MIRA INFORM REPORT

 

 

Report Date :

25.02.2013

 

IDENTIFICATION DETAILS

 

Name :

GAT GIVAT HAIM COOPERATIVE SOCIETY FOR PRESERVATION OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS LTD.

 

 

Formerly Known As :

GAT FOOD CANNERIES LTD.,

 

 

Registered Office :

M.P Hefer Givat Haim Meuchad  3893000           

 

 

Country :

Israel

 

 

Year of Incorporation :

1942

 

 

Legal Form :

Agricultural Cooperative Society (ACS)

 

 

Line of Business :

Processors, manufacturers, marketers and exporters of raw materials for the juice industry, natural juices, citrus concentrates, citrus bases, frozen juice concentrates (brand name "Prigat"), other soft drinks, canned peanuts and other nuts, etc. Also manufacturers and marketers of raw materials to the citrus field.

 

 

No. of Employees :

380

 

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 :

No Complaints

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 – June 30th, 2012

 

Country Name

Previous Rating

(31.03.2011)

Current Rating

(30.06.2012)

Israel

A2

A2

 

Risk Category

ECGC Classification

Insignificant

 

A1

Low

 

A2

Moderate

 

B1

High

 

B2

Very High

 

C1

Restricted

 

C2

Off-credit

 

D

 

 

ISRAEL - ECONOMIC OVERVIEW

 

Israel has a technologically advanced market economy. It depends on imports of crude oil, grains, raw materials, and military equipment. Cut diamonds, high-technology equipment, and agricultural products (fruits and vegetables) are the leading exports. Israel usually posts sizable trade deficits, which are covered by tourism and other service exports, as well as significant foreign investment inflows. The global financial crisis of 2008-09 spurred a brief recession in Israel, but the country entered the crisis with solid fundamentals - following years of prudent fiscal policy and a resilient banking sector. The economy has recovered better than most advanced, comparably sized economies. In 2010, Israel formally acceded to the OECD. Natural gasfields discovered off Israel's coast during the past two years have brightened Israel's energy security outlook. The Leviathan field was one of the world's largest offshore natural gas finds this past decade. In mid-2011, public protests arose around income inequality and rising housing and commodity prices. The government formed committees to address some of the grievances but has maintained that it will not engage in deficit spending to satisfy populist demands.

Source : CIA


                                                                                                       

Company name and address

 

GAT GIVAT HAIM COOPERATIVE SOCIETY FOR

PRESERVATION OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS LTD.

(Also known as: GAT FOOD CANNERIES LTD., or "PRIGAT")

Telephone                           972 4 636 88 11

Fax                                     972 4 636 88 92

M.P Hefer

GIVAT HAIM MEUCHAD  3893000-ISRAEL

 

 

HISTORY & LEGAL FORMATION

 

Originally established in 1942 as an industrial department of Givat Haim Ihud and Givat Haim Meuchad, both cooperative societies, operating communal agricultural settlements (kibbutzim).

 

Converted into an Agricultural Cooperative Society (ACS) and registered as such as per file No. 57-000096-8 on the 17.07.1958.

 

 

OWNERSHIP

 

1.           ISRAEL BEER BREWERIES LTD., 51.33%, owned by THE CENTRAL BOTTLING CO. (CBC) (85%, owned by Moshe (Mosi) Wertheim & Family), Ron Kobrovsky (6%), Ram Shalev (6%) and Benjamin Rottenberg (3%),

2.           Kibbutz Givat Haim Meuchad, 24.33%,

3.           Kibbutz Givat Haim Ihud, 24.33%, both latter are agricultural co-operative societies, operating communal agricultural settlements.

 

In 2000 ISRAEL BEER BREWERIES LTD. acquired 16% of subject’s shares, according to a company value of US$ 40 million.

In August 2002, ISRAEL BEER BREWERIES LTD. decided to take on its option to increase shares in subject from 16% to 33.3%.

In November 2008, the COCA COLA ISRAEL Group (via ISRAEL BEER BREWERIES) acquired 18% from shareholders 2 & 3 (see more CHARACTER), reaching 51.33%, for the sum of NIS 80 million.

