MIRA INFORM REPORT

 

 

Report Date :

11.07.2012

 

IDENTIFICATION DETAILS

 

Name :

V. K. INDUSTRIAL CORPORATION LIMITED

 

 

Registered Office :

303/304, Loha Bhavan, 3rd Floor, Carnac Bunder, 93, P. Demello Road, Mumbai – 400009, Maharashtra, India

 

 

Country :

India

 

 

Financials (as on) :

31.03.2011

 

 

Date of Incorporation :

16.11.2004

 

 

Com. Reg. No.:

11-149538

 

 

Capital Investment / Paid-up Capital :

Rs.45.900 Millions

 

 

CIN No.:

[Company Identification No.]

U27100MH2004PLC149538

 

 

IEC No. :

0304068616

 

 

TAN No.:

[Tax Deduction & Collection Account No.]

AABCV9515F

 

 

 

Legal Form :

A Closely Held Public Limited Liability Company

 

 

Line of Business :

Importer, Exporter and Stockiest of Special Quality Steel Plates.

 

 

No. of Employees :

25 (Approximately)

 

 

RATING & COMMENTS

 

MIRA’s Rating :

Ba (54)

 

RATING

STATUS

PROPOSED CREDIT LINE

 

41-55

Ba

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

Satisfactory

 

 

Maximum Credit Limit :

USD 5500000

 

 

Status :

Good

 

 

Payment Behaviour :

Regular

 

 

Litigation :

Clear

 

 

Comments :

Subject is a well established company having good track. The company has recorded a better increase in its sales turnover and profitability during the year. Financial position of the company appears to be sound.

 

Trade relations are reported as decent. Business is active. Payments are reported to be regular and as per commitments.

 

The company can be considered good for business dealings at usual trade terms and conditions.

 

NOTES:

 

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

 

 

INFORMATION PARTED BY

 

Name :

Mr. Virendra Mehta

Designation :

Director 

Contact No.:

91-9821022386

Date :

10.07.2012

 

 

LOCATIONS

 

Registered Office :

303/304, Loha Bhavan, 3rd Floor, Carnac Bunder, 93, P. Demello Road, Mumbai – 400009, Maharashtra, India

Tel. No.:

91-22-66333330

Mobile No.:

91-9821022386 (Mr. Virendra Mehta)

91-9960954725 (Mr. Alex)

Fax No.:

91-22-23484728

E-Mail :

info@virenvkicl.com

viren@virenvkicl.com

accounts@virenvkicl.com

vkicl@mtnl.net.in

Website :

http://www.vkicl.com

Area :

600 sq. ft.

Location :

Owned

 

 

Branch Office :

Office No. 1, 1st Floor, No.84 (Old No. 39), Muthumari Street, Chennai – 600001, Tamilnadu, India

Tel No. :

91-44-25262263

Fax No. :

91-44-42168783

E-Mail :

juzer@vkchennai.com

Area :

200 sq. ft.

Location :

Owned

 

 

DIRECTORS

 

(AS ON 24.09.2011)

 

Name :

Mr. Kakubhai Purshottamdas Mehta

Designation :

Chairman

Address:

401, Mnju Castle Building Church Road, Vile Parle (East), Mumbai – 400056, Maharashtra, India 

Date of Birth/Age :

10.04.1935

Qualification :

Under Graduate

Date of Appointment :

02.09.2005

DIN No.:

01648156

 

 

Name :

Mr. Virendra Kakubhai Mehta

Designation :

Whole Time Director

Address:

401, Mnju Castle Building Church Road, Vile Parle (East), Mumbai – 400056, Maharashtra, India 

Date of Birth/Age :

08.03.1968

Qualification :

H.S.C.

