Rating History
Dissemination Date Rating Outlook Action Rating Watch
24-Oct-25 AM1 Stable Maintain -
25-Oct-24 AM1 Stable Maintain -
26-Oct-23 AM1 Stable Maintain -
26-Oct-22 AM1 Stable Upgrade -
26-Oct-21 AM2++ Positive Initial -
About the Entity

Incorporated in 2007, ABL Asset Management Company Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Allied Bank Limited (ABL). ABL operates a nationwide network of 1,512 branches, comprising 1,298 conventional, 198 Islamic banking, and 18 digital branches. ABL Funds holds licenses for asset management, pension management, and investment advisory services. The AMC's board is composed of eight members, including the CEO. It includes one executive director, five non-executive directors, and two independent directors. Mr. Naveed Nasim, the CEO of ABL Funds, brings over 23 years of expertise in Corporate and Investment Banking, Risk Management, and Commercial Banking.

Rating Rationale

The rating assigned to ABL Asset Management Company Limited (“ABL Funds” or the “AMC”) reflects: (i) a professional and experienced management team, (ii) a robust risk management framework, (iii) significant advancement in digital transformation, and (iv) strong market presence. A sound governance structure, complemented by effective board oversight, further strengthens the assigned rating. The AMC also benefits from a strong sponsor profile, with continued strategic and operational support from its parent bank, which reinforces the overall rating. ABL Funds manages a diversified portfolio comprising eighteen open-end funds, two voluntary pension schemes (VPS), and two KP pension funds, providing investors with a broad range of investment solutions. The product suite is well-rounded, encompassing both Conventional and Shariah-compliant offerings. The AMC continues to enhance its digital infrastructure through targeted IT investments aimed at improving retail penetration, distribution efficiency, and customer experience. Notable initiatives include the introduction of a web-based digital onboarding solution, complementing its existing mobile applications on Android and iOS platforms, alongside the rollout of an upgraded Online Services Portal with enhanced functionality. As a result, a significant portion of new accounts is now being opened through digital channels. Since June'24, the overall asset management industry has recorded growth of approximately 40% year-on-year. In comparison, ABL Funds achieved a robust 31% increase in assets under management (AUM), reaching PKR 260bln as of June'25 (June'24: PKR 198bln), translating into a market share of around 7%. A considerable number of the funds under management rank among the top performers in their respective categories. The clientele mix currently comprises 67% institutional and 33% retail investors, including high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs). Going forward, retail penetration in the portfolio is expected to increase, driven by the digital initiatives. Alongside its collective investment schemes (CIS), the AMC also manages a healthy portfolio of Separately Managed Accounts (SMAs), catering to both discretionary and non-discretionary clients. As of June'25, the Voluntary Pension Fund Management industry reported total AUMs of ~PKR 105.6bln, of which AMC manages ~PKR 1.8bln, representing a 2% market share.
On the financial front, management and commission income posted exceptional growth of 86%, reaching PKR 1,337mln for 6MCY25 (6MCY24: PKR 717mln). This strong performance stems from higher fund returns, increased retail participation, and an expanded distribution network. Profit after tax also nearly doubled to PKR 546mln in 6MCY25 from PKR 288mln in the same period last year, reflecting improved operational efficiency and sustained profitability. Liquidity remains comfortable, while the AMC’s equity base strengthened to PKR 5.3bln as of June'25, well above the minimum regulatory capital requirement.

Key Rating Drivers

The rating remains contingent on the management’s ability to successfully execute its business development plans while leveraging digital initiatives to enhance operations and market outreach. Sustained consistency in fund performance, alongside continued growth in profitability, will be critical. Furthermore, retention of key management personnel, adherence to strong corporate governance practices, and ongoing strengthening of the investment process remain important factors for the assigned rating.

Profile
Structure

ABL Asset Management Company Limited (“ABL Funds” or the “AMC”) was established in October 2007 as a public unlisted Company.


