MIRA INFORM REPORT

 

 

Report Date :

10.10.2014

 

IDENTIFICATION DETAILS

 

Name :

ISRAEL MILITARY INDUSTRIES LTD.

 

 

Registered Office :

P.O. Box 1044 (4710001), 64 Bialik Blvd., Ramat Hasharon 4720525

 

 

Country :

Israel

 

 

Date of Incorporation :

1933

 

 

Legal Form :

Private Limited Company

 

 

Line of Business :

Developers, manufacturers, marketers and exporters of arms, ammunition, defense equipment, weapons, home security, and combat systems

 

 

No of Employees :

Not Available

 

 

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 :

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 – June 1, 2014

 

Country Name

Previous Rating

(31.03.2014)

Current Rating

(01.06.2014)

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. 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   

 

ISRAEL MILITARY INDUSTRIES LTD.

(Known as “I.M.I.” in short, or “TAAS” in Hebrew)

Telephone 972 3 548 57 01

Fax 972 3 548 57 29; 548 66 89

P.O. Box 1044 (4710001)

64 Bialik Blvd.

Ramat Hasharon 4720525 Israel

 

 

HISTORY & LEGAL FORMATION

 

Originally established in 1933 as a department in the Ministry of Defense.

Converted into a government-owned private limited company and registered as such as per file No. 52-003636-9 on the 03.07.1989.

 

Originally registered under the name ISRAEL MILITARY INDUSTRIES LTD., which changed to TAAS - ISRAEL INDUSTRIES LTD. on the 12.6.1992, which changed back to the present one on the 22.01.1996.

 

In December 2013, the CEO of the Ministry of Defense signed an agreement for the privatization of subject, after earlier privatization programs failed (see more in CHARACTER).

 

SHARE CAPITAL

 

Authorized share capital NIS 3,500,000,000.00, divided into -

 350,000,000 ordinary shares of NIS 10.00 each, fully issued.

 

 

SHAREHOLDERS

 

Company is fully owned by the State of Israel, through the Ministry of Defense (Minister in charge Moshe Ya'alon).

 

 

DIRECTORS

 

1.     Lt. General (Ret.) Ehud Adam, Chairman,

2.     Yehuda Felber,

3.     Ms. Aliza Sharon,

4.     Ms. Ariela Terner,

5.     Ms. Rut Bar,

6.     Ms. Karni Horan,

7.     Ms. Galia Epstein,

8.     Amit Zaid.

 

 

GENERAL MANAGER

 

Avi Felder.

 

 

BUSINESS

 

Developers, manufacturers, marketers and exporters of arms, ammunition, defense equipment, weapons, home security, and combat systems (over 350 different products).

 

Most of sales are for export. Main local customer: Ministry of Defense (40% of total sales in 2012).

 

Operation is divided into the following: Heavy Ammunition Division, Land System Division, Rocket Systems Division, Advanced Systems Division, Small Caliber Ammunition Division and via subsidiary ASHOT ASHKELON LTD.

 

Note: As part of subjects' privatization procedures, it is in the process of shifting its activities to 2 divisions (Maneuvering Division and Fire Division), as well as part of activities which will be taken to a new (non-privatized) company.

 

Among local suppliers: POLYURETHANE, DEAL ENGINEERS, NORDIA SPRINGS, AHARON YOSEF & SONS, HANITA METAL WORKS, VERED EROSIA, ELBE LEADING TECH., EXTAL, OTTO PERL, TEKTEAM, KIDMAH HANDLING EQUIPMENT, HOR-TAL ENGINEERING, DECTAL, TEFENPLAST, FINKELSTEIN METALS, B.T.I. QUALITY METAL CENTER, MEM BET, A. ADIRAN, WIZLAN, I.C.P.C., MICHSHUR S.Z., PETRUS AVIATION, PALZIV

 

Operating from State leased (owned) premises (including headquarters and several plants), on an area of 7,000 sq. meters, in Ramat Hasharon, and from further 6 plants nationwide, including the "Itzhak", "Givon", "Maltam", "Slavin" plants and subsidiary ASHOT ASHKELON plant.

 

Having 3,482 employees as of end of 2013. Also employs several thousand indirectly employees (sub-contractors). From a report of October 2014, as part of the privatization plan (in which total of 1,170 employees to be laid-off), some 700 employees are expected to retire by end of 2014 – see more CHARACTER.

 

 

MEANS

 

As of 30.09.2013, subject (consolidated) has a deficit in equity of NIS 1,732 million (74.7% of total assets), and a continuous deficit in working capital of 1,965 million. The Government did not publish later figures yet.

Subject has been suffering from a severe cash shortage for many years, and is constantly being fueled by the State to pay its employees (the Government used to fuel cash to subject "automatically" until mid 2000's, after the matter deteriorated and publicly exposed, when it moved to approve fueling money on a case to case basis). Subject also has been "enjoying" the constant receipt of orders from its man client, the Ministry of Defense (which pays in advance, which leaves an open debt).

