ASM ANNOUNCED HIGHER INCOME DISTRIBUTION
27 March 20008

KUALA LUMPUR – Amanah Saham Nasional Berhad (ASNB) has announced an income distribution of 7.80 sen per unit for Amanah Saham Malaysia (ASM) for the financial year ended March 31, 2008.

This is an increase of 1.00 sen per unit compared with the income distribution of 6.80 sen per unit last year.

The income distribution, which involves a total payout of RM450.78 million, will be reinvested in additional units of ASM to be automatically credited into the unit holders’ account on April 1, 2008.

This is an increase of 61.30 percent from the RM279.47 million in total income distribution declared last year.

The calculation of the income distribution is based on the average monthly minimum balance held throughout the financial year of ASM ending March 31, 2008.

Up until March 26, 2008 ASM has recorded a gross income of RM534.52 million, an increase of 55.59 percent as compared to RM343.55 million recorded in the financial year ended March 31, 2007.

Dividend income from investments made throughout the year contributed RM236.03 million or 44.16 percent of the gross income.

Profit from the sale of shares contributed RM215.04 million, or 40.23 percent and the remaining income of RM83.45 million or 15.61 percent is derived from investments in short term instruments.

ASM annual statement will be sent to unit holders beginning middle of May, 2008.

 

Unit holders can update their ASM investment book at ASNB offices and agents nationwide beginning April 1, 2008.

All ASM transactions has been suspended beginning March 27, 2008 to March 31, 2008.

Launched in 2000, ASM, which is an ‘Equity-Income Fund’, is aimed at providing unit holders with a long-term investment opportunity that generates regular and competitive returns through a diversified portfolio of investments.

Up until March 26, 2008, 314,608 unit holders have invested in a total of 5.78 billion units of ASM.