6.80 SEN INCOME DISTRIBUTION FOR ASM
22 March 2007

KUALA LUMPUR -Amanah Saham Nasional Berhad (ASNB) has announced an income distribution of 6.80 sen per unit for Amanah Saham Malaysia (ASM) for the financial year 2007, which ends on March 31, 2007 .

This is an increase of 0.05 sen per unit compared with the income distribution of 6.75 sen per unit last year.

The income distribution, which involves a total payout of RM280.06 million, will be reinvested in additional units of ASM to be automatically credited into the unit holders' account.

This is an increase of 38.55% from the RM202.14 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, 2007 . 

Up until 15 March 2007 , ASM has recorded a gross income of RM335.46 million, an increase of 21.96% compared with the RM275.06 million recorded in the financial year ended 31 March 2006 .

Dividend income from investments made throughout the year contributed RM118.27 million or 35.26% of the gross income.

Profit from the sale of shares contributed RM174.17 million, or 51.92% and the remaining income of RM43.02 million or 12.82% is derived from investments in short term instruments.

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 19 March 2007 , 311,898 investors have invested in a total of 5 billion units in ASM.

ASM is a very popular investment fund among the Malaysian public and to accommodate the request from investors, ASNB had resorted to increase the fund size three times since 2000.

Response from the public to these additional units have been overwhelming judging from the 800 million new units put on sale on 12 March, 2007, which were fully subscribed in one day.

A total of 46,638 investors have managed to secure the new units launched. ASNB had put a limit of 50,000 units for accountholders for the new subscription.

ASM has 64,950 bumiputera accountholders and 246,970 non-bumiputera accountholders.