Highlights:

Khazanah Nasional Berhad (“Khazanah”) today presented its 12th Khazanah Annual Review (“KAR 2016”), demonstrating resilience and sustained progress in its financial and strategic performance, societal and distributional activities, and ongoing capacity building and institutionalisation.

Tan Sri Azman Hj. Mokhtar, Managing Director of Khazanah, said: “In spite of volatile, uncertain and challenging conditions in 2015, Khazanah was able to deliver another year of resilient and profitable financial performance. We have also been able to deliver many strategic milestones such as the graduation of the 10-year GLC Transformation Programme, ongoing rollout of catalytic projects in Iskandar Malaysia, and increased domestic investments to support the Government’s proactive economic measures.”

“Further, we have been able to complete the network of international investment offices while also playing an important role in institution and nation-building through various programmes including Yayasan Hasanah, knowledge development and policy support, talent development and strengthening corporate governance and institutional integrity.”

1. Financial Performance

Khazanah recorded steady and resilient financial performance in a volatile and uncertain 2015. Khazanah’s portfolio value as measured by its Realisable Asset Value¹ (“RAV”) increased RM4.7 billion or 3.2% to RM150.2 billion as at 31 December 2015, from RM145.5 billion as at 31 December 2014. RAV cover (assets/liabilities) stood at 3.1x, enabling Khazanah to enter an expected challenging 2016 from a position of relative strength.

Portfolio Net Worth Adjusted² (“NWA”) stood at RM109 billion as at 31 December 2015, decreasing RM1.8 billion or 1.6% from RM110.7 billion as at 31 December 2014. Against reference Asian markets (in terms of Total Shareholder Returns (“TSR”) in local currencies), NWA slightly underperformed the FBM KLCI (2015 TSR: -1.0%) but fared better against several key benchmark market indices, including the Straits Times Index (-11.4%), Jakarta Composite Index (-10.5%), Hang Seng Index (-4%), SENSEX Index (-3.7%), Philippines Index (-2%), and Borsa Istanbul Index (-14.1%).

Despite the challenging year, the overall uptrend in Khazanah’s portfolio since May 2004 remains intact. RAV increased RM99.3 billion from RM50.9 billion in May 2004 to RM150.2 billion as at 31 December 2015, while NWA increased RM75.7 billion from RM33.3 billion to RM109.0 billion over the same period. This translated into a NWA CAGR of 10.7% p.a.

Khazanah registered an unaudited Profit Before Tax (“PBT”) of RM1.18 billion, compared to RM3.22 billion for 2014, with cumulative PBT since May 2004 amounting to RM23.52 billion. Khazanah declared dividends of RM1.05 billion, with total dividends declared since May 2004 amounting to RM8.46 billion. In addition, taxes paid amounted to RM136 million in 2015, with a total of RM1.44 billion in taxes paid since 2004.

In 2015, Khazanah made 23 investments totaling RM8.7 billion and 10 divestments providing proceeds amounting to RM5.3 billion, with gains on divestments totaling RM2.9 billion. From 2004 to 2015, Khazanah has made a total 144 investments worth RM74.7 billion and 77 divestments providing proceeds amounting RM48.1 billion, with overall gains on divestments totaling RM22.3 billion.

2. Strategic and Operational Performance

The resilient portfolio performance enabled the sustained execution of Khazanah’s strategic mandate to further catalyse growth, create and distribute value. This includes continuing to drive greater performance in investee companies and catalysing further domestic growth, balanced with the further expansion of its international footprint and that of investee companies.

2015 saw Government-linked Investment Companies (“GLICs”) and Government-linked Companies (“GLCs”) “graduating”³ from the 10-year GLC Transformation Programme, after a decade of transformative progress focused on enhancing financial performance, institutionalising good governance, and delivering broader, impactful contributions to national socioeconomic development. GLCs have delivered significant financial results and are today more dynamic, performance driven and well-governed organisations. Since May 2004, G20⁴ market capitalisation grew almost three times, with GLCs delivering a TSR CAGR of 10.5% p.a.

There was also further progress in the development of Iskandar Malaysia, which overall has received cumulative committed investments totaling RM187 billion⁵ and created over 600,000 jobs since 2006. Pinewood Iskandar Malaysia Studios (“PIMS”) saw work on several international productions, including “Asia’s Got Talent” and “Lost in the Pacific”. More than 2,100 jobs have been created through PIMS’ operations since 2014. In addition, the Afiniti Medini wellness development and the capital restructuring of Iskandar Investment Berhad were also successfully completed.

Meanwhile, there was also steady and continued progress in the rollout of the five-year 12-point MAS Recovery Plan, which after 16 months of implementation is on track and on schedule. Key milestones in 2015 include the appointment of Christoph Mueller to helm Malaysia Airlines Berhad (“MAB”), the smooth transition from Malaysian Airline System Berhad (“MAS”) to MAB, and the passing of the Malaysian Aviation Commission Act by Parliament.

Further on the domestic front, in support of the Government’s proactive measures to strengthen the country’s economic fundamentals and address the impact of financial turbulence, investments and initiatives amounting to RM9.27 billion involving Khazanah were announced in 2015. This includes accelerated and additional domestic investments totaling RM6.77 billion⁶ in several key sectors to be delivered by Khazanah through relevant investee companies and development partners over the immediate and medium term. The sectors are leisure and tourism, healthcare and health tourism, export-oriented creative industries, innovation and technology and Business Process Outsourcing (“BPO”). In addition, Khazanah is setting up a RM500 million New Economy Investments Venture Fund for local entrepreneurs, and together with Permodalan Nasional Berhad (“PNB”) and Kumpulan Wang Persaraan (Diperbadankan) (“KWAP”), is providing additional funding for ValueCAP Sdn Bhd to invest in the equity market, as announced by the Government last year.