Background

The AMC is licensed by the SECP as an Asset Management Company and Investment Adviser under the Non-Banking Finance Company Regulations, and operates its Head Office from Lahore.


Market Share

The Assets Under Management (AUMs) of ABL Funds have experienced a ~31% growth since June 2024, elevating its market share to ~7.0% as of Jun'25.


Diversification of Fund Mix

ABL Funds provides investment solutions for both conventional and Islamic markets. As of June 2025, the AMC managed eighteen open-end funds and acted as an investment advisor for sixty-eight clients, offering a well-structured portfolio. The retention of discretionary portfolio clients further strengthens customer service quality and contributes to long-term value creation.


Investor Concentration

The top 10 investor concentration stood at 55% at end of Jun'25 and the average related party holding represents 14% of total AUMs.


Ownership
Ownership Structure

Allied Bank Limited (the "Bank" or "ABL") holds 100% of the ownership stake in ABL Funds. ABL is a listed scheduled bank engaged in commercial banking and related services.


Business Acumen

The sponsors hold strong entrepreneurship skills and business acumen. They have held diverse interests in various sectors, including finance, information technology, credit, leasing, investment banking, corporate finance, and consultancy for many years.


Financial Strength

The Bank holds AAA/A+ ratings from PACRA. With over 75 years of operations, the Bank has established a strong foundation with robust equity, assets, and a solid deposit base. As of the end of June 2025, the Bank's deposits totaled PKR 2,246bln, while its equity stood at PKR 247bln.


Governance
Board Structure

The AMC's board is composed of eight members, including the CEO. It includes one executive director, five non-executive directors, and two independent directors.


Members’ Profile

The Chairperson, Mr. Sheikh Mukhtar Ahmed (late), a seasoned Non-Executive Director with over 56 years of experience in banking and finance, has successfully established and managed various industrial and financial companies, and had been associated with the Board for more than 17 years. Mr. Muhammad Waseem Mukhtar, a Non-Executive Director, brings over 26 years of diversified experience in finance, IT, and industry. He holds degrees from the University of Chicago and UK institutions, is a Certified Director from PICG, and has been associated with the Board for more than 14 years, serving on key committees including BHRC, BSPMC, and BAC. Mr. Mohammad Naeem Mukhtar, a Non-Executive Director with over 28 years of experience in finance and industry, has been associated with the Board for more than 17 years. Mr. Pervaiz Iqbal Butt, an Independent Director with over 31 years of experience in marine engineering and heavy industries, has been associated with the Board for more than 7 years. Mr. Kamran Nishat, an Independent Director with over 40 years of diversified experience across automotive, textiles, leather, distribution, and consulting sectors, has been associated with the Board for more than 1.5 years. Mr. Aizid Razzaq Gill, a Non-Executive Director with over 25 years of experience in financial management, risk analysis, and portfolio management, has been associated with the Board for more than 6 years. Ms. Saira Shahid Hussain, a Non-Executive Director with over 26 years of diversified experience in human resources across national and international organizations, has been associated with the Board for more than 3 years.


Board Effectiveness

There are four committees: 1) Planning and Monitoring Committee, it oversees the AMC’s strategic initiatives, fund performance, product development, and long-term growth objectives. 2) Risk Management Committee, ensures effective identification, evaluation, and mitigation of investment, operational, and compliance risks, thereby safeguarding investor interests and strengthening the AMC’s resilience framework. 3) Human Resource Committee, it manages policies related to talent acquisition, leadership development, performance management, and succession planning to ensure the AMC continues to attract and retain top professionals. 4) Audit Committee, it supervises financial reporting, fund accounting, internal controls, and regulatory compliance, thereby ensuring transparency, investor confidence, and strong governance practices.


