Kuala Lumpur: Amanah Saham Nasional Bhd (ASNB), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB), has announced an income distribution of 7.30 sen per unit and a bonus of 1.25 sen per unit for Skim Amanah Saham Bumiputera (ASB), for the financial year ending Dec 31, 2009.

Last year, the government-owned fund manager declared an income distribution of 7.0 sen per unit and a bonus of 1.75 sen per unit.

Announcing the dividend and bonus for ASB today, PNB chairman Tun Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid said the income distribution would involve a total payout of RM4.95 billion by ASNB, an increase of 19.56 per cent from the RM4.14 billion paid out in 2008.

The bonus portion, meanwhile, would involve a total payout of RM537.65 million by PNB.

The payment will benefit 6.78 million unit holders who currently hold more than 70 billion ASB units.

"Although the total numbers (dividend and bonus) looks lower this year at 8.55 sen per unit from 8.75 sen per unit last year, but in terms of total amount that we are paying out, it is higher at RM5.48 billion from RM4.79 billion last year," said PNB group chief executive and president Tan Sri Hamad Kama Piah Che Othman.

Hamad Kama Piah said PNB was in a strong position and would make sure of continued dividend payouts.

"Based on our fund reserve, our capacity is more than 11 sen per unit but we are just paying 7.30 sen per unit and bringing forward the balance of 3.70 sen for 2010.

"This is a long term fund and we want to make sure that we are able to use the money to buy more shares and do more investment because at the end of the day, we still have to pay again," he added.

ASB recorded a gross income of RM5.46 billion up to Dec 10, an increase of 3.4 per cent from RM5.28 billion in the corresponding period last year.

Dividend income from investee companies contributed RM1.48 billion, or 27 per cent of the gross income.

Profit from the sale of shares contributed RM3.67 billion, or 67 per cent, while the remaining RM309 million or 6.0 per cent came from investments in short-term instruments and other investments.

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

All transactions for ASB will be suspended from Dec 21 until January 3 to enable the calculation of income distribution and bonus. Unit holders will be able to update their accounts from January 4.

ASB is a fixed price equity income fund, opened for Bumiputera aged 12 years and above. It is aimed at generating long term, consistent and competitive returns to the unit holders. - Bernama