Fintech PR
Century Casinos, Inc. Announces Preliminary Fourth Quarter 2023 Financial Results and Operational Updates
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., Feb. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Century Casinos, Inc. (the “Company”, “we”, “us”, or “our”) (Nasdaq Capital Market®: CNTY) provided preliminary financial results for its fiscal fourth quarter ended December 31, 2023 and an update on the Company’s projects.
Preliminary fourth quarter 2023 (unaudited) estimates are:
- Approximately $171 million in cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2023 (compared to $102 million at December 2022);
- Approximately $140 million – $145 million in net operating revenue (compared to $104 million in fourth quarter 2022);
- Approximately ($10) million – ($14) million in net loss attributable to Century Casinos, Inc. shareholders (compared to ($4) million in fourth quarter 2022); and
- Approximately $24 million – $26 million in Adjusted EBITDAR* (compared to $22 million in fourth quarter 2022).
As reported in the Company’s third quarter filings, the $30.0 million revolving facility with Goldman Sachs Bank USA (“Goldman”) that the Company borrowed in July 2023 in connection with the Rocky Gap acquisition was repaid on September 21, 2023. The full amount of the revolving facility is currently available for the Company to borrow.
The Company has agreed to buy back $3.5 million of its term loan with Goldman at 97% of the cost of the debt. The transaction is expected to occur in February 2024.
In Poland, the Company was granted licenses for the two casinos that it had closed in October 2023 due to the expiration of the casino licenses. The anticipated reopening of the casinos is the end of February 2024 for the casino in Bielsko-Biala and in mid-March 2024 for the casino in Katowice. In November 2023, the Company closed its Wroclaw casino due to the expiration of the casino license. The Company was granted a new license for Wroclaw in December 2023 and anticipates reopening the casino in a new location in mid-2024.
In Missouri, the construction projects of the hotel in Cape Girardeau (to be called the “The Riverview“) and the new land-based casino and hotel in Caruthersville continue to be on time and on budget. The Company anticipates opening the hotel in Cape Girardeau the first week of April 2024 and the land-based casino and hotel in Caruthersville by the end of 2024. The Caruthersville project is being financed by VICI Properties Inc. (“VICI”), inclusive of approximately $19 million of cash on hand that was previously funded by VICI but has not yet been spent on the project and is included in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2023.
“We expect 2024 to be a transitional year for the Company as we continue to integrate the Nugget and Rocky Gap operations into our portfolio and complete our two large construction projects in Missouri. We estimate our company-wide capital expenditures, excluding the Caruthersville project that we are financing through VICI, to be approximately $46 million in 2024. We look forward to 2025, when we can see everything we are working towards in 2023 and 2024 coming to fruition without the disruptions we are currently experiencing,” Erwin Haitzmann and Peter Hoetzinger, Co-Chief Executive Officers of Century Casinos, remarked. “We feel comfortable with our cash position and capex plan, and we continue to look for every opportunity to reduce operating costs going forward to maximize earnings and cash flow. In addition, we are evaluating ways to reduce our non-operating costs going forward,” they concluded.
PRELIMINARY RESULTS:
Our audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2023 are not yet available; however, certain of our estimated preliminary unaudited financial results for the three months ended December 31, 2023 are set forth above and in the reconciliations below. With respect to certain presented results, we have provided ranges, rather than specific amounts, because these results are preliminary estimates and subject to change. These results are based on the information available to us as of the date of this release. Our actual results may vary from the estimated preliminary results presented in this release, including due to the completion of our financial closing and other operational procedures, final adjustments, and other developments that may arise between now and the time the Company releases its financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2023, which is currently scheduled for March 14, 2024. These estimates should not be viewed as a substitute for our full interim or annual financial statements prepared in accordance with US generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). Further, our preliminary estimated results are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for any future period. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed on this preliminary data.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:
* Adjusted EBITDAR. We define Adjusted EBITDAR as net earnings (loss) attributable to Century Casinos, Inc. shareholders before interest expense (income) (including interest expense related to the Company’s triple net lease with VICI (the “Master Lease”)), net, income taxes (benefit), depreciation, amortization, non-controlling interests net earnings (losses) and transactions, pre-opening expenses, acquisition costs, non-cash stock-based compensation charges, asset impairment costs, loss (gain) on disposition of fixed assets, discontinued operations, (gain) loss on foreign currency transactions, cost recovery income and other, gain on business combination and certain other one-time transactions. The Master Lease is accounted for as a financing obligation. As such, a portion of the periodic payment under the Master Lease is recognized as interest expense with the remainder of the payment impacting the financing obligation using the effective interest method. Intercompany transactions consisting primarily of management and royalty fees and interest, along with their related tax effects, are excluded from the presentation of net earnings (loss) attributable to Century Casinos, Inc. shareholders and Adjusted EBITDAR reported for each segment. Not all of the aforementioned items occur in each reporting period, but have been included in the definition based on historical activity. These adjustments have no effect on the consolidated results as reported under GAAP.