Transparency

The AMC's external auditors are KPMG Taseer Hadi & Co. Chartered Accountants, classified in the "A" category on the SBP panel. The auditors expressed an unqualified opinion on the financial statements, indicating that the financial reporting presents a true and fair view in accordance with the applicable financial reporting framework, and that no material misstatements were identified during the audit for the period ended June 30, 2025


Management
Organizational Structure

The AMC operates through ten main departments. (i) Finance, (ii) Compliance, (iii) IT, (iv) Business Development, (v) Risk management, (vi) Internal Audit (vii) Fund Management, (viii) Registrar service & operations (ix) HR and administration (x) Customer care and QA. Reporting lines are clearly defined.


Management Team

The AMC's senior management team comprises highly qualified professionals with specialized expertise and extensive experience. Mr. Naveed Nasim, the CEO of ABL Funds, brings over 23 years of expertise in Corporate and Investment Banking, Risk Management, and Commercial Banking. Mr. Saqib Matin, FCA, FPA, serves as the Chief Financial Officer & Company Secretary with over 27 years of professional experience, including more than 17 years with the Board and CEO, and over 12 years in his current role. Mr. Fahad Aziz, the Chief Investment Officer (CIO), has over 18 years of experience in the financial industry, with a focus on investment and Economic Research. Syed Khalid Husain, Country Head Business Development, brings over 41 years of experience in the financial sector, including 25 years with Allied Bank where he led major Corporate and Retail Banking divisions. Since joining ABL AMC in 2008, he has successfully built Pakistan’s largest retail mutual fund distribution network across 1,250 Allied Bank branches and key cities nationwide. Mr. Nasir Ali Shujauddin, Master of Science in Islamic Banking & Finance, serves as Head of Institutional Sales – Business Strategy & SMA, reporting to the Country Head Business Development, with 17+ years of experience, including over 4 years with the  in his current role. Mr. Rehan Saif, Head of Compliance, brings over 30 years of experience in compliance, regulatory affairs, risk management, and related domains. Since joining ABL Funds in 2019, he has led the Compliance Department, leveraging his prior senior roles at NCCPL, CDC, and the Lahore Stock Exchange to drive market development and automation initiatives. Mr. Rehan Ansari, Head of Operations, has over 21 years of experience in finance, operations, and settlements, and has been associated with ABL Funds since 2008. A qualified Cost & Management Accountant, he currently leads the Registrar Services & Operations Department while also coordinating closely with Business Development and other departments to ensure efficient client servicing. Mr. Muhammad Umair Khan, Head of Information Technology, brings over 20 years of experience in IT and digital solutions within leading financial institutions. Holding a Master’s in Computer Science from the University of Karachi, he has led major technology implementations at Allied Bank, including data analytics, enterprise integrations, and digital transformation initiatives. Ms. Zufa Kanwal, serves as Head of Marketing, with over 19 years of professional experience, including more than 7 years with the AMC and over 7 years in her current role.


Technology Infrastructure

The AMC focuses on cybersecurity with strategic IT investments and stands out as the only Asset Management Company (AMC) to hold ISO/IEC 27001 : 2013 certification, highlighting its dedication to the highest standards of information security. The AMC is focusing on three key areas within IT: data collection, digital solutions, and the core system. The core application has been developed in collaboration with SoftTech Systems, from which 4–5 professionals have also been recruited. In addition, in-house resources have been engaged to ensure continuous application upgrades and to independently manage all related IT requirements.


Control Environment

Mr. Rehan Saif is leading the compliance department. The AMC has system-based controls to monitor exposure limits and margins. Comprehensive MIS reports are generated on a daily, weekly and monthly basis which are viewed by management on regular basis.


Investment Risk Management
Credit Risk

The AMC utilizes Excel-based credit risk models for monitoring, focusing on both qualitative and quantitative analysis. ABL Funds is actively preparing risk-adjusted investment strategies to optimize returns and set up independent risk committees to oversee fund performance.


