ASNB announces 6.20 sen income distribution for ASN 3

Amanah Saham Nasional Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB), today announced an income distribution of 6.20 sen per unit for Amanah Saham Nasional 3 Imbang (ASN 3) for the year ending Nov 30, 2014. The income distribution, involving a payout of RM51.24 million, will benefit 30,710 unitholders who hold a combined 826.51 million units of ASN 3, said PNB Chairman Tun Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid. He said the income distribution will be reinvested into additional units of ASN 3 and automatically credited into unitholders' accounts on Dec 1, 2014, based on ASN 3's Net Asset Value on Nov 30, 2014.

ASN 3, a variable price balanced fund open to all Malaysians, generates capital growth over the medium to long term by investing in a balanced portfolio of fixed income instruments, equities listed on Bursa Malaysia and other investment instruments.

"As of Nov 24, 2014, ASN 3's gross income stood at RM19.63 million, including RM8.73 million or 44.5 per cent from dividend income from investee companies," Ahmad Sarji said when announcing the ASN 3 income distribution here today.

Income from investments in short-term instruments and other income accounted for RM8.21 million or 41.8 per cent of gross income, he added.

"The remaining RM2.68 million or 13.7 per cent came from profits from the sale of shares," he said.

Meanwhile, PNB President and Chief Executive Officer Tan Sri Hamad Kama Piah Che Othman said piling works for Menara Warisan Merdeka, which will house the headquarters of PNB and its group of companies, are expected to be completed in the third quarter of next year.

"The works are 52 per cent completed. We expect the main contractor to be appointed by the second quarter of 2015," he said.

Asked on negotiations between MMC Corp Bhd and MISC Bhd for the acquisition of a stake in NCB Holdings Bhd, Hamad Kama Piah said: "We have not had any offers yet."

According to a news report, MMC Corp is in talks with MISC to buy the latter's 15.7 per cent equity stake in NCB, with negotiations already at an advanced stage and a deal expected to be sealed soon.

PNB is NCB's largest shareholder with a 47.7 per cent stake.