Synopsis
India's deal activity in January 2025 began strongly with 217 agreements worth $9 billion. This reflects a 19% increase in M&A and PE activity compared to December 2024, indicating promising growth across key sectors.Key Takeaways
- 217 deals worth $9 billion in January.
- 19% increase in M&A and PE activity.
- 66% surge in deal values.
- Significant growth in retail, IT, and pharma sectors.
- Notable inbound transactions, especially from Wilmar International.
New Delhi, Feb 11 (NationPress) India's deal activity commenced the year robustly, recording 217 agreements valued at $9 billion in January, according to a report released on Tuesday.
Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and private equity (PE) transactions saw a 19% rise in activity compared to December 2024, as reported by Grant Thornton Bharat Dealtracker.
Notably, deal values surged by 66%, fueled by significant transactions in the billion-dollar and $100 million-plus range.
“The Indian deal market is gearing up for a strong 2025, with January's figures establishing an optimistic outlook. The uptick in deal activity, the rise in high-value transactions, and increased activity across vital sectors such as retail, IT, and pharmaceuticals all indicate a bright year ahead,” stated Shanthi Vijetha, Partner, Growth at Grant Thornton Bharat.
The aspirations of Indian enterprises for both domestic and international growth, alongside the strength of the local markets, are expected to remain key themes throughout.
India's M&A sector experienced a notable increase in January, recording 69 deals valued at $5.4 billion.
Several major players, including the Adani Group, HDFC Bank, and Kore Digital, engaged in significant acquisitions, with each making three deals.
Importantly, inbound deal values saw a remarkable increase, rising 6.6 times compared to the prior month, spurred by Wilmar International's billion-dollar purchase of Adani Wilmar's Staples division.
The country's PE sector maintained its upward trend in January, with 129 deals totaling $2.1 billion. This marks a 21% growth in PE activity since December, which recorded 107 deals, and a 16% rise in deal values, escalating from $1.8 billion to $2.09 billion.
January's sectoral deal activity was spearheaded by retail and consumer sectors, which experienced a 46% increase in deal volumes and a 4% rise in values. The energy and natural resources sectors saw a staggering nearly 30-fold increase in deal values, as per the report.
IT and ITes also recorded substantial volumes, with deal values increasing by 2.6 times.