 

 

MANAGEMENT

 

1.    Itzik Bader, Chairman,

2.    Efraim Renart, General Manager,

3.    Shlomo Graziani, heads the Group's overseas operations.

 

 

BUSINESS

 

Processors, manufacturers, marketers and exporters of raw materials for the juice industry, natural juices, citrus concentrates, citrus bases, frozen juice concentrates (brand name "Prigat"), other soft drinks, canned peanuts and other nuts, etc.

Also manufacturers and marketers of raw materials to the citrus field.

 

Manufacturing of natural juices is also carried out by sister company INTERNATIONAL BEER BREWERIES LTD.

 

Exports (including citrus concentrates and juices), some 80% of total sales, to 40 nations worldwide, including France, Germany, UK, Eastern Europe, the Far East and the USA.

Citrus based drinks are distributed by CENTRAL BOTTLING CO. LTD.

Other cold products are distributed by TNUVA, a leading food distributor in Israel.

 

Among subject’s main customers are all local supermarket chains, including the two leading ones SHUFERSAL and MEGA BOOL, as well as food chains (MCDONALD'S, BURGER RANCH, etc.), hotels and restaurants.

 

Among local suppliers: PACHMAS, ARN PACKAGING NACSHON, GADOT CHEMICALS, FRUTAROM, GOLD BAR, I.M.A.- ITZUR MUTZAREI ARIZA, TADBIK-PACK, BEST CARTON, CHEMICHLOR, AMRAZ, MEDIJUICE, etc.

Advertising agency: JWT.

 

Operating from owned premises, offices and plant on an area of 63,000 sq. meters, 42,000 sq. meters of which are built, located in Kibbutz Givat Haim Menuchad (near the city of Hadera).

Also has manufacturing activities in ISRAEL BEER BREWERIES’ plant in 5 Bar-Lev Street, Ashkelon, and has several citrus manufacturing partnerships in Romania, Bulgaria, South Africa, Spain and the Netherlands.

 

Having 380 employees (had 370 employees in mid 2012, same as in 2011, had 340 employees in end of 2009).

Having over 4,500 employees serving the whole CBC Group.

 

 

MEANS

 

Financial details not forthcoming, however known to be financially solid, drawing on the strength of the COCA COLA ISRAEL Group.

According to media reports in the purchase of 18% of subject by COCA COLA ISRAEL, subject was valued at NIS 350 million.

 

REVENUES

 

2010 sales claimed to be NIS 600,000,000, of which 70% were for export.

2011 sales claimed to be NIS 650,000,000, of which 75% were for export.

2012 sales claimed to be NIS 7000,000,000, of which 80% were for export.

 

CBC Group sales known to be hundred US$ millions, estimated at over  NIS 2,000 million. These are only estimations, as the Group's policy is not to release any financial data or comment to such estimations. Annual operating profit estimated at NIS 400-500 million.

 

 

BANKERS

 

Bank Leumi Le'Israel Ltd., Netanya Business Branch (No. 717), Netanya.

Bank Hapoalim Ltd., Hadera Branch (No. 620), Hadera.

Mercantile Discount Bank Ltd., Hadera Branch (No. 677), Hadera.

Israel Discount Bank Ltd., Main Tel Aviv Branch (No. 010), Tel Aviv.

 

 

OTHER COMPANIES

 

ISRAEL BEER BREWERIES LTD., (also known as CARLSBERG ISRAEL LTD.), producers and marketers of beer under the trade mark "Carlsberg" and "Tuborg", as per license granted by plant in Denmark, also control:

I B B L SPIRIT LTD., 100%, sole agents, importers and marketers of leading international alcoholic beverages and spirits (concessionaires of DIAGEO and brands "Johnny Walker", "Smirnoff", "Gordon's", “Bushmills”, etc.).

TABOR WINERY (2005) LTD., fully owned by I B B L, a winery, operating a vineyard, producers of wine under the label of "Tabor Wine".

 

Also in the "PRIGAT" Group (though activities are marginal):

PRIGAT INTERNATIONAL LTD., in charge of the provision of manufacturing concessions to foreign manufacturers, for nectars and soft drinks under the brand name "Prigat".

