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The Pakistan Credit Rating Agency Limited
Press Release

Date
20-Jun-19

Analyst
Shahzaib Khalid
shahzaib.khalid@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 Broker Management Rating of Arif Habib Limited

Rating Type Broker Management
Current
(20-Jun-19 )
Previous
(20-Dec-18 )
Action Maintain Maintain
Long Term BMR1 BMR1
Short Term - -
Outlook Stable Stable
Rating Watch - -

The Rating reflects the company’s very strong ownership profile and sponsor’s business acumen. The rating incorporates the company’s ability to retain its market share in lackluster equity market volumes. The leading position of the company in the country’s brokerage industry emanates from an established franchise, longstanding relationship with a diverse customer base and strong market share. This is underpinned by its well-developed transactions execution and monitoring system, acclaimed research, strong control environment and governance framework. The Company offers various value-added services to its clients including an online trading terminal, research portal, and mobile app. A strong IT infrastructure emplaced under the proper guidance of IT steering committee ensures uniform efficiency.

In addition to brokerage, AHL enjoys a distinct position in investment banking and advisory domain in Pakistan. This provides deeper penetration into client base. AHL has exposure to market risk due to its proprietary trading book. Related risks are managed through well-defined investment policy. Liquidity risk is supported by a firm commitment from the sponsor as well as the availability of banking lines of PKR ~4.7bln. In line with the capital market dynamics and lower trading volumes, AHL's profit margins have witnessed significant volatility.
The rating is dependent on upholding strong control and governance framework and continuous update of client servicing tools. Careful monitoring of risks, mainly market and liquidity risks and conflict of interest emanating from investment activities is crucial. The relatively constrained volumes in the market suppressed the profitability and managing any further contraction might be challenging.

About the Entity
Arif Habib Limited is a financial services company, subsidiary of Arif Habib Corporation, listed on Pakistan Stock Exchange. The company is engaged in equity trading, equity research, money market, forex, and commodities trading and has a very strong brand name. AHL also provides investment banking & advisory services to a large scale of clientele. AHL operates from three branches, including the Head office based in Karachi, Pakistan.

Arif Habib Corporation (AHC) owns 65.52% stake in AHL, while rest is owned by the general public (28.86%), banks and mutual funds (3.7%) and others. AHCL is the holding company of Arif Habib group. It has interest in fertilizer, power, cement, real estate, and financial segment. AHL has a well-composed board. It has seven members including the CEO Mr. Muhammad Shahid Ali. Two members are independent and four are non-executive. Board quarterly reviews overall performance of the company.

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.