MIRA INFORM REPORT

 

 

Report Date :

08.10.2007

 

IDENTIFICATION DETAILS

 

Name :

KOHLER CO

 

 

Registered Office :

7 Jurong Pier Road, Singapore 619159

 

 

Country :

Singapore

 

 

Financials (as on) :

31.12.2005

 

 

Date of Incorporation :

30/03/1978

 

 

Com. Reg. No.:

F 02703G  

 

 

Legal Form :

Foreign Company    

 

 

Line of Business :

Manufacture, Sales and Distribution of Generators and related parts

 

 

RATING & COMMENTS

 

MIRA’s Rating :

Ca

 

RATING

STATUS

PROPOSED CREDIT LINE

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

 

Status :

Moderate

 

 

Payment Behaviour :

Unknown

 

 

Litigation :

--

 

 


Subject Company   

 

KOHLER CO

 

 

Line Of Business

 

MANUFACTURE, SALES AND DISTRIBUTION OF GENERATORS AND RELATED PARTS DESIGNED TO MEET THE SPECIFICATIONS OF THE ASIA PACIFIC, EUROPEAN, MIDDLE EASTERN AND AFRICAN REGIONS.

 

 

Parent Company    

 

--

 

 

Financial Elements

 

                                       FY2005

                                          BRANCH

Sales                            :  US$29,822,865

Networth                                   : -US$23,634,846

Paid-Up Capital                                              :  NA

Net result                      :  US$  1,942,856

 

Net Margin(%)               :  6.51

Return on Equity(%)       : -8.22

Leverage Ratio               : -1.77 TIMES

 

 

Rating

 

Credit Rating : Up to Sing $ 1000

 

 

 


COMPANY IDENTIFICATION

 

Subject Company                   : KOHLER CO

Former Name                                                 : -

Business Address                  : 7 JURONG PIER ROAD

Town                                                               : SINGAPORE                                                                      

Postcode                                 : 619159

County                                                             : -

Country                                                           : Singapore

Telephone                               : 6264 6422  

Fax                                                                  : 6264 6455

ROC Number                                                 : F 02703G  

Reg. Town               : -

 

 

SUMMARY

 

All amounts in this report are in                    :  USD

Legal Form                                                     : Foreign Company    

Date Inc.                                                         : 30/03/1978

Previous Legal Form                                     : -

Summary year                                                                         : 31/12/2005    

Sales                                                                                       : 29,822,865     

Net Worth                                                       : -23,634,846  

Paid-Up Capital                                                                     : 64,211,277  

Employees                                                      : 60                                                                 

Net Result                                                      : 1,942,856  

Auditor                                                                                    : NIL

 

 

REFERENCES

 

Litigation                                                         : No

Company status                                              : TRADING                           

Started                                                                                    : 30/03/1978

 

 

PRINCIPAL(S)

 

No principals recorded in our Database

 

 

DIRECTOR(S)

 

LIM OON TEIK EUGENE                                                     S1301334I      Agent

Appointed on   : 30/10/1996

Street                                      : 132 HILLCREST ROAD

                           HILLCREST PARK

Town                                       : SINGAPORE

Postcode         : 289002

Country                                   : Singapore

 

WILLIAM C. FOOTE                                                                                     213417635      Director

Appointed on   : 24/04/2003

Street                                      : 1012 HAWTHORNE LANE

                           GENEVA, IL 60134

Town                                       : -

Postcode         : -

Country                                   : United States

 

JEFFREY L. BLEUSTEIN                                                    025723017      Director

Appointed on   : 24/04/2003

Street                                      : 7417 ORANGEWOOD LANE

                           BOCA RATON, FL 33433

Town                                       : -

Postcode         : -

Country                                   : United States

 

LEE KHENG GUAN PATRICK                                            S0143924C      Agent

Appointed on   : 30/09/2003

Street                                      : 97 CASHEW ROAD

                           #09-06

                           CASHEW HEIGHTS CONDOMINIUM

Town                                       : SINGAPORE

Postcode         : 679668

Country                                   : Singapore

 

LAURA E. KOHLER                                                              026045481      Director

Appointed on   : 29/04/1999

Street                                      : 722 TREEHOUSE LANE KOHLER

Town                                       : WI

Postcode         : 53044

Country                                   : United States

 

K. DAVID KOHLER                                                                                       026073452      Director

