Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs, Douglas Research Advisory

Douglas Kim

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs

Equity Bottom-Up

<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

Global Healthcare Analyst

Tina Banerjee

<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

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>We discuss the end of the mandatory lock-up periods for 46 stocks in Korea in May 2023, among which 4 are in KOSPI and 42 are in KOSDAQ.</li>
<li>These 46 stocks on average could be subject to further selling pressures in May and could underperform relative to the market. </li>
<li>Among these 46 stocks, the top 6 market cap stocks include KG Mobility, Dongwon Industries, Hugel, Yunsung F&amp;C, Enchem, and Jeio. </li>
</ul>


We discuss the end of the mandatory lock-up periods for 46 stocks in Korea in May 2023, among which 4 are in KOSPI and 42 are in KOSDAQ.
These 46 stocks on average could be subject to further selling pressures in May and could underperform relative to the market. 
Among these 46 stocks, the top 6 market cap stocks include KG Mobility, Dongwon Industries, Hugel, Yunsung F&amp;C, Enchem, and Jeio. 


End of Mandatory Lock-Up Periods for 46 Companies in Korea in May 2023

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.

<ul>
<li>Korea FSC will accept financial institutions' LOC and LPs' investment performance agreements as certifying documents for securing funds. This revision will be effective right from April 1 this year.</li>
<li>The impact from a preemptive trading perspective is likely to be significant. Additional stake purchases through tender offers will increase more aggressively, particularly when purchasing shares from the majority shareholder.</li>
<li>We should first pay attention to companies where private equity (PE) is the largest shareholder whose stake is relatively low (less than 50%): Hugel, Hana Tour Service, &amp; Hanssem</li>
</ul>


Korea FSC will accept financial institutions' LOC and LPs' investment performance agreements as certifying documents for securing funds. This revision will be effective right from April 1 this year.
The impact from a preemptive trading perspective is likely to be significant. Additional stake purchases through tender offers will increase more aggressively, particularly when purchasing shares from the majority shareholder.
We should first pay attention to companies where private equity (PE) is the largest shareholder whose stake is relatively low (less than 50%): Hugel, Hana Tour Service, &amp; Hanssem


Korea FSC Officially Eases a Major Hurdle for a Tender Offer: Names to Watch

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)

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

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...

Douglas Kim