Issuer Profile
Profile
Founded in 1988, Ismail
Industries Limited ('ISIL' or 'the Company') was incorporated as a public
listed Company in 1989. Mr. Muhammad Ismail, in partnership with his brothers,
founded Ismail Industries, which has since become the largest manufacturer and
exporter of confectionery products in Pakistan. The Company's flagship brand,
Candyland, operates within the confectionery sector. Over the years, Ismail
Industries has diversified its portfolio through horizontal expansion,
introducing brands such as Bisconni (specializing in biscuits and cookies) and
SnackCity (offering chips, peanuts, and other snacks). The Company has made
backward integration by ensuring top-quality all-purpose flour (maida) for
Bisconni and established Ghiza Flour. Additionally, the Company has pursued
vertical integration with the establishment of Astro Plastics, which
specializes in the production of BOPET, CPP and BOPP films. Ismail Industries
Limited (ISIL), headquartered in Karachi, operates ten production facilities
located across key industrial zones, including Hub, Port Qasim. The Company’s
operations are divided into two main segments: Food and Plastics. For FY25,
ISIL reported a production capacity of 316,416 MT (FY24: 298,356 MT) in the
Food division, reflecting an enhancement of 18,060 MT, while the Plastics
division maintained a capacity of 63,000 MT (FY23: 63,000 MT). Actual
production stood at 201,769 MT (FY24: 192,644 MT) for Food and 36,435 MT (FY24:
35,580 MT) for Plastics. This translates into capacity utilization rates of
approximately 63% (FY24: 65%) for Food and 57% (FY24: 56%) for Plastics,
indicating potential for further production optimization in both segments.
ISIL’s strategic initiative to establish its ‘Bisconni’ wholly owned subsidiary
in Abu Dhabi, UAE, represents a commendable move to tap into the lucrative MENA
confectionery market.
Ownership
The majority ownership of the Company is held by
the Ismail family, with the shares distributed among three brothers and their
families. The ownership breakdown is as follows: Mr. Maqsood Ismail owns ~0.8%,
his wife, Ms. Almas Maqsood, holds ~29.8%, and their son, Mr. Hamid Maqsood
Ismail, owns ~2.2%. Mr. Muhammad M. Ismail holds ~15.7%, his wife, Ms. Farzana
Muhammad, owns ~2.0%, and their son, Mr. Ahmed Muhammad, has ~15.2% stake. Mr.
Miftah Ismail owns ~31.0%, with his wife, Ms. Reema Ismail Ahmed, holding
~1.9%. The remaining minority ownership is held by associated entities,
including Uniron Industries Private Limited ~0.6% and other stakeholders ~0.4%
and free float. The ownership structure of Ismail Industries Limited (ISIL)
reflects a high degree of stability, with the majority stake held by the Ismail
family. Under the long-standing leadership of Mr. Muhammad Ismail, who brings
extensive industry experience, the Company benefits from a seasoned and
consistent management approach. The sponsors of Ismail Industries Limited
(ISIL) bring over four decades of operational experience, contributing
deep-rooted industry expertise and insight to the Company's strategic
direction. The sponsors including the followings: Mr. Muhammad M. Ismail did
his B.S. in Industrial Engineering from the University of Florida, USA in 1974.
He joined the family concern Union Biscuits and served as a director till 1989
when he established Ismail Industries Limited. As Chairman of IIL, he oversees
all aspects of management including production, sales and distribution,
marketing, and expansion and acquisitions. Mr. Maqsood Ismail, awarded
Tamgha-e-Imtiaz, holds degree of B.S. in Economics from the University of
Delaware, USA. Currently, he is a Director of Ismail Industries Limited. Mr.
Maqsood Ismail was the Chairman of the Export Processing Zones Authority,
Pakistan. He has also been Vice President of the Federation of the Chambers of
Commerce and Industry of Pakistan and a Chairman of Yarn Merchants Association
of Pakistan and President of Lasbela Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Ahmed Muhammad
Ismail completed his graduation from George Washington University (USA),
majoring in the field of Economics. As part of the new vision of the Company,
Ahmed Ismail has been assigned the role of Chief of Candyland and Ismail
Nutrition Business divisions of the Company, where he has been active in
modernizing the business while bringing in a more object-oriented approach to
managing the Company. As part of the new vision of the Company, Hamid Ismail
has been assigned the role of Chief of Bisconni and SnackCity Business
Division, where his achievements include rapid growth in the topline of the
business while improving the overall profitability of both segments of the
Company. He has a deep interest in improving the technological capabilities of
the Company and implementing the accounting software. Dr. Miftah Ismail holds a
PhD in Public Finance and Political Economy from the Wharton School of
Business, University of Pennsylvania. A professional economist, he worked at
the IMF before coming back to Pakistan. He has a proven track record of leading
some of the exciting names in the Country including Chairman- Suit Northern Gas
Company Pakistan, Director Pakistan International Airlines Corporation (2013 –
present), Vice Chairman Punjab Board of Investment and Trade – 2012. He is the
President of Karachi American School, and is a member of the Advisory Committee
of the Institute of Business Administration and has also been a visiting
faculty member at the I.B.A. Under this dynamic leadership, Ismail Industries
Limited has achieved remarkable success in the confectionery market while also
demonstrating excellence in expanding into new business ventures. In addition
to being a major player in the confectionery, biscuits and snacks industry, the
Group has interests in plastic films, cereals, flour and pharmaceutical.
