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Report No. : |
333073 |
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Report Date : |
30.07.2015 |
IDENTIFICATION DETAILS
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Name : |
C.A.M.D. DIAM |
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Registered Office : |
54 Bezalel Street Diamond Exchange, Yahalom Bldg. Ramat Gan 5252138 |
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Country : |
Israel |
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Date of Incorporation : |
20.11.1994. |
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Legal Form : |
Private Limited Company |
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Line of Business : |
International traders, importers and exporters in cut diamonds. |
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No. of Employee : |
Not Available |
RATING & COMMENTS
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MIRA’s Rating : |
B |
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RATING |
STATUS |
PROPOSED CREDIT LINE |
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26-40 |
B |
Capability to overcome financial difficulties seems comparatively
below average. |
Small |
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Status : |
Moderate |
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Payment Behaviour : |
Unknown |
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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, 2015
|
Country Name |
Previous Rating (31.12.2014) |
Current Rating (31.03.2015) |
|
Israel |
B1 |
B1 |
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Risk Category |
ECGC
Classification |
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Insignificant |
A1 |
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Low |
A2 |
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Moderate |
B1 |
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High |
B2 |
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Very High |
C1 |
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Restricted |
C2 |
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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 2013, 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.
Israel's economy also has weathered the Arab Spring because strong trade ties
outside the Middle East have insulated the economy from spillover effects.
Slowing demand domestically and internationally and reduced investment due to
uncertainties caused by the Gaza conflict in summer 2014 have reduced GDP
growth to about 2% during 2014. 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 expected to come online
no sooner than 2017, but production from Tamar provided a one percentage point
boost to Israel's GDP in 2013 and a 0.5% boost 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 and has started splitting up the
oligopolies to address some of the grievances but has maintained that it will
not engage in deficit spending to satisfy populist demands. 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 |
C.A.M.D. DIAM
Telephone 972 3 575 03 96
Fax 972 3 575 40 10
Email: NIR@Meirow.com
54 Bezalel Street
Diamond Exchange, Yahalom Bldg.
RAMAT GAN 5252138 ISRAEL
A private limited company, incorporated as per file No. 51-205176-4 on the
20.11.1994.
Authorized share capital NIS 25,200.00, divided into -
200
founder shares (25 shares issued),
25,000 ordinary shares
(10,101 shares issued), all of NIS 1.00 each,
of which shares amounting to NIS 10,126.00 were issued.
1.
CITIZENS INTERNTIONAL,
holding 100% of founder shares and 99% of ordinary shares issued, a company
registered in Monrovia, Liberia, owned by diamond merchants from Europe,
2.
Mark Igal Meirow, 1% of
ordinary shares issued,
3.
P. MOR TRUST CO. LTD,
holding 1 single ordinary share only.
(registered)
CITIZENS INTERNATIONAL (registered address 30,
Kalisher Street, Tel Aviv c/o Attorney Office P. MOR & PARTNERS).
Nir Ben-Yosef
(Full name Nirel Ben-Yosef)
International traders, importers and exporters in cut diamonds.
Operating from office premises, in 54 Bezalel Street (also referred to as
21 Tuval Street), Diamond Exchange, Yahalom Bldg., Ramat Gan.
Number of employees unavailable.
Financial data not forthcoming.
There is 1 charge
for an unlimited amount (placed in 1995), as well as 1 charge on the sum of US$
1,546,000 (placed in September 2013) registered on the company's assets (all
assets), in favor of Israel Discount Bank Ltd.
Sales figures not forthcoming.
Israel Discount Bank Ltd., Diamond Exchange Branch (No. 080), Ramat Gan.
Nothing unfavorable learned.
Subject’s officials refused categorically to disclose any data on
their company.
Mr. (Mark) Igal Meirow, shareholder no. 2, is a veteran diamond dealer, who
resides in Switzerland. He is well-off. It is possible that subject is owned by
him, though we could not confirm that.
