(Source: Canada Newswire)
TORONTO, Sept. 10 /CNW/ - Harry Winston Diamond Corporation (TSX: HW, NYSE: HWD) (the "Company") today reported second quarter results for the period ended July 31, 2009. The Company recorded a consolidated net loss of $24.5 million or $0.32 per share for the quarter, compared to net earnings of $49.9 million or $0.81 per share in the second quarter of the prior year. The consolidated net loss for the quarter was significantly impacted by a net foreign exchange loss primarily on future income tax liabilities of $25.3 million or $0.33 per share, compared to a net foreign exchange gain of $5.3 million or $0.09 per share in the comparable quarter of the prior year.
Robert Gannicott, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer commented: "During this quarter the diamond industry as a whole adjusted production to the curtailed demand in the intermediate part of the diamond pipeline due to the world economic conditions. Rough diamond prices increased substantially during the quarter with our own pricing ending at 50% above the low point in the first quarter. This improving trend has continued into the third quarter. Although retail sales remained below profitable levels, we have seen a 9% increase in transactions worldwide compared to the prior quarter led by increases in the Far East, including Japan. Sales have also edged up month to month during the quarter suggesting a shift in momentum."
Consolidated sales were $94.8 million for the quarter compared to $186.1 million for the comparable quarter of the prior year, resulting in a 75% decrease in gross margin and a loss from operations of $3.9 million.
The mining segment recorded sales of $46.0 million, a 56% decrease from $105.0 million in the comparable quarter of the prior year. The decrease in sales resulted from a combination of a 36% decrease in rough diamond prices and a 31% decrease in volume of carats sold in the second quarter. Rough diamond production for the calendar quarter was 0.6 million carats, significantly lower than the comparable quarter of the prior year due to a planned decrease in ore production reflecting the softness in the rough diamond market. Earnings from operations for the quarter were $1.7 million compared to $67.5 million for the comparable quarter of the prior year.
The retail segment recorded a 40% decrease in sales to $48.8 million, with a loss from operations of $5.6 million compared to earnings from operations of $5.9 million in the second quarter of the prior year. Retail segment selling, general and administrative expenses decreased by $5.8 million from $34.0 million in the comparable quarter of the prior year. In addition, selling, general and administrative expenses decreased by $2.0 million from the first quarter of this year.
Second Quarter Fiscal 2010 Financial Highlights
(US$ in millions except Earnings per Share amounts)
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Three Three Six Six
months months months months
ended ended ended ended
July 31, July 31, July 31, July 31,
2009 2008 2009 2008
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Sales 94.8 186.1 204.4 342.2
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Earnings from operations
(loss) (3.9) 73.4 (14.0) 113.0
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Net earnings (loss) (24.5) 49.9 (69.6) 71.2
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Earnings (loss) per share ($0.32) $0.81 ($0.97) $1.17
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Conference Call and Webcast
Beginning at 09:00AM (EST) on Friday, September 11, the Company will host a conference call for analysts, investors and other interested parties. Listeners may access a live broadcast of the conference call on the Company's investor relations web site at http://investor.harrywinston.com or by dialing 800-706-7741 within North America or 617-614-3471 from international locations and entering passcode 18664077.
An online archive of the broadcast will be available by accessing the Company's investor relations web site at http:// investor.harrywinston.com. A telephone replay of the call will be available starting at noon through 12:00AM (EST), Friday, September 18, 2009, by dialing 888-286-8010 within North America or 617-801- 6888 from international locations and entering passcode 41485369.
About Harry Winston Diamond Corporation
Harry Winston Diamond Corporation is a specialist diamond enterprise with assets in the mining and retail segments of the diamond industry. Harry Winston supplies rough diamonds to the global market from its 40 percent ownership interest in the Diavik Diamond Mine (economic ownership of 31%).
The Company's retail division is a premier diamond jeweler and luxury timepiece retailer with salons in key locations, including New York, Paris, London, Beijing, Tokyo, and Beverly Hills.
The Company focuses on the two most profitable segments of the diamond industry, mining and retail, in which its expertise creates shareholder value. This unique business model provides key competitive advantages; rough diamond sales and polished diamond purchases provide market intelligence that enhances the Company's overall performance.
For more information, please visit www.harrywinston.com.
