Global Healthcare Analyst

Tina Banerjee

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>A new COVID variant JN.1 is spreading fast. WHO has classified JN.1 as “variant of interest” due to its “rapidly increasing spread.” Thus far, JN.1 has not caused severe infection.</li>
<li>Symptoms of JN.1 may not be as mild as Omicron variants. If JN.1 becomes deadlier and more infectious, diagnostics and vaccine players are going to be benefitted primarily.</li>
<li>In this insight we have discussed two Asian vaccine companies and one diagnostic company, which should be kept in the watchlist.</li>
</ul>


A new COVID variant JN.1 is spreading fast. WHO has classified JN.1 as “variant of interest” due to its “rapidly increasing spread.” Thus far, JN.1 has not caused severe infection.
Symptoms of JN.1 may not be as mild as Omicron variants. If JN.1 becomes deadlier and more infectious, diagnostics and vaccine players are going to be benefitted primarily.
In this insight we have discussed two Asian vaccine companies and one diagnostic company, which should be kept in the watchlist.


New COVID Variant Is Emerging; Testing and Vaccine Euphoria May Be Back; Keep Your Watchlist Ready

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.

Event-Driven

Taisho Pharmaceutical Holdin / Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>Japan Catalyst’s <a href="https://www.japancatalyst.com/pdf/JCI_TAISHO_20231201_eng.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">press release</a> supports the idea of a <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/taisho-pharmaceutical-holdin" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3774:1" rel="noopener">Taisho Pharmaceutical Holdin (4581 JP)</a> MBO but not the proposed offer price as it implies a P/B less than 1.0x.</li>
<li>The press release is a discovery exercise encouraging other like-minded shareholders to show their hand. The shares are trading marginally above the JPY8,620 offer.</li>
<li>While justifiable, a bump is unlikely due to the lack of a substantial activist shareholder, irrevocables, no competing bid and the offer’s 55.5% premium to the undisturbed price.</li>
</ul>


Japan Catalyst’s press release supports the idea of a Taisho Pharmaceutical Holdin (4581 JP) MBO but not the proposed offer price as it implies a P/B less than 1.0x.
The press release is a discovery exercise encouraging other like-minded shareholders to show their hand. The shares are trading marginally above the JPY8,620 offer.
While justifiable, a bump is unlikely due to the lack of a substantial activist shareholder, irrevocables, no competing bid and the offer’s 55.5% premium to the undisturbed price.


Taisho Pharmaceutical (4581 JP): Japan Catalyst Pushes for a Bump

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/taisho-pharmaceutical-holdin" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3774:1" rel="noopener">Taisho Pharmaceutical Holdin (4581 JP)</a> has recommended an MBO tender offer of JPY8,620 per share, a 55.5% premium to the undisturbed (24 November). </li>
<li>The transaction is a two-step acquisition through a cash tender offer and subsequent squeeze-out. The lower limit of the tender offer is set at a 66.67% ownership ratio.</li>
<li>Irrevocables represent a 40.31% ownership ratio. The minimum acceptance condition requires a 44% minority acceptance rate. The offer is attractive vs. historical and peer multiples.</li>
</ul>



Taisho Pharmaceutical Holdin (4581 JP) has recommended an MBO tender offer of JPY8,620 per share, a 55.5% premium to the undisturbed (24 November). 
The transaction is a two-step acquisition through a cash tender offer and subsequent squeeze-out. The lower limit of the tender offer is set at a 66.67% ownership ratio.
Irrevocables represent a 40.31% ownership ratio. The minimum acceptance condition requires a 44% minority acceptance rate. The offer is attractive vs. historical and peer multiples.


Taisho Pharmaceutical (4581 JP): MBO Tender Offer at JPY8,620

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Astellas Pharma (4503 JP) reported just 0.6% YoY revenue growth to ¥767B in H1FY24, while operating profit plunged 57% YoY and net profit decreased 67% YoY.</li>
<li>Generic competition in Lexiscan impacted topline. Increase in SG&amp;A expenses related to new drug launch and higher amortization of intangible assets, pulled down the operating as well as net profit.</li>
<li>Astellas has downwardly revised FY24 forecasts for profit items by more than 50% after taking into consideration the increases in higher expenses.</li>
</ul>


Astellas Pharma (4503 JP) reported just 0.6% YoY revenue growth to ¥767B in H1FY24, while operating profit plunged 57% YoY and net profit decreased 67% YoY.
Generic competition in Lexiscan impacted topline. Increase in SG&amp;A expenses related to new drug launch and higher amortization of intangible assets, pulled down the operating as well as net profit.
Astellas has downwardly revised FY24 forecasts for profit items by more than 50% after taking into consideration the increases in higher expenses.


