Signet Group Plc, the world's largest jewellery-store owner, said shareholders approved the company's plan to move its main stock listing to the New York Stock Exchange and relocate to Bermuda.

The change, which 94 percent of voting shareholders approved of at a meeting yesterday, will take effect on September 11, chairman Malcolm Williamson said in a statement distributed by Regulatory News Service.

The relocation to Bermuda from London will make the stock eligible for inclusion in US domestic stock indexes. Almost half the stock is now owned by US residents.

Signet, which owns about 1,400 Kay Jewelers and Jared shops in the US, said in April it was considering moving its listing and base.

There was a "significant increase" in the number of its US shareholders last year, the retailer said.

The company also owns UK jewellery chains including H Samuel, Ernest Jones and Leslie Davis.

"Having our primary stock listing on the New York Stock Exchange is the natural next step in the evolution of Signet," said chairman Malcolm Williamson after the board gave its backing for the move in July.

"The proposal will align the place of primary listing with the group's business activities, which are predominantly based in the US, and where the board expects the majority of its future growth to take place."

Signet's revenue fell in the second quarter as higher food and fuel bills led Britons and Americans to cut back on non-essential purchases.

Sales at its stores open at least a year fell 4.5 percent in the 13 weeks ended August 2, Signet reported earlier this month.

Revenue in the US, where Signet gets more than 70 percent of sales, fell 5.8 percent on that basis.