 

In November 2013 the State fueled NIS 170 million, and additional NIS 140 million in January 2014. According to a report from January 2014, the State will waiver subject loans in volume of over NIS 2.5 billion, as part of subject's privatization process.

According to the report, the privatization total expenses (to tax payers) have reached some NIS 6 billion (NIS 2.3 billion direct expenses).

 

Data from subject's consolidated draft B/S of based on the latest publications by the Government Companies Authority (GCA):

                                                                                                 (NIS)

                                                                              31.12.2012            30.09.2013

Fixed assets, real estate & investments                                925                       984

Total assets                                                                     2,298                    2,318

Total liabilities                                                                  3,537                    4,050

Equity (deficit)                                                                (1,239)                  (1,732)

 

 

Subject's current value for the privatization varies between NIS 1.5 billion – NIS 3 billion (based on subject IP).

 

According to a report from October 2014, subject's accrued orders in volume of NIS 5 billion for the next 3 years.

 

There are 72 charges for unlimited amounts, as well as 9 charges for the amounts of NIS 10,000,000, US$ 945,244, 376,487 and Austrian Schillings 90,060 registered on the company's financial and fixed assets, in favor of local banks and companies.

 

 

REVENUES

 

2009 sales were NIS 1,858 million, making a gross profit of NIS 160.8 million, an operating loss of NIS 142 million, ending with a net loss of NIS 254 million.

2010 sales were NIS 1, 925 million, making a gross profit of NIS 403 million, an operating loss of NIS 51.1 million, ending with a net loss of NIS 164.5 million.

2011 sales were NIS 1,738 million, an operating loss of NIS 146 million, ending with a net loss of NIS 293 million.

2012 sales were NIS 1,859 million, an operating loss of NIS 137 million, ending with a net loss of NIS 247 million.

Sales for the first 9 months of 2013 were NIS 1,190 million (36.4% decrease compared to parallel period in 2012), making an operating loss of NIS 268 million, ending with a net loss of NIS 593 million.

Later sales figures unavailable.

 

According to a report from January 2014, following the privatization, subject is expected to end 2014 with a loss of some NIS 250 million, reach balance in 2015 and move into a profitability of NIS 50 million – NIS 100 million.

 

OTHER COMPANIES

 

ASHOT ASHKELON INDUSTRIES LTD., 85%, shares are traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, maket value US$ 43.7 million, manufacturers of general mechanical precision products, automotive transmission, front and rear axles, propeller shafts, hypoid-helical-berel and spur gears, machine tools, shells

EUROTAAS (EUTA) LTD., 100%, non-active,

 

IMI SERVICES, 100%, USA, marketing in the U.S.A,

IMI TRADING, 100%, USA, purchasing in the U.S.A,

INTERNATIONAL TECHNOLOGIES AND SYSTEMS, 100%, marketing and trade activities,

PLAINDENT, 100%, non-active,

TAAS COLLAGE FOR SECURITY AND CTU, limited partnership, dealing in training and instruction, 75%,

SIMI PTE LTD., 100%, non-active,

SCENT DETECTION TECHNOLOGIES LTD., 11.68%, a joint venture between subject and M.S. TECH LTD., providers of innovative trace detection technology solutions for Homeland Security and Law Enforcement applications.

 

 

BANKERS

 

Bank Hapoalim Ltd., Business Central Branch (No. 600), Tel Aviv, account No. 662195.

A check with the Central Banks' database did not reveal anything detrimental on subject’s a/m account.

 

Bank Otsar Hahayal Ltd., Taas Branch (No. 383), Ramat Hasharon.

Also working with:

Bank Leumi Le’Israel Ltd.

The First International Bank of Israel Ltd.

 

 

CHARACTER AND REPUTATION

 

During all years since 1990s, subject has been suffering financial difficulties and losses. As noted, subject has deficits in equity and in working capital, and relies on State fueling to meet is liabilities, mainly salary payments. The continuance of government support, despite the problems, is due to subject being a vital strategic industry for the State's defense interests.

 

A main chronic problem has been the financing of retirement pensions of over NIS 200 million per year. All the time, the Israeli government has been taking steps in order to stabilize subject and to promote its privatization, however subject is still remains state-owned and financially troubled.

 

Significant streamlining measures have been taken in saving costs on one hand, and increasing sales on the other, which somewhat improves subject’s status.

Subject went through several recovery attempts, including couple of years ago a failure to merge subject with RAFAEL ADVANCED DEFENSE SYSTEMS LTD., also State owned. Following the results of a Parliamentary Committee, in December 2011 the Government, the Labor Union, employees and the Financial Committee of the Parliament agreed on a privatization of subject (excluding governmental companies), at the end of 2012.

 

Several layouts for subject's privatization were given, and on the 18.12.2013 the Director General of the Ministry of Defense signed the final privatization plan, according to which subject is to be split into 3 companies: 1) Subject (which will carry all of subject's debts, practically a holding company), 2) ISRAEL MILITARY INDUSTRIES SYSTEMS (hereafter NEW IMI), which will have a positive equity and will be the company to be privatized, and 3) TOMER, which will remain a State company (which will assume subject's rocket propulsion and tank and armored vehicles activity, and some 400 employees will be transferred to it).