Date of Appointment :

01.10.2006

DIN No.:

00326929

 

 

Name :

Mrs. Kairavi Virendra Mehta

Designation :

Additional Director

Address:

Plot No.80, Hatkesh CHS Limited, 7th Floor, 9th Road, J V P D Scheme, N. S. Road, Vile Parle (West), Mumbai – 400056, Maharashtra, India

Date of Birth/Age :

15.05.1994

Date of Appointment :

12.06.2012

DIN No.:

05298092

 

 

MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS / SHAREHOLDING PATTERN

 

(AS ON 30.09.2011)

 

Names of Shareholders

 

 

No. of Shares

 

 

 

Kakubhai Purshottamdas Mehta

 

133000

Deepak Kakubhai Mehta

 

1734750

Virendra Kakubhai Mehta

 

1734750

Vasumati Kakubhai Mehta

 

2500

Urvi Deepak Mehta

 

1200

Darshana Virendra Mehta

 

1200

Parul Vipul Doshi

 

50

Charu Kirit Doshi

 

50

Kakubhai P Mehta (HUF)

 

732500

Binaca Traders and Services Private Limited (India)

 

42500

Kush Hindustan Entertainment Limited (India)

 

23750

Sundaram InfoTech (India)

 

82500

TSV Merchantile Private Limited (India)

 

37500

Viren Diamond Export Limited (India)

 

25000

Young and Crow Marketing (India) Private Limited, Mumbai, India

 

38750

 

 

 

Total

 

 

4590000

 

 

(AS ON 30.09.2011)

Equity Shares Break – up

 

Category

 

Percentage

 

 

 

Bodies corporate

 

5.45

Directors or relatives of directors

 

94.55

 

 

 

Total

 

 

100.00

 

 

BUSINESS DETAILS

 

Line of Business :

Importer, Exporter and Stockiest of Special Quality Steel Plates.

 

 

Products :

Ø       Hot Rolled Coils

Ø       Boller/ PVQ Plates

Ø       High Tensile Plates

Ø       Structural Plates

Ø       Ship Building Plates

Ø       Oil and Gas Line Plate

Ø       Alloy Steel Plates

Ø       Plate Sizes and Grade

Ø       Equivalent Table

Ø       Weight Calculation

 

 

Exports :

 

Products :

Steel Product

Countries :

Africa

 

 

Imports :

 

Products :

Raw Materials

Countries :

·         Russia

·         China

·         UK

·         Europe

 

 

Terms :

 

Selling :

Cash and Credit

 

 

Purchasing :

Cash and Credit

 

 

GENERAL INFORMATION

 

Suppliers :

·         Dafar Company Limited

 

 

Customers :

End Users

 

·         Diamond Engineering Chennai (Private) Limited

 

 

No. of Employees :

25 (Approximately)

 

 

Bankers :

Ø       Canara Bank,

Prime Corporate Branch II, Varma Chambers, 2nd Floor, Homji Street, Mumbai -400001, Maharashtra, India.

 

Ø       IDBI Bank, Mumbai

Ø       HDFC Bank

Ø       Bank of Baroda, Fort, Mumbai, India

 

 

Facilities :

Secured Loans

31.03.2011

31.03.2010

 

 

(Rs. In Millions)

 

 

 

Working Capital Loans Secured

41.436

249.792

 

 

 

Total

 

41.436

249.792

 

 

Unsecured Loans

31.03.2011

31.03.2010

 

 

(Rs. In Millions)

 

 

 

Loans directors unsecured

34.672

20.560

Other debts unsecured

1.177

1.315

 

 

 

Total

 

35.849

21.875

 

 

 

Banking Relations :

--

 

 

Auditors :

 

Name :

Prashant Wakhariya and Company

Chartered Accountant

Address :

B-1, Saadichha Apartment, Ground Floor, Rokadia Lane, Borivali (West), Mumbai – 400092, Maharashtra, India.