Appointed on   : 29/04/1999

Street                                      : 1112 WEST RIVERSIDE DRIVE

                           KOHLER, WI 53044

Town                                       : -

Postcode         : -

Country                                   : United States

 

JEFFREY A. JOERRES                                                       027449346      Director

Appointed on   : 21/10/2005

Street                                      : 10295 NORTH RANGE LINE

                           COURT MEQUON

Town                                       : WI 53092

Postcode         : -

Country                                   : United States

 

NATALIE A. BLACK                                                                                      28519984       Director

Appointed on   : 24/04/1987

Street                                      : 9934 WEEKS LANE, OOSTBURG

                           WI 53070

Town                                       : WISCONSIN

Postcode         : -

Country                                   : United States

 

EDWARD H. HARDISON                                                    401267879      Director

Appointed on   : 29/04/1999

Street                                      : 1300 SCOTLAND AVE

                           CHARLOTTE

Town                                       : NC 28207

Postcode         : -

Country                                   : United States

 

JOHN M KOHLER, JR                                                         45102207       Director

Appointed on   : 01/03/1968

Street                                      : 104 FIRETHORN LANE

                           SPARTANBURG

Town                                       : SC29304

Postcode         : -

Country                                   : United States

 

RACHEL D. KOHLER                                                          26484257       Director

Appointed on   : 29/04/1999

Street                                      : 2614 NORTH MILDRED

Town                                       : CHICAGO

Postcode         : IL 60614

Country                                   : United States

 

HERBERT VOLLRATH KOHLER, JR                                28128931       Director

Appointed on   : 01/03/1967

Street                                      : 441 GREEN TREE ROAD

                           KOHLER WI 53044

Town                                       : -

Postcode         : -

Country                                   : United States

 

GLEN H. HINER                                                                                           15520531       Director

Appointed on   : 23/02/2000

Street                                      : 3235 MACOMBER DRIVE

                           P O BOX 1560, PEBBLE BEACH

Town                                       : CALIFORNIA

Postcode         : 93953

Country                                   : United States

 

JEFFREY P. CHENEY                                                         028461447      Director

Appointed on   : 04/05/2006

Street                                      : N6315 NORTH 61ST STREET

                           WI 53083

Town                                       : SHEBOYGAN

Postcode         : -

Country                                   : United States

 

 

FORMER DIRECTOR(S)

 

GERARD ANTHONY CORDEIRO            S0194059G

 

HENRY MOSLEY DYNE                             S0353103A

 

WU CHANG SHENG                               S2120044A

 

RICHARD A WELLS                                     394-34-886

 

 

ACTIVITY (IES)

 

FOUNDRIES - IRON                                   Code: 9580

 

FOUNDRIES - STEEL                                 Code: 9590

 

JANITOR SERVICE                                     Code: 12220

 

BUSINESS SERVICES                                Code: 4

 

BASED ON ACRA'S RECORD AS AT 11/01/2007

 

1) IRON AND STEEL FOUNDARIES, BUSINESS SERVICES

2) BUILDING-CLEANING ACTIVITIES NEC (EG JANITORIAL SERVICE);

 

 

CHARGES

 

No Charges On Premises/Property In Our Database

 

 

PREMISES/PROPERTY INFORMATIONS

                                                                 

Date                                        : 15/01/2007

Tax rate           : 10%  

Site Address   : 7 JURONG PIER ROAD

Town                                       : SINGAPORE

Postcode         : 619159

Country                                   : Singapore

Annual Value  : SGD 620,000  

 

* TAX RATE OF 4% MEANS THE ADDRESS (I.E RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY) IS OWNER OCCUPIED.

* TAX RATE OF 10% MEANS THE ADDRESS (I.E RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY) IS PARTIALLY OR

  FULLY RENTED OUT BY THE OWNER/OWNED BY COMPANY.

* FOR PROPERTIES OTHER THAN RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES REGARDLESS RENTED OUT OR

   NOT, THE TAX RATE IS 10% (I.E INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL PROPERTY).

 

* ANNUAL VALUE IS THE ESTIMATED ANNUAL RENT THE PROPERTY CAN FETCH IF IT WERE

  RENTED OUT. THE ANNUAL VALUE IS DETERMINED IN THE SAME MANNER REGARDLESS OF

  WHETHER THE PROPERTY IS LET-OUT, OWNER-OCCUPIED OR VACANT.