Adjusted EBITDAR is used outside of our financial statements solely as a valuation metric and is not considered a measure of performance recognized under GAAP. Adjusted EBITDAR is an additional metric used by analysts in valuing gaming companies subject to triple net leases such as our Master Lease since it eliminates the effects of variability in leasing methods and capital structures. This metric is included as supplemental disclosure because (i) we believe Adjusted EBITDAR is used by gaming operator analysts and investors to determine the equity value of gaming operators and (ii) financial analysts refer to Adjusted EBITDAR when valuing our business. We believe Adjusted EBITDAR is useful for equity valuation purposes because (i) its calculation isolates the effects of financing real estate, and (ii) using a multiple of Adjusted EBITDAR to calculate enterprise value allows for an adjustment to the balance sheet to recognize estimated liabilities arising from operating leases related to real estate.
Adjusted EBITDAR should not be construed as an alternative to net earnings (loss) attributable to Century Casinos, Inc. shareholders, the most directly comparable GAAP measure, as indicators of our performance. In addition, Adjusted EBITDAR as used by us may not be defined in the same manner as other companies in our industry, and, as a result, may not be comparable to similarly titled non-GAAP financial measures of other companies. Consolidated Adjusted EBITDAR should not be viewed as a measure of overall operating performance or considered in isolation or as an alternative to net earnings (loss) attributable to Century Casinos, Inc. shareholders, because it excludes the rent expense associated with our Master Lease and several other items.
A reconciliation of the estimated net loss attributable to Century Casinos, Inc. shareholders to estimated Adjusted EBITDAR is presented below.
(Unaudited) For the three months ended |
|||||||||
December 31, 2023 |
December 31, 2022 |
||||||||
in millions |
Low |
High |
Actuals |
||||||
Net loss attributable to Century Casinos, Inc. shareholders |
$ |
(13.6) |
$ |
(9.8) |
$ |
(4.0) |
|||
Interest expense (income), net |
25.5 |
24.5 |
17.0 |
||||||
Income tax benefit |
(5.0) |
(3.0) |
0.5 |
||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
12.0 |
11.0 |
6.8 |
||||||
Net earnings attributable to non-controlling interests |
3.0 |
2.0 |
0.9 |
||||||
Non-cash stock-based compensation |
1.0 |
0.8 |
0.7 |
||||||
Loss (gain) on foreign currency transactions, cost recovery income and other |
0.4 |
0.2 |
(0.7) |
||||||
Loss on disposition of fixed assets |
0.3 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
||||||
Acquisition costs |
0.4 |
0.2 |
0.4 |
||||||
Adjusted EBITDAR |
$ |
24.0 |
$ |
26.0 |
$ |
21.7 |
|||
The Company estimates that approximately $15 million of interest expense for the three months ended December 31, 2023 relates to rent on the Master Lease.
ABOUT CENTURY CASINOS, INC.:
Century Casinos, Inc. is a casino entertainment company. In the United States the Company operates the following operating segments: (i) in the East, the Mountaineer Casino, Resort & Races in New Cumberland, West Virginia and Rocky Gap Casino, Resort & Golf in Flintstone, Maryland; (ii) in the Midwest, the Century Casinos in Cape Girardeau and Caruthersville, Missouri, and Century Casino & Hotels in Cripple Creek and Central City, Colorado; and (iii) in the West, the Nugget Casino Resort, in Reno/Sparks, Nevada. In Alberta, Canada the Company operates Century Casino & Hotel in Edmonton, the Century Casino in St. Albert, Century Mile Racetrack and Casino in Edmonton and Century Downs Racetrack and Casino in Calgary. In Poland, the Company holds eight casino licenses and currently operates five casinos through its subsidiary Casinos Poland Ltd. The Company continues to pursue other projects in various stages of development.
