MIRA INFORM REPORT

 

 

Report Date :

18.02.2012

 

IDENTIFICATION DETAILS

 

Name :

S. SCHNITZER DIAMONDS LTD.

 

 

Registered Office :

1 Jabotinsky Street, Diamond Exchange, Maccabi Bldg., Ramat Gan         52520

 

 

Country :

Israel

 

 

Date of Incorporation :

15.12.2010

 

 

Legal Form :

Private Limited Company

 

 

Line of Business :

Manufacturers, traders, importers, exporters and marketers of round and fancy shaped diamonds

 

 

No. of Employees :

Not Available

 

 

RATING & COMMENTS

 

MIRA’s Rating :

B

 

RATING

STATUS

PROPOSED CREDIT LINE

26-40

B

Capability to overcome financial difficulties seems comparatively below average.

Small

 

Status :

Moderate

 

 

Payment Behaviour :

Unknown

 

 

Litigation :

Clear

 


NOTES :

Any query related to this report can be made on e-mail: infodept@mirainform.com while quoting report number, name and date.

 

ECGC Country Risk Classification List – September 30, 2011

 

Country Name

Previous Rating

(30.06.2011)

Current Rating

(30.09.2011)

Israel

A2

A2

 

Risk Category

ECGC Classification

Insignificant

 

A1

Low

 

A2

Moderate

 

B1

High

 

B2

Very High

 

C1

Restricted

 

C2

Off-credit

 

D

 


Company name and address      

 

S. SCHNITZER DIAMONDS LTD.

Telephone      972 3 575 66 00

Fax                972 3 575 66 01

1 Jabotinsky Street

Diamond Exchange, Maccabi Bldg.

RAMAT GAN  52520-ISRAEL

 

 

HISTORY & LEGAL FORMATION

 

A private limited company, incorporated as per file No. 51-453316-5 on the 15.12.2010. We assume that subject may be continuing the veteran diamond business activities originally established in 1952 by the late Moshe Schnitzer (operating mainly via MOSHE SCHNITZER & CO. DIAMONDS – see below).

 

 

SHARE CAPITAL

 

Authorized share capital of NIS 1,000,000.00, divided into:-

              5 management shares (4 shares issued)

              999,995 ordinary shares (100 shares issued), all of NIS 1.00 each,

of which shares amounting to NIS 104.00 were issued.

 

 

SHAREHOLDERS

 

1.    Shmuel Schnitzer, 75% of management shares and 80% of ordinary shares,

2.    Shay Schnitzer, 25% of management shares and 20% of ordinary shares.

 

 

DIRECTORS & JOINT GENERAL MANAGERS

 

1.    Shmuel Schnitzer,

2.    Shay Schnitzer, son of Shmuel.

 

 

BUSINESS

 

Manufacturers, traders, importers, exporters and marketers of round and fancy shaped diamonds.

 

Operating from office premises in 1 Jabotinsky Street, Diamond Exchange, Maccabi Building (18th floor), Ramat Gan.

 

Number of employees not forthcoming.

 

 

MEANS

 

Financial data not forthcoming, believed to be financially solid.

 

There are 3 charges for unlimited amounts registered on the company's assets (financial assets), in favor of Bank Leumi Le'Israel Ltd. (all charges placed in March 2011).

 

 

REVENUES

 

Sales figures not forthcoming.

 

In an interview from September 2010, Shmuel Schnitzer said that although subject does not supply data to the Israel Supervisor on Diamonds in the Ministry of Industry & Trade, regarding export of polished diamonds, subject is among the leading 25 exporters of polished diamonds.

 

 

OTHER COMPANIES

 

S.SCHNITZER DIAMONDS (HK) LTD.

S. SCHNITZER DIAMONDS (USA), INC.

 

MOSHE SCHNITZER & CO. DIAMONDS, a general partnership, 50% owned by Shmuel Schnitzer, originally established in 1952 by the Late Moshe Schnitzer (father of Shmuel Schnitzer), traders, importers, processors, exporters and marketers of diamonds of all sizes.

SHAY SCHNITZER DIAMONDS LTD., owned by Shay Schnitzer.

M. SCHNITZER & CO DIAMONDS CORPORATION (ISRAEL) LTD.

DSee IMAGING LTD., Shay Schnitzer is a partner in this firm, engaged in 3-D imaging technologies for the diamond industry and other industrial applications.

 

 

BANKERS

 

Bank Leumi Le'Israel Ltd., Diamond Exchange Branch (No. 629), Ramat Gan.

 

 

CHARACTER AND REPUTATION

 

Nothing unfavorable learned.

 

Despite our efforts, we were unable to speak with subject's officials, as they were always unavailable. We left messages which so far remain unanswered.

