HIGHER RETURNS FOR ASB
18 December 2007

KUALA LUMPUR, 18 December 2007: Amanah Saham Nasional Bhd (ASNB), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Permodalan Nasional Berhad has announced an income distribution of 8.00 sen per unit and a bonus of 1.00 sen per unit for Skim Amanah Saham Bumiputera (ASB) for the financial year end December 31, 2007.

This is an increase of 0.70 sen per unit compared with the income distribution of 7.30 sen per unit declared last year.

The bonus payout for this year is 1.00 sen per unit compared with 1.25 sen per unit last year.

The total of 9.00 sen per unit for ASB income distribution and bonus this year saw an increase of 0.45 sen per unit compared with 8.55 sen per unit for 2006.   

The income distribution will involve a total payout of RM4,290 million, an increase of RM798 million or 22.85 percent, compared with RM3,492 million paid out last year.  ASNB had also allocated RM354.47 million for the bonus payment.    

PNB Chairman, Tan Sri Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid said, the payment will benefit 6.35 million unit holders which currently hold 55.22 billion units of ASB. 

Up to 13 December, 2007, ASB has recorded a gross income of RM5,130 million, an increase of RM1,159 million or 29.19 percent, compared with RM3,971 million recorded in the previous corresponding period. 

Dividend income from investee companies contributed RM2,811 million or 54.80 percent of the gross income. 

Profit from the sale of shares contributed RM2,005 million or 39.08 percent.  The rest of the income at 6.12 percent or RM314 million 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 ASB ending December 31, 2007.  

The calculation of the bonus is based on the average monthly minimum balance held by the unit holders in the past ten years, starting from 1998 up to 2007.

The income distribution and bonus will be automatically credited into the respective unit holders accounts. 

All transactions for ASB at ASNB head office, ASNB branch offices and agents will be suspended on December 21, 2007 until January 1, 2008, for the calculation of income distribution and bonus. Unit holders will be able to update their accounts beginning January 2, 2008. 

ASB is a fixed price equity income fund, opened for Bumiputera aged 12 years and above.  This fund is aimed at generating long term, consistent and competitive returns to the unit holders whilst ensuring the preservation of capital at minimal risk tolerance level.