Esco Lifesciences Closes Oversubscribed $200M Series A Financing Led by Vivo Capital and Novo Holdings A/S Ahead of Hong Kong IPO Filing

Esco Lifesciences Announces Closing of Oversubscribed $200 Million Series A FinancingEsco Lifesciences announced today that it has closed its oversubscribed $200 million Series A financing round. The round was led by Vivo Capital and Novo Holdings A/S (the holding company of Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk), with participation from prominent investors including China Investment Corporation, a prestigious institutional investor; EDBI Pte Ltd (the investment arm of the Singapore Economic Development Board); and other seasoned investors.

Lin Xiangqian, Chairman and CEO of Esco Biosciencesstated: “We are delighted to have garnered the favor of numerous world-renowned, top-tier life sciences investors from the United States, Europe, China, and Singapore. This represents a significant milestone for the Group as we embark on Esco Group’s 3.0 transformation, which primarily involves strategic mergers and acquisitions and accelerated production in key markets represented by China, thereby sustaining the robust revenue growth achieved over the past decade. This financing also accelerates the implementation of Esco Group’s plan to establish an Innovation Center in Boston, dedicated to the development of platforms and technologies for cell and gene therapy. We will intensify our R&D efforts and leverage advanced proprietary technology licensing to develop and commercialize innovative life science tools in emerging fields, supporting fundamental scientific discoveries and contributing to future diagnostics and therapeutics.”

Esco Biosciences, a leading provider of life science tools and services, is well-positioned to benefit from the sustained growth of the healthcare and biopharmaceutical industries in Asia and globally. Esco has achieved market leadership in multiple categories within some of the fastest-growing segments both in China and worldwide, with China serving as its largest and fastest-growing market. Headquartered in Singapore, Esco Group leverages this strategic location as a key hub for Chinese investment in Belt and Road Initiative countries and as a bridge for economic, cultural, and scientific exchanges between East and West. While building global bridges in science and technology, innovative products, and high-end talent, Esco is seizing opportunities presented by China’s dual-circulation strategy to further expand its global operations across the United States, Europe, and Asia.

Fu Shan, Managing Partner and CEO of Vivo Capital in Greater China, who will also serve on Esco’s future Board of Directors, commented: “Vivo Capital is impressed by the professional expertise, execution capabilities, and global vision of Esco’s management team. We are delighted to lead this investment round and to invest in Esco alongside top-tier global institutional investors such as Novo Holdings, China Investment Corporation (CIC), and EDBI. The investor consortium will work together to leverage our healthcare sector resources to accelerate Esco’s next phase of global growth, support the company’s business development, and increase investment in research and development and technological innovation. We aim to facilitate Esco’s global expansion and elevate it into a leading global life sciences company from Asia, thereby fulfilling its mission of improving lives through science.”

Kasim Kutay, CEO of Novo Holdings“As a seasoned global life sciences investor, Novo Holdings is delighted to partner with the visionary team at Esco. The growth and expansion opportunities for Esco are substantial, and we look forward to leveraging our long-term capital and life sciences expertise to help the company achieve its strategic objectives.” Amit Kakar, Senior Partner and Head of Asia at Novo Holdings, as well as an incoming member of Esco’s Board of Directors, added, “The establishment of Novo Holdings’ office in Singapore this January marked our formal presence in Asia. The investment in Esco represents a significant milestone in our regional development strategy.”

Esco Bioscience provides enabling technologies, products, and services to the life sciences and healthcare industries, supporting academic and scientific research, clinical practice, as well as the research, development, and manufacturing of biopharmaceuticals. Headquartered in Singapore, Esco maintains an extensive sales network across more than 100 countries and regions, with sales and service branches in over 20 countries and regions. The company operates eight production and R&D centers in the United States, Europe, the United Kingdom, China, Singapore, and Indonesia, and employs more than 1,300 people worldwide.

OrbiMed was founded in 1996 and is a leading global healthcare investment firm with a diversified, multi-fund investment platform spanning venture capital, growth equity, buyouts, and public equities. The firm manages approximately $5.8 billion in assets and has invested in more than 290 public and private companies worldwide. Headquartered in Palo Alto, California, the OrbiMed team comprises over 50 interdisciplinary professionals. OrbiMed invests broadly across the healthcare sector through various fund strategies, including biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and healthcare services, with a focus on the world’s largest healthcare markets.

Novo Holdings is a recognized leading investor in the life sciences sector, committed to creating long-term value. As a life sciences investor, Novo Holdings provides seed and venture capital to companies in the development stage and holds significant ownership positions in growth-stage and mature companies. Novo Holdings also manages a rich and diversified portfolio of financial assets. For more information: https://www.novoholdings.dk/

China Investment Corporation (CIC), established on September 29, 2007, with its headquarters in Beijing, is a sovereign wealth fund incorporated under the Company Law of the People’s Republic of China. Its mandate is to diversify the investment of the country’s foreign exchange reserves and maximize shareholder equity within an acceptable risk framework. CIC has consistently adhered to an internationalized, market-oriented, and professional operational model.

EDBI Investment Pte. Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “EDBI”), established in 1991, is an independent investment arm under the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB).