India mergers and acquisitions at record high of $129 billion in 2018

The number of announced deals grew 17.2 per cent from a year ago and witnessed the busiest annual period since records began in 1980

The value of announced mergers and acquisitions (M&A) involving Indian companies reached $129.4 bn in 2018, up 104.5 per cent in value from last year, surpassing the annual record of 2007 ($67.4 bn).  The number of announced deals also grew 17.2 per cent from a year ago and witnessed the busiest annual period since records began in 1980. The average ticket-size was up at $127.8 mn in 2018, compared to $82.8 mn in 2017. The uptick was seen across domestic, in-bound and out-bound deals. The materials sector accounted for majority of the acquisitions involving Indian companies with 21.9 per cent market share worth $28.3 bn, more than a twelvefold increase in deal value compared to 2017, making it the highest-ever period for the sector in terms of value.