Silverlake Axis, the provider of software to the banking and finance industries, posted a 7% fall in 2Q earnings to RM66.6 million ($22.4 million) from a year ago. The weaker bottomline was the result of a 61 % decline in the share of profit of associates and a joint venture to RM1.6 million and an increase in income tax expenses to RM17 million. Revenue for the three months to December rose 44% rise to RM179 million. Sales from maintenance and enhancement services grew 39% to RM92.7 million while sales from software project services more than doubled to RM36.1 million. Software licensing sales fell 13% to RM28.9 million. Driven by revenue growth, gross profit rose 27% to RM104.4 million. However, gross profit margin was lower at 58% compared with 66% in the previous corresponding period. The decline was mainly attributed to higher contribution from lower margin business activities, such as software project services and sale ......