MIRA INFORM REPORT

 

 

Report Date :

29.05.2014

 

IDENTIFICATION DETAILS

 

Name :

G.M.G SASPORTAS DIAMONDS LTD. 

 

 

Registered Office :

21 Tuval Street, Diamond Exchange, Yahalom Bldg.. Ramat Gan   5252236

 

 

Country :

Israel

 

 

Date of Incorporation :

05.01.2004

 

 

Com. Reg. No.:

51-348920-3

 

 

Legal Form :

Private Limited Company

 

 

Line of Business :

Manufacturers, Importers, Polishers, Traders, Exporters and Marketers of Diamonds.

 

 

No of Employees :

30 employees.

 

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 – March 31, 2014

 

Country Name

Previous Rating

(31.12.2013)

Current Rating

(31.03.2014)

Israel

A2

A2

 

Risk Category

ECGC Classification

Insignificant

 

A1

Low Risk

 

A2

Moderate Low Risk

 

B1

Moderate Risk

 

B2

Moderate High Risk

 

C1

High Risk

 

C2

Very High Risk

 

D

 


 

Israel ECONOMIC OVERVIEW

 

Israel has a technologically advanced market economy. Cut diamonds, high-technology equipment, and pharmaceuticals are among the leading exports. Its major imports include crude oil, grains, raw materials, and military equipment. Israel usually posts sizable trade deficits, which are covered by tourism and other service exports, as well as significant foreign investment inflows. Between 2004 and 2011, growth averaged nearly 5% per year, led by exports. 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. 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. The economy has recovered better than most advanced, comparably sized economies, but slowing demand domestically and internationally, and a strong shekel, have reduced forecasts for the next decade to the 3% level. Natural gas fields discovered off Israel's coast since 2009 have brightened Israel's energy security outlook. The Tamar and Leviathan fields were some of the world's largest offshore natural gas finds this past decade. The massive Leviathan field is not due to come online until 2018, but production from Tamar provided a one percentage point boost to Israel's GDP in 2013 and is expected to contribute 0.5% growth in 2014. In mid-2011, public protests arose around income inequality and rising housing and commodity prices. Israel's income inequality and poverty rates are among the highest of OECD countries and there is a broad perception among the public that a small number of "tycoons" have a cartel-like grip over the major parts of the economy. 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. Over the long term, Israel faces structural issues, including low labor participation rates for its fastest growing social segments - the ultra-orthodox and Arab-Israeli communities. Also, Israel's progressive, globally competitive, knowledge-based technology sector employs only 9% of the workforce, with the rest employed in manufacturing and services - sectors which face downward wage pressures from global competition.

 

Source : CIA

 

 


company name & aDdress

 

G.M.G SASPORTAS DIAMONDS LTD.

Telephone      972 3 613 51 11

Fax                972 3 613 12 83

Email:            mail@sasportas.co.il

 

21 Tuval Street

Diamond Exchange, Yahalom Bldg.

RAMAT GAN  5252236                   ISRAEL

 

 

HISTORY & LEGAL FORMATION

 

A private limited company, incorporated as per file No. 51-348920-3 on the 05.01.2004.

 

 

SHARE CAPITAL

 

Authorized share capital of NIS 40,000.00, divided into:-

              40,000 ordinary shares of NIS 1.00 each,

of which 1,600 shares amounting to NIS 1,600.00 were issued.

 

 

SHAREHOLDERS

 

1.    Gavriel (Gabi) Sasportas, 25%,

2.    Mimon Sasportas, 25%,

3.    Izhac Sasportas, 25%

4.   Adrian Sasportas, 25%.

 

 

DIRECTORS

 

1.  Mimon Sasportas, General Manager,

2.  Izhac Sasportas,

3.  Gavriel (Gabi) Sasportas.

 

 

BUSINESS

 

Manufacturers, importers, polishers, traders, exporters and marketers of diamonds.

90% of sales are for export.

 

Operating from owned premises, on an area of 100 sq. meters, in 21 Tuval Street (street name is also referred to as 54 Bezalel Street), Diamond Exchange, Yahalom Building (20th Floor), Ramat Gan, and from a diamond factory, on owned are of 100 sq. meters, in Hayetzira Street, Ramat Gan.

 

Having 30 employees.

 

 

MEANS

 

Financial data not forthcoming.

 

There are 2 charges for unlimited amounts registered on the company's assets, in favor of Israel Discount Bank Ltd. (charges placed in 2004 and 2011).

 

 

REVENUES

 

Sales figures not forthcoming.

 

 

OTHER COMPANIES

 

G.M.G. SASPORTAS JEWLERY LTD., inactive.

 

 

BANKERS

 

Israel Discount Bank Ltd., Diamond Exchange Branch (No. 080), Ramat Gan.

 

 

CHARACTER AND REPUTATION

 

Nothing unfavorable learned.

 

Subject's officials refused to provide financial information.

 

Israel's diamond industry remarked on impressive growth in almost all trade parameters in 2013, from the data by Israel's Diamond Administration at the Ministry of Economics: Net export of polished diamonds rose by 11.6% from 2012, reaching US$ 6.2 billion. The market has been volatile in recent years: the branch –in Israel as well as globally- experienced its worst depression in the 2nd half of 2008 and 2009 due to the global economic crisis (almost an entire freeze and collapse in sales of about 70% in the peak of the crisis), then recovered in 2010 and mainly in and fell again in 2012 (net export fell by 23% in 2012 from 2011).

Net rough diamond exports totaled US$2.9 billion in 2013, a mere rise from 2012.

Net imports of polished diamonds remained in similar level as 2012 (after drop by 25% in 2012 from 2011), totaling US$4.3 billion, while net rough diamonds imports summed at US$ 4 billion, 4% up from 2012 (when it fell 13% from 2011).

 

The United States continued to be Israel’s major market for polished diamonds, accounting for 37% of the market in 2013 (35% in 2013). Hong Kong is the next largest market with 27% of exports, with Switzerland accounting for 9.3%, Belgium 7.3%, and India accounting for 2.3% of Israel's polished diamond export.

 

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 global crisis. The Ministry of Economics also assisted the local diamond exporters by providing bank guarantees in total scope of NIS 1 billion.

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, and for a while to paralysis (especially in purchase of raw diamonds) due to uncertainty among local and foreign dealers.

 

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.

 

In June 2013 it was reported that the Police resumed its raids on the diamonds branch, and although names of suspects were not released, sources say that it is also related to the above underground bank affair. In parallel, it is also reported that the Tax Authorities and diamonds dealers' representatives are trying to reach an arrangement for past debts. The Attorney General is in process of preparing indictments.

 

In the end of December 2013 it was reported that 5 diamond dealers were summoned to a hearing (not mandatory) regarding a/m affair, prior to filing an indictment, before the Tel Aviv District Attorney (Tax and Finance sector).

 

 

SUMMARY

 

Notwithstanding the refusal to disclose any details, considered good for trade engagements

 


 

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.59.08

UK Pound

1

Rs.99.20

Euro

1

Rs.80.53

 

 

INFORMATION DETAILS

 

Analysis Done by :

SUB

 

 

Report Prepared by :

MNL

 

 

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.