Our mission is to promote long and quality life
In 2015 Pelion celebrated its 25th anniversary, which inspired us to take stock of our past achievements and also to introduce certain changes and redefine the mission of Pelion as a company focused on promoting a long and quality life. The Management Board’s plans for the coming years focus on profitability, growth and development.
The year 2015 was a period of intensive work to strengthen our key business areas and launch new projects, which helped us achieve a nearly 10% increase in revenue on 2014 despite a challenging regulatory environment. Consolidated revenue was up 4.3% in wholesale and 24.7% in retail.
A further decline in margins came as an effect of a pricing policy designed to ensure the best prices for patients. At the same time, costs were up on increased efforts to build a professional team of employees and enhance sales as prerequisites for business growth in the years to come. One-off items had a material impact on performance. In particular, accounting for the acquisition of control of Pharmena S.A., an associate, lifted operating profit by PLN 89.4m.
Sustained growth and continued improvement of our modern, comprehensive and safe drug distribution network remain Pelion’s priorities for the coming years. We also work to improve our existing service range and develop new services based on innovations.
A further decline in margins came as an effect of a pricing policy designed to ensure the best prices for patients. At the same time, costs were up on increased efforts to build a professional team of employees and enhance sales as prerequisites for business growth in the years to come. One-off items had a material impact on performance. In particular, accounting for the acquisition of control of Pharmena S.A., an associate, lifted operating profit by PLN 89.4m.
Sustained growth and continued improvement of our modern, comprehensive and safe drug distribution network remain Pelion’s priorities for the coming years. We also work to improve our existing service range and develop new services based on innovations.
We respond to market needs and challenges
Pelion’s operations and performance in 2015 were largely shaped by the comprehensive changes introduced across our main business lines. These improvements included an effective pricing policy, standardisation of the visual identity and a revamped logo of DOZ pharmacies, enhancement of patient services and expansion of our pharmaceutical offering to include top quality proprietary brands. Thanks to these efforts and investments, DOZ pharmacies have become Poland’s pharmacies of choice, enjoying the position of a strong and stable employer on the pharmaceutical market.
During 2015 we also worked to integrate the Natura beauty store chain into our operations. This required deployment of a uniform management system and, first and foremost, strengthening of the teams working at the chain stores. Our business goal is for the Natura beauty stores to be perceived as modern stores offering excellent customer service and a broad range of top-quality Polish products.
With our customers in mind and in order to make their shopping easier, in July 2015 we launched an on-line store www.drogerienatura.pl.
Changes prompted by the situation on the wholesale market and overregulation which hinders pharmaceutical distribution, following from the attempts to prevent illegal drug exports, impaired competitiveness of the whole distribution sector.
Despite this challenging backdrop, Pelion enjoys an established presence on the distribution market. Solid foundations and competitive advantages enable Polska Grupa Farmaceutyczna to offer the widest available range of pharmaceutical products and effective services for pharmacies and manufacturers.
Pelion’s projects in Lithuania and the performance of its individual companies there were also a major success. They prove that the Group has strong potential for growth in an environment free from regulation that impacts patients and hampers growth.
Innovation and R&D activities are a vital element of Pelion’s operations. One example is the R&D work carried out by Pharmena, with its research on 1-MNA and its potential application in dermatology and treatment of cardiovascular diseases nearing completion.
Another example of Pelion’s capability to innovate and set standards in the healthcare sector is its investment in the Brzeziny Specialist Hospital. The hospital provides high-quality services to local residents and is one of the most advanced medical establishments specialising in the treatment of colorectal cancer.
Further development of innovative solutions is a part of Pelion’s strategy. In the coming years, we aim to win a leading position in all key business areas: distribution, pharmaceutical care and patient services at DOZ pharmacies, beauty store services and sales to hospitals.
The table below presents the Q4 2015 and 2015 full-year financial highlights, along with comparative year-on-year data:
For further information, please contact:
Pelion S.A. Press Office
Phone: (+48 42) 200 75 94
Fax: (+48 42) 200 75 35
Email: biuro_prasowe@pelion.eu
Pelion has operated on the market for twenty-six years, starting out as a local pharmaceutical wholesaler. In 1998, the Company shares were floated on the Warsaw Stock Exchange. Proceeds from the initial public offering fuelled the Company’s dynamic growth and allowed it to embark on consolidation of the pharmaceutical wholesale market. Since its flotation, the Company has secured a top position among domestic distributors of medicinal products. Today, Pelion is one of the largest groups operating in the healthcare markets in Poland and Lithuania. It provides services across all market segments (wholesale, retail sales and sales to hospitals), targeted at individual patients, pharmacies, hospitals, and manufacturers. As a holding company, Pelion S.A. oversees all areas of the Company’s operations, which are conducted by PGF S.A. and Pharmapoint Sp. z o.o. (wholesale), CEPD N.V. (retail sales), and PGF Urtica Sp. z o.o. and Pharmalink Sp. z o.o. (sales to hospitals and logistics services).
