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Report No. : |
342346 |
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Report Date : |
02.10.2015 |
IDENTIFICATION DETAILS
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Name : |
SHANTI GEMS (1982) LTD. |
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Registered Office : |
23 Tuval Street,
Diamond Exchange, Noam Bldg., Ramat Gan 5252238 |
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Country : |
Israel |
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Date of Incorporation : |
01.02.1982 |
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Legal Form : |
Private Limited Company |
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Line of Business : |
Importers,
Traders, Exporters and Marketers of Diamonds (Rough and Polished). |
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No. of Employees : |
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 : |
Slow but correct |
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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 |
SHANTI GEMS (1982)
LTD.
Telephone 972 3 575 71 36
Fax 972 3 752 18 48
23 Tuval Street
Diamond Exchange, Noam Bldg.
RAMAT
GAN 5252238 ISRAEL
A private limited
company, incorporated as per file No. 51-091532-5 on the 01.02.1982.
Authorized share
capital of NIS 100,000.00, divided into:
100,000 ordinary
shares of NIS 1.00 each, of which 100 shares amounting to NIS 100.00 were
issued.
1. Shanti Dhadha, 95%,
2. Neeraj Golchha, 5% (both a/m shareholders are
foreign citizens, of India).
In August 2010 both former shareholders
(Sati Rajchar, 15%, and Emit Chand Butara (5%) exited from subject, and shares
were taken over by Shanti Dhadha.
Note: According to the Registrar of Companies, shareholder
No. 1 name is “Kumar Dhadha”, however in 2011 we were informed by Mr. Shanti
Dhadha that Mr. Kumar left years ago and the name in the Registrar is mistaken!
1. Shanti Dhadha, General Manager,
2. Neeraj Golchha.
Note: Kumar Dhadha is still registered as a Director in subject.
Importers,
traders, exporters and marketers of diamonds (rough and polished).
As of mid 2011,
some 50% of sales are for export (was 30%-40% in 2010 and 40% in 2009).
Operating from
rented office premises, on an area of 100 sq. meters, in 23 Tuval Street (also
referred to as52 Bezalel Street), Diamond Exchange, Noam Building, Ramat Gan.
Current number of
employees unavailable. Had 7 employees in mid 2011 (same as in previous years).
Financial data not
forthcoming.
There are no
charges registered on the company's assets.
Sales figures not
forthcoming.
SHANTI GEMS
INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENTS LTD.
The First International
Bank of Israel Ltd., Diamond Exchange Branch (No. 026), Ramat Gan.
Nothing
unfavorable learnt.
Mr. Shanti Dhadha,
subject’s General Manager and only authorized person to disclose data on
subject, is presently abroad and due back in about one week's time. We shall
contact him upon his return and update you in case we manage to obtain
information. In the last couple of attempts to interview Mr. Dhadha, he refused to update any data.
This is a very
long established business.
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).
On one hand,
subject is a veteran business, and no negative data has been traced during the
years. On the other hand, General Manager refused to update any information. We
figure that subject is still good for trade engagements.
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.65.74 |
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|
1 |
Rs.99.53 |
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Euro |
1 |
Rs.73.80 |
INFORMATION DETAILS
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Analysis Done by
: |
DIV |
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Report Prepared
by : |
NIT |
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 |
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-- |
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.