PNB: No proposal for S P Setia received

KUALA LUMPUR: Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB) has not received a proposal from tycoon Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary to acquire a substantial interest in S P Setia Bhd, in which PNB has a 64.08% stake.

“I’ve not received anything so I cannot comment on that,” said Tan Sri Hamad Kama Piah Che Othman, president and group chief executive of PNB.

The Edge weekly earlier reported that Syed Mokhtar is exploring to buy a substantial portion of PNB’s stake in the property giant, and that the tycoon is said to have the blessings of the top level of government to talk to PNB on the matter.

According to Hamad Kama Piah, there have not been any negotiations with Syed Mokhtar on the potential acquisition.

“As far as I’m concerned, there hasn’t been anything. Any matters regarding S P Setia will be discussed with our board of directors,” he said.

“We look for situations where, at the end of the day, whether they will be good for PNB or not.”  

Meanwhile, Amanah Saham Nasional Bhd, PNB’s wholly-owned subsidiary, yesterday announced the income distribution of its three unit trusts under the Amanah Saham Gemilang (ASG).

For the financial year ended March 31, 2014, unitholders of ASG-Pendidikan, ASG-Kesihatan and ASG-Persaraan will receive an income distribution of 7.10 sen, 7.20 sen and 7.05 sen per unit respectively.  The rates of income announced were the same as last year’s for ASG-Pendidikan and ASG-Kesihatan. ASG-Persaraan’s 7.05 sen is 2.5 sen lower than the previous year’s.  

ASG-Pendidikan registered a gross income of RM8.72 million as at March 23, 2014, while ASG-Kesihatan and ASG-Persaraan recorded RM10.66 million and RM3.49 million respectively.

“The payment of income distribution for all three funds under ASG is based on the balance of units and credited into the unitholders’ accounts on April 1, based on the net asset value of each unit on March 31,” said PNB.


This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on March 25, 2014.