|
Report No. : |
345382 |
|
Report Date : |
21.10.2015 |
IDENTIFICATION DETAILS
|
Name : |
ZVI YEHUDA LTD. |
|
|
|
|
Formerly Known As : |
LEO M |
|
|
|
|
Registered Office : |
23 Tuval Street
Diamond Exchange, Noam Building Ramat Gan 5252382 |
|
|
|
|
Country : |
Israel |
|
|
|
|
Date of Incorporation : |
16.07.1956. |
|
|
|
|
Legal Form : |
Private Limited Company |
|
|
|
|
Line of Business : |
Traders, importers,
processors, exporters and marketers of diamonds. Also importers
and marketers of diamond processing devices for the industry. |
|
|
|
|
No. of Employee : |
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 : |
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 – March 31, 2015
|
Country Name |
Previous Rating (31.12.2014) |
Current Rating (31.03.2015) |
|
Israel |
B1 |
B1 |
|
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 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 |
ZVI YEHUDA LTD.
(Also known as
"YEHUDA DIAMONDS")
Telephone 972 3 575 14 56
Fax 972
3 575 05 97
23 Tuval Street
Diamond Exchange,
Noam Building
RAMAT GAN 5252382 ISRAEL
A private limited
company, incorporated as per file No. 51-015089-9 on the 16.07.1956.
Originally
registered under the name LEO M
Authorized share
capital NIS 0.05, divided into -
10
ordinary shares of NIS 0.005 each, fully issued.
(Note: The currency in share
capital was originally in Old Israeli Shekel whose nominal value was 1
thousandth of the current New Israeli Shekel (NIS), converted in 1986).
1. Zvi Yehuda, 80%,
2. Ms. Meira Yehuda, 20%, wife of Zvi.
Zvi Yehuda, born
1936.
Traders, importers,
processors, exporters and marketers of diamonds.
Also importers and
marketers of diamond processing devices for the industry.
Operating from
office premises in 23 Tuval Street, Diamond Exchange, Noam Building, Ramat Gan.
Also operating
from offices in the U.S. (also a retail store in the 5th Ave. New
York), Europe and South East Asia.
Number of
employees not forthcoming.
Financial
data not forthcoming, however financial status estimated to be solid.
There
are 2 charges for unlimited amounts registered on the company’s assets, in
favor of Union Bank of Israel Ltd. Both
charges placed in October 2010.
Sales figures not
forthcoming (estimated to be several tens of NIS millions).
Union Bank of
Israel Ltd., Diamond Exchange Branch (No. 062), Ramat Gan.
Nothing
unfavorable learned.
Subject’s General
Manager, Mr. Zvi Yehuda, refused to disclose any
business data.
Subject is a very
long established company in the local diamonds industry and enjoys a good reputation in the branch. Mr. Zvi
Yehuda, besides being a diamond trader, is also an inventor in the diamond
industry field. Among his invetions, he invented a machine that could predict
the color of a diamond before it is cut and a technique that enhances
the clarity of diamonds.
In
December 2006, it was reported on a cooperation between subject and its
developed and OGI SYSTEMS LTD., a
software company.
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).
Notwithstanding
the refusal to disclose data, considered good for trade engagements.
FOREIGN EXCHANGE RATES
|
Currency |
Unit
|
Indian Rupees |
|
US Dollar |
1 |
Rs.64.89 |
|
|
1 |
Rs.100.39 |
|
Euro |
1 |
Rs.73.52 |
INFORMATION DETAILS
|
Analysis Done by
: |
TRI |
|
|
|
|
Report Prepared
by : |
ANK |
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%)
This report is issued at your request without any
risk and responsibility on the part of MIRA INFORM PRIVATE LIMITED (MIPL)
or its officials.