Public Islamic Asia Leaders Equity Fund (PIALEF)

Guiding your Shariah-compliant investments to high potential returns through the Asia economic recovery An Islamic equity fund that seeks to achieve capital growth over the medium- to long-term period by investing mainly in stocks of companies with market capitalisation of US$1 billion and above in domestic and regional markets that comply with Shariah requirements. Equity exposure: Generally range from 75% to 98% of its net asset value (NAV). Suitable for aggressive investors who wish to participate in Asia's economic recovery. Enjoy special service charges for investments into Public Islamic Asia Leaders Equity Fund (PIALEF) during offer period. Investment amount per transaction Special Service Charge RM5,000 to RM9,999 per transaction 5.25% of Initial Issue Price per unit RM10,000 and above per transaction 5.00% of Initial Issue Price per unit Offer Period 19 January to 8 February 2010 (21 days) Initial Issue Price During Offer Period RM0.2500 per unit * DDI Terms and & Conditions

Public Islamic Asia Leaders Equity Fund  FUND INFORMATION  Category of Fund   Equity Fund (Shariah)    Approved Fund Size   1.5 Billion Units    Launch Date   19 January 2010    Investor's Risk Profile   Aggressive    Fund Objective   To achieve capital growth over the medium to long term period by investing mainly in stocks of companies with market capitalisation of US$1 billion and above in domestic and regional markets that complies with Shariah requirements.            FEES & CHARGES   Service Charge   Up to 5.5% of NAV per unit   Repurchase Charge NIL   Annual Management Fee   1.6% per annum of the NAV     Annual Trustee Fee   0.08% per annum of NAV, subject to a minimum fee of RM18,000 per annum.      UNIT TRANSACTION   Buying & Selling   At NAV per unit (Forward Pricing). Upon the purchase of units of the fund by investors, a service charge of up to 5.5% is levied. The Manager does not impose a repurchase charge on the sale of units of the fund by investors.     Minimum Initial Investment   RM1,000     Minimum Additional Investment   RM100   more Please click here to view the PROSPECTUS/INFORMATION MEMORANDUM. You are advised to read and understand the contents of Investment Disclaimer before you proceed any further from this page.   INVESTORS SHOULD RELY ON THEIR OWN EVALUATION TO ASSESS THE MERITS AND RISKS OF THE INVESTMENT. IN CONSIDERING THE INVESTMENT, INVESTORS WHO ARE IN DOUBT AS TO THE ACTION TO BE TAKEN SHOULD CONSULT THEIR PROFESSIONAL ADVISERS IMMEDIATELY.

Most Outstanding Islamic Fund Manager Award for 3rd consecutive year

Public Mutual Chief Executive Officer Ms. Yeoh Kim Hong (right) proudly receiving the Most Outstanding Islamic Fund Manager Award from Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Y.B. Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop.

Public Bank’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Public Mutual won the Most Outstanding Islamic Fund Manager award for the third consecutive year at the 6th KLIFF (Kuala Lumpur Islamic Finance Forum) Islamic Finance Awards 2009 ceremony. The award was presented by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Y.B Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop to Public Mutual Chief Executive Officer Ms. Yeoh Kim Hong during the award presentation ceremony which was held on 3 November 2009 at the Nikko Hotel Kuala Lumpur.

Yeoh expressed pride that Public Mutual is once again receiving this prestigious recognition, which also marks the company’s 138th industry award since 1999. “This esteemed award demonstrates Public Mutual's commitment in continuously delivering top value as well as meeting the diverse needs of our unitholders,” she said. She also thanked unitholders for their continued support and confidence in Public Mutual.

Public Mutual is a leading player in the private Islamic unit trust fund sector in Malaysia. As at 30 September 2009, it manages 24 Islamic funds with total Islamic assets under management of RM13.2 billion. This represents a 58.3% market share of the private Islamic unit trust industry.

Public Mutual is also Malaysia’s largest private unit trust company with 71 funds under management. It has over 2,000,000 accountholders serviced by 40,000 unit trust consultants. As at 30 September 2009, the total net asset value of the funds managed by the company was RM33.8 billion.

Public Mutual’s new fund to reap benefits from Asia’s economic recovery

Public Bank’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Public Mutual is launching a new fund, Public Islamic Asia Leaders Equity Fund (PIALEF) on 19 January 2010. The fund allows investors to capitalise on the growth potential of mid to large caps Shariah compliant companies trading in domestic and regional markets. Public Mutual’s Chief Executive Officer Ms. Yeoh Kim Hong said these companies are positioned to benefit from the anticipated recovery in Asian markets due to their financial strength and dominance.

