Benny Steinmetz Group (BSG)

Diamonds:
Ruben Steinmetz, Benny's father, founded the Steinmetz Diamond Group (SDG) in 1940. Benny, currently the Chairman, joined the company in 1978 and established the Group's international activities (offices in Geneva, Antwerp, Tel-Aviv, New York, Chicago, Johannesburg, Bombay and Namibia).
SDG is a leading customer of the Diamond Trading Company (De Beers) and is a world leader in rough and large polished diamonds with an annual turnover exceeding USD 1.5 Billion.
The Group is recognized for many of today's world famous diamonds and is constantly expanding its activities both geographically and also within the spectrum of products to its customers (from the mine to the consumer).

Natural Resources:
BSGR, the Resources arm of the BSG, has been involved over the past 10 years in various investments in the natural resources arena around the world, and more specifically in Africa. BSGR owns and operates a Ferro-Nickel mines and plants in the Balkans (being the biggest Nickel producer in Europe); a world-class iron ore deposit in Guinea; a steel mill in Azerbaijan; a diamond mine in Sierra Leone; and a copper-cobalt mines and smelting facilities in Zambia and in the DRC, which makes BSGR a major player in the Sub-African Copper belt.
BSGR holds numerous other investments in listed mining companies.

Through BSGE, the group has been active in the energy sector both in the up-stream and the down-stream projects. Amongst, the group is currently involved in a phosphate project in Saudi-Arabia; in a petrochemical complex in Russia; oil & gas exploration permits in the Komi Republic, FSU; and few oil & gas permits onshore the Niger Delta.

Engineering: The Group is the major shareholder of two engineering companies: Bateman Engineering N.V.: was established in 1919 and is a leading engineering - contracting company specializing in minerals & metals processing, environmental treatment systems and bulk materials handling. Bateman Engineering N.V. is listed on AIM of London Stock Exchange [BATE].
Bateman Litwin N.V.: Split in 2004 from Bateman Engineering. Bateman Litwin N.V. is a contracting group of companies provides total solutions to the oil, gas, power and chemical industries through a unique variety of services. Provider of lump-sum turn-key projects, including finance facilities and provision of technology, the group has operating centers in Europe, CIS, Middle East and the USA.

Real Estate:
The Real-Estate activity of BSG is managed through Five Mounts Properties (FMP). In the last 15 years, the Group has acquired significant interests in high-yielding real-estate properties mainly in North America and in Western Europe.

Amongst the investments are the acquisition of 7 properties from Telecom Italia; the acquisition of GA jointly with Deutsche Bank; participation in the consortium that acquired Haslemere; Participation in the MBO of Chelsfield and others.
In the mid 90's, the group participated in the acquisition (in the second round) of the Canary Wharf, with the Reichman family, Loewe Corp and HSBC Republic and exited through IPO in the year 2000.

In addition, the Group has been active in development projects in Central and Eastern Europe in the past 10 years. The Group has been developing approx. 15,000 residential units in various projects in this region.

Finance and Asset Management
- BSG is active in propriety trading and portfolio management, to include money management, bonds, stocks and alternatives investments
- Active portfolio management in emerging markets including Russia. Mr. Steinmetz was a founder of the Hermitage Fund (jointly with HSBC Republic), a leading investor in Russian equities