2010 Second Quarter Report
HARRY WINSTON DIAMOND COPORATION
Six Months Ended July 31, 2009
Highlights
(All figures are in United States dollars unless otherwise indicated)
Harry Winston Diamond Corporation recorded a consolidated net loss of $24.5 million or $0.32 per share for the quarter, compared to net earnings of $49.9 million or $0.81 per share in the second quarter of the prior year. The consolidated net loss for the quarter was significantly impacted by a net foreign exchange loss primarily on future income tax liabilities of $25.3 million or $0.33 per share, compared to a net foreign exchange gain of $5.3 million or $0.09 per share in the comparable quarter of the prior year.
Consolidated sales were $94.8 million for the quarter compared to $186.1 million for the comparable quarter of the prior year, resulting in a 75% decrease in gross margin and a loss from operations of $3.9 million.
The mining segment recorded sales of $46.0 million, a 56% decrease from $105.0 million in the comparable quarter of the prior year. The decrease in sales resulted from a combination of a 36% decrease in rough diamond prices and a 31% decrease in volume of carats sold in the second quarter. Rough diamond production for the calendar quarter was 0.6 million carats, significantly lower than the comparable quarter of the prior year due to a planned decrease in ore production reflecting the softness in the rough diamond market. Earnings from operations for the quarter were $1.7 million compared to $67.5 million for the comparable quarter of the prior year.
The retail segment recorded a 40% decrease in sales to $48.8 million, with a loss from operations of $5.6 million compared to earnings from operations of $5.9 million in the second quarter of the prior year. Retail segment selling, general and administrative expenses decreased by $5.8 million from $34.0 million in the comparable quarter of the prior year. In addition, selling, general and administrative expenses decreased by $2.0 million from the first quarter of this fiscal year.
Management's Discussion and Analysis
Prepared as of September 9, 2009
(ALL FIGURES ARE IN UNITED STATES DOLLARS UNLESS OTHERWISE INDICATED)
The following is management's discussion and analysis ("MD&A") of the results of operations for Harry Winston Diamond Corporation ("Harry Winston Diamond Corporation", or the "Company") for the three and six months ended July 31, 2009 and its financial position as at July 31, 2009. This MD&A is based on the Company's consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in Canada ("Canadian GAAP") and should be read in conjunction with the unaudited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the three and six months ended July 31, 2009 and the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company and notes thereto for the year ended January 31, 2009. Unless otherwise specified, all financial information is presented in United States dollars. Unless otherwise indicated, all references to "second quarter" refer to the three months ended July 31, 2009 and all references to "international" for the retail segment refer to Europe and Asia.
Certain comparative figures have been reclassified to conform with the current year's presentation.
Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information
Certain information included in this MD&A may constitute forward- looking information within the meaning of Canadian and United States securities laws. In some cases, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of terms such as "may", "will", "should", "expect", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "intend", "estimate", "predict", "potential", "continue" or other similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. Forward-looking information may relate to management's future outlook and anticipated events or results, and may include statements or information regarding plans, timelines and targets for construction, mining, development, production and exploration activities at the Diavik Diamond Mine, future mining and processing at the Diavik Diamond Mine, projected capital expenditure requirements and the funding thereof, liquidity and working capital requirements and sources, estimated reserves and resources at, and production from, the Diavik Diamond Mine, the number and timing of expected rough diamond sales, expected diamond prices and expectations concerning the diamond industry and the demand for luxury goods, expected cost of sales and gross margin trends in the mining segment, and expected sales trends in the retail segment. Actual results may vary from the forward-looking information. See "Risks and Uncertainties" on page 18 for material risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking information.
Forward-looking information is based on certain factors and assumptions regarding, among other things, mining, production, construction and exploration activities at the Diavik Diamond Mine, world and US economic conditions and the worldwide demand for luxury goods. Specifically, in making statements regarding expected diamond prices and expectations concerning the diamond industry and expected sales trends in the retail segment, the Company has made assumptions regarding, among other things, world and US economic conditions and demand for luxury goods. While the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on the information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect. See "Risks and Uncertainties" on page 18.