Century Casinos’ common stock trades on The Nasdaq Capital Market® under the symbol CNTY. For more information about Century Casinos, visit our website at www.cnty.com.
This release may contain certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on the beliefs and assumptions of the management of Century Casinos based on information currently available to management. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding 2023 results, debt repurchases, timing for opening certain casinos in Poland, projects in development and other opportunities, including the completion of our Missouri construction projects, and plans for our casinos and our Company including expectations regarding 2024, 2025 and later results, are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking statements include, among others, risks described in the section entitled “Risk Factors” under Item 1A in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2023, and in subsequent periodic and current SEC filings the Company may make. Century Casinos disclaims any obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statement that may be made from time to time by it or on its behalf.
Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/682293/Century_Casinos_Logo.jpg
View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/century-casinos-inc-announces-preliminary-fourth-quarter-2023-financial-results-and-operational-updates-302057496.html
Fintech PR
TECHTRONIC INDUSTRIES JOINS THE UN GLOBAL COMPACT
DEMONSTRATES TTI’S COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTS AND PRACTICES
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Dec. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Global cordless power tool, outdoor power equipment and floorcare company Techtronic Industries Co. Ltd. (“TTI” or the “Company”) (stock code: HK:0669, ADR symbol: TTNDY) today announced that it has joined the United Nations Global Compact, reaffirming its dedication to sustainability and social responsibility. With over 25,000 signatories in over 160 countries, the UN Global Compact is the world’s largest voluntary corporate sustainability reporting initiative. By joining, TTI is committing to communicating its progress to stakeholders annually through our ESG Report and UN Global Compact’s website.
TTI’s CEO Steve Richman remarked: “As the industry pioneer in lithium-ion battery-powered, energy efficient power tools and outdoor power equipment, TTI’s commitment to sustainable products and business practices has long been a fundamental part of the way we do business. We began publishing ESG reports in 2015 and we aligned our goals and targets with the UN Sustainable Development Goals in 2018. Every year we make progress in areas including safety solutions, noise reduction, supply chain traceability, decarbonization, and governance. While we have demonstrated our commitment, by joining the UN Global Compact, we have officially aligned our sustainability strategy with the Ten Principles in the areas of human rights, labor, environment, and anti-corruption.”
As part of TTI’s ongoing sustainability efforts, our objective is to implement initiatives that deepen our support of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) while fostering an inclusive and equitable workplace culture. We are dedicated to advancing our sustainability journey, setting measurable goals, and continuously monitoring our progress.
Learn more about TTI’s efforts by reading our latest ESG publications here. Our 2024 ESG report will be published in March 2025.
About TTI
Techtronic Industries Company Limited (“TTI” or the “Company”), founded in 1985 by German entrepreneur Horst Julius Pudwill, is a world leader in cordless technology. As a pioneer in Power Tools, Outdoor Power Equipment, Floorcare and Cleaning Products, TTI serves professional, industrial, Do It Yourself (DIY), and consumer markets worldwide. With more than 50,000 employees globally, the company’s relentless focus on innovation and strategic growth has established its leading position in the industries it serves.
MILWAUKEE is at the forefront of TTI’s professional tool portfolio. With global research and development headquartered in Brookfield, Wisconsin, the historic MILWAUKEE brand is renowned for driving innovation, safety, and jobsite productivity worldwide. The RYOBI brand, headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina, remains the top choice for DIYers and continues to set the standard in DIY tool innovation. TTI’s diverse brand portfolio also includes trusted brands like AEG, EMPIRE, HOMELITE, and leading floorcare names HOOVER, ORECK, VAX, and DIRT DEVIL (based in Charlotte, North Carolina).
TTI’s international recognition and renowned brand portfolio are supported by a strong ownership structure that underscores the company’s global reach and stability. The Pudwill family remains the company’s largest shareholder, with the remaining ownership held largely by institutional investors at North American and European-owned firms. TTI is publicly traded on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and is a constituent stock of the Hang Seng Index, operating globally with a strong commitment to environmental, social, and corporate governance standards. For more information, visit www.ttigroup.com.
