MIRA INFORM REPORT

 

 

Report Date :

6th November 2006

 

IDENTIFICATION DETAILS

 

Name :

WOOLWORTHS (PTY) LTD

 

 

Registered Office :

P O Box 680

CAPE TOWN

8000

 

 

Country :

South Africa

 

 

Date of Incorporation :

6 March 1956

 

 

Legal Form :

Private Limited Liability Company

 

 

Line of Business :

Retailers of clothing, home ware and food in South Africa.

 

RATING & COMMENTS

 

MIRA’s Rating :

Ba

 

RATING

STATUS

PROPOSED CREDIT LINE

41-55

Ba

Overall operation is considered normal. Capable to meet normal commitments.

Satisfactory

 

Status :

Satisfactory

 

 

Payment Behaviour :

Regular

 

 

Litigation :

Clear

 

 


 

COMPANY NAME

 

WOOLWORTHS (PTY) LTD

 

 

TRADING NAME

 

WOOLWORTHS INTERNATIONAL SA (PTY) LTD (agency company)

 

 

PHYSICAL ADDRESS

 

Woolworths House

93 Longmarket Street

CAPE TOWN

Western Cape

 

 

POSTAL ADDRESS

 

P O Box 680

CAPE TOWN

8000

 

 

TELEPHONE NUMBER: 021 407 9111

 

FAX NUMBER:                          021 407 3924

 

 

SHAREHOLDERS

 

100%    WOOLWORTHS HOLDINGS LIMITED (Registration Certificate Number:  1929/001986/06).  Quoted on the JSE LTD.

 

 

ASSOCIATE COMPANIES

 

WOOLWORTHS CLAREMONT SHARE BLOCK (PTY) LTD (property owning company)

COUNTRY ROAD LTD – quoted on the Australian Stock Exchange.

 

 

Subsidiary Companies

 

WOOLWORTHS (LESOTHO) (PTY) LTD (dormant)

WOOLWORTHS (SWAZILAND) (PTY) LTD  (dormant)

WOOLWORTHS (NAMIBIA) (PTY) LTD (dormant)

WOOLWORTHS INTERNATIONAL SA (PTY) LTD which has an agency agreement with WOOLWORTHS (PTY) LTD

WOOLWORTHS PHARMACEUTICALS (PTY) LTD

WOOLWORTHS FINANCIAL SERVICES (PTY) LTD

VIRTUAL MARKET PLACE (PTY) LTD

 

Plus other companies within the WOOLWORTHS group.

 

 

DIRECTORS

 

S N SUSMAN (Chairman & Chief Executive Officer)

MS. Z RYLANDS (alt)

R J  D INSKIP

R F BUTT

K J STANDFORD

N W THOMSON

 

 

BANKERS

 

STANDARD BANK, Adderley Street, Cape Town is the main account of the subject, while the Woolworths’ branches deal with Standard Bank throughout South Africa.

 

It was stated that the branches are managed by a cash management scheme controlled by the subject.

 

 

DATE REGISTERED

 

6 March 1956

Registration certificate number 1956/000518/07

 

On investigation it was established that the subject changed its name and entity in October 1997 from WOOLWORTHS’ HOLDINGS (PTY) LTD. A dormant company was utilised and WOOLWORTHS HOLDINGS LTD commenced in 1997.

 

 

MAJOR OPERATION

 

The subject is one of the largest retailers of clothing, homeware and food in South Africa.

 

 

MAJOR SUPPLIERS

 

The subject imports most of its supplies and deals locally with:

 

DAIRYBELLE CORPORATION  Cape Town

BIBETTE  Cape Town

MASTERSPORTS  Cape Town

CAPE UNDERWEAR  Cape Town

 

 

MAJOR CUSTOMERS OR BUSINESS SECTORS

 

The general public

 

 

AREA OF DISTRIBUTION AND SELLING

 

South Africa

 

 

EXPORTS

 

The subject has franchise outlets in Africa and the Middle East.

 

 

TOTAL EMPLOYEES

 

16 337 in the group.

 

OTHER PREMISES

 

The subject is reported to have approx. 200 retail stores nationwide.

 

 

OWNED OR LEASED

 

The heading premises are owned by a group company, while some of the branch premises are leased and some are owned.

 

 

AUTHORISED SHARE CAPITAL

 

R200 divided into 100 ordinary R2 shares.

 

 

ISSUED SHARE CAPITAL

 

R200

 

Full financial information was not forthcoming from respondents at the company, however, please see historical information dated June 2004:

 

STOCK                                                               R   380 343 000

DEBTORS                                                          R1 899 651 000

FIXED ASSETS                         nett book value R   810 016 000

CREDITORS                                                      R   892 982 000

SHAREHOLDERS LOANS                                 R   906 446 000

TURNOVER                              per annum        R8 503 197 000

 

 

AUDITORS

 

ERNST & YOUNG Cape Town and SAB & T INC.

 

 

FINANCIAL YEAR END

 

JUNE

 

 

INSURANCE BROKERS

 

UNISON RISK MANAGEMENT

 

 

TRADE REFERENCES

 

ACCOUNT         HIGHEST          AVERAGE        TERMS             PAYMENT        EXPERIENCE

OPENED          CREDIT CREDIT                         PATTERN

 

1.         1994                 R15 000            R10 000            30 days             30 days             Very good

 

2.         Old acc.            R10 mill            R10 mill            7 days              7 days              Excellent

 

3.         5 yrs+               do not disclose figures                30 days             30 days             Very good

 

 

COMMENTS

 

This is a well-established and well-connected company meeting its commitments timeously.  The subject is considered equal to US$1 000 000 DA.

 


 

RATING EXPLANATIONS

 

 

RATING

STATUS

PROPOSED CREDIT LINE

>86

Aaa

Possesses an extremely sound financial base with the strongest capability for timely payment of interest and principal sums

Unlimited

71-85

Aa

Possesses adequate working capital. No caution needed for credit transaction. It has above average (strong) capability for payment of interest and principal sums

Large

56-70

A

Financial & operational base are regarded healthy. General unfavourable factors will not cause fatal effect. Satisfactory capability for payment of interest and principal sums

Fairly Large

41-55

Ba

Overall operation is considered normal. Capable to meet normal commitments.

Satisfactory

26-40

B

Unfavourable & favourable factors carry similar weight in credit consideration. Capability to overcome financial difficulties seems comparatively below average/normal.

Small

11-25

Ca

Adverse factors are apparent. Repayment of interest and principal sums in default or expected to be in default upon maturity

Limited with full security

<10

C

Absolute credit risk exists. Caution needed to be exercised

Credit not recommended

NR

In view of the lack of information, we have no basis upon which to recommend credit dealings

No Rating

 

 

 

PRIVATE & CONFIDENTIAL : This information is provided to you at your request, you having employed MIPL for such purpose. You will use the information as aid only in determining the propriety of giving credit and generally as an aid to your business and for no other purpose. You will hold the information in strict confidence, and shall not reveal it or make it known to the subject persons, firms or corporations or to any other. MIPL does not warrant the correctness of the information as you hold it free of any liability whatsoever. You will be liable to and indemnify MIPL for any loss, damage or expense, occasioned by your breach or non observance of any one, or more of these conditions