Liquidity Profile

The Risk Management Department vigilantly monitors the AMC’s liquidity profile to ensure financial stability and operational resilience. Sufficient liquidity is maintained by allocating a significant portion of fund assets to highly liquid investment avenues such as money market instruments, government securities, and short-term placements. This approach not only ensures the AMC’s ability to meet redemption requests and operational obligations in a timely manner but also provides a strong buffer against market volatility, thereby safeguarding investor confidence and supporting sustainable growth.


Market Risk

To manage market risk, the AMC employs a range of techniques including Value-at-Risk (VaR) analysis, beta analysis, and stress testing, enabling comprehensive assessment of potential portfolio vulnerabilities under varying market conditions. Exposure limits are clearly defined and communicated to portfolio managers, with regular reviews conducted to ensure the appropriateness of the limit structure. This disciplined approach helps maintain risk within acceptable thresholds, strengthens portfolio resilience, and ensures alignment with the AMC’s overall risk management framework.


Portfolio Management
IC Composition

The investment committee comprises of the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Investment Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Head of Risk Management, Head of Equities, Head of Fixed Income, Head of Research and respective Fund Managers.


Effectiveness

The investment committee comprises of qualified and experienced professionals. They meet weekly to review the investment strategy and performance of each fund under management, ensuring that market conditions are considered in their assessments.


Investment Research and Analysis

The research function operates under the supervision of Head of Equity and a team of 03 subordinates. The department uses various techniques including the fundamental analysis of key sectors and stocks to identify attractive investment avenues. For equity valuation, standard financial models are utilized, and broker research is also considered.


Customer Relationship
Investor Services

The marketing team maintains relationship with existing and prospective clients. In order to remain competitive, the AMC has been implementing strategies for integrating information technology in all the processes facilitating its customers. The AMC uses Imaan brand for Islamic funds.


Investor Reporting

The AMC also issues a Fund Manager’s Report, elaborating on the Fund’s performance and investment strategies and covering all the mandatory disclosure requirements. The AMC has established WhatsApp Business Solutions, enabling clients to communicate with WhatsApp network users. The AMC established a real-time IT infrastructure to service the SMA clients.


Distribution and Sales Network

The AMC utilizes the entire branch network of the Bank, along with 12 Savings Centers, and has established dedicated Islamic Savings Centers. During the review period, the AMC also signed distribution agreements with other banks. ABL Funds has a dedicated "ABL Funds" mobile app for AMC customers and leverages the myABL app of the sponsor Bank.


Performance
Asset Under Management

As of June'25, ABL Fund's AUM reached PKR 260bln, up from PKR 198bln in Jun'24. The primary inflow is focused on the money market category and capital-protected funds, which together account for 48% of the total allocation. Client retention has positively impacted the overall portfolio.


Asset Manager

The management and commission income has shown an increase and stood at PKR 1,337mln, at end of 6MCY25 (6MCY24: PKR 717mln). At the end of 6MCY25, the AMC reported a profit after tax of PKR 545.8mln (6MCY24: PKR 288mln ). This growth is primarily due to an increase in Management fees from AUMs and, consequently, core income. As of end Jun'25, the equity stood at PKR 5.3bln, keeping the AMC well above the minimum equity requirements.


 
 

