Amanah Saham Bumiputera (ASB) unitholders will receive a dividend of 7.70 sen and a bonus 1.0 sen per unit for the financial year ending 31st December 2013. This brings a total of 8.70 sen distribution income for year 2013.
This dividend and bonus are 0.05 sen and 0.15 sen lower compared to 7.75 sen and 1.15 declared in 2012 respectively.
Kindly refer to “Historical Amanah Saham Bumiputera (ASB) Dividend Rate” page, for previous year dividend and bonus.
PNB claim that, they are capable to declare a dividend of 10.54 sen per unit for the current financial year, but decided to bring forward 2.71 sen per unit to help the fund’s portfolio to become more competitive in future.
The dividend will involve a total payout of RM9.38 billion by ASNB, an increase of 17.4% compared to the RM7.99 billion paid out last year. Meanwhile, the bonus will involve a total payout of RM706.88 million, an increase of 3.84% compared to the RM680.73 million paid out last year.
The payment will benefit 8.26 million unit holders which currently hold a total of 127.2 billion units of ASB. Total gross income of ASB on 31st December 2013 is estimated at RM9.92 billion. Dividend income from investee companies contributed RM4.41 billion or 44.5% of the gross income. Meanwhile, profit from the sale of shares contributed RM4 billion or 40.3% of the gross income and the balance of RM1.51 billion or 15.2% derived from other incomes.
The calculation of income distribution is based on the average monthly minimum balance held throughout the financial year of ASB ending 31 December 2013. The calculation of the bonus on the other hand is based on the average monthly minimum balance held by the unit holders in the past ten years, starting from 2004 up to 2013.
The income distribution and bonus would be automatically credited into the respective unitholder’s account. Unitholders could update their accounts beginning 2nd January 2014 at ASNB branches or agents nationwide.
All ASB transactions will be suspended starting from 22nd December 2013 to 1st January 2014 to facilitate the calculation of income distribution and bonus.
Has anyone any idea why the dividend and bonus are lower this time? As we all know, “other fixed priced funds managed by ASNB showed an increase in dividends of between 0.1 and 0.3 percent in 2013”.
I think it was a case of inducing a “feel good” returns last year due to forthcoming election. just a thot