Air Link Communication Limited ('Airlink' or 'the Company') is a public limited company, incorporated in January 2014 under the repealed Companies Ordinance 1984, now the Companies Act, 2017. The Company has been listed on the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) since September 2021. Its registered office is located at 152/1- M, Quaid-e-Azam Industrial Estate, Kot-Lakhpat, Lahore. Airlink began as a partnership firm in 2010, engaged in the import and distribution of IT products, particularly mobile phones and related products. In 2014, a new private company was incorporated to take over the partnership's business, and the entire business was transferred to the Company’s books in 2018. Subsequently, Airlink converted its status to a Public Unlisted Company in April 2019 and was eventually listed on the PSX in September 2021. Airlink’s core operations comprise the production of Tecno smartphones and the distribution of mobile phones and allied products for several leading global brands, including Xiaomi, Samsung, iPhone, Tecno, and Itel. The Company has further strengthened its market positioning through a partnership with Xiaomi, under which its wholly owned subsidiary, Select Technologies (Pvt.) Limited (STL) manufactures and distributes Xiaomi mobile phones and accessories in Pakistan. STL’s manufacturing facility spans 120,000 sq. ft. of closed area, of which 60,000 sq. ft. is clean-room space, and has an annual capacity of ~2.7million units on a single-shift basis. In FY25, the Company assembled around 2 million devices, reflecting a capacity utilization rate of ~75%. Airlink is currently developing a new state-of-the-art manufacturing complex within the Sundar Green Special Economic Zone (SGSEZ) in Lahore, which is nearing completion. The project covers eight acres, with three acres owned by Airlink and five acres by STL, and includes 1.4mln sq. ft. of purpose-built infrastructure. The facility will incorporate a 1 MW solar power system, expected to reduce production costs, improve energy efficiency, and support long-term sustainability objectives. Operating within the SGSEZ framework will provide the Company with ten years of fiscal incentives, enhancing cost competitiveness and supporting future growth. Aligned with its broader strategic vision, the new facility is designed to enable the export of mobile phones, laptops, LED TVs, electronics, home appliances, and other high-tech products for international brands. This expansion underscores Airlink’s growing role in strengthening Pakistan’s manufacturing and export base.

The majority stake rests with the members of the sponsoring family, holding ~73.43% of shares. Additionally, ~12.93% is owned by the general public, ~0.06% is held by foreign companies, ~8.38% is held cumulatively by banks, development finance institutions, non-banking finance institutions, insurance companies, modarabas and mutual funds, ~2.27% is held by directors, their spouses and minor children, whereas the remaining ~2.93% is owned by others. The ownership structure of Airlink is considered stable, given the significant majority stake held by the sponsoring family. No major changes in the ownership structure are anticipated in the near future. Mr. Muzzaffar Hayat Piracha, the primary sponsor, has led the Company since its inception. With extensive industry experience and a deep understanding of the market, his strong leadership is evident through the successful strategic partnerships the Company has established. His business acumen is highly regarded. The owners of the Company do not hold any strategic stakes in other companies. However, Mr. Muzzaffar Hayat owns commercial and residential real estate, contributing to the overall financial strength, which is deemed adequate.

The Board of Directors comprises seven members: two non-executive directors (including the chairman and a female director), two executive directors (including the CEO), and three independent directors. The Board members are seasoned professionals with extensive, multifunctional experience across multiple sectors. Mr. Aslam HayatPiracha, the Chairman, possesses over five decades of business experience with a core specialty in imports and exports. He is actively involved in overseeing Airlink's systems and controls. The independent directors are highly regarded business experts, bringing exposure from diverse sectors. The Board meets at least quarterly to oversee management's performance and ensure alignment with the Company’s strategic goals. In FY25, four Board meetings were held with strong attendance from the directors. Meeting minutes are appropriately documented, and action points are communicated to the relevant stakeholders. The Board has established two committees: the Audit Committee and the HR and Remuneration Committee, which enhance the Board's effectiveness by enabling focused oversight and efficient decision-making. M/S BDO Ebrahim & Co. Chartered Accountants, listed in the category 'A' on SBP's panel of auditors, serve as the Company's external auditors. They have expressed an unqualified opinion on the Company’s financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2025.