 

According to the plan, 1,170 employees will be laid-off, and NEW IMI will operate 2 main business segments (instead of current 5).

 

In April 2014 the Government Financial committee approved the privatization scheme (following an agreement reached between subject, the Union and the State). According to the plan, in the beginning of 2015 an address will be made to private investors (who must be Israeli citizens), and reaching privatization by 2016.

 

Also part of the plan, subject will leave its current property in Ramat Hasharon (which is a very lucrative real estate property thanks to its central location) by 2020 (as part of a deal between the Ministries of Finance and Ministry of Defense to evacuate military bases located in the center of Israel).

 

Subject is long established and well known for its pioneering technological developments and quality military systems.

 

Subject, jointly with 3 other Israeli companies, was ranked in 2007 among the world's top 100 defense and military companies by the American weekly "Defense News".

 

In March 2012 subject was put in the Indian Black List, due to allegations of bribery. As part of the sanctions of being on the list, subject is prohibited to supply India for 10 years. The loss of the Indian market (one of the leading customers of Israeli military products) is a major blow for subject. The Indian investigation, which took place in the past 3 years, excluded subject from participating in indian tenders.

 

In April 2012 the Indian Government made a seizure on subject'sUS$ 44 million bank colatral on behalf of Indian company OFB, which was intended for the erection of a plant in India.

Subject said it would appeal. In May 2013 the Indian Supreme Court rejected subject's appeal.

 

In February 2005, subject sold its loosing “Magen plant” of the Small Arms Division activities (light ammunition), for a sum of US$ 15 million to ISRAEL WEAPON INDUSTRIES LTD. of businessman Sami Katsav.

 

In 2007 subject received supply contracts in value of NIS hundreds of millions to the Israeli Ministry of Defense (massive purchase move was after the 2nd Lebanon War in 2006 for ammunition of all sorts in volume of NIS 450 million, as well as US$ 70 million from American Assistance money). Among other projects was development of defense systems for buildings and facilities in face of the rockets attacks near the Gaza Strip; and developments of defense systems for the Israel Defense Force future Armored Vehicle, the "Tiger".

 

In December 2007, the Israeli Government decided to terminate the unsuccessful attempt to privatize and sell subject's subsidiary ASHOT ASHKELON. The procedure, which started with a tender published by GCA in 2003/4, got complicated and halted due to Court orders. There were allegations of misconduct by the GCA selling procedures, regarding the winning Group. ASHOT is veteran and well-known, financially solid and profitable.

 

Among major transactions in the last years is with the Turkish Government, in which subject ameliorated 170 old M60 tanks for the Turkish Army in volume of US$ 687 million.

 

In April 2008, US Navy ordered subject’s deception systems for aircrafts (firing rockets from the aircraft which creates imaginary decoys for radars), in value of NIS 30 million.

 

In April 2009 it was reported that subject is involved jointly with SOLTAM (and other Israeli sub-contractors) in a major multi-year contract for artilery weapon and ammunition signed with the Ministry of Defense of Kazakhtan in a project of upgrading the Khazakhi Army at estimated value of US$ 250 million. Due to claims on supply of damaged equipment and allegations (by the Khazakhi Secret Service) on briberies, the Khzakhi Government halted the equipping deal (which was partly supplies). Subject’s officials denied all allegations.

 

In October 2009 it was reported that subject together with EBA&D of USA will establish a joint company to provide protection and shielding solutions.

 

In July 2010 it was reported that subject received orders in volume of US$ 210 in Asia.

 

In December 2012 subsidiary ASHOT and the Ministry of Defense signed a deal in which ASHIOT will supply heavy armored vehicles components in volume of NIS 1.72 billion.

 

According to a report from February 2013, subject and ELBIT SYSTEMS will supply a satellite in volume of US$ 100 million, following a sale in of a satellite to the Italian Ministry of Defense 2012

 

Israel is considered one of the largest exporters of military and defense equipment in the world. Asia is the largest geographical market for Israeli export, while the U.S.A. is the largest country market for the military and defense industries' export.

Export level fell significantly in 2011 due to the unfavorable global economic circumstances, however climbed back by 20% in 2012 to US$ 7.4 billion.

Sales by the 4 largest local defense industries (ELBIT, IAI, RAFAEL and IMI) comprise some 85% of overall sales.

 

 

SUMMARY

 

Notwithstanding subject's losses, being a state owned company, considered good for trade engagements. We figure that now, the fact that subject's privatization process appears to be a done deal after its approval by the government and labor union, has a positive impact, therefore subject is suitable also for credits (at least of several hundred thousand US$).

 

Note: Since 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).

 

 

 


 

FOREIGN EXCHANGE RATES

 

Currency

Unit

Indian Rupees

US Dollar

1

Rs.61.04

UK Pound

1

Rs.98.64

Euro

1

Rs.77.74

 

 

INFORMATION DETAILS

 

Analysis Done by :

SUB

 

 

Report Prepared by :

TPT

 


 

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.