KUALA LUMPUR: Amanah Saham Nasional Bhd (ASNB), a wholly-owned subsidiary of state investment firm Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB), has announced a total income distribution payout of RM2bil for the financial year ending March 31, 2024, for Amanah Saham Bumiputera 2 (ASB2) and Amanah Saham Malaysia (ASM).
In a statement, PNB said ASB2 declared a total income distribution payout of RM670mil, which is equivalent to 5.25 sen per unit to 552,297 unitholders holding 12.73 billion units.
Meanwhile, ASM declared a total income distribution payout of RM1.33bil, equivalent to 4.75 sen per unit to 699,807 unitholders with 28.05 billion units.
As of March 25, 2024, ASB 2 recorded a net realised income of RM659.95mil, while ASM recorded RM1.41bil.
The distributions of ASB 2 and ASM translate to total returns of 5.25% and 4.75% respectively, both outperforming the benchmark of Maybank’s 12-month fixed deposit at 2.84%.
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“Both funds have sourced their earnings from realised gains and dividend income from both local and global equity investments, amidst volatile backdrop of elevated inflation and growing economic downturn concerns.
“The funds are also reaping the rewards of diversification into other asset classes such as real estate and private investment, with a greater emphasis on fixed income which provides stable recurring income to the funds,” said PNB.
According to PNB, the computation of income distribution for ASB 2 and ASM is based on the average minimum monthly balance held throughout the financial year of each fund.
The distribution declared by these funds will be automatically reinvested into unitholders’ accounts on April 1, 2024.