Barewittness - There is very healthy competition within the...

Barewittness - There is very healthy competition within the current "closed shop" retail pharmacy industry from a wide variety of independents, groups, franchise like and small and large pharmacist owned corporates. Far from any definition of a monopoly. Also Manufacturers, Wholesalers and Agencies are ultra competitive for their share of business. You talk about smashing a so called "Monopoly" which isn't really with the biggest Retail Control Freaks in the World - that has to be the greatest joke ever posted on HC.

I think you over-estimate greatly the significance of the Terry White Retail Organisation could have on Sigma's diverse operations. They probably have some of their own brand products contract manufactured by Sigma now that Maine has sold off their manufaturing operations and the Terry White operation.

So Barewittness obviously you would like Coles and Woolies to claim another sector? Would that really improve competition, professionalism etc in the long term. Three cheers for a profession that has been able to hold out against those sniping Giants.

You would have the same uni qualified pharmacist working for Woolies and Coles so whats your point?

Now the strength of Sigma is in its diversification and vertical integration. Margins in distribution are extremely thin, Full range wholesaling is essential for the industry but two majors is probably enough. Margins in manufacturing (own products and contractual) is where the profits are. Generics could be a good earner down the line once the "cut throat" brawling amongst the current players sorts itself out. It will be survival of the fittest.

The two other main players API and Zeullig (formally Maine & Faulding) don't have the extent diversification in Australia that Sigma has.

And truthfully MATE - did Terry White make a "Billion dollar profit" - They might have scraped up a $1 Billion in Sales but not profit.

To sum your post up MATE I think you have very little idea of how efficient and well operated the current pharmaceutical industry runs in Australia. It has to to survive the extremely tough game rules imposed by the Government run Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme which in turn provides probably the best pharmaceutical supply system in the world.