Our investments in local equity market worth RM200b now: PNB

PETALING JAYA: Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB) said its investments in the local stock market are now worth RM200 billion, accounting for more than 10% of the total market capitalisation.

In conjunction with PNB’s 40th anniversary, group chairman Tan Sri Abdul Wahid Omar said in a statement yesterday that PNB is today the largest fund manager in Malaysia with funds worth RM279 billion.

“Out of this, 98% of our funds are invested locally to create business and economic opportunities for Malaysians. This includes providing equal opportunities to Bumiputera professionals in the corporate sector.”

He noted that 70% of the funds are invested in the stock market and public equities. Its 10 strategic companies are Maybank, Sime Darby Plantation, Sime Darby Bhd, Sime Darby Property, SP Setia, UMW Holdings, UMW Oil & Gas, CCM, CCM Duopharma and MNRB.

“PNB also has stakes in more than 40 core companies such as TM, Axiata, MMC, TNB and BIMB Holdings where PNB owns more than 10% equity or investment worth more than RM1 billion in those companies.”

In November 2016, PNB unveiled its STRIVE-15 Strategic Plan 2017-2022, which aims to deliver enhanced sustainable returns.

“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.

“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 Bumiputera (ASB) unit holders in conjunction with our 40th anniversary,” said Wahid.

He added that the dividend and bonus distribution for ASB as well as other ASNB unit trusts amounted to a payout of RM14.4 billion for the year 2017 and more than RM172 billion cumulative dividends paid out to unit holders since PNB was established.