Segmenta grows in hospital serum and seeks new market
Valor Econômico
Segmenta, a laboratory aimed at the hospital market, headquartered in Ribeirão Preto (SP), took such a great step it even surprised its main shareholders. The company that integrated the assets of the Biosintética pharmaceutical company, sold in 2005 to the Aché group, remained out of the negotiation. After a strong restructuring, the company decided to bet on hospital serum, a segment in expansion in the country, and it plans on making acquisitions in the sector of sanitizing products (hospital asepsis).
The change occurred in 2008, with the regulatory change promoted by National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa), which established the closed system for parenteral solutions (serum) in the country. In practice, the change required all labs that operated in such area to make investments to reduce the risk of hospital contamination. "The serum market experienced a deep regulatory restructuring in 2008, stimulating the sector", said Omilton Viscount Jr., Chairman of the group. "Nearly two years ago, this sector had transactions in the amount of R$ 400 million (US$ 218.6 million). Last year, it was at nearly R$ 1.2 billion (US$ 609 million)".
With the change from the open to the closed system in serum production, the market began becoming stronger, since a few enterprises had restructured themselves to meet the new format of the sector. In 2007, the newly restructured company registered earnings of R$ 20 million (US$ 10.4 million). In the following year, it had earnings of R$ 56 million (US$ 30.6 million). In 2009, it ended the year with R$ 144 million (US$ 73.1 million). "We project an income of R$ 200 million (US$ 108.1 million) for this year", said the Executive.
The goal of the company is to also grow in the complementary segment, which includes the area of hospital sanitizing products. "We have studied acquisitions of companies that work with serum and also in this new area", said Visconde. In 2008, the company invested nearly R$ 70 million (US$ 38.3 million) in a new unit in order to get adapted to the new serum production system. The expansion allowed the company to get 25% of market share compared to 20% before.
According to Visconde, the company is studying two acquisitions. Should they work out, it grows in the serum market - the goal is to get a slice of 30% - and also to debut in the area of sanitizing products. The funds for such progress should get to nearly R$ 60 million (US$ 32.4 million). "If everything comes out as planned, we will conclude the acquisitions already in this half", he said. One of its possible targets is to grow in the South and Southeast of the country. With more ambitious plans, Visconde, the main shareholder of the company, does not rule out opening the capital of the company over the next three years.