Global Healthcare Analyst

Tina Banerjee

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hugel-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22860:1" rel="noopener">Hugel Inc (145020 KS)</a> reported 28% YoY growth in both revenue and operating profit to KRW81.6B and KRW28B in 2Q23, respectively, driven by solid performance of botulinum toxins and fillers.</li>
<li>Hugel has resubmitted marketing application for botulinum toxin in the U.S. for the third time, with approval expected in 1Q24. The U.S. is the world’s single largest botulinum toxin market.</li>
<li>The company is seeing North America, Australia, New Zealand, and China as future growth engines to achieve its long-term target revenue of KRW1 trillion and operating profit margin of 45%.</li>
</ul>



Hugel Inc (145020 KS) reported 28% YoY growth in both revenue and operating profit to KRW81.6B and KRW28B in 2Q23, respectively, driven by solid performance of botulinum toxins and fillers.
Hugel has resubmitted marketing application for botulinum toxin in the U.S. for the third time, with approval expected in 1Q24. The U.S. is the world’s single largest botulinum toxin market.
The company is seeing North America, Australia, New Zealand, and China as future growth engines to achieve its long-term target revenue of KRW1 trillion and operating profit margin of 45%.


Hugel Inc (145020 KS): Achieves Record High Revenue in 2Q23; Resubmits Marketing Application in US

Korea / Special Situations, Clepsydra Capital

Sanghyun Park

Korea / Special Situations

Korea / Special Sits, Pairs, Index Rebalancing

Clepsydra Capital

Investigate special situations, pairs, and index rebalancing trades in Korea.

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>NPS has expressed concerns about the wide risk range of the KOSDAQ 150 index, and there has been speculation about whether they will take advantage of the KOSDAQ Global Index.</li>
<li>The launch of these ETFs should be closely watched as it could potentially be a turning point in the investment patterns of local pension funds in KOSDAQ.</li>
<li>It may be worth considering the constituents included in this index where the NPS ownership stake does not reach 5%.</li>
</ul>


NPS has expressed concerns about the wide risk range of the KOSDAQ 150 index, and there has been speculation about whether they will take advantage of the KOSDAQ Global Index.
The launch of these ETFs should be closely watched as it could potentially be a turning point in the investment patterns of local pension funds in KOSDAQ.
It may be worth considering the constituents included in this index where the NPS ownership stake does not reach 5%.


Potential Changes to NPS's KOSDAQ Benchmark with the Launch of KOSDAQ Global Index ETFs

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs, Douglas Research Advisory

Douglas Kim

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs

<ul>
<li>Hugel is a solid turnaround story. The recent resumption of its Botulax product sales in China is likely to boost the company's sales and profits in 2023 and 2024.</li>
<li>Despite this important catalyst, Hugel continues to face potential legal battle with Medytox over the botulinum toxin-related patent in the United States.</li>
<li>The overall valuation on Hugel remains attractive and it is trading at EV/EBITDA of 7.1x and P/E of 18.2x in 2023.</li>
</ul>


Hugel is a solid turnaround story. The recent resumption of its Botulax product sales in China is likely to boost the company's sales and profits in 2023 and 2024.
Despite this important catalyst, Hugel continues to face potential legal battle with Medytox over the botulinum toxin-related patent in the United States.
The overall valuation on Hugel remains attractive and it is trading at EV/EBITDA of 7.1x and P/E of 18.2x in 2023.


Hugel: A Solid Turnaround Story With Resumption of Botulax Sales in China

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hugel-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22860:1" rel="noopener">Hugel Inc (145020 KS)</a> is expected to start shipment of Botulax to China this month. Moreover, the company will launch its HA filler in China by middle of 2023.</li>
<li>Hugel plans to focus on expanding into the global market in 2H23. The company began full-scale sales of Botulax in Australia in April and plans to enter Canada this year.</li>
<li>Preliminary ruling regarding legal dispute in US is expected in November, while final ruling will come in March 2024. Hugel pushed back its US entry to 2025.  </li>
</ul>



Hugel Inc (145020 KS) is expected to start shipment of Botulax to China this month. Moreover, the company will launch its HA filler in China by middle of 2023.
Hugel plans to focus on expanding into the global market in 2H23. The company began full-scale sales of Botulax in Australia in April and plans to enter Canada this year.
Preliminary ruling regarding legal dispute in US is expected in November, while final ruling will come in March 2024. Hugel pushed back its US entry to 2025.  


Hugel Inc (145020 KS): Expanding Global Presence Provides Solace Amid Patent Tussle with Competitor

<ul>
<li>During 2022, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bnc-korea-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:34785:1" rel="noopener">BNC Korea (256840 KS)</a> reported gross profit margin of 48.3%, lower than 51.9% reported in 2021, as increasing competition is leading to price erosion of botulinum toxin products.</li>
<li>In March 2023, prosecutors have indicted BNC Korea for allegedly selling botulinum toxin injections to exporters without the approval of the MFDS from December 2015 to December 2021.</li>
<li>With the pandemic on a downward trend for more than a year now, we are skeptical about BNC Korea’s in-licensed COVID-19 drug candidate for a milestone payment of $15M.</li>
</ul>


During 2022, BNC Korea (256840 KS) reported gross profit margin of 48.3%, lower than 51.9% reported in 2021, as increasing competition is leading to price erosion of botulinum toxin products.
In March 2023, prosecutors have indicted BNC Korea for allegedly selling botulinum toxin injections to exporters without the approval of the MFDS from December 2015 to December 2021.
With the pandemic on a downward trend for more than a year now, we are skeptical about BNC Korea’s in-licensed COVID-19 drug candidate for a milestone payment of $15M.


BNC Korea (256840 KS): Margin Pressure; Base Business Faces Regulatory Risk; COVID Drug in Doldrum

South Korea

Hugel, Inc. is a Bio-pharmaceutical company that focuses on developing beauty/cosmetics related products.  The Company's main products include botulinum toxin and fillers.

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Hugel Inc (145020 KS)