ASM ANNOUNCED INCOME DISTRIBUTION OF 6.30 SEN PER UNIT
22 March, 2010

Kuala Lumpur :-Amanah Saham Nasional Berhad (ASNB) has announced an income distribution of 6.30 sen per unit for Amanah Saham Malaysia (ASM) for the financial year ended 31 March, 2010.

PNB Chairman, Tun Ahmad Sarji bin Abdul Hamid said, the income distribution involves a total payout of RM654.06 million, an increase of 60.5 percent from RM407.58 million paid last year.

According to Tun Ahmad Sarji the equity market and the domestic investment environment has showed marked improvement compared with the situation a year earlier, in line with the global economic and financial market recovery throughout the financial year of ASM.

“These factors, combined with the successful implementation of the RM67 billion Government stimulus package and accommodative monetary policy has helped Malaysia record positive growth in its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of 4.50 percent in the fourth quarter of 2009,” he said during the income distribution announcement in Kuala Lumpur today.

A total of 11.2 billion units of the ASM has been subscribed until 19 March 2010, an increase of 55.3 percent from the 7.21 billion units recorded on 31 March, 2009. The fund has also received 149,000 new unitholders during the year bringing the total number of unitholders of ASM to more than 552,000 now.

Up until 19 March, 2010, ASM has recorded a gross income of RM800.83 million. Profit from the sale of shares contributed RM429.83 million, or 53.7 percent of the gross income.

Dividend income contributed RM259.69 million or 32.4 percent and the remaining income of RM111.31 million or 13.9 percent is derived from investments in short term instruments.

The calculation of the income distribution is based on the average monthly minimum balance held throughout the financial year of ASM. The income distribution will be reinvested in additional units of ASM to be automatically credited into the unit holders’ account on 1 April, 2010.

ASM transactions at all branches and agents nationwide will be suspended beginning 24 March to 31 March, 2010 to facilitate the calculation of income distribution. Unit holders can update their ASM investment book beginning 1 April, 2010.

The income distribution statement and annual report will be sent to unit holders beginning middle of May, 2010.

ASM is a fixed priced ‘Equity-Income Fund’ aimed at providing unit holders with a long-term investment opportunity that generates regular and competitive returns through a diversified portfolio of investments.