.1 million at the time of de-designation, of which approximately $125,000 still remained to be amortized in AOCI as of September 25, 2011 .


10


In May 2011, the Partnership entered into several foreign currency swap agreements to fix the exchange rate on approximately 50% of the termination payment associated with the cross-currency swap agreements due in February 2012 and in July 2011 the Partnership entered into another foreign currency swap agreement to fix the exchange rate on an additional 25% of the termination payment. The fair market value of these foreign currency swap agreements was a liability of $16.8 million at September 25, 2011 , which was recorded in "Current derivative liability" on the condensed consolidated balance sheet. The Partnership did not seek hedge accounting treatment on these foreign currency swaps, and as such, changes in fair value of the swaps flow directly through earnings along with changes in fair value on the related, de-designated cross-currency swaps.
In order to maintain fixed interest costs on a portion of its domestic term debt beyond the expiration of the swaps entered into in 2006 and 2007, in September 2010 the Partnership entered into several forward-starting swap agreements ("September 2010 swaps") to effectively convert a total of $600 million of variable-rate debt to fixed rates beginning in October 2011. As a result of the February 2011 amendment to the 2010 Credit Agreement, the LIBOR floor on the term loan portion of its credit facilities decreased to 100 bps from 150 bps, causing a mismatch in critical terms of the September 2010 swaps and the underlying debt. Because of the mismatch of critical terms, the Partnership determined the September 2010 swaps, which were originally designated as cash flow hedges, were no longer highly effective, resulting in the de-designation of the swaps as of the end of February 2011. As a result of this ineffectiveness, gains of $7.2 million recorded in AOCI through the date of de-designation are being amortized through December 2015, $6.4 million of which remained to be amortized in AOCI as of September 25, 2011 .
On March 15, 2011, the Partnership entered into several additional forward-starting basis-rate swap agreements ("March 2011 swaps") that, when combined with the September 2010 swaps, will effectively convert $600 million of variable-rate debt to fixed rates beginning in October 2011. The September 2010 swaps and the March 2011 swaps, which have been jointly designated as cash flow hedges, mature in December 2015 and fix LIBOR at a weighted average rate of 2.46% . For the period that the September 2010 swaps were de-designated, their fair value decreased by $3.3 million , the offset of which was recognized as a direct charge to the Partnership's earnings and recorded to “Net effect of swaps” on the consolidated statement of operations along with the regular amortization of “Other comprehensive income (loss)” balances related to these swaps. No other ineffectiveness related to these swaps was recorded in any period presented.
On May 2, 2011, the Partnership entered into four additional forward-starting basis-rate swap agreements ("May 2011 forward-starting swaps") that effectively convert another $200 million of variable-rate debt to fixed rates beginning in October 2011. These swaps, which were designated as cash flow hedges, mature in December 2015 and fix LIBOR at a weighted average rate of 2.54% .
The fair market value of the September 2010 swaps, the March 2011 swaps, and the May 2011 forward-starting swaps at September 25, 2011 was a liability of $33.8 million , which was recorded in “Derivative Liability” on the condensed consolidated balance sheet.
Fair Value of Derivative Instruments in Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet:
(In thousands):
Condensed Consolidated
Balance Sheet Location
Fair Value as of
Fair Value as of
Fair Value as of
September 25, 2011
December 31, 2010
September 26, 2010
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:
Interest rate swaps
Other Assets
$

$
6,294

$

Interest rate swaps
Current derivative liability
(4,797
)
(47,986
)

Interest rate swaps
Derivative Liability
(33,835
)

(63,575
)
Total derivatives designated as hedging instruments:
$
(38,632
)
$
(41,692
)
$
(63,575
)
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
Foreign currency swaps
Current derivative liability
$
(16,846
)
$

$

Cross-currency swaps
Current derivative liability
(37,723
)


Cross-currency swaps
Derivative Liability

(54,517
)
(47,365
)
Total derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
$
(54,569
)
$
(54,517
)
$
(47,365
)
Net derivative liability
$
(93,201
)
$
(96,209
)
$
(110,940
)

11


The following table presents our existing fixed-rate swaps, which mature October 1, 2011, along with their notional amounts and their fixed interest rates, which compare to 30-day LIBOR of 0.25% as of September 25, 2011 . The table also presents our cross-currency swaps and their notional amounts and interest rates as of September 25, 2011 .
($'s in thousands)
Interest Rate Swaps
Cross-currency Swaps
Notional Amounts
LIBOR Rate
Notional Amounts
Implied Interest Rate
$
200,000

5.64
%
$
256,000

7.31
%
200,000

5.64
%
500

9.50
%
200,000

5.64
%
200,000

5.57
%
100,000

5.60
%
100,000

5.60
%
Total $'s / Average Rate
$
1,000,000

5.62
%
$
256,500

7.31
%
The following table presents our September 2010 swaps, March 2011 swaps, and May 2011 forward-starting swaps, which become effective October 1, 2011 and mature December 15, 2015, along with their notional amounts and their fixed interest rates.
($'s in thousands)
Forward-Starting Interest Rate Swaps
Notional Amounts
LIBOR Rate
$
200,000

2.40
%
75,000

2.43
%
50,000

2.42
%
150,000

2.55
%
50,000

2.42
%
50,000

2.55
%
25,000

2.43
%
50,000

2.54
%
30,000

2.54
%
70,000

2.54
%
50,000

2.54
%
Total $'s / Average Rate
$
800,000

2.48
%
Effects of Derivative Instruments on Income (Loss) and Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the three-month periods ended September 25, 2011 and September 26, 2010 :
(In thousands):
Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in  Accumulated OCI on Derivatives (Effective Portion)
Amount and Location of Gain (Loss)
Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Income
(Effective Portion)
Amount and Location of Gain (Loss)
Recognized in Income on Derivative
(Ineffective Portion)
Derivatives designated as
Cash Flow Hedging
Relationships
Three months ended
Three months ended
Three months ended
Three months ended
Three months ended
Three months ended
9/25/11
9/26/10
9/25/11
9/26/10
9/25/11
9/26/10
Interest rate swaps
$
(17,085
)
$
(4,165
)
Interest Expense
$

$

Net effect of swaps
$
15,396

$
8,951

Total
$
(17,085
)
$
(4,165
)
$

$

$
15,396

$
8,951


12


(In thousands):
Amount and Location of Gain (Loss) Recognized
in Income on Derivative
Derivatives not designated as Cash Flow
Hedging Relationships
Three months ended
Three months ended
9/25/11
9/26/10
Cross-currency swaps (1)
Net effect of swaps
13,622

9

Foreign currency swaps
Net effect of swaps
(13,210
)

$
412

$
9

(1)
The cross-currency swaps became ineffective and were de-designated in August 2009.
In addition to the $15.8 million of net gain recognized in income on the ineffective portion of derivatives and on the derivatives not designated as cash flow hedges (as noted in the tables above), $11.2 million of expense representing the regular amortization of amounts in AOCI for the swaps and $0.6 million of foreign currency loss in the quarter related to the U.S. dollar denominated Canadian term loan were recorded in the condensed consolidated statements of operations for the period. The net effect of these amounts resulted in a benefit to earnings for the quarter of $4.0 million recorded in “Net effect of swaps.”

For the three-month period ended September 26, 2010 , in addition to the $9.0 million gain recognized in income on the ineffective portion of derivatives noted in the table above, $12.2 million of expense representing the amortization of amounts in Accumulated OCI for the swaps and $0.1 million of foreign currency loss in the quarter related to the U.S. dollar denominated Canadian term loan were recorded in “Net effect of swaps” in the condensed consolidated statements of operations. The net effect of these amounts resulted in a charge to earnings of $3.3 million recorded in “Net effect of swaps.” For the period, an additional $9.5 million of amortization of amounts in AOCI for the cross-currency swaps was recorded as a charge to earnings in "Loss on early extinguishment of debt" in the condensed consolidated statements of operations as a result of the debt refinancing and the reduction of the majority of the U.S. dollar denominated Canadian term loan.

Effects of Derivative Instruments on Income (Loss) and Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the nine-month periods ended September 25, 2011 and September 26, 2010 :
(In thousands):
Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in  Accumulated OCI on Derivatives (Effective Portion)
Amount and Location of Gain (Loss)
Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Income
(Effective Portion)
Amount and Location of Gain (Loss)
Recognized in Income on Derivative
(Ineffective Portion)
Derivatives designated as
Cash Flow Hedging
Relationships
Nine months ended
Nine months ended
Nine months ended
Nine months ended
Nine months ended
Nine months ended
9/25/11
9/26/10
9/25/11
9/26/10
9/25/11
9/26/10
Interest rate swaps
$
(36,788
)
$
(4,165
)
Interest Expense
$

$

Net effect of swaps
$
43,190

$
23,949

Total
$
(36,788
)
$
(4,165
)
$

$

$
43,190

$
23,949

(In thousands):
Amount and Location of Gain (Loss) Recognized
in Income on Derivative
Derivatives not designated as Cash Flow
Hedging Relationships
Nine months ended
Nine months ended
9/25/11
9/26/10
Interest rate swaps (1)
Net effect of swaps
$
(3,342
)
$

Cross-currency swaps (2)
Net effect of swaps
15,582

(190
)
Foreign currency swaps
Net effect of swaps
(17,516
)

$
(5,276
)
$
(190
)
(1)
The September 2010 swaps became ineffective and were de-designated in February 2011.
(2)
The cross-currency swaps became ineffective and were de-designated in August 2009.
In addition to the $37.9 million of gain recognized in income on the ineffective portion of derivatives and on the derivatives not designated as cash flow hedges (as noted in the tables above), $33.9 million of expense representing the regular amortization of amounts in AOCI for the swaps and $0.5 million of foreign currency loss in the nine-month period related to the U.S. dollar

13


denominated Canadian term loan were recorded in the condensed consolidated statements of operations for the period. The net effect of these amounts resulted in a benefit to earnings for the nine-month period of $3.5 million recorded in “Net effect of swaps.”

For the nine month period ended September 26, 2010 , in addition to the $23.8 million gain recognized in income on the ineffective portion of derivatives noted in the table above, $38.7 million of expense representing the amortization of amounts in Accumulated OCI for the swaps and $2.0 million of foreign currency gain in the quarter related to the U.S. dollar denominated Canadian term loan were recorded in “Net effect of swaps” in the condensed consolidated statements of operations. The net effect of these amounts resulted in a charge to earnings of $12.9 million recorded in "Net effect of swaps." For the period, an additional $9.5 million of amortization of amounts in AOCI for the cross-currency swaps was recorded as a charge to earnings in "Loss on early extinguishment of debt" in the condensed consolidated statements of operations as a result of the debt refinancing and the reduction of the majority of the U.S. dollar denominated Canadian term loan.