PRIGAT MANAGEMENT 2001 LTD.,

GAT FOODS & SNACKS, LP, 50%, a limited partnership (50% by LEIMAN SCHLUSSEL LTD.), manufacturers and marketers of mixed nuts under the brand “Prigat Pitzuhim”.

As well as: FROZO (Panama, a trading company), AMGAT (50%, SPAIN, citrus processing), PRIGAT HOLLAND (100%), PROGIO SWITZERLAND, 50%),

SIGAT (ROMANIA), 25%, manufacturers and marketers of juices.

 

THE CENTRAL BOTTLING CO. LTD. (CBC in short, also known as "Coca Cola Israel"), local concessionaires and producer of Coca Cola, Sprite, Fanta, etc. It is owned by the Wertheim family headed by Moshe (Mosi) Wertheim, who gained full control in CBC after acquiring the Late Abe Feinberg part in subject in early 2000s (for US$ 250 million, reportedly).Consolidated annual sales estimated above US$500 million. Other main subsidiaries:

THE CENTRAL BEVERAGE DISTRIBUTION COMPANY LTD. the Group's distribution arm.

NEVIOT- NATURE OF GALILEE LTD., some 89%, producers, manufacturers and marketers of mineral water.

UNITED ROMANIAN BREWERIES, some 65%, concessionaires of "Carlsberg" Beer in Romania (manufacturing and marketing).

MASHKAR LTD., 100%, operators of automatic soft drinks vending machines

MILCO INDUSTRIES LTD. (known as TARA DAIRIES), 100%, a dairy, producers and distributors of dairy products. Local concessionaires of "Muller".

AMRAZ LTD., 20%, manufacturers, marketers and exporters of plastic bottles and other packaging products for soft drinks and other industries.

INFO PROD RESEARCH (MIDDLE EAST) LTD., 45%, market research.

 

And many others controlled by the Wertheim Family in the real estate and financial markets.

 

 

CHARACTER AND REPUTATION

 

In May 2009, a motion was submitted to the Tel Aviv District Court for the approval as a class action lawsuit against subject. The plaintiffs claim that subject sold its some of its juices under the label "Freshly Squeezed", where in fact the juices were from concentrate.

In December 2011, another motion was submitted to the Tel Aviv District Court for the approval as a class action lawsuit against subject. The plaintiffs claim that subject sold its some of its diet juices contained sugar.

It should be noted that the procedure for such claims to be approved are usually long and in most cases eventually turned down. We found no further information regarding these matters.

Nothing unfavorable learned apart from the above.

 

Subject is a long established business.

It is a local leading company in the natural juice market and among the leading food companies in Israel. From "Storenext survey, 'Prigat' brand held 5.2% of total soft drinks market in 2011 (down 3.7% from 2010) with local sales of NIS 228 million, and leads the local fruit-based juice market with some 39% share.

Main rival is JAFORA TABORI, with some 33% market share (though with 2 brands).

 

The local beverage market in 2011 fell 1.5% in quantity and grew by mere 1.8% in money terms, reaching NIS 4.39 billion (grew by 8.5% in 2010 in quantity terms from 2009 and by 10.9% in money terms).

 

Subject is ISO 9001 certified.

 

Parent company, COCA COLA ISRAEL (CBC Group), is the largest soft drink manufacturer and distributor and the 4th largest supplier in the local food & beverages sector largest food concerns in Israel, with share of 7.2% of local food & beverage market valued at NIS 32.8 billion in 2012 (7.3% in 2011, similar to 2010). In the beverage sector (solo), subject had 39.5% share in 2011 (39.9% in 2010, 39.1% in 2009).

 

In November 2008, COCA COLA acquired further 18% in subject from Kibbutz Givat Haim Meuchad and Kibbutz Givat Haim Ihud, reaching control. The transaction, said to be based on subject's value of NIS 350 million (where COCA COLA ISRAEL is paying NIS 80 million for the 18%).

Also according to the deal, COCA COLA ISRAEL has a "Call" option to reach full ownership in subject in 8 years from the deal.