 

 

BANKERS

 

CITIBANK N.A.

 

BANK OF AMERICA NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

 

 

SHAREHOLDERS(S)

 

No Shareholders In Our Database

 

 

SUBSIDIARY (IES)

 

No Participation In Our Database

 

 

PAYMENT HISTORY AND EXPERIENCES

 

Trade Morality                : AVERAGE

Liquidity                        : LACKING

Payments                     : REGULAR

Trend                            : UPWARD

Financial Situation         : BAD

 

 

LITIGATION(S)

 

No Litigation In Our Database

 

 

FINANCIAL ELEMENTS

 

  All amounts in this report are in :    USD

 

  Audit Qualification:        "MILD" UNCERTAINTIES      "MILD" UNCERTAINTIES

 

  Balance Sheet Date:                  31/12/2005                 31/12/2004

  Number of weeks:                             52                         52

  Consolidation Code:                      BRANCH                     BRANCH

 

                                           --- ASSETS ---

   

  Tangible Fixed Assets:                3,329,488                  3,649,016                             

  Total Fixed Assets:                   3,329,488                  3,649,016  

                          

  Inventories:                          4,868,720                  5,269,308                             

  Receivables:                          9,771,090                  5,008,996                             

  Cash,Banks, Securitis:                   63,978                      6,484                              

  Other current assets:                    81,106                     37,228                             

 

  Total Current Assets:                14,784,894                 10,322,016                             

 

  TOTAL ASSETS:                        18,114,382                 13,971,032                             

 

                                          --- LIABILITIES ---

    

  Profit & loss Account:              -23,634,846                 -25,577,702                              

 

  Total Equity:                       -23,634,846                 -25,577,702                              

 

  Trade Creditors:                     12,337,528                   3,460,618                              

  Due to Bank:                            179,808                     424,336                              

  Provisions:                             210,000                      48,354                              

  Other Short term Liab.:              28,688,187                  35,261,695                               

  Prepay. & Def. charges:                 333,705                     353,731                              

 

  Total short term Liab.:              41,749,228                  39,548,734                              

 

  TOTAL LIABILITIES:                   41,749,228                  39,548,734                                

 

 

PROFIT & LOSS ACCOUNT

 

  Net Sales                            29,822,865                  29,485,028 

  Purchases,Sces & Other Goods:        24,854,231                  26,686,028                                                          

  Gross Profit:                         4,968,634                   2,799,000                              

  NET RESULT BEFORE TAX:                1,942,856                   1,438,166                              

  Net income/loss year:                 1,942,856                   1,438,166                              

  Interest Paid:                            1,406                     162,230                               

  Depreciation:                           350,341                     381,608                              

  Wages and Salaries:                   2,711,998                   2,753,593                              

  Financial Income:                           201                         169 

                            

RATIOS

 

                                     31/12/2005                  31/12/2004

  Turnover per employee:                         497047.75                   491417.13                  

  Net result / Turnover(%):                           0.07                        0.05                      

  Fin. Charges / Turnover(%):                         0.00                        0.01                      

  Stock / Turnover(%):                                0.16                        0.18                      

  Net Margin(%):                                      6.51                        4.88                      

  Return on Equity(%):                               -8.22                       -5.62                     

  Return on Assets(%):                               10.73                       10.29                     

  Net Working capital:                    -26964334.00                -29226718.00              

  Quick Ratio:                                        0.24                        0.13                      

  Current ratio:                                      0.35                        0.26                      

  Receivables Turnover:                             117.95                       61.16                     

  Leverage Ratio:                                    -1.77                       -1.55                      

 

  Net Margin : (100*Net income loss year)/Net sales 

  Return on Equity : (100*Net income loss year)/Total equity

  Return on Assets : (100*Net income loss year)/Total fixed assets

  Net Working capital : (Total current assets-Total short term liabilities)

  Quick Ratio : (Cash Bank securities+Receivables)/Total Short term liabilities

  Current ratio : Total current assets/Total short term liabilities

  Inventory Turnover : (360*Inventories)/Net sales 

  Receivables Turnover : (Receivable*360)/Net sales 

  Leverage Ratio : Total liabilities/(Total equity-Intangible assets)

 

 

FINANCIAL COMMENTS

 

THE FINANCIAL CONDITION OF THE BRANCH WAS DEEMED TO BE LIMITED IN VIEW OF THE FOLLOWING:

 

NET WORTH:

THE BALANCE SHEET WAS INADEQUATE WITH CAPITAL DEFICIENCY OF USD23,634,846 (2004: -USD25,577,702) WHICH REPRESENTED THE ACCUMULATED LOSSES BROUGHT FORWARD.

