Formycon, Memiontec, Synlab - Act before it is too late!

Memiontec - Green-tech for decades

The earth is covered mainly with water, accounting for 71% of the total, while only 29% percent of the earth's surface consists of landmass. Of the total water volume amounting to 1,332 million cubic kilometers, the much higher part of 97% is saltwater. Of the 3% of potable freshwater, in turn, only about one-third is accessible for human use, as the largest amount is located in high mountains and at both poles. Due to the growing world population and global warming, water is becoming increasingly scarce and precious.

The Singapore-based Company Memiontec has been developing complete water and wastewater management solutions in China, Indonesia, and Singapore's city-state for 2 decades. The Company's clientele includes the public sector, such as municipalities and cities and private industrial companies. With a 4-pillar model, Memiontec covers the entire value chain of water management, which brings the Company enormous economies of scale.

The provision of complete solutions, including maintenance contracts and the sale of modular and customized systems and equipment, are the prerequisites for the joint ventures founded with partners, which operate under the segments "Build-Own-Operate-Transfer" (BOOT) and "Transfer-Own-Operate-Transfer" (TOOT). Here, long-term contracts are concluded, usually for 25 years, and investments are made to maintain water treatment infrastructures. Memiontec then receives recurring payments through the supply and sale of treated water.

A total of three of these projects exist currently, with a significant expansion planned for the future. Memiontec is also looking to grow through acquisitions and mergers in neighboring Asian countries. Recently, three orders with a total order value of the equivalent of EUR 51 million were announced. The Company is attractive in the long term and should continue to benefit from the water scarcity issue.

Formycon - Important cooperation agreement

The Corona pandemic produced several winners. Among them are vaccine producers and Formycon AG, one of the leading developers of high-quality biopharmaceutical follow-on products, or so-called biosimilars. With FYB207, the Munich-based Company has an ACE2 immunoglobulin fusion protein in the preclinical stage that has shown efficient in vitro neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 and its variants. SARS-CoV-2 and other coronaviruses utilize the ACE2 protein on the surface of human cells as a receptor for cell infection. Formycon has developed proprietary technology for human ACE2 immunoglobulin fusion proteins and created the innovative SARS-CoV-2 entry blocker FYB207. It effectively prevents cell infection and shows high protection against coronavirus escape mutations in cell cultures.

A collaboration and license agreement for the development and commercialization of FYB207 with SCG Cell Therapy has been announced. Under the agreement, SCG gains access to Formycon's ACE2 fusion protein technology and acquires an exclusive license to develop, manufacture and commercialize FYB207 in the Asia-Pacific region, excluding Japan. In doing so, Formycon is eligible for potential development, regulatory and sales-related milestone payments of up to EUR 63.5 million, as well as royalties in the low double-digit percentage range on net sales. Formycon shares were able to form a bottom in the EUR 50 range. Concerning further corona research, the Company is promising.

Synlab - Analysts cheer

Also thrust into the spotlight by Corona is laboratory chain Synlab. The diagnostics service provider's test kits are used in schools in Germany, Switzerland and Frankfurt. With SARS-CoV-2 testing activity from July to September exceeding expectations, driven by the development of the Delta variant, full-year forecasts have been raised significantly.

The Munich-based Company is now planning sales of EUR 3.5 billion. EBITDA is expected to reach the sound barrier of EUR 1 billion, compared to the previously estimated EUR 920 million. Following Synlab's forecast increases, several positive analyst voices were heard. Kepler Chevreux, Deutsche Bank, Jefferies, and Goldman Sachs all rate the stock as a "buy".

The Corona pandemic hit humanity hard, as it was unprepared without vaccines and medication. The rapid development has benefited not only vaccine manufacturers but also companies such as Formycon and Synlab. Water scarcity is likely to be another problem in the coming years. Memiontec offers complete solutions for the water industry and should therefore profit in the long term.