Michael Hill shares gain after annual earnings seen up by as much as 5.9%

Thursday 7th July 2016

Michael Hill International, the listed jewellery chain that's shifting its primary listing to Australia, lifted annual earnings by as much as 5.9 percent, boosting sales across all its territories and opening new Emma & Roe stores.

The shares jumped 15 percent to A$1.25 on the ASX.

Earnings before interest and tax was between A$46 million and A$48 million in the 12 months ended June 30, up from A$42.1 million a year earlier, the Brisbane-based company said in a statement. Annual sales rose 8.9 percent to A$545.1 million, with its Michael Hill brand increasing revenue 8.1 percent to A$535.8 million and the Emma & Roe chain almost doubling sales to A$9.3 million. On a same-store basis, sales were up 4.8 percent across Michael Hill and 34 percent at Emma & Roe.

Last month, shareholders in the jewellery chain voted in favour of a restructuring plan to shift the assets into a new company incorporated in Australia and listed on the ASX. The deal would align the board, management and business operations in one jurisdiction, while also providing tax benefits of up to A$22 million.

Today's statement shows the company's Michael Hill chain lifted sales in Australia 4.2 percent to A$307 million, the smallest gain. The New Zealand operations generated a 7 percent increase in local currency sales, rising 7 percent to NZ$122 million, while Canada sales rose 19 percent to C$93.9 million and US revenue was up 24 percent to US$14 million.

The Emma & Roe chain is only in New Zealand and Australia so far, with Australian sales climbing 90 percent to A$8.7 million and New Zealand revenue more than doubling to NZ$731,000. Michael Hill plans to open 12 more stores in Australia and four in New Zealand in the coming financial year.

Michael Hill is embroiled in a tax dispute with New Zealand's Inland Revenue Department over transferring its group intellectual property and franchising operations from New Zealand to Australia in 2008, using an Australian Limited Partnership (ALP) as part of the finance structure. The Court of Appeal last month turned down a bid by the retailer to have the dispute thrown out, and Michael Hill has since said it continues to defend its position, with almost NZ$40 million in dispute.

BusinessDesk.co.nz

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