Nir Ben-Yosef, subject's General Manager, also veteran in the branch (over
30 years), was known to be dealt in diamonds trade in Germany in the past, and
an associate of Igal Meirow.
Israel's diamond
industry continued the growth trend in all trade parameters in 2014, after the
impressive growth in 2013 in most parameters, based on the data by Israel's
Diamond Administration (IDA) at the Ministry of Economics: Net export of
polished diamonds rose by 0.6% from 2013, reaching US$6.269 billion (after
rising 11.6% in 2013), and net rough diamond exports totaled US$3.061 billion
in 2014, up 4.2% from 2013 (after a mere rise in 2013). The market has been
volatile over the last years after experiencing its worst depression due to the
global economic crisis, then recovered in 2010 but fell again in 2012. The
recovery in 2013 and 2014 is positive news for the local branch (still away
from its peak on the eve of the crisis with export of polished diamonds of US$
7 billion), however it is reported that profit margins have been decreasing due
to smaller gaps between rough and polished diamond prices (leading the diamond
dealers to search for new rough sources in hope to decrease costs). Overall,
IDA reports that 2014 was tough year for the diamond industry in Israel and
globally.
The data published
for the 1st half of 2015 (compared to 1stH 2014) points on a
negative reverse trend in all parameters: Net export of polished diamonds
represents 17% decrease, reaching US$2,975 million, and net rough diamond
exports decreased by 22%, totaled US$ 1,361 million. Net imports of polished
diamonds fell by 17%, reaching US$ 1,793 million, while net import of rough
diamonds fell 21% totaling US$ 1,623 million.
The United States continued
to be Israel’s major market for polished diamonds, accounting for 44% of the
market in the 1stH 2015 (some recovery from 39% in latest years). Hong Kong is
2nd largest market with 31% of exports (30% in 2014), then
Switzerland 10%, Belgium 6.5%, and U.K. accounting for 2.4% 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 stood on US$ 1.5 billion, down from US$ 2.4 billion in the eve of the
global crisis.
In February 2009,
Israel was ranked as the world’s largest exporter of cut diamonds, followed by
India, Belgium and South Africa.
Local diamond
sector employs some 20,000 persons.
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 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 said 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.
In July 2014 3
indictments were filed to the Tel Aviv District Court against central
defendants in the affair, who provided foreign currency services to the
"underground bank" (not against diamond dealers at this stage), for
felonies of money laundering and tax evasion in volumes of US$ millions. On
June 15th 2015 the court made the first conviction in the affair,
sending a foreign currency dealer who pretended also to be a diamond dealer,
for 4 years prison and a fine (part of a plea bargain).
Considering the refusal to disclose any details, dealings are recommended
on a secured basis.
DIAMOND INDUSTRY – INDIA
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Excerpts
from Times of India dated 30th October 2010 is as under –
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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.
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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.63.89 |
|
|
1 |
Rs.99.71 |
|
Euro |
1 |
Rs.70.63 |
INFORMATION DETAILS
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Analysis Done by
: |
SAN |
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Report Prepared
by : |
ANK |
RATING EXPLANATIONS
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RATING |
STATUS |
PROPOSED CREDIT LINE |
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>86 |
Aaa |
Possesses an extremely sound financial base with the strongest capability
for timely payment of interest and principal sums |
Unlimited |
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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 |
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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 |
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41-55 |
Ba |
Overall operation is considered normal. Capable to meet normal
commitments. |
Satisfactory |
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26-40 |
B |
Capability to overcome financial difficulties seems comparatively
below average. |
Small |
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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 |
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<10 |
C |
Absolute credit risk exists. Caution needed to be exercised |
Credit not
recommended |
|
-- |
NB |
New Business |
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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%)
This report is issued at your request without any
risk and responsibility on the part of MIRA INFORM PRIVATE LIMITED (MIPL)
or its officials.