Indian M&A deals up 23% to $16 bn in Jan-March even as volumes remain flat

However, the $11 bn Vodafone-Idea Cellular merger alone accounted for 74% of total value

M&A activity involving Indian companies during the quarter (January-March 2017) stood at 252 deals with a total disclosed value of $15.8 billion, up from $12.8 billion in the corresponding period last year. While value surged by 23 per cent, the number of deals did not show an upward trend.

As per EY's Transactions Quarterly report, the number of deals reported in first quarter of 2017 stood at 252, compared to 253 during the same period last year. The rise in value was due to a mega deal -- the announced merger between Vodafone India Limited and Idea Cellular for over $11