Aventine Renewables posts lower 4th-qtr profit

Feb 21 (Reuters) - Ethanol maker Aventine Renewable Energy Holdings Inc (AVR.N: Quote, Profile, Research) on Thursday posted a lower fourth-quarter profit mainly due to lower ethanol prices and higher corn costs.

Net income for the quarter was $3.3 million, or 8 cents per share, versus a year-earlier profit of $12.8 million, or 30 cents per share. (Reporting by Varsha Tickoo in Bangalore; Editing by Anil D'Silva)