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The Pakistan Credit Rating Agency Limited
Press Release

Date
28-Dec-18

Analyst
Muhammad Obaid
muhammad.obaid@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 Rating of Bank Alfalah Limited | TFC V | Feb-13

Rating Type Debt Instrument
Current
(28-Dec-18 )
Previous
(14-Jun-18 )
Action Maintain Maintain
Long Term AA AA
Short Term - -
Outlook Stable Stable
Rating Watch - -

The ratings reflect relative positioning of the bank among large banks of the country. The bank has a stronger position in advances - sustained by fresh deployments. BAFL embarked upon a strategy to sustainably rationalize its cost of funding with enduring focus on low cost deposits. Resultantly, BAFL's cost of fund is comparable to some of the large banks. The bank enjoys extended outreach across the country which has augmented its deposit base. Operating cost structure has improved on YoY basis on account of cost rationalization. The asset quality of the bank has sustained over the past three years on account of prudent risk management. Effective implementation of the envisaged business strategy is important. The increasing asset yield and cost efficiency enabled spreads to increase slightly. The bank issued Tier-I instrument to improve its capital, whereas, enhancing Tier-II capital through issue of a new instrument is also an option, which the bank can continue to avail from time to time.
The ratings are dependent on the improved positioning of the bank. Improvement in spreads is essential to profitability. Strengthening of the bank's capitalization backed by strong sponsors support and adding granularity to its advances and deposits book are essential.

About the Entity
Bank Alfalah Limited (BAFL) has a network of 640 branches, at end-Sep18, including 152 Islamic banking branches - one of the most extensive network by any conventional bank. Abu Dhabi Group (ADG), comprising some of the prominent members of UAE's ruling family and leading businessmen of UAE, continues to own majority stake (~50% at end-Sep18) in the bank.

The nine-member BoD comprises President & CEO and eight NEDs, four of whom are representatives of ADG, one represents IFC, while three are independent. Mr. Nauman Ansari is the president of the bank. He carries extensive experience in the banking industry. A team of experienced professionals assist the CEO.

About the Instrument
Subordinated loan (TFC V Unsecured) with an issue size of PKR 5 bln was issued in Feb13. Tenor of the instrument is eight years (Feb21) with a profit rate of 6M-KIBOR plus 125bps, payable semi-annually. 0.30% of the principal will be repaid in the first 90 months and remaining principal of 99.70% at maturity in the 96th month.

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.