EPF declares 6.15% dividend for 2012

KUALA LUMPUR: The Employees Provident Fund (EPF) declared a dividend rate of 6.15 percent for the financial year ended Dec 31, 2012.

The dividend rate, an increase of 15 basis points over the 6 percent rate paid out in 2011, translates to a record breaking total of RM27.45bil being distributed to its members, an increase of 12.2 percent over RM24.47bil paid out in the previous year, said EPF Chairman Tan Sri Samsudin Osman on Sunday.

“Notwithstanding the increasingly complex investment environment, the EPF maintained its steady upwards momentum to post its strongest set of results since the turn of the millennium, underpinning the effectiveness of its long term investment strategy as well as its disciplined and prudent approach,” he said in a press statement.

In 2012, the EPF posted its highest gross investment income to date of RM31.02bil, up 13.91 percent from 2011.

The highest ever dividend payout of RM27.45bil was derived after deducting investment expenses, operating expenditures, statutory charges and net impairment allowance on financial assets.

“The EPF's main objective is the protection of members' capital by generating a return that beats the rate of inflation.

"We continue to fulfil this commitment year on year through our Strategic Asset Allocation (SAA) which seeks consistent returns in the long term within tolerable risk limits for each asset class,” said Samsudin.

The bulk of the fund's investment assets continue to be in stable and traditional low risk fixed income instruments.

Equities made up 38.77 percent of total investment assets for the year, while the remaining 3.59 percent and 2.42 percent were allocated for Money Market Instruments and Real Estate and Infrastructure asset classes, respectively, he said.

“Despite being a diversified fund predominantly invested in low risk fixed income instruments, EPF's annual return on investment (ROI) has topped 6 percent for the third year running.

“Equities generated a double digit ROI of 10.06 percent while returns from fixed income instruments exceeded 5.5 per cent in spite of the current low interest rate conditions,” he said.

Due to a number of one-off capital market transactions undertaken during 2012, Loans and Bonds showed the highest increase in year-on-year income with investment in this asset class contributing RM9.68bil to gross investment income, up 33.62 per cent or RM2.44bil compared to 2011.

“In view of the prevailing low interest rate environment, the EPF has gradually decreased its exposure in traditional and conventional fixed income assets and has shifted maturing assets into higher yielding assets in the form of equities and real estate but within the tolerable risk limits,” said Samsudin.

On the back of a steady growth seen in both domestic and global equity markets in 2012, Equities contributed RM13.91bil in income representing 44.84 percent of gross investment income.

Meanwhile, investments in Malaysian Government Securities and Equivalents, Real Estate and Infrastructure and Money Market Instruments earned RM6.26bil, RM595.63mil and RM574.91mil respectively.

EPF total investment assets as at Dec 31, 2012 stood at RM526.75bil surpassing the half a trillion mark, up 12.31 percent from RM469.04bil recorded in the previous year.

This increase was largely contributed by the positive net annual contributions from members and employers as well as consistent and encouraging investment performance across all asset classes, the statement said.

As a result of the increase in membership base, the EPF requires RM4.46bil to pay every one percent dividend rate for 2012.

This represents a 9.34 percent increase over RM4.08bil paid for every one percent dividend rate for 2011.

The amount needed to pay a one percent dividend rate will continue to rise 8 to 9 percent annually, the statement said.

One of the notable transactions in 2012 was the fund's expansion of its property investments, both overseas and locally, which included the Battersea Power Station project in London, United Kingdom, and the finalising of the purchase of 932ha of Rubber Research Institute land in Sungai Buloh for RM2.28bil to be developed into a new township.

In line with its diversification strategy to optimise members' long term returns, EPF total overseas exposure as at Dec 31, constituted 15.7 percent of its total investment assets.

During the year, an additional USD7.10bil of investments were made in global equities, global bonds and real estate, the statement said.

“With more than half a trillion of funds under management, the EPF faces a profound challenge to deliver continuously strong returns amid the low interest rate environment, the continued fragility of the global economy as well as constraints within the domestic capital market.

“Nevertheless as a retirement fund, we will continue to be guided by our long term investment objectives and prudent investment strategy to ensure sustainability and consistent returns in the interest of our members' retirement well-being,” said Samsudin.

Members may check their EPF Account Statement for the crediting of the 2012 dividend, either through EPF Kiosks, counters or i-Akaun, from Monday, Feb 18, 2013.

Members aged 55 and above may withdraw the annual dividend credited into their account as one of several payment options available under the Age 55 Withdrawal.

