MIRA INFORM REPORT

 

 

Report Date :

04.12.2014

 

IDENTIFICATION DETAILS

 

Name :

UNITY DIAMOND DISTRIBUTORS (PTY) LTD

 

 

Registered Office :

27 Ridge Road 209, 2nd Floor East Tower PARKTOWN Johannesburg Gauteng

 

 

Country :

South Africa

 

 

Date of Incorporation :

04.01.1982

 

 

Com. Reg. No.:

1982/000009/07

 

 

Legal Form :

Private Company

 

 

Line of Business :

Importers and sellers of polished diamonds

 

 

No. of Employees :

±10 permanent staff

 

 

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 :

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

 

UNITY DIAMOND DISTRIBUTORS (PTY) LTD

 

 

Address

 

PHYSICAL ADDRESS:

27 Ridge Road

209, 2nd Floor

East Tower

PARKTOWN

Johannesburg

Gauteng

 

POSTAL ADDRESS:    

P O Box 2940

PARKLANDS

2121

 

TELEPHONE NUMBER:            +27 11 484 2594 / 5 / 6

 

FAX NUMBER:              +27 11 484 3219

 

 

SHAREHOLDERS

 

M GERSCHLOWITZ

B B SHER

 

The percentage shareholding was declined by the respondent.

 

 

ASSOCIATE COMPANIES

 

None

 

 

DIRECTORS

 

M GERSCHLOWITZ                   ID No. 7208175204082

B B SHER                                 ID No. 5110235032085

 

 

BANKERS

 

STANDARD BANK, Smal Street Branch. Further information regarding banking facilities was not forthcoming from the respondent as they consider the information private.

 

 

DATE REGISTERED

 

4 January 1982

Registration Certificate Number: 1982/000009/07

 

The business commenced as a new business in 1982.

 

 

VAT NUMBER

 

4550121067

 

 

TAX NUMBER

 

9629145849

 

 

BEE STATUS

 

Non-compliant

 

 

MAJOR OPERATION

 

Importers and sellers of polished diamonds.

 

 

MAJOR SUPPLIERS

 

The subject imports the diamonds from overseas and deals with a local clearing agent. It was stated that they consider the industry very sensitive and competitive therefor declined to assist with further details.

 

Previously, we have divulged the names of the major suppliers in our reports. We have discontinued this practice to protect our valuable sources of trade information.  This has become necessary because we now give a description of the goods or services to which the trade references relate.  This gives our client the ability to assess whether  the purchases are vital to the subject’s operation and whether we have only been given their essential suppliers that must be paid promptly for the subject to maintain its operation.

 

 

MAJOR CUSTOMERS OR BUSINESS SECTORS

           

Jewellery traders

 

AREA OF DISTRIBUTION AND SELLING:          Worldwide

 

EXPORTS:                                                       Worldwide

 

 

TOTAL EMPLOYEES      

 

±10 permanent staff.

 

 

OTHER PREMISES              

 

None

 

 

OWNED OR LEASED

 

The premises are reported to be leased.

                       

 

AUTHORISED SHARE CAPITAL

 

R1 000 divided into 1 000 ordinary shares of R1 each

 

 

ISSUED SHARE CAPITAL

 

R100

 

 


FINANCIALS

 

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

 

 

AUDITORS    

 

GRUZD ZETS & COMPANY (Tel No. 011 442 3010)

 

 

YEAR END         

 

FEBRUARY

 

 

INSURANCE BROKERS

 

ASSOCIATED INSURANCE BROKERS

 

 

TRADE REFERENCES – MARCH 2009

 

ACCOUNT        HIGHEST          AVERAGE        TERMS PAYMENT        EXPERIENCE

OPENED          CREDIT            CREDIT                        PATTERN

 

1.a        +1998   open limit          R     30 000 -     30 days            30 days            Good

                                                R     40 000       (domestic)

 

1.b       undisclosed      R2 000 000 -      current  current

                                    R6 000 000        (international)

 

TRADE REFERENCES – JANUARY 2010:

 

ACCOUNT        HIGHEST          AVERAGE        TERMS PAYMENT        EXPERIENCE

OPENED          CREDIT            CREDIT                        PATTERN

 

1.a        1998     declined            figures  35 days            35 days            Good

 

1.b       1998     undisclosed      R   100 000-      current  current  Very Good

                                                R6 000 000

 

TRADE REFERENCES – OCTOBER 2010:

 

ACCOUNT        HIGHEST          AVERAGE        TERMS PAYMENT        EXPERIENCE

OPENED          CREDIT            CREDIT                        PATTERN

 

1.         8 – 9 years        R50 000+          R50 000            30 days            30 days            Very Good

 

TRADE REFERENCES – MAY 2011:

 

ACCOUNT        HIGHEST          AVERAGE        TERMS PAYMENT        EXPERIENCE

OPENED          CREDIT            CREDIT                        PATTERN

 

1.         1998     declined            declined            30 days            30 days            Excellent

 

CURRENT TRADE REFERENCES:

 

ACCOUNT        HIGHEST          AVERAGE        TERMS PAYMENT   EXPERIENCE

OPENED          CREDIT            CREDIT                        PATTERN

 

1.         10 years            Declined figures            30 days            30 days            Good

 

NATURE OF GOODS OR SERVICES SUPPLIED:

(These descriptions relate respectively by number to the above current trade transactions):

 

1.         Transport and delivery services.

 

                       

COMMENTS

 

This is an established company that is not a general credit seeker locally.  The subject is considered equal to its normal business engagements on a secured basis.  The lack of financial and banking information should be borne in mind.

 


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.

-            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.

-            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.

-            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.

 

-            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.61.89

UK Pound

1

Rs.96.83

Euro

1

Rs.76.57

 

INFORMATION DETAILS

 

Analysis Done by :

SUB

 

 

Report Prepared by :

SHG

 

               

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.