Core portfolio companies also delivered on several major transactions and projects in 2015, including the completion of Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad’s (“MAHB”) 100% acquisition of Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen airport (MAHB is also undertaking the development of the KLIA Aeropolis announced in 2015); IHH Healthcare Berhad’s acquisition of a 51% stake in Continental Hospitals and 73.4% stake in Global Hospitals, both in India; Tenaga Nasional Berhad’s acquisition of a 70% stake in Jimah East Power and a 30% stake in Turkish power company Gama Enerji AS; Axiata Group Berhad’s acquisition of a 75% stake in Digicel Myanmar Tower Company and an 80% stake in NCell, Nepal’s leading mobile operator; UEM Group Berhad subsidiary PLUS Expressways International’s completion of the Cikopo-Palimanan toll road in Indonesia; and the High Speed Broadband Phase 2 (“HSBB2”) and Sub-Urban Broadband (“SUBB”) projects undertaken by Telekom Malaysia Berhad.

Khazanah continued to roll out its internationalisation strategy in 2015, with the setting up of a London office by wholly owned subsidiary Khazanah Europe Investment Ltd. The London office is Khazanah’s fifth regional office after Beijing, Mumbai, San Francisco and Istanbul. In addition, there was a strong focus on deepening the innovation and technology component of Khazanah’s portfolio, via several investments in various geographies including India, United States, United Kingdom, China and Malaysia.

Overall, Malaysia accounted for approximately 55.1% of Khazanah’s RAV by geographic exposure⁷ in 2015, while overseas investments accounted for the remainder.

3. Institution and Nation-Building Initiatives

Yayasan Hasanah, a Khazanah foundation provided with a RM3 billion endowment, led corporate responsibility (“CR”) efforts focused on supporting long term initiatives that emphasise measurable and actionable social impact, through partner organisations in five core areas: Education; Community Development; Environment; Arts, Heritage and Culture; and Knowledge Development. Among the outcomes of Yayasan Hasanah’s initiatives in the year include increased participation in PINTAR Foundation’s School Adoption Programme; helping to enhance the livelihood of low incomes households in rural and urban areas; various efforts to raise environmental awareness at community level and recycling initiatives at school level; as well as continued support for local and international humanitarian relief efforts. In addition, The Hasanah Report 2014, the inaugural annual report on Yayasan Hasanah’s operations and activities, was released last year. Yayasan Hasanah spent RM96 million for its various CR initiatives in 2015. Overall, Khazanah has spent RM575 million on CR initiatives, including under Yayasan Hasanah, since 2006.

Meanwhile, Khazanah continued to provide support for government policy formation and deepen linkages across global knowledge networks. Key milestones in 2015 were Khazanah Research Institute’s (“KRI”) publication of “Making Housing Affordable”, a report analysing the problem of supplying affordable houses to the general public from the perspectives of both institutions and firms. KRI also published “Why Trade Matters”, a two-part report which examines how international trade and trade policy integrate the effects of globalisation into the domestic economy and daily lives of citizens. In addition, the Khazanah Megatrends Forum 2015, the eleventh in the annual series, was also held, focusing on exploring ways to optimally and ethically harness the power of creative disruption and inclusive innovation for continued growth. In conjunction with the forum, the 10-year commemorative book “Khazanah Megatrends Forum – Reflections on a Decade” was also launched. Khazanah also provided further support for government policy formation through various channels including boards of public service organisations in areas such as economic management, education, technology and innovation, and trade and export promotion.

Khazanah continued to enhance efforts in further strengthening corporate governance, risk management, talent development, and institutional integrity both internally and across its investee companies. These areas, while being necessary components of any organisation, become especially critical in environments and during times beset by volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity.

In the area of Islamic Finance, Khazanah provided further support for Malaysia as a centre for Islamic Finance and ethical financial innovation. A RM100 million seven-year Sustainable and Responsible Investment (“SRI”) Sukuk, the world’s first RM-denominated SRI Sukuk, was successfully issued, with proceeds used to fund schools under the Yayasan AMIR (“YA”) Trust School Programme identified for 2015. YA is a not-for-profit foundation incorporated by Khazanah to improve accessibility of quality education in schools through a Public-Private Partnership with the Ministry of Education. Launched in 2010, the Trust School Programme has been rolled out to 62 schools thus far, 32 of which were in 2015.

5. Outlook for 2016

2015 was a challenging year with volatility on both the domestic and global fronts, and this is expected to continue in 2016.

With overall resiliency, Khazanah is well-positioned to continue executing its financial and strategic mandate, staying the course by focusing on delivering long-term financial and strategic performance, national development initiatives including value distribution, expanding our international presence, and strengthening institutional integrity.

END

For further information on Khazanah, please visit www.khazanah.com.my or contact Mohd Raslan Md Sharif at +603 2034 0000, or e-mail at [email protected].

1. Market value of all equities, securities and cash held. Where no market price is available, a conservative estimate of value is used

2. RAV less Total Liabilities, and adjusted to measure value created

3. The term “graduation” is used to signify that GLICs and GLCs will continue to deliver the GLC Transformation Programme’s three underlying principles — performance focus, nation building, and governance and providing benefits to all stakeholders.

4. G20 is a selection of large GLCs, controlled by GLICs under the GLCT Programme and is used as a proxy for the performance of the GLCs. It currently consists of 17 GLCs (from the original 20) due to various mergers, demergers, divestments and other corporate exercises over the years.

5. Source: Iskandar Regional Development Authority

6. See Khazanah media statement, “Khazanah announces additional domestic investments of RM 6.77 billion in support of Government’s proactive economic measures”, 14 September 2015.

7. An estimate of attributable value according to the countries where investee companies have operations