Effects of Derivative Instruments on Income (Loss) and Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the twelve-month periods ended September 25, 2011 and September 26, 2010 :
(In thousands):
Amount of Gain (Loss)
Recognized in Accumulated OCI on Derivatives
(Effective Portion)
Amount and Location of Gain (Loss)
Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Income
(Effective Portion)
Amount and Location of Gain (Loss)
Recognized in Income on Derivative
(Ineffective Portion)
Derivatives designated as
Cash Flow Hedging
Relationships
Twelve months ended
Twelve months ended
Twelve months ended
Twelve months ended
Twelve months ended
Twelve months ended
9/25/11
9/26/10
9/25/11
9/26/10
9/25/11
9/26/10
Interest rate swaps
$
(26,329
)
$
(4,165
)
Interest Expense
$

$

Net effect of swaps
$
54,613

$
32,349

Cross-currency swaps (2)


Interest Expense


N/A

N/A

Total
$
(26,329
)
$
(4,165
)
$

$

$
54,613

$
32,349


(In thousands):
Amount and Location of Gain (Loss) Recognized
in Income on Derivative
Derivatives not designated as Cash Flow Hedging
Relationships
Twelve months ended
Twelve months ended
9/25/11
9/26/10
Interest rate swaps (1)
Net effect of swaps
$
(3,342
)
$

Cross-currency swaps (2)
Net effect of swaps
10,016

(9,349
)
Foreign currency swaps
Net effect of swaps
(17,516
)

$
(10,842
)
$
(9,349
)
(1)
The September 2010 swaps became ineffective and were de-designated in February 2011.
(2)
The cross-currency swaps became ineffective and were de-designated in August 2009.
In addition to the $43.8 million of gain recognized in income on the ineffective portion of derivatives and on the derivatives not designated as cash flow hedges (as noted in the tables above), $45.5 million of expense representing the amortization of amounts in AOCI for the swaps and a $0.1 million foreign currency loss in the twelve month period related to the U.S. dollar denominated Canadian term loan was recorded during the trailing twelve months ended September 25, 2011 in the condensed consolidated statements of operations. The net effect of these amounts resulted in a charge to earnings for the trailing twelve month period of $1.8 million recorded in “Net effect of swaps.”
For the twelve month period ending September 26, 2010 , in addition to the $23.0 million of gain recognized in income on the ineffective portion of derivatives noted in the table above, $52.8 million of expense representing the amortization of amounts in AOCI for the swaps and a $10.8 million foreign currency gain in the twelve month period related to the U.S. dollar denominated Canadian term loan was recorded during the trailing twelve months ended September 26, 2010 in the condensed consolidated statements of operations. The net effect of these amounts resulted in a charge to earnings for the trailing twelve month period of $19.0 million recorded in “Net effect of swaps.” For the period, an additional $9.5 million of amortization of amounts in AOCI for the cross-currency swaps was recorded as a charge to earnings in "Loss on early extinguishment of debt" in the condensed consolidated statements of operations as a result of the debt refinancing and the reduction of the majority of the U.S. dollar denominated Canadian term loan.

14


The amounts reclassified from AOCI into income for the periods noted above are in large part the result of the Partnership’s initial three-year requirement to swap at least 50% of its aggregate term debt to fixed rates under the terms of the Amended 2010 Credit Agreement.
(7) Fair Value Measurements:
The Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) emphasizes that fair value is a market-based measurement that should be determined based on assumptions (inputs) that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability. Inputs may be observable or unobservable, and valuation techniques used to measure fair value should maximize the use of relevant observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. Accordingly, the FASB’s ASC establishes a hierarchal disclosure framework that ranks the quality and reliability of information used to determine fair values. The hierarchy is associated with the level of pricing observability utilized in measuring fair value and defines three levels of inputs to the fair value measurement process—quoted prices are the most reliable valuation inputs, whereas model values that include inputs based on unobservable data are the least reliable. Each fair value measurement must be assigned to a level corresponding to the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety.
The three broad levels of inputs defined by the fair value hierarchy are as follows:
Level 1 – inputs to the valuation methodology are quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.
Level 2 – inputs to the valuation methodology include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, and inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the financial instrument.
Level 3 – inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement.
A financial instrument’s categorization within the valuation hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.
The table below presents the balances of assets and liabilities measured at fair value as of September 25, 2011 , December 31, 2010, and September 26, 2010 on a recurring basis:
Total
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
September 25, 2011
(In thousands)
Interest rate swap agreements (1)
$
(33,835
)
$

$
(33,835
)
$

Interest rate swap agreements (2)
(4,797
)

(4,797
)

Cross-currency swap agreements (2)
(37,723
)

(37,723
)

Foreign currency swap agreements (2)
(16,846
)

(16,846
)

Net derivative liability
$
(93,201
)
$

$
(93,201
)
$

December 31, 2010
Interest rate swap agreements (3)
$
6,294

$

$
6,294

$

Interest rate swap agreements (2)
(47,986
)

(47,986
)

Cross-currency swap agreements (1)
(54,517
)

(54,517
)

Net derivative liability
$
(96,209
)
$

$
(96,209
)
$

September 26, 2010
Interest rate swap agreements (1)
$
(63,575
)
$

$
(63,575
)
$

Cross-currency swap agreements (1)
(47,365
)

(47,365
)

Net derivative liability
$
(110,940
)
$

$
(110,940
)
$

(1)
Included in “Derivative Liability” on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet
(2)
Included in "Current derivative liability" on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet
(3)
Included in "Other assets" on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet


15


Fair values of the interest rate, cross-currency and foreign currency swap agreements are determined using significant inputs, including the LIBOR and foreign currency forward curves, that are considered Level 2 observable market inputs. In addition, the Partnership considered the effect of its credit and non-performance risk on the fair values provided, and recognized an adjustment increasing the net derivative liability by approximately $1.2 million as of September 25, 2011 . The Partnership monitors the credit and non-performance risk associated with its derivative counterparties and believes them to be insignificant and not warranting a credit adjustment at September 25, 2011 .

There were no assets measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis at September 25, 2011 or September 26, 2010 . The table below presents the balances of assets measured at fair value as of December 31, 2010 on a non-recurring basis:
(In thousands)
Total
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
December 31, 2010
Long-lived fixed assets (1)
$
46,276

$

$

$
46,276

Trade-names (2)
697



697

Total
$
46,973

$

$

$
46,973

(1) Included in "Net, Property and Equipment" on the Consolidated Balance Sheet
(2) Included in "Other Intangibles, net" on the Consolidated Balance Sheet

A relief-from-royalty model is used to determine whether the fair value of trade-names exceeds their carrying amount. The fair value of the trade-names is determined as the present value of fees avoided by owning the respective trade-name.

In 2010, the Partnership concluded based on operating results, as well as updated forecasts, that a review of the carrying value of long-lived assets at California's Great America was warranted. After performing its review, the Partnership determined that a portion of the park's fixed assets, the majority of which were originally recorded with the PPI acquisition, were impaired. As a result, it recognized $62.0 million of fixed-asset impairment during 2010.

After completing its 2010 annual review of indefinite-lived intangibles for impairment, the Partnership concluded that a portion of trade-names originally recorded with the PPI acquisition were impaired. As a result, the Partnership recognized approximately $2.3 million of trade-name impairment during 2010.
The fair value of term debt at September 25, 2011 was approximately $1,188.2 million based on borrowing rates currently available to the Partnership on long-term debt with similar terms and average maturities. The fair value on its notes at September 25, 2011 was approximately $379.3 million based on borrowing rates available as of that date to the Partnership on notes with similar terms and maturities.

(8) Earnings per Unit:
Net income per limited partner unit is calculated based on the following unit amounts:
Three months ended
Nine months ended
Twelve months ended
9/25/2011
9/26/2010
9/25/2011
9/26/2010
9/25/2011
9/26/2010
(In thousands except per unit amounts)
Basic weighted average units outstanding
55,346

55,328

55,345

55,310

55,342

55,284

Effect of dilutive units:
Unit options

6


14


24

Phantom units
482

438

502

479

544

529

Diluted weighted average units outstanding
55,828

55,772

55,847

55,803

55,886

55,837

Net income per unit - basic
$
2.76

$
1.37

$
1.31

$
0.57

$
0.17

$
0.10

Net income per unit - diluted
$
2.74

$
1.36

$
1.30

$
0.57

$
0.17

$
0.10

The effect of unit options on the three, nine, and twelve months ended September 25, 2011 , had they not been out of the money or antidilutive, would have been 57,000 , 67,000 , and 127,000 units, respectively. The effect of out-of-the-money and/or antidilutive unit options on the three, nine, and twelve months ended September 26, 2010 , had they not been out of the money or antidilutive, would have been 315,000 , 318,000 , and 410,000 units, respectively.

16



(9) Income and Partnership Taxes:
Under the applicable accounting rules, income taxes are recognized for the amount of taxes payable by the Partnership’s corporate subsidiaries for the current year and for the impact of deferred tax assets and liabilities, which represent future tax consequences of events that have been recognized differently in the financial statements than for tax purposes. The income tax provision (benefit) for interim periods is determined by applying an estimated annual effective tax rate to the quarterly income (loss) of the Partnership’s corporate subsidiaries. For 2011 , the estimated annual effective rate includes the effect of an anticipated adjustment to the valuation allowance that relates to foreign tax credit carry-forwards arising from the corporate subsidiaries. The amount of this adjustment has a disproportionate impact on the annual effective tax rate that results in a significant variation in the customary relationship between the provision for taxes and income before taxes in interim periods. In addition to income taxes on its corporate subsidiaries, the Partnership pays a publicly traded partnership tax (PTP tax) on partnership-level gross income (net revenues less cost of food, merchandise and games). As such, the Partnership’s total provision (benefit) for taxes includes amounts for both the PTP tax and for income taxes on its corporate subsidiaries.
(10) Contingencies:
The Partnership is party to a lawsuit with its largest unitholder that alleges, among other things, that the General Partner breached the terms of the Fifth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership (the “Partnership Agreement”) by indicating that unitholders may lack the right to nominate candidates, or to solicit proxies in support of new candidates, for election to the board of directors of the General Partner. The Partnership has filed an answer denying the allegations as set forth in the complaint. The Partnership is also party to a lawsuit with its largest unitholder seeking declaratory and injunctive relief directing the Partnership to schedule a special meeting of unitholders to consider, among other things, a proposal to remove CFMI as the general partner of Cedar Fair and to amend the Partnership Agreement to allow unitholders to nominate directors for election to the board of directors of the general par tner. The lawsuit was initiated in response to the Partnership's denial of a request for a special meeting on the grounds that the request did not comply with the requirements set forth in the Partnership Agreement. The Partnership has not yet filed an answer, and the case is still pending.

The Partnership is also a party to a number of lawsuits arising in the normal course of business. In the opinion of management, none of these matters will have a material effect in the aggregate on the Partnership's financial position, results of operations or liquidity.


(11) Pending sale of California's Great America:

On September 16, 2011, the Partnership and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Cedar Fair Southwest Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Southwest”) and Magnum Management Corporation, an Ohio corporation (“Magnum”), entered into an asset purchase agreement (the “Agreement”) with JMA Ventures, LLC, a California limited liability company (“JMA”), pursuant to which JMA will acquire the assets of California’s Great America for a purchase price of $70 million . Under the terms of the Agreement, JMA has the right to terminate the transaction for any reason within 60 days after the date of execution. The transaction is still subject to the approval of the City of Santa Clara, California, as well as other closing conditions, including the receipt of regulatory approvals. The transaction is anticipated to close by the end of the fourth quarter of 2011.

(12) Termination of Agreement with Private Equity Firm:
On April 6, 2010, the Partnership and the affiliates of Apollo Global Management (Apollo) mutually terminated the merger agreement originally entered into on December 16, 2009. Consistent with the terms of the agreement, the Partnership paid Apollo $6.5 million to reimburse them for certain expenses incurred in connection with the transaction. In addition, both parties released each other from all obligations with respect to the proposed merger transaction, as well as from any claims arising out of or relating to the merger agreement. The $6.5 million paid to Apollo in April was recognized as a charge to earnings in “Selling, general and administrative” in the second quarter of 2010 . The Partnership incurred approximately $10.4 million in costs associated with the terminated merger during 2010, and a total of $16.0 million of costs since the merger was initially announced.


(13) Consolidating Financial Information of Guarantors and Issuers:

Cedar Fair, L.P., Canada's Wonderland Company ("Cedar Canada"), and Magnum Management Corporation ("Magnum") are the co-issuers of the Partnership's 9.125% notes (see Note 5). The notes have been fully and unconditionally guaranteed, on a joint and several basis, by each 100% owned subsidiary of Cedar Fair (other than Cedar Canada and Magnum) that guarantees the Partnership's senior secured credit facilities. There are no non-guarantor subsidiaries.

