KUALA LUMPUR (May 25): Datasonic Group Bhd's net profit retreated 5.22% for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2017 (4QFY17) amid higher operating expenses and direct costs for new projects undertaken in the quarter under review.

The net profit declined to RM17.95 million or 1.33 sen per share from RM18.94 million or 1.4 sen per share for the previous corresponding period, as operating expenses grew 38.34% year-on-year to RM72.18 million.

The ICT solutions provider's revenue for the quarter rose 25.07% to RM92.62 million, from RM74.05 million in 4QFY16.

"RM69.58 million of the group's revenue in the current financial quarter is derived from the supply of smart cards, consumables, passports and personalisation services," Datasonic said in a bourse filing.

The company declared a fourth interim dividend of 1.5 sen per share, bringing the total payout for FY17 to 4 sen. It is payable on June 20, while the ex- and entitlement dates are June 7 and 9, respectively.

For FY17 as a whole, Datasonic's net profit fell a marginal 0.62% to RM62.66 million, from RM63.05 million in FY16, despite revenue rising 31.93% to RM318.35 million from RM241.31 million.

Datasonic expects a satisfactory FY18. The company completed payment of RM11.75 million for the development of two lots of retail offices in Olive Hill Business Park, Petaling Jaya, which it said "are intended to be used for the research and development division".

Datasonic had requested a suspension of its share trade from 2.30pm to 3.30pm today.

At 3.42pm, its shares rose 2 sen or 1.54% to RM1.32. This gives the group a market value of RM1.77 billion.