MIRA INFORM REPORT

 

 

Report Date :

22.09.2014

 

IDENTIFICATION DETAILS

 

Name :

ZABAN BECHOR - JEWELLERY LTD.

 

 

Registered Office :

26 Rambam Street Tel Aviv 6581312

 

 

Country :

Israel

 

 

Date of Incorporation :

20.08.1995

 

 

Legal Form :

Private Limited Company

 

 

Line of Business :

Manufacturers, importers, exporters and marketers of fancy jewelry made of gold, and gold combined with precious stones, diamonds.

 

 

No. of Employees :

27 employees

 

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)

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 and address

 

ZABAN BECHOR - JEWELLERY LTD.

Telephone         972 3 516 99 91

Fax                   972 3 516 99 93

26 Rambam Street Tel Aviv 6581312 Israel

 

 

HISTORY & LEGAL FORMATION

 

A private limited company, incorporated as per file No. 51-219285-7 on the 20.08.1995.

 

 

SHARE CAPITAL

 

Authorized share capital NIS 3,000.00, divided into -

            3,000 ordinary shares of NIS 1.00 each,

of which 1,000 shares amounting to NIS 1,000 were issued.

 

 

SHAREHOLDERS

 

Subject is fully owned by Bechor Shushan Zaban.

 

 

SOLE DIRECTOR & GENERAL MANAGER

 

Bechor Shushan Zaban, born 1953.

 

 

BUSINESS

 

Manufacturers, importers, exporters and marketers of fancy jewelry made of gold, and gold combined with precious stones, diamonds.

Subject transferred its retail activity (which operated under the name "B. Zaban") to sister company KORAL MILLENIUIM.

 

22% of sales are for export.

 

Sole local representative of:

Invicta, of USA

 

Advertizing agency: G GROUP.

 

Operating from main premises (offices, retail store), owned by the shareholders, on an area of 270 sq. meters, in 26 Rambam Street (corner of 82 Allenby Street), Tel Aviv.

 

Having 27 employees in subject (had 35 employees in the beginning of 2011), and 175 employees serving ZABAN Group (had 120 employees in Group in the beginning of 2011).

 

 

MEANS

 

In August 2010 it was reported that Group is intending to invest NIS 24 million in opening 12 stores (subject and sister company).

 

Other financial data not forthcoming.

 

There are 7 charges for unlimited amounts registered on the company's assets (financial assets), in favor of Mizrahi Tefahot Bank Ltd., Bank Leumi Le'Israel Ltd. and Bank Hapoalim Ltd. (last 2 charges placed April-September 2013).

 

 

REVENUES

 

2007 sales claimed to be NIS 47,000,000.

2008 sales claimed to be NIS 55,000,000.

2009 sales claimed to be NIS 60,000,000, of which 10% for export.

2010 sales claimed to be NIS 65,000,000, of which 17% for export.

Later sales data not forthcoming.

 

 

OTHER COMPANIES

 

Also owned by Bechor Shushan Zaban:

KORAL MILLENIUIM LTD., 7 retail stores under the name "B. Zaban" (activity taken from subject), as well as operating 36 points of sales for jewelry and watches within the stores of the HAMASHBIR DEPARTMENT STORES, under the style "Coral Jewelry".

ZABAN DIAMONDS B.S. LTD., importers, traders, dealers and exporters of diamonds (small size, up to 1 carat).

 

Bechor Shushan Zaban is also involved in real estate, among others via:

MIKADO SHILUV PROMOTION AND BUILDING LTD.,

RAMOT MIKADO CENTER LTD., both partly owned by Bechor Shushan Zaban.

 

 

BANKERS

 

Mizrahi Tefahot Bank Ltd., Terafon Branch (No. 430), Bnei Brak.

Bank Leumi Le'Israel Ltd., Tel Aviv Central branch (No. 800), Tel Aviv.

 

 

CHARACTER AND REPUTATION

 

Nothing unfavorable learned.

 

Mr. Bechor Zaban is a well-known figure in the local jewelry industry and trade.

 

Prior to establishing subject, Bechor Shushan Zaban held some 50% in the leading jewelry company PAZ CHEN, then a public limited company whose shares traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange. During the 1990’s he sold most of his shares in this company and in 1997, he sold his remaining 6% in this company, for a sum of NIS 5.6 million.

 

In 1998, it was reported that a group of investors, including Bechor Zaban, acquired a plot on an area of 4,000 sq. meters in North Tel Aviv, for a sum of US$ 5.72 million. The group is currently erecting a 5,000 sq. meter commercial center on the plot.

 

In August 2007 it was reported that subject became sole representative of Invicta watches from USA.

 

IN August 2008 it was reported that Group will sell jewelry designed by Aya Azrielant.

 

In August 2010 it was reported that Group is launching an advertizing campaign with an investment of NIS 1 million.

 

In November 2010 it was reported that Group is opening a store in Arena Mall in Herzliya with an investment of NIS 2.5 million.

 

According to the Ministry of Industry, Trade & Labour data, export of Gold, Silver and Fashion Jewelry from Israel in 2012 reached US$ 268.5 million, up from US$ 254.7 million in 2011. These numbers are still well below those prior to the global economic crisis: export level was close to US$ 300 million in 2009, and over US$ 400 in 2007.

The division in export in 2012 was US$ 105.1 million for gold jewelry, and US$ 112 million in silver jewelries, and US$ 51.4 million in fashion jewelry.

 

Import of jewelry in 2012 summed up to US$ 182.9 million, comparing to US$ 189.9 million in 2011. Division of import was: US$ 142.7 million for gold jewelry, US$ 19.8 million in silver jewelries, and US$ 20.4 million in fashion jewelry.

 

There are some 250 jewelry manufacturers, 200 of which are exporters, manufacturing gold jewelry, silver jewelry and other fashionable jewelry.

Most exports are to the USA and Canada and Western Europe

From the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) data, export by the local manufacturers of fine jewelry and imitation jewelry and related articles reached US$ 525 million in 2013, 14% increase from 2012.

 

From CBS data gross imports to Israel in the segment of Jewelry, Watches and Precious Stones in summed up to US$ 219.5 million in 2012, US$ 241.5 million in 2013. Import rose by 5% in the first 4 months of 2014 comparing to the parallel period in 2013.

 

 

SUMMARY

 

Good for trade engagements.

 

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).

 


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.60.81

UK Pound

1

Rs.100.06

Euro

1

Rs.78.47

 

INFORMATION DETAILS

 

Analysis Done by :

 SUB

 

 

Report Prepared by :

SDA

 

               

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%)

 

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This report is issued at your request without any risk and responsibility on the part of MIRA INFORM PRIVATE LIMITED (MIPL) or its officials.