Asia venture capital deal volume shows strong uptick in Q3 2019 but total investment declines, according to KPMG analysis

The number of venture capital (VC) deals in Asia saw a sharp increase in the third quarter of 2019 to 922 deals, up from 839 in the second quarter, while global VC deal volume dipped from 5,138 deals in the second quarter to 4,154, according to KPMG report, Venture Pulse Q3’2019. VC investment in Asia remained subdued, falling from USD 18.61 billion in the second quarter of 2019 to USD 14.92 billion in the third quarter, which was consistent with the fall in VC investment globally from USD 64.96 billion to USD 55.71 billion in the same period.

Egidio Zarrella, Partner and Head of Clients and Innovation, KPMG China, said, “There is a lot of interest in the Asian market, but investors have really slowed down their activity. They are being conservative, waiting to see where things go from an economic and geopolitical perspective. This does not mean activity is not happening at all.”

Chinese companies accounted for seven of the top 10 VC deals in Asia Pacific, taking the top four spots in the ranking. These comprise entertainment software company NetEase Cloud Music, which raised USD 700 million, as well as automotive companies Didi Chuxing (USD 600 million), CHJ Automotive (USD 530 million) and Byton (USD 500 million). Information services company Zhihu (USD 434 million), transportation firm Hellobike (USD 400 million) and office services provider D&J China (USD 300 million) ranked sixth, seventh and tenth respectively.

Investors to focus on strong business models and profitability in mainland China

With transportation and mobility sectors in mainland China accounting for five of the top 10 deals in Asia Pacific, it is clear that they have become the hottest sectors for VC investment in mainland China. AI and healthcare are also continuing to attract investment as both sectors start to see some consolidation. Health and biotech companies focusing on R&D in innovative drugs continue to benefit from regulatory reforms in mainland China, while the long-term prospects for companies developing drugs with differentiated profiles and meaningful supportive clinical data remain strong.

Philip Ng, Partner and Head of Technology, KPMG China, said, “Despite the challenges in the market, a number of sectors continued to attract investment, including fintech, autotech and biotech. Start-ups also need to focus on profitability and cashflow planning to build a sustainable business.”

Looking ahead, the VC market in mainland China is likely to feel the positive effects of the central government’s plans to forge ahead with policy reforms aimed at improving and modernising regulations across a wide range of industries, including insurance, finance, capital markets and healthcare.

Hong Kong capital market steady with IPO pipeline looking strong

Despite the short-term slowdown in IPO activity, the pipeline of companies applying for IPOs in Hong Kong has remained strong. The city saw Anheuser-Bush’s InBev Asia Pacific unit launch its IPO locally in the third quarter of 2019, the second largest globally behind Uber this year.

Advertisement

Irene Chu, Partner and Head of New Economy & Life Sciences, Hong Kong, KPMG China, said, “We continue to see economic volatility in Hong Kong this quarter which has affected a number of industries and investor sentiment. While the amount of funds raised for IPOs have dipped, the number of Main Board deals in the first three quarters is similar to that of last year and Hong Kong remains a top destination for IPOs. The pipeline of companies applying for IPO in Hong Kong is still very strong – but whether they will go out before the end of the year will depend on changing market conditions. InBev’s successful IPO could help spur activity.”

SOURCE KPMG China