 

LEVERAGE:

THE LEVERAGE RATIO REMAINED UNFAVOURABLE AT -1.77 TIMES (2004: -1.55 TIMES), INDICATING THAT THE BRANCH'S TOTAL LIABILITIES WERE SUBSTANTIAL IN RELATION TO ITS TOTAL EQUITY.

 

IN THE SHORT TERM, TRADE CREDITORS SURGED BY 2.57 TIMES TOTALLING USD12,337,528 (2004: USD3,460,618). OTHER CURRENT LIABILITIES OF USD28,688,187 (2004: USD35,261,695) COMPRISED OF:

 

* HEAD OFFICE - NON-TRADE OF USD28,436,563 (2004: USD35,227,033)

* RELATED COMPANIES - NON-TRADE OF USD251,624 (2004: USD34,662)

 

LIQUIDITY:

THE OVERALL LIQUIDITY OF THE BRANCH WAS UNHEALTHY. BOTH THE QUICK AND CURRENT RATIOS WERE LACKING AT 0.24 TIMES (2004: 0.13 TIMES) AND 0.35 TIMES (2004: 0.26 TIMES) RESPECTIVELY.

 

THIS WAS IN LINE WITH THE NET WORKING CAPITAL, WHICH REGISTERED UNFAVOURABLY AT -USD26,964,334 (2004: -USD29,226,718) AS WELL.

 

PROFITABILITY:

REVENUE FOR FY2005 IMPROVED SLIGHTLY BY 1.15% TOTALLING USD29,822,865 (2004: USD29,485,028). NET INCOME ALSO ROSE BY 35.09%, ACCOUNTING FOR USD1,942,856 (2004: USD1,438,166).

 

AS A RESULT, NET MARGIN STOOD HIGHER AT 6.51% (2004: 4.88%).

 

DEBT SERVICING:

DEBT SERVICING PROBLEMS WERE ANTICIPATED IN VIEW OF THE CAPITAL DEFICIENCY, UNHEALTHY LIQUIDITY AND IF TRADE RECEIVABLES WERE NON-FORTHCOMING.

 

IN ADDITION, AVERAGE COLLECTION PERIOD HAD LENGTHENED TO 118 DAYS (2004: 61 DAYS).

 

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS:

 

GENERAL

THE BRANCH RELIES ON ITS HEAD OFFICE FOR CONTINUING FINANCIAL SUPPORT WHICH WILL BE AVAILABLE AS AND WHEN REQUIRED.

 

COMMITMENTS

AS AT THE END OF THE YEAR, THE BRANCH HAS THE FOLLOWING GUARANTEES GIVEN TO A BANK:

 

* MAJOR EXPORTER SCHEME OF USD128,074 (2004: USD130,505)

* PERFORMANCE GUARANTEES IN RESPECT OF THE BRANCH'S OPERATIONS OF USD353,672

  (2004: USD458,428)

* OTHERS OF USD10,643 (2004: USD12,438)

 

THESE PERFORMANCE GUARANTEES ARE UNSECURED.

 

 

BACKGROUND/OPERATION

 

THE SUBJECT WAS REGISTERED IN THE REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE ON 30/03/1978 AS A FOREIGN BRANCH UNDER THE PRESENT NAMESTYLE OF "KOHLER CO".

 

THE SINGAPORE BRANCH IS A SEGMENT OF KOHLER COMPANY, A COMPANY INCORPORATED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND IS NOT A SEPARATELY INCORPORATED LEGAL ENTITY.

 

AS AT 11/01/2007, SUBJECT HAS AN AUTHORISED CAPITAL OF US$200,000.

 

PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES:

SUBJECT IS REGISTERED WITH THE ACCOUNTING & CORPORATE REGULATORY AUTHORITY (ACRA) TO BE PRINCIPALLY ENGAGED IN THE BUSINESS OF:

 

1) IRON AND STEEL FOUNDARIES, BUSINESS SERVICES

2) BUILDING-CLEANING ACTIVITIES NEC (EG JANITORIAL SERVICE); CONSTRUCTING,

    MANAGING & OPERATING OF EQUIPMENTS

 

DURING THE FINANCIAL YEAR(S), UNDER REVIEW, SUBJECT'S PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES ARE THE MANUFACTURE, SALES AND DISTRIBUTION OF GENERATORS AND RELATED PARTS DESIGNED TO MEET THE SPECIFICATIONS OF THE ASIA PACIFIC, EUROPEAN, MIDDLE EASTERN AND AFRICAN REGIONS.

 

FROM THE RESEARCH CONDUCTED, THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION WAS GATHERED:

                                                                                                                                                                       

SUBJECT IS LISTED IN THE SINGAPORE LOCAL DIRECTORY UNDER THE CLASSIFICATION OF: UNINTERRUPTIBLE POWER SUPPLY.

 

SUBJECT ENGAGES IN THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES:

 

ASIA PACIFIC HEADQUARTERS

* MANUFACTURER OF INDUSTRIAL DIESEL GENERATING SETS (4-2800KW), MARINE DIESEL

  GENERATING SETS (4-100KW), GAS/GASOLINE GENERATING SETS (4-800KW), AUTOMATIC

  TRANSFER SWITCHES (30-4000AMPS) AND GASOLINE ENGINES (4-25HP)

 

SUBJECT'S POWER SYSTEMS SOLUTIONS ARE:

* INDUSTRIAL

* MARINE

* RESIDENTIAL

 

SUBJECT HAS CUSTOMERS AND PARTNERS LOCATED IN CHINA, INDONESIA, AND ELSEWHERE IN ASIA, ENABLING US TO RESPOND VERY QUICKLY WHEN REQUIRED.

 

TRADE NAMES:                  

* KOHLER; INDUSTRIAL/MARINE DIESEL GENERATORS,ETC

 

SUBJECT IS ALSO A MEMBER OF FOLLOWING ENTITIES:

* AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

* SINGAPORE INTERNATIONAL CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE

 

QUALITY ASSESSMENT:

* ISO 9001

 

THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 60 EMPLOYEES IN THE COMPANY.

 

REGISTERED AND BUSINESS ADDRESS :

7 JURONG PIER ROAD

SINGAPORE 619159

DATE OF CHANGE OF ADDRESS : 22/10/1996

-- OWNED PREMISE (185,000 SQUARE FOOT)

-- GENERATOR MANUFACTURING PLANT, DISTRIBUTION CENTER, CUSTOMER TRAINING

    FACILITIES, AND ONE OF THE BIGGEST ADVANCED TESTING  FACILITIES IN ASIA PACIFIC.

 

WEBSITE:

* http://www.kohler.com.sg

 

EMAIL:

* sales@kohler.com.sg

* patrick.lee@kohler.com.sg (LOCAL AGENT - LEE KHENG GUAN PATRICK)

 

 

MANAGEMENT

 

THE DIRECTORS AT THE TIME OF THIS REPORT ARE:

 

1) JEFFREY L. BLEUSTEIN, AN AMERICAN

    - BASED IN AMERICA

 

2) LAURA E. KOHLER, AN AMERICAN

    - BASED IN AMERICA

 

3) K. DAVID KOHLER, AN AMERICAN

    - BASED IN AMERICA

 

4) JEFFREY A. JOERRES, AN AMERICAN

    - BASED IN AMERICA

 

5) JEFFREY P. CHENEY, AN AMERICAN

    - BASED IN AMERICA

 

6) GLEN H. HINER, AN AMERICAN

    - BASED IN AMERICA

 

7) WILLIAM C. FOOTE, AN AMERICAN

    - BASED IN AMERICA

 

8) RACHEL D. KOHLER, AN AMERICAN

    - BASED IN AMERICA

 

9) HERBERT VOLLRATH KOHLER, JR, AN AMERICAN

    - BASED IN AMERICA

 

10) NATALIE A. BLACK, AN AMERICAN

    - BASED IN AMERICA

 

11) EDWARD H. HARDISON, AN AMERICAN

     - BASED IN AMERICA

 

12) JOHN M KOHLER, JR, AN AMERICAN

     - BASED IN AMERICA

 

 

SINGAPORE'S COUNTRY RATING 2006

 

INVESTMENT GRADE

 

IN SINGAPORE, THE POLITICAL SITUATION APPEARS TO BE VERY STABLE.

 

ECONOMIC GROWTH IS BECOMING MORE MODERATE AS INVESTMENT HAS BEEN FLAT DUE TO INCREASING OIL PRICES AND LESS BUOYANT DEMAND FOR ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS.

 

ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE HAS REMAINED STRONG, UNDERPINNED BY PHARMACEUTICALS AND SERVICES. EXPORTS HAS BENEFITED FROM THE STEADINESS OF DEMAND FROM ITS MAIN TRADING PARTNERS, MALAYSIA, THE UNITED STATES, CHINA AND HONG KONG. OTHER THAN ITS BALANCED PUBLIC SECTOR ACCOUNTS, LIMITED FOREIGN DEBT AND COMFORTABLE FOREIGN CURRENCY RESERVES HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO SINGAPORE'S STRONG FINANCIAL CONDITION.

 

AS THE ELECTRONICS SECTOR FACES COMPETITION FROM THE ASIAN ECONOMIES, SINGAPORE HAS BEEN PURSUING DIVERSIFICATION STRATEGY THAT HAS BEEN CONSOLIDATING ITS POSITION. PHARMACEUTICALS ALREADY REPRESENT 10% OF EXPORTS IN COMPARATIVE TO ITS INSIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION IN YEAR 1995. ELECTRONICS SECTOR SECTOR'S SHARE HAS DECLINED FROM 80% TO 60% DURING THE SAME PERIOD. THERE IS HIGH RELIANCE ON DEVELOPMENT OF PETROCHEMICAL PRODUCTS, HIGH VALUE-ADDED SERVICES AND BIOTECHNOLOGIES.

 

ASSETS

    - ONE OF THE MOST OPEN ECONOMIES IN THE WORLD WITH EXPORTS PLAYING A MAJOR

      ROLE IN ITS PERFORMANCE.

    - ONE OF ASIA'S MOST ADVANCED COUNTRIES IN QUALITY COMPETITIVENESS TERMS.

    - WORKFORCE'S EDUCATION AND SKILL LEVEL IS VERY HIGH.

    - A MAJOR EXPORT OF CAPITAL IN ASIA, PARTICULARLY THE STATE-OWNED HOLDING

      COMPANY, TEMASEK.

    - THE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT HAS BEEN VERY FAVOURABLE.

    - GREAT POLITICAL STABILITY.

 

WEAKNESSES

    - ECONOMY REMAINED OVERSPECIALISED IN THE ELECTRONICS SECTOR.

    - MUST ACCELERATE DIVERSIFICATION IN SERVICES TO MAINTAIN ITS LEAD OVER

      OTHER ASIAN ECONOMIES

    - REFORMS ARE STILL NEEDED TO FOSTER INNOVATION AND EDUCATION-SYSTEM

      MODERNIZATION.

    - AGING POPULATION COULD ULTIMATELY AFFECT ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE.

 

 

OVERVIEW OF SINGAPORE

 

PAST PERFORMANCE  

 

SINGAPORE’S ECONOMIC GROWTH MODERATED IN THE SECOND QUARTER TO 7.5% YEAR-ON-YEAR DUE TO A WEAKER MANUFACTURING SECTOR. PRELIMINARY ESTIMATES ISSUED SHOWN GROWTH IN REAL GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT SLOWED FROM A REVISED 10.7% IN THE FIRST QUARTER. ON A QUARTER-ON-QUARTER BASIS, SEASONALLY ADJUSTED ANNUALISED BASIS, GDP GREW 1.1% AFTER A 7% EXPANSION IN THE PREVIOUS QUARTER.

 

THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR IS FORECASTED TO HAVE EXPANDED BY A MORE MODERATE 10.2% IN THE SECOND QUARTER, MAINLY ATTRIBUTED TO LOWER PRODUCTION FROM THE BIOMEDICAL MANUFACTURING CLUSTER. IT FELL BY ABOUT HALF FROM THE 20.2% IN THE FIRST QUARTER BUT HIGHER THAN THE 9.3% REGISTERED FOR THE WHOLE OF 2005. THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR ACCOUNTS FOR ABOUT A THIRD OF SINGAPORE’S ECONOMY WORTH S$194 BILLION.

