|
Report Date : |
09.05.2013 |
IDENTIFICATION DETAILS
|
Name : |
EUROSTONE LTD. |
|
|
|
|
Registered Office : |
1 Jabotinsky
Street, Diamond Exchange, Maccabi Bldg.,
Ramat Gan 5252001 |
|
|
|
|
Country : |
Israel |
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|
|
|
Date of Incorporation : |
01.12.2009. |
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Legal Form : |
Private Limited Company |
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|
|
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Line of Business : |
Dealers, processors,
importers, exporters and marketers of diamonds (small stones). |
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No. of Employees : |
18 employees |
RATING & COMMENTS
|
MIRA’s Rating : |
B |
|
RATING |
STATUS |
PROPOSED CREDIT LINE |
|
|
26-40 |
B |
Capability to overcome financial difficulties seems comparatively
below average. |
Small |
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Status : |
Moderate |
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Payment Behaviour : |
Unknown |
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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 – March 31st, 2013
|
Country Name |
Previous Rating (31.12.2012) |
Current Rating (31.03.2013) |
|
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. Its
major imports include crude oil, grains, raw materials, and military equipment.
Cut diamonds, high-technology equipment, and pharmaceuticals are among 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. Israel's economy also has weathered the
Arab Spring because strong trade ties outside the Middle East have insulated
the economy from spillover effects. 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, and production from the Tama field is expected to
meet all of Israel's natural gas demand beginning mid-2013. 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 |
EUROSTONE LTD.
Telephone 972 3 752
01 01
Fax 972 3
752 61 61
1 Jabotinsky
Street
Diamond Exchange,
Maccabi Bldg.
RAMAT GAN 5252001 ISRAEL
A private limited
company, incorporated as per file No. 51-435592-4 on the 01.12.2009.
Authorized share
capital of NIS 100,000.00, divided into:-
100,000 ordinary shares of NIS
1.00 each,
of which 100 shares amounting to NIS 100.00
were issued.
Subject is fully owned by Pinhas (Pini)
Netzer.
Pinhas (Pini) Netzer.
Dealers,
processors, importers, exporters and marketers of diamonds (small stones).
Some 90% of sales
are for export.
Operating from
owned office premises (2 office rooms), in 1 Jabotinsky Street, Diamond Exchange,
Maccabi Building (Rooms No's. 1831/1833), Ramat Gan.
Having 18
employees (had 20 employees in mid 2012).
Financial data not
forthcoming.
There are 3
charges for unlimited amounts registered on the company's assets (various assets,
including real estate assets), in favor of Mizrahi Tefahot Bank Ltd. (last
charge placed January 2012).
Sales data not forthcoming.
Mizrahi Tefahot Bank Ltd., Diamond Business Center Branch (No. 466),
Ramat Gan.
In April 2006, the
Tel Aviv District Attorney filed an indictment against Pinhas Netzer, several
other diamond dealers and a CPA that allegedly assisted the diamond dealers in
evading tax by using front companies, between the years 1997-1999.
We did not find
further information on this case.
Subject's
officials refused to disclose financial data.
Prior to
establishing subject, Pinhas Netzer was a shareholder and a senior partner in
G.N.N. DIAMONDS LTD. for 15 years.
In January 2013 it
was reported that subject and DIAMAZ of Belgium will increase their cooperation
(following the increase in business relationship during 2012), to meet the
demands of the jewelry sector.
Export of polished
diamonds from Israel fell by 23% in 2012 from 2011, after the sector recovered
in 2010 and mainly in 2011 from one of the worst depressions in the global
diamond sector due to the economic crisis in global markets that erupted in
2008. The sector experienced almost an entire freeze and collapse in sales of about
70% in the peak of the crisis. While the global diamond industry experienced
major declines during 2012, Israel saw a steady improvement in its diamond
trade in the third and fourth quarters of the year, according to the Diamond
Administration at the Ministry of Industry & Trade.
The Administration
reported on a strong first 2 months of 2013 with 45% rise in diamond activity,
although 2013 1stQ shows mixed indicators (see below), but it is due
to technical reasons (high goods return
rate due to a large exhibition).
Israel’s net
polished diamond exports stood at US$5.6 billion in 2012, compared a decline of
23% from 2011. Net rough diamond exports totaled US$2.8 billion in
Net imports of
polished diamonds dropped 25% from 2011, totaling US$4.27 billion, while net
rough imports stood at US$3.8 billion, 13 % less than in 2011.
Net polished
diamond exports in 2013 1stQ witnessed 8.3% decrease comparing to
2012 1stQ (reaching US$ 1.601 billion), while export of rough diamonds saw a
2.7% rise (summed at US$ 826 million). Net imports of polished diamonds in the
1stQ 2013 reached US$ 891 million, 10.2% decrease compared with the
parallel period in 2012, whereas import of polished diamonds fell 13% to US$
962 million.