Tel. No.:

91-22-28922369

Mobile No.:

91-9324657162

Fax No. :

91-22-22937350

E-Mail :

pwco@hotmail.com

PAN No.:

AAFPW9479G

 

 

Associates/Subsidiaries :

D M Sons Metals Private Limited

 

 

CAPITAL STRUCTURE

 

(AS ON 24.09.2011)

 

Authorised Capital :

No. of Shares

Type

Value

Amount

 

 

 

 

5000000

Equity Share

Rs.10/- each

Rs.50.000 Millions

 

 

 

 

 

Issued, Subscribed & Paid-up Capital :

No. of Shares

Type

Value

Amount

 

 

 

 

4590000

Equity Share

Rs.10/- each

Rs.45.900 Millions

 

 

 

 

 

 

FINANCIAL DATA

[all figures are in Rupees Millions]

 

 

ABRIDGED BALANCE SHEET

 

SOURCES OF FUNDS

 

31.03.2011

31.03.2010

31.03.2009

SHAREHOLDERS FUNDS

 

 

 

1] Share Capital

45.900

45.900

45.900

2] Share Application Money

0.000

0.000

0.000

3] Reserves & Surplus

1321.264

931.986

717.302

4] (Accumulated Losses)

0.000

0.000

0.000

NETWORTH

1367.164

977.886

763.202

LOAN FUNDS

 

 

 

1] Secured Loans

41.436

249.792

103.883

2] Unsecured Loans

35.849

21.875

19.607

TOTAL BORROWING

77.285

271.667

123.490

DEFERRED TAX LIABILITIES

0.000

0.000

0.000

 

 

 

 

TOTAL

1444.449

1249.553

886.692

 

 

 

 

APPLICATION OF FUNDS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FIXED ASSETS [Net Block]

50.388

8.508

4.317

Capital work-in-progress

0.000

0.000

0.000

 

 

 

 

INVESTMENT

0.002

0.001

0.000

DEFERREX TAX ASSETS

0.000

0.000

0.000

 

 

 

 

CURRENT ASSETS, LOANS & ADVANCES

 

 

 

 

Inventories

665.270
688.107
405.484

 

Sundry Debtors

1574.118
892.442
629.181

 

Cash & Bank Balances

48.526
58.688
4.856

 

Other Current Assets

0.000
0.000
0.000

 

Loans & Advances

713.580
640.929
371.687

Total Current Assets

3001.494
2280.166

1411.208

Less : CURRENT LIABILITIES & PROVISIONS

 

 

 

 

Sundry Creditor

1368.407
872.061
469.413

 

Other Current Liabilities

3.186
47.998
48.575

 

Provisions

235.842
119.063
10.845

Total Current Liabilities

1607.435
1039.122

528.833

Net Current Assets

1394.059
1241.044

882.375

 

 

 

 

MISCELLANEOUS EXPENSES

0.000

0.000

0.000

 

 

 

 

TOTAL

1444.449

1249.553

886.692

 

 

 

PROFIT & LOSS ACCOUNT

 

 

PARTICULARS

 

31.03.2011

31.03.2010

31.03.2009

 

SALES

 

 

 

 

 

Income

7123.136

4836.384

4247.961

 

 

Other Income

22.989

73.800

27.143

 

 

TOTAL                                     (A)

7146.125

4910.184

4275.104

 

 

 

 

 

Less

EXPENSES

 

 

 

 

 

Consumption Materials Changes Inventories

5485.680

3850.290

 

 

Manufacturing Services Cot

878.561

624.689

 

 

 

Employee related Expenses

1.753

1.368

4200.322

 

 

Administrative, Selling and Other Expenses

104.277

55.595

 

 

 

TOTAL                                     (B)

6470.271

4531.942

4200.322

 

 

 

 

 

Less

PROFIT BEFORE INTEREST, TAX, DEPRECIATION AND AMORTISATION (A-B)      (C)

675.854

378.242

74.782

 

 

 

 

 

Less

FINANCIAL EXPENSES                         (D)

74.942

53.888

61.977

 

 

 

 

 

 

PROFIT BEFORE TAX, DEPRECIATION AND AMORTISATION (C-D)                                       (E)

