PNB Declares 6.70 Sen Dividend For AS1M

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 18 (Bernama) -- Amanah Saham Nasional Bhd (ASNB), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB), on Wednesday announced an income distribution of 6.70 sen per unit for Amanah Saham 1Malaysia (AS1M) for the financial year ending Sept 30, 2013.

The income distribution, its fourth, is 0.10 sen higher than the 6.60 sen per unit announced last year.

PNB Chairman Tun Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid said the income distribution will involve a payout of RM593.06 million, up 30.9 per cent over last year's RM453.03 million.

"The payout is expected to benefit 365,355 unitholders who have subscribed for 9.28 billion units of AS1M," he said when announcing the income distribution.

Also present was PNB President and Group Chief Executive Tan Sri Hamad Kama Piah.

Ahmad Sarji said as of Sept 16, AS1M has recorded a gross income of RM723.93 million, with profits from sale of shares accounting for RM405.99 million or 56.1 per cent while RM128.15 million or 17.7 per cent was derived from investments in short-term instruments and other income.

"Dividend income from investment in companies contributed RM189.79 million or 26.2 per cent to gross income," he said.

The dividend will automatically be credited into unitholders' accounts on Oct 1 based on the average monthly minimum balance held, he added.

Ahmad Sarji said to facilitate the income distribution, all AS1M transactions at ASNB offices and agents will close on Sept 24-30 and unitholders may update their AS1M investment books at ASNB offices or agents nationwide from Oct 1 when the transactions reopen.

AS1M is a 10 billion fixed price unit trust fund with a 50 per cent quota for Bumiputeras, 30 per cent for Chinese, 15 per cent for Indians and the rest for other Malaysians.