Airlink has a well-defined organizational structure, divided into eight functional departments: Human Resources, Production, Retail, Operations, Internal Audit, Marketing, Distribution, and Accounts & Finance. Each department is led by a professional Head who reports directly to the CEO. Currently, all key positions are filled. Mr. Muzaffar Hayat Piracha, the CEO, holds a Master's Degree in Business Administration and has over two decades of multifaceted leadership experience across various sectors. He is supported by a seasoned management team with extensive expertise. Notably, Mr. Adnan Aftab, the CEO of Select Technologies (Pvt.) Ltd., holds a Master's Degree in Manufacturing Engineering and has over three decades of experience in manufacturing. Additionally, Mr. Nusrat Mahmood, the CFO, is a distinguished Management Accountant and Chemical Engineer with over two decades of experience across multiple industries, including textiles, fertilizers, and telecommunications. Each functional department has a multi-layered hierarchy with well-defined and documented roles and responsibilities, strengthening management effectiveness. Furthermore, six management committees have been established: the Credit Committee, Risk Management Committee, Sales Control Committee, Cash Management Committee, Operational Control Committee, and Business Plan Committee. These committees enhance overall operational efficacy by enabling focused decision-making and bridging inter-departmental gaps. The Company has implemented SAP, an ERP solution, to maintain a robust reporting system. The internal audit department, which reports directly to the Board’s audit committee, ensures oversight. Detailed MIS reports for senior management are frequently generated for each business unit, including region-wise business partner reports with adjustments, daily stock reports for all warehouses, and product-wise reports of region and corporate limits.

Pakistan’s cellular market has reached a high level of maturity, with tele-density surging to ~80% in FY25 and 95% of networks now 4G-enabled; however, there are only a few 5G-supported mobile sets in Pakistan. While macroeconomic headwinds, specifically elevated inflation, high interest rates, and PKR depreciation, initially constrained purchasing power and shifted demand toward affordable, locally assembled models, the market showed a mixed recovery during FY25. On the supply side, improved foreign exchange liquidity and eased import restrictions facilitated a modest rebound in local manufacturing, supported by government-led localization initiatives. According to PTA data, local production reached 30.21 million units in CY25 (comprising ~15 million 2G units and ~16 million smartphones), while mobile imports rose to ~2.37 million units, signaling a slight uptick in demand for imported handsets.

Within this landscape, Airlink maintains a dominant market position as a top-10 distributor and the sole manufacturer of Xiaomi smartphones in Pakistan, alongside its production of Tecno and itel devices. The Company has strategically transitioned into a diversified consumer electronics powerhouse, recently expanding its portfolio to include the local manufacturing of Acer laptops and tablets. Furthering this diversification, Airlink incorporated ZEXO Technologies (Pvt.) Limited in 2025 and established a landmark partnership with HISENSE to bring world-class Smart TVs and air conditioners to the domestic market. As the macroeconomic environment stabilized in the second half of FY25, supporting a recovery in sales volumes, Airlink began developing a new manufacturing facility within the Sundar Green Special Economic Zone (SGSEZ). This expansion is set to significantly enhance production capacity and operational scale while leveraging critical tax advantages to bolster the Company's long-term business risk profile.

In FY25, Airlink’s consolidated revenue stood at PKR 104.379 billion, representing a contraction from the PKR 129.742 billion recorded in FY24. This topline decline was primarily the result of a challenging fiscal environment, marked by the imposition of higher taxes and elevated device pricing, which, alongside a general slowdown in consumer purchasing power, shifted market demand toward lower-priced models. This cooling trend persisted into 1HFY26, with sales declining modestly year-over-year by ~6.6%, aligning with PTA statistics showing a slight industry-wide reduction in production for CY25.

Despite the revenue compression, Airlink demonstrated significant resilience through a sharp improvement in its profitability profile. The Company successfully pivoted to a high-efficiency model, with the gross margin climbing to ~10.6% in FY25 (FY24: ~7.5%) and the operating margin strengthening to ~9.1% (FY24: ~6.5%). This bottom-line expansion was further evidenced by the net profit margin rising to ~4.5%, up from ~3.6% the previous year. This margin-enhancement trajectory accelerated in 1HFY26, with gross, operating, and net margins reaching ~14.9%, ~12.5%, and ~6.3%, respectively. These figures underscore Airlink’s ability to maintain rigorous cost discipline and optimize production efficiencies, effectively decoupling profitability growth from broader market volume fluctuations.

