PharmEasy, a leading online pharmacy in India, has seen its valuation drop significantly to approximately $456 million. This comes after investor Janus Henderson disclosed in a filing that it now values its 12.9 million shares in the startup at $766,043. This assessment marks a steep 92% decline from PharmEasy’s peak valuation of $5.6 billion.
Janus Henderson’s Global Research Fund initially paid $9.4 million for its stake, further highlighting the drastic depreciation. This comes despite PharmEasy securing over $200 million in fresh capital earlier in 2024 and preparing for an IPO next year.
PharmEasy’s financial challenges date back to 2021 when it shelved an $843 million IPO. The company turned to debt financing, including a $300 million loan from Goldman Sachs, but faced difficulties repaying the loan amid tightening market conditions. In 2023, the startup initiated a rights issue to address a funding crunch and repay debt, raising $417 million according to co-founder Dharmil Sheth.
Regulatory filings from April 2024 revealed an additional $216 million in funding, but these efforts have not shielded PharmEasy from valuation pressures. Janus Henderson’s updated stake valuation places the startup’s worth below the $600 million it spent acquiring Thyrocare, a diagnostic lab chain, in 2021.
Backed by major investors like Prosus, Temasek, TPG, and B Capital, PharmEasy has raised over $1 billion to date. However, its financial trajectory reflects a broader challenge in the startup ecosystem, where companies are grappling with funding slowdowns and market downturns.
Featured image courtesy of JungleWorks
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