HK/China Healthcare Analyst (ex-Fosun Pharma)

Xinyao (Criss) Wang

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>WuXi AppTec’s 2023 results were disappointing. The decline in performance in 23H2 was quite severe. 2024 performance guidance could be meaningless because the biggest concern now is the geopolitical conflicts.</li>
<li>If the bill is passed, valuation logic would completely change - not based on DCF/PE, but on PB, market value falling below RMB100 billion. We cannot rule out another privatisation.</li>
<li>We hope that WuXi AppTec can prepare contingency plans for the worst-case scenario that may occur, rather than simply denying or mitigating the impact of BIOSECURE Act on the Company</li>
</ul>


WuXi AppTec’s 2023 results were disappointing. The decline in performance in 23H2 was quite severe. 2024 performance guidance could be meaningless because the biggest concern now is the geopolitical conflicts.
If the bill is passed, valuation logic would completely change - not based on DCF/PE, but on PB, market value falling below RMB100 billion. We cannot rule out another privatisation.
We hope that WuXi AppTec can prepare contingency plans for the worst-case scenario that may occur, rather than simply denying or mitigating the impact of BIOSECURE Act on the Company


WuXi AppTec (2359.HK/603259.CH) 2023 Results - Time to Prepare for the Worst

External broker reports(aggregated public sources), CMB International

CMB International

External broker reports(aggregated public sources)

Incorporated in Hong Kong, supported by the mainland and targeting in global market, CMB International Capital Corporation Limited (“CMBI”) is an integrated financial institution providing comprehensive and professional services. As a wholly-owned subsidiary of China Merchants Bank ("CMB"), by leveraging on the Group’s synergy and coordination in domestic and overseas markets, as well as CMB’s strong resources and outstanding social reputation, CMBI and its subsidiaries have been actively implementing diversified business strategies and set up an overall layout of main business segments including Corporate Finance, Asset Management, Wealth Management, Global Markets and Structured Finance, etc. Adhering to the philosophy of “being clients oriented and increasing our own values by the way of creating value for clients”, CMBI endeavors to provide quality and integrated financial services to institutional, corporate and individual customers both domestic and overseas including Hong Kong IPO sponsorship and underwriting, share placement and rights issue for listed companies, financial advisors, bonds issuance services, asset management, direct investment, wealth management, equity sales and trading, etc.

<ul><li>WuXi AppTec reported revenue of RMB40.3bn in 2023, up 2.5% YoY, attributable recurring net income of RMB9.7bn, up 16.8% YoY, and attributable adjusted non-IFRS net income of RMB10.9bn, up 15.5% YoY.</li><li>Revenue was inline with Bloomberg consensus while attributable adjusted non-IFRS net income beat the consensus by 6.3%.</li><li>Excluding revenue from the COVID-19 commercial project, the Company delivered impressive revenue growth of 25.6% YoY in 2023, despite the challenging environment in global CXO industry. </li></ul><p><em>Content is external broker report sourced from online content aggregator through publicly available sources and is displayed below for general informational purposes only. Refer full disclaimer below.</em></p>

WuXi AppTec reported revenue of RMB40.3bn in 2023, up 2.5% YoY, attributable recurring net income of RMB9.7bn, up 16.8% YoY, and attributable adjusted non-IFRS net income of RMB10.9bn, up 15.5% YoY.Revenue was inline with Bloomberg consensus while attributable adjusted non-IFRS net income beat the consensus by 6.3%.Excluding revenue from the COVID-19 commercial project, the Company delivered impressive revenue growth of 25.6% YoY in 2023, despite the challenging environment in global CXO industry. Content is external broker report sourced from online content aggregator through publicly available sources and is displayed below for general informational purposes only. Refer full disclaimer below.

WuXi AppTec (603259 CH) - Best Effort to Ensure Business Continuity

<ul>
<li>A Senate committee moved the bill (S.3558) forward that would prohibit pharmaceutical companies from using foreign service providers like WuXi AppTec and its subsidiaries. However, rational voices are still expected.</li>
<li>Seemingly conflicting proposals are mostly “noise” and disturbances to stock prices. This means in the future, we‘ll see stock prices move sharply again due to latest developments on these bills.</li>
<li>WuXi AppTec should have "bottom-line thinking" and prepare some "backup solutions".Investors don’t need to be overly pessimistic, because when global capital flows reverse, no one will mind these bills anymore.</li>
</ul>


A Senate committee moved the bill (S.3558) forward that would prohibit pharmaceutical companies from using foreign service providers like WuXi AppTec and its subsidiaries. However, rational voices are still expected.
Seemingly conflicting proposals are mostly “noise” and disturbances to stock prices. This means in the future, we‘ll see stock prices move sharply again due to latest developments on these bills.
WuXi AppTec should have "bottom-line thinking" and prepare some "backup solutions".Investors don’t need to be overly pessimistic, because when global capital flows reverse, no one will mind these bills anymore.


WuXi AppTec (2359.HK/603259.CH) - Updates About the BIOSECURE Act and the Outlook

<ul>
<li>Based on the latest updates, it's still uncertain to see a positive turnaround.There've been no effective ways to evade.Debate about restricting Chinese biopharmaceuticals has never gone away in US politics.</li>
<li>Nobody can say with 100% certainty whether the Bill will be passed/how much impact it will have. Until the dust settles, any rebound in share prices is difficult to sustain.</li>
<li>The market is preparing for the worst-case scenario, but if the final Bill is less stringent than expected, shares of WuXi AppTec and its subsidiaries would rebound.Here're different bottom-fishing strategies.</li>
</ul>


Based on the latest updates, it's still uncertain to see a positive turnaround.There've been no effective ways to evade.Debate about restricting Chinese biopharmaceuticals has never gone away in US politics.
Nobody can say with 100% certainty whether the Bill will be passed/how much impact it will have. Until the dust settles, any rebound in share prices is difficult to sustain.
The market is preparing for the worst-case scenario, but if the final Bill is less stringent than expected, shares of WuXi AppTec and its subsidiaries would rebound.Here're different bottom-fishing strategies.


Latest Impact of the US Biosecure Act on WuXi AppTec/WuXi Bio/WuXi XDC - China CXO Really Game Over?

<ul>
<li>Recent business updates of WuXi Bio led to a decline in WuXi AppTec's share price and changed investors' expectations for CXO. Now is the time to adjust forecasts.</li>
<li>We analyzed the growth rate of various business of WuXi AppTec in 2024. In a neutral scenario, growth next year could fall short of management's guidance.Reversal in 2025 is uncertain.</li>
<li>If WuXi AppTec "unexpectedly" receives blockbuster orders, which are large enough to hedge against the downward trend of WuXi AppTec’s other businesses, then it will help to change performance expectations.</li>
</ul>


Recent business updates of WuXi Bio led to a decline in WuXi AppTec's share price and changed investors' expectations for CXO. Now is the time to adjust forecasts.
We analyzed the growth rate of various business of WuXi AppTec in 2024. In a neutral scenario, growth next year could fall short of management's guidance.Reversal in 2025 is uncertain.
If WuXi AppTec "unexpectedly" receives blockbuster orders, which are large enough to hedge against the downward trend of WuXi AppTec’s other businesses, then it will help to change performance expectations.


WuXi AppTec (2359.HK/603259.CH) - How Bad Things Could Be?

China

WuXi AppTec Co., Ltd. manufactures medical products. The Company produces biological agents, antibodies, biological diagnostic reagents, and other products. WuXi AppTec also provides biological analysis, technical study, and other services.

WuXi AppTec (2359 HK)