Global and regional markets have rebounded strongly in 2009 amid expectations that the global economy would continue to recover. Moving into 2010, continued fiscal stimulus and accommodative policy measures are expected to sustain the global economic recovery with regional economic growth envisaged to outpace the growth of developed economies. “Over the medium- to long-term, regional markets are expected to outperform due to their reasonable valuations, high savings rates, brighter economic growth prospects and stronger fiscal positions,” she said.

PIALEF is an Islamic equity fund that seeks to achieve capital growth over the medium- to long-term period by investing mainly in companies with market capitalisation of US$1 billion and above in domestic and regional markets that comply with Shariah requirements. These companies tend to have leading positions and established market shares which will enable them to perform well during robust as well as challenging market conditions. The fund may invest in sectors which include infrastructure, telecommunications, manufacturing, consumer, technology, conglomerates and natural resources.

The equity exposure of PIALEF will generally range from 75% to 98% of its net asset value (NAV). PIALEF is suitable for aggressive investors who would like to be in the position to reap benefits from the recovery in Asian markets.

The initial issue price of PIALEF is RM0.2500 per unit during the 21-day initial offer period from 19 January to 8 February 2010. The minimum initial investment for the fund is RM1,000 and the minimum additional investment is RM100. During the offer period, special promotional service charges as low as 5% of initial issue price per unit are extended to the purchase of units of PIALEF. Investors who opt for Direct Debit Instruction with PIALEF during the offer period will enjoy a special promotional service charge of 5.25% of NAV per unit for as long as the Direct Debit is active. Terms and conditions apply.

PIALEF is distributed by Public Mutual’s unit trust consultants. Interested investors can contact any Public Mutual unit trust consultant or call its Customer Service Hotline at 03-6207 5000 for more details of the fund.

Public Mutual is Malaysia’s largest private unit trust company with 72 funds under management. It has over 2,000,000 accountholders and as at 31 December 2009, the total net asset value of the funds managed by the company was RM35.6 billion.

EPF Approved Funds

Public Series     Funds Approved for EPF Investment Scheme       Equity Fund Public Index Fund Public Regular Savings Fund Public Sector Select Fund     Bond Fund Public Select Bond Fund     Money Market Fund Public Money Market Fund     Equity Fund (Shariah) Public Islamic Dividend Fund Public Islamic Equity Fund Public Islamic Optimal Growth Fund Public Islamic Sector Select Fund Public Islamic Select Treasures Fund Public Islamic Select Enterprises Fund     Balanced Fund (Shariah) Public Islamic Balanced Fund     Fixed Income Fund (Shariah) Public Islamic Income Fund     Money Market Fund (Shariah) Public Islamic Money Market Fund

Please click here to view the PROSPECTUS/INFORMATION MEMORANDUM. You are advised to read and understand the contents of Investment Disclaimer before you proceed any further from this page. INVESTORS SHOULD RELY ON THEIR OWN EVALUATION TO ASSESS THE MERITS AND RISKS OF THE INVESTMENT. IN CONSIDERING THE INVESTMENT, INVESTORS WHO ARE IN DOUBT AS TO THE ACTION TO BE TAKEN SHOULD CONSULT THEIR PROFESSIONAL ADVISERS IMMEDIATELY.

Sertai Kami Sebagai Seorang Perunding Unit Amanah

Manfaat:

• Potensi pendapatan yang tidak terhad
• Waktu kerja yang fleksibel
• Menikmati percutian luar negara secara percuma
• Pembangunan dari segi peribadi dan profesional
• Peluang menjadi pengurus dalam bisnes muti-bilion ringgit
• Potensi meluas dalam industri unit amanah di Malaysia
• Pelbagai insentif yang menarik iaitu subsidi, latihan, bonus, anugerah, pengiktirafan awam dan banyak lagi.

