MIRA INFORM REPORT

 

 

Report Date :

09.04.2014  

 

IDENTIFICATION DETAILS

 

Name :

HAIFA BASIC OILS LTD

 

 

Registered Office :

P.O. Box 4 Hahistadrut Blvd., Oil Refineries Compound Haifa Bay Industrial Zone Haifa 3100001      

 

 

Country :

Israel

 

 

Financial as on :

31.12.2013

 

 

Date of Incorporation :

13.01.1964

 

 

Legal Form :

Private Limited Company

 

 

Line of Business :

Manufacturers, producers, exporters and marketers of basic oils, process oils, paraffin waxes and wax additives

 

 

No. of Employees

50

 

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 :

Slow but correct

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 – december 01, 2013

 

Country Name

Previous Rating

(30.09.2013)

Current Rating

(01.12.2013)

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 since 2011 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 Tamar field started meeting all of Israel's natural gas demand in 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. In May 2013 the Israeli government, in a politically difficult process, passed an austerity budget to reign in the deficit and restore confidence in the government’s fiscal position

 

Source : CIA

 

 

 


Company name and address

 

HAIFA BASIC OILS LTD.

(Known in short as HBO)

 

Telephone         972 4 878 86 37; 878 80 20

Fax                   972 4 872 74 12

 

P.O. Box 4

Hahistadrut Blvd., Oil Refineries Compound Haifa Bay Industrial Zone HAIFA 3100001  ISRAEL

 

 

HISTORY & LEGAL FORMATION

 

A private limited company, incorporated as per file No. 52-002569-3 on the 13.01.1964.

 

 

SHARE CAPITAL

 

Authorized share capital NIS 700,600.00, divided into -

189,600,000 redeemable preference shares,

6,186,400,000 ordinary shares, all of NIS 0.0001 each,

fully issued.

 

 

SHAREHOLDERS

 

Subject is fully owned by OIL REFINERIES LTD. (ORL in short), a public limited company whose shares are traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE), controlled by:

1.         ISRAEL CORPORATION LTD., 37.08%, a public company whose shares are traded on TASE, controlled (some 52%) by OFER Group, owned by the Ofer family and controlled by Idan Ofer (some 90%) and Udi Angel,

2.         ISRAEL PETROCHEMICAL ENTERPRISES LTD. (IPE), 29.74% (of which 12.96% via fully owned PETROLEUM CAPITAL HOLDINGS LTD. (PCH)), a public company whose shares are traded on TASE, controlled by MODGAL INDUSTRIES (99) LTD. (60.9%, controlled by David Federman & family, Jacob Gotenstein and Alex Pasal), ORL (subject, 12.3%) and KETER PLASTIC LTD. (6.7%, owned by Segol family),

 

ORL became subject’s sole owner on 09.03.2010 after during January – March 2010 it completed the acquisition of the remaining shares, on top of the 50% it already held, from the former shareholders, 3 petrol companies, according to a company value of around NIS 254 million, as follows: In January PAZ OIL COMPANY LTD. sold 24.5% for US$ 16.9 million. In February DELEK THE ISRAELI FUEL CORP. LTD. sold 11.5% for NIS 29.5 million.

In March 2010 SONOL ISRAEL LTD. sold some 14% for NIS 35.6 million.

 


 

DIRECTORS

 

Aharon (Arik) Yaari, General Manager, also of ORL,

Ronen Chitterer, Deputy General Manager,

Ms. Margalit Fine,

Nir Adler,

Mrs. Einat Klein-Klech.

 

 

BUSINESS

 

Manufacturers, producers, exporters and marketers of basic oils, process oils, paraffin waxes and wax additives (for the candles industry), etc.

Subject produces some 70,000 tons of products per annum.

Also providers of laboratory services for oil and wax.

Subject is part of the Petrochemical Division (Oils and Waxes segment) in ORL.

23% of oil sales and 50% of wax sales are for export.

 

Sales are to all leading local fuel companies, mainly subject’s former shareholding partners and their subsidiaries, including PAZ OIL, DELEK FUEL, SONOL ISRAEL) and to foreign oil companies.

 

ORL is subject's main supplier.

 

Operating from ORL's owned compound premises (very long-term leased from the State), on an area of 1.6 million sq. meters, of which 43,000 sq. meters serves subject (which ORL leases to subject), in Hahistadrut Blvd., Oil Refineries Compound, Haifa Bay Industrial Zone, Haifa.

