FIRST CUT: Meridian Energy annual earnings up 5% 24 Aug 2016
Related articles
- NZ consumers grow more upbeat, may resume spending Business
- Knowles quits as CEO of KiwiBank Business
- NZ migration bolstered by British invasion Migration
- NZ manufacturing activity reaches highest since 04 Business
- NZ dollar hits 22-month high vs euro Business
- OceanaGold finds new gold deposits at Fraser mine Business
- Transpower gets go-ahead for $170m SI upgrade Business
- NZ home sales creep up in March, still subdued Property
- NZ economy expands at fastest pace in two years Business
- New Zealand food prices fall in February Business
FIRST CUT: Meridian Energy annual earnings up 5%; pays special dividend
By Pattrick Smellie
Aug. 24 (BusinessDesk) - Meridian Energy has followed its fellow part-privatised counterpart, Mercury NZ, by declaring a special dividend for shareholders in a sector where strong cashflows are not currently required for new investment.
Meridian declared a 5 percent increase in earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, amortisation, and changes in the value of financial instruments at $560 million for the year to June 30, reflecting a $39 million increase in New Zealand electricity sales to $939 million, and a lift from $54 million the previous year to $70 million in the latest year in international sales, mainly in Australia.
"It was pleasing to deliver another year of growth, with aggregate demand in the core New Zealand market remaining flat," said chief executive Mark Binns in a statement to the NZX. "The strong operational performance has been delivered by an improved retail performance in both New Zealand and Australia, higher generation prices in Australia and strong generation volumes in New Zealand resulting in higher wholesale sales and lower hedge costs."
Electricity companies tend to prefer the ebitdaf earnings measure because of the volatile impact of changes in the value of financial instruments, such as electricity hedge contracts, from year to year. However, it was a far larger tax bill that made the largest contribution to a fall in net profit after tax, which was down 25 percent at $185 million. Meridian declared $71 million in tax liabilities for the latest financial year, compared with $2 million the previous year.
Meridian directors declared a final dividend of 8.4 cents per share, 90 percent imputed, payable on Oct. 15, to deliver a near 5 percent increase in total ordinary dividends for the year of 13.5 cents per share. On top of that, a final special dividend of 2.44 cents per share was also declared "as part of the company's capital management programme". That follows a special dividend of the same size at the half-year and total special dividends in the previous year of 5.35 cents.
The latest special dividend carries no imputation credits and brings capital returns since August last year to $187.5 million. While all capital returns so far have been by special dividend, the company continues to consider share buybacks as an option.
(BusinessDesk)
News
Hilary Timmins' Award-Winning UK Documentary Series To Inspire NZ Students
29 Jun 2020 Education
Dream Catchers, produced and directed by Hilary Timmins, celebrates the success stories of more than thirty inspirational New... more
New Zealand reaffirms support for Flight MH17 judicial process
7 Mar 2020 News
Ahead of the start of the criminal trial in the Netherlands on 9 March, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has reaffirmed the need to... more
Business
NZ Government's Economic package to fight COVID-19
17 Mar 2020 Business News
The Coalition Government has launched the most significant peace-time economic plan in modern New Zealand history to cushion the... more
NZ Government announces aviation relief package
19 Mar 2020 Business News
Transport Minister Phil Twyford today outlined the first tranche of the $600 million aviation sector relief package announced earlier... more
Living
Diversity was Key at New Zealand Trade Tasting in London
6 Jun 2022 Food & Wine
New Zealand Winegrowers Annual Trade Tasting was recently held in London, on Wednesday 4 May, in Lindley Hall.
It was the first... more
Kiwi author stuns Behind the Butterfly Gate
12 Jan 2022 Arts
Hidden behind the Butterfly Gate is where the secret has been kept for 76 years...
New Zealand writer Merryn Corcoran’s... more
Property
Fairer rules for tenants and landlords
17 Nov 2019 Property
17 NOVEMBER 2019
The Government has delivered on its promise to the over one million New Zealanders who now rent to make it fairer... more
New Zealand Government will not implement a Capital Gains Tax
17 Apr 2019 Property
The Coalition Government will not proceed with the Tax Working Group’s recommendation for a capital gains tax, Jacinda Ardern... more
Migration
Boosting border security with electronic travel authority – now over 500,000 issued
19 Nov 2019 Migration
19 NOVEMBER 2019
We’ve improved border security with the NZeTA, New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority, which helps us to... more
Christchurch reinstated as refugee settlement location
18 Aug 2018 Migration
18 AUGUST 2018
HON IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY
The announcement that Christchurch can once again be a settlement location for refugees... more
Travel
Gallipoli Anzac Day services cancelled
19 Mar 2020 Travel & Tourism
The New Zealand and Australian Governments have announced this year’s joint Anzac Day services at Gallipoli will be cancelled... more
New Zealanders advised not to travel overseas
19 Mar 2020 Travel & Tourism
New Zealanders advised not to travel overseas
more
Sport
The Skipper's Diary: Sir Richard Hadlee honouring his father and NZ's Forty-Niners
27 Oct 2019 Cricket
NZNewsUK London Editor Charlotte Everett spoke to Sir Richard Hadlee about why he’s chosen to publish his father’s... more
PREVIEW: All Blacks v England semi-final
26 Oct 2019 Rugby
The two most convincing quarterfinals winners are set to square off in a semifinal showdown for the ages when the All Blacks meet old... more
Columns
Gordon Campbell on the Gareth Morgan crusade
11 Nov 2016 Opinion
Gordon Campbell on the Gareth Morgan crusade
First published on Werewolf
The ghastly likes of Marine Le Pen in France and Geert ... more
Gordon Campbell on the US election outcome
10 Nov 2016 Opinion
Column - Gordon Campbell
Gordon Campbell on the US election outcome
Well um.. on the bright side, there (probably)... more
Kiwi Success
Congratulations to Loder Cup winner
26 Sep 2018 People
25 SEPTEMBER 2018
The Loder Cup, one of New Zealand’s oldest conservation awards, has been awarded to Robert McGowan for 2018... more
Appointments to New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO
16 Aug 2018 Appointments
16 AUGUST 2018Appointments to New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO
HON JENNY SALESA
Associate Education Minister Jenny Salesa is... more
Recruitment
Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
14 Aug 2018 Recruitment
14 AUGUST 2018Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
HON CHRIS HIPKINS
Prime Minister
The... more
Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
22 Aug 2018 Recruitment
14 AUGUST 2018Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
HON CHRIS HIPKINS
Prime Minister
The... more