The United States
continued to be Israel’s major market for polished diamonds, accounting for 36%
of the market in 2012 (41% in 1stQ 2013). Hong Kong was the next
largest market with 28% of exports (35% in 1stQ 2013), with Belgium
accounting for 8%, Switzerland 5%, U.K. 5% and the rest of the world 18%.
According to the
President of the Israeli Diamonds Association, in 2010 the trade in the local
diamond sector rolled 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 20,000 persons.
In February 2009,
Israel was ranked as the world’s largest exporter of cut diamonds, followed by
India, Belgium and South Africa.
An affair of an
underground bank shocked the local diamond branch, after in late January 2012
Police raided the Diamond Exchange (after a long undercover operation),
arrested several individuals for investigation, caught diamonds and various
assets worth NIS millions, and blocked several bank accounts. It is suspected
that a group of people, including diamond dealers, run an illegal bank in the
Diamond Exchange compound for loans, money transfer abroad based on fictitious
transactions and exchange in volume of NIS 1 billion for several years.
The affair has
already led to several of reported bankruptcies of local diamond firms, a decrease
of up to 70% in transactions in 2012, frozen bank accounts, a paralysis
(especially in purchase of raw diamonds) even with fear of the a collapse of
the sector, while dealers –local and foreign- face uncertainty.
In March 2012 the
Police decided to lower the profile of the investigation for a while a result
of the big pressure from the diamond branch (to stop the continuing damage
inflicted) and the Government (who is losing US$ hundred millions from decrease
in tax collection). In November 2012 the Police and Tax Authorities recommended
on indictments against the 25 suspects in the affair, among them diamond
dealers, for the said suspicions and obstruction of the investigation.
SUMMARY
Notwithstanding the refusal to disclose
financial details, considered good for trade engagements.
Note: Since the beginning of February 2013
Israel Post has started using a new area code method of 7 digits (the old
method of 5 digits is no longer valid).
DIAMOND INDUSTRY – INDIA
-
From time immemorial, India is well known in the world
as the birthplace for diamonds. It is difficult to trace the origin of
diamonds but history says that in the remote past, diamonds were mined only in
India. Diamond production in India can be traced back to almost 8th
Century B.C. India, in fact, remained undisputed leader till 18th
Century when Brazilian fields were discovered in 1725 followed by emergence of
S. Africa, Russia and Australia.
-
The achievement of the Indian diamond industry was
possible only due to combination of the manufacturing skills of the Indian
workforce and the untiring and unflagging efforts of the Indian diamantaires,
supported by progressive Government policies.
-
The area of study of family owned diamond businesses
derives its importance from the huge conglomerate of family run organizations
which operate in the diamond industry since many generations.
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Some of the basic traits of family run business
enterprises include spirit of entrepreneurship, mutual trust lowers transaction
costs, small, nimble and quick to react, information as a source of advantage
and philanthropy.
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Family owned diamond businesses need to improve on
many fronts including higher standard of corporate governance, long-term
performance – focused strategies, modern management and technology.
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Utmost caution is to be exercised while dealing with
some medium and large diamond traders which are usually engaged in fictitious
import – export, inter-company transactions, financially assisted by banks. In
the process, several public sector banks lost several hundred million rupees.
They mostly diverted borrowed money for diamond business into real estate and
capital markets.
-
Excerpts from Times of India dated 30th
October 2010 is as under –
-
Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council in its
statistical data has shown the export of polished diamonds to have increase by
28 % in February 2013. Compared to $ 1.4 bn worth of polished diamond export in
February, 2012, India exported $ 1.84 billion worth of polished diamonds in
February 2013. A senior executive of GJEPC said, “Export of cut and polished
diamonds started falling month-wise after the imposition of 2 % of import duty
on the polished diamonds. But February, 2013 has given a new ray of hope to the
industry as the export of polished diamonds has actually increased by 28 %. It
means the industry is on the track of recovery and round tripping of
diamonds has stopped completely.” Demand has started coming from the US, the
UK, Japan and China. India’s polished diamond export is expected to cross $ 21
bn in 2013-14.
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The banking sector has started exercising restraint
while following prudent risk management norms when lending money to gems and
jewellery sector. This follows the implementation of Basel III accord – a
global voluntary regulatory standard on bank capital adequacy, stress testing
and market liquidity.
FOREIGN EXCHANGE RATES
|
Currency |
Unit
|
Indian
Rupees |
|
US Dollar |
1 |
Rs.54.16 |
|
UK Pound |
1 |
Rs.83.88 |
|
Euro |
1 |
Rs.70.99 |
INFORMATION DETAILS
|
Report
Prepared by : |
NLM |
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%)
This report is issued at your request without any
risk and responsibility on the part of MIRA INFORM PRIVATE LIMITED (MIPL)
or its officials.