MIRA INFORM REPORT

 

 

Report No. :

310192

Report Date :

10.03.2015

 

IDENTIFICATION DETAILS

 

Name :

ARAB POTASH COMPANY LTD (APC)

 

 

Registered Office :

APC Building, 6 Al Jaheth Street, Shmeisani, P O Box: 1470, Amman 11118

 

 

Country :

Jordan

 

 

Financials (as on) :

31.12.2013 (Consolidated)

 

 

Date of Incorporation :

07.07.1956

 

 

Com. Reg. No.:

1795, Amman

 

 

Legal Form :

Public Shareholding Company

 

 

Line of Business :

Production of potash by-products, such as bromine soda and table salt.

 

 

No. of Employees :

2,467

 

 

RATING & COMMENTS

 

MIRA’s Rating :

A

 

RATING

STATUS

PROPOSED CREDIT LINE

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

 

 

Status :

Good 

 

 

Payment Behaviour :

Regular

 

 

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 – December 31, 2014

 

Country Name

Previous Rating

(30.09.2014)

Current Rating

(31.12.2014)

Jordan

B1

B1

 

Risk Category

ECGC Classification

Insignificant

 

A1

Low

 

A2

Moderate

 

B1

High

 

B2

Very High

 

C1

Restricted

 

C2

Off-credit

 

D

 

 

 

 


 

JORDAN - ECONOMIC OVERVIEW

 

Jordan's economy is among the smallest in the Middle East, with insufficient supplies of water, oil, and other natural resources underlying the government's heavy reliance on foreign assistance. Other economic challenges for the government include chronic high rates of poverty, unemployment, inflation, and a large budget deficit. Since assuming the throne in 1999, King ABDALLAH has implemented significant economic reforms, such as opening the trade regime, privatizing state-owned companies, and eliminating some fuel subsidies, which in the last decade spurred economic growth by attracting foreign investment and creating some jobs. The global economic slowdown and regional turmoil, however, have depressed Jordan's GDP growth, impacting export-oriented sectors, construction, and tourism. In 2011 and 2012, the government approved two economic relief packages and a budgetary supplement, meant to improve the living conditions for the middle and poor classes. Jordan's finances have also been strained by a series of natural gas pipeline attacks in Egypt, causing Jordan to substitute more expensive diesel imports, primarily from Saudi Arabia, to generate electricity. Jordan is currently exploring nuclear power generation in addition to the exploitation of abundant oil shale reserves and renewable technologies to forestall energy shortfalls. In 2012, to correct budgetary and balance of payments imbalances, Jordan entered into a $2.1 billion, multiple year International Monetary Fund Stand-By Arrangement. Jordan's financial sector has been relatively isolated from the international financial crisis because of its limited exposure to overseas capital markets. In 2013, Jordan depended heavily on foreign assistance to finance the budget deficit, as the influx of about 600,000 Syrian refugees put additional pressure on expenditures.

 

Source : CIA

 

 

SUMMARY

 

Company Name                                    : ARAB POTASH COMPANY LTD (APC)

Country of Origin                                   : Jordan

Legal Form                                           : Public Shareholding Company

Start Date                                             : 7th July 1956

Registration Date                                  : 18th March 1983

Commercial Registration Number           : 1795, Amman

Issued Capital                                       : JD 83,317,500

Paid up Capital                                     : JD 83,317,500

Total Workforce                                     : 2,467

Activities                                               : Production of potash by-products, such as bromine soda and table salt.

Financial Condition                                : Fair

Payments                                             : Nothing detrimental uncovered

Operating Trend                                    : Steady

 


COMPANY NAME

 

ARAB POTASH COMPANY LTD (APC)

 

 

ADDRESS

 

Registered & Physical Address

 

Building            : APC Building

Street               : 6 Al Jaheth Street

Area                 : Shmeisani

 

PO Box                        : 1470

 

Town                : Amman 11118

Country : Jordan

 

Telephone         : (962-6) 5666165 / 5666166 / 5666167 / 5665116 / 5674376 / 5200520

Facsimile          : (962-6) 5692855 / 5674416 / 5687289 / 5200080

Email                : info@arabpotash.com / apc@nol.com.jo

 

Premises

 

Subject operates from a suite of owned offices covering an area of 2,000 square metres that are located in the Central Business Area of Amman.