Airlink has developed into a leading distributor of mobile phones and related devices in Pakistan, supported by an integrated operating model encompassing distribution, manufacturing, and retail. The Group’s business profile is underpinned by long-standing partnerships with international brands across multiple price segments, alongside its role as an authorized reseller in the premium category. Its extensive nationwide distribution network, covering a broad base of cities through multiple regional hubs, provides scale, market penetration, and supply chain stability. The Group has progressively expanded into local manufacturing, establishing smartphone assembly capabilities and subsequently diversifying into adjacent electronics such as smart TVs and computing devices. This gradual backward integration, undertaken through its subsidiary, has strengthened operational control and contributed to product portfolio diversification beyond core handset distribution. Ongoing capacity expansion through the development of a large-scale manufacturing facility at Sundar is expected to further enhance production capabilities and support future growth, including potential export orientation. The phased migration of key production lines and continued collaboration with principal brands indicate a strategy focused on scaling localized manufacturing while maintaining alignment with global partners. In parallel, the Group is broadening its presence into additional consumer durable segments (household appliances), leveraging its existing distribution infrastructure. While this diversification is expected to support growth, it is important to note that these product categories operate under different market dynamics compared to the mobile phone segment, with potentially distinct demand patterns, pricing cycles, and inventory turnover. This may necessitate a more tailored framework and could result in a working capital cycle that differs from the Company’s historical experience in the mobile phone segment.

Overall, Airlink’s sustainability as a group is supported by its diversified brand relationships, expanding manufacturing footprint, and established distribution platform. However, execution of ongoing expansion initiatives, effective management of working capital, and the successful commercialization of newer product segments, while managing the operational risks at an acceptable level, will remain key considerations for maintaining financial and operational stability.

Airlink’s working capital requirements are largely driven by inventory needs across its assembly and distribution operations. During FY25, the Company’s average gross working capital days increased to ~67 days (FY24: ~30 days), while net working capital days rose to ~46 days (FY24: ~18 days). The increase primarily reflected inventory buildup to meet demand from the principals for new launches. Although the free cash flow from operations (FCFO) improved to ~PKR 8,839mln in FY25 from PKR 8,578mln in FY24, supported by improved profitability, the interest coverage ratio moderated to 2.7x (FY24: 3.3x) due to higher finance costs amid an elevated interest rate environment. The Company’s debt repayment capacity remained sound, as reflected by a debt payback ratio of 0.4x in both FY25 and FY24. In 1HFY26, working capital intensity deteriorated, with gross and net working capital days lengthened to 107 and 86 days, respectively, primarily driven by a strategic inventory build-up ahead of anticipated new model launches, further compounded by logistical bottlenecks and transit lead-time extensions associated with specific modes of transportation. In 1HFY26, FCFO stood at ~PKR 5,750mln, while interest coverage improved to 3.3x, indicating strengthened cash flow generation and improved capacity to service financial obligations. In 1HFY26, total debt slightly reduced to ~PKR 30.9bln, with the leverage ratio easing to ~63.6% by December 2025 (FY25: ~64.7%), supported by partial debt repayments and improved internal cash generation. To support current demand and expansionary activities, the Company’s working capital requirements are expected to be met through the existing sukuks and the new issuance. In parallel, the Company has successfully secured a syndicated long-term facility of PKR 4,764 million for its new project at Sundar Green Special Economic Zone (SGSEZ), with the mobile phone line now ready-for-service (RFS). This new facility has been partially financed through a previously issued PKR 2.0bln sukuk under Select Technologies Pvt. Limited. The long-term facility will be structured into two term finance certificates (TFCs), PKR 1,464mln under Airlink and PKR 3,300 million under Select, to optimize fund allocation and align with project financing requirements. The final terms and modalities of the facility remain under evaluation and could influence the Company’s financial risk profile, including leverage, liquidity, and debt-servicing capacity.

To date, Air Link and its subsidiary, Select, have issued a total of fourteen (14) Sukuks/Instruments, from which currently four Sukuks are available in the market, and the rest have been matured/redeemed. The following table outlines the current status of all matured and active issuances of the Group:

Air Link is set to issue its eleventh-rated, secured, privately-placed, short-term Sukuk-XI of PKR 4,000 million. The Sukuk will carry a markup of 6MK+1.20%, with a tenor of six months. The repayment of principal and markup will be made in a bullet upon maturity. The purpose of the instrument is to finance the Company’s growing working capital requirements. The issue incorporates a built-in call option, enabling the Company, after 30 days from the date of first disbursement, to exercise the option either in full or in part by providing fifteen (15) days’ prior written notice to the Lenders/Financiers. The redemption under the Call Option is intended to be funded through the proceeds of the syndicated financing facility of ~PKR 4,764 million. In the event of any delay in the disbursement of such facility, the Company shall redeem the Instrument in accordance with the terms stipulated in the Term Sheet.

The underlying instrument is secured by a ranking charge over the Company’s current assets.

The Issuer shall maintain and efficiently manage Debt Payment Account (“DPA”) under lien of the Investment Agent whereby the payment equivalent to PKR 1,333 million shall be made on or before 50 days before the maturity date, and subsequently 1/3rd of the remaining amount to be deposited every 15 days thereafter, such that amount equivalent to full issue amount is available in the DPA 05 days before the maturity date.