 

Having some 50 employees.

There are 1,502 employees serving ORL Group (had 1,524 in end of 2012).

 

 

MEANS

 

Subject’s a/m shares acquisition in 2010 by ORL was according to a company value of NIS 254.4 million for subject.

 

Assets and liabilities attributed to the Oils & Waxes Segment of ORL Petrochemical Div. (practically to subject) as of 31.12.2013:

Total assets US$ 55 million (current assets: US$ 34 million)

Total liabilities US$ 17 million (current liabilities: US$ 16 million).

 

ORL current market value US$ 945.4 million.

 

There are no charges registered on the company's assets.

 

 

 

Financial data is included in the consolidated B/S of parent company, OIL REFINERIES LTD., which shows:

                                                            US$ (thousands)

                                                            31.12.2012     31.12.2013

ASSETS

 

Current assets

            Cash and cash equivalents        256,521 82,765

            Customers                                721,601 790,675

            Other debtors                            88,727              69,073

            Other current assets                  51,705              56,085

            Inventories                                1,049,037             905,586

                                                            2,167,591          1,904,184

Non-current assets

            Fixed assets, net                       2,419,231          2,349,607

            Loans & long-term debts           83,374  81,312

            Financial derivatives                  103,596 70,226

            Other non-current assets               173,854             122,990

                                                            2,780,055          2,624,135

                                                            4,947,646          4,528,319

 

 

LIABILITIES

 

Current liabilities                        2,621,992          2,308,952

Non-current liabilities

            Long-term liabilities for banks    898,678 802,719

            Debentures                               518,879 543,881

            Other non-current liabilities              99,306              88,039

                                                            1,516,863          1,434,639

Equity                                       808,791    784,728

                                                            4,947,646          4,528,319

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

 

 

In its 2013 annual financial statements, ORL's CPA noted that as of 31.12.2013 ORL Group and ORL itself have deficit in working capital of US$ 405 million and

US$ 361 million, respectively. As of 15.07.2013 ORL received a waiver from all the local banks regarding meeting its financial covenants (which it failed to meet during previous periods) – see below on a later waiver.

In mid July 2013 ORL received its bonds holders' approval for providing

US$ 135 million as collateral for CARMEL OLEFINS's debts, securing fund and interest payments till April 2015.

 

In October 2013 ORL received a waiver from the holders of the non-tradable bonds regarding meeting its financial covenants (which it did not meet as of 30.09.2013).

 

In July 2013 ORL raised NIS 400 million in a private placement of bonds.

On the 19.12.2013 MA'ALOT raised ORL's bond rating to BBB (from BBB-), leaving the "Credit Watch" status, following a successful raise of NIS 319.7 million (~US$ 80 million), and issuing rights in volume of US$ 150 million, enabling ORL to meet its 2014 financial liabilities.

On the 01.12.2013 ORL received from its bank creditors, waivers, including new financial covenants, as well debt re-arrangement and restructure agreements (conditioned the successful a/m raise of US$ 80 million and rights issuing).

In December 2013 ORL raised NIS 528.4 million issuing shares to the public, according to its arrangements with the banks and includes shareholders investments (to keep their relative share).

 

As part of ORL’s strategic plan from November 2007, ORL erected a new facility for refined oil products with investment of US$ 530 million, which started operations in January 2013. For the sake of financing the move ORL signed for credit facilities, with a funding consortia headed by BANK HAPOALIM LTD. for credit line of US$ 600 million (no guarantees), and another US$ 300 million credit (for equipment purchase) from American EXIM jointly with other Export Credit Agencies in Europe.

 

 

REVENUES

 

                        OIL REFINERIES LTD.

                        Consolidated Statement of Income

                        US$ (thousands)

                        For Year ended on 31.12

                                    2011    2012    2013

Income                         9,561,601          9,673,156          9,995,383

 

Gross profit                  171,924 102,897 258,558

 

Operating profit (loss)   13,897  (90,505)            43,645

 

Loss before income tax (97,153)           (263,939)           (132,490)

 

Net loss                        (76,466)           (198,448)           (166,861)

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

 

ORL suffered in 2011/2 from the volatility in the global oil markets and decrease in refining margins, resulting in significant losses (as above).

