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The Pakistan Credit Rating Agency Limited
Press Release

Date
08-Sep-23

Analyst
Wajeeha Asghar
wajeeha.asghar@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 Lakson Islamic Money Market Fund

Rating Type Stability Rating
Current
(08-Sep-23 )
Previous
(27-Jun-23 )
Action Maintain Maintain
Long Term AA(f) AA(f)
Short Term - -
Outlook Stable Stable
Rating Watch - -

Lakson Islamic Money Market Fund (or the "Fund") reflects the low risk profile Fund. The objective of the fund is to provide stable and competitive shariah compliant returns with low volatility that are in line with the shariah compliant money markets and consistent with capital preservation. Accordingly, the fund consists of a liquid portfolio of low risk, short-term investments. The assigned rating rating reflects the Fund's low credit risk profile emanating from the Fund's investment policy to invest in strong credit quality investment avenues with sound liquidity. The AUMs of the Fund stood at PKR 3,988mln at the end Jun’23 (Dec’22: PKR 1,599mln). The allocation of the Fund as of Jun'23 was ~95% cash in bank of which ~65% invested in AA rated bank while remaining ~30% in AAA rated bank. However, ~4% allocation placed in corporate sukuks rated AA and ~1% are placed in others various avenues. The duration and the WAM of the Fund stood at 3-days, limiting the exposure to interest rate and credit risk. The unit holding pattern stood at ~95% representing top 10 investors concentration.
Going forward, any material changes in the investment policy or the devised rating criteria for the assigned rating would have an impact on the rating.

About the Entity
Lakson Investments Limited, the investment management company of the Lakson Group, was incorporated on January 02, 2009, as an unlisted public company. It is licensed to undertake Asset Management, Investment Advisory and Private Fund Management services. Lakson Investments is the only AMC, which offers exposure to international markets through Lakson Asset Allocation Developed Markets Fund. The Company is also managing a private equity and venture capital fund along with mutual funds and SMA products. Mr. Babar Ali Lakhani, CEO of the company, over 23 years of investment and portfolio management experience in domestic and international equity and fixed income markets. The company’s control vests in a four-member board. The Chairman of the Lakson Group, Mr. Iqbal Ali Lakhani, is the chairman of Lakson Investment’s board. The total asset under management of the company stood at ~125bln at the end Jun'23

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.