Trans World Corporation Reports 2012 Fourth Quarter and Year End Financial Results

Trans World Corporation Reports 2012 Fourth Quarter and Year End Financial Results

Company to Host Conference Call at 2:00 PM ET

Year 2012 versus 2011 Financial Highlights

• Income from continuing operations, before income taxes, increased by 9.5% to $3.7 million, from approximately $3.4 million in 2011;

• Revenue from continuing operations decreased 1.4% to $36.0 million, from $36.5 million a year ago;

• Income from continuing operations (after income taxes of approximately $2.1 million) was $1.6 million, or $0.18 per diluted share, compared with approximately $3.2 million, or $0.36 per diluted share, in the prior year period, which did not have such corporate tax on gaming income, plus had lower gaming tax rates;

• EBITDA from continuing operations decreased 3.8% to $5.7 million, from $5.9 million a year ago; and

• Stockholders' equity at December 31, 2012 was approximately $41.2 million, or $4.56 per diluted share, compared with $37.2 million, or $4.16 per diluted share, at December 31, 2011.

Fourth Quarter 2012 versus Fourth Quarter 2011 Financial Highlights

• Income from continuing operations before income taxes was approximately $1.3 million versus approximately $1.4 million in the same period a year ago, a decrease of 7.1%;

• Revenue from continuing operations increased 1.2% to approximately $9.6 million, from approximately $9.5 million, a year ago this period;

• Income from continuing operations (after income taxes of $802,000) was $394,000, or $0.04 per diluted share, compared with approximately $1.1 million, or $0.12 per diluted share, in the prior year period, which was not subject to corporate tax on gaming income and had lower gaming tax rates; and

• EBITDA from continuing operations decreased 9.6% to approximately $1.7 million, from approximately $1.9 million, largely from higher gaming taxes.

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Trans World Corporation ("TWC" or the "Company") (OTC: TWOC), a premier owner and operator of casinos and a hotel in Europe, today reported financial results for its fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2012.

Mr. Rami Ramadan, Chief Executive Officer of TWC, noted, "Despite the negative impact of the new tax laws that took effect in 2012, we remained profitable, our 10^thconsecutive year now.Thanks to improved operational efficiencies and lower overhead expenses, with roughly the same level of total revenue as in 2011, we were able to absorb approximately $4.3 million in additional taxes, of which $2.4 million were in gaming taxes and approximately $1.9 million were in foreign income taxes.Further, our operations also overcame a declinein business volume during the second quarter, when we experienced lower than average attendance at our casinos as a result of the 2012 Euro Cup Championship.Attendance levels quickly returned to normal once the tournament ended, and our revenues remained steady for the remainder of the year.As for the top line, we continued to develop and enhance marketing and promotional programs at our casinos throughout the year, focusing, primarily, on internal and customer-oriented loyalty rewards programs. These programs have proven to be cost effective and have the dual benefit of increasing the time players spend at the tables and slots as well as retaining existing, and attracting new, quality players."

Operational Review

Year 2012:

Total revenue for the year ended December 31, 2012 decreased 1.4% to $36.0 million, from $36.5 million a year ago, principally, as a result of lower live-game revenue, which was partially offset by improved slot business. Income from continuing operations before income taxes rose 9.5% to $3.7 million, from approximately $3.4 million in the prior year, due, notably, to lower overhead and depreciation expenses.

As TWC previously reported, the Czech government passed amendments in 2011, which became effective on January 1, 2012, that changed the tax rates on gaming revenues to a new, flat gaming tax of 20.0% of gross gaming revenue and imposed a 19% corporate income tax on casino operations. Consequently, gaming taxes and fees for the Company effectively rose to 21.0% of gross gaming revenue in 2012, from 15.6% of gross gaming revenue a year ago.

The Company accrued approximately $2.1 million as a provision for foreign income taxes for the year ended December 31, 2012, which reduced income from continuing operations after taxes to $1.6 million, or $0.18 per diluted share, compared with a tax provision of $199,000 and income from continuing operations after taxes of approximately $3.2 million, or $0.36 per diluted share, for the prior year. The 2012 tax provision includes $505,000 of deferred income taxes.