17



The following consolidating schedules present condensed financial information for Cedar Fair, L.P., Cedar Canada, and Magnum, the co-issuers, and each 100% owned subsidiary of Cedar Fair (other than Cedar Canada and Magnum), the guarantors (on a combined basis), as of September 25, 2011 , December 31, 2010, and September 26, 2010 and for the periods ended September 25, 2011 and September 26, 2010 . In lieu of providing separate unaudited financial statements for the guarantor subsidiaries, we have included the accompanying consolidating condensed financial statements.

Since Cedar Fair, L.P., Cedar Canada and Magnum are co-issuers of the notes and co-borrowers under the Amended 2010 Credit Agreement, all outstanding debt has been equally reflected within each co-issuer's September 25, 2011 , December 31, 2010 and September 26, 2010 balance sheets in the accompanying consolidating condensed financial statements.

18


CEDAR FAIR, L.P.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
September 25, 2011
(In thousands)
Cedar Fair L.P. (Parent)
Co-Issuer Subsidiary (Magnum)
Co-Issuer Subsidiary (Cedar Canada)
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Eliminations
Total
ASSETS
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
$
49,000

$
2,489

$
36,473

$
8,350

$

$
96,312

Receivables
3

45,663

81,773

587,910

(676,810
)
38,539

Inventories

1,684

2,951

32,311


36,946

Current deferred tax asset

1,686

779

3,409


5,874

Other current assets
875

2,091

774

5,559


9,299

49,878

53,613

122,750

637,539

(676,810
)
186,970

Property and Equipment (net)
469,782

1,055

257,907

904,787


1,633,531

Investment in Park
536,918

684,411

118,514

54,054

(1,393,897
)

Intercompany Note Receivable

269,500



(269,500
)

Goodwill
9,061


121,869

111,219


242,149

Other Intangibles, net


17,258

22,809


40,067

Deferred Tax Asset

49,845



(49,845
)

Intercompany Receivable
887,219

1,083,987

1,141,302


(3,112,508
)

Other Assets
28,962

16,884

9,616

1,160


56,622

$
1,981,820

$
2,159,295

$
1,789,216

$
1,731,568

$
(5,502,560
)
$
2,159,339

LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS’ EQUITY
Current Liabilities:
Accounts payable
$
189,887

$
281,605

$
27,488

$
206,288

$
(676,810
)
$
28,458

Deferred revenue


3,701

28,993


32,694

Accrued interest
6,115

1,364

6,489



13,968

Accrued taxes
5,189

23,550


4,354


33,093

Accrued salaries, wages and benefits

29,373

2,341

9,395


41,109

Self-insurance reserves

3,130

1,658

17,154


21,942

Current derivative liability
4,797


54,569



59,366

Other accrued liabilities
1,206

4,840

1,277

4,924


12,247

207,194

343,862

97,523

271,108

(676,810
)
242,877

Deferred Tax Liability


61,444

113,989

(49,845
)
125,588

Derivative Liability
20,459

13,376




33,835

Other Liabilities

2,872




2,872

Intercompany Note Payable



269,500

(269,500
)

Long-Term Debt:
Term debt
1,156,100

1,156,100

1,156,100


(2,312,200
)
1,156,100

Notes
400,154

400,154

400,154


(800,308
)
400,154

1,556,254

1,556,254

1,556,254


(3,112,508
)
1,556,254

Equity
197,913

242,931

73,995

1,076,971

(1,393,897
)
197,913

$
1,981,820

$
2,159,295

$
1,789,216

$
1,731,568

$
(5,502,560
)
$
2,159,339



19


CEDAR FAIR, L.P.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
December 31, 2010
(In thousands)
Cedar Fair L.P. (Parent)
Co-Issuer Subsidiary (Magnum)
Co-Issuer Subsidiary (Cedar Canada)
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Eliminations
Total
ASSETS
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
$

$
1,461

$
6,943

$
1,361

$

$
9,765

Receivables

59,686

94,404

508,676

(650,426
)
12,340

Inventories

1,732

2,536

27,874


32,142

Current deferred tax asset

1,686

779

3,409


5,874

Other current assets
460

1,242

370

8,141


10,213

460

65,807

105,032

549,461

(650,426
)
70,334

Property and Equipment (net)
465,364

1,090

268,258

941,929


1,676,641

Investment in Park
504,414

642,278

116,053

60,602

(1,323,347
)

Intercompany Note Receivable

270,188

20,000


(290,188
)

Goodwill
9,061


125,979

111,219


246,259

Other Intangibles, net


17,840

22,792


40,632

Deferred Tax Asset

44,450



(44,450
)

Intercompany Receivable
886,883

1,107,030

1,165,493


(3,159,406
)

Other Assets
23,855

13,469

9,998

1,256


48,578

$
1,890,037

$
2,144,312

$
1,828,653

$
1,687,259

$
(5,467,817
)
$
2,082,444

LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS’ EQUITY
Current Liabilities:
Accounts payable
$
115,116

$
303,387

$
22,261

$
220,449

$
(650,426
)
$
10,787

Deferred revenue


3,384

22,944


26,328

Accrued interest
4,754

72

15,583



20,409

Accrued taxes
3,899

2,168

6,200

2,877


15,144

Accrued salaries, wages and benefits

11,433

1,242

5,545


18,220

Self-insurance reserves

3,354

1,687

16,446


21,487

Current derivative liability
47,986





47,986

Other accrued liabilities
1,443

5,831

420

797


8,491

173,198

326,245

50,777

269,058

(650,426
)
168,852

Deferred Tax Liability


62,290

113,990

(44,450
)
131,830

Derivative Liability


54,517



54,517

Other Liabilities

10,406




10,406

Intercompany Note Payable

20,000


270,188

(290,188
)

Long-Term Debt:
Revolving credit loans
23,200

23,200

23,200


(46,400
)
23,200

Term debt
1,157,062

1,157,062

1,157,062


(2,314,124
)
1,157,062

Notes
399,441

399,441

399,441


(798,882
)
399,441

1,579,703

1,579,703

1,579,703


(3,159,406
)
1,579,703

Equity
137,136

207,958

81,366

1,034,023

(1,323,347
)
137,136

$
1,890,037

$
2,144,312

$
1,828,653

$
1,687,259

$
(5,467,817
)
$
2,082,444


20


CEDAR FAIR, L.P.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
September 26, 2010
(In thousands)
Cedar Fair L.P. (Parent)
Co-Issuer Subsidiary (Magnum)
Co-Issuer Subsidiary (Cedar Canada)
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Eliminations
Total
ASSETS
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
$
21,000

$
3,646

$
29,202

$
7,853

$

$
61,701

Receivables
259

46,456

57,237

545,241

(614,429
)
34,764

Inventories

1,816

2,616

30,498


34,930

Current deferred tax asset

2,539

801

3,385


6,725

Other current assets
828

1,298

861

3,512


6,499

22,087

55,755

90,717

590,489

(614,429
)
144,619

Property and Equipment (net)
463,955

1,151

258,887

1,009,974


1,733,967

Investment in Park
559,682

705,040

119,326

64,979

(1,449,027
)

Intercompany Note Receivable

271,563



(271,563
)

Goodwill
9,061


122,095

111,218


242,374

Other Intangibles, net


17,290

23,710


41,000

Deferred Tax Asset

25,921


4

(25,925
)

Intercompany Receiveable
894,434

1,094,434

1,160,000


(3,148,868
)

Other Assets
20,375

10,217

9,645

1,291


41,528

$
1,969,594

$
2,164,081

$
1,777,960

$
1,801,665

$
(5,509,812
)
$
2,203,488

LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS’ EQUITY
Current Liabilities:
Current maturities of long-term debt
$
11,750

$
11,750

$
11,750

$

$
(23,500
)
$
11,750

Accounts payable
121,855

275,030

6,203

236,182

(614,429
)
24,841

Deferred revenue


4,251

23,186


27,437

Accrued interest
7,061

1,980

7,178



16,219

Accrued taxes
5,527

18,999


4,788


29,314

Accrued salaries, wages and benefits

17,811

2,285

9,138


29,234

Self-insurance reserves

4,044

1,614

15,973


21,631

Other accrued liabilities
1,040

5,132

1,391

4,322


11,885

147,233

334,746

34,672

293,589

(637,929
)
172,311

Deferred Tax Liability


48,498

130,990

(25,925
)
153,563

Derivative Liability
62,349

1,226

47,365



110,940

Other Liabilities

6,662




6,662

Intercompany Note Payable



271,563

(271,563
)

Long-Term Debt:
Term debt
1,163,250

1,163,250

1,163,250


(2,326,500
)
1,163,250

Notes
399,434

399,434

399,434


(798,868
)
399,434

1,562,684

1,562,684

1,562,684


(3,125,368
)
1,562,684

Equity
197,328

258,763

84,741

1,105,523

(1,449,027
)
197,328

$
1,969,594

$
2,164,081

$
1,777,960

$
1,801,665

$
(5,509,812
)
$
2,203,488



21


CEDAR FAIR, L.P.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
For the Three Months Ended September 25, 2011
(In thousands)
Cedar Fair L.P. (Parent)
Co-Issuer Subsidiary (Magnum)
Co-Issuer Subsidiary (Cedar Canada)
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Eliminations
Total
Net revenues
$
82,713

$
147,138

$
84,679

$
487,352

$
(229,614
)
$
572,268

Costs and expenses:
Cost of food, merchandise and games revenues


6,659

42,099


48,758

Operating expenses
1,257

69,119

19,397

301,293

(229,614
)
161,452

Selling, general and administrative
1,297

30,460

5,064

15,157


51,978

Depreciation and amortization
20,337

11

9,554

32,717


62,619

Loss on impairment / retirement of fixed assets, net
827


10

43


880

23,718

99,590

40,684

391,309

(229,614
)
325,687

Operating income
58,995

47,548

43,995

96,043


246,581

Interest expense, net
23,948

3,085

13,433

855


41,321

Net effect of swaps
(4,112
)
(192
)
342



(3,962
)
Unrealized / realized foreign currency loss


18,549



18,549

Other (income) expense
(30
)
(1,711
)
616

907


(218
)
(Income) from investment in affiliates
(118,052
)
(58,469
)
(8,433
)
(16,336
)
201,290


Income before taxes
157,241

104,835

19,488

110,617

(201,290
)
190,891

Provision for taxes
4,511

12,445

3,103

18,102


38,161

Net income
$
152,730

$
92,390

$
16,385

$
92,515

$
(201,290
)
$
152,730




22


CEDAR FAIR, L.P.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
For the Three Months Ended September 26, 2010
(In thousands)
Cedar Fair L.P. (Parent)
Co-Issuer Subsidiary (Magnum)
Co-Issuer Subsidiary (Cedar Canada)
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Eliminations
Total
Net revenues
$
80,132

$
144,532

$
74,726

$
470,028

$
(224,418
)
$
545,000

Costs and expenses:
Cost of food, merchandise and games revenues


5,855

39,736


45,591

Operating expenses
1,290

69,953

17,823

287,666

(224,418
)
152,314

Selling, general and administrative
(1,488
)
28,866

4,744

16,321


48,443

Depreciation and amortization
19,510

11

8,749

35,476


63,746

Loss on impairment / retirement of fixed assets, net
299


20



319

19,611

98,830

37,191

379,199

(224,418
)
310,413

Operating income
60,521

45,702

37,535

90,829


234,587

Interest expense (income), net
24,215

7,789

9,196

(755
)

40,445

Net effect of swaps
2,519


787



3,306

Loss on early extinguishment of debt
24,831


10,458



35,289

Unrealized / realized foreign currency (gain)

(3,079
)
(5,099
)


(8,178
)
Other (income) expense
188

(1,834
)
516

1,130



(Income) from investment in affiliates
(71,399
)
(40,081
)
(812
)
(79
)
112,371


Income before taxes
80,167

82,907

22,489

90,533

(112,371
)
163,725

Provision for taxes
4,419

34,823

15,254

33,481


87,977

Net income
$
75,748

$
48,084

$
7,235

$
57,052

$
(112,371
)
$
75,748



23



CEDAR FAIR, L.P.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
For the Nine Months Ended September 25, 2011
(In thousands)