Oct-25

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Sr. No. Fund Name Category Launch Date Weight (%) AUMs (PKR' mln) Return | Rolling 12 Months (Jun'25-Jun'24) Stability Rating/Performance Ranking
Jun-25 Mar-25 Dec-24 Sep-24 Jun-24 Mar-24 Dec-23 Return Benchmark Industry Average Fund vs. Benchmark
Conventional Funds
1 ABL Cash Fund Money Market 31-Jul-10 15.8% 41,055 64,461 99,364 87,036 49,217 20,215 28,791 14.9% 13.9% 16.4% 1.0% AA+
2 ABL Income Fund Income 20-Sep-08 1.5% 3,927 3,856 3,060 2,786 2,457 6,769 7,789 16.6% 13.8% 16.7% 2.8% A+
3 ABL Stock Fund Equity 27-Jun-09 2.9% 7,427 6,699 6,949 3,733 3,455 6,327 9,059 61.1% 60.2% 16.7% 0.9%
4 ABL Government Securities Fund Income 29-Nov-11 2.0% 5,077 7,261 9,880 8,190 2,705 2,236 2,067 17.1% 13.6% 39.2% 3.6% AA-
5 Allied Finergy Fund Asset Allocation 23-Nov-18 0.0% 107 109 148 129 117 9,833 5,865 49.1% 60.2% 16.7% -11.1%
6 ABL GOKP PF Money Marekt Fund Pension Scheme 23-Apr-24 0.0% 44 42 39 37 438 409 29.9% 0.0%
7 ABL Pension Funds VPS 20-Aug-14 0.5% 1,197 1,050 1,410 1,244 657 369 39.2% 0.0%
Plans
8 ABL Special Saving Fund Plan Capital Protected 21.3% 55,428 73,468 62,688 69,999 61,896 1,723 - - - - - CP2+
9 ABL Money Market Plan Money Market Scheme 10.6% 27,538 5,041 4,944 4,278 4,025 AA+
10 ABL Financial Sector Fund Plan Income 21.1% 54,761 34,330 16,972 13,715 13,405 A+
11 ABL Financial Planning Fund (C+S+A) Fund of Funds 0.1% 263 502 1,003 273 324 2,467 - - - - - -
12 ABL Fixed Rate Plan Fixed Rate / Return 4.6% 11,996 22,010 98,770 10,409 11,999 - - - - - - -
13 ABL Islamic Money Market Plan Shariah Compliant Money Market Scheme 10.6% 27,516 31,689 28,263 15,853 8,387 - - - - - - AA+
14 ABL Islamic Financial Planning Fund (C+S+A) Shariah Compliant Fund of Funds 0.2% 391 1,255 1,442 1,669 2,228 - - - - - - -
15 ABL Islamic Sovereign Plan Sharaiah Compliant Sovereign income Scheme 1.0% 2,512 2,716 6,974 2,734 0 AA+
92% 239,237 254,489 341,906 220,842 161,459 50,665 54,349 - - - -
Shariah Complaint Funds
16 ABL Islamic Cash Fund Shariah Compliant Money Market 12-Feb-10 5.1% 14,008 13,296 17,384 15,714 31,458 2,376 4,636 13.9% 9.9% 18.7% 4.0% AA+
17 ABL Islamic Asset Allocation Fund Shariah Compliant Asset Allocation 31-May-18 0.3% 695 944 1,016 1,070 1,965 836 868 5.8% 10.9% 18.0% -5.1% -
18 ABL Islamic Income Fund Shariah Compliant Income 31-Jul-10 0.7% 1,874 2,146 1,905 1,170 978 538 481 15.1% 10.4% 4.7% A+
19 ABL Islamic Stock Fund Shariah Compliant Equity 12-Jun-13 1.2% 3,132 3,006 2,800 1,716 1,650 227 233 50.8% 46.2% 53.3% 4.6%
20 ABL Islamic Dedicated Stock Fund Islamic Equity Scheme 20-Dec-16 0.0% 0 0 0 149 174 940 874 - - - 0.0%
21 ABL GOKP Islamic Pension Fund Islamic Pension Scheme 23-Apr-24 0.0% 43 40 79 0.0%
22 ABL Islamic Pension fund Islamic Pension Scheme 20-Aug-14 0.2% 642 481 0.0% -
23 ABL Islamic GOKP PF Money Market Fund Islamic Pension Scheme 23-Apr-24 0.0% 0 0 0 36 940 874 - - - 0.0%
Sum 8% 20,395 19,911 23,184 19,854 36,225 5,857 7,966
Grand Total 100% 259,632 274,400 365,091 240,696 197,684 5,857 7,966

Oct-25

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