EBITDA from continuing operations decreased 3.8% to $5.7 million, from $5.9 million in 2011, principally due to the aforementioned higher gaming tax burden. A table reconciling EBITDA, a non-GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) financial measure, to the appropriate GAAP measure is included with the Company's financial information below.

Q4 2012:

Fourth quarter revenue from TWC's continuing operations was approximately $9.6 million, up 1.2% from the approximate $9.5 million generated in the same quarter a year ago. The increase was largely due to improvements in slot revenues, which were up 13.0%.

Income from continuing operations before income taxes for the last quarter of 2012 decreased 8.6%, to approximately $1.3 million, versus approximately $1.4 million for the same quarter in 2011. The decrease was attributable to higher gaming tax rates, which went into effect in 2012 and increased gaming taxes by 55% for the quarter versus the fourth quarter of 2011.

Income from continuing operations after income taxes of $802,000 was $394,000, or $0.04 per diluted share, versus approximately $1.1 million, or $0.12 per diluted share, after income taxes of $199,000, for the same quarter a year ago, which was not subject to material income taxes.

EBITDA from continuing operations was approximately $1.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2012, compared with approximately $1.9 million in the prior year quarter, a 9.6% decrease, principally due to the higher tax burden.

Outlook for 2013

Mr. Ramadan concluded, "TWC is committed to maximizing shareholder value, improving operational efficiencies and providing our patrons with the highest level of service.We will continue to seek opportunities in the hospitality and gaming arena, including potential strategic acquisitions or partnerships throughout Europe. However, we will remain selective and will only move forward in a manner that is accretive and adds value to our shareholders. TWC's capital position has improved dramatically over the past year, thus we believe that TWC is well-positioned for growth."

Stock Repurchase Program Update

In November 2012, TWC's Board of Directors approved a stock repurchase program, in accordance with the retirement method, authorizing the repurchase of up to 500,000 shares of the Company's common stock over a 12-month period. The Company and its Board believe that by implementing this repurchase program they can demonstrate to TWC's shareholders their confidence in the long-term prospects of the Company.

The Company has since repurchased 34,900 shares of common stock at an average stock price of $2.63, arriving at 8,836,735 outstanding shares, as of December 31, 2012.

Balance Sheet Highlights

The Company had cash of approximately $6.9 million at December 31, 2012 compared with $5.6 million at December 31, 2011. Total assets at the end of the year reached $51.0 million, from approximately $50.5 million in 2011. Stockholders' equity at December 31, 2012 improved to approximately $41.2 million, or $4.56 per diluted share, from $37.2 million, or $4.16 per diluted share, at December 31, 2011. The Company lowered its long term debt less current maturities to approximately $1.4 million at December 31, 2012 from approximately $3.1 million at December 31, 2011.

Conference Call

The Company will discuss these results in a conference call later today at 2:00 PM ET.

The conference call will also be webcast live. To listen to the call, please go to the Investor Relations section of Trans World's website at www.transwc.com, or click on the following link:
http://transwc.equisolvewebcast.com/

About Trans World Corporation

Trans World Corporation, founded in 1993, is a publicly traded, US corporation with all of its gaming and hotel operations in Europe. Additional information about TWC and its Czech subsidiaries, American Chance Casinos and Hotel Savannah, can be found at www.transwc.com, www.american-chance-casinos.com and www.hotel-savannah.com.

The press release herein contains certain forward-looking statements and data. For this purpose, any statements and data contained herein that are not historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking data. Without limiting the foregoing, words such as "may," "will," "expect," "believe," "anticipates," "estimates," or "continue" or comparable terminology or the negative thereof are intended to identify certain forward-looking statements.These statements, by their nature, involve substantial risks and uncertainties, both known and unknown, and actual results may differ materially from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements or data whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.