Prosper wants to up its market share through acquisitions

Prosper, one of Poland's five largest pharmaceutical wholesalers, is seeking to increase its market share from 14% to 20% before the end of 2001 by acquiring smaller players in the sector. The company has already spent zl.18 million this year to acquire two smaller pharmaceutical firms and next year will funnel even more money into acquisitions. The wholesaler is looking for companies holding at least a 1% share of the pharmaceuticals market and will likely participate in the tender for the privatization of Cefarm Warszawa pharmaceutical company. Prosper is now competing fiercely for market dominance with PGF, Farmacol, Orfe and Cormay. Its chief competitors are also either planning similar actions or are already in talks with foreign investors. Tadeusz Wesolowski, Prosper's president and main shareholder, says consolidation of the domestic pharmaceuticals segment would take place in 2001 and in three years' time three to four dominant companies would control 80% of the market. (Puls Biznesu, p.6)