MIRA INFORM REPORT

 

 

Report Date :

03.12.2014

 

IDENTIFICATION DETAILS

 

Name :

PEPKOR RETAIL (PTY) LTD

 

 

Formerly Known As :

SMART-HOLD LTD

 

 

Registered Office :

36 Stellenberg Road, Parow Industria, Cape Town, Western Cape

 

 

Country :

South Africa

 

 

Date of Incorporation :

28.08.1986

 

 

Legal Form :

Private Company

 

 

Line of Business :

Subject is a cash chain selling family fashions and basics in clothing, footwear and textiles to middle to lower-income consumers.

 

 

No of Employees :

±28 000 in the group

 

 

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 1, 2014

 

Country Name

Previous Rating

(31.03.2014)

Current Rating

(01.06.2014)

South Africa

A2

A2

 

Risk Category

ECGC Classification

Insignificant

 

A1

Low

 

A2

Moderate

 

B1

High

 

B2

Very High

 

C1

Restricted

 

C2

Off-credit

 

D

 


 

SOUTH AFRICA - ECONOMIC OVERVIEW

 

South Africa is a middle-income, emerging market with an abundant supply of natural resources; well-developed financial, legal, communications, energy, and transport sectors and a stock exchange that is the 16th largest in the world. Even though the country's modern infrastructure supports a relatively efficient distribution of goods to major urban centers throughout the region, unstable electricity supplies retard growth. The global financial crisis reduced commodity prices and world demand. GDP fell nearly 2% in 2009 but has recovered since then, albeit slowly with 2014 growth projected at about 2%. Unemployment, poverty, and inequality - among the highest in the world - remain a challenge. Official unemployment is at nearly 25% of the work force, and runs significantly higher among black youth. Eskom, the state-run power company, has built two new power stations and installed new power demand management programs to improve power grid reliability. Construction delays at two additional plants, however, mean South Africa is operating on a razor thin margin; economists judge that growth cannot exceed 3% until those plants come on line. South Africa's economic policy has focused on controlling inflation, however, the country has had significant budget deficits that restrict its ability to deal with pressing economic problems. The current government faces growing pressure from special interest groups to use state-owned enterprises to deliver basic services to low-income areas and to increase job growth.

 

Source : CIA


COMPANY NAME

 

ACKERMANS LTD

 

 

PHYSICAL ADDRESS

 

Production Street                                             

KUILS RIVER

Western Cape

 

 

TELEPHONE NUMBER   

 

021 900 1000

 

On investigation it was established that ACKERMANS LTD is a holding company which holds trademarks as well as foreign subsidiary companies of ACKERMANS LTD in Lesotho, Namibia, Botswana and Swaziland. With effect from 1 March 2004, the assets, operations and business of ACKERMANS LTD were transferred as a division into PEPKOR RETAIL LIMITED (Registration Certificate Number: 1986/003435/06).

 

Please see the report on PEPKOR RETAIL LTD.

 


COMPANY NAME

 

PEPKOR RETAIL (PTY) LTD

 

Formerly: SMART-HOLD LTD, the name having been changed on 10 February 2004.

Formerly: TRADEGRO ADMIN LTD, the name having been changed on 19 December 1986.

Formerly: TRADEGRO MANAGEMENT SERVICES LTD, the name having been changed on 28 August 1986.

 

The subject converted from a public company to a private company in February 2013.

 

 

TRADING DIVISION 

 

ACKERMANS (incorporating the operations of HANG TEN)

PEP STORES

PEPCLO MANUFACTURING

PEPKOR FIN (Corporate services)

SHOE CITY

 

 

PHYSICAL ADDRESS

 

36 Stellenberg Road

PAROW INDUSTRIA

Cape Town

Western Cape

 

 

POSTAL ADDRESS   

 

P O Box 6100

PAROW EAST

7501

 

 

TELEPHONE NUMBER   

 

+27 21 929 4800

 

 

FAX NUMBER

 

+27 21 933 5075

 

It was stated by the respondent that the address Production Street, Kuils

River, Cape Town and the telephone number +27219001000 are those of the

ACKERMANS division:

 

It was stated by a respondent that the address Rednor Street, Parow Industria, Western Cape, South Africa. P O Box 6376, Parow East, 7501 and  the telephone number +27 21 937 2300 are those of the PEP division:

 

PEPCO – is a retailer of clothing and houseware, operating as a chain store in small to medium sized towns across Poland and is also a trading division of PEPKOR.

