Wahid: Almost all of PNB’s RM279bil funds invested locally

PETALING JAYA: Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB), which marked its 40th anniversary on Saturday, has emerged as the country’s largest fund manager with funds worth RM279 bil.

In a message on PNB’s 40th anniversary group chairman Tan Sri Abdul Wahid Omar said almost all or 98% of its funds are invested locally to create business and economic opportunities for Malaysians. They include providing equal opportunities to bumiputra professionals in the corporate sector.

“It is heartening to note that 70% of the fund is invested in the stock market/public equity.

“Our investments in Bursa Malaysia are worth RM200bil, which makes up more than 10% of Bursa Malaysia’s total market capitalisation,” he said in the statement.

Moving forward, PNB has a vision to become a distinctive world-class investment house through its strategic plan for 2017-2022 called STRIVE-15, which was announced in November 2016.

Wahid said the PNB workforce has worked tirelessly to implement all 15 strategic initiatives under the three pillars to enhance sustainable returns, effective investment management, and drive operational excellence.

“Alhamdulillah it has progressed smoothly and has generated much success including the increase in income which enabled PNB to distribute dividend and bonus of 7.25 sen, including a special bonus of 1 sen for the first 10,000 units to Amanah Saham Bumiputra (ASB) unit holders in conjunction with our 40th anniversary.

“The dividend and bonus distribution for ASB as well as other ASNB unit trusts amounted to a payout of RM14.4bil for the year 2017 and more than RM172bil cumulative dividends paid out to unit holders since PNB was established,” he said.