Daily Healthcare: CStone Pharma (基石药业) IPO: Strong Assembly and Backing (Part 1) and more

In this briefing:

1. CStone Pharma (基石药业) IPO: Strong Assembly and Backing (Part 1)
2. Bristol-Myers Beats the Drum for Celgene in 4Q18 Earnings Call
3. Bristol Myers Squib – Reaffirming Its View on Celgene Corp
4. U.S. Equity Strategy: Has “the Pullback” Begun?
5. Thyrocare Technologies: All’s Not Well with This Wellness Pathology Leader

1. CStone Pharma (基石药业) IPO: Strong Assembly and Backing (Part 1)

CStone Pharma is raising up to USD 400 million via a listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. In this insight, we will discuss the following topics:

• The company’s background
• Details of pipeline drug candidates
• Potential market size for the key products
• Shareholders and investors
• Summary of our likes and concerns
• Questions for management meetings

We will leave the discussion of valuation for our next insight.

• Hansoh Pharma (翰森制药) IPO: A Leading Generic Player with Regulatory Overhang (Part 1)
• WuXi Apptec (药明康德) IPO: This A+H Listing Will Be Different

• Frontage Holding (方达控股) IPO: More Disclosure Needed to Understand Moat and Growth Prospect
• Ascentage Pharma (亚盛医药) IPO: Too Early for an IPO
• Junshi Bioscience (君实医药) IPO: Thoughts on Valuation (Part 2)
• Junshi Bioscience (君实医药) IPO: Early in Application but Behind in Key Indications (Part 1)
• CanSino Biologics (康希诺) IPO: Promising Pre-Clinical Results but Vaccine Scandal Weighs (Part 1)

• AOBiome Therapeutics IPO: Hope for Natural Therapeutic Treatment
• Stealth Biotherapeutics IPO: Cure the Symptoms but Not the Cause (Part 1)
• Innovent Biologics (信达生物) IPO: Pricing the PD-1 and Biosimilars Competition (Part 2)
• Innovent Biologics (信达生物) IPO: A Major PD-1 MAb Competitor Might Have Just Emerged (Part 1)
• MicuRx Pharma (盟科医药) IPO: Betting on Single Drug in the Not so Attractive Antibiotic Segment
• Hua Medicine (华领医药) IPO: Thoughts on Valuation
• Hua Medicine (华领医药) IPO: Reviving Roche’s Failed Attempt?
• BeiGene (百济神州) IPO: Dual-Listing with Upside Capped in the Near Term
• Ascletis Pharma (歌礼制药) IPO: Valuation Not Justified by Ganovo and Ravidasvir NPV (Part 3)
• Ascletis Pharma (歌礼制药) IPO: Three Valuation Risk Factors (Part 2)
• Ascletis Pharma (歌礼制药) IPO: Emerging Player in the Crowded HCV Drug Market
• China Isotope & Radiation IPO: Oligopoly, Visible Growth and High Barrier to Entry
• Zai Lab IPO: Thoughts on Valuation, Risks and Upsides (Part 2)
• Zai Lab IPO: Experienced Team, Promising In-Licensing Drug Pipeline (Part 1)

2. Bristol-Myers Beats the Drum for Celgene in 4Q18 Earnings Call

Bristol Myers Squibb Co (BMY US) announced earnings for 4Q18 this morning followed by a conference call. Most metrics beat street expectations but the withdrawal of its application for Opdivo + low-dose Yervoy for first-line (NSCLC) lung cancer patients with high tumor mutation burdens after discussions with the FDA weighed on shares of BMY today. But for arbs who have the CELG/BMY spread set up, the positive comments on the Celgene Corp (CELG US) acquisition provided further assurance of BMY’s commitment to the deal.

3. Bristol Myers Squib – Reaffirming Its View on Celgene Corp

The management of Bristol Myers Squibb Co (BMY US) reiterated its optimistic view regarding the acquisition of Celgene Corp (CELG US) on its Q4-18 earnings conference call today. Unlike most acquisitions that succeed based on cost cuts or revenue synergies, Celgene’s distressed valuation allowed BMY to swoop in and buy a leading bio-tech at a bargain price: if the pipeline succeeds. We are betting it will. If not, the robust cash flows from Revlimid make it a low-risk , low-return deal.  

4. U.S. Equity Strategy: Has “the Pullback” Begun?

The weight of the evidence suggests that the pullback has begun. This belief is supported by overbought conditions combined with the S&P 500, MSCI ACWI, and nearly all Sectors hitting logical resistance. Assuming the pullback continues, the next question is how deep or damaging will it be? In this report we highlight various market/technical indicators we are monitoring, as well as pointing out attractive set ups within Consumer Discretionary and Health Care Sectors.

5. Thyrocare Technologies: All’s Not Well with This Wellness Pathology Leader

• Thyrocare Technologies (THYROCAR IN) is the fourth largest pathology chain in India and derives 54% of revenues from the wellness/preventive segment (Rs60bn market growing at 20% Cagr). Margins in wellness are ~2x that of illness segment.
• It is positioned as the lowest price provider in the market with some of its tests priced at 50-70% discount to peers.
• It enjoys the highest operating margin in the industry with excellent control of reagent and manpower costs.
• However, hyper competition in the wellness segment is pushing down pricing. Pullback in adspends is leading to loss of market share over FY18-1HFY19.
• Two-thirds of its capital is invested in the radiology business that does not have economies of scale. Business is loss-making and a drag on return ratios.
• We expect Revenue and PAT Cagr of 15% and 12% respectively over FY18-21 in the face of intensified competition against 24% and 19% respectively delivered over FY14-18.
• Softer growth coupled with utilization of free-cash from the clinical pathology business into the capital intensive and loss-making radiology business will weigh on stock performance. We value the stock at 22.5x FY20 EPS- at 25% discount to the industry leader Dr Lal Pathlabs (DLPL IN) . Our target price is Rs 494 implying 10% downside.