Public Bank’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Public Mutual will be launching an overseas Islamic dividend fund, the Public Islamic Asia Dividend Fund (PIADF) on 3 April 2007.

According to Public Mutual’s Chairman Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Dr. Teh Hong Piow, PIADF is a moderate-risk Islamic equity income fund that seeks to provide income by investing in a portfolio of stocks in domestic and regional markets that complies with Shariah requirements and which offer or have the potential to offer attractive dividend yields. “Up to 70% of the fund’s net asset value (NAV) can be invested in selected foreign markets which include South Korea, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand and other approved markets. The equity exposure of PIADF will generally range from 75% to 90% of its NAV,” he said.

Tan Sri Teh added that PIADF allows investors the opportunity to participate in a diversified portfolio of Shariah-compliant blue chip stocks, growth stocks and fundamentally undervalued stocks which distribute or have the potential to distribute reasonably attractive dividends. “It is timely for PIADF to be launched, as selected foreign markets such as Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, Australia and New Zealand currently offer average dividend yields of about 3% or higher,” he continued.

PIADF has an approved fund size of 1.5 billion units. Its initial issue price is RM0.25 a unit and 1% free units will be given away during the 21-day initial offer period from 3 April 2007 to 23 April 2007. “PIADF is suitable for moderate investors with preference for receiving income while capital growth is secondary,” explained Tan Sri Teh. The minimum initial investment is RM1,000 and the minimum additional investment is RM100.

Interested investors can contact any Public Mutual unit trust consultant or call its Customer Service Hotline at 03-6279 5252 for more details of the fund.

Public Mutual is the largest private unit trust company in Malaysia, and it manages 40 funds for more than 900,000 accountholders. As at 28 February 2007, the total fund size managed by the company was RM17.5 billion.

Public Mutual Declares Distribution For Its Islamic Dividend Fund

Public Bank’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Public Mutual declares a gross distribution of 1.60 sen per unit to unitholders of the Public Islamic Dividend Fund (PIDF). The net asset value (NAV) per unit of PIDF on 20 April 2007 was RM0.3267. The distribution declared was for financial year ended 30 April 2007. According to Public Mutual’s Chairman Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Dr. Teh Hong Piow, PIDF is an Islamic equity fund that aims to provide income by investing in a portfolio of stocks that complies with Shariah requirements and which offer or have the potential to offer attractive dividend yields. “Launched in February 2006, PIDF generated a one-year return of 33.79 percent for the period ended 6 April 2007, according to The Edge-Lipper Fund Table dated 16 April 2007,” he added. PIDF is suitable for investors who have moderate risk-reward temperament and prefer to receive income while capital growth is secondary. Public Mutual is the largest private unit trust company in Malaysia, and it manages 40 funds for more than 1,000,000 accountholders. As at 20 April 2007, the total fund size managed by the company was RM19.5 billion.         Public Mutual Named “Best Fund Manager In Asia 2006”        Chairman of Public Mutual Berhad, Tan Sri Dato' Sri Teh Hong Piow receiving the Failaka Award for Best Fund Manager - Asia from Mark J. Smyth, Managing Director of Failaka Advisors. Public Mutual Bhd was named winner of the “Best Fund Manager in Asia 2006 Award” by the Failaka Advisors. The award was presented by Mr Mark J Smyth, Managing Director of Failaka Advisors to Public Mutual’s Chairman, Y. Bhg. Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Dr. Teh Hong Piow during Public Mutual’s Annual Awards Night held on 20 May 2007 at Sunway Pyramid Convention Centre, Petaling Jaya. The Failaka Advisors, with headquarters in Dubai, UAE and offices in Chicago, USA, is a recognised leader in the field of Islamic funds research. The Failaka Islamic Fund Awards stand apart as the benchmark for excellence in the field of Islamic fund management and represents a high-water mark for award winners. In presenting the award to Public Mutual, Mr Mark Smyth said, “Public Mutual has shown consistent outstanding performance in its category - Best Fund Manager in Asia. Globally, we have seen investments in this space grow by double digits to USD14 billion as of year end 2006. When we published our first Islamic fund report in 1998 (for 1997), we profiled 13 Shariah-compliant equity funds compared to 218 funds profiled in our current report for 2006.” In his acknowledgement speech, Tan Sri Teh expressed Public Mutual’s pride in receiving this international recognition, which is a testimony of the company’s collective dedication and commitment to continuously deliver value to its investors. Tan Sri Teh dedicated the award, “to Public Mutual’s board of directors, management, staff, agency force and unit holders for your strong support given over the years which have provided the platform for Public Mutual to attain its prominence today.” Public Mutual Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Public Bank Group is Malaysia’s largest private unit trust company, managing a total of 42 funds with more than 1 million accountholders todate. As at 14 May 2007, the company’s fund size has exceeded RM20 billion.        Public Mutual Increases Fund Size for Its Public Islamic Asia Dividend Fund For The 3rd Time   KUALA LUMPUR 24 May 2007 – Public Bank’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Public Mutual announced that it has obtained the approval from the Securities Commission (SC) to increase the fund size of Public Islamic Asia Dividend Fund (PIADF) from 3.375 billion units to 5 billion units. Chief Executive Officer Lam Kam Yin said, “This is the third time the company has increased the fund size of PIADF after it was launched on 3 April 2007. To date, more than RM887.8 million (or more than 3.55 billion units) worth of units of PIADF were sold. The increase in fund size of PIADF by another 1.625 billion units will allow the company to meet strong market demand”. PIADF is a moderate-risk Islamic equity income fund that seeks to provide income by investing in a portfolio of stocks in domestic and regional markets that complies with Shariah requirements and which offer or have the potential to offer attractive dividend yields. “Up to 70% of the fund’s net asset value (NAV) can be invested in selected foreign markets which include South Korea, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand and other approved markets. The equity exposure of PIADF will generally range from 75% to 90% of its NAV,” he continued. He added that PIADF is suitable for moderate investors with preference for receiving income while capital growth is secondary. Public Mutual is the largest private unit trust company in Malaysia, and it currently manages 42 funds for more than 1,000,000

