HK/China Healthcare Analyst (ex-Fosun Pharma)

Xinyao (Criss) Wang

Equity Capital Markets

On January 20th, 2021, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/adagene-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31371:1" rel="noopener">Adagene Inc (ADAG US)</a> filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to go public, officially starting the process of IPO in the United States. It is said that Adagene may raise as much as $125 million. Meanwhile, according to some media’s reports, Adagene has close ties with the CRO/CDMO giant WuXi AppTec, who is also one of the investors in the Company with 10.8% shares and provides strong support for its IPO. The following mainly provide analysis in terms of platform, pipeline and financial position.

On January 20th, 2021, Adagene Inc (ADAG US) filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to go public, officially starting the process of IPO in the United States. It is said that Adagene may raise as much as $125 million. Meanwhile, according to some media’s reports, Adagene has close ties with the CRO/CDMO giant WuXi AppTec, who is also one of the investors in the Company with 10.8% shares and provides strong support for its IPO. The following mainly provide analysis in terms of platform, pipeline and financial position.

Pre-IPO Adagene Inc (ADAG US) - Advanced Technology but Still Take Time for Commercialization

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One, Periscope Analytics

Brian Freitas

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One

Event-Driven

Member of the Hang Seng Composite Index (HSCI) are included in the Southbound Stock Connect program if their market cap exceeds HK$5bn. However, Secondary Listings and Biotech stocks that listed under Chapter 18A of the Listing Rules were excluded from the Stock Connect program.This headline "*H.K. TO INCLUDE SECONDARY-LISTED COS IN STOCK CONNECT: SING TAO" could drive stocks that are HSCI members but not a part of Stock Connect higher. If Chapter 18A listed Biotech stocks are added to Stock Connect, they could run even more.In this Insight, we take a look at stocks that are a part of the HSCI or are expected to join the HSCI in the next review and could be eligible to be included in the Stock Connect program.

Member of the Hang Seng Composite Index (HSCI) are included in the Southbound Stock Connect program if their market cap exceeds HK$5bn. However, Secondary Listings and Biotech stocks that listed under Chapter 18A of the Listing Rules were excluded from the Stock Connect program.This headline "*H.K. TO INCLUDE SECONDARY-LISTED COS IN STOCK CONNECT: SING TAO" could drive stocks that are HSCI members but not a part of Stock Connect higher. If Chapter 18A listed Biotech stocks are added to Stock Connect, they could run even more.In this Insight, we take a look at stocks that are a part of the HSCI or are expected to join the HSCI in the next review and could be eligible to be included in the Stock Connect program.

Stock Connect - Secondary Listings and Biotech Stocks to Become Eligible?

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

The role of lock-ups in IPOs is, as one journal <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/1262724?seq=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">put it</a>, a "commitment device to alleviate moral hazard problems".
Lock-ups can be entered into and negotiated with underwriters, as is the case for secondary listings for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/netease" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29030:1" rel="noopener">NetEase (9999 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jd-com-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29043:1" rel="noopener">JD.com (HK) (9618 HK)</a>, amongst others. For primary listings in Hong Kong, there are standard rules as to the lock-up duration.
According to <a href="https://en-rules.hkex.com.hk/rulebook/1007-0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Main Board Rule 10.07(1)</a> (or <a href="https://en-rules.hkex.com.hk/rulebook/1316a" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GEM rule 13.16A(1)</a>), if a person/group of persons is/are listed as the controlling shareholder(s) of the issuer's listing application, shall not (apart from any offer of shares for sale discussed in the listing document):
<ol>
<li>dispose of shares (nor enter into agreements) in a period commencing on the date by reference to which disclosure of the shareholding of the controlling shareholder is made in the listing document and ending on the date which is 6 months from the date of listing (the “First Six-month Period”); and</li>
<li>dispose of shares in the period of 6 months commencing on the date on which the First Six-month Period expires, if immediately following such disposal that person or group of persons would cease to be a controlling shareholder (the “Second Six-month Period”).</li>
</ol>
An example of such wording can be found in Yadong's Group (1795 HK)'s (the most recent Main Board listing) "<a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2020/1117/9515120/2020111700040.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Share Offer - Announcement of allotment results</a>".
For cornerstone investors, the following is often stated in the share offer document:
<blockquote>
Each of the Cornerstone Investors has agreed that it will not, whether directly or indirectly, at any time during the period of six months following the Listing Date, dispose of any of the Offer Shares it has purchased pursuant to the relevant Cornerstone Investment Agreement, save for certain limited circumstances ...
</blockquote>
Every week in my Event SPACE wrap, I flag large moves (~10%) in CCASS holdings over the past week or so, moves that are often outside normal market transactions.  These may be indicative of share pledges.  Or potential takeovers. Or simply help understand volume swings. 
Large movement(s) concerning recently listed companies are likely lock-up related. 
This insight looks at companies that have been listed for nearly six months or 12 months, as a guide to when insiders/controlling shareholders are permitted to sell, potentially depressing prices and creating an overhang.
A summary of Main Board listings in 2020 is attached at the bottom of this insight.

The role of lock-ups in IPOs is, as one journal put it, a "commitment device to alleviate moral hazard problems".
Lock-ups can be entered into and negotiated with underwriters, as is the case for secondary listings for NetEase (9999 HK), JD.com (HK) (9618 HK), amongst others. For primary listings in Hong Kong, there are standard rules as to the lock-up duration.
According to Main Board Rule 10.07(1) (or GEM rule 13.16A(1)), if a person/group of persons is/are listed as the controlling shareholder(s) of the issuer's listing application, shall not (apart from any offer of shares for sale discussed in the listing document):

dispose of shares (nor enter into agreements) in a period commencing on the date by reference to which disclosure of the shareholding of the controlling shareholder is made in the listing document and ending on the date which is 6 months from the date of listing (the “First Six-month Period”); and
dispose of shares in the period of 6 months commencing on the date on which the First Six-month Period expires, if immediately following such disposal that person or group of persons would cease to be a controlling shareholder (the “Second Six-month Period”).

