MIRA INFORM REPORT

 

 

Report Date :

02.05.2012

 

IDENTIFICATION DETAILS

 

Name :

SYNERGY CABLES LTD.

 

 

Formerly Known As :

SUPERIOR CABLES LTD

 

 

Registered Office :

P.O. Box 102, Sapirim Industrial Park, Sderot 8701002    

 

 

Country :

Israel

 

 

Financials (as on) : 

31.12.2011

 

 

Date of Incorporation :

10.07.1963

 

 

Legal Form :

Public Limited Liability Company

 

 

Line of Business :

Manufacturers, marketers and exporters of power and electrical cables, ranging from low (LV), medium (MV) and high voltage (HV) power cables up to 161 kV; control, airfield lightning, EMC and industrial cables

 

 

No. of Employees :

280

 

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 :

---

 

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 – March 31st, 2012

 

Country Name

Previous Rating

(31.12.2011)

Current Rating

(31.03.2012)

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 & address 

 

SYNERGY CABLES LTD.

Telephone         972 8 680 94 44

Fax                  972 8 689 00 14

E-mail:             synergy@synergy-cables.com

P.O. Box 102

Sapirim Industrial Park

SDEROT          8701002            ISRAEL

 

 

HISTORY & LEGAL FORMATION

 

A public limited liability company, incorporated as per file No. 52-002527-1 on the 10.07.1963.

 

Originally registered under the name ZION CABLES UNITED WORKS LTD., which changed to SUPERIOR CABLES LTD. on 24.01.1999, and then changed to the present one on 23.04.2007.

 

In 1998, all activities of CVALIM – THE ELECTRIC WIRE AND CABLE COMPANY OF ISRAEL LTD., a rival company founded in 1934 and operated in the same line as subject, were acquired in consideration of US$ 43.5 million and merged it into subject.

 

 

SHARE CAPITAL

 

Authorized share capital NIS 40,000,000.00, divided into -

                   4,000,000,000 ordinary shares of NIS 0.01 each,

of which 187,000,836 shares amounting to NIS 1,870,008.36 were issued.

 

 

SHAREHOLDERS

 

1.  ALPINE GROUP INC., of the U.S.A., holding 51.8% through ALPINE HOLDCO INC. and SUPERIOR CABLES HOLDING (1997) LTD.,

2.  EILUY FINANCY LTD. (formerly S.R. ACCORD TECHNOLOGIES LTD., formerly SFK TECHNOLOGIES LTD.), 12.9%, publicly traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, controlled by Dror Atzmon and Yaron Yeiny,

3.  MENORA MIVTACHIM HOLDINGS LTD., 5.45%, institutional investor,

4.  Shares are also traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange.

 

In September 2002, former parent SUPERIOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS INC. (U.S.) signed an agreement to sell several assets and holdings, including its shares in subject, to the ALPINE GROUP INC. (which owns 49% of SUPERIOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS INC.) for a sum of US$ 85 million. The deal was finalized on the 12.12.2002.

 

DIRECTORS

 

1.          Steven S. Elbaum, Chairman,

2.          Dr. Hugo Chaufan, Vice Chairman,

3.          Stewart Wahrsager,

4.          Shaul Yamal,

5.          Aviram Lahav,

6.          Prof. Leora Kazenstein.

 

 

GENERAL MANAGER

 

Meir Yalon.

 

 

BUSINESS

 

Manufacturers, marketers and exporters of power and electrical cables, ranging from low (LV), medium (MV) and high voltage (HV) power cables up to 161 kV; control, airfield lightning, EMC and industrial cables.

 

60% of power cables sales were for export in 2011 (55% in 2010), mainly to U.K. USA and Germany.

 

Until the end of the first half of 2008, manufacturing was divided into 2 divisions: Telecommunications and Power, when by June 2008 the Telecommunications Div. activity was sold to the TELDOR Group (see more below).

 

Main client is THE ISRAEL ELECTRIC CORP., 28% of sales in 2010.

 

Purchasing of copper is via affiliate EXEON INC. (subsidiary of ALPINE).

Aluminum supplier: RUSAL.

Amongst local suppliers: Y.T.S. YOGEV TRADING SERVICES

 

Operating from premises, an owned plant, 60,000 sq. meters, on which 34,000 sq. meters built in Sapirim Industrial Park, Sderot (known as Shaar Hanegev Plant), to where they moved their headquarters from 7 Hameyasdim Street, Kiryat Bialik, though still hold offices at that address – leased 65 sq. meters. Also operating from facilities as follows:

 

1.         Additional 15,000 sq. meters storage facilities adjacent to Sderot plant.

2.         Rented offices, on an area of 266 sq. meters, 18 Lishansky Street, New Industrial Zone, in Rishon Le-Zion,

3.         Offices and facilities, leased, in the UK.

 

Having 280 employees (had 253 employees in end of 2010).

