Feb 8 (Reuters) - Australia-based Oz Minerals (OZL) on...

Feb 8 (Reuters) - Australia-based Oz Minerals (OZL) on Wednesday said its annual profit fell 8.7 percent, as the company saw higher spending to ramp up the expansion of its Prominent Hill and Carrapateena projects in South Australia.

The copper-focused miner posted a net profit of A$222.4 million ($159.77 million) for the year ended Dec. 31, lower than A$231.1 million a year ago.

The company declared a final dividend of 15 Australian cents per share, however, up from a dividend of 14 Australian cents per share a year ago. ($1 = 1.3920 Australian dollars)