 

 

SHAREHOLDERS

 

100%    PEPKOR LTD (Registration Certificate Number: 1965/007765/06),

            which in turn is owned 100% by PEPKOR HOLDINGS LTD

            (Registration Certificate Number: 2003/020009/06).

 

It was stated that PEPKOR, which delisted from the JSE Securities Exchange (now JSE LTD) South Africa in February 2004 in an offer that valued the group at R2 660 000 000, had sold 7.5% of its shares to a black consortium for R208 000 000 in cash.  The company has sold the stake to MEDU CAPITAL and J & J PRIVATE EQUITY FUND. 

 

MEDU CAPITAL was founded by Nhlanganiso MkwanazI and Ernest January. Its other investments include Ampaglas, Capital Outsourcing Group, VitalAire and Zest.

 

J & J PRIVATE EQUITY FUND was founded by former cabinet minister Jay Naidoo and Jayendra Naidoo and hold stakes in information technology, financial services and industrial companies.

 

 

ASSOCIATE AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

 

PEPKOR (AUSTRALIA) (PTY) LTD

PEPKOR CLOTHING INDUSTRIES LTD

(Registration Certificate Number: 1965/005478/06)

PEPKOR MANUFACTURING LTD

(Registration Certificate Number: 1969/009505/06)

ACKERMANS LTD

(Registration Certificate Number: 1992/002170/06)

DUNNS STORES (PTY) LTD

(Registration Certificate Number: 1998/007991/07)

BEST AND LESS LTD in Australia

 

SHOE CITI HOLDINGS (PTY) LTD. The assets and operations of the company have been incorporated as a division into DUNNS STORES (PTY) LTD with two divisions DUNNS AND SHOE CITI

 

Plus other companies within the PEPKOR group.

 

In October 2000 PEPKOR restructured its operations extensively. It unbundled its holdings in the South African food retailer SHOPRITE and in the UK retail group BROWN & JACKSON PLC to its shareholders. In the case with BROWN & JACKSON, the shares were housed in a new company TRADEHOLD, now listed on the JSE Securities Exchange South Africa and the shares of TRADEHOLD unbundled to PEPKOR shareholders on a pro rata basis.

 

At the same time that the PEPKOR pyramid structure was collapsed and its ultimate holding company, PEPGRO, delisted from the JSE Securities Exchange South Africa this left PEPKOR with the discount clothing retailers PEP, ACKERMANS and BEST & LESS, having previously disposed of STUTTAFORDS and CASHBUILD.

 

 

DIRECTORS

 

The respondent requested that an email be forwarded to lazell@pepkor.co.za requesting updated director details, this was duly sent and should further information be forthcoming the same will be compiled and forwarded to our client. The following directors were obtained from CIPC:

 

L S BRAND                                                       ID No. 6009155054088

S N N CARDINAAL                                            ID No. 6712225176001

C A CRONJE                                                    ID No. 6001185065002

DIRECTORS:  Continued

 

R R SCHOLTZ                                                   ID No. 7010035097083

L LAMBRECHTS                                               ID No. 7506155092082

J H DU TOIT                                                      ID No. 6102055097008

P J ERASMUS                                                  ID No. 6510025150089

J L HAMMAN                                                    ID No. 7011295010083

R G HANEKOM                                                 ID No. 6911055023081

C J KLEM                                                         ID No. 7209265146084

(MS) M S LAURENCE                                        ID No. 7007140243088

L M LOURENS                                                  ID No. 6603155037083

MS E A MORKEL                                              ID No. 6807110158088

J F  PIENAAR                                                   ID No. 5608175119002

W J JACOBS                                                    ID No: 6611015013087

W J MOLLER                                                    ID No: 7006295006084

J E COETZEE                                                   ID No: 7610105020084

R S C CRAEYE                                                 ID No: 6212055205087

S K VOGES                                                      ID No: 7311055095081

MS S SPREETH                                                ID No: 7409040049088

J S VAN ROOYEN                                            ID No. 6512135225082

J D WASSERFALL                                            ID No. 6709285006086

N TOM                                                              ID No. 7212010777088

MS M L HAMMAN                                             ID No. 7108110056086

R S VAN ROOYEN                                            ID No. 6512135225082

T L JAGER                                                        ID No. 6908220592081

 