Governance
The Company's Board of Directors is primarily composed of members from the sponsoring family, totaling seven individuals. This composition includes the Chairman, two non-executive directors, two executive directors, and two independent directors. Ismail Industries Limited (ISIL) benefits from a strong and experienced board of directors. The board members possess diverse expertise, including industrial engineering and economics, as well as a deep understanding of the confectionery, biscuits, and snacks industry. The member’s profile of the Company includes the followings: Mr. Munsarim Saif did his Bachelors of Engineering from N.E.D. University of Engineering and Technology, Pakistan. He worked for Pakistan International Airlines prior to joining Ismail Industries Limited. Currently, he is the Chief Executive Officer of Ismail Industries Limited. He played for the National Table Tennis Team for many years and was Pakistan’s Table Tennis champion in 1984. He has been with the Company since its inception and played a key role in setting up the business. Mr. Ahmed Muhammad Ismail serving as an executive director of the Company, completed his graduation from George Washington University (USA), majoring in the field of Economics. As part of the new vision of the Company, Ahmed Ismail has been assigned the role of Chief of Candyland and Ismail Nutrition Business divisions of the Company, where he has been active in modernizing the business while bringing in a more object-oriented approach to managing the Company. Apart from business, he also has a keen interest in golf. Mr. Muhammad Zubair Motiwala served as a former independent director in the Company and was replaced by Mr. Muhammad Zain. Ms. Tasneem Yusuf, serving as an independent director of the Company, is a chartered accountant from ICAP, a fellow member of ACCA and a CPA. After working for Unilever Pakistan, she moved to Dubai and worked for both Deloitte and Nasdaq Dubai. Since moving back in 2009, she has been associated with her family practice where she now heads the audit and assurance services department. Ms. Tasneem Yusuf serves as a board member of Ismail Industries Limited, Reliance Insurance Company Limited, B.F. Modaraba, Faran Sugar Mills Limited, Pakistan Industrial Development Corporation and the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (Private) Limited. She serves ICAP as a member of its Auditing Standards & Ethics Board. Ms. Yusuf has completed the directors training program and the directors training program for State Owned Enterprises from the Pakistan Institute of Corporate Governance (PICG). Mr. Muhammad M. Ismail serving as a non-executive director in the Company, did his B.S. in Industrial Engineering from the University of Florida, USA in 1974. He joined the family concern Union Biscuits and served as a director till 1989 when he established Ismail Industries Limited. As Chairman of IIL, he oversees all aspects of management including production, sales and distribution, marketing, and expansion and acquisitions. He also has a keen interest in bridge and is an avid golfer. Mr. Maqsood Ismail was the Chairman of the Export Processing Zones Authority, Pakistan. He has also been Vice President of the Federation of the Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Pakistan and a Chairman of Yarn Merchants Association of Pakistan and President of Lasbela Chamber of Commerce. He was also on the board of IDBP, and is now a trustee of the Karachi Port Trust. He was also on the Board of Port Qasim Authority. He was awarded Tamgha-e-Imtiaz (one of the highest civil awards) by the Government of Pakistan in recognition of his services to the community. Mr. Hamid Maqsood Ismail, serving as a non-executive director of the Company completed his graduation from Middlesex Univeristy (London, UK) majoring in the field of Business Administration and masters from Oxford University. As part of the new vision of the Company, Hamid Ismail has been assigned the role of Chief of Bisconni and SnackCity Business Division, where his achievements include rapid growth in the topline of the business while improving the overall profitability of both segments of the Company. He has a deep interest in improving the technological capabilities of the Company and implementing the accounting software. Under the leadership and guidance of the experienced board, ISIL is well-positioned to capitalize on growth opportunities and deliver long-term value to its shareholders. During FY25, the Board of Directors convened four meetings, all of which were duly attended by every Board member, including Mr. Muhammad M. Ismail, Mr. Maqsood Ismail Ahmed, Mr. Munsarim Saifullah, Mr. Hamid Maqsood Ismail, Mr. Ahmed Muhammad, Mr. Muhammad Zubair Motiwala, and Ms. Tasneem Yusuf. The governance framework of Ismail Industries Limited was further enhanced by the Human Resource & Remuneration Committee (HR&RC), chaired by Mr. Muhammad Zubair Motiwala (Currently, Mr. Muhammad Zain), and the Board Audit Committee (BAC), chaired by Ms. Tasneem Yusuf, further enhancing the governance framework for IIIL, ensuring comprehensive oversight and strategic alignment. The Company complies with the financial reporting and corporate governance framework under the Listed Companies (Code of Corporate Governance) Regulations 2019 and the Companies Act, 2017. Grant Thornton Anjum Rahman Chartered Accountants are the external auditors of the Company. They gave an unqualified opinion on the Company’s financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2025. This reflects a high level of Company's financial reporting integrity. Grant Thornton Anjum Rahman Chartered Accountants are QCR-rated firm and is listed in the State Bank of Pakistan’s category ‘A’ panel of auditors.
