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The Pakistan Credit Rating Agency Limited
Press Release

Date
11-Mar-22

Analyst
Muhammad Junaid
muhammad.junaid@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 NIT Government Bond Fund

Rating Type Stability Rating
Current
(11-Mar-22 )
Previous
(10-Sep-21 )
Action Maintain Maintain
Long Term AA(f) AA(f)
Short Term - -
Outlook Stable Stable
Rating Watch - -

NIT Government Bond Fund (or the 'Fund') is a low-risk profile Fund. NIT Government Bond Fund aims to invest primarily in Government Securities. In line with its stated investment policy, the Fund shall invest at least 70% of net assets in Government securities. The assigned rating reflects adequate strength of the Fund's credit and interest rate risk profile. At the end-Dec'21, the Fund had place 67% of net assets in banks rated AA+ and above. The Fund's exposure to the Government securities was reduced to ~32% due to redemption of Government securities. However, the exposure in Government securities increased to 77% at end-Jan'22, which is now in line with the investment policy of the Fund. The WAM of the stood at 131 days at the end-Dec'21. Whereas, the duration of the Fund was recorded 66 days, which has improved since the last review. The unit holding pattern of the Fund is highly concentrated with the top ten investors representing ~83% of the Fund's assets, out of which ~40% are owned investments which provide a cushion against the redemption pressure.
Going forward, the Fund intends to keep its allocation in the government securities. Material changes in the Fund's asset allocation strategy, impacting its credit quality and/or exposure to interest rate risk, would affect the rating.

About the Entity
National Investment Trust Limited was established in 1962 and is a pioneer in the mutual fund industry. The Company’s Board of Directors currently comprises ten board members out of which nine are non-executive. Mr. Adnan Afridi, CEO/MD who joined in Feb'19 holds profound experience in the financial services and capital markets. Mr. Manzoor Ahmed is the COO and has a successful track record of managing the operations and investment portfolio of the Company. The Company is currently one of the largest asset management companies in Pakistan with a portfolio of thirteen open-end funds which includes two non-public funds namely NIT-SEF and NIT-EMOF, two voluntary pension schemes, and an exchange-traded fund. The assets under management of the Company stood at ~PKR 96,759mln (including SEF & EMOF) end-Dec'21.

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.