PNB announces 7.75 sen dividend for ASB2

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Ahmad Sarji (left) and Hamad Kama announcing the income distribution for ASB2. — Bernama photo

KUALA LUMPUR: Amanah Saham Bumiputera 2 (ASB2) unit holders will receive a 7.75 sen dividend per unit for the financial year ending March 31, 2015. It comprised a 7.5 sen per unit of annual income distribution and 0.25 sen per unit of special income distribution. Permodalan Nasional Bhd chairman, Tun Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid, said the total payout for the ASB2 income distribution amounted to RM92 million, involving 2.06 billion units subscribed by some 103,546 investors.

“Amanah Saham Nasional Bhd (ASNB) is happy the Bumiputera community is aware of the importance of investment despite facing economic challenges and the cost of living,” he said at the announcement of the income distribution here yesterday.

Also present was president/chief executive officer, Tan Sri Hamad Kama Piah Che Othman. Ahmad Sarji said ASB2 was the best performing newly-launched unit trust fund in a one-year subscription period, compared to other fixed-priced products previously launched by ASNB.

“It has been a tough first financial year for ASB2 with uncertainties in the domestic share market, as well as, challenging world economic climate,” he said.

He said this was due to the sharp fall in global crude oil prices, depreciation of ringgit against the US dollar, political unrest in the Eastern Europe and imbalances in the global economic growth, particularly in Asia and other developing countries. Until March 29, 2015, ASB2 recorded a gross income of RM130.6 million, of which income from the sale of shares contributed RM86 million, or 65.8 per cent.

Dividend income from investment in companies contributed RM30 million, while the remaining RM14.6 million was derived from other income. — Bernama