 

Branch Office (s)

 

     Location                                                                                           Description

 

·       Aqaba                                                                                              Owned processing plant

Tel: (962-3) 2017054

Fax: (962-3) 2014441

 

 

KEY PRINCIPALS

 

     Name                                                                                               Position

 

·       Jamal Ahmad Mofleh Al Sarayrah                                                      Chairman

 

·       Mansour Bin Sulaiman Bin Ibrahim El Mebrek                         Deputy Chairman

 

·       Ahmad Jamal Nawwaf Al Bataineh                                                     Director

 

·       Rami Saleh Abdulkareem Wraikat                                                       Director

 

·       George David Delaney                                                                      Director

 

·       Michael Terence Hogan                                                                     Director

 

·       Dr Duried Mohammad Abd Al Hameed Al Mahasneh                          Director

 

·       Adnan Ahmed Rashed Al Rashdan                                                    Director

 

·       Abdul Ghani Fakri Abdul Wahab Al Jaafar                                          Director

 

·       Imad Jamal Ahmed Al Qudah                                                            Director

 

·       Nidal Faeq Mohammad Al Qubbaj                                                     Director

 

·       Dr Maen Fahad Abdul Karim Nsour                                                    Director

 

·       Dr Jamal Saed Salah                                                                        Director

 

·       Abdul Wadoud Abdul Sattar Mahmoud Al Dulaimi                              Director

 

·       Abdul Al Hakeem Ali Al Ajnaff                                                           Director

 

·       Fahid Majid Al Sultan Al Salim                                                           Director

 

·       William Keith Thornton                                                                      General Manager

 

·       Roderick Joseph McEachern                                                 Deputy General Manager

 

·       Julie Ann Fortunato                                                                           Finance Manager

 

·       Jaafar Mohamed Hafeth Salem                                                         Marketing Manager

 

·       Adnan Sulaiman Faris Al Ma’aitah                                                      Human Resources Manager

 

 

LEGAL FORM & OWNERS

 

Date of Establishment  : Subject’s operations date back to 7th July 1956, however it was registered on 18th March

  1983.

 

Legal Form                  : Public Shareholding Company

 

Commercial Reg. No.   : 1795, Amman

 

Issued Capital              : JD 83,317,500

 

Paid up Capital            : JD 83,317,500

 

Name of Shareholder (s)                                                             Percentage

 

·       Potash Corp (PCS)                                                                             28.00%

     Canada

 

·       Jordan Ministry of Finance                                                                  26.90%

 

·       Arab Mining Company                                                                        20.00%

 

·       Social Security Corporation                                                                   5.20%

 

·       Islamic Development Bank                                                                    5.10%

Jeddah

Saudi Arabia

 

·       Government of Iraq                                                                               4.70%

 

·       Libyan Arab Foreign Investment Co                                                       4.10%

 

·       Kuwait Investment Authority                                                                  3.90%

 

·       Private Sector                                                                                      1.50%

 

·       Other Arab Governments                                                                       0.60%

 

 

AFFILIATED COMPANIES

 

Subject is a member of the APC Group Of Companies, which consists of the following concerns:

 

     Name                                                                                Stake Held

 

·       Arab Fertilizers & Chemical Industries (KEMAPCO)                 100%

 

·       Jordan Dead Sea Industries                                                  100%

PO Box: 212307

     Amman 11121

     Tel: (962-6) 4618571

     Fax: (962-6) 4619125

 

·       Numeira Mixed Salts & Mud Company Ltd                             100%

PO Box: 941681

Amman 11118

Tel: (962-6) 5683892 / 5683637

Fax: (962-6) 5672346

Email: info@numeira.com.jo

 

·       Jordan Magnesia Company Ltd (JORMAG)                            55.3%

PO Box: 941701

Amman 11194

Tel: (962-6) 5691201 / 5691202 / 5691203

Fax: (962-6) 5691156

Email: info@jormag.com

 

·       Jordan Bromine Company                                                     50.0%

 

·       Kemira Arab Potash Company                                              50.0%

 

·       Jordan Industrial Ports Company                                           50.0%

 

·       Jordan Investment and South Development Company            42.0%

 

·       South Development Company for Industrial                           22.0%

Equipment & Workshops

 

·       Nippon Jordan Fertiliser Company Ltd                                   20.0%

 

·       Jordan International Chartering Company                               20.0%

 

 

OPERATIONS

 

Activities:         APC extracts salts and chemicals by way of evaporating from the Dead Sea water and produces potash by-products such as bromine soda and table salt.

 

APC’s plant at Ghor Al Safi began producing granular potash on a commercial basis in September 1983, utilising giant evaporation pans and a special process refinery. The project was conceived on the basis of certain natural advantages, such as the large potash reserves in the Dead Sea, estimated at 2 billion tonnes, with nearly 800 million tonnes recoverable by existing processing methods.