Cedar Fair L.P. (Parent)
Co-Issuer Subsidiary (Magnum)
Co-Issuer Subsidiary (Cedar Canada)
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Eliminations
Total
Net revenues
$
118,280

$
210,407

$
115,163

$
768,126

$
(328,349
)
$
883,627

Costs and expenses:
Cost of food, merchandise and games revenues


9,389

70,592


79,981

Operating expenses
4,180

131,955

38,959

504,813

(328,349
)
351,558

Selling, general and administrative
8,049

64,226

9,541

28,310


110,126

Depreciation and amortization
32,755

34

15,409

60,975


109,173

Loss on impairment / retirement of fixed assets, net
1,023


10

43


1,076

46,007

196,215

73,308

664,733

(328,349
)
651,914

Operating income
72,273

14,192

41,855

103,393


231,713

Interest expense, net
70,822

8,395

39,129

6,184


124,530

Net effect of swaps
(7,230
)
910

2,813



(3,507
)
Unrealized / realized foreign currency loss


14,704



14,704

Other (income) expense
1,517

(4,712
)
2,072

2,078


955

(Income) loss from investment in affiliates
(72,520
)
(35,527
)
(12,389
)
88

120,348


Income (loss) before taxes from continuing operations
79,684

45,126

(4,474
)
95,043

(120,348
)
95,031

Provision (benefit) for taxes
6,980

2,527

(4,435
)
17,255


22,327

Net income (loss)
$
72,704

$
42,599

$
(39
)
$
77,788

$
(120,348
)
$
72,704



24


CEDAR FAIR, L.P.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
For the Nine Months Ended September 26, 2010
(In thousands)
Cedar Fair L.P. (Parent)
Co-Issuer Subsidiary (Magnum)
Co-Issuer Subsidiary (Cedar Canada)
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Eliminations
Total
Net revenues
$
115,759

$
208,795

$
102,321

$
745,225

$
(324,197
)
$
847,903

Costs and expenses:
Cost of food, merchandise and games revenues


8,456

67,366


75,822

Operating expenses
3,989

132,951

35,696

487,566

(324,197
)
336,005

Selling, general and administrative
13,387

56,188

9,033

32,327


110,935

Depreciation and amortization
31,616

34

14,462

65,512


111,624

Loss on impairment of goodwill and other intangibles



1,390


1,390

Loss on impairment / retirement of fixed assets, net
299


20



319

49,291

189,173

67,667

654,161

(324,197
)
636,095

Operating income
66,468

19,622

34,654

91,064


211,808

Interest expense, net
56,930

24,978

18,553

2,345


102,806

Net effect of swaps
10,461


2,454



12,915

Loss on early extinguishment of debt
24,831


10,458



35,289

Unrealized / realized foreign currency (gain)

(3,079
)
(5,103
)


(8,182
)
Other (income) expense
563

(5,087
)
1,031

3,493



(Income) from investment in affiliates
(64,855
)
(36,003
)
(812
)
(103
)
101,773


Income before taxes
38,538

38,813

8,073

85,329

(101,773
)
68,980

Provision for taxes
6,938

1,254

3,331

25,857


37,380

Net income
$
31,600

$
37,559

$
4,742

$
59,472

$
(101,773
)
$
31,600


25


CEDAR FAIR, L.P.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
For the Twelve Months Ended September 25, 2011
(In thousands)
Cedar Fair L.P. (Parent)
Co-Issuer Subsidiary (Magnum)
Co-Issuer Subsidiary (Cedar Canada)
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Eliminations
Total
Net revenues
$
138,907

$
247,595

$
126,355

$
886,578

$
(386,119
)
$
1,013,316

Costs and expenses:
Cost of food, merchandise and games revenues


9,850

80,928


90,778

Operating expenses
5,725

163,754

45,814

597,781

(386,119
)
426,955

Selling, general and administrative
9,755

79,492

11,347

32,598


133,192

Depreciation and amortization
36,708

95

17,152

70,390


124,345

Loss on impairment of goodwill and other intangibles



903


903

Loss on impairment / retirement of fixed assets, net
1,456


10

62,043


63,509

53,644

243,341

84,173

844,643

(386,119
)
839,682

Operating income
85,263

4,254

42,182

41,935


173,634

Interest expense, net
99,205

14,877

52,411

4,362


170,855

Net effect of swaps
(7,183
)
910

8,045



1,772

Unrealized / realized foreign currency loss


2,323



2,323

Other (income) expense
1,704

(5,748
)
2,852

2,147


955

(Income) loss from investment in affiliates
(26,059
)
574

(9,116
)
2,379

32,222


Income (loss) before taxes from continuing operations
17,596

(6,359
)
(14,333
)
33,047

(32,222
)
(2,271
)
Provision (benefit) for taxes
8,059

953

(7,295
)
(13,525
)

(11,808
)
Net income (loss)
$
9,537

$
(7,312
)
$
(7,038
)
$
46,572

$
(32,222
)
$
9,537




26


CEDAR FAIR, L.P.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
For the Twelve Months Ended September 26, 2010
(In thousands)
Cedar Fair L.P. (Parent)
Co-Issuer Subsidiary (Magnum)
Co-Issuer Subsidiary (Cedar Canada)
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Eliminations
Total
Net revenues
$
132,616

$
241,485

$
111,536

$
841,548

$
(373,712
)
$
953,473

Costs and expenses:
Cost of food, merchandise and games revenues


8,721

77,666


86,387

Operating expenses
5,042

161,658

41,755

568,272

(373,712
)
403,015

Selling, general and administrative
19,040

69,396

10,527

36,124


135,087

Depreciation and amortization
35,532

45

16,044

79,144


130,765

Loss on impairment of goodwill and other intangibles



5,890


5,890

Loss on impairment / retirement of fixed assets, net
294


53

(2
)

345

59,908

231,099

77,100

767,094

(373,712
)
761,489

Operating income
72,708

10,386

34,436

74,454


191,984

Interest expense, net
71,836

39,034

23,693

1,959


136,522

Net effect of swaps
13,530


5,471



19,001

Loss on early extinguishment of debt
24,831


10,458



35,289

Unrealized / realized foreign currency (gain)

(3,079
)
(5,060
)


(8,139
)
Other (income) expense
777

(7,608
)
1,885

4,856


(90
)
(Income) from investment in affiliates
(51,556
)
(48,233
)
(812
)
(345
)
100,946


Income (loss) before taxes from continuing operations
13,290

30,272

(1,199
)
67,984

(100,946
)
9,401

Provision (benefit) for taxes
7,982

8,094

(17,634
)
5,651


4,093

Net income
$
5,308

$
22,178

$
16,435

$
62,333

$
(100,946
)
$
5,308





27


CEDAR FAIR, L.P.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
For the Nine Months Ended September 25, 2011
(In thousands)
Cedar Fair L.P. (Parent)
Co-Issuer Subsidiary (Magnum)
Co-Issuer Subsidiary (Cedar Canada)
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Eliminations
Total
NET CASH FROM (FOR) OPERATING ACTIVITIES
$
171,861

$
51,146

$
48,421

$
25,378

$
(74,441
)
$
222,365

CASH FLOWS FROM (FOR) INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Investment in joint ventures and affiliates
(32,504
)
(42,133
)
(6,352
)
6,548

74,441


Capital expenditures
(38,121
)

(10,510
)
(24,249
)

(72,880
)
Net cash from (for) investing activities
(70,625
)
(42,133
)
(16,862
)
(17,701
)
74,441

(72,880
)
CASH FLOWS FROM (FOR) FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Net borrowings on revolving credit loans
(23,200
)




(23,200
)
Term debt borrowings
13,246

9,358

334



22,938

Term debt payments, including early termination penalties
(13,831
)
(9,763
)
(306
)


(23,900
)
Intercompany (payments) receipts

688


(688
)


Distributions (paid) received
(16,668
)
64




(16,604
)
Payment of debt issuance costs
(11,783
)
(8,332
)
(375
)


(20,490
)
Net cash from (for) financing activities
(52,236
)
(7,985
)
(347
)
(688
)

(61,256
)
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS


(1,682
)


(1,682
)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
Net increase for the period
49,000

1,028

29,530

6,989


86,547

Balance, beginning of period

1,461

6,943

1,361


9,765

Balance, end of period
$
49,000

$
2,489

$
36,473

$
8,350

$

$
96,312


28


CEDAR FAIR, L.P.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
For the Nine Months Ended September 26, 2010
(In thousands)
Cedar Fair L.P. (Parent)
Co-Issuer Subsidiary (Magnum)
Co-Issuer Subsidiary (Cedar Canada)
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Eliminations
Total
NET CASH FROM (FOR) OPERATING ACTIVITIES
$
151,851

$
(2,175
)
$
20,250

$
48,010

$
(6,825
)
$
211,111

CASH FLOWS FROM (FOR) INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Investment in joint ventures and affiliates
(42,082
)
158,079

(118,168
)
(4,654
)
6,825


Capital expenditures
(20,039
)

(4,764
)
(34,866
)

(59,669
)
Net cash from (for) investing activities
(62,121
)
158,079

(122,932
)
(39,520
)
6,825

(59,669
)
CASH FLOWS FROM (FOR) FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Net borrowings on revolving credit loans
(86,300
)




(86,300
)
Term debt borrowings
680,000

480,000

15,000



1,175,000

Note borrowings


399,383



399,383

Intercompany term debt (payments) receipts
699,625

(698,250
)

(1,375
)


Term debt payments, including early termination penalties
(1,341,083
)

(207,869
)


(1,548,952
)
Return of capital

75,247

(75,247
)



Payment of debt issuance costs
(20,972
)
(10,498
)
(9,527
)


(40,997
)
Net cash from (for) financing activities
(68,730
)
(153,501
)
121,740

(1,375
)

(101,866
)
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS


197



197

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
Net increase for the period
21,000

2,403

19,255

7,115


49,773

Balance, beginning of period

1,243

9,947

738


11,928

Balance, end of period
$
21,000

$
3,646

$
29,202

$
7,853

$

$
61,701


29


CEDAR FAIR, L.P.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
For the Twelve Months Ended September 25, 2011
(In thousands)
Cedar Fair L.P. (Parent)
Co-Issuer Subsidiary (Magnum)
Co-Issuer Subsidiary (Cedar Canada)
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Eliminations
Total
NET CASH FROM (FOR) OPERATING ACTIVITIES
$
103,893

$
(7,134
)
$
25,380

$
19,124

$
52,961

$
194,224

CASH FLOWS FROM (FOR) INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Investment in joint ventures and affiliates
22,764

20,629

(1,356
)
10,924

(52,961
)

Capital expenditures
(44,247
)

(13,179
)
(27,488
)

(84,914
)
Net cash from (for) investing activities
(21,483
)
20,629

(14,535
)
(16,564
)
(52,961
)
(84,914
)
CASH FLOWS FROM (FOR) FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Term debt borrowings
13,246

9,358

334



22,938

Intercompany term debt (payments) receipts

2,063


(2,063
)


Term debt payments, including early termination penalties
(24,211
)
(17,091
)
(536
)


(41,838
)
Distributions (paid) received
(30,559
)
121




(30,438
)
Payment of debt issuance costs
(12,886
)
(9,110
)
(761
)


(22,757
)
Exercise of limited partnership unit options

7




7

Net cash from (for) financing activities
(54,410
)
(14,652
)
(963
)
(2,063
)

(72,088
)
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS


(2,611
)


(2,611
)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
Net increase (decrease) for the period
28,000

