ASNB announces income distribution of 7.50 sen dividend, per unit

Amanah Saham Nasional Berhad (ASNB) announced an income distribution of 7.50 sen dividend per unit and a bonus of 1 sen per unit for the Amanah Saham Bumiputera (ASB) scheme for the financial year, ending December 31, 2014.

The bonus also involved an allocation of RM804.43 million by Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB) which increased to 19 per cent compared to RM675.93 million paid out last year.

PNB chairman, Tun Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid said the payout will be distributed to its 8.6 million unit holders who currently own 137.07 billion ASB units.

"We distribute 7.5 sens instead of 10 sens, the remaining will be brought forward for long term portfolio investment,” said PNB president and group chief executive officer, Tan Sri Hamad Kama Piah Che Othman.

The total gross income of ASB until December 16, 2014 is estimated to be at RM10.55 billion.

The dividend received from investment companies contributed to RM4.64 billion or 44 per cent of the gross income.

(*Editor’s note: See ASB dividend distribution comparison from 1990 to 2014)

Meanwhile, the profit from the investment sales contribute to RM4.23 billion or 40.1 per cent of the gross income while the balance RM1.68 billion contributes to other income.

The profit and bonus distribution will be automatically credited into the unit holders account.

These unit holders can begin updating their accounts at any nearest branches beginning January 2, 2015.

All ASB transactions at its headquarters and branches will be suspended beginning December 23, 2014 until January 1, 2015 to enable the counting of profit and bonus calculation be made.