 

THE KEY ELECTRONICS SECTOR IN MANUFACTURING IS GROWING STRONGLY, AGAINST THE VOLATILE BIOMEDICAL SEGMENT. ELECTRONICS ARE SINGAPORE’S MAIN EXPORT AND THE INDUSTRY ROSE 8.6% YEAR-ON-YEAR IN MAY, BOOSTED BY A 38.9% GROWTH IN THE SEMICONDUCTOR SEGMENT. 

 

THE ACTUAL FIGURES SHOWN THAT THE CONSTRUCTION SECTOR GREW 0.2% IN THE SECOND QUARTER OVER 2Q2005. THIS IS IN CONTRAST WITH A 0.8% DECLINE IN THE TWO PRECEDING QUARTERS AND DECLINES IN THE SIX QUARTERS BEFORE THAT.

 

THE SERVICES SECTOR ACTUALLY ROSE 7% FROM A YEAR EARLIER, SLOWER THAN THE 8.2% IN THE FIRST QUARTER BUT ABOVE THE 6% RECORDED IN 2Q2005. SERVICES INDUSTRIES, WHICH RANGE FROM HOSPITALITY TO TRANSPORT, MADE UP NEARLY TWO-THIRDS OF THE ECONOMY LAST YEAR. THOSE IN FINANCIAL SERVICES, PARTICULARLY BANKERS, FUND MANAGERS AND STOCKBROKERS, REPORTED STRONG GROWTH OF 9.5% FROM THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR AND UP FROM 8.7% IN THE PREVIOUS QUARTER.  

 

WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADE ROSE 10.1% IN THE SECOND QUARTER, AGAINST 15.1% IN THE PREVIOUS QUARTER, AS WHOLESALERS WERE AFFECTED BY A SLOWDOWN IN NON-OIL RE-EXPORTS.

 

HOTELS AND RESTAURANTS GAINED 6.1% IN THE SECOND QUARTER SLOWER THAN 7.1% IN THE LAST QUARTER.

 

ON THE EMPLOYMENT MARKET, MORE JOBS WERE CREATED IN THE SECOND QUARTER BUT UNEMPLOYMENT ROSE TO 2.9% AS MORE PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY TERTIARY GRADUATES, ENTERED THE JOB MARKET. SOME 36,500 MORE JOBS WERE CREATED IN THE SECOND QUARTER, REFLECTING THE CONTINUED GROWTH IN THE ECONOMY. IT BROUGHT THE TOTAL NUMBER OF JOBS CREATED IN THE FIRST HALF OF 2006 TO A RECORD 81,500, WHICH IS ABOUT TWO-THIRDS MORE THAN THE 49,500 REGISTERED IN THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR.

 

THE SERVICE INDUSTRY CONTRIBUTED MOSTLY TO THE JOBS CREATION, ADDING 24,200 JODS, WHILE MANUFACTURING AND CONSTRUCTION POSTED INCREASE OF 8,300 AND 4,000 JOBS RESPECTIVELY.

 

RETRENCHED WORKERS TOTAL 3,100, LOWER THAN THE 3,500 IN THE FIRST QUARTER, BUT HIGHER THAN THE 2,100 IN 2Q2005.

 

AHEAD

 

THE OUTLOOK FOR THE ECONOMY REMAINS POSITIVE, AMID SIGNS OF A SLOWDOWN IN GLOBAL GROWTH. ON 8 AUGUST 2006, PRIME MINISTER LEE HISEN LOONG ANNOUNCED THAT THE SINGAPORE ECONOMY GREW 9.4% IN THE FIRST HALF OF 2005. AS A RESULT, BARRING AN OIL SHOCK, THE FULL YEAR OFFICIAL FORECAST IS BEING RAISED TO BETWEEN 6.5% AND 7.5% FOR 2006, UP FROM THE EARLIER 5 TO 7% RANGE. 

 

IN THE SECOND HALF, MODERATE GROWTH WILL BE REGISTERED IN LINE WITH THE COOLING GLOBAL ECONOMY. BUT SURPRISINGLY, THE COMPOSITE LEADING INDEX (CLI), AN INDICATOR THAT LEADS ECONOMIC ACTIVITY BY ABOUT ONE TO TWO QUARTERS AHEAD, ROSE 1.5% IN ITS FASTEST GROWTH IN OVER TWO YEARS. CLI COMPRISES NINE COMPONENTS SUCH AS MONEY SUPPLY, LIQUIDITY AND STOCK PRICES.