Management
Ismail Industries Limited (ISIL) maintains a clear organizational structure, with centralized functions such as Accounts & Finance, Human Resources, IT, and Supply Chain supporting the entire organization. Meanwhile, Sales and Marketing departments are tailored to meet the specific needs of each brand, allowing for targeted brand strategies and operational efficiency. Mr. Munsarim Saifullah, the Group CEO of Ismail Industries Limited (ISIL), holds a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering from NED University of Engineering and Technology, Pakistan. A long-standing associate of the founding sponsors, Mr. Saifullah has been integral to the Company since its inception, bringing extensive expertise in production and engineering. Mr. Ahmed Raza Parekh (FCA, CIA) serves as the group CFO of the Company. His pivotal role entails spearheading and regulating all aspects of the Accounts, Finance, Costing, Budgeting & Taxation function. He is supported by a team of seasoned professionals, reinforcing ISIL’s leadership and operational capabilities. The Company has no management committees in place. However, members of the senior management regularly communicate and discuss ongoing issues and upcoming plans relating to relevant brands and management functions. The Company has now moved from SAP to SAP S/4HANA and success factors on cloud. Multiple cloud service provider solutions have been reviewed and evaluated by the Board and finalized one cloud service provider. The inclusion of SAP S/4 Hana has made a remarkable impact on day-to-day operations, especially data management and presentation and has helped the Company to have more control over the business operations and expand the Company's long-term initiatives. All of the Company's products are ISO 22000 certified and have received Halal certifications from SANHA. Oversight and effective management are ensured through the internal audit department, which diligently monitors the Company’s various functions and internal controls. This department reports directly to the Board’s Audit Committee, providing an additional layer of accountability. The Board’s Audit Committee Led by Ms. Tasneem Yusuf. While performing risk oversight functions, the Board’s audit committee also evaluates cybersecurity risks. Internal Audit department regularly performs network and cyber security audits, the results of which are presented to the Board’s Audit Committee.
Business Risk
In Pakistan, the domestic convenience food market is growing, with a
4.2% CAGR forecast for 2025-2033.Distribution meets international standards in
cities, but expansion opportunities exist in smaller areas. Retail is
fragmented; however, large chains are emerging, potentially changing consumer
habits. The CPI’s year-on-year increase is 4.5% as of FY2024-25, signaling a
slowdown in inflation. This impacts consumer spending, especially on
convenience foods, as price hikes in essentials continue. Companies must adapt
to these economic shifts to maintain market share. The Condiments category in
Urban and Rural inflation levels contributed~9.6% and ~9.2%, respectively.
Recent product innovations in the Candyland range—such as Jelly World, Sour
Bites, Pizza Jelly, Sweet Bear, Orangy Jelly, Biggy, Buttons, Bisca, Puffs,
Cloud9, Punch Candy, and You Chocolate have further strengthened its market
position. Premium Bisconni offerings, including Divine, Mi Amor, Daydream,
Digestive, Perfetto, and Chip Hop, also experienced notable sales growth.
Additionally, Ghiza and Ismail Nutrition products contributed to higher sales,
with the Company’s LNS (Lipid-based Nutrient Supplement) products providing a
distinct competitive edge in the market. The Company employs segment reporting
for its revenue, divided into two primary segments: Food and Plastics.
The revenue mix for 9MFY26 stood at ~92.8 billion, with ~PKR 80.2
billion from local sales and ~PKR 12.3 billion from exports, compared to 9MFY25’s
~PKR 91.5 billion, where ~PKR 61.5 billion was generated domestically and ~PKR 29.9
billion through exports, reflecting a clear strategic and operational
realignment toward the domestic market. The diversity in the revenue stems
from well-established brands such as Candyland, Bisconni, SnackCity, Ismail
Nutrition, Ghiza Flour, and Astro Films. These brands collectively enable the
Company to capture a broad consumer base across multiple product categories,
supporting both mass-market and specialized demand. The strong brand equity
also allows the Company to maintain pricing power, enhance market penetration,
and sustain its competitive positioning across domestic and export markets.