 


MEANS

 

In their Reviews for subject’s financial statements for 2010 and 2011 quarterly reports (last is on 30.09.2011) the CPA attached a "going concern" note for subject, due to accumulated losses in the years 2008-2010 (total NIS 181.6 million) and uncertainty as to the continuing profitability trend that subject reached in 1st half of 2011 (net profit of NIS 9.6 million, though after deducting capital gain from selling an asset it reaches net loss of NIS 2.3 million), as well as doubts as to the company's ability to meet its financial covenants towards its bankers (since December 2008). In August 2010 subject finalized debt arrangement with its bonds holders, including change in interest rates and reschedule (postponement) of bonds redemption in sum of NIS 160 million to 2017 (instead of 2013), and other obligations.

ALPINE also fueled NIS 7.5 million into subject in a convertible loan.

Subject committed to a wide re-organization move, completed during 2011 first half, which included streamlining measures and dismissals, real estate asset realization (sold – see below CHARACTER) and shift in headquarters.

In March 2012 new financial covenants were agreed with subject's banks. That, together the success of the re-organization and the significant lowering of subject debts to the banks (NIS 20.3 million on the 31.12.2011 compared to NIS 48.5 million on the 31.12.2009), have lifted the "going concern" note from subject's 2011 annual report.

 

Current market value US$ 4.1 million.

 

Accrued orders of power cables as of 01.03.2012: NIS 141 million.

 

In February 2007, in a framework of a prospectus published, subject completed a capital raise of 119 million in issue of bonds and options.

 

There are 13 charges for unlimited amounts registered on the company's assets, in favor of local banks (financial assets and fixed assets) and a computer company (last charge placed March 2012).

 

Consolidated B/S shows:

                                                                                                             NIS (thousands)

                                                                                               31.12.2010             31.12.2011

ASSETS

Current assets:

     Cash, cash equivalents                                                               2,522                    3,663

     Other financial assets                                                                 4,748                    4,229

     Current maturities on loans to main customer                             18,955                    5,128

     Customers                                                                             100,359                 103,405

     Other debtors                                                                             7,544                    7,907

     Stock                                                                                      91,890                 121,311

                                                                                                 226,018                 245,643

Non-current assets

     Fixed assets                                                                          112,345                 105,948

     Other non-current assets                                                          13,484                    1,011

                                                                                                 125,829                 106,959

                                                                                                 351,847                 352,602

                                                                                               =======              =======

 

LIABILITIES

Current liabilities                                                                         177,785                 176,962

Non-current liabilities                                                                   136,077                 119,930

Equity                                                                                          37,985                   55,710

                                                                                                 351,847                 352,602

                                                                                               =======              =======

 

saleS

 

                                                                         Consolidated Statement of Income

                                                                                            NIS (thousands)

                                                                                          Year ended 31.12

                                                                                 2009                 2010                 2011

Sales (from ongoing operations)                                 536,836            547,773            592,608

 

Gross profit                                                               51,232              64,615              75,133

 

Operating income (loss)                                           (22,271)                1,844              33,750

 

Profit (loss) before taxes on income                          (44,155)            (39,554)              12,092

 

Net profit (loss)                                                       (45,742)            (43,948)                9,514

                                                                          ========          =======          =======

 

 

OTHER COMPANIES

 

SYNERGY CABLES GmbH (SCG), 100%, Germany, marketing company,

SYNERGY CABLES USA INC. (SCU), 100%, USA, marketing company,

PREMIER CABLES LTD., 80%, UK, marketing company,

EILAT OPTIC CABLES LTD., CABLES OF ZION UNITED MARKETING COMPANY LTD., H.T. CABLE LTD., all 100%, all non-active.

 

 

BANKERS

 

·         Bank Hapoalim Ltd., Haifa Main Branch (No. 700), Haifa.

The First International Bank Ltd., Haifa Main Branch (No. 006), Haifa.


 

CHARACTER AND REPUTATION

 

As noted above, financial standing of subject is was troublesome.

 

The global and local economic climate in recent years also made it harder for subject to recover. Nevertheless, re-organization moves and arrangements with its bond holders and bankers, as well as recovery in the markets (included increase in orders from local Electricity Corp.) improved subject's conditions. In addition, the local and global economic environment has been worsening again in recent period.

 

In the legal aspect, nothing unfavorable learned apart from relatively minor case (see more below).

 

Subject is a leading company in the power cables field in Israel, with estimated market share of 30% in low voltage cables in 2011 (was 25% in 2010), and 75% in medium-high voltage cables in 2011 (was 45% in 2009).

 

The cables are manufactured according to world standards and all the manufacturing facilities are ISO 9001/9002 approved.

 

In September 1999, subject acquired the activities of its local competitor in the electrical cables industry, PICA PLAST LTD., in consideration of US$ 9.7 million.

 

ALPINE GROUP INC. is an industrial holding company in the metal and wires business. It is a public company whose shares are traded on the NASDAQ Stock Exchange Pink Sheets (symbol APNI).

