NZX first-half profit hurt by Ralec litigation costs as revenue gains

NZX's first-half profit dropped 80% as costs related to the  Ralec litigation offset gains in operating revenue.

Net profit fell to $3.58 million in the six months ended June 30 from $17.9 million a year earlier, which was bolstered by a one-off gain on an asset sale, the market operator said in a statement. Stripping out that gain and other one-off adjustments, underlying profit fell to $4 million from $6.2 million.

Operating costs climbed 19.7% to $27 million in the first half, outpacing a 10% increase in revenue to $37.9 million, with costs related to the protracted litigation with the sellers of the Clear Grain Exchange increasing by $1.6 million.

NZX spent $2.9 million on the trial in the first half of 2016, more than twice what it spent in the same period a year earlier, and said the increased cost reflected the flurry of activity leading up to and during the trial which began in May and lasted until July. NZX said it doesn't expect to incur any more significant costs on the Ralec case after July, and anticipates a judgment before the end of the year.

NZX's effective tax rate was 43% in the first half, higher than the statutory rate of 28%, due to the Ralec expenditure not being tax-deductible, it said.

"We are pleased the Ralec trial and associated costs, which weighed on our result, are behind us now," chief executive Tim Bennett said. "We continue to deliver against our strategic objectives to grow the business and the markets for the long term. We are continuing to see a good pipeline of small to medium sized listing candidates while debt raising activity is expected to continue at levels above historical averages."

NZX reiterated its expectation for annual earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation to be in the range of $22.5-26.5 million, a forecast it gave in February, subject to market outcomes.

Revenue gains came from increased funds under management, the launch of new exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and NZX's acquisition of investment platform Apteryx, now called NZX Wealth Technologies, in the second half of 2015, it said.

Market earnings increased 10% to $19 million in the first half, while fund services earnings dropped 78% to $358,000 and agri dropped 37% to $291,000. Fund services earnings fell because NZX Wealth Technologies and some of the ETFS are losing money in an effort to build critical mass, NZX said. The agri decline was due to 11% lower advertiser spending in the dairy downturn.

Overall listing fees rose 6% to $4.5 million, while initial listing fees jumped 382% to $960,000, which NZX said was "consistent with a four-fold increase in the value of new equity listed coupled with a significant increase in new debt listings."

The board declared an interim dividend of 3c per share, with a Sept. 2 record date, payable on Sept. 16.

The shares last traded at $1.04, having declined 2.8% so far this year.

(BusinessDesk)