 

Sales attributed to the Oils & Waxes Segment of ORL Petrochemical Div. (practically to subject):

 2010 sales were US$ 80,363,000, making an operating profit of US$ 7,605,000. Subject ended 2010 with a net profit of US$ 8,918,000.

2011 sales were US$ 102,781,000, making an operating profit of US$ 9,080,000. Subject ended 2011 with a net profit of US$ 6,918,000.

2012 sales were US$ 91,344,000, making an operating loss of US$ 7,371,000. Subject ended 2012 with a net loss of US$ 7,064,000.

2013 sales were US$ 68,592,000, making an operating loss of US$ 6,298,000. Subject ended 2013 with a net loss of US$ 7,290,000.

 


OTHER COMPANIES

 

HABOL TRADE & INSURANCE LTD., 100%, registered in Bermuda.

 

OIL REFINERIES LTD., dealing in refining, production, trade, export and marketing of crude oil and its products according to a franchise received to build, operate and maintain installations and auxiliary plants for refining oils and minerals.

As of March 2012 (following a re-organization), ORL operates in 3 divisions/ sector: Fuels (ORL), Polyolfines (via CARMEL OLEFINS (polymers), GADIV (aromatics) and Oils and Waxes (via subject). Main subsidiaries:

CARMEL OLEFINS LTD., 100%, manufacturers and marketers of raw materials for the plastic and petrochemical industries, also fully owns COLLAND POLYMERS B.V., DUCOR PETROCHEMICALS B.V., DUCOR MERSEYWEG B.V., DUCOR BOTLEK V.O.F. B.V., all of Holland, COLINS LTD., Guernsey, CARMEL OLEFINS (U.K.) LTD.

GADIV PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRIES LTD., 100%, developers, manufacturers, exporters and marketers of a wide range of petrochemical products, including aromatics, aliphatic solvents and intermediates.

UNITED OIL EXPORT CO. LTD., 25%, ships refueling.

TANKER SERVICES LTD., 25%, operating leased tankers.

MERCURY AVIATION LTD., 31.25%.

O.R.L SHIPPING LTD., 100%.

GADOT BIOCHEMICAL INDUSTRIES LTD., 23.6%, biochemical acids and salts manufacturing.

ORL TRADING LTD.,

 

ISRAEL CORPORATION LTD., controlled by Ofer family, a public holding company. Current market value US$ 4,298.3 million.

 

ISRAEL PETROCHEMICAL ENTERPRISES LTD. (IPE), 12.3%, a holdings publicly traded company (TASE, current market value US$ 7.2 million).

MODGAL INDUSTRIES (99) LTD., a holding company, controlled (50.14%) by MODGAL LTD., equally owned by:

1)         GIMA INVESTMENTS LTD., owned by Alex Pasal (37.5%), Jacob Gottenstein (37.5%), Micha Lazar (12.5%) & Arieh Zilberberg (12.5%),

2)         I.D. FEDERMAN HOLDINGS LTD., owned by Adi Federman (51%), David Federman (32%) and Ms. Shelly Federman (17%).

 

 

BANKERS

 

The First International Bank of Israel Ltd., Haifa Main Branch (No. 006), Haifa, account No. 22411.

Bank Leumi Le’Israel Ltd., Haifa Main Branch (No. 876), Haifa, account
No. 450800/09.

A check with the Central Banks' database did not reveal any negative information regarding subject's a/m accounts.


 

CHARACTER AND REPUTATION

 

There are several lawsuits against ORL, including environmental related ones, though none of them seem to be significant. We did not find specific claims against subject, per-se.

 

The continuing volatility in the global oil markets, and notably the decrease in refining margins, continue to harm ORL Group, which lead to the extensive losses – as described above (in 2012 ORL suffered its largest loss since its privatization). ORL also suffered from the cease of supply of natural gas (see below), though since April 2013, supply of natural gas resumed (from the new reservoirs discovered in the Mediterranean Sea), which is expected to improve the financial status significantly. On top of that, are the heavy costs of the new manufacturing facility and its operation.

ORL launched a massive reorganization plan, which includes executive salary cuts, early retirement plan, and an energetic efficiency plan. The Group also has been taking measures designed to improve the financial position, including reaching agreements with its bankers and bond holders as mentioned above. ORL's banks disallowed it to pay dividends till end of 2013. Yet, Group's financial status is still volatile and the negative economic environment and global events in the energy and refinery sector continues to pose threats.

