KUALA LUMPUR: United Malacca Bhd posted a net profit of RM15.22 million for the fourth quarter (4Q) ended April 30, 2009, a decrease of 23% from RM19.82 million a year earlier, due to lower prices of crude palm oil (CPO) and palm kernel.

As a result, its 4Q earnings per share fell to 11.36 sen from 14.79 previously. Revenue fell 36% to RM38.04 million from RM59.72 million previously, the company told Bursa Malaysia on June 24.

It has proposed a final dividend of 30 sen per share, less 25% tax, to be paid on Sept 28. The ex-date of the dividend is Sept 9.

Together with the interim dividend of 10 sen that has been paid on Jan 15, the total dividend for the financial year 2009 (FY09) is 40 sen gross.

For the full financial year, the company’s net profit stood at RM71.34 million, 26% lower than the RM96.58 million it made in FY08. FY09 revenue was 12% lower at RM195.1 million compared with RM222.2 million previously.

United Malacca said the group’s production of fresh fruit bunches (FFB) for FY10 was expected to increase, due to additional areas coming to harvesting stage and increasing yield trend from the young matured oil palms.

“Should the current level of CPO price be sustained, the group can expect another year of good performance,” it said.