KUALA LUMPUR (July 30): Unisem (M) Bhd's net profit for the second quarter ended June 30, 2021 (2QFY21) rose 60.9% to RM54.64 million from RM33.95 million on higher sales volume and selling prices, as well as better interest income.

The semiconductor assembly and test services provider posted earnings per share (EPS) of 6.8 sen for the quarter from 4.67 sen last year.

The higher sales volume and average selling prices also helped push up revenue by 29.72% to RM402.23 million, from RM310.08 million, despite depreciation of the ringgit against the US dollar in the quarter under review.

The group also declared a dividend of two sen per share, unchanged from last year, which will be paid on Sept 3.

Concurrently, Unisem also proposed today a one-for-one bonus issue of new shares totalling 806.54 million shares. The bonus issue will not involve capitalisation of reserves, it said.

For the first half ended June 30, 2021 (1HFY21), Unisem's net profit more than tripled to RM100.05 million or 12.53 sen per share from RM31.12 million ot 4.28 sen per share for 1HFY20, when the group booked a loss for the first quarter of the previous financial year.

Revenue rose 37.32% to RM776.17 million from RM565.24 million.

Despite the better performance in 1HFY21, Unisem said it expects the performance of the group to remain satisfactory for the next financial quarter. Notably, the group posted its best six-month performance of RM111.66 million in 2HFY20, owing to the semiconductor boom.

Shares in Unisem fell seven sen or 0.85% to RM8.16 at noon today, valuing it at RM6.58 billion.