 

THE GLOBAL ENERGY PRICES WILL CONTINUE TO FLUCTUATE WITH THE VIOLENCE IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND POTENTIAL SUPPLY PROBLEMS IN NIGERIA, IRAN AND IRAQ. OTHER RISK FACTORS INCLUDE AN AVIAN FLU OUTBREAK, A SLOWDOWN IN THE UNITED STATES ECONOMY, AND THE UNWINDING OF GLOBAL IMBALANCES SUCH AS THE US TRADE DEFICIT.

 

HOTELS AND RESTAURANTS ARE BANKING ON SEPTEMBER’S INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND/WORLD BANK MEETING TO MAINTAIN THE GROWTH MOMENTUM.

 

THE FINANCIAL SERVICES SECTOR IS HOPEFUL THAT WITH THE PICK-UP IN BUSINESS LOANS, BILLION-DOLLAR HEDGE FUNDS RELOCATING HERE FROM HONG KONG AND STRONG INSURANCE SALES, THE INDUSTRY WILL BE GROWING ROBUSTLY FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR.

 

SLOWER 8.4% GROWTH IN NON-OIL EXPORTS LAST MONTH

 

SINGAPORE’S NON-OIL DOMESTIC EXPORTS (NODX) GREW AT A SLOWER-THAN-EXPECTED 8.4% IN JULY 2006 OVER THE SAME MONTH A YEAR AGO, MAINLY DUE TO WEAKER SHIPMENTS OF ELECTRONICS, PHARMACEUTICALS AND PETROCHEMICALS.

 

ELECTRONICS EXPORTS, WHICH ACCOUNTED FOR SLIGHTLY LESS THAN HALF OF OVERALL NODX IN 2005, GREW 5% IN JULY TO S$6.62 BILLION. IT WAS THE 12TH STRAIGHT MONTH OF EXPANSION BUT WEAKER THAN THE 9.1% GROWTH REGISTERED IN JUNE. IT WAS HURT BY A 23% FELL IN DISK DRIVE EXPORTS, WHICH WAS BEING VALUED AT S$843 MILLION IN JULY, AND A 21% DECLINE IN PERSONAL COMPUTER SHIPMENTS VALUED AT S$86 MILLION.

 

NON-ELECTRONIC EXPORTS, WHICH CONSIST MAINLY OF PHARMACEUTICALS AND PETROCHEMICALS, ROSE 11.7% TO S$7.14 BILLION. PHARMACEUTICALS ROSE 7.1% TO S$1.27 BILLION IN JULY, SIGNIFICANTLY SLOWER THAN THE JUNE’S RISE OF 25% TO S$1.45 BILLION. PETROCHEMICAL EXPORTS ROSE 11.5% TO S$1.02 BILLION, IN COMPARISON WITH THE 32% GROWTH IN JUNE TO S$1.1 BILLION.

 

SHIPMENTS TO SINGAPORE’S MAJOR MARKETS SUCH AS MALAYSIA, HONG KONG AND THE UNITED STATES GREW IN JULY BUT THESE WERE OFFSET BY DECLINES IN OTHER DESTINATIONS, INCLUDING JAPAN, CHINA AND EUROPEAN UNION.

 

TOTAL TRADE IN JULY ROSE 15.9% TO ALMOST S$69 BILLION. 

 

REGIONAL ECONOMIST SONG SENG WUN OF CIMB-GK RESEARCH PREDICTED THAT THE TECHNOLOGY SECTOR COULD ENJOY A REBOUND IN THE COMING MONTHS AS DEMAND TYPICALLY PICK UP WITH THE CHRISTMAS SEASON. THE TECHNOLOGY EXPORTS WILL GROW BY THE LOW-TO-MID TEENS RANGE AS THE DISK DRIVE EXPORTS IMPROVE.

 

EXTRACTED FROM : MINISTRY OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY, SINGAPORE 

                                    IE SINGAPORE

                                    THE STRAITS TIMES

                                    TODAY

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

 

 

This score serves as a reference to assess SC’s credit risk and to set the amount of credit to be extended. It is calculated from a composite of weighted scores obtained from each of the major sections of this report. The assessed factors and their relative weights (as indicated through %) are as follows:

 

Financial condition (40%)            Ownership background (20%)                 Payment record (10%)

Credit history (10%)                    Market trend (10%)                                Operational size (10%)

 

 

 

 

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