logo
The Pakistan Credit Rating Agency Limited
Press Release

Date
28-Dec-18

Analyst
Shahzaib Khalid
shahzaib.khalid@pacra.com
+92-42-35869504
www.pacra.com

Applicable Criteria

Related Research

Disclaimer
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 Alhamra Islamic Income Fund (formerly: MCB Islamic Income Fund)

Rating Type Stability Rating
Current
(28-Dec-18 )
Previous
(30-Jun-18 )
Action Maintain Maintain
Long Term AA-(f) AA-(f)
Short Term - -
Outlook Stable Stable
Rating Watch - -

Fund's investment objective is to generate risk adjusted returns by investing in short, medium and long-term shariah compliant fixed income instruments.

The rating incorporates the fund's moderate credit quality and liquidity profile emanating from the fund's policy to invest only in good quality Shariah compliant instruments. At end Jun-18, ~72% were invested with banks as cash balances, while 25% of the fund's net assets were invested with sukuks having minimum 'A' credit rating. Fund's exposure of 36% with 'AAA' and 13% with 'AA' rating shows the good credit quality of the portfolio. The fund has moderately diversified unit holding pattern, with top ten investors representing ~60% of the fund size. 

Going forward, the fund intends to maintain its exposure towards bank placements with rest of the fund's assets invested in shariah compliant commercial papers and other debt securities. Material changes in the fund's asset allocation strategy, which could negatively impact the fund's credit quality and exposure to interest rate risk, remains critical for the rating.

About the Entity
MCB Arif Habib Savings and Investments Limited was incorporated in August 2000 and listed on the Karachi Stock Exchange. It is a major player in the mutual fund industry of Pakistan. During June'11, MCB Asset Management Company was merged into Arif Habib Investments. The objective was to achieve synergies in the asset management business and access a wider distribution network.

Company’s eight members board of directors comprises two representatives from MCB, two representatives from Arif Habib Group, one member is the CEO CEO and three are independent directors. Mian Muhammad Mansha, Chairman MCB, serves as the Chairman on the board. Mr. Saqib Saleem is the CEO, having work experience of over thirteen years. With overall assets under management of ~PKR 53bln at end Oct-18, the company is currently managing sixteen open-end funds and two voluntary pension 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.