(1,157
)
7,271

497


34,611

Balance, beginning of period
21,000

3,646

29,202

7,853


61,701

Balance, end of period
$
49,000

$
2,489

$
36,473

$
8,350

$

$
96,312


30


CEDAR FAIR, L.P.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
For the Twelve Months Ended September 26, 2010
(In thousands)
Cedar Fair L.P. (Parent)
Co-Issuer Subsidiary (Magnum)
Co-Issuer Subsidiary (Cedar Canada)
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Eliminations
Total
NET CASH FROM (FOR) OPERATING ACTIVITIES
$
186,166

$
(121,325
)
$
6,025

$
111,483

$
(13,162
)
$
169,187

CASH FLOWS FROM (FOR) INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Investment in joint ventures and affiliates
(115,055
)
277,270

(115,762
)
(59,615
)
13,162


Capital expenditures
(21,775
)

(5,197
)
(48,637
)

(75,609
)
Net cash from (for) investing activities
(136,830
)
277,270

(120,959
)
(108,252
)
13,162

(75,609
)
CASH FLOWS FROM (FOR) FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Term debt borrowings
680,000

480,000

15,000



1,175,000

Note borrowings


399,383



399,383

Intercompany term debt (payments) receipts
703,250

(700,500
)

(2,750
)


Term debt payments, including early termination penalties
(1,400,123
)

(208,943
)


(1,609,066
)
Distributions (paid) received
(13,891
)
89




(13,802
)
Return of capital

75,247

(75,247
)



Payment of debt issuance costs
(20,972
)
(10,498
)
(9,527
)


(40,997
)
Net cash from (for) financing activities
(51,736
)
(155,662
)
120,666

(2,750
)

(89,482
)
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS


1,402



1,402

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
Net increase (decrease) for the period
(2,400
)
283

7,134

481


5,498

Balance, beginning of period
23,400

3,363

22,068

7,372


56,203

Balance, end of period
$
21,000

$
3,646

$
29,202

$
7,853

$

$
61,701



31



ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Business Overview:

We generate our revenues primarily from sales of (1) admission to our parks, (2) food, merchandise and games inside our parks, and (3) hotel rooms, food and other attractions outside our parks. Our principal costs and expenses, which include salaries and wages, advertising, maintenance, operating supplies, utilities and insurance, are relatively fixed and do not vary significantly with attendance.

Each of our properties is run by a park general manager and operates autonomously. Management reviews operating results, evaluates performance and makes operating decisions, including the allocation of resources, on a property-by-property basis. In order to better facilitate discussion of trends in attendance and guest per capita spending than would be possible on a consolidated basis, our eleven amusement parks and six separately gated water parks have been grouped into regional designations. The northern region, which is the largest, includes Cedar Point and the adjacent Soak City water park, Kings Island, Canada's Wonderland, Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom, Valleyfair, Geauga Lake's Wildwater Kingdom, Michigan's Adventure and the Castaway Bay Indoor Waterpark Resort in Sandusky, Ohio. The southern region includes Kings Dominion, Carowinds, Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun. Finally, our western region includes Knott's Berry Farm, California's Great America and the Soak City water parks located in Palm Springs, San Diego and adjacent to Knott's Berry Farm. This region also includes the management contract with Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park in Gilroy, California.

Other than attendance and guest per capita statistics, discrete financial information and operating results are not prepared at the regional level, but rather at the individual park level for use by the CEO, who is the Chief Operating Decision Maker (CODM), as well as by the interim co-principal financial officers, the park general managers, and the COO and an executive vice president, who report directly to the CEO and to whom our park general managers report.



Critical Accounting Policies:
This management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations is based upon our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, which were prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These principles require us to make judgments, estimates and assumptions during the normal course of business that affect the amounts reported in the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements. Actual results could differ significantly from those estimates under different assumptions and conditions.
Management believes that judgment and estimates related to the following critical accounting policies could materially affect our consolidated financial statements:
Property and Equipment
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
Self-Insurance Reserves
Derivative Financial Instruments
Revenue Recognition
In the third quarter of 2011 , there were no changes in the above critical accounting policies previously disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 .



32


Adjusted EBITDA:
We believe that Adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, other non-cash items, and adjustments as defined in the Amended 2010 Credit Agreement) is a meaningful measure of park-level operating profitability because we use it for measuring returns on capital investments, evaluating potential acquisitions, determining awards under incentive compensation plans, and calculating compliance with certain loan covenants. Adjusted EBITDA is provided in the discussion of results of operations that follows as a supplemental measure of our operating results and is not intended to be a substitute for operating income, net income or cash flows from operating activities as defined under generally accepted accounting principles. In addition, Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies.
The table below sets forth a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net income for the three-, nine-, and twelve-month periods ended September 25, 2011 and September 26, 2010 .
Three months ended
Nine months ended
Twelve months ended
9/25/2011
9/26/2010
9/25/2011
9/26/2010
9/25/2011
9/26/2010
(In thousands )
Net income
$
152,730

$
75,748

$
72,704

$
31,600

$
9,537

$
5,308

Interest expense
41,353

41,487

124,650

103,886

171,049

137,598

Interest income
(32
)
(1,042
)
(120
)
(1,080
)
(194
)
(1,076
)
Provision (benefit) for taxes
38,161

87,977

22,327

37,380

(11,808
)
4,093

Depreciation and amortization
62,619

63,746

109,173

111,624

124,345

130,765

EBITDA
294,831

267,916

328,734

283,410

292,929

276,688

Loss on early extinguishment of debt

35,289


35,289


35,289

Net effect of swaps
(3,962
)
3,306

(3,507
)
12,915

1,772

19,001

Unrealized foreign currency (gain) loss on Notes
17,314

(4,789
)
13,224

(4,789
)
549

(4,789
)
Non-cash option expense (income)

(38
)
(228
)
(48
)
(269
)
(687
)
Loss on impairment of goodwill and other intangibles



1,390

903

5,890

Loss on impairment/retirement of fixed assets, net
880

319

1,076

319

63,509

345

Terminated merger costs

256

80

10,534

(79
)
16,153

Refinancing costs
(195
)
(2,517
)
955


955


Class action settlement costs



276


276

Other non-recurring items (as defined)
836


6,107


6,107


Adjusted EBITDA (1)
$
309,704

$
299,742

$
346,441

$
339,296

$
366,376

$
348,166

(1) As permitted by and defined in the Amended 2010 Credit Agreement

33


Results of Operations:


Nine Months Ended September 25, 2011 -

The following table presents key financial information for the nine months ended September 25, 2011 and September 26, 2010 :
Nine months ended
Nine months ended
Increase (Decrease)
9/25/2011
9/26/2010
$
%
(Amounts in thousands except per capita spending)
Net revenues
$
883,627

$
847,903

$
35,724

4.2
%
Operating costs and expenses
541,665

522,762

18,903

3.6
%
Depreciation and amortization
109,173

111,624

(2,451
)
(2.2
)%
Loss on impairment of goodwill and other intangibles

1,390

(1,390
)
N/M

Loss on impairment / retirement of fixed assets, net
1,076

319

757

N/M

Operating income
$
231,713

$
211,808

$
19,905

9.4
%
N/M - Not meaningful
Other Data:
Adjusted EBITDA
$
346,441

$
339,296

$
7,145

2.1
%
Adjusted EBITDA margin
39.2
%
40.0
%

(0.8
)%
Attendance
20,114

19,773

341

1.7
%
Per capita spending
$
40.15

$
39.35

$
0.80

2.0
%
Out-of-park revenues
$
97,622

$
92,173

$
5,449

5.9
%

Net revenues for the nine months ended September 25, 2011 increased $35.7 million to $883.6 million from $847.9 million during the nine months ended September 26, 2010 . The 4% increase in revenues reflects a 2% increase in combined attendance (341,000 visits) through the first nine months of 2011 when compared with the same period a year ago, due primarily to an increase in season-pass visits. The growth in season-pass visits was the result of an increased marketing focus toward season passes at several of our parks, resulting in a significant increase in the number of season passes sold, particularly in the northern and western regions.

The increase in revenues also reflects a 2%, or $0.80, increase in average in-park guest per capita spending during the first nine months of the year when compared with the first nine months of 2010, and a 6%, or $5.4 million, increase in out-of-park revenues from the sale of hotel rooms, food, merchandise and other complementary activities located outside of the park gates. In-park guest per capita spending represents the amount spent per attendee to gain admission to our parks plus all amounts spent while inside the park gates. For this year's nine-month period, average in-park per capita spending increased across the northern and southern regions, with the northern regions having the largest gain when compared to last year's first nine months, being offset by a slight decline in the western region. The 6% increase in out-of-park revenues primarily reflects improved operating results at our resort properties in 2011, which were driven by increased occupancy rates and higher average-daily-room rates. In addition, the increase in revenues for the first nine months of the year reflects the favorable impact of exchange rates and the weakening U.S. dollar on our Canadian operations ($7.5 million) during the period.

For the nine-month period in 2011, operating costs and expenses increased 4%, or $18.9 million, to $541.7 million from $522.8 million for the same period in 2010. This was the net result of a $4.2 million increase in cost of goods sold and a $15.5 million increase in operating expenses, offset somewhat by a $0.8 million decrease in selling, general and administrative costs. The 5% increase in operating expenses is primarily attributable to $7.7 million of higher wage costs, $3.2 million of higher maintenance costs and $1.9 million of higher operating supply costs. The cost of operating supplies has trended up between years primarily as the direct result of the increase in attendance. The increase in wages is largely the result of increased seasonal labor hours through the first nine months of 2011 compared to 2010, as a result of expanded park operating hours at several parks, additional attractions and guest services, and the overall effect of increased attendance. The decrease in selling, general and administrative costs in the period principally reflects the impact of costs from the terminated merger with Apollo during the first nine months of 2010 ($10.8 million) offset by legal and professional costs incurred during the first nine months of 2011 ($6.1 million), including litigation expenses and costs for SEC compliance matters related to Special Meeting requests. Selling, general and administrative costs in the period were also negatively affected by a $3.1 million increase in our long-term executive compensation plans resulting in large part from the increase in the market price of our units during the period. The overall increase in costs and expenses

34


discussed above reflect the negative impact of exchange rates on our Canadian operations ($2.9 million) during the first nine months of the year.

Depreciation and amortization expense for the period decreased $2.5 million, as a result of the impairment charge taken on the fixed assets of California's Great America at the end of 2010. For the nine-month period of 2011, the loss on impairment/retirement of fixed assets was $1.1 million, reflecting the retirement of fixed assets in the normal course of business at most of our properties. During the second quarter of 2010, we recognized a $1.4 million non-cash charge for the impairment of trade-names originally recorded at the time of the PPI acquisition. After depreciation, amortization, loss on impairment of the trade-names, loss on impairment / retirement of fixed assets, and all other non-cash costs, operating income for the period increased $19.9 million, or 9%, to $231.7 million for the nine-month period ending September 25, 2011 compared to operating income of $211.8 million for the nine-month period ending September 26, 2010.

As a result of the July 2010 refinancing of our debt, as well as the February 2011 amendment to our credit agreement (as further discussed in the "Liquidity and Capital Resources" section), interest-rate spreads, and to a lesser extent long-term borrowings, were higher during the first nine months of 2011 compared with the same period in 2010, causing an increase in interest expense. Based primarily on higher interest-rate spreads as well as somewhat higher long-term borrowings during the first half of 2011, interest expense for the current-year nine-month period increased $20.8 million to $124.7 million compared with $103.9 million for the same period in 2010.

The net effect of our swaps decreased $16.4 million between the nine-month periods, resulting in a non-cash benefit to earnings of $3.5 million for the first nine months of 2011, which compares to a $12.9 million non-cash charge to earnings the first nine months of 2010. The difference reflects the regularly scheduled amortization of amounts in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income ("AOCI") related to the swaps, which was offset by gains from marking the ineffective and de-designated swaps to market and foreign currency gains related to the U.S.-dollar denominated Canadian term loan in the current period. During the current nine-month period, we also recognized a $14.7 million net charge to earnings for unrealized/realized foreign currency gains and losses, which included a $13.2 million unrealized foreign currency loss on the U.S.-dollar denominated notes issued in July 2010 and held at our Canadian property.