During 2015 we also worked to integrate the Natura beauty store chain into our operations. This required deployment of a uniform management system and, first and foremost, strengthening of the teams working at the chain stores. Our business goal is for the Natura beauty stores to be perceived as modern stores offering excellent customer service and a broad range of top-quality Polish products.
With our customers in mind and in order to make their shopping easier, in July 2015 we launched an on-line store www.drogerienatura.pl.
Changes prompted by the situation on the wholesale market and overregulation which hinders pharmaceutical distribution, following from the attempts to prevent illegal drug exports, impaired competitiveness of the whole distribution sector.
Despite this challenging backdrop, Pelion enjoys an established presence on the distribution market. Solid foundations and competitive advantages enable Polska Grupa Farmaceutyczna to offer the widest available range of pharmaceutical products and effective services for pharmacies and manufacturers.
Pelion’s projects in Lithuania and the performance of its individual companies there were also a major success. They prove that the Group has strong potential for growth in an environment free from regulation that impacts patients and hampers growth.
Innovation and R&D activities are a vital element of Pelion’s operations. One example is the R&D work carried out by Pharmena, with its research on 1-MNA and its potential application in dermatology and treatment of cardiovascular diseases nearing completion.
Another example of Pelion’s capability to innovate and set standards in the healthcare sector is its investment in the Brzeziny Specialist Hospital. The hospital provides high-quality services to local residents and is one of the most advanced medical establishments specialising in the treatment of colorectal cancer.
Further development of innovative solutions is a part of Pelion’s strategy. In the coming years, we aim to win a leading position in all key business areas: distribution, pharmaceutical care and patient services at DOZ pharmacies, beauty store services and sales to hospitals.
The table below presents the Q4 2015 and 2015 full-year financial highlights, along with comparative year-on-year data:
| Q4 2015 | Q4 2014 | Change* | 2015 | 2014 | Change* | |
| Revenue (PLNm) | 2,134.8 | 2,033.4 | +5.0% | 8,457.8 | 7,692.6 | +9.9% |
| Gross profit (PLNm) | 250.2 | 239.6 | +4.4% | 986.6 | 848.8 | +16.2% |
| Gross margin | 11.7% | 11.8% | -0.1pp | 11.7% | 11.0% | +0.7pp |
| EBITDA (PLNm) | 97.8 | 50.4 | +93.9% | 197.8 | 151.5 | +30.5% |
| EBITDA margin | 4.6% | 2.5% | +2.1pp | 2.3% | 2.0% | +0.3pp |
| Net profit attributable to owners of the parent (PLNm) | 65.9 | 25.2 | +161.6% | 85.5 | 55.9 | +52.9% |
| Net margin | 3.1% | 1.2% | +1.9pp | 1.0% | 0.7% | +0.3pp |
* Change calculated based on figures in PLN ‘000
For further information, please contact:
Pelion S.A. Press Office
Phone: (+48 42) 200 75 94
Fax: (+48 42) 200 75 35
Email: biuro_prasowe@pelion.eu
Pelion has operated on the market for twenty-six years, starting out as a local pharmaceutical wholesaler. In 1998, the Company shares were floated on the Warsaw Stock Exchange. Proceeds from the initial public offering fuelled the Company’s dynamic growth and allowed it to embark on consolidation of the pharmaceutical wholesale market. Since its flotation, the Company has secured a top position among domestic distributors of medicinal products. Today, Pelion is one of the largest groups operating in the healthcare markets in Poland and Lithuania. It provides services across all market segments (wholesale, retail sales and sales to hospitals), targeted at individual patients, pharmacies, hospitals, and manufacturers. As a holding company, Pelion S.A. oversees all areas of the Company’s operations, which are conducted by PGF S.A. and Pharmapoint Sp. z o.o. (wholesale), CEPD N.V. (retail sales), and PGF Urtica Sp. z o.o. and Pharmalink Sp. z o.o. (sales to hospitals and logistics services).
