Some of the major benefits of investing in a mutual fund are:

• Diversification
• Professional management
• Liquidity
• Affordability
• Convenience
• Return Potential
• Transparency
• Choice of Schemes
• Well regulated

Mutual Funds are operated by ABL Funds are licensed by the regulator to do so after meeting a range of requirements. An asset management company on behalf of the fund, collects money from many investors and invests it in various investment avenues like shares, bonds, etc.

A Mutual Fund is set up under a Trust structure with a 3rd Party entity designated as the Trustee. All investments made by the fund, its bank accounts, all transactions are, in fact, managed by the Trustee at the advice of the AMC. The Trustee is obligated to follow the instructions of the AMC, as long as these instructions do not violate the “Trust Deed” which is a legal agreement signed by the AMC and the Trustee that governs the operating framework of the Trust (i.e. the mutual fund).

This fund is managed by professionals who understand the market well, and try to achieve the fund’s investment objective by taking sound investment decisions on behalf of the fund. Investors get units of the mutual fund according to the amount they have invested and the return from investment gets reflected in the price of their units.

In Pakistan, Non-Banking Finance Companies (like AMCs, Insurance Companies, Investment Banks etc) are regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan, which has been empowered by an Act of Parliament to perform this regulatory function. The SECP is responsible for protecting the customers’ interest by setting rules under which AMCs and Mutual Funds operate, as well as stringently reviewing AMCs and Mutual Funds consistently to ensure that all the rules are being complied with.

SECP has provided elaborate investment guidelines and require thorough reporting by AMCs to ensure prudent functioning of mutual funds. It stipulates how investors’ money should be invested and also how these investments are to be valued on an ongoing basis. For more details Click Here.

Mutual Funds Association of Pakistan (MUFAP), a trade body of mutual funds also involves itself in devising compliance and best practices guidelines in the industry to ensure professional ethics.

Incorporated in 2007, ABL Asset Management Company Limited (ABL Funds) is registered as a Non-Banking Finance Company (NBFC) licensed by the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) to provide Asset Management and Investment Advisory services within a legal framework of the prevailing Non-Banking Finance Companies (Establishment and Regulation) Rules, 2003 and the Non-Banking Finance Companies and Notified Entities Regulations, 2008.

As an Investment Adviser, we are authorized to manage discretionary and non-discretionary portfolios for its clients. ABL Asset Management is also licensed as a Pension Fund Manager under Voluntary Pension System Rules, 2005.

ABL Funds has been rated ‘AM1’ by PACRA which denotes 'Highest Asset Manager Rating' and is the only AMC to have acquired ISO 27001 certification.

Mutual funds differ in terms of investment objectives, strategies, risks and costs. When choosing a mutual fund the following should be considered:

• Risk profile
• Fees and expenses
• Investment Objective
• Time Horizon
• Tax consequences
• Past performance of the AMC/fund

As per SECP, the categorization of the open-end Collective Investment Schemes (CIS) made on the basis of investment parameters including eligible asset classes with pre-specified risk profile is imperative to enable the investors to make informed decision and to bring uniformity in the mutual funds industry for comparing performance of various open-end CIS.

In this regard CIS can be classified as following:

Equity Scheme, Balanced Scheme, Asset Allocation Scheme, Fund of Fund Scheme, Shariah Compliant Schemes, Capital Protected Scheme, Index Tracker Scheme, Money Market Scheme, Income Scheme and Aggressive Fixed Income Scheme

An audit is conducted by the Shariah Advisor to ensure compliance with Islamic Shariah principles.

Islamic funds are different from conventional funds in following ways:

Presence and careful monitoring by the Shariah Board

It is ensured that all aspects of the Shariah are adhered to before, during and after an investment is carried out in a Shariah Compliant manner.