During the first nine months of 2011, a provision for taxes of $22.3 million was recorded to account for publicly traded partnership (“PTP”) taxes and the tax attributes of our corporate subsidiaries. This compares with a $37.4 million provision for taxes for the same nine-month period in 2010. The year-over-year variation in the tax provision recorded through the first nine months of the year is primarily due to a lower estimated annual effective tax rate for the 2011 year, which was impacted by lower expected foreign taxes for 2011 and the related favorable adjustment to the foreign tax credit valuation allowance. Actual cash taxes paid or payable are estimated to be between $8 million and $10 million for the 2011 calendar year.

After interest expense, and the provision for taxes, net income for the nine months ended September 25, 2011 totaled $72.7 million, or $1.30 per diluted limited partner unit, compared with net income of $31.6 million, or $0.57 per diluted limited partner unit, for the nine months ended September 26, 2010.

For the nine-month period, Adjusted EBITDA (as defined in the Amended 2010 Credit Agreement), which we believe is a meaningful measure of the company's park-level operating results, increased $7.1 million to $346.4 million compared with $339.3 million during the same period a year ago. The increase in Adjusted EBITDA was due to the incremental net revenues resulting from the increases in combined attendance, average guest per capita spending and out-of-park revenues. These gains were offset somewhat by incremental operating costs associated with the increase in attendance. For the period, Adjusted EBITDA margin (Adjusted EBITDA divided by net revenues) declined by 80 basis points to 39.2% from 40.0%. The margin compression is primarily the result of a shift in the mix of operating profit in 2011 toward our lower margin parks. For additional information regarding Adjusted EBITDA, including how we define Adjusted EBITDA, why we believe it provides useful information, and a reconciliation to net income, see page 33.












35




Third Quarter -

The following table presents key financial information for the three months ended September 25, 2011 and September 26, 2010 :
Three months ended
Three months ended
Increase (Decrease)
9/25/2011
9/26/2010
$
%
(Amounts in thousands except per capita spending)
Net revenues
$
572,268

$
545,000

$
27,268

5.0
%
Operating costs and expenses
262,188

246,348

15,840

6.4
%
Depreciation and amortization
62,619

63,746

(1,127
)
(1.8
)%
Loss on impairment / retirement of fixed assets
880

319

561

N/M

Operating income
$
246,581

$
234,587

$
11,994

5.1
%
N/M - Not meaningful
Other Data:
Adjusted EBITDA
$
309,704

$
299,742

$
9,962

3.3
%
Adjusted EBITDA margin
54.1
%
55.0
%

(0.9
)%
Attendance
12,933

12,657

276

2.2
%
Per capita spending
$
40.84

$
39.83

$
1.01

2.5
%
Out-of-park revenues
$
58,879

$
54,587

$
4,292

7.9
%

For the quarter ended September 25, 2011 , net revenues increased 5%, or $27.3 million, to $572.3 million from $545.0 million in 2010. This increase reflects a 2% increase in combined attendance (276,000 visits) , a 3% increase in average in-park per capita spending, and an 8% ($4.3 million) increase in out-of-park revenues, including from our resort hotels. As mentioned in the nine-month discussion above, the increases in attendance and revenue were primarily due to improved season-pass sales and an increase in season-pass visits during the third quarter of 2011 across all regions. In addition, revenues from our resort properties increased in the current-year period on higher occupancy rates and average-daily-room rates. The increase in revenues for the third quarter of 2011 also reflects the favorable impact of exchange rates and the weakening U.S. dollar on our Canadian operations ($5.7 million) during the period.

Costs and expenses for the quarter increased 6%, or $15.8 million, to $262.2 million from $246.4 million in the third quarter of 2010, the net result of a $3.2 million increase in cost of goods sold, a $9.1 million increase in operating expenses and a $3.5 million increase in selling, general and administrative costs. The 6% increase in operating expenses is primarily attributable to $4.8 million of higher wage costs, as well as minor increases in operating supplies ($0.3 million), utility costs ($0.8 million) and insurance costs ($0.6 million). The cost of operating supplies in the quarter has trended up between years primarily as the direct result of the increase in attendance. The increase in wages is largely the result of increased seasonal labor hours during the third quarter of 2011 compared to 2010, as a result of expanded park operating hours at several parks, additional attractions and guest services, and the overall effect of increased attendance. The increase in selling, general and administrative costs in the quarter reflects the impact of legal and professional costs incurred during the third quarter of 2011 ($0.6 million), including litigation expenses and costs for SEC compliance matters related to Special Meeting requests, as well as the effect of a $2.5 million credit recognized in the third quarter of 2010 related to debt refinancing efforts. The overall increase in costs and expenses discussed above reflects the negative impact of exchange rates on our Canadian operations ($1.6 million) during the current quarter.

Interest expense for the third quarter of 2011 was $41.4 million, representing a $0.1 million decrease from the interest expense for the third quarter of 2010, as our interest rates and long-term borrowings decreased slightly as a result of the February 2011 refinancing.

During the third quarter of 2011, the net effect of our swaps decreased $7.3 million to a non-cash benefit to earnings of $4.0 million, reflecting the regularly scheduled amortization of amounts in AOCI related to interest rate swaps, as well as gains from marking the ineffective and de-designated swaps to market and foreign currency gains related to the U.S.-dollar denominated Canadian term loan in the current period. During the third quarter of 2011, we also recognized a $18.5 million net charge to earnings for unrealized/realized foreign currency gains and losses, $17.3 million of which represents an unrealized foreign currency loss on the U.S.-dollar denominated notes issued in July 2010 and held at our Canadian property.

36



During the quarter, a provision for taxes of $38.2 million was recorded to account for PTP taxes and the tax attributes of our corporate subsidiaries, compared to a provision for taxes of $88.0 million in the same period a year ago. The variation in the tax provision recorded between periods is due primarily to the lower estimated annual effective tax rate for the 2011 year as discussed in the nine month section above.

After interest expense and the provision for taxes, net income for the quarter totaled $152.7 million, or $2.74 per diluted limited partner unit, compared with net income of $75.7 million, or $1.36 per diluted limited partner unit, for the third quarter a year ago.

For the third quarter of 2011, Adjusted EBITDA increased 3% to $309.7 million from $299.7 million in 2010, due primarily to the incremental net revenues resulting from the increases in combined attendance, average guest per capita spending and out-of-park revenues. These gains were partially offset by higher park-level operating costs during the quarter. For the period, Adjusted EBITDA margin (adjusted EBITDA divided by net revenues) declined by 90 basis points to 54.1% from 55.0%. Consistent with our nine-month results, the slight margin compression is primarily the result of a shift in the mix of operating profit during the third quarter of 2011 toward our lower margin parks. For additional information regarding Adjusted EBITDA, including how we define Adjusted EBITDA, why we believe it provides useful information, and a reconciliation to net income, see page 33.


Twelve Months Ended September 25, 2011 -

The following table presents key financial information for the twelve months ended September 25, 2011 and September 26, 2010 :

Twelve months ended
Twelve months ended
Increase (Decrease)
9/25/2011
9/26/2010
$
%
(Amounts in thousands except per capita spending)
Net revenues
$
1,013,316

$
953,473

$
59,843

6.3
%
Operating costs and expenses
650,925

624,489

26,436

4.2
%
Depreciation and amortization
124,345

130,765

(6,420
)
(4.9
)%
Loss on impairment of goodwill and other intangibles
903

5,890

(4,987
)
N/M

Loss on impairment/retirement of fixed assets
63,509

345

63,164

N/M

Operating income
$
173,634

$
191,984

$
(18,350
)
(9.6
)%
N/M - Not meaningful
Other Data:
Adjusted EBITDA
$
366,376

$
348,166

$
18,210

5.2
%
Adjusted EBITDA margin
36.2
%
36.5
%

(0.4
)%
Attendance
23,135

22,159

976

4.4
%
Per capita spending
$
39.91

$
39.23

$
0.68

1.7
%
Out-of-park revenues
$
114,258

$
108,331

$
5,927

5.5
%

Net revenues for the twelve months ended September 25, 2011 , were $1,013.3 million compared with $953.5 million for the twelve months ended September 26, 2010 . The increase of $59.8 million in net revenues reflects a 4% (976,000 visits) increase in combined attendance, a 5%, ($5.9 million) increase in out-of-park revenues, and a 2% ($0.68) increase in average in-park guest per capita spending. The increase in out-of-park revenues is primarily the result of increased revenues at our resort properties, driven by higher occupancy rates and average-daily-room rates. The improved attendance for the current twelve-month period relative to the prior twelve-month period reflects strong attendance figures in the fourth quarter of 2010 and third quarter of 2011, largely due to increases in season passes sold and season-pass visits. In addition, attendance in the trailing twelve months ended September 25, 2011 benefited from favorable weather conditions throughout much of the fourth quarter of 2010 when compared to the fourth quarter of 2009. Revenues for the period also benefited from the impact of currency exchange rates and the weakening U.S. dollar on our Canadian operations (approximately $7.9 million).

When comparing the two twelve-month periods, costs and expenses increased $26.4 million, or 4%, to $650.9 million from $624.5 million for the same period a year ago. The increase in costs and expenses was the net result of a $4.4 million increase in cost of goods sold, a $23.9 million increase in operating expenses offset by a $1.9 million decrease in selling, general and administrative costs. Consistent with the trends mentioned in our nine-month discussion above, the 6% increase in operating expenses is primarily attributable to higher wages, maintenance costs and operating supply costs during the current twelve-month period compared to

37


the same period a year ago. In addition, the overall increase in costs and expenses reflects the negative impact of exchange rates on our Canadian operations ($3.3 million) during the twelve-month period compared to the same period a year ago.

Depreciation and amortization expense for the trailing-twelve-month periods decreased $6.4 million between years, resulting primarily from the impairment charge taken on the fixed assets of California's Great America at the end of 2010. During the twelve-month period ended September 25, 2011, we recognized a non-cash charge of $0.9 million for the partial impairment of trade-names originally recorded at the time of the PPI acquisition, which was booked in the fourth quarter of 2010. This compares with a total non-cash charge of $5.9 million for the impairment of trade-names during the twelve-month period ended September 26, 2010, which was recorded in the second quarter of 2010 ($1.4 million) and the fourth quarter of 2009 ($4.5 million). Additionally, in the current trailing-twelve month period we recognized a non-cash charge of $62.0 million at California's Great America for the partial impairment of the park's fixed assets and a $1.5 million charge for asset retirements across all properties. This compares to a non-cash charge of $0.3 million in the same period a year ago for the retirement of assets across our properties. After depreciation, amortization, loss on impairment of the trade-names, loss on impairment / retirement of fixed assets, and all other non-cash costs, operating income for the twelve months ended September 25, 2011 decreased $18.4 million to $173.6 million compared with $192.0 million for the same period a year ago.

As a result of the July 2010 debt refinancing, as well as the February 2011 amendment to the credit agreement, interest-rate spreads and long-term borrowings were higher during the current trailing-twelve-month period than the same period a year ago. Based on the higher interest rates and long-term borrowings, interest expense for the period increased $33.4 million to $171.0 million from $137.6 million for the same period a year ago. Also as the result of the July 2010 refinancing, a $35.3 million loss on the early extinguishment of debt was recognized and recorded in the statement of operations.

The net effect of our swaps during the period was a non-cash charge to earnings of $1.8 million, representing a decrease of $17.2 million from the twelve-month period in 2010. This non-cash charge reflects the regularly scheduled amortization of amounts in AOCI related to the swaps, offset somewhat by gains from marking the ineffective and de-designated swaps to market and foreign currency gains related to the U.S.-dollar denominated Canadian term loan in the current period. During the last twelve-month period, we also recognized a $2.3 million net charge to earnings for unrealized/realized foreign currency gains and losses, $0.5 million of which represents an unrealized foreign currency loss on the U.S.-dollar denominated notes issued in July and held at our Canadian property.

