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The Pakistan Credit Rating Agency Limited
Press Release

Date
13-Sep-24

Analyst
Hassaan Ahmad
Hassaan.Ahmad@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 to NBP Government Securities Plan - IV

Rating Type Stability Rating
Current
(13-Sep-24 )
Previous
(13-Mar-24 )
Action Maintain Initial
Long Term AA(f) AA(f)
Short Term - -
Outlook Stable Stable
Rating Watch - -

NBP Government Securities Fund is a low-risk profile open-ended Fund. The objective of the NBP Government Securities Fund is to provide attractive returns by investing primarily in Government Securities. Allocation plan(s) launched by the NBP Fund Management Limited under this Fund may be perpetual or may have fixed maturity. NBP Government Securities Plan I, II, III, IV, V and VI come under the umbrella of this Fund. NBP Government Securities Plan I, III and V were matured. The plan II, IV and VI are invest in authorized avenues to meet investment objectives.
NBP Government Securities Plan - IV was launched in May'23. The plan, in line with its investment objective, is invest in the authorized investment avenues i.e. Government Securities, cash in banks excluding term deposit certificates and near cash instrument like T-Bills. The size of this plan is PKR 4,431mln as of Jun-24. The Fund had invested ~76.7% in T-Bills, 4.6% of cash in AA- and above-rated banks, and ~13.9% in PIBs as of Jun'24. The WAM of the Plan stood at 445 days at the end of Jun’24, exposing the Fund to high credit rate risk. However, since the investment is in Government Securities, the credit risk is at a manageable level. The duration of the Plan stood at 365 days at the end of Jun’24, exposing the Fund to interest rate risk The unit holding pattern of top ten investor concentration of the plan was ~61.04%, exposing the Plan to high redemption pressure risk. However, sound liquidity is reducing the redemption pressure.
Going forward, any material changes in the investment policy or the devised rating criteria for the assigned rating would have an impact on the ratings.

About the Entity
NBP Fund Management Limited (or the "Company"), established in 2005, is licensed by Securities and Exchange Commission (SECP) to carry out asset management and investment advisory business. National Bank of Pakistan is the largest shareholder of the company with a stake of ~54%. In 2019, Baltoro Growth Fund has acquired the entire 36% stake of Alexandra Fund Management Private Limited in the Company. Baltoro Capital is a Pakistan focused private equity firm. Baltoro Capital has made investments in the pharmaceutical, renewable energy and financial services sectors in Pakistan. It is actively deploying its funds in businesses positioned to achieve extraordinary growth. The CEO of NBP Fund Management Limited, Dr. Amjad Waheed, CFA.
The Company’s nine-member Board of Directors includes three independent directors and the CEO. With overall assets under management of PKR ~346bln at end-Jun'24, the Company is currently managing a diversified fund slate of twenty-six open-end mutual funds, four voluntary pension schemes and one Exchange Traded Fund.

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.