For more information on this withdrawal, please contact EPF Call Centre at 03 8922 6000 from 8.00 am to 7.00 pm from Monday to Friday or log on to myEPF at www.kwsp.gov.my

KWSP Kredit RM21.61 Bilion Dividen (5.80%) Ke Dalam Akaun Ahli Untuk 2010

Kumpulan Wang Simpanan Pekerja (KWSP) dengan kelulusan Menteri Kewangan hari ini mengisytiharkan bayaran dividen tertinggi pernah dicapai sebanyak RM21.61 bilion kepada ahlinya, meningkat 11.55 peratus berbanding bayaran dividen 2009 sebanyak RM19.37 bilion. Amaun ini merupakan 5.80 peratus kadar dividen bagi tahun kewangan berakhir 31 Disember 2010.

Kadar dividen ini 15 mata asas melebihi kadar 5.65 peratus yang dibayar pada tahun 2009, menggambarkan tahun yang memberangsangkan di mana pendapatan pelaburan kasar mencecah rekod tertinggi dalam sejarah sebanyak RM24.06 bilion. Ini merupakan peningkatan 39.76 peratus berbanding RM17.22 bilion pendapatan pelaburan kasar yang dicatatkan pada 2009.

Dalam satu kenyataan yang dikeluarkan hari ini, Pengerusi KWSP, Tan Sri Samsudin Osman berkata, “Pendapatan pelaburan memberangsangkan yang dicapai pada 2010 ini dijana terutamanya daripada prestasi pelaburan ekuiti. Suasana kewangan dan ekonomi yang bertambah baik menyediakan pasaran dengan kecairan yang mencukupi lalu membenarkan aktiviti pengambilan untung sepanjang tahun.”

“Bayaran dividen ini diperoleh setelah ditolak elaun rugi terjejas bersih ke atas aset kewangan, perbelanjaan pelaburan, perbelanjaan operasi dan caj berkanun serta bayaran dividen pengeluaran.”

Disokong oleh tahun yang kukuh untuk pasaran ekuiti, Ekuiti merupakan penyumbang terbesar kepada pendapatan pelaburan kasar KWSP pada 2010, mewakili 45.45 peratus jumlah pendapatan pelaburan kasar KWSP. Untuk tahun tersebut, sejumlah RM10.94 bilion dijana daripada ekuiti, peningkatan ketara 125.69 peratus daripada RM4.85 bilion yang diperoleh pada 2009. (Rujuk Lampiran, Jadual 1).

Pinjaman dan Bon merupakan penyumbang kedua terbesar pendapatan pelaburan pada 2010, mencatatkan RM7.02 bilion pendapatan pelaburan kasar berbanding RM6.63 bilion dicatatkan pada tahun sebelumnya, manakala Sekuriti Kerajaan Malaysia menyumbang pendapatan ketiga terbesar sebanyak RM5.30 bilion berbanding RM5.22 bilion pada 2009.

Ini diikuti oleh Instrumen Pasaran Wang dengan pendapatan pelaburan kasar sebanyak RM703.52 juta, meningkat dengan ketara daripada RM435.57 juta pada tahun sebelumnya. Manakala sejumlah RM103.18 juta dijana daripada Hartanah dan Pendapatan-pendapatan lain.

Dalam tahun yang diulas, jumlah aset pelaburan KWSP terus mencatatkan pertumbuhan yang baik melepasi paras RM400 bilion kepada RM440.52 bilion setakat 31 Disember 2010.

Strategi pelaburan KWSP berpandukan model Alokasi Aset Strategik yang dirangka bagi menepati profil risiko dan pulangan KWSP serta untuk mengekalkan pulangan konsisten dalam jangka masa panjang. Pada 2010 kira-kira dua pertiga jumlah aset pelaburan KWSP kekal dalam instrumen berpendapatan tetap berisiko rendah yang memberikan pendapatan yang stabil.

“Sebagai dana persaraan, objektif utama KWSP adalah untuk melindungi modal (simpanan ahli) dan dalam masa yang sama memberikan nilai tambah kepada simpanan itu. Bagi mencapai objektif ini, KWSP akan terus melaksanakan pendekatan pelaburan berhemat yang didokong oleh penyelidikan yang menyeluruh dan teliti dan mengikut amalan terbaik pelaburan bagi memastikan simpanan ahli dilindungi untuk tempoh jangka masa panjang,” kata Tan Sri Samsudin.

Untuk bayaran dividen 2010, KWSP memerlukan RM3.73 bilion bagi membayar setiap satu peratus kadar dividen berikutan peningkatan dalam bilangan ahli. Jumlah ini meningkat 8.67 peratus berbanding RM3.43 bilion yang dibayar untuk satu peratus kadar dividen pada 2009. (Rujuk Lampiran, Carta 1)

Ahli boleh mendapatkan Penyata Kira-Kira KWSP mereka untuk menyemak pengkreditan dividen 2010 melalui Kios KWSP, kaunter atau i-Akaun mulai Isnin, 21 Februari 2011.

