Trans World Entertainment Announces Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2005 Results

Trans World Entertainment Announces Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2005 Results

- Company Provides Guidance for First Quarter 2006 -

ALBANY, N.Y., March 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Trans World Entertainment Corporation (NASDAQ:TWMC) today reported financial results for its fourth quarter and fiscal year 2005. For the quarter, comparable store sales decreased 8%. Total sales decreased 11% to $458.6 million. During the quarter, the Company operated 5% fewer stores, an average of 791 stores compared to an average of 831 stores in the fourth quarter of last year. For the fourth quarter of 2005, income before cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle was $20.3 million, or $0.64 per diluted share compared to net income of $34.7 million, or $0.98 per diluted share last year. Net income for the fourth quarter of 2005 including the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle was $18.0 million, or $0.57 per diluted share.

"As previously announced, fourth quarter sales were affected by a general weakness in our industry," commented Robert J. Higgins, Trans World's Chairman and CEO. "New music releases, industry-wide, performed below last year and DVD releases did not perform up to expectations. In video games, Microsoft's X-Box performed well, however, a lack of sufficient product negatively affected the category as a whole. A bright spot was our electronics, accessories and boutique businesses, which saw solid results from the introduction of new products and enhanced merchandising initiatives."

Comparable store sales for fiscal year 2005 decreased 6%. Total store sales decreased 9% to $1.238 billion. Income before extraordinary gain and cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle was $0.9 million, or $0.03 per diluted share compared to $38.6 million, or $1.06 per diluted share last year. Net loss for fiscal 2005 was $1.4 million or $0.04 per diluted share and it includes the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle of $2.3 million, net of income taxes of $1.5 million, as a result of the Company's adoption of Financial Accounting Standards Board's Interpretation No. 47 ("FIN 47"), Accounting for Conditional Asset Retirement Obligations-an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 143. FIN 47 became effective for the Company in fiscal 2005.

For the first quarter of 2006, the Company expects a net loss per share in the range of $0.25 to $0.30 on a comparable store sales decline of 6% to 7%. Given the pending acquisition of Musicland, management will not be providing full year 2006 guidance until the release of its first quarter results in May so it can include the impact of the potential acquisition.

Trans World Entertainment is a leading specialty retailer of music, video and video game products. The Company operates nearly 800 retail stores in 46 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. The Company operates mall stores under the f.y.e brand and freestanding locations under the names Coconuts Music and Movies, Strawberries Music, Wherehouse, Spec's and Second Spin. The Company also operates on the web at http://www.fye.com/, http://www.coconuts.com/, http://www.wherehouse.com/ and http://www.secondspin.com/.

Certain statements in this release set forth management's intentions, plans, beliefs, expectations or predictions of the future based on current facts and analyses. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated in such statements. Additional information on factors that may affect the business and financial results of the Company can be found in filings of the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

TRANS WORLD ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION
Financial Results

INCOME STATEMENTS:
(in millions, except per share data) Thirteen Weeks Ended

January 28, % to January 29, % to
2006 Sales 2005 Sales

Sales $458.6 $513.5

Cost of sales 307.4 67.0% 334.7 65.2%
Gross profit 151.2 33.0% 178.8 34.8%

Selling, general and
administrative expenses 106.7 23.3% 113.1 22.0%

Depreciation and amortization 8.8 1.9% 9.6 1.9%
Income from operations
35.7 7.8% 56.1 10.9%

Other income (0.6) -0.1 (0.5) -0.1%

Interest expense 1.0 0.1% 0.6 0.1%
Income before income taxes,
extraordinary gain - unallocated
goodwill and cumulative effect of
change in accounting principle 35.3 7.8% 55.9 10.9%

Income tax expense 15.0 3.4% 21.3 4.1%

Income before extraordinary gain -
unallocated goodwill and cumulative
effect of change in accounting
principle $20.3 4.4% $34.7 6.8%

Extraordinary gain - unallocated
negative goodwill, net of income
taxes of $0 and $2.0 million for
fiscal 2005 and 2004, respectively - 0.0% - 0.0%

Cumulative effect of change in
accounting principle, net of income
taxes of $1.5 million and $0 for
fiscal 2005 and 2004, respectively (2.3) -0.5% - 0.0%

Net income (loss) $18.0 3.9% $34.7 6.8%

Basic earnings (loss) per common
share:
Earnings per share before
extraordinary gain - unallocated
negative goodwill and cumulative
effect of change in accounting
principle, net of income taxes $0.65 $1.04