600.912

324.354

12.805

 

 

 

 

 

Less/ Add

DEPRECIATION/ AMORTISATION                     (F)

2.000

1.280

1.062

 

 

 

 

 

 

PROFIT BEFORE TAX (E-F)                               (G)

598.912

323.074

11.743

 

 

 

 

 

Less

TAX                                                                  (H)

208.937

108.647

3.745

 

 

 

 

 

 

PROFIT AFTER TAX (G-H)                                (I)

389.975

214.427

7.998

 

 

 

 

 

 

PREVIOUS YEARS’ BALANCE BROUGHT FORWARD

786.189

571.762

563.764

 

 

 

 

 

 

BALANCE CARRIED TO THE B/S

1176.861

786.189

571.762

 

 

 

 

 

 

EARNINGS IN FOREIGN CURRENCY

7.024

44.836

NA

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings Per Share (Rs.)

84.96

46.72

1.74

 

 

Particulars

 

 

 

31.03.2012

Sales Turnover (Approximately)

 

 

8000.000

 

 

 

 

 

Expected Sales (2012-13): Rs.10000.000 Millions

 

The above information has been parted by Mr. Virendra Mehta.

 

 

 

KEY RATIOS

 

PARTICULARS

 

 

31.03.2011

31.03.2010

31.03.2009

PAT / Total Income

(%)

5.46
4.37
0.19

 

 

 
 
 

Net Profit Margin

(PBT/Sales)

(%)

8.41
6.68
0.28

 

 

 
 
 

Return on Total Assets

(PBT/Total Assets}

(%)

19.62
14.12
0.83

 

 

 
 
 

Return on Investment (ROI)

(PBT/Networth)

 

0.44
0.33
0.02

 

 

 
 
 

Debt Equity Ratio

(Total Liability/Networth)

 

1.23
1.34
0.85

 

 

 
 
 

Current Ratio

(Current Asset/Current Liability)

 

1.87
2.19
2.67

 


 

LOCAL AGENCY FURTHER INFORMATION

 

SUNDRY CREDITORS DETAILS:

 

Particulars

31.03.2011

(Rs. In Millions)

 

 

Sundry Creditors

- Creditors Due others

1368.407

 

 

Total

 

1368.407

 

 

 

Particulars

31.03.2010

 

31.03.2009

 

(Rs. In Millions)

 

 

 

Trade and other Creditors

 

 

Import Creditors

422.501

427.922

Local Creditors

417.702

26.368

OMS Creditors

0.000

0.000

Others

0.000

0.000

Trade Creditors – Chennai

0.105

0.105

Trade and Other Creditors - Bhilai

0.000

0.000

Creditors for expenses

28.789

13.847

Creditors for brokerage and commission

2.899

1.171

Creditors for fixed assets

0.065

0.000

 

 
 

Total

 

872.061

469.413

 

 

Check list by info Agents

Available in Report

(Yes/ No)

 

 

Year of Establishment

Yes

Locality of the Firm

Yes

Constitution of the Firm

Yes

Premises details

Yes

Type of Business

Yes

Line of Business 

Yes

Promoter’s Background 

Yes

No. of Employees

Yes

Name of Person Contacted

Yes

Designation of Contact person

Yes

Turnover of Firm for last three years

Yes

Profitability for last three years

Yes

Reasons for variation <> 20%

-----

Estimation for coming financial year

Yes

Capital in the business

Yes

Details of sister concerns

Yes

Major Suppliers

Yes

Major Customers

Yes

Payments Terms

Yes

Export/ Imports Details (If applicable)

Yes

Market Information

-----

Litigations that the firm/ Promoters Involved in

-----

Banking details

Yes

Banking Facility Details

Yes

Conduct of the Banking Account

-----

Buyer visit details

-----

Financials, if provided

Yes

Incorporation details is applicable

Yes

Last Accounts filed at ROC

Yes

Major Shareholders, if available

Yes

 

 

OPERATIONS:

 

The company's performance improved during the financial year. The turnover was higher from Rs.4905.100 Millions to Rs.7146.100 Millions. Net Profit is higher from Rs.211.900 Million to Rs.598.700 Millions. The company's focus continues to be on increasing volumes and turnover.