An example of such wording can be found in Yadong's Group (1795 HK)'s (the most recent Main Board listing) "Share Offer - Announcement of allotment results".
For cornerstone investors, the following is often stated in the share offer document:

Each of the Cornerstone Investors has agreed that it will not, whether directly or indirectly, at any time during the period of six months following the Listing Date, dispose of any of the Offer Shares it has purchased pursuant to the relevant Cornerstone Investment Agreement, save for certain limited circumstances ...

Every week in my Event SPACE wrap, I flag large moves (~10%) in CCASS holdings over the past week or so, moves that are often outside normal market transactions.  These may be indicative of share pledges.  Or potential takeovers. Or simply help understand volume swings. 
Large movement(s) concerning recently listed companies are likely lock-up related. 
This insight looks at companies that have been listed for nearly six months or 12 months, as a guide to when insiders/controlling shareholders are permitted to sell, potentially depressing prices and creating an overhang.
A summary of Main Board listings in 2020 is attached at the bottom of this insight.

Founder

Kemp Dolliver, CFA

Cherrystone Hill Research

Everest Medicines / Equity Capital Markets

The valuation of pre-revenue biotechnology companies is, at best, an imprecise exercise. The traditional valuation tools (DCF, peer company comparisons, M&amp;A valuations) still apply, but require some modifications to reflect the unique circumstances. One tool is to consider the company's valuation in the context of the "step-up" from its last funding round to the pre-money valuation for the IPO. This Insight analyzes this data for pre-revenue biotechnology companies that have listed under the HKEX's "Biotech Chapter" and how investors can use this data to frame their analysis of these deals.

The valuation of pre-revenue biotechnology companies is, at best, an imprecise exercise. The traditional valuation tools (DCF, peer company comparisons, M&amp;A valuations) still apply, but require some modifications to reflect the unique circumstances. One tool is to consider the company's valuation in the context of the "step-up" from its last funding round to the pre-money valuation for the IPO. This Insight analyzes this data for pre-revenue biotechnology companies that have listed under the HKEX's "Biotech Chapter" and how investors can use this data to frame their analysis of these deals.

IPOs and Catalysts/Events, Global Equity Research Ltd

Arun George

IPOs and Catalysts/Events

Uncompromised, Independent, Conflict-Free Research

Global Equity Research Ltd

Global Equity Research was started in 2017 by a group of experienced research professionals. It was founded on a passionate belief in the importance and the need for uncompromised, independent, conflict-free research. We aim to provide differentiated and actionable primary and bottom up fundamental research.

Simcere Pharmaceutical / Equity Capital Markets

<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/simcere-pharmaceutical-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29186:1" rel="noopener">Simcere Pharmaceutical Group (SIMCERE HK)</a> is engaged in the R&amp;D, production and commercialisation of pharmaceuticals and is primarily focused on generic pharmaceuticals. The products are focused on three main therapeutic areas which are oncology (including cell therapy), central nervous system diseases and autoimmune diseases. Simcere will shortly launch a Hong Kong IPO to raise $500 million, according to press reports.  <div class="content-highlight">The timing of the IPO is not ideal as Simcere is coming off a weak 1H20. However, for investors willing to look past the 2020 results, Simcere is putting in place the right measures to ensure that the 1H20 was an exception rather than the rule. </div>

Simcere Pharmaceutical Group (SIMCERE HK) is engaged in the R&amp;D, production and commercialisation of pharmaceuticals and is primarily focused on generic pharmaceuticals. The products are focused on three main therapeutic areas which are oncology (including cell therapy), central nervous system diseases and autoimmune diseases. Simcere will shortly launch a Hong Kong IPO to raise $500 million, according to press reports.  The timing of the IPO is not ideal as Simcere is coming off a weak 1H20. However, for investors willing to look past the 2020 results, Simcere is putting in place the right measures to ensure that the 1H20 was an exception rather than the rule. 

Simcere Pharmaceutical IPO Initiation: A Rough Patch?

China

Alphamab Oncology produces and sells drugs. The Company manufactures and sells tumor immunobiology macromolecular targeted drug and other products. Alphamab Oncology provides services worldwide.

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Alphamab Co Ltd (9966 HK)

Pre-IPO Adagene Inc (ADAG US) - Advanced Technology but Still Take Time for Commercialization

This article analyzed Adagene Inc. in terms of the DPL platform, the core products in the pipeline (ADG106, ADG126 and ADG116), the financial...

Xinyao (Criss) Wang

Stock Connect - Secondary Listings and Biotech Stocks to Become Eligible?

A rule change that admits Secondary listings and Chapter 18A listed Biotech stocks to the Southbound Stock Connect could see Alibaba, JD and...

Brian Freitas

Hong Kong IPOs: Lock-Up Expiries

A look at companies that have been listed for nearly six/12 months, as a guide to when insiders/controlling shareholders are permitted to sell,...

David Blennerhassett

What HKEX Biotech "Step-Ups" Can Tell Us

This Insight explains the concept of valuation "step-ups" for pre-revenue biotechnology companies listing on the HKEX and how to use this data to...

Kemp Dolliver, CFA

Simcere Pharmaceutical IPO Initiation: A Rough Patch?

The timing of the IPO is not ideal as Simcere is coming off a weak 1H20. However, Simcere is putting in place the right measures to ensure that the...

Arun George

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