A net benefit for taxes of $11.8 million was recorded to account for PTP taxes and the tax attributes of our corporate subsidiaries during the twelve-month period ended September 25, 2011 , compared with a provision for taxes of $4.1 million during the same twelve-month period a year ago. The variation in the tax provision (benefit) recorded between periods is due primarily to the lower estimated annual effective tax rate for the 2011 year, as noted above in our discussion of nine-month operating results.

After interest expense and the provision (benefit) for taxes, net income for the twelve months ended September 25, 2011 was $9.5 million, or $0.17 per diluted limited partner unit, compared with net income of $5.3 million, or $0.10 per diluted limited partner unit, for the twelve months ended September 26, 2010 .
For the twelve-month period ended September 25, 2011 , Adjusted EBITDA increased $18.2 million, or 5%, to $366.4 million, primarily the result of the revenue growth between years driven by the increase in attendance and per-capita spending, and offset somewhat by incremental operating costs associated with the increase in attendance. For the period, Adjusted EBITDA margin (Adjusted EBITDA divided by net revenues) declined by 30 basis points to 36.2% from 36.5%. The margin compression is primarily the result of a shift in the mix of operating profit in 2011 toward our lower margin parks. For additional information regarding Adjusted EBITDA, including how we define Adjusted EBITDA, why we believe it provides useful information, and a reconciliation to net income, see page 33.

October 2011 -

Based on preliminary October results, net revenues for the first ten months of the year increased approximately $46 million to $997 million from $951 million for the same period a year ago, on a comparable number of operating days. The revenue increase reflects a 2% increase in attendance to 22.7 million visitors from 22.2 million through the first ten months of 2010 and a 2% increase in average in-park guest per capita spending. Over this same period, out-of-park revenues increased approximately $6 million, or 6%, to $107 million, driven primarily by improved occupancy levels at our resort properties.




38



Liquidity and Capital Resources:
With respect to both liquidity and cash flow, we ended the third quarter of 2011 in sound condition. The negative working capital ratio (current liabilities divided by current assets) of 1.3 at September 25, 2011 reflects the impact of our seasonal business. Receivables and inventories are at normal seasonal levels and credit facilities are in place to fund current liabilities and capital expenditures.

In July 2010, we issued $405 million of 9.125% senior unsecured notes, maturing in 2018, in a private placement, including $5.6 million of Original Issue Discount (OID) to yield 9.375%. Concurrently with this offering, we entered into a new $1,435 million credit agreement (the "2010 Credit Agreement"), which included a new $1,175 million senior secured term loan facility and a new $260 million senior secured revolving credit facility. The net proceeds from the offering of the notes, along with proceeds from the 2010 Credit Agreement, were used to repay in full all amounts outstanding under our existing credit facilities.

In February 2011, we amended the 2010 Credit Agreement (as so amended, the "Amended 2010 Credit Agreement"), including to extend the maturity date of the U.S. term loan portion of the credit facilities by one year. Under the Amended 2010 Credit Agreement, the extended U.S. term loan is scheduled to mature in December of 2017 and bears interest at a rate of LIBOR plus 300 bps, with a LIBOR floor of 100 bps.
The Amended 2010 Credit Agreement also includes a $260 million revolving credit facility. Under the agreement, the Canadian portion of the revolving credit facility has a limit of $15 million. U.S. denominated loans made under the revolving credit facility bear interest at a rate of LIBOR plus 400 bps (with no LIBOR floor). Canadian denominated loans made under the Canadian portion of the facility also bear interest at a rate of LIBOR plus 400 bps (with no LIBOR floor). The revolving credit facility, which matures in July of 2015, also provides for the issuance of documentary and standby letters of credit.
In August of 2011, we made an $18 million optional prepayment on our variable-rate term debt. As a result of this prepayment, at the end of the third quarter we had no term debt maturities due within the next twelve months. At the end of the quarter, we had a total of $1,156.1 million of variable-rate term debt, $400.2 million of fixed-rate debt (including OID), no outstanding borrowings under our revolving credit facility, and cash on hand of $96.3 million. After letters of credit, which totaled $15.6 million at September 25, 2011 , we had $244.4 million of available borrowings under the revolving credit facility under the Amended 2010 Credit Agreement.
Our $405 million of senior unsecured notes require semi-annual interest payments in February and August, with the principal due in full on August 1, 2018. The notes may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at any time prior to August 1, 2014 at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes redeemed plus a “make-whole” premium together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date. Thereafter, the notes may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at various prices depending on the date redeemed. Prior to August 1, 2013, up to 35% of the notes may be redeemed with the net cash proceeds of certain equity offerings at 109.125%.
In 2006, we entered into several fixed-rate interest rate swap agreements totaling $1.0 billion. The weighted average fixed-LIBOR rate on these interest rate swaps, which matured on October 1, 2011, was 5.6%. Based upon our scheduled quarterly regression analysis testing of the effectiveness for the accounting treatment of these swaps, as well as changes in the forward interest rate yield curves used in that testing, the swaps were deemed to be ineffective beginning in October 2009 and continued to be deemed ineffective through September 25, 2011 . This resulted in the swaps not qualifying for hedge accounting during the fourth quarter of 2009 and through 2010 and the first three quarters of 2011. The fair market value of these instruments at September 25, 2011 was a $4.8 million liability, which was recorded in “Current derivative liability” on the condensed consolidated balance sheet.
In 2007, we entered into two cross-currency swap agreements, which mature in February 2012 and effectively converted $268.7 million of term debt at the time, and the associated interest payments, from U.S. dollar denominated debt at a rate of LIBOR plus 200 bps to 6.3% fixed-rate Canadian dollar denominated debt. As a result of paying down the underlying Canadian term debt with net proceeds from the sale of surplus land near Canada’s Wonderland in August 2009, the notional amounts of the underlying debt and the cross-currency swaps no longer match. Because of the mismatch of the notional amounts, we determined the swaps would no longer be highly effective going forward, resulting in the de-designation of the swaps as of the end of August 2009. The fair market value of these instruments at September 25, 2011 was a $37.7 million liability, which was recorded in “Current derivative liability” on the condensed consolidated balance sheet.
Based on the change in currency exchange rates from the time we originally entered into the cross-currency swap agreements in 2007, the termination liability of the swaps has increased steadily over time. In order to protect ourselves from further downside risk to the swaps' termination value, in May 2011 we entered into several foreign currency swap agreements to fix the exchange

39


rate on 50% of the liability. In July 2011, we fixed the exchange rate on another 25% of the swap liability, leaving only 25% exposed to further fluctuations in currency exchange rates. The fair market value of the foreign currency swap agreements in place as of September 25, 2011 was a liability of $16.8 million , which was recorded in "Current derivative liability" on the condensed consolidated balance sheet. Based on currency exchange rates in place at the end of the third quarter of 2011 and the exchange rates locked into by the foreign currency swap agreements, we estimate the cash termination costs of the cross-currency swaps will total approximately $50 million in February 2012.
The following table presents fixed-rate swaps in existence as of September 25, 2011 , along with their notional amounts and their fixed interest rates, which compare to 30-day LIBOR of 0.25%. These swaps matured on October 1, 2011. The table also presents our cross-currency swaps and their notional amounts and interest rates as of September 25, 2011 .
($'s in thousands)
Interest Rate Swaps
Cross-currency Swaps
Notional Amounts
LIBOR Rate
Notional Amounts
Interest Rate
$
200,000

5.64
%
$
256,000

7.31
%
200,000

5.64
%
500

9.50
%
200,000

5.64
%
200,000

5.57
%
100,000

5.60
%
100,000

5.60
%
Total $'s / Average Rate
$
1,000,000

5.62
%
$
256,500

7.31
%
In order to maintain fixed interest costs on a portion of its domestic term debt beyond the expiration of the swaps entered into in 2006 and 2007, in September 2010 we entered into several forward-starting swap agreements ("September 2010 swaps") to effectively convert a total of $600 million of variable-rate debt to fixed rates beginning in October 2011. As a result of the February 2011 amendment to our credit agreement, the LIBOR floor on the term loan portion of our credit facilities decreased to 100 bps from 150 bps, causing a mismatch in critical terms of the September 2010 swaps and the underlying debt. Because of the mismatch of critical terms, we determined the September 2010 swaps, which were originally designated as cash flow hedges, were no longer highly effective, resulting in the de-designation of the September 2010 swaps as of the end of February 2011.
In order to monetize the difference in the LIBOR floors, in March 2011 we entered into several additional forward-starting basis-rate swap agreements ("March 2011 swaps") that, when combined with the September 2010 swaps, will effectively convert $600 million of variable-rate debt to fixed rates beginning in October 2011. The September 2010 swaps and the March 2011 swaps, which have been jointly designated as cash flow hedges, mature in December 2015 and fix LIBOR at a weighted average rate of 2.46%.
On May 2, 2011, we entered into four additional forward-starting basis-rate swap agreements ("May 2011 forward-starting swaps") that effectively convert another $200 million of variable-rate debt to fixed rates beginning in October 2011. These swaps, which have been designated as cash flow hedges, mature in December 2015 and fix LIBOR at a weighted average rate of 2.54% . The fair market value of all $800 million of forward-starting swap agreements at September 25, 2011 was a liability of $33.8 million , which was recorded in "Derivative Liability" on the condensed consolidated balance sheet.

40


The following table presents our September 2010 swaps, March 2011 swaps, and May 2011 forward-starting swaps, which became effective October 1, 2011 and mature December 15, 2015, along with their notional amounts and their effective fixed interest rates.
($'s in thousands)
Forward-Starting Interest Rate Swaps
Notional Amounts
LIBOR Rate
$
200,000

2.40
%
75,000

2.43
%
50,000

2.42
%
150,000

2.55
%
50,000

2.42
%
50,000

2.55
%
25,000

2.43
%
50,000

2.54
%
30,000

2.54
%
70,000

2.54
%
50,000

2.54
%
Total $'s / Average Rate
$
800,000

2.48
%

The Amended 2010 Credit Agreement requires us to maintain specified financial ratios, which if breached for any reason, including a decline in operating results due to economic or weather conditions, could result in an event of default under the agreement. The most critical of these ratios is the Consolidated Leverage Ratio, which is measured on a trailing-twelve-month quarterly basis. At the end of the third quarter of 2011, this ratio was set at 6.25x consolidated total debt (excluding the revolving debt)-to-consolidated EBITDA. Beginning with the fourth quarter of 2011, this ratio will decrease to 6.0x consolidated total debt (excluding the revolving debt)-to consolidated EBITDA, and the ratio will decrease further each fourth quarter beginning with the fourth quarter of 2013. Based on our trailing-twelve-month results ending September 25, 2011 , our Consolidated Leverage Ratio was 4.25 x, providing $117.4 million of EBITDA cushion on the ratio at the end of the third quarter. We were in compliance with all other covenants under the Amended 2010 Credit Agreement as of September 25, 2011 .
The Amended 2010 Credit Agreement also includes provisions that allow us to make restricted payments of up to $60 million in 2011 and up to $20 million annually thereafter, at the discretion of the Board of Directors, so long as no default or event of default has occurred and is continuing. The restricted payment limitation in place under the agreement during 2010 and prior to the recent amendment capped the annual amount of permitted restricted payments at $20 million. These restricted payments are not subject to any specific covenants. Beginning in 2012, additional restricted payments are allowed to be made based on an excess-cash-flow formula, should our pro-forma Consolidated Leverage Ratio be less than or equal to 4.50x, measured on a trailing-twelve-month quarterly basis.
The terms of the indenture governing our notes permit us to make restricted payments of $20 million annually. Our ability to make additional restricted payments in 2011 and beyond is permitted should our trailing-twelve-month Total-Indebtedness-to-Consolidated-Cash-Flow Ratio be less than or equal to 4.75x, measured on a quarterly basis.
In accordance with these debt provisions, on August 3, 2011, we announced the declaration of a distribution of $0.12 per limited partner unit, which was paid on September 15, 2011, bringing the total amount of distributions declared and paid in 2011 to $0.30 per limited partner unit.
In addition to the above, among other covenants and provisions, the Amended 2010 Credit Agreement contains an initial three-year requirement (from July 2010) that at least 50% of our aggregate term debt and senior notes be subject to either a fixed interest rate or interest rate protection. As of September 25, 2011, we were well within compliance of this requirement.
Existing credit facilities and cash flows from operations are expected to be sufficient to meet working capital needs, debt service, partnership distributions and planned capital expenditures for the foreseeable future.





