NZME announces half year financial results

New Zealand Media and Entertainment has announced its financial results for the half year ended 30 June 2021, reporting Statutory Net Profit After Tax (NPAT) of $ 5.6 million, up 85 percent on the corresponding period in 2020.

NZME also announced growth in Operating Earnings before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortisation (EBITDA) to $ 30.1 million for the half year, representing four percent growth in Operating EBITDA against the first half of 2020. 

Operating revenue was $ 172.5m – nine percent higher than the first half of 2020.

CEO Michael Boggs says: “NZME is delighted to share a set of results that feature earnings growth and a further reduction in net debt.

“Emerging from the significant disruption encountered in 2020 NZME has maintained a steadfast focus on key strategic priorities. This has meant that as New Zealand’s many commercial sectors are steadily rebuilding their investment in audience engagement, NZME’s advertising revenues continue to approach the levels achieved in 2019, before the pandemic struck.”

NZME’s Net Debt was reduced by a further $ 15.2 million to $ 18.6 million, and is now below NZME’s target leverage ratio.

Chairman Barbara Chapman says: “A rigorous commercial discipline and a continual focus on managing the cost base as business activity recovers has improved NZME’s ongoing Capital Management performance and has supported the continued strengthening of NZME’s Balance Sheet.”

NZME announced that given the significant reduction in debt and based on the business outlook and NZME’s capital requirements, the board has declared a fully imputed and fully franked dividend of 3.0 cps.

Chapman adds: “That NZME is in a position to return a dividend to its shareholders, while navigating the extraordinary and ongoing challenges posed by the impacts of the pandemic reinforces NZME’s position as a robust, resilient, and agile multi-media business.”

At a glance:

• Operating NPAT of $ 7.8 million, up 14 percent on HY 2020.
• Operating Earnings per Share of 3.9 cents per share, up from 3.5 cents per share in HY 2020.
• Achieved continued growth in NZME’s Radio revenue market share.
• NZ Herald subscriber base growth continues to 178,000 subscribers.
• Grown OneRoof digital revenue by 145 percent with OneRoof total revenue up 30 percent.
• Maintained growth in revenue market share achieved across all key channels.
• nzherald.co.nz has been New Zealanders’ preferred digital news provider for 11 months in a row.

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