All trademarks listed other than AEG and RYOBI are owned by the Company. AEG is a registered trademark of AB Electrolux (publ.) and is used under license. RYOBI is a registered trademark of Ryobi Limited and is used under license.
View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/techtronic-industries-joins-the-un-global-compact-302338248.html
Fintech PR
ATFX Connect won “Outstanding FX Liquidity Provider” Award at FinanceFeeds 2024
LONDON, Dec. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — ATFX Connect, the institutional arm of global trading platform ATFX, has been honored with the prestigious “Outstanding FX Liquidity Provider” award at the FinanceFeeds Awards 2024. This recognition underscores ATFX Connect’s industry-leading position in providing deep and reliable foreign exchange (FX) liquidity, a critical factor for institutional clients navigating global financial markets.
The FinanceFeeds Awards celebrate excellence and innovation in the financial sector, highlighting organizations that deliver exceptional services and groundbreaking solutions. ATFX Connect’s achievement in this category reflects its commitment to addressing the sophisticated needs of institutional clients, including hedge funds, asset managers, private banks, and brokers. The award recognizes the platform’s ability to offer tailored liquidity solutions, cutting-edge technology, and efficient trade execution.
Launched in 2019, ATFX Connect was designed to expand ATFX’s presence in the institutional space by offering a multi-access platform for professional investors. Its focus on technology-driven solutions has made it a trusted partner for clients requiring scalable and adaptable liquidity services. Over the years, ATFX Connect has consistently demonstrated excellence in integrating innovative tools with high-quality liquidity provision, helping clients optimize trading strategies in complex market environments.
This accolade solidifies ATFX Connect’s position as a top-tier liquidity provider in the financial industry. With its ongoing efforts to blend technology with personalized services, the platform continues to set new standards in the institutional trading sector.
About ATFX Connect
Back in 2019, ATFX stepped into the Institutional arena with the launch of its Multi-Access platform ATFX Connect. The management’s vision was to expand the broker’s global presence and continue to provide award-winning liquidity and customer service to clients within the Institutional community. With the focus on the professional Investor, the ATFX Connect platform is designed to provide an efficient automated trading venue that delivers tailored liquidity solutions to Hedge Funds, Asset Managers, Brokers, Private Banks, and other financial institutions. (ATFX Connect Website: https://www.atfxconnect.com)
View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/atfx-connect-won-outstanding-fx-liquidity-provider-award-at-financefeeds-2024-302338243.html
Fintech PR
New Report: What rises in the East and goes down in the West? Ambition to lead
- Work is more important to professionals in ‘Global South’ countries than it is to their peers in Western countries.
- They also place more value on working longer hours, with a significant percentage of professionals in China and India willing to work more than 40 hours a week.
- Westerners lack leadership ambition – only 42% of respondents express a desire to lead or establish a business. In the Global South 65% hold this aspiration.
- Global executive search & leadership advisory firm Amrop surveyed 8,000 people in Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Poland, the UK, and US on the meaning of work.
BRUSSELS, Dec. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Professionals in Western countries are less ambitious and less interested in work than their ‘Global South’ peers, a new global study by Amrop, a leading global executive search and leadership consulting firm, reveals.
“The drive and ambition in India, Brazil, and China highlight a contrast with the aging societies in the West. As Western nations also face a scarcity of qualified professionals, the ambition of their workforce becomes a decisive factor for growth, economic success, and wealth preservation,” states Annika Farin, Global Chair at Amrop. “Stakeholders should encourage entrepreneurship and foster interest in both professional and personal growth in workers.”
Notably, 92% of Indians and 87% of Brazilians say they enjoy working, while the sentiment is lower in Germany (71%), the US (69%), and the UK (68%), as well as other European countries. Significant variations emerge in how respondents prioritize their careers: 84% in India assert that a successful career is crucial for a good life, with high agreement also in China (71%) and Brazil (70%). Conversely, only 43% in Germany, 40% in France and 37% in Poland share this perspective. In other Western countries such as the US and UK, over half of respondents consider their careers vital for a good life.
