KUALA LUMPUR: Datasonic Group Bhd’s third quarter profits ended December 2017 jumped 84 per cent to RM14.65 million from RM7.97 million a year ago, thanks to income from a new passport booklets project and effective cost control.
In its filing to the stock exchange, Datasonic noted its revenue for the quarter fell 18 per cent to RM60.3 million from RM73.2 million in the previous corresponding period, dragged by lower sales of consumables, passports and personalisation services.
As at December 2017, Datasonic's outstanding order book totals RM750 million.
“We are optimistic on the business outlook especially for financial year 2019 onwards,” Datasonic group chairman General (Rtd) Tan Sri Mohamed Hashim Mohd Ali said in a statement.
He went on to say the group is determined to expand its business locally, regionally and globally to bring the company to greater heights.
For the nine months, Datasonic’s profits increased 11 per cent to RM49.8 million, versus RM44.7 million a year ago, despite a 14.1 per cent drop in revenue, which was mainly due to lower contribution from personalisation services of financial cards.
In the three quarters, Datasonic's revenue amounted to RM193.96 million compared with RM225.74 million in the corresponding period last year.
The group has declared a third interim single-tier tax-exempt dividend of 1.0 sen per share in respect of financial year ending March 2018, amounting to RM13.50 million.