Public Mutual To Launch China Select Fund and Islamic Money Market Fund

Public Bank’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Public Mutual will launch two new funds on 5 June 2007, i.e. the Public China Select Fund (PCSF) and Public Islamic Money Market Fund (PIMMF). Public Mutual’s Chairman Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Dr. Teh Hong Piow said PCSF is an equity fund that seeks to achieve capital growth over the medium- to long-term period by investing in a portfolio of investments in the greater China region namely in Hong Kong, China and Taiwan markets, including China based companies listed on overseas markets such as Singapore, United States of America and other approved markets. The fund may also invest in companies listed on Bursa Securities and foreign markets which have significant or potentially significant business operations in the greater China region. These companies include companies which have at least 30% of their earnings currently derived from the greater China region or have business operations in the greater China region which are projected to contribute at least 30% of group earnings in the next two to three years. “Up to 98% of the fund’s NAV can be invested in selected foreign markets which include Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Singapore, United States of America and other approved markets. The equity exposure of PCSF will generally range from 75% to 90% of its NAV,” he continued. Launched at an issue price of RM0.25 per unit, PCSF is suitable for aggressive investors who can withstand extended periods of market highs and lows in pursuit of capital growth. During the 21-day initial offer period of 5 June 2007 to 25 June 2007, 1% FREE UNITS will be given away. The minimum initial investment for the fund is RM1,000 and the minimum additional investment is RM100. PIMMF, on the other hand, is an Islamic money market fund that is actively managed to provide liquidity and current income while maintaining capital stability by investing in instruments that comply with Shariah requirements. “PIMMF provides an option for investors to park their monies on a short-term basis before investing in or switching back to equity, balanced or bond funds. The fund is suitable for short-term investors with conservative risk-reward temperament. PIMMF will, on a best effort basis, distribute income annually to unitholders,” he said. PIMMF has an issue price of RM1.00 per unit during the 1-day initial offer period on 5 June 2007. Its minimum initial investment is RM1,000 and minimum additional investment is RM1,000. Both funds are distributed by 18,000-strong Public Mutual unit trust consultants. Interested investors can contact any Public Mutual unit trust consultant or call its Customer Service Hotline at 03-6279 5252 for more details of the funds. Public Mutual is the largest private unit trust company in Malaysia and it currently manages 42 funds for more than 1,000,000 accountholders. As at 21 May 2007, the total NAV of the funds managed by the company was RM20.4 billion.