09/04/2008 15h12
Intervet Schering-Plough invests in the Coopers brand
Valor Econômico - 09/04/2008
The consolidation process in the Brazilian market of Intervet Schering-Plough, a company created in 2007 from the acquisition of Organon Andrew Jack (a pharmaceutical division of Dutch chemical group Akzo Noble) by American pharmaceutical Schering-Plough, will result, as a consequence, the "resurrection" of Coopers. The Coopers' line of products, which is concentrated on vaccines and anti-parasitic products for big animals, was absorbed by Schering-Plough after the fusion between the American company and Coopers do Brasil, in 2002. The Coopers brand practically disappeared three and a half years ago by a strategically decision of concentrating its products line under the Schering-Plough umbrella. Only some products, such as Coopers ointment (
Matabicheira), continued to be commercialized under the brand. "A legal demand gave rise to the opportunity of resuming a brand that is still greatly remembered by producers", said Fernando Heiderich, president of Intervet Schering-Plough in Brazil. Under the Coopers' line there will be 22 products, which will have sales revenue of R$ 110 million (US$ 67.5 million) already in 2008. Schering-Plough's total revenue in Brazil this year should be R$ 430 million (US$ 263.8 million). The Coopers line should also have products for swine, poultry, and pets, according to the executive. For 2009 the company prepares investments to increase by 16% the total capacity of the three plants of the group in Brazil, located in Cotia and Cruzeiro (SP) and in Fortaleza (CE). With this, the company's projected revenue in Brazil for the next year is up to R$ 460 million (US$ 282.2 million). The amount of the investment has not been defined yet, according to Heiderich.
