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The Pakistan Credit Rating Agency Limited
Press Release

Date
20-Sep-23

Analyst
Madiha Sohail
madiha.sohail@pacra.com
+92-42-35869504
www.pacra.com

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This press release is being transmitted for the sole purpose of dissemination through print/electronic media. The press release may be used in full or in part without changing the meaning or context thereof with due credit to PACRA

PACRA Maintains Stability Rating of AWT Financial Sector Income Fund

Rating Type Stability Rating
Current
(20-Sep-23 )
Previous
(20-Mar-23 )
Action Maintain Initial
Long Term A+(f) A+(f)
Short Term - -
Outlook Stable Stable
Rating Watch - -

AWT Financial Sector Income Fund (or the "Fund") is a medium risk open ended income category Fund. The objective of the Fund is to provide income enhancement by investing primarily in financial sector, TFCs/Sukuks, Bank Deposits and instruments. The fund had allocated ~74.52% to bank deposits, allocations and other financial instruments majorly in A+ rated and above avenues, ~17.26% in Corporate sukuks rated AA rated and above, ~8.24% in other assets. At the end of June '23, the duration of the Fund was 24 days, exposing it to low interest rate risk. The Fund's WAM stood at 97 days limiting exposure to low credit risk. As of June'23, ~42.52% of the Fund's assets were held by the top 10 investors, leading low redemption pressure.
Going forward, the Fund ensures to diversify its exposure. While assigned rating will be dependent on the given criteria, any material changes in the investment policy or the devised rating criteria for the assigned rating would have an impact on the rating.

About the Entity
AWT Investments Limited is a public unlisted company, incorporated in 2011. It is a Non-Banking Finance Company, licensed by the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan to manage open and closed-end funds and Investment Advisory Services. The Company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Army Welfare Trust. The Board of Directors of the Company comprises five members. The CEO of the Company Mr. Sajjad Anwar. He is a CFA charter holder and has over 21 years of experience that involves Equity Research, Portfolio Management, Investment Advisory, Risk Management, and Finance & Accounts. For the last 15 years, he has been working in the Fund Management Industry. Before becoming CEO at AWTIL, he was performing the role of Chief Investment Officer at NBP Funds. The Company's six-member Board of directors includes five director and the CEO. With overall assets under management of PKR 7.293bln at the end June'23, AWT Investment Limited now managing four conventional funds and two shariah complaint funds.

The primary function of PACRA is to evaluate the capacity and willingness of an entity to honor its obligations. Our ratings reflect an independent, professional and impartial assessment of the risks associated with a particular instrument or an entity. PACRA's comprehensive offerings include instrument and entity credit ratings, insurer financial strength ratings, fund ratings, asset manager ratings and real estate gradings. PACRA opinion is not a recommendation to purchase, sell or hold a security, in as much as it does not comment on the security's market price or suitability for a particular investor.