TORONTO (CP) _ Auto loan provider VFC Inc. (TSX:VFC) has posted a 65 per cent profit boost in its latest fourth quarter on the heels of a $326-million takeover offer by TD Bank (TSX:TD).

The Toronto financing firm said Tuesday its profit for the quarter ended Dec. 31 amounted to 23 cents per share diluted and compared to net earnings of $2.4 million a year earlier, 15 cents per share.

Total revenue moved up 34.8 per cent to $21.6 million from $16 million a year earlier.

In February, TD Bank offered $19.50 a share for VFC, a move that has received the approval of VFC's board.

VFC stockholders have the option of taking $19.50 per share in cash or $19.45 per share in TD common stock plus a nickel per share in cash.

Full-year profit was $12.7 million, 78 cents per share diluted, up 52.8 per cent from $8.3 million in 2004, 52 cents per share. Annual revenue was $77.2 million compared to $57.8 million a year earlier.

``A 27 per cent growth in loan originations over the same period last year is evidence of the continued growth in demand for non-prime finance options in Canada,'' stated president and CEO Charlie Stewart.

``We target an annual return on equity in excess of 20 per cent, and we are proud to say VFC's ROE was 19.5 per cent for the quarter.''

VFC, with offices in Toronto, Montreal and Nanaimo, B.C., has 220 employees and $380 million in receivables from more than 25,000 customers lined up through relationships with 2,000 car dealers.