Untuk mendapatkan maklumat lanjut:

• Hubungi perunding unit amanah Public Mutual (mohafan@yahoo.com)
• Kunjungi laman web: http://www.publicmutual.com.my/

Public Mutual declares distributions for 3 funds - Dis 2009

Public Bank’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Public Mutual, declared distributions for three of its funds. The total gross distributions declared for the financial year ended 31 December 2009 are as follows:

Fund	Gross Distribution / Unit
Public Savings Fund	8.00 sen per unit
Public Focus Select Fund	0.75 sen per unit
Public Islamic Enhanced Bond Fund	2.00 sen per unit

Public Mutual Chief Executive Officer Ms. Yeoh Kim Hong said Public Savings Fund, which was launched in 1981, is the company’s maiden fund. The fund aims to achieve long-term capital appreciation while at the same time producing a reasonable level of income. “According to The Edge-Lipper Fund Table dated 14 December 2009, Public Savings Fund generated a one-year return of 46.08% for the period ended 4 December 2009,” she said.

Public Focus Select Fund, which was launched in 2004, generated a one-year return of 45.49% for the period ended 4 December 2009. This fund aims to achieve capital growth through investments in medium-sized companies in term of market capitalisation from diversified economic sectors.

Meanwhile, Public Islamic Enhanced Bond Fund was launched in 2006 and recorded a one-year return of 10.26% for the same period. As a Shariah-based bond fund, it aims to provide a combination of annual income and modest capital growth primarily through a portfolio allocation across Islamic debt securities and equities that comply with Shariah requirements.

Public Mutual is Malaysia’s largest private unit trust company with 72 funds under management. It has over 2,000,000 accountholders and as at 30 November 2009, the total net asset value of the funds managed by the company was RM34.7 billion.

How to choose unit trust funds

Unit trust funds offer an attractive alternativeto retail investors, especially those looking for the benefit of diversification with a small pool of capital while enjoying the possibility of earning higher returns compared with conventional savings.

However, a lot of people have the misconception that the diversification nature of these funds means that the risk of investing in unit trust is low and they can just close their eyes and simply pick any of the funds that come along.

This misconception has led to many paying high prices in learning that as in any type of investments, investing in unit trust funds requires some basic understanding and research before we commit our hard earned money to it.

In general, we can classify the unit trust funds in the market into two major categories: income funds and growth funds.

• Income funds usually are characterised as providing consistent income to the investors. These funds invest in income-producing stocks or bonds or a combination of both. Bond funds, equity income funds and money market funds are included in this category.
• Growth funds generally are more aggressive than income funds but have the possibilityof earning higher returns by focusing on the objective of long-term capital appreciation rather than income producing or short-term gain. Examples of growth funds are small-cap funds, commodity funds, index funds and gold funds.

Before we start evaluating the funds to invest in, there are two main considerations whish are our investment objectives and risk tolerance level.

Every investor invests for his own purpose. If you are investing for your retirement and are already close to retirement age, you should look for income funds that are more predictable.

Once we are clear on what we are looking for in the investment, we can narrow down our selection to either income or growth category and move to the next step of identifying the most suitable funds within the selected category.

Here are a few key factors to look into when evaluating unit trust funds:

• Investment strategy, policy and holdings: Every fund has its own investment profile. Investors should have a clear understanding of the investment strategy taken in each fund that they are considering to ensure it is consistent with their personal investment objective and risk tolerance level.

Even the funds within the same category may have significant differences in risk exposure due to the difference in the investment holdings.

For example, the risk exposure in large-cap growth companies is definitely much lower than for penny stock funds.

• Past performance: Investors may look into the past performance trend of the fund to gauge its future performance.

However, do bear in mind that good past performance may not be repeated in the future and we should not be overlay excited to see one year of good results if the fund is only newly established.

A good fund should be the one that has been consistently out-performing its peers, be it during good or bad times.

• Cost: Investors must be aware that when they buy or sell the funds, there are fees and expenses embedded in every transaction.

          For example, the expense ratio of a small fund tends to be higher than a large fund while a regional or global fund usually will carry higher costs compared with a domestic fund.

• Fund Management: The fund management is very important to ensure continuity and consistent performance.

If a fund changes management too frequently, it will be very difficult for us to gauge the performance of the fund as different managers will have different styles which may affect the performance of the fund.

For example, if the manager tends to have higher portfolio turnover, then the expense ratio of the fund may increase even though the nature of the fund holdings remains the same.

By having good understanding of the above factors, we may be able to make meaningful comparisons among funds that we are interested in to identifying the ones that suit us most.

• Ooi Kok Hwa (ooi_kok_hwa@hotmail.com) is an investment adviser and managing partners of MRR Consulting - Personal Investing @ Starbiz, Wed 16 Dec 2009, News