Seardel Investment Corporation Ltd.

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Seardel Investment Corporation Ltd.
Type Public
Founded 1957
Founder(s) Aaron Searll
Headquarters South Africa
Key people Aaron Searll (CEO)
Industry Apparel, Textiles, Electronics, Toys, Property, Travel
Revenue ZAR 3,800,000,000 (2006) [1]
Net income ZAR 51,617,000 (2006) [4]
Employees 5,343 (2006) [2]
Website http://www.seardel.co.za/

The Seardel Investment Corporation Ltd. is the largest clothing and textile manufacturer in Southern Africa and is involved in many diverse areas of the economy. Its main activity is the manufacture and distribution of men's, women's and children's apparel. Its other activities comprise the manufacture and distribution of textiles, toys, consumer electronics, and travel. It also has property investment interests. [5]

Company History

The Seardel Group was established in 1957 by Aaron Searll with the purchase of 66,7% of Elatta Manufacturing Company (Pty) Ltd for R500. It was subsequently renamed Venus Clothing Company (Pty) Ltd. This company manufactured nurses’ caps and bras, and employed 15 people with an annual revenue of R31 156. Then followed the acquisition in 1967 of a controlling interest in Desirée Lingerie Holdings Ltd (Desirée). Seardel was incorporated on 25 September 1968 as an investment holding company for the purpose of acquiring 50% of the issued share capital of Desirée. Seardel then began a series of acquisitions in the apparel sector but also including a controlling interest in Sharp Electronics (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd. and expansion into the toy industry. [3]

Historical Financial Information

Chart of revenues 2001-2007

Business Strategy

Political and Public Influence

Paragraph information

Political Contributions

Lobbying

Corporate Accountability

Paragraph

Labor

Domestic

  • The Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers’ Union (SACTWU) is the recognised and representative trade union within the group.
  • 2005: Salaried staff bargaining unit protected industrial action. In addition, COSATU called for a National stay-away on 27 July 2005, in protest against job losses in the industry, particularly in the mining, textile and clothing industries. [4]
  • 2007: "In an historical breakthrough, senior management from our Cape based divisions were instrumental in signing a formal MOU between the trade union and the Cape Clothing Association (CCA). The MOU commits management, union officials, employees and shop stewards to establish factory based project committees with the overall purpose of reaching consensus on a range of interventions to reach an industry-wide absenteeism average of a maximum of 5% by the end of November 2007."[6]

Global

Human Rights

Environment

From Annual Report 2007

  • "Our textile divisions are ISO 9001/2000 accredited and some have attained ISO 14000. This process continues. We hope to achieve this level in all divisions during the 2008 financial year. We continue with our initiative together with the University of KwaZulu-Natal to meet the concept of cleaner textile production and waste minimisation. This accreditation is now an integral part of our management culture."
  • "All new equipment is designed to exceed international environmental impact parameters. Existing plant and equipment is constantly upgraded. The group’s long-term planning and investment program ensures that it has access to the cutting edge of technology and that it is able to manufacture products that are not harmful to the environment."
  • "Our continuous efforts towards improving our environmental conditions, as well as our progress on the recycling of renewable and non-renewable resources, earned us a bronze medal for the KwaZulu-Natal region, as well as the gold medal for innovation. Furthermore we are proud to have achieved a reduction in the emission of CO2 and other gases and energy inputs, resulting in CO2 emission reduction by 16 000 tons, H20 by 21 000 kl, SO2 by 147 tons and coal by 8 000 tons during the year."

Consumer Protection and Product Safety

Anti-Trust and Tax Practices

Social Responsibility Initiatives

From Annual Report 2007

Business Scope

Units/subsidiaries

  • Office automation and consumer electronics
  • Travel & export
  • Lingerie & foundation garments
  • Sportswear & playwear
  • Fashion
  • Knitting, quilting & textile
  • Ladies' outerwear
  • Men's outerwear
  • Toys
  • Property

Brands

  • Brass
  • JJ Collectables
  • New Name
  • Riviera
  • Universal Index

Customers

Suppliers

Identified suppliers:


Competitors

Creditors

Customers Suppliers Creditors Competitors
Customer 1 Supplier 1 Creditor 1 Competitor 1
Customer 2 Supplier 2 Creditor 2 Competitor 2
Customer 3 Supplier 3 Creditor 3 Competitor 3
Customer 4 Supplier 4 Creditor 4 Competitor 4


Financial Information (as of DATE)

Ticker Symbol: SERJ
Main Exchanges: JSE
Investor Website:

List of largest shareholders

Distribution of shareholders

Shareholder % Total Shares held
Shareholder 1 % Held 1
Shareholder 2 % Held 2
Shareholder 3 % Held 3
Shareholder 4 % Held 4

Largest Shareholders

Countries of operation

South Africa, United Kingdom, Zimbabwe

Country Revenue Profits Assets Employees
Country 1 Revenue 1 Profit 1 Assets 1 Employees 1
Country 2 Revenue 2 Profit 2 Assets 2 Employees 2
Country 3 Revenue 3 Profit 3 Assets 3 Employees 3
Country 4 Revenue 4 Profit 4 Assets 4 Employees 4

Governance

Executives

Board members & affiliations

Executive/director compensation

[7]

Date & venue of next AGM

October 2008 (2nd Floor, Seardel House, Alphen Park, Constantia Main Road, Constantia, Cape Town)


Contact Information

Seardel House
Alphen Park, Constantia Main Road
Cape Town, South Africa
Tel: 27 21 460 6300
http://www.seardel.co.za/

Articles and Resources

Books on the Company

Related SourceWatch Articles

Sources

  1. Seardel Investment Corporation Ltd. Annual Report 2007 [1]
  2. Seardel Investment Corporation Ltd. Annual Report 2007 [2]
  3. Seardel Investment Corporation Ltd. Annual Report 2007 [3]
  4. Seardel Investment Corporation Ltd. Annual Report 2005
  5. Workers Rights Consortium. DSP Sample Factory List: Potential Designated Suppliers (28/09/05)

External Resources

External Articles