 

MOSHE SCHNITZER & CO. DIAMONDS is a veteran well-known diamond firm, enjoying world reputation and among Israel’s leading diamonds manufacturers and exporters. Its founder Moshe Schnitzer passed away in 2007. He was one of the most veteran diamond dealers in Israel, among the founders of the local diamond industry. He served as the President of the Israeli Diamond Exchange (leading the huge expansion of the local diamond industry) and of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB), as well as achieving many awards and recognitions.

Moshe's son and subject's shareholder Shmuel Schnitzer also served as the President of the Israeli Diamond Exchange President between 1998-2005, and the WFDB President between 2002-2006. He serves as Honorary President of the Israel Diamond Exchange, and WFDB for the rest of his life.

 

In July 2011 subject, jointly with diamond company RAFI BEN-DAVID DIAMONDS LTD. finalized on the acquisition of office space in the upcoming International Gem Tower (IGT) facility in New York’s Diamond District (expected to be ready during 2012).

 

A recent affair of an underground bank is shocking the local diamond branch in these days, after in late January 2012 Police raided the Diamond Exchange (after a long undercover operation, in cooperation with the Exchange officials), arrested several individuals for investigation and blocked several bank accounts (which led to a chain reaction of not respecting checks of dealers). The Police suspect that a group of people, including diamond dealers, run an illegal bank in the Diamond Exchange compound for loans, money transfer abroad and exchange in volume of NIS 1 billion for several years. The affair has already led to couple of reported bankruptcies of local diamond firms, significant decrease in transactions (especially in purchase of raw diamonds) and a very bad general atmosphere which casts on the whole branch, as dealers –local and foreign- face uncertainty.

 

Despite the slow-down in activity in the global diamond branch during the last third of 2011, export by the local diamond sector in all 2011 recorded US$ 7,202 million sales in cut diamonds, 23.5% higher than in 2010. This was thanks to the strong first 2 thirds of 2011, which were stalled in the last third, reflecting the current fragile global economy and fear of another recession wave in USA and Europe. It should be noted that in karat terms, net export of cut diamonds rose only by 4% from 2010.

Export of rough diamonds in 2011 also climbed almost 15%, reaching US$ 3,515 million (fell almost 29% in karat terms).

 

Import of cut diamonds in 2011 summed up to US$ 5,682 million, representing 34.7% increase comparing to 2010 (18% rise in karat terms), while import of rough diamonds rose by 17.5% from 2010, totaling US$ 4,413 million (11% fall in karat terms).

 

In 2010, export (net) of cut diamonds was US$ 5,832 million (up 48% from 2009, when it noted 37% decrease from 2008), rough diamonds export (net) reached US$ 3,060 million (62% rise from 2009). Import of rough diamonds (net) in 2010 grew by 51% to US$ 3,755 compared with 2009, and import of polished diamonds (net) saw 68% rise in 2010 reaching US$ 4,218 million.

 

In terms of target export (polished diamonds) countries, in 2011 the USA continued to be the main destination, with 39% of total export (41% in 2011). This comes after in early 2010, for the first time Far East markets became Israel’s diamond industry’s main target (traditionally sales to the USA comprised some 60%-65% of total export). Hong Kong is the 2nd largest target country, comprising 26% of sales in 2011 (29% in 2010). Other main target countries included Switzerland (6%), India (5%), UK (3%) and the rest of the World (21%).

 

According to the President of the Israeli Diamonds Association, local diamond sector in general managed to cross one of worst depressions in the global diamond sector caused by the global economic crisis in 2008/9. The sector experienced almost an entire freeze and collapse in sales of about 70% in the peak of the crisis and 2009 export diamonds shrank by some 40%. The President said that trade in the sector rolls annual turnover of US$ 25 billion while total debt to the banks stands on US$ 1.5 billion, down from US$ 2.4 billion in the eve of the crisis. The Ministry for Industry & Trade also assisted the local diamond exporters by providing bank guarantees in total scope of NIS 1 billion.

Local diamond sector employs some 15,000 persons.

In February 2009, Israel was ranked as the world’s largest exporter of cut diamonds, followed by India, Belgium and South Africa.

 

 

SUMMARY

 

Notwithstanding the lack of updated data from subject's officials, as well being a relatively new company, considered good for trade engagements.

 

 

 

 

 


 

FOREIGN EXCHANGE RATES

 

Currency

Unit

Indian Rupees

US Dollar

1

Rs.49.21

UK Pound

1

Rs.77.75

Euro

1

Rs.64.58

 

 

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

Capability to overcome financial difficulties seems comparatively below average.

 

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

--

NB

                                       New Business

 

--

 

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

This report is issued at your request without any risk and responsibility on the part of MIRA INFORM PRIVATE LIMITED (MIPL) or its officials.