Lucky Investments clinches AM2+ rating upgrade in record time

August 12, 2025 (MLN): Lucky Investments said its Asset Manager Rating has been upgraded to AM2+ by the Pakistan Credit Rating Agency (PACRA), marking a notable improvement in a short time.

The Karachi-based fund manager said the upgrade reflects strengthened management quality, sound governance, and improved operational capabilities.

“We remain committed to raising our standards and thank our stakeholders and investors for their trust and confidence,” the company said in a statement.

An AM2+ rating, according to PACRA’s scale, indicates high management quality with a strong capacity to deliver consistent performance while maintaining robust risk controls.

Lucky Investments is the latest venture of Lucky Group, which is one of the largest business groups in Pakistan, with a prominent presence in the cement, textile, automobile, chemicals, healthcare and power generation sectors.

Operating as a full-fledged Islamic asset management company, Lucky Investments is fast becoming a premier choice for Shariah-compliant investments, aiming for sustainable growth with integrity and innovation.

Lucky Investments Limited exhibited strong AUM growth, reaching Rs68bn since the launch of its inaugural fund in Apr'25.

The AMC captured a 2% share of the overall AMC market and a more prominent 4% share within the Islamic asset management segment.

Its flagship offering, the Lucky Islamic Money Market Fund, accounts for approximately 85% of the total AUMs of AMC and has been instrumental in attracting a significant number of investor accounts, followed by the Lucky Islamic Stock Fund.

The fund slate in terms of basic offering is complete now. The AMC has acquired the VPS license and is expected to launch its VPS in the first quarter of FY26.

The AMC’s client base currently comprises 86% institutional and 14% retail investors. The management aims to enhance retail participation going forward, aligning with its long-term growth strategy.

The top ten investor concentration would also dilute. Currently, the AMC is engaged with IT Minds, which is fulfilling the fundamental needs and the investor base.

To deepen market penetration and build a strong customer base, the AMC is actively developing innovative digital solutions to enhance client access and engagement. At the end of 3QFY25, profit after tax of AMC stood at Rs20m, primarily due to distribution fee income, which is a unique initiative taken by the management.

The equity of the AMC stood at Rs508m at the end of 3QFY25, including a capital injection of Rs250m by the sponsors at the time of acquisition.

The sponsors have instituted a sound governance framework, where their own presence on the Board and Committees lends much needed and desired confidence in the AMC.

The AMC is benefiting from their relationships across the corporate and financial spectrum of the economy. The rating also gets support from the experienced management team.

They are well entrenched in the market and known for their previous track record of success. The focus of the management is to lay a strong foundation, which will play a fundamental role in the future performance of the entity.

Many of the actions that the management has taken reflect their aptitude towards professionalism, higher industry standards and innovation. This is unlocking sustained growth for the AMC.

The AMC had a Positive Outlook on the rating. The rating upgrade is underpinned by several key factors, including fast pace growth, enrichment of the product slate, improving diversity in the investor base, progress on the digital front, sustained fund performance, strategic branch expansion, and strengthening profitability.

Lucky Investments Limited holds licenses from the SECP to operate as a Non-Banking Finance Company (NBFC), authorized to provide both asset management and investment advisory services. It has acquired the license for Pension Fund Manager.

Currently, the AMC is owned (70%) by YB Pakistan, while the remaining 30% is held by Mr. Muhammad Shoaib, CFA who is a seasoned professional with over 35 years of capital markets experience.

The seven member Board of the AMC is chaired by Mr. Muhammad Ali Tabba, who is well known in the market for his towering successes as an entrepreneur and businessman.

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