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The Pakistan Credit Rating Agency Limited
Press Release

Date
10-Nov-22

Analyst
Faiqa Qamar
faiqa.qamar@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 Upgrades Entity Ratings of Fazal Holdings (Pvt.) Limited

Rating Type Entity
Current
(10-Nov-22 )
Previous
(22-Nov-21 )
Action Upgrade Maintain
Long Term A+ A
Short Term A1 A1
Outlook Stable Stable
Rating Watch - -

Fazal Holdings (Pvt.) Limited ('Fazal Holdings' or 'the Company') is a holding company for Fazal Group. Herein “Group means members of the family without reference to any law of Pakistan”. Its investment portfolio comprises a combination of strategic investments (long-term investments in subsidiaries and associates) and a trading portfolio (with short to medium-term time horizon). The ratings reflect the diverse nature and profitability of the strategic portfolio and strong support from sponsors. Trading portfolio comprises listed scrips spread across diverse sectors of the economy. Fazal Holdings drives its revenue mainly from dividend income and capital gains, along with a share of profit from associates. The dividend stream witnessed a dip during FY22 owing to current economic challenges. However, the share of profit from associates posted an improved trajectory supported by their strong financial performance. This led the Company to increase its stake in some of its related companies. The marketability/liquidity element of the portfolio constitutes majorly of trading investments with a market value of PKR 6bln, providing a cushion to generate liquidity. The Company has designed a conservative investment policy in accordance with the Company's equity. This helps the Company to absorb the effects of volatility in the stock market to an extent and keep financial risk manageable. Investment decisions are mainly led by Mr. Rehman Naseem with assistance from resources within Fazal Group and certain research/brokerage houses. Herein, the institutionalization of investment policies would be beneficial. Continued sponsor support remains a key rating factor.
Ratings are dependent on the management's initiative to strengthen investment decision making process and performance monitoring mechanism of underlying portfolio. This would facilitate Fazal Holdings assimilation into an effective holding company. At the same time, adhering to agreed financial matrix and keeping debt coverages at adequate level remains critical.

About the Entity
Fazal Holdings is a private limited company and is engaged in making short-term investments in quoted and un-quoted securities (trading portfolio), long-term (strategic investments), and purchasing an investment property for agricultural and rental purposes. The Company was established in April-95 with the name of Amir Fine Exports (Private) Limited and was engaged in the trading of yarn, cloth, and securities. In 2016, the Company’s name was changed to Fazal Holdings (Pvt.) Limited. Mr. Rehman Naseem (~47.3%). Mr. Aamir Naseem Sheikh’s family owns a stake of ~47.3%; through his sons, Mr. Yousaf Aamir and Mr. Abdullah Aamir, owning ~22% each, in the Company. While remaining shareholding resides with Mr. Sheikh Naseem (~2.5%) and Mrs. Nighat Naseem ( ~3%).

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.