Investment Ideas - Dr.Reddy's Laboratory

 Dr. Reddy’s beginning was in 1984, when The Company was established by Dr Anji Reddy with an initial capital of Rs 25 lakhs. Their maiden production was high quality Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients, mainly catering to the Indian Market.  Today it has expanded their activity to  Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), Custom Pharmaceutical Services (CPS), generics, and biosimilars, The company employs over 2700 representatives and one of the biggest Indian Pharmaceutical Company. It has turned itself into a 200 million worth of Pharma venture. It started manufacturing finished products in the 1986 when it launched Norilet. Since then the company has regularly updated its presence in the market by launching more medicines addressing major areas like gastro-intestinal, oncology, pain management, cardiovascular, dermatology, diabetes, anti-infective, paediatrics and so on. 

The company’s international operations started around 1991.Ttheir major markets include, USA, Russia and CIS, Germany, UK, Venezuela, S. Africa, Romania, and New Zealand.

Acquisitions
In the year 1988, they acquired Benzex Laboratories Pvt Ltd to expand their business
In the year 1999, the company acquired American Remedies Ltd, an Indian  pharmaceutical company. Cheminor Drugs Ltd, was merged with the company in the year 2000. The first overseas acquisition  was in the year 2002 when it acquired  BMS Laboratories Limited and Meridian Healthcare in UK.

In the year 2006, the company acquired a German company called Betapharmthis company was one of the largest generic drug company in Germany.

During the year 2008-09 many acquisitions were done. The company acquired DowPharma's small molecules business in UK under Chirotech Technology Ltd, BASF Corporation's manufacturing facility at Shreveport in Louisiana, USA- Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Louisiana LLC and Jet Generici SRL,in Italy.
In the year 2003 they launched their first generic product, Ranitidine, in the US market. Also , they launched Ibuprofen, first generic product to be marketed under the 'Dr. Reddy's' label in the US. Exports commenced with the drug  Methyldopa. In the year 1987, the company obtained first US Food and Drug Administration, approval for Ibuprofen.. In the year 1990, they exported Norfloxacin and Ciprofloxacin to Europe and Far East. In the year 1991, they started exports to Russia, Later joint ventures were in established in Russia

Subsidiaries.
In the year 2005, they acquired Roche's API Business at its manufacturing site in Mexico. Perlecan Pharma Pvt Ltd and Macred India Pvt Ltd became the company’s subsidiaries. Another company -  Dr. Reddy's Laboratories ILAC Ticaret also brought under the arm of  the company. In the year 2009-10, Dr. Reddy's Pharma SEZ Ltd became  a wholly-owned subsidiary of the company. This unit was put into use for manufacturing at Special Economic Zones. Perlecan Pharma Pvt Ltd was another company which was merged with the company. In the overseas, the company completed the acquisition of its balance stake of 30% in Dr. Reddy's (Australia) Pty Ltd. In the USA the company acquired GlaxoSmithKline's (GSK) oral penicillin manufacturing facility, in Tennessee.

Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Romania SRL, I-Ven Pharma Capital Ltd, Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Tennessee LLC and Dr. Reddy's Venezuela C.A., Dr. Reddy's Laboratories (Proprietary) Ltd also became wholly-owned subsidiaries of  the company.

These arrangements could be seen as strengthening of the existing business or forging new strategies for marketing its own formulations.

The Dividend history of the company is also impressive. In the last two years of 2011 and 2012, it has paid 225%, 275% respectively. The EPS has been 53.81(Rs).At the time of writing this notes the companies share were trading at all time high ahead of Jan- March earnings reports. (Rs. 2085)

The background of the company and its past performance makes this reliable Indian Pharmaceutical Company, a must have in portfolio stock. Shares can be accumulated on dips and held for a longer time frame.

Disclaimer: I do not hold any shares or any interest in the company.

Investment Ideas - Cipla

 
Cipla was founded by Dr. K. A. Hamied in the year in 1935. Over a long period of 78 years since 1935, Cipla has grown to become one of the largest pharmaceutical names, not only in India but also worldwide. Cipla has a strong presence in over 170 countries Today’s Cipla has 34 manufacturing facilities and 2000 products, and employing 20000 personnel catering to a wide spectrum of diseases. The company’s Research and Development (R&D) Centre has spearheaded and delivered many new products. The company claims to be one of the world’s largest generic pharmaceutical products manufacturers.



The 78 year journey of Cipla has seen many unique milestones. The Company has a rare distinction of a visit by Mahatma Gandhi in 1939.

During the During World War II the company has helped India by manufacturing life saving drug formulations. In the 1960s, ventured into bulk drug manufacturing in the industry in India.

In 1970, Ciplas’ efforts in getting the New Patent Law in force paved the way for Indian pharmaceutical companies manufacture a patented product.

In 1978, Cipla introduced Metered-Dose Inhaler (MDI). Today, Cipla is world’s largest supplier of inhaled medication and devices.

The most notable effort was in 2001, when Cipla made HIV treatment drug Antiretrovirals (ARVs). This drug brought down the cost of treatment for HIV infected patients dramatically, making HIV treatment affordable to millions of patients. Similarly in 2012, the prices of cancer drugs, also got reduced due to the company’s efforts.In 2005 the company produced an anti-flu drug helping the Government combat the Bird Flu epidemic. This was done within a short period of 3 months.

Recently the company has started concentrating on profitability. This could be seen in the moves by Cipla in the USA where it has started filing applications with the US Food and Drugs Administration (USFDA). In the USA it is seeking approval for its generic products. It is also on verge of building its own sales team. Cipla’s initiative in the lucrative US market is likely to increase the profit targets. When we look at the background of the company’ extensive range of products and well established  research and Development, it very likely to reap rich benefits in the US markets. 

Not only the US market, joint ventures and even acquisitions are being planned in Turkey, Morocco, Brazil and Nigeria. This does not mean that the domestic market is downplayed. The company has plans to increase its market share in the Indian market.

Cipla has made substantial investments in the manufacture of Biosimilars and Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs). These investments are likely to bring in more profits to the company. Cipla has built up a reputation as a low cost drug maker. Looking at the company’s activity in the past confirms this statement. The company is, like many other Pharmaceutical companies vulnerable to tough market competition. The profits margins of Cipla can go lower. This does not pose a major problem to the company, because of the extensively large range of products and market share. There are positive news too. For example the share of Europe and Australasia has grown from 26 per cent in FY 2010-11 to 30 per cent in 2011-12. The sales were also growing at 32 per cent and 18 per cent, respectively.

Considering the market leadership of the company in the key areas like respiratory care, Anti-Viral and Urology, this company becomes an attractive one from an investor’s angle. At the time writing this notes the company’s share were trading at Rs. 397. Investors with a longer time frame  in mind can consider this stocks for their portfolio.

Disclaimer: I do not hold any shares or vested interest in this company.