 

The plant’s production capacity increased from 1.1 million tonnes in 1986 to 2.0 million tonnes by the beginning of 2000. The construction of the plant cost US $ 465.8 million against an original estimate of US $ 430 million, the additional expense being mainly due to a change in the design required to produce granular potash that conformed to the standards laid down in the international marketplace.

 

APC has a policy of expanding services and supply to markets expected to show substantial demand growth. Its main markets are India, China, and Malaysia, and these are expected to continue to contribute to more than 60% of APC's exports. All three markets have witnessed major restructuring in the Fertilizer sector and APC continues to update its approach to sales within them thus emphasizing its commitment. Indonesia, Korea, Spain and Taiwan are markets which are of non lesser importance and are serviced through contracts and active local representatives.

 

In 1999, the company obtained the ISO 14001 certification for environment.

 

On 8th March 2004, subject signed an agreement to supply Petrokimia Gresik of Indonesia with their potash requirements for the next 3 years. The quantities involved range from 130,000 MT in 2004 to 230,000 MT in 2006.

 

On 14th March 2004, APC signed the 2004 MOP supply contract with Sinochem. The contract calls for the supply of 200,000 MT plus an option of 100,000 MT this calendar year. This is in addition to the 100,000 Mt already shipped in 2004 from the 2003 contract.

 

In January 2005 APC reached an agreement with Sinochem, which stipulates that APC will supply Sinochem during the current year with a quantity of 150,000 Mt of MOP plus a mutual option of 100,000 Mt on an FOB Aqaba basis. This contract is a continuation of the Long Term Supply Contract between the two parties covering the period 2004-2006. The price for this contract period was adjusted according to the latest market conditions and in line with Sinochem's recent MOP purchases from other producers worldwide. The approximate value of this contract ranges between US$ 20 million and up to US$ 36 million if all the optional quantities are exercised.

 

Expansion Projects

 

APC intends to increase its annual Potash production capacity by 450 thousand tons from 2.0

million tons per year to 2.45 million tons per year. The design work and preparation of tender documents by Hatch-Dar Al-Hadassah for this project commenced during March 2005 and included the following major tenders:

 

a- Modification of the Solar Ponds System and Construction of New Carnalite Ponds: The  contractor

    completed the works in July 2009.

b. New Safi Warehouse Project: This project increases the Potash storage capacity at Safi by about

    40,000 tons. The project was completed in 2008.

c. Extension of Aqaba Warehouse: This project increases the Potash storage capacity of the  Aqaba

    Warehouse by about 75,000 tons.

d. Construction of a New Cold Crystallization Plant

 

New Intake Pumping Station Project at the Dead Sea

 

Since it began operations, APC has constructed two pumping stations, one in 1982 and a second

station in 1997. Due to continuous decrease in the water level of the Dead Sea, APC decided to

construct a new pumping station to supply a sufficient quantity of brine to the solar ponds to

support the current expansion and any future expansion. Studies and design work was awarded

during 2008 to Dar A-Handasah.

 

Production Capacity:    2008 – 2.0 million tons

                                    2009 – 1.1 million tons

                                    2010 – 1.9 million tons

                                    2011 – 2.3 million tons

                                    2012 – 1.8 million tons

                                    2013 – 1.7 million tons

 

Customers:

 

·       IPL                                       India

·       Sinochem                             China

·       Zuari                                    India

·       Kemapco                             Jordan

·       Petrokimia Gresik                  Indonesia

·       Agrifert                                Malaysia

·       Behn Meyer                          Malaysia

·       CCM                                    Malaysia

·       JBC                                     Jordan

·       Union Harvest                       Malaysia

 

Import Countries : Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.

 

Export Countries : Around 60 percent of output is exported to India, China, and Malaysia with the rest going to

Indonesia, Philippines, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Brazil, Spain, France, Italy, Portugal, Turkey  and African countries.

 

Operating Trend: Steady

 

Subject has a workforce of 2,467 employees.

 

 

FINANCIAL DATA

 

Financial highlights provided by local sources are given below:

 

Currency: Jordanian Dinars (JD 000)

 

Consolidated Balance Sheet                                                     31/12/13                        31/12/12

 

ETS

Non-current assets

Property, plant and equipment                                                   333,947                         379,001

Projects in progress                                                                  26,928                          17,957

Investment in associates and joint ventures                                87,023                          78,876

Financial assets at fair value through other

comprehensive income                                                  920                               714

Deferred tax assets                                                                   3,748                            3,846

Employees’ housing loans                                                         26,109                          23,341

478,675                         503,735

Current assets

Employees’ housing loans                                                         2,299                            2,276

