Orfe is prescribing numerous investments in large doses

Pharmaceutical-distributor Orfe is to spend between zl. 50 and zl. 70 million this year on investments, which is more than half of its planned spending up to 2003. "We are now bringing Cefarm Rzeszow and Torfarm into line with the rest of the group. Cefarm Rzeszow will receive funds for modernization and computer upgrading,"said Orfe management-board president Andrzej Stachnik. Orfe is now awaiting a decision on taking over Cefarm from Zielona Gora. It is also planning to make offers for Cefarm Lodz and and Cefarm Warszawa. If Orfe succeeds in taking over these three companies, then it would control between 10% and 15% of the wholesale pharmaceutical-market. Orfe is also in talks with an as-yet-unnamed domestic distributing-company, which is thought to be PGF, as 30% of its shares are for sale. "In two or three year's time, there will only be four to five distributors in Europe. I think globalization will force domestic companies to start negotiating with foreign investors,"said Stachnik. Other Orfe plans include installing a new computer system and building two additional warehouses and two distributing centers by the end of the year. (Puls Biznesu, page 1, 7) M.M