Extraordinary gain - unallocated
negative goodwill, net of income
taxes of $0 and $2.0 million for
fiscal 2005 and 2004 respectively $- $-

Cumulative effect of change in
accounting principle, net of income
taxes of $1.5 million and $0 for

fiscal 2005 and 2004 respectively $(0.07) $-

Basic earnings (loss) per common
share $0.58 $1.04

Weighted average number of
common shares outstanding 30.8 33.2

Diluted earnings (loss) per common
share:
Earnings per share before
extraordinary gain - unallocated
negative goodwill (net of
income taxes) $0.64 $0.98

Extraordinary gain - unallocated
negative goodwill, net of income
taxes of $0 and $2.0 million for
fiscal 2005 and 2004 respectively $- $-

Cumulative effect of change in
accounting principle, net of income
taxes of $1.5 million and $0 for
fiscal 2005 and 2004 respectively $(0.07) $-

Diluted earnings (loss) per common
share $0.57 $0.98

Weighted average number of
common shares outstanding 31.4 35.2

Fiscal Year Ended

January 28, % to January 29, % to
2006 Sales 2005 Sales

Sales $1,238.5 $1,365.1

Cost of sales 806.9 65.1% 870.0 63.7%
Gross profit 431.6 34.9% 495.1 36.3%

Selling, general and
administrative expenses 392.8 31.7% 415.7 30.5%

Depreciation and amortization 34.0 2.8% 34.5 2.5%
Income from operations 4.8 0.4% 44.9 3.3%

Other income (2.2) -0.1% (1.0) -0.1%

Interest expense 3.0 0.2% 2.4 0.2%
Income before income taxes,
extraordinary gain - unallocated
goodwill and cumulative effect of
change in accounting principle 4.0 0.3% 43.5 3.2%

Income tax expense 3.1 0.2% 4.9 0.4%

Income before extraordinary gain -
unallocated goodwill and cumulative
effect of change in accounting
principle $0.9 0.1% $38.6 2.8%

Extraordinary gain - unallocated
negative goodwill, net of income
taxes of $0 and $2.0 million for
fiscal 2005 and 2004, respectively - 0.0% 3.2 0.3%
Cumulative effect of change in
accounting
principle, net of income taxes of
$1.5 million and
$0 for fiscal 2005 and 2004,
respectively (2.3) -0.2% - 0.0%

Net income (loss) $(1.4) -0.1% $41.8 3.1%

Basic earnings (loss) per common
share:
Earnings per share before extraordinary
gain - unallocated negative goodwill
and cumulative effect of change in
accounting principle, net of income
taxes $0.03 $1.12

Extraordinary gain - unallocated
negative goodwill, net of income
taxes of $0 and $2.0 million for
fiscal 2005 and 2004 respectively $- $0.09

Cumulative effect of change in
accounting principle, net of income
taxes of $1.5 million and $0 for
fiscal 2005 and 2004 respectively $(0.07) $-

Basic earnings (loss) per common
share $(0.04) $1.21

Weighted average number of
common shares outstanding 32.0 34.5

Diluted earnings (loss) per common
share:
Earnings per share before extraordinary
gain - unallocated negative goodwill
(net of income taxes) $0.03 $1.06

Extraordinary gain - unallocated
negative goodwill, net of income
taxes of $0 and $2.0 million for
fiscal 2005 and 2004 respectively $- $0.09

Cumulative effect of change in
accounting principle, net of income
taxes of $1.5 million and $0 for
fiscal 2005 and 2004 respectively $(0.07) $-

Diluted earnings (loss) per common
share $(0.04) $1.15

Weighted average number of
common shares outstanding 32.0 36.3

SELECTED BALANCE SHEET CAPTIONS:
(in millions, except store data)
Cash and cash equivalents $197.2 $229.8
Merchandise inventory 402.7 431.2
Fixed assets (net) 132.5 130.2
Accounts payable 322.8 358.4
Long-term debt and capital lease
obligations, less current portion 19.5 12.0

Stores in operation 782 810

Source: Trans World Entertainment Corporation

CONTACT: John J. Sullivan, EVP, Chief Financial Officer, Trans World
Entertainment, +1-518-452-1242; Rich Tauberman, of MWW Group,
rtauberman@mww.com, +1-201-507-9500, for Trans World Entertainment
Corporation

Web site: http://www.twec.com/

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