India Leads with Impressive Work Ethic and Work-Life Balance
However, divergent work ethics surfaced among Western countries as well, with 70% in the US prioritizing hard work, contrasting starkly with the 35% in France who share the same belief. In this context, India leads at 75%, surpassing Brazil (55%) and China (63%). Chinese professionals also lean more towards career over private life. Work hours reveal distinctions: 46% in China and 42% in India are willing to work over 40 hours, while 29% in the UK, 27% in Germany and only 16% in France, are open to longer working hours. At the same time 73% in India and 59% in China assert that they have a healthy work-life balance, contrasting with 45% in France and 49% in Germany.
“This observation is intriguing. Working fewer hours doesn’t necessarily improve one’s perception of work-life balance. If any connection exists, it appears to be the other way around – professionals willing to work longer hours also seem to have a greater sense of work-life balance. In Europe, especially, we need follow-up studies to find out where these sentiments are coming from, so we know how to reignite the passion for work,” says Farin.
The Lack of Leadership Ambition Extends to Politics
Further results from the survey show that the Global South countries demonstrate a higher aspiration for leadership roles and entrepreneurial ventures. Notably, 76% in India express a desire to run or manage a company, followed by 66% in Brazil and 54% in China. In contrast, the UK (52%), the US (49%), France (37%), and Germany (36%) trail in these aspirations. The global lack of leadership ambition extends to politics, with respondents deeming it the least desirable career across most countries. Only 19% express a motivation to make a positive impact, with 51% prioritizing financial stability and 39% aiming for a specific lifestyle.
Looking at these results, Farin emphasizes a further concern, “In surveying individuals with at least a bachelor’s degree across various countries, our results prompt a crucial question: If most professionals lack ambition for high-level leadership, who will shape the future of economies and societies? Our societies rely on people, their expertise, and motivation. Are we approaching a future where we question not only corporate leadership but also national leadership?”
About the Survey
An online survey was conducted and gathered insights from 8,000 participants, with 1,000 respondents from each of the following countries: Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Poland, the US, and the UK.
The survey aimed for representativeness across these diverse nations, capturing perspectives from individuals aged 20 to 60 (Gen Z: 20-26, Young Millennials: 27-34, Old Millennials: 35-42, Gen X: 43-60), all possessing at least a bachelor’s degree. Where applicable, reported results represent the top two answer sets (strongly agree/agree).
About Amrop
Amrop is a global leadership consulting firm, offering retained executive search, Board and leadership advisory services. We advise the world’s most dynamic, agile organizations on identifying and positioning Leaders For What’s Next – adept at working across borders, in markets around the world. Established in 1977, Amrop operates in Asia, EMEA and the Americas across 69 offices in 57 countries.
Contact:
The Amrop Partnership SC
Rue Abbé Cuypers 3
1040 Brussels, Belgium
T. +32 471 733 825
E. [email protected]
Brigitte Arhold, COO
Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1755576/Amrop_Logo.jpg
View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/new-report-what-rises-in-the-east-and-goes-down-in-the-west-ambition-to-lead-302337266.html
-
Fintech7 days ago
Fintech Pulse: Your Daily Industry Brief (Synapse, Shenzhen Institute, Visa, AutomatIQ, MeridianLink)
-
Fintech6 days ago
Fintech Pulse: Your Daily Industry Brief (Revolut, Bestow, Advyzon, Tyme Group, Nubank)
-
Fintech4 days ago
Fintech Pulse: Your Daily Industry Brief (Chime, ZBD, MiCA)
-
Fintech6 days ago
Asian Financial Forum returns as region’s first major international financial assembly in 2025
-
Fintech7 days ago
NASDAQ-Listed LYTUS Appoints Visionary Leader Sai Guna Ranjan Puranam as COO (Lytus Healthcare) and Group CTO (Lytus Technologies) to Revolutionize Healthcare and Technology
-
Fintech PR3 days ago
According to Tickmill survey, 3 in 10 Britons in economic difficulty: Purchasing power down 41% since 2004
-
Fintech PR3 days ago
President Emmerson Mnangagwa met this week with Zambia’s former Vice President and Special Envoy Enoch Kavindele to discuss SADC’s candidate for the AfDB
-
Fintech4 days ago
Airtm Enhances Its Board of Directors with Two Strategic Appointments