 

 

TRADE REFERENCE:

 

·         Diamond Engineering Chennai (Private) Limited

·         Dafar Company Limited

 

 

FORM 8:

 

Corporate identity number of the company

U27100MH2004PLC149538

Name of the company

V. K. INDUSTRIAL CORPORATION LIMITED

Address of the registered office or of the principal place of  business in India of the company

303/304 Loha Bhavan, 3rd Floor, 93, P.D. Mello Road, Carnac Bunder, Mumbai - 400009, Maharashtra, India

vkicl@mtnl.net.in

This form is for

Modification of charge

Charge identification number of the modified 

80001982

Type of charge

Immovable property

Book debts

Movable property (not being pledge)

Others: Stock, Good procured under DALC etc.

Particular of charge holder

Canara Bank,

Prime Corporate Branch II, Varma Chambers, 2nd Floor, Homji Street, Fort, Mumbai – 400001, Maharashtra, India

suyashri@vsnl.com

Nature of instrument creating charge

Simple Mortgage Deed (SMD) dated 02.11.2010

Date of instrument Creating the charge

02/11/2010

Amount secured by the charge

Rs.2100.000 Millions

Brief of the principal terms and conditions and extent and operation of the charge

Rate of interest

As per sanction letter issued by respective bank

 

Terms of repayment

As per sanction letter issued by respective bank

 

Margin

As per sanction letter issued by respective bank

 

Extent and operation of the charge

Credit facilities aggregating to Rs.2100.000 millions granted by Canara Bank Consortium consisting of (CB Rs.1732.500 millions and BOB Rs.367.500 millions) further secured by way of Simple Mortgage on immovable Property viz.  piece and parcel of land adm. about 3025 sq. mts. out of the land bearing Plot Nos. SW-3/1 to SW-3/7 in Sakri Industrial Area, Village Brahmanwel, Dhule, Maharashtra

 

Short particulars of the property charged (Including location of the property)

1st charge on all present and future stocks of RM/ Steel products and Trading goods, SIP, SFG, FG, S and S etc. lying at Companies premises and godowns at Navi Mumbai and Chennai or elsewhere or in transit 1st charge on all present and future Book debts, outstanding money receivables, claims, bills and other movables due and owing to the Company during the course of its business.

 

Simple mortgage on 1st pari passu charge basis on immovable Prop. viz. piece and parcel of land adm. about 3025 sq. mts. out of land bearing Plot Nos. SW-3/1 to SW-3/7 in Sakri Indutrial Area, Vill. Brahmanwel

 

Date of instrument modifying the charge

06/02/2010

Particulars of the present modification

Now vide this modification, Credit facilities aggregating to Rs.2100.000 millions. granted by Canara Bank Consortium consisting of (CB Rs.1732.500 millions and BOB Rs.367.500 millions) further secured by way of Simple Mortgage on immovable Property viz.  piece and parcel of land adm. about 3025 sq. mts. out of the land bearing Plot Nos. SW-3/1 to SW-3/7 in Sakri Industrial Area, Village Brahmanwel, Dhule, Maharashtra

 

 

FIXED ASSETS:

 

Ø       Air Condition

Ø       CCTV Camara System

Ø       Computer

Ø       Cutting Machine

Ø       Cycle

Ø       Electrical Equipment

Ø       EPABX System – Telephone

Ø       Fax Machine

Ø       Furniture

Ø       Mobile Phone

Ø       Office Equipments

Ø       Motor Car / Motor Cycle

Ø       Television

Ø       Xerox Machine

 


CMT REPORT (Corruption, Money Laundering & Terrorism]

 

The Public Notice information has been collected from various sources including but not limited to: The Courts, India Prisons Service, Interpol, etc.