“Walaupun KWSP optimis bahawa momentum yang positif ini akan berterusan pada 2011, prospek untuk tahun ini akan terus bergantung kepada kekukuhan ekonomi domestik dan antarabangsa. Sebagai tabung persaraan, KWSP akan mengekalkan matlamat untuk melabur mengikut objektif strategiknya dan pada masa yang sama mengambil inisiatif pengurusan risiko yang ketat bagi menguruskan secara berkesan sebarang ketidak tentuan dan ancaman yang dihadapi,” kata Tan Sri Samsudin.

Mengenai Kumpulan Wang Simpanan Pekerja (KWSP)

Kumpulan Wang Simpanan Pekerja (KWSP) adalah dana pencen terulung di Malaysia yang menyediakan jaminan asas kewangan bagi persaraan. KWSP sentiasa komited dalam menjamin dan meningkatkan simpanan ahlinya melalui amalan terbaik pelaburan dan tadbir urus korporat. Langkah berhemah sentiasa menjadi panduan dalam setiap keputusan pelaburannya.

Sebagai sebuah organisasi yang berfokuskan pelanggan, KWSP memberikan perkhidmatan yang cekap dan berkesan untuk keselesaan ahli dan majikan berdaftar.

KWSP akan terus memainkan peranannya sebagai pemangkin kepada pembangunan ekonomi negara, selaras dengan kedudukannya sebagai institusi simpanan terkemuka di Malaysia.

Tarikh: 20 Februari 2011

Source from: http://www.kwsp.gov.my/index.php?ch=p2news&pg=bm_p2news_press&ac=3485

EPF dividend creeps up to 5.85pc for 2010, says source

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 7 — Malaysia’s largest pension fund, the Employees Provident Fund (EPF), is expected to announce a slight dividend increase to 5.85 per cent for 2010, a source has told The Malaysian Insider.

It is understood that the 0.2 per cent increase was decided at a board meeting last month.

“Yes, it is not as high an increase as the year before,” the source said, referring to the jump from 2008’s 4.5 per cent to 5.65 per cent in 2009.

The rate was decided based on returns from EPF’s investments, the source added but did not reveal the fund’s profits for last year.

In 2009, EPF made a record RM19.63 billion in net profit.

The source said the investment panel had suggested the figure to the board last month and it was now awaiting approval from the Finance Ministry.

By convention, the finance minister will approve EPF’s recommendation and the announcement is expected later this month or early March.

In previous years, EPF had announced dividends of 5.8 per cent for 2007, 5.15 per cent for 2006 and 5 per cent for 2005. The highest dividend rate it has paid out was 8.5 per cent in 1983 and 1986.

According to previous reports, EPF’s investments recorded a 5.12 per cent increase to RM5.75 billion in the third quarter ending September 30 last year.

This was based on an investment outlay of RM425.49 billion.

EPF had also earned RM5.55 billion in the first quarter, a 70 per cent increase year-on-year, and RM5.93 billion in the second quarter.

The fund has around 6.3 million contributors.

Unionists had asked last year for government guarantees on workers’ contributions as the Najib administration had asked the EPF to invest more on the local and foreign fronts.

They say it appeared that the government was dependent on EPF funds in Budget 2011 where it was allowed to triple investments abroad to 20 per cent from seven per cent previously.

The pension fund is also involved in re-developing the Malaysian Rubber Board (MRB) land in Sungai Buloh and a RM23 billion bid to take toll operator PLUS Expressways Bhd private with UEM Group Berhad.

Historical of Malaysia's Employee Provident Funds Dividend Rate (Year 1952 - 2010)

EPF declares 5.65% payout after a sound performance

KUALA LUMPUR: The Employees Provident Fund (EPF) has declared a divide nd of 5.65% for the financial year ended Dec 31, 2009, an increase of 1.15 percentage points over the 4.50% paid out for 2008.

The dividend rate was declared on the back of the highest ever net income achieved of RM19.63bil, an increase of 34.82% from the RM14.56bil recorded in the previous year.

“2009 was a significant year for the EPF as it rode out the impact of the global financial crisis.

“While the EPF continues to be challenged by the fragile economic environment, our investments nonetheless delivered a sound performance for the year,” chairman Tan Sri Samsudin Osman said in a statement yesterday.

During the year under review, 72.53% of total invest ment was devoted to fixed income instruments in line with EPF’s prudent approach, while 27.05% was in equities and the remainder in property.

As of Dec 31, 2009, EPF’s investment portfolio grew 8.55% or RM29.25bil to RM371.26bil from RM342.01bil in 2008.

On prospects for next year, Samsudin said it would be “greatly dependent on the economic performance of the country and internationally.”

He said globally, financial markets continued to be volatile and this might have an impact on the price performance of EPF’s investments and future income.

“We will continue to focus on our key goals of preserving the capital of our contributors and ensuring a satisfactory real rate of return,” he added. — Bernama