DEAR SHAREHOLDERS,
This is a landmark year. On August 22,2019, your Company completes 75 years of its remarkable existence.
On behalf of the entire Board, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all of you - our dear
shareholders, employees and business partners, for your constant support through the decades and for being
part of our path-breaking journey. Your trust has been inspirational and instrumental in shaping our success
over all these years.
This milestone is an occasion to celebrate, to reflect on the past and an opportunity to chart the
future.
Abbott India is one of the oldest and most respected healthcare companies in India. Its growth trajectory
has been sharp, with several milestones. The Company incorporates the legacies of great organizations such as
Boots, Knoll and then Abbott since 2001. The Company’s position as a global pharmaceutical company with
a strong presence in India was enhanced through increased sales, better pharmaceutical research and
development, and solid commercial grounding. The merger of Solvay Pharma India into the Company provided an
expanded range of healthcare products and a significant impetus to its growth. Your Company has been steadily
achieving its vision of helping people in India live healthier lives through innovative, high-quality and
trusted products, backed by expert clinical support.
Your Company has consistently fulfilled its objectives, with significant breakthroughs on a long list of
strategic initiatives. Today, your Company leads from the front in multiple therapeutic categories such as
Women’s Health, Gastroenterology, Metabolics, Pain Management, Central Nervous System and Vaccines.
As we embark on a new journey, we welcome Mr Sudarshan Jain and Mr Mark Murphy II who have recently
joined our Board of Directors.
Mr R A Shah, who was associated with the Company for over 35 years, retired on March 31, 2019 upon
completion of his term. We sincerely thank Mr Shah for his support and guidance and wish him good health and
all the best in the future. 2018 was a year of resilience and successful strategic planning. Total Revenue
amounted to Rs,3,792 Crore, recording a growth of 10.7% over the previous year. Profits grew by 12.2%. The
Company remains on a strong growth trajectory and our motto of “Breaking Barriers - Enabling
Care” has been fulfilled in a way that reveals the strengths and capabilities of the people behind our
success, year after year.
In keeping with the solid performance of the Company, your Board has proposed a final dividend of Rs,50
and special dividend of Rs,15 per share for the year ended March 31,2019.
At Abbott India, we don’t just break performance barriers, we build bridges that show how much we
care. Healthcare Professionals and patients are able to access holistic and quality healthcare solutions
through various programs such as “Making India Thyroid Aware” in partnership with the Indian
Thyroid Society; aic are - a 360 degree ecosystem connecting healthcare professionals and
patients; GUTFIT, a unique lifestyle modification program and PANCREOSCOPIE, an online knowledge sharing
platform, reaching out to Gastroenterologists with cutting-edge insights.
We also seek to create stronger and healthier communities, enabling people to fulfil their potential and
live their life to the fullest. We do so by working with the Government, international healthcare
organizations and community-focused NGOs, engaging consumers and leveraging the skills and passion of our own
employees.
The Abbott India team of 3,485 dedicated professionals is our most valuable asset.
Their commitment and resilience has helped us overcome all challenges in a volatile environment. We
believe in motivating and engaging our employees through shared goals, capability-building initiatives and
career growth opportunities. We provide our people with an environment of transparency, accountability, and
positive reinforcement.
Brand, talent and culture remain key factors in delivering sustainable business and earnings growth, thus
creating long-term value for our stakeholders.
I am proud to announce that your Company was recognized as the “Company of the Year” by
AIOCD Pharmas ofttech AWACS, and received many other prestigious awards for its brands and marketing
campaigns.
As we move forward, the healthcare landscape in India is expected to improve in the coming years, driven
by rising incomes, greater health awareness and diagnosis through technology. Government-led initiatives such
as Ayushman Bharat and access to insurance will also help.
We see 2019-20 as another year of consolidation and acceleration. With our Service Plus culture, we will
ensure differentiation, and continue outperforming the market. We will build new products to consolidate our
leadership in key therapies and enter new high-potential areas. We will enhance therapy growth to ensure
sustained business progress.
We will surge ahead with innovative marketing initiatives and services to retain our position as one of
the leading pharma companies in India, while breaking new ground.
On behalf of our Board of Directors, I would once again like to thank you all - our shareholders, our
employees, our customers and partners for supporting us on this exciting journey.
MUNIR SHAIKH
Chairman