 

In July 2006 the SHREM FUDIM GROUP, through its investment arm SFK TECHNOLOGIES, and partners invested in subject in return of 30% of its shares. Shares were held by ART P.E. LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, a private equity investment fund. SFK TECHNOLOGIES LTD. (SFT), a publicly traded (TASE) investment company. Until December 2010 it SFT held 44% of ART as a limited partner and 50% as general partner.

 

In September 2009 SFT signed agreements with its partners in ART (including Ofer Yarkoni and Doron Steiger) to dismantle ART during 2010 and realize the investment of ART in subject. In December 2010 ART divided its holdings in subject between its partners – 13% left to S.R. ACCORD TECHNOLOGIES LTD. (formerly SFK TECHNOLOGIES LTD., no EILUY FINANCY LTD.), who holds the shares in subject. EILUY FINANCY later sold all its activities (investments) and is currently a public shell company.

 

In 2003, subject signed a deal to acquire 34% of a company in Kazakhstan. In April 2004, the deal was replaced with a new one, according to which subject will provide equipment for 22% of KAZENERGOKABEL shares and for US$ 900,000.

 

In December 2010 subject sold its holdings (22%) in the Kazakh company for US$ 2 million.

In that regard, subject has been in legal process from 2006 concerning a claim against subject for fees by a law office in Kazakhstan. Subject estimate chances to win higher than losing but made proper deduction in its books.

 

In June 2008 subject finalized a transaction with local telecommunications, electronics and electricity cables manufacturer TELDOR WIRES AND CABLES LTD., selling to TELDOR subject's Telecommunication Cables Division for NIS 50.2 million, net (activity value was NIS 75 million, from which debt of subject to TELDOR was erased). The sold division sales in 2007 comprised some 20% of subject's sales. The move was part of the company's strategic plan to focus on its core activities. As part of the deal subject will cease the marketing activities of SYNERGY CABLES GmbH in Germany.

 

In December 2010 subject realized its holdings (37.5%) in a real estate in Rishon Le-Zion for NIS 20.5 million, money designed to redeem short-term bank loans.

 

According to data by of the Metal, Electrical and Infrastructure Industries Association, representing the local Metal and Electricity Industries, which includes large scale export-oriented industries on one hand and family-owned plants which sell to the local market: 2010 sales (local and export) by the said industries amounted to NIS 70 billion, comprising 25% of Israel's industrial output. Results are similar to 2008 scales, after some 20% drop in 2009 due to the significant slow-down in the local economy, affected by the global financial and economic crisis. Sales for export reached US$ 10 billion in 2010.

Some 90,000 employees serve the said industries (26% of Israel's industrial workforce).

 

Export of products of Basic Metals by the local industry rose in 2011 by 12.6% from 2010, reaching US$2,678.7 million, continuing the growth trend in 2010 when it rose by 39.2% from 2009. Export of Machinery & Equipment also marked 8.3% increase in 2011 (in value of US$2,975.5 million), after 8% rise in 2010.

According to the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), import of metals raw materials to the local industries in 2010 and 2011 showed an increasing trend, after a contraction in 2009 in view of the local and global slow-down in economy. Import of raw materials divided as follows: Iron and Steel - rise by 33.6% in 2010 (after 38% decrease in 2009 from 2008) and by 36.3% in 2011, reaching US$ 2,457 million; Precious Metals - up 22.5% in 2010 (after 35.3% decrease in 2009) and by 2% in 2011 reaching US$ 146.7 million; Non-ferrous Metals - 40.7% rise in 2010 (after 44.3% decrease in 2009 from 2008) and by 20% in 2011, reaching US$ 986.2 million.

 

Despite the current general weakness in local markets (negatively affected by the global economy), 2011 ended with significantly improved economic indicators compared to 2010 in terms of gross domestic investment in machinery and other equipment for the manufacturing industry (excl. ships & aircrafts). Central Bureau of Statistics data reveals that investments -both from import and domestic production- of machinery & equipment rose by over 35% from 2010 (in 2010 it rose by some 10% from 2009, after it fell by 19% from 2008). Total gross domestic investment in machinery & equipment from import alone, rose in 2011 by 52% from 2010 (12% rise in 2010 after falling in 2009 by almost 23%).

 

 

SUMMARY

 

Although subject's financial situation has impoved significantly, for the time being dealings are recommended on a secured basis.

 

Notes:

1.  P.O. Box 400 is an old one, that does not serve subject anymore.

 

2.  Since the beginning of 2012 Israel Post started using a new area code method of 7 digits (the old method of 5 digits will still be valid till end of 2012).

 


 

FOREIGN EXCHANGE RATES

 

Currency

Unit

Indian Rupees

US Dollar

1

Rs.52.68

UK Pound

1

Rs.85.12

Euro

1

Rs.69.38

 

INFORMATION DETAILS

 

Report Prepared by :

MNL

 

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.