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The Pakistan Credit Rating Agency Limited
Press Release

Date
17-Apr-20

Analyst
Madiha Sohail
madiha.sohail@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 Atlas Money Market Fund

Rating Type Stability Rating
Current
(17-Apr-20 )
Previous
(17-Oct-19 )
Action Maintain Upgrade
Long Term AA+(f) AA+(f)
Short Term - -
Outlook Stable Stable
Rating Watch - -

The rating reflects the fund's low risk profile emanating from the fund's investment objective to invest in avenues rated 'AA' and above. At end Dec'19, asset allocation of the fund consisted of ~74% investments in Cash placements. The investments were placed in Banks rated AA+ and above. The portfolio duration of the fund represents very low exposure towards interest rate volatility. The exposure in T-Bills was taken in order to diversify the revenue stream. The fund's unit holding pattern remains moderately concentrated with the top 10 investors comprising ~79% of the fund's net assets at end Dec'19.
Going forward, the fund intends to increase its exposure in T-Bills whilst the remaining assets will be invested as cash placements. 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
Atlas Asset Management Limited, incorporated in August 2002 and a part of Atlas Group, is a wholly owned (100%) subsidiary of Shirazi Investments (Pvt.) Limited - the holding company of the Group. Atlas Group, established in 1962, is one of the well-known business groups of the Country with a presence in manufacturing, financial, and trading sectors.

AAML's seven-member board of directors comprises four representatives of Atlas Group, two independent directors and the CEO. The CEO of the Company, Mr. Muhammad Abdul Samad, has completed the Advanced Management Programme from INSEAD and holds postgraduate qualifications from the University of Karachi and the Southeastern University and holds certification from IFMP. He has been associated with the Company for over twelve years and held C-Suite positions for over a decade. He has vast experience of the mutual fund industry. The Company is currently managing four conventional and four shariah compliant funds, along with two in the VPS category. The assets under management stood at ~PKR 30.9bln at end Dec’19.

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.