The latest capital raise and rights issuance is part of the recovery scheme, designed to enable ORL to meet its 2014 liabilities, thus taking ORL's bonds out of the "Credit Watch" status, and receiving bank approvals for the debt arrangements and covenant restructure.

 

ORL is committed to an efficiency plan which will save it US$ 100 million. The banks will also raise ORL's credit frameworks and the factoring transactions in volume of US$ 200 million will be renewed.

 

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.

 

Subject is part of ORL Group, which is considered to be the largest and leading in oil refinery and by-products in Israel.

 

Subject was declared a monopoly in its field by the Antitrust Authority in 1989.

 

Subject's production capacity is 70,000 tons of oils and waxes.

 

In October 2009 the Haifa District Court approved to file a lawsuit, filed by ORL’s former partners in subject, 2 petrol companies DELEK and SONOL, on the sum of NIS 165 million, against ORL, claiming it has acted not in the best of subject. At the time ORL used to hold 50% in subject. ORL submitted an appeal to the Supreme Court. No further data was found on that matter.

 

OFER Group and ISRAEL CORP. are among the largest groups in the Israeli market. ISRAEL CORP. is Israel's largest holding company, also controls mainly ISRAEL CHEMICALS LTD. (52%), a leading global minerals concern, as well as local and global holdings in energy, shipping and hi-tech companies (INKIA ENERGY LTD., TOWER SEMICONDUCTOR LTD., ZIM NAVIGATION LTD.).

 

Federman family, which controls IPE, is a well-known wealthy family, and David Federman is a known businessman with holdings in Israel and overseas, though the holding company I.D. FEDERMAN HOLDINGS LTD. is headed by his son Adi Federman. Yet IPE, has been facing financial difficulties in view of its prospected inability to pay to its bonds holders, who lent them NIS 1.6 billion (bonds currently traded as junk bonds), negotiations (also with its bankers) for debt arrangement are underway, and a "Going Concern' note was attached to IPE's financial statements since Q2-2012 (including 2013 annual financial statement).

 

On 30.12.2009 a transaction was finally completed where ORL acquired from IPE 50% in ORL’s 50% subsidiary CARMEL OLEFINS LTD., reaching 100%, in a share swap transaction: in return IPE was allocated 17.75% of ORL’s (new) shares valued of NIS 841 million. As part of the deal, ORL will sell its 12.3% stake in IPE, in consideration of US$ 40 million.

 

As part of ORL Group process of transferring to natural gas usage, ORL received an approval of its bank creditors in 2010 for an investment of US$ 70 million to erect several facilities for the utilization of natural.

In May 2011 ORL signed a deal for a supply of 1.2 BCM of natural gas with TETHYS SEA for the next 27 months, valued at NIS 1.2 billion. In November 2012 ORL signed an agreement for gas supply from the "Tamar Group" for 5.8 BCM in volume of US$ 1.3 billion.

 

In May 2012 ORL signed an agreement with the Palestinian Authority to supply 50% of Authority's oil products for the next 2 years, in volume of NIS 1.9 billion per year.

 

In September 2012 ORL reported it is checking the possibility of a full merger between ORL, CARMEL OLEFINS and subject into ORL. The merger did not pull through.

 

 

SUMMARY

 

On one hand ORL has been losing in recent periods, facing financial challanges (as described above), while prospects are still vague. On the other hand, ORL managed to recently raise sufficient capital for its 2014 liabilities, and reached a/m agreements with its bank and bonds creditors. Furthermore, ORL is a pivotal industrial corporate in the local economy (supplies 60% of local fuel demand to a "captured clients"), with known shareholders – and as evidence, it has been successful in rising capital and reach agreements with its creditors to-date. Therefore, we figure it is going to meet its commitment, and subject is considered good for trade engagements, though it is hard to evaluate credit frameworks; we see no problems in credits in relative small


 

FOREIGN EXCHANGE RATES

 

Currency

Unit

Indian Rupees

US Dollar

1

Rs.59.95

UK Pound

1

Rs.99.36

Euro

1

Rs.82.15

 

INFORMATION DETAILS

 

Analysis Done by :

DIV

 

 

Report Prepared by :

NIS

 

               

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.