Well defined and Specific Investment Avenues

Investment avenues are limited to those that comply with the Shariah

Charity and Purification

Any investment/financing that is deemed to have an element of Riba becomes liable for Purification and has to be given away as charity

Asset Ownership

The ownership of an asset lies with the party that provides financing and bears the risk e.g. financing by a bank, and assumption of all the risk (non recovery, etc) associated with it.

Permissible transactions

Transactions have to be conducted according to the Shariah, e.g. no short sales

Islamic Investment in only Shariah Compliant Avenues

For Islamic mutual funds and other Islamic Investors, investment can only be made in those securities (equity, debt, etc) which comply with well-defined screening ratios

It is a saving mechanism where an individual saves from his/her current income in order to retain financial security and comfort in terms of regular income after retirement.

To build a pension fund in proper manner, one should have to first determine the amount required on a monthly basis after the time of retirement. In addition, one will have to work out how much will he/she need to set aside on a monthly basis to come with a lump sum amount large enough to create an annuity, which provides a desirable monthly income after retirement.

ABL Pension Funds are comprised of three sub-funds each:

• Equity Sub Fund
• Debt Sub Fund
• Money Market Sub Fund

Based on the sub funds, ABL Pension Funds offers distinctive allocation schemes as per the financial goals and risk appetite of the investor:

• High Volatility
• Medium Volatility
• Low Volatility
• Lower Volatility
• Customized Allocation Scheme

Contributions in pension funds are invested in various instruments to earn returns and create wealth over the entire work life of the participant in accordance with the investment policy. One can invest money regularly or make lump-sum payments.

The payments will be invested in the particular allocation scheme chosen with the aim of growing individual pension account. The most important thing is being secure and independent even when the regular sources of income have exhausted. Contributions in pension funds are available for tax credit and return on the same are also tax free.

All his investment will be redeemed and same will be available to the nominated survivors with the following options:

• Withdraw his share of the amount subject to the conditions laid down in the Income Tax Ordinance 2001;
• Transfer his/her share of the amount into his existing or new individual pension account to be opened with the Pension Fund manager,

Use his/her share of the amount to purchase an annuity on his life from a Life Insurance Company, only-if his/her age is fifty- five years or more; or

Use his/her share of the amount to purchase a deferred annuity on his life from a Life Insurance Company to commence at age fifty five years or later

In case of disability before retirement, the person will be treated as retired and will get all the benefits as on retirement, in case of disability.

• On retirement you can withdraw up to 50% of the accumulated balance free of tax.
• The balance amount can be used to invest in an approved Income Payment Plan from pension fund manager.
• You can choose to redeem before retirement however; the withdrawal will be subject to income tax.

Assets of the fund – Liabilities of the fund / Number of outstanding units for that fund

Investing with us is a simple process for both individual and institutional investors. You can fill out the Account Opening Form & Investment Application Form or complete the appropriate application in case of Redemption, Conversion or Transfer of Units.

Please ensure to include a legible photocopy of your NIC, NICOP/Passport, Job/Business Proof, Zakat Exemption Declaration (Individuals) and other required documents in case of corporate investors.

The cheque will be made in favor of Central Depository Company (Trustee)/ Digital Custodian Company Limited. The form along with the investment/contribution instrument will be sent to ABL Asset Management Co. Ltd. Head of Operations, 48 Block L, Phase 6 DHA Lahore.

For more details Click Here.

You can withdraw money from your account at any time. You have the option to withdraw the complete amount or a specific amount based on your requirements.

Make this transaction through IVR

Make this transaction online with Online Services Portal

Or you can fill out the Redemption of Units Form. To download click here.

You can move money from a scheme that you are currently invested in to any of the other schemes that we offer. This is called a conversion transaction.

Make this transaction online with Online –Online Services Portal

Or you can fill out the Fund to Fund Transfer Form. To download click here.

Investing in SIP offers two major benefits:

• You can start investing with a small amount
• You can average out your investment, as SIP involves buying units at different points of time and at different NAV levels