Hanmi Science, the holding company of Hanmi Group, is making a full-fledged entry into the general retail cosmetics market. Analysts say the strategy to secure growth engines and strengthen profitability at the holding-company level is taking shape.
According to a compilation of ChosunBiz reporting on the 18th, Hanmi Science will officially launch the derma cosmetic (skin-improvement cosmetics) brand ADESII this month and begin online and offline marketing.
ADESII is a premium derma brand that highlights functional ingredients for antioxidant and elasticity improvement. The company is currently filing a patent application for its independently developed antioxidant raw material "H-EGTI." The ingredient combines ergothioneine (EGT), a mushroom-derived natural antioxidant amino acid, with Resistress, a plant-derived flavonoid ingredient. It was developed to strengthen skin resistance and block oxidative stress.
Based on this, the company plans to expand its lineup of functional cosmetics applying PDRN (polydeoxyribonucleotide) complexes and collagen ingredients. With competition intensifying for high-functionality products in the cosmetics market, Hanmi Group appears to have joined the trend.
Unlike Hanmi Science's existing pharmacy-only cosmetics brand "PRO-CALM," ADESII will be run based on general retail channels. A company official said, "Unlike PRO-CALM, ADESII will be operated as a brand based on general retail channels, so the focus is on expanding consumer touchpoints."
The launch of the new brand is being evaluated as an extension of Hanmi Science's "operating holding company" strategy.
Since shifting to a professional management system, Hanmi Science has been accelerating efforts to strengthen its own revenue-generating businesses as a holding company. After being appointed in Mar. last year, Chief Executive Kim Jae-gyo of Hanmi Science reorganized the holding company's role from simple administrative management to a structure that oversees group strategy and resource allocation. By establishing the Planning and Strategy Division and the Innovation Division, the company strengthened its capabilities in discovering future businesses and strategic investments, and has pursued expansion of its portfolio of non-pharmaceutical businesses such as medical devices, healthcare, and cosmetics.
Under holding company Hanmi Science, Hanmi Group includes core operating companies such as Hanmi Pharmaceutical, Beijing Hanmi Pharmaceutical, Hanmi Fine Chemical, JVM, and Online Pharm, forming a structure of affiliates in pharmaceuticals, medical devices, healthcare, and distribution.
Last year, Hanmi Group also set a goal of "achieving 5 trillion won in combined group sales by 2030." At the time of the announcement, the group said it would add innovation-driven growth in new businesses to its existing pharmaceutical base. Analysts say the group is focusing on strengthening revenue-generating businesses under this goal.
On a consolidation basis last year, Hanmi Science posted 1.3568 trillion won in sales and 138.6 billion won in operating profit. Compared with the previous year, sales rose 5.7% and operating profit rose 40.2%, marking the best performance since its founding.
In particular, non-pharmaceutical businesses also showed growth. The cosmetics business PRO-CALM recorded annual sales of 12.1 billion won last year, up 75% from the previous year. In the medical device business, the adhesion barrier "Gadix" posted 23.1 billion won in sales last year, up 15% year over year, and the hemostatic agent "Acticlot" also increased to 8.1 billion won, up 77%. JVM, a company for automated pharmaceutical dispensing systems, is pursuing expansion in North America, Europe, and China.