 

1]         INFORMATION ON DESIGNATED PARTY

No records exist designating subject or any of its beneficial owners, controlling shareholders or senior officers as terrorist or terrorist organization or whom notice had been received that all financial transactions involving their assets have been blocked or convicted, found guilty or against whom a judgement or order had been entered in a proceedings for violating money-laundering, anti-corruption or bribery or international economic or anti-terrorism sanction laws or whose assets were seized, blocked, frozen or ordered forfeited for violation of money laundering or international anti-terrorism laws.

 

2]         Court Declaration :

No records exist to suggest that subject is or was the subject of any formal or informal allegations, prosecutions or other official proceeding for making any prohibited payments or other improper payments to government officials for engaging in prohibited transactions or with designated parties.

 

3]         Asset Declaration :

No records exist to suggest that the property or assets of the subject are derived from criminal conduct or a prohibited transaction.

 

4]         Record on Financial Crime :

            Charges or conviction registered against subject:                                                              None

 

5]         Records on Violation of Anti-Corruption Laws :

            Charges or investigation registered against subject:                                                          None

 

6]         Records on Int’l Anti-Money Laundering Laws/Standards :

            Charges or investigation registered against subject:                                                          None

 

7]         Criminal Records

No available information exist that suggest that subject or any of its principals have been formally charged or convicted by a competent governmental authority for any financial crime or under any formal investigation by a competent government authority for any violation of anti-corruption laws or international anti-money laundering laws or standard.

 

8]         Affiliation with Government :

No record exists to suggest that any director or indirect owners, controlling shareholders, director, officer or employee of the company is a government official or a family member or close business associate of a Government official.

 

9]         Compensation Package :

Our market survey revealed that the amount of compensation sought by the subject is fair and reasonable and comparable to compensation paid to others for similar services.

 

10]        Press Report :

            No press reports / filings exists on the subject.

 

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

 

MIRA INFORM as part of its Due Diligence do provide comments on Corporate Governance to identify management and governance. These factors often have been predictive and in some cases have created vulnerabilities to credit deterioration.

 

Our Governance Assessment focuses principally on the interactions between a company’s management, its Board of Directors, Shareholders and other financial stakeholders.

 

CONTRAVENTION

 

Subject is not known to have contravened any existing local laws, regulations or policies that prohibit, restrict or otherwise affect the terms and conditions that could be included in the agreement with the subject.

 

FOREIGN EXCHANGE RATES

 

Currency

Unit

Indian Rupees

US Dollar

1

Rs.56.02

UK Pound

1

Rs.86.78

Euro

1

Rs.68.83

 

 

INFORMATION DETAILS

 

Information Gathered by :

PJA

 

 

Report Prepared by :

NIT

 

 

SCORE & RATING EXPLANATIONS

 

SCORE FACTORS

 

RANGE

POINTS

HISTORY

1~10

4

PAID-UP CAPITAL

1~10

5

OPERATING SCALE

1~10

7

FINANCIAL CONDITION

 

 

--BUSINESS SCALE

1~10

7

--PROFITABILIRY

1~10

7

--LIQUIDITY

1~10

6

--LEVERAGE

1~10

5

--RESERVES

1~10

7

--CREDIT LINES

1~10

6

--MARGINS

-5~5

--

DEMERIT POINTS

 

 

--BANK CHARGES

YES/NO

YES

--LITIGATION

YES/NO

NO

--OTHER ADVERSE INFORMATION

YES/NO

NO

MERIT POINTS

 

 

--SOLE DISTRIBUTORSHIP

YES/NO

NO

--EXPORT ACTIVITIES

YES/NO

NO

--AFFILIATION

YES/NO

YES

--LISTED

YES/NO

NO

--OTHER MERIT FACTORS

YES/NO

YES

TOTAL

 

54

 

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%)

 

 

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

 

-

 

 

 

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.