KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 29): Amanah Saham Nasional Bhd (ASNB), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB), has declared an income distribution of five sen per unit for the Amanah Saham Nasional 3 Imbang (ASN 3) fund for the financial year ending Nov 30, 2017.

The distribution for the variable price fund will involve a total payment of RM64.77 million, which will benefit over 43,000 unit holders who currently own over 1.29 billion units of ASN 3, PNB said in a statement today.

“We are pleased that the positive performance of the market for the current financial year of ASN 3 has enabled us to deliver competitive returns to ASN 3 unit holders,” said PNB’s group chairman Tan Sri Abdul Wahid Omar said.

PNB noted that the FBM KLCI index had improved in the current financial year of ASN 3 by recording a price return of 5.9%, after two years of consecutive market decline. The market opened at 1,619 points on Nov 30, 2016 and closed higher at 1,714 points on Nov 28, 2017, it said.

The calculation of the income distribution for ASN 3 will be based on the units held on Nov 30, 2017. The income distribution will be re-invested into additional units and will be automatically credited into the unit holders' accounts on Dec 1, based on the Net Asset Value (NAV) of ASN 3 as at Nov 30.

Meanwhile, unit holders who subscribed for ASN 3 through the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) Members' Investment Scheme will have the income distribution credited directly into their respective EPF accounts.

“As at Oct 31, 2017, ASN 3 recorded a net income of RM62.25 million which translates to ASN 3 recording a dividend yield of 4.9% contributing to year-to-date total return of 5.9%, in line with its focus to give balanced returns through investments in equities and fixed income,” Abdul Wahid said.

“In addition, it is also in line with PNB’s strategy of refocusing its Variable Funds towards delivering total return to unit holders,” he added.

On another note, PNB said all transactions for ASN 3 have been suspended until Dec 3, 2017 to facilitate the computation of income distribution.

Unit holders will be able to check and update their accounts through ASNB’s new portal myasnb.com.my or at any ASNB branches or agents nationwide beginning Dec 4.

The income distribution statement, together with the fund's annual report, will be sent to unit holders within two months after the income distribution.