 

BANKERS

 

It was stated that the PEP and PEPKOR FIN divisions bank with FIRST NATIONAL BANK, Corporate Branch, Cape Town. The PEPCLO division banks with ABSA BANK, Corporate Cape Town Branch.  The ACKERMANS division banks with FIRST NATIONAL BANK, ABSA and NEDBANK.

 

It was stated that the divisions are managed by a cash management scheme controlled by the PEPKOR FIN division of the subject.

 

 

DATE REGISTERED

 

28 August 1986

Registration Certificate Number: 1986/003435/07

 

 

VAT NUMBER

           

Each division has its own VAT number

4390210419 (PEP CLOTHING)

 

 

TAX NUMBER

 

9370415029

 

 

MAJOR OPERATION

 

PEP and ACKERMANS are a cash chain selling family fashions and basics in clothing, footwear and textiles to middle to lower-income consumers.  ACKERMANS owns the largest babywear brand marketed in Southern Africa, under the brand name ABC Baby Company.  The former brand store HANGTEN operation has been incorporated into ACKERMANS.

 

JOHN CRAIG:  Retailer of world leading brands for – Pringle; Polo; Carducci; Crockett and Jones

 

SHOE CITY:  Retailer of adult and children’s footwear and accessories.

 

DUNNS:  Speciality retailer of adult clothing; footwear and accessories.

 

PEPCLO is a manufacturer of clothing. PEPKOR FINANCE deals with administration and finance for the company.

 

MAJOR SUPPLIERS

 

Each division has its own major suppliers. It was deemed by respondents as not necessary for trade references to be submitted by respondents in view of the standing of the subject.

 

 

MAJOR CUSTOMERS OR BUSINESS SECTORS

 

Pep and Ackermans deal with the general public. Pepclo deals with Ackermans and Pep

 

 

AREA OF DISTRIBUTION AND SELLING   

 

South Africa

 

 

EXPORTS

 

It was stated that the Pep division exports to neighbouring countries e.g. Malawi, Zambia and Mozambique.

 

 

TOTAL EMPLOYEES

 

±28 000 in the group

 

 

OTHER PREMISES   

 

The Pep and Ackermans divisions have a total of ±2 800 stores throughout South Africa. There are group companies situated in Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland, Namibia, Zambia, Mozambique and Malawi. Pepclo has a factory at the heading address.

 

 

OWNED OR LEASED

 

 The heading premises are owned by a group property company and most of the branches are retail outlets that are leased

 

 


AUTHORISED SHARE CAPITAL

 

R4 000 divided into 4 000 ordinary shares of R1 each

 

 

ISSUED SHARE CAPITAL

 

R1

 

 

FINANCIALS

 

Full financial information was not forthcoming from respondents at the subject and outside authorities were unable to assist in this respect.

 

PEPKOR is stated to be a dominant player in the South African cash clothing discount market with an annual turnover well in excess of  R10 000 000 000

 

 

AUDITORS    

 

PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS           +27 21 529 2000

 

 

YEAR END

 

JUNE

 

 

INSURANCE BROKERS

 

AON INSURANCE BROKERS

 

 

TRADE REFERENCES

 

NOT APPLICABLE

 

 


COMMENTS

 

This is a well-established and well-connected company.  The subject is considered equal to its normal business engagements.

 

FOREIGN EXCHANGE RATES

 

Currency

Unit

Indian Rupees

US Dollar

1

Rs.61.93

UK Pound

1

Rs.97.39

Euro

1

Rs.77.21                               

 

INFORMATION DETAILS

 

Analysis Done by :

DIV

 

 

Report Prepared by :

SMN

 

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.