M&A-PE deals drop 24% in value terms in Jan-March at $22.5 billion

Merger and acquisition (M&A) and private equity (PE) were worth $22.5 billion in the first quarter of 2018, a 24 per cent drop from the same period last year. However, the number of deals increased marginally.

The drop was attributed to the Vodafone-Idea merger, valued at $23 billion in the first quarter of 2017. If this is excluded, a three-time increase in deal values, according to Grant Thornton’s PE Dealtracker report. In 2018, PE investment rose a 76 per cent in value size. Eight investments garnered $100 million and above, and 11 attracted funds in the range of $50-99 million. Together,