Accounts receivable                                                                  52,480                          78,958

Inventories                                                                                53,126                          60,332

Spare parts and supplies                                                           54,040                          48,327

Other current assets                                                                  67,565                          60,289

Cash on hand and bank balances                                               304,437                         329,536

533,947                         579,718

TOTAL ASSETS                                                                        1,012,622                      1,083,453

 

EQUITY AND LIABILITIES

Equity

Paid in capital                                                                           83,318                          83,318

Statutory reserve                                                                       50,464                          50,464

Voluntary reserve                                                                      80,699                          80,699

Fair value reserve                                                                      263                               57

Retained earnings                                                                      671,744                         749,377

Total Equity                                                                              886,488                         963,915

Non-current liabilities

Long-term loans                                                                        119                               1,198

Miscellaneous provisions                                                           7,354                            7,159

Other non-current liabilities                                                         14,000                          12,873

21,473                          21,230

Current liabilities

Current portion of long term loans                                              1,228                            6,529

Potash mining fees due to the government of

the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan                                             5,949                            6,578

Trade payables and other accruals                                             36,324                          26,835

Income tax provision                                                                 10,187                          20,050

Other current liabilities                                                               50,973                          38,316

104,661                         98,308

Total Liabilities                                                                          126,134                         119,538

TOTAL EQUITY AND LIABILITIES                                               1,012,622                      1,083,453

 

Consolidated Income Statement

 

Sales                                                                                        521,209                         586,268

Cost of sales                                                                            (337,913)                       (285,557)

Gross profit                                                                              183,296                         300,711

Administrative expenses                                                            (15,061)                        (22,106)

Selling and distribution expenses                                               (17,094)                        (16,338)

Royalty to the Government of Jordan                                         (25,949)                        (49,883)

Operating profit                                                                                     125,192                         212,384

Finance revenue                                                                        15,822                          15,724

Donations expenses                                                                  (10,074)                        (9,838)

Finance costs and bank charges                                                (3,233)                          (3,344)

Other income                                                                            883                               1,856

Other expenses                                                                         (796)                             (336)

Net foreign currency exchange differences                                 851                               142

Profit before tax and gain from associates and

joint ventures                                                                            128,645                         216,588

Company’s share of profit of associates and joint

ventures                                                                                    19,511                          12,548

Revaluation of Islamic Development Bank loan for

Jordan Magnesia Company and reversed provisions                   (283)                             (109)

Loss for Jordan Magnesia Company                                          -                                   (489)

Profit before tax                                                                        147,873                         228,538

Income tax expense                                                                  (17,212)                        (29,716)

Profit for the year                                                                      130,661                         198,822

 

Local sources consider subject’s financial condition to be Fair.

 

 

BANKERS

 

·       Arab Land Bank

King Faisal Street

PO Box: 8 & 68

Amman

Tel: (962-6) 4638161

Fax: (962-6) 4637082

 

·       ANZ Grindlays Bank

Shmeisani Branch

PO Box: 9997

Amman

Tel: (962-6) 4660201

Fax: (962-6) 4679115

 

·       Arab Bank Plc

Shmeisani Branch

PO Box: 950545 & 950544

Amman 11195

Tel: (962-6) 5607231 / 5607115

Fax: (962-6) 5606793 / 5606830

 

 

PAYMENT HISTORY

 

Subject’s payment record is reported to be met in a generally prompt manner.

 

Date of transaction                   August 2001                             June 2004

Credit amount                           31,000                                      23,000

Amount overdue                        0                                              0

Payment terms                          30 days                                                30 days

Payment Method                       Letters of Credit                                    Letters of Credit

Paying record                           Prompt                                     Prompt

Currency                                   Deutsch Marks                          Pounds Sterling

 

 

GENERAL COMMENTS

 

Arab Potash Company (APC) was formed to develop the minerals of the Dead Sea and is currently producing potash and salt. It is Jordan’s largest industrial company and the second most valuable company quoted on the Amman Financial Market (AFM). Jordan currently has an approximate 5 percent share of the world potash market and APC has diversified its sales and currently sells regularly in 30 countries.

 

During the course of this investigation nothing detrimental was uncovered regarding subject’s operating history or the manner in which payments are fulfilled. As such the company is considered to be a fair trade risk.

 


 

FOREIGN EXCHANGE RATES

 

Currency

Unit

Indian Rupees

US Dollar

1

Rs.62.62

UK Pound

1

Rs.94.39

Euro

1

Rs.67.96

 

INFORMATION DETAILS

 

Analysis Done by :

RAS

 

 

Report Prepared by :

NIT

 

               

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.