Forward-looking information is subject to certain factors, including risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from what we currently expect. These factors include, among other things, the uncertain nature of mining activities, including risks associated with underground construction and mining operations, risks associated with joint venture operations, risks associated with the remote location of and harsh climate at the Diavik Diamond Mine site, risks associated with regulatory requirements, fluctuations in diamond prices and changes in US and world economic conditions, the risk of fluctuations in the Canadian/US dollar exchange rate, cash flow and liquidity risks and the risks of competition in the luxury jewelry segment. Please see page 18 of this Interim Report, as well as the Company's Annual Report, available at www.sedar.com, for a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties involved in the Company's operations.
Readers are cautioned not to place undue importance on forward- looking information, which speaks only as of the date of this Management's Discussion and Analysis, and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. Due to assumptions, risks and uncertainties, including the assumptions, risks and uncertainties identified above and elsewhere in this Management's Discussion and Analysis, actual events may differ materially from current expectations. The Company uses forward-looking statements because it believes such statements provide useful information with respect to the expected future operations and financial performance of the Company, and cautions readers that the information may not be appropriate for other purposes. While the Company may elect to, it is under no obligation and does not undertake to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise at any particular time, except as required by law. Additional information concerning factors that may cause actual results to materially differ from those in such forward-looking statements is contained in the Company's filings with Canadian and United States securities regulatory authorities and can be found at www.sedar.com and www.sec.gov, respectively.
Summary Discussion
Harry Winston Diamond Corporation is a specialist diamond company focusing on the mining and retail segments of the diamond industry. The Company supplies rough diamonds to the global market from production received from its 40% ownership interest in the Diavik Diamond Mine (economic interest of 31%), located off Lac de Gras in Canada's Northwest Territories. The Company also owns a 100% interest in Harry Winston Inc., the premier fine jewelry and watch retailer operating under the Harry Winston(R) brand.
The Company's most significant asset is an ownership interest in the Diavik group of mineral claims. The Diavik Joint Venture (the "Joint Venture") is an unincorporated joint arrangement between Diavik Diamond Mines Inc. ("DDMI") (60%) and Harry Winston Diamond Limited Partnership ("HWDLP") (40%) where HWDLP holds an undivided 40% ownership interest in the assets, liabilities and expenses of the Diavik Diamond Mine. DDMI is the operator of the Diavik Diamond Mine. DDMI and HWDLP are headquartered in Yellowknife, Canada. DDMI is a wholly owned subsidiary of Rio Tinto plc of London, England. As a result of the strategic investment by Kinross Gold Corporation ("Kinross") of Toronto, Canada, described below, HWDLP is 77.5% owned by the Company and 22.5% owned by Kinross. Kinross's 22.5% ownership is reported in the consolidated financial statements as part of non-controlling interest.
On March 31, 2009, Kinross made a net investment of $150.0 million to acquire an indirect interest in the Diavik Diamond Mine and a direct equity stake in the Company. Kinross subscribed for 15.2 million of the Company's treasury shares at a price of $3.00 per share, being approximately 19.9% of the Company's issued equity post the transaction. Kinross also subscribed for new partnership units representing a 22.5% interest in HWDLP, for a net effective subscription value of $103.7 million. With the closing of the Kinross transaction, the Company's economic interest in the Diavik Diamond Mine is 31%.
Market Commentary
The Diamond Market
The rough diamond market continued to build on the momentum that was evident at the end of the first quarter. Rough diamond prices increased substantially during the quarter with our own pricing ending at 50% above the low point in the first quarter. Polished diamond demand continued to be resilient in the Far East and a cautious but definite return of interest from US buyers has helped to revive the industry. Diamond polishers have been eager to purchase rough diamonds, which are still restricted in supply, leading to firmer prices in the quarter. Although it is anticipated that the improved market conditions will encourage some diamond producers to sell accumulated inventory, the increased supply is not expected to dampen rough diamond prices.
In the polished diamond market, the hiatus in both mining and diamond polishing has led to shortages in certain high-quality ranges. As the market heads into the busy holiday season, the shortages are anticipated to lead to further upward price movement.
The Retail Jewelry Market
Trading conditions in the luxury segment of the diamond jewelry market remain challenging. However, the Asian market is showing signs of recovery while the US and European markets appear to have reached bottom. Many industry peers are anticipating fourth quarter sales to improve over last year's disappointing holiday season.
(R) Harry Winston is a registered trademark of Harry Winston Inc.
