KUALA LUMPUR: The Amanah Saham Bumiputera 2 with an income distribution of 7.75 sen per unit marks its maiden income distribution since its launch one year ago as a part of the nation’s Bumiputera economic empowerment agenda.
Amanah Saham Nasional Bhd (ASNB), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pemodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB) noted that ASB2 had received an encouraging response from the Bumiputera community, when 2.06 billion units were subscribed by some 103,546 unit holders.
This achievement hails ASB 2 as the best performing newly launched unit trust fund in a one-year period subscription, compared to other fixed priced products previously launched by ASNB.
It also reflects a growing awareness among the Bumiputera community about the importance of investing, despite trying economic environment and rising cost of living.
PNB chairman Tun Ahmad Sarji stated that the ASNB board of directors had agreed to allocate a payout worth RM92 million for the ASB2 income distribution.
“It has been a rather tough first financial year for ASB2, with uncertainties in the domestic share market as well as challenging global economic climate,” he said in a statement.
He added that it was pertinent for the ASB2 investment managers to balance out between the need to preserve the fund’s capital, and to perform in generating a reasonable income distribution in accordance with the current economic and market environment.
Until March 29, 2015, ASB2 recorded a gross income of RM130.6 million. From this amount, income from the sale of shares contributed RM86 million or 65.8 per cent.
Meanwhile, dividend income from investment in companies contributed RM30 million or 23 per cent, whereas the remaining RM14.6 million or 11.2 per cent derived from other income.
“Going forward, ASB2 will continually strategise appropriately in facing continuously challenging economic environment as anticipated, among which by making prudent investment decisions as to achieve the objective of the fund,” Ahmad added.
The overall income distribution calculation of 7.75 sen per unit is based on the average minimum balance held throughout the financial year of ASB2.
The income distribution rate of ASB2 is reasonably competitive as compared to other similar investment instruments as well as taking into account the current investment environment.
Transactions for ASB2 had been suspended from March 22 until 31, 2015 at ASNB head office, its branches and agents nationwide for income calculation purposes.
ASB 2 transactions has resumed as usual on April 1.