Additionally, the multi-brand structure helps mitigate concentration risk by
balancing performance across various product lines and geographies.
The Gross Profit Margin decreased to 19.5% in 9MFY26 (down from 21.0%
in 9MFY25), while the Operating Profit Margin saw a more notable reduction to
8.7% (from 10.4% in 9MFY25), suggesting a moderation in overall operational
efficiency amid pressure from elevated input costs. Consequently, Net Profit
stood at ~PKR 3.05 billion in 9MFY26, compared to ~PKR 4.0 billion in the
corresponding period last year. Notwithstanding the constraint on top-line
earnings growth and margin compression, the decline in profitability was
partially mitigated by effective financial management and cost control,
evidenced by a significant reduction in finance costs, which decreased to ~PKR 3.5
billion in 9MFY26 from ~PKR 3.8 billion in 9MFY25.
The Company is consistently committed to optimizing its operations and
has introduced some premium products. Also, the Company has introduced some new
business lines. Apart from this, the Company is planning to establish its new
“Bisconni Middle East Manufacturing LLC” wholly owned subsidiary, in Abu Dhabi,
U.A.E with a total investment of up to $10mln. The Company has made an equity
investment of PKR 3,937,500,000 in Ismail Resin to set up a Recycle Polyester
Resin (PET Resin) manufacturing facility with a capacity of 24,000 tons per
annum. This initiative aligns with the Company’s commitment to sustainability
and innovation, positioning it as a key player in the growing recycled
materials market. Additionally, the Company has secured significant contracts
with major global brands, including Pepsi, Coca-Cola, and Nestlé. These
partnerships are expected to drive growth and reinforce the Company's market
presence, further enhancing its reputation as a reliable and progressive
industry leader.
Financial Risk
The Company's working capital requirements,
which comprise inventory, trade receivables, and trade payables, are
strategically financed through a combination of internal cash generation and
short-term debt facilities. During 9MFY26, working capital management yielded
mixed outcomes, prompting an elongation of the Gross Working Capital days to
~119 days (up from ~97 days in FY25). This extension was primarily driven by a
noticeable stretch in inventory holding days. Conversely, the Net Working
Capital days also saw elongation (9MFY26: ~80 days), from ~71 days in FY25 last
year, reflected by the extension of payable days. The overall lengthening
of the receivable cycle combined with the extension in payable days suggests a
potential increase in the Cash Conversion Cycle. The Free Cash Flow from
Operations (FCFO) declined substantially, settling at ~PKR 9.3 billion This
significant drop indicates weaker cash generation from core operations and
suggests a decline in operational efficiency. The Interest Coverage Ratio (FCFO over Finance
Costs) declined to ~2.1x in 9MFY26 (FY25: ~2.6x). This counterintuitive
improvement is directly attributable to the substantial reduction in Finance
Costs, which decreased from ~PKR 3.8 billion in 9MFY25 to PKR 3.5 billion in 9MFY26.
The reduction in finance costs, due to a reduction in effective interest rates,
indicates improved financial efficiency and an enhanced ability to meet
interest obligations from cash flows. In summary, the Company exhibits a
dichotomy in its financial coverage metrics for FY25. While effective
management of the debt portfolio has lowered the cost of borrowing, the
fundamental operational weakness needs to be addressed to ensure sustainable
long-term financial health and improved ability to repay the total debt burden.
The Company maintains a highly leveraged capital structure. Total Borrowings
saw an increase from ~PKR 56.7 billion in FY25 to ~PKR 59.2 billion in 9MFY26,
indicating an aggressive funding strategy, deployed to finance growth
initiatives. Long-Term borrowings reduced from ~PKR 24.8 billion to ~PKR 22.5
billion. Overall, management should prioritize leveraging the improved
borrowing terms to de-risk the capital structure over the long term,
potentially by using lower-cost debt to strategically pay down the higher-cost
components or by prioritizing equity financing for future expansion
Instrument Rating Considerations
About the Instrument
The Company has successfully issued 6th-rated, privately placed, unsecured short-term Sukuk amounting to PKR 8,000 million inclusive of a PKR 3 billion green-shoe option, in February 2026 to finance its working capital requirements. The instrument carries a tenor of six months and offers a profit rate of 3MK, with both profit and principal payable in full at maturity.
Relative Seniority/Subordination of Instrument
The instrument is unsecured.
Credit Enhancement
Facility Covenants are mutually agreed between the Issuer and the Financial advisors and arrangers in the Facility Documents. All applicable Regulations and Guidelines issue by the Securities & Exchange Commission of Pakistan (“SECP”).
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