Astellas Pharma (4503 JP): Underwhelming H1 Result; Massive Cut in FY24 Profit Guidance

<ul>
<li>During 9M2023, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/otsuka-holdings-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12292:1" rel="noopener">Otsuka Holdings (4578 JP)</a> reported revenue growth of 17% YoY to ¥1,479B, driven by 21% YoY revenue growth in pharmaceutical segment due to 16% growth in global products.</li>
<li>Despite the recording of impairment losses, operating profit increased 77% YoY to ¥203B, leading to a 460 bps expansion of margin to 13.7%. Net profit zoomed 46% YoY to ¥162B.</li>
<li>The company has raised 2023 revenue guidance, second time this year. Otsuka now expects 2023 revenue to grow 14% YoY to ¥1,985B, 4% ahead of prior guidance of ¥1,905B.</li>
</ul>


During 9M2023, Otsuka Holdings (4578 JP) reported revenue growth of 17% YoY to ¥1,479B, driven by 21% YoY revenue growth in pharmaceutical segment due to 16% growth in global products.
Despite the recording of impairment losses, operating profit increased 77% YoY to ¥203B, leading to a 460 bps expansion of margin to 13.7%. Net profit zoomed 46% YoY to ¥162B.
The company has raised 2023 revenue guidance, second time this year. Otsuka now expects 2023 revenue to grow 14% YoY to ¥1,985B, 4% ahead of prior guidance of ¥1,905B.


Otsuka Holdings (4578 JP): Global Products Continue to Shine; Second Consequent 2023 Guidance Raise

Japan

Shionogi & Company Ltd., is a pharmaceutical company. The Company develops prescription & over-the-counter drugs and diagnostics.

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Shionogi & Co (4507 JP)

New COVID Variant Is Emerging; Testing and Vaccine Euphoria May Be Back; Keep Your Watchlist Ready

A new COVID variant, JN.1, is spreading rapidly and has been classified as a "variant of interest" by WHO. If it becomes deadlier, vaccine and...

Tina Banerjee

Taisho Pharmaceutical (4581 JP): Japan Catalyst Pushes for a Bump

While justifiable, a bump is unlikely due to the lack of a substantial activist shareholder, irrevocables, no competing bid and the offer’s 55.5%...

Arun George

Taisho Pharmaceutical (4581 JP): MBO Tender Offer at JPY8,620

The minimum acceptance condition requires a 44% minority acceptance rate. The offer is attractive vs. historical and peer multiples.

Arun George

Astellas Pharma (4503 JP): Underwhelming H1 Result; Massive Cut in FY24 Profit Guidance

In H1FY24, Astellas Pharma reported just 0.6% YoY revenue growth, while operating profit plunged 57% YoY and net profit decreased 67% YoY. The...

Tina Banerjee

Otsuka Holdings (4578 JP): Global Products Continue to Shine; Second Consequent 2023 Guidance Raise

During 9M2023, Otsuka's global products revenue grew 16% YoY to ¥528B, representing 53% of pharmaceutical revenue. The company raised 2023 revenue...

Tina Banerjee

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52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

New COVID Variant Is Emerging; Testing and Vaccine Euphoria May Be Back; Keep Your Watchlist Ready

​A new COVID variant, JN.1, is spreading rapidly and has been classified as a "variant of interest" by WHO. If it becomes deadlier, vaccine and...

Tina Banerjee

Taisho Pharmaceutical (4581 JP): Japan Catalyst Pushes for a Bump

While justifiable, a bump is unlikely due to the lack of a substantial activist shareholder, irrevocables, no competing bid and the offer’s 55.5%...

Arun George

Taisho Pharmaceutical (4581 JP): MBO Tender Offer at JPY8,620

The minimum acceptance condition requires a 44% minority acceptance rate. The offer is attractive vs. historical and peer multiples.

Arun George

Astellas Pharma (4503 JP): Underwhelming H1 Result; Massive Cut in FY24 Profit Guidance

In H1FY24, Astellas Pharma reported just 0.6% YoY revenue growth, while operating profit plunged 57% YoY and net profit decreased 67% YoY. The...

Tina Banerjee

Otsuka Holdings (4578 JP): Global Products Continue to Shine; Second Consequent 2023 Guidance Raise

During 9M2023, Otsuka's global products revenue grew 16% YoY to ¥528B, representing 53% of pharmaceutical revenue. The company raised 2023 revenue...

Tina Banerjee

A new COVID variant, JN.1, is spreading rapidly and has been classified as a "variant of interest" by WHO. If it becomes deadlier, vaccine and...