 

Mosi Wertheim and family, who control Coca Cola Israel Group, also holds 22.1% in Israel's 4th largest bank MIZRAHI TEFAHOT BANK LTD., 24.8% in public real estate company ALONY-HETZ PROPERTIES & INVESTMENTS LTD., 7.7% in public company KAMOR LTD. (automobile importers and agents) and 51% in KESHET BROADCASTING LTD., one of two franchisees of the popular T.V. Channel 2.

According to a report from January 2012, Moshe (Mosi) Wertheim is in the process of transferring his shares in CBC to his children, David Wertheim (63%) and Ms. Drorit Wertheim (37%). Mosi Wertheim will still control CBC according to a power of attorney from his children.

 

Kibbutz Givat Haim Meuchad, in the Haifa Bay region, was established in 1932, being one of the largest and veteran "Kibbutz" in Israel ("Kibbutz" is a typical local cooperative agricultural settlement/ village), currently with some 370 members.

In 1952 the Kibbutz split and Kibbutz Givat Haim Ihud was established, currently with some 400 members. Both Kibbutz's, besides subject and few other business ventures, are engaged in farming activities, including orchards and field crops, cowsheds and more.

 

In June 2001, subject together with local food importer LEIMAN-SCHLUSSEL established a new company – GAT FOODS, to produce, market and distribute mixed nuts.

 

In November 2001, it was reported that "Prigat", together with AMC of Spain, erected a citrus plant in Spain, in an investment of US$ 10 million.

 

In August 2003, it was reported that subject received the franchise to market the OCEAN SPRAY beverages in Israel.

 

In mid 2008 CARLSBERG A/S, of Denmark, sold its 20% share in subject's parent ISRAEL BEER BREWERIES to the main shareholder, CBC, for US$ 36 million.

 

In October 2008 it was reported that subject is launching "Organic Juice" line, investing NIS 3 million in advertising and branding.

 

In mid 2010, it was reported that subject is launching a re-branding campaign with investment of NIS 10 million.

 

In November 2010 subject launched a series of flavored tea drinks, with reported investment of NIS 10 million, and include promotion campaign.

 

In March 2012, following a successful tender offer, CBC completed the acquisition of NEVIOT, reaching some 90% (the remaining shares are held by Ron Kobrovsky) for NIS 15.2 million, and shares were de-listed from trade on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange.

 

After several years of constant growth, the consumer products market, which includes food, beverages and household and personal care goods, ended 2012 with fixation and even decrease in sales, according to Nilsen Market Research. The decrease intensified over the last quarter of 2012, but was compensated by prices rise. In money terms, the market grew by mere 0.7%, lest than the population growth rate (2% per annum), reflecting the slow-down trend in the local economy which started in 2011 2nd half. Sales in the bar-coded consumer market reached NIS 40.4 billion. Sales of food in 2012 grew by 1.1%, reaching NIS 29.8 billion, while in the beverage market sales fell by 2% to NIS 5.1 billion. Volume of personal care goods rose by 3% to NIS 3 billion, while sale of household increased by 1.5% to NIS 2.7 billion.

 

Sales for exports by the food & beverages industries remained stagnant in 2012, with sales reaching US$ 952.3 million (0.3% decrease from 2011). In 2011 sales for export rose by 16.6% from 2010.

 

Local food industry employs over 61,000 workers.

 

According to Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) data, investments in machinery & equipment from import for the food industry in 2011 summed up to NIS 929.5 million, 47.7% rise from 2010 (after 15.4% increase in 2010), while investments in machinery & equipment from import for the beverage & tobacco industries rose by 2% to NIS 379.7 million (rose 9.7% in 2010).

 

From CBS preliminary National Accounts for 2012, it turns that in 2012 expenditure on private consumption grew by 2.8% from 2011, after rising by 3.8% in 2011. Per-capita expenditure increased by 0.9% (1.9% rise in 2011).

Per capita expenditure for private consumption on non-durable goods rose in 2012 by 1.4% per-capita (1.3% rise in 2011). This rise reflects increases by 1.3% in expenditure on food, beverage and tobacco and 4.5% expenditure on clothing, footwear and personal effects.

 

 

SUMMARY

 

Good for trade engagements.

 

Note: 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.54.43

UK Pound

1

Rs.83.20

Euro

1

Rs.71.91

 

 

INFORMATION DETAILS

 

Report Prepared by :

PRL

 

 

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.