AusGroup Limited on Wednesday reported a 88 per cent year-on-year jump in net profit to A$8.25 million (S$10.72 million) for the fiscal fourth quarter ened June 30, 2012.

Turnover rose 18 per cent year-on-year to A$175.35 million, on higher activity in the major projects segment.

Gross profit margin increased to 13.8 per cent from 12.4 per cent in the same quarter last year.

Earnings per share for the reporting quarter were 1.7 Australian cents, up from 1 Australian cents a year ago.

Full-year net profit rose 88 per cent year-on-year to A$23.31 million from A$12.4 million, while turnover rose 5 per cent to A$632.03 million.

AusGroup said its integrated services segment and fabrication and manufacturing segments recorded an increase in activity for the full year, but the major projects segment posted a fall in revenue due to the timing of awards of contracts earlier in the financial year.

Overall gross profit margin for the full year increased to 12.4 per cent from 9.6 per cent a year ago, largely due to the return to profitability in the major projects segment after recognition of a loss on a construction contract in FY2011.

Earnings per share for the year were 4.9 Australian cents, up from 3 Australian cents a year ago.

As at Aug 29, 2012, the group has work in hand amounting to A$324 million.

A final cash dividend of 0.64 Singapore cent per share and a special dividend of 0.36 Singapore cent per share, has been proposed. A year ago, AusGroup paid a final cash dividend of 0.64 Singapore cents per share.