ASNB rewards unit holders half sen bonus

Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB) announced an income distribution of 7.25 sen per unit and declared a bonus of 50 sen per unit for holders of Amanah Saham Bumiputera (ASB) for the financial year ended December 31, 2015.

The income distribution is slightly lower compared to the 7.50 sen per unit paid out in 2014.

The distribution of the ASB bonus was also the lowest ever recorded since 1990.

The income distribution portion will involve a total payout of RM10.41 billion ringgit by ASNB, an increase of 4.3 percent compared to RM9.98 billion paid out last year, while the bonus portion will involve a payout of RM451.73 million by PNB.

The payment will benefit 8.87 million unit holders, an increase of 300,000 new holders who currently hold a total of 142.54 units of ASB.

According to PNB Chairman, Tun Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid, ASB's performance is still satisfactory considering the challenging global economic and market situation at the moment.

Ahmad Sarji said the interest rate hike by The United States Federal Reserve (The Fed) has resulted in capital outflow from emerging markets like Malaysia to developed markets.

He also added that China's economic meltdown was another contributing factor as the country is Malaysia's second biggest investor.

Meanwhile, PNB President and CEO, Tan Sri Hamad Kama Piah Che Othman said the distribution was in line with the current market outlook and that ASB poses less risk than other instruments.

As of December 23 this year, ASB recorded a total gross income of RM10.06 billion.

Dividend income from investee companies contributed RM4.51 billion or 44.8 percent of the gross income.

Meanwhile, profit from the sale of shares contributed RM3.6 billion or 35.8 percent of the gross income and the balance of RM1.95 billion or 19.4 percent was derived from other income.