41


Off Balance Sheet Arrangements:
We had $15.6 million in letters of credit, which are primarily in place to backstop insurance arrangements, outstanding on our revolving credit facility as of September 25, 2011 . We have no other significant off-balance sheet financing arrangements.

Forward Looking Statements
Some of the statements contained in this report (including the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” section) that are not historical in nature are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including statements as to our expectations, beliefs and strategies regarding the future. These forward-looking statements may involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict, may be beyond our control and could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in such statements. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Important factors, including those listed under Item 1A in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, could adversely affect our future financial performance and cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations.


ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
We are exposed to market risks from fluctuations in interest rates, and to a lesser extent in currency exchange rates on our operations in Canada and, 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, interest rate swaps, which fix a portion of our variable-rate long-term debt, and variable-rate borrowings under our revolving credit loans. We mitigate a portion of our foreign currency exposure from the Canadian dollar through the use of foreign-currency denominated debt. Hedging of the U.S. dollar denominated debt, used to fund a substantial portion of our net investment in our Canadian operations, is accomplished through the use of cross-currency swaps. Any gain or loss on the effective hedging instrument primarily offsets the gain or loss on the underlying debt. Translation exposures with regard to our Canadian operations are not hedged.
For derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as cash flow hedges, the effective portion of the change in fair value of the derivative instrument is reported as a component of “Other comprehensive income (loss)” and reclassified into earnings in the period during which the hedged transaction affects earnings. Changes in fair value of derivative instruments that do not qualify as effective hedging activities are reported as “Net effect of swaps” in the consolidated statement of operations. Additionally, the “Other comprehensive income (loss)” related to interest rate swaps that become ineffective is amortized over the remaining life of the interest rate swap, and reported as a component of “Net effect of swaps” in the consolidated statement of operations.
After considering the impact of interest rate swap agreements that are currently in place, approximately $1.5 billion of our outstanding long-term debt represents fixed-rate debt and approximately $100.0 million represents variable-rate debt. Assuming an average balance on our revolving credit borrowings of approximately $55 million, a hypothetical 100 bps increase in 30-day LIBOR on our variable-rate debt, after the fixed-rate swap agreements, would lead to an increase of approximately $1.1 million in annual cash interest costs.
A uniform 10% strengthening of the U.S. dollar relative to the Canadian dollar would result in a $4.0 million decrease in annual operating income.














42


ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

(a) Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures -
The Partnership maintains a system of controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Partnership in its reports under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified by the Commission and that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Partnership’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and the interim co-principal financial officers, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. As of September 25, 2011 , the Partnership has evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of its disclosure controls and procedures under supervision of management, including the Partnership’s Chief Executive Officer and interim co-principal financial officers. Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and interim co-principal financial officers concluded that the Partnership’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective.
(b) Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting -
There were no changes in the Partnership’s internal controls over financial reporting in connection with its 2011 third -quarter evaluation, or subsequent to such evaluation, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Partnership’s internal control over financial reporting.

43


PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

Jacob T. Falfas vs. Cedar Fair, L.P.

On July 23, 2010, Jacob T. (Jack) Falfas, the former Chief Operating Officer, filed a demand for private arbitration as provided by his employment agreement. In that demand, Mr. Falfas disputed the Partnership's position that he had resigned in June 2010, alleging instead that his employment with the Partnership was terminated without cause. That dispute went to private arbitration, and on February 28, 2011, an arbitration panel ruled 2-to-1 in favor of Mr. Falfas finding that he did not resign but was terminated without cause. Rather than fashioning a remedy consistent with the employment agreement, the panel ruled that Mr. Falfas should be reinstated. The Partnership believes that the arbitrators exceeded their authority by creating a remedy not legally available to Mr. Falfas under his contract with Cedar Fair. On March 21, 2011, the Partnership filed an action  in Erie County Court of Common Pleas (Case No. 2011 CV 0217) seeking  to have the award modified or vacated. On March 22, 2011, Mr. Falfas commenced a related action in the Erie County Court of Common Pleas  (Case No. 2011 CV 0218) demanding enforcement of the arbitration ruling.  The two actions have been combined into Case No. 2011 CV 0217, before Judge Roger E. Binette. The legal briefing in the case was completed on June 24, 2011 and the case is now before the Court awaiting a decision. The Partnership does not expect the arbitration ruling or the pending lawsuit to materially affect its financial results in future periods.

Q Funding III, L.P. and Q4 Funding, L.P. vs. Cedar Fair Management, Inc.

On October 14, 2010, Q Funding III, L.P. and Q4 Funding, L.P. (together, "Q Funding"), both Cedar Fair, L.P. unitholders, commenced an action in the Delaware Court of Chancery against Cedar Fair Management, Inc. ("CFMI") and Cedar Fair, L.P. The complaint alleges, among other things, that CFMI breached the terms of the Fifth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership (the “Partnership Agreement”) by indicating that unitholders may lack the right to nominate candidates, or to solicit proxies in support of new candidates, for election to the board of directors of CFMI. Q Funding seeks, among other things, (i) a declaratory judgment that under the terms of the Partnership Agreement, all unitholders, including Q Funding, have the right to nominate and solicit proxies in support of candidates for election as directors to the Board of CFMI, and (ii) injunctive relief precluding the Company or its representatives from taking any action to interfere with unitholders’ rights to nominate and solicit proxies in support of candidates for election as directors to the Board of CFMI at the 2011 annual meeting of Cedar Fair unitholders and subsequent annual meetings of the Cedar Fair unitholders. The Partnership filed an answer denying the allegations as set forth in the complaint and the Partnership and Q Funding thereafter engaged in discovery. On March 9, 2011, Q Funding requested a suspension of the litigation scheduled in the nomination rights action and requested that the evidentiary hearing, which was originally scheduled for April 21, 2011, be removed from the Court's calendar. The Partnership supported Q Funding's request and the evidentiary hearing has since been postponed. On April 20, 2011, Q Funding filed a motion for leave to amend and supplement its original complaint to include an additional allegation of breach of fiduciary duty regarding to disclosures contained in the Partnership's 2004 Proxy Statement. The Partnership filed its Answer to the Amended Complaint denying the claims on May 23, 2011.

On March 17, 2011, Q Funding commenced an action in the Delaware Court of Chancery against CFMI and Cedar Fair, L.P. seeking declaratory and injunctive relief directing the Partnership to schedule a special meeting of Cedar Fair's unitholders to consider an amendment proposed by plaintiffs to Cedar Fair's Partnership Agreement relating to unitholder nomination rights. On April 13, 2011, the Partnership filed a motion to dismiss the action. On May 3, 2011 the Partnership filed a definitive proxy with the Securities and Exchange Commission which set a record date of April 11, 2011 and a special meeting of the Partnership's unitholders was held on June 2, 2011. Q Funding voluntarily dismissed the suit on June 14, 2011.

On June 14, 2011, Q Funding commenced an action in Delaware Court of Chancery against CFMI and Cedar Fair L.P. seeking declaratory and injunctive relief relating to plaintiffs' May 17, 2011 request for a special meeting of Cedar Fair's unitholders to consider, among other things, a proposal to remove CFMI as the general partner of Cedar Fair and to amend the Partnership Agreement to allow unitholders to nominate directors for election to the board of directors of the general partner. This new lawsuit was filed in response to defendants' June 10, 2011 denial of plaintiffs' May 17 special meeting request on the grounds that, as required by the Partnership Agreement, the request failed to: (i) identify and provide adequate information regarding the successor general partner; (ii) provide an opinion of counsel that the removal of CFMI as the general partner of Cedar Fair and the selection and admission of a successor general partner will not result in the loss of limited liability for any limited partner or cause Cedar Fair to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation for federal income tax purposes; and (iii) provide specific language for the proposed amendment to the Partnership Agreement. Q Funding has provided the required legal opinions but has not provided the remainder of the required information. The Partnership has not yet filed an answer, and the case is still pending in the Delaware Court.


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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
There have been no material changes to the risk factors previously disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.

ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION
At a special meeting of unitholders held on October 27, 2011, the unitholders adopted amendments to the limited partnership agreement of Cedar Fair, L.P. and the regulations of CFMI to give unitholders the right to nominate directors for election to the Board of Directors. The specific procedures and information requirements (including eligibility requirements and timeliness of notice) pursuant to which unitholders can nominate directors for election to the Board of Directors are set forth in Section 6.2(d) of the Sixth Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement, filed with this Quarterly Report as Exhibit 3.1.



ITEM 6. EXHIBITS
Exhibit (2.1)
Asset Purchase Agreement between Cedar Fair , L.P., Cedar Fair Southwest Inc., and Magnum Management Corporation and JMA Ventures, LLC, dated September 16, 2011, for the sale of assets of California's Great America.
Exhibit (3.1)
Sixth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Cedar Fair, L.P.
Exhibit (3.2)
Regulations of Cedar Fair Management, Inc.
Exhibit (10.1)
Employment Agreement, by and between Cedar Fair, L.P., Cedar Fair Management, Inc., and Magnum Management Corporation and Richard Zimmerman, dated October 14, 2011, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant's Form 8-K filed on October 18, 2011.
Exhibit (31.1)
Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
Exhibit (31.2)
Certification of Interim Co-Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
Exhibit (31.3)
Certification of Interim Co-Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
Exhibit (32)
Certifications Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
Exhibit (101)
The following materials from the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 25, 2011 formatted in Extensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL): (i) The Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income, (ii) the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, (iii) The Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow, (iv) the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Equity and, (v) related notes

45


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.
CEDAR FAIR, L.P.
(Registrant)
By Cedar Fair Management, Inc.
General Partner
Date:
November 4, 2011
/s/ Richard L. Kinzel
Richard L. Kinzel
Chief Executive Officer
Date:
November 4, 2011
/s/ Brian C. Witherow
Brian C. Witherow
Vice President and Corporate Controller
(Chief Accounting Officer)


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INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit (2.1)
Asset Purchase Agreement between Cedar Fair , L.P., Cedar Fair Southwest Inc., and Magnum Management Corporation and JMA Ventures, LLC, dated September 16, 2011, for the sale of assets of California's Great America.
Exhibit (3.1)
Sixth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Cedar Fair, L.P.
Exhibit (3.2)
Regulations of Cedar Fair Management, Inc.
Exhibit (10.1)
Employment Agreement, by and between Cedar Fair, L.P., Cedar Fair Management, Inc., and Magnum Management Corporation and Richard Zimmerman, dated October 14, 2011. Incorporated herein by reference to exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant's Form 8-K filed on October 18, 2011.
Exhibit (31.1)
Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
Exhibit (31.2)
Certification of Interim Co-Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
Exhibit (31.3)
Certification of Interim Co-Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
Exhibit (32)
Certifications Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
Exhibit (101)
The following materials from the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 25, 2011 formatted in Extensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL): (i) The Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income, (ii) the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, (iii) The Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow, (iv) the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Equity and, (v) related notes

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