6.80 sen ASM dividend

HIGHEST IN FIVE YEARS: Total income distribution includes 0.30 sen per unit bonus, amounting to RM913.85 million


Amanah Saham Nasional Bhd (ASNB) yesterday announced a total income distribution of 6.80 sen per unit for Amanah Saham Malaysia (ASM) for the financial year ending March 31 2013, the highest in five years.

The total income distribution comprises an income distribution of 6.50 sen per unit and a "bonus" 0.30 sen per unit, said Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB), which owns ASNB.

The total income distribution of 6.80 sen per unit is higher compared with 6.50 sen per unit paid out last year, 6.38 per cent (2011), 6.3 per cent (2010) and 6.25 per cent (2009).

The payout will amount to RM913.85 million, an increase of 11.6 per cent compared with RM818.62 million last year.
The payment will benefit 542,809 unitholders who currently hold 13.44 billion units of ASM.

Up till Monday, ASM has recorded a gross income of RM1.07 billion with profit from the sale of shares contributing RM505.19 million, or 47.3 per cent.

Dividend income from investments in companies contributed RM376.75 million, or 35.3 per cent, and the remaining income of RM185.09 million, or 17.4 per cent, is derived from investments in short-term instruments.

ASM is an "equity-income fund" aimed at providing unit holders with a long-term investment opportunity to generate regular and competitive returns through diversified portfolio of investments.

Commenting on ASM's performance vis-a-vis the stock market performance, PNB chairman Tun Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid said the equity income fund did well despite the external uncertainties that also weighed on the stock market performance.

Meanwhile, PNB president and chief executive officer Tan Sri Hamad Kama Piah Che Othman said the country's biggest fund manager is still keen to pursue opportunities in London after its earlier four investments.

Its first investment in London was in December 2011 when it bought a 12-storey office space in Milton & Shire House on 1 Silk Street for STG350 million (RM1.72 billion).

It also has investment interest in Australia where it has purchased Santos Place in Brisbane, Australia, for A$290 million (RM916.4 million).

On Menara Wawasan, Hamad Kama said the company is trying to fulfil all of the requirements and conditions for the proposed building, which will be located within the Stadium Merdeka and Stadium Negara heritage area.

It has obtained the development order from Kuala Lumpur City Hall to build the 100-storey building, which will be higher than the Petronas Twin Towers.

Several months ago, Hamad Kama said 80 storeys of Menara Wawasan will be allocated for offices, 75 per cent of which has been set aside for companies under PNB.

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