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The Pakistan Credit Rating Agency Limited
Press Release

Date
04-Sep-21

Analyst
Muhammad Zain Ayaz
zain.ayaz@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 First Habib Islamic Income Fund

Rating Type Stability Rating
Current
(04-Sep-21 )
Previous
(04-Mar-21 )
Action Maintain Maintain
Long Term AA(f) AA(f)
Short Term - -
Outlook Stable Stable
Rating Watch - -

The rating of First Habib Islamic Income Fund (or the "Fund") reflects the Funds medium risk profile. At end Jun’21, majority of the Fund's assets were invested in bank placements/deposits (~21.4%) while the rest are allocated in Sukuks (~10.6%), GOP ijarah (~34.2%) and TDRs (~30%). The Fund has highly concentrated unit holding pattern, with top 10 investors representing ~95% of the fund size at end Jun’21. The weighted average maturity (WAM) of the Fund is ~815 days in Jun'21 (Dec'20: ~870 days). The duration of the fund is 54 days. Since Dec'20 the net assets of the Fund has manifested an increase by 25% and stood at PKR 14.05mln at end Jun'21. The investment policy of the Fund strictly prohibits investments in below A- rated avenues.
Going forward, the management intends to maintain funds allocation towards cash placements in 'AA' and above rated banks. Material changes in the fund's asset allocation strategy, which could negatively impact the fund's credit quality and exposure to interest rate risk, remain critical for the rating.

About the Entity
AL Habib Asset Management Limited incorporated in September 2005 as an unlisted public company, is one of the growing Asset Management and Investment Advisory Company in Pakistan. The company is licensed by the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) to carry out these services under the Non-Banking Finance Companies Regulations. The Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Bank AL Habib Limited.
The Board of Directors comprises six members. The CEO, Mr. Kashif Rafi, has vast experience expanding over 20 years in the field of Investments and Fund Management. The Company’s diverse product slate includes 4 conventional funds and 2 shariah compliant 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.