Feb 17 - New Zealand-based jewellery retailer Michael Hill International Ltd reported on Thursday a 7.2 percent rise in first half profit as it had forecast.

It said profit for the six months to Dec 31 was NZ$23.9 million ($18.1 million), exactly in line with guidance made by the company on Feb 4 and compared with company's NZ$22.3 million a year earlier.

Michael Hill diamond ring

The company declared an unchanged dividend of 1.5 cents a share.

It reported a 9.7 percent lift in same store sales, but warned that natural disasters in Australia -- a cyclone and devastating flood in January and February -- would likely impact earnings.

It has previously forecast full year earnings before interest and tax of NZ$45 million against an original forecast of NZ$49.9 million.

The company is controlled by founder Michael Hill and family interests, who are currently seeking to consolidate their interests and raise their stake to 50.2 percent from their current 47.6 percent, through a partial takeover at NZ$0.90 a share.

Shares in the company last traded at NZ$0.89. So far this year the company has risen 1 percent compared with a 2 percent gain in the benchmark index .

Michael Hill International has more than 230 retail outlets in New Zealand, Australia, Canada and the U.S.

(Created by Gyles Beckford)