M&A deals nosedive by 79% in August and volume falls by 49%

• M&A deals fell in India due to rising global uncertainties according to Grant Thornton’s monthly M&A Dealtracker.
• The largest deal of the month was the $512 million Adani-GMR deal.
• In August, there were only 23 deals worth $0.85 billion.

The number of mergers and acquisitions in India fell by 49% in India in August due to rising global uncertainties, according to Grant Thornton.

The month saw a steep decline in the number of deals as well as the total volume as compared to July. In August, there were only 23 deals worth $0.85 billion. This is a 5X drop from July’s $4.1 billion.

The largest deal of the month was the $512 million Adani-GMR deal which alone accounted for a large chunk.

Meanwhile, startups contributed clinched 5 deals worth $20 million.

“Owing to global trade tensions and failure to record big ticket deals witnessed during August 2018, cross-border values fell by over five times. However, on the positive side, the domestic M&A values recorded a 55% increase over August 2018 on the back of encouraging measures and easing reforms,” said Pankaj Chopda, Director, Grant Thornton India.

So far, M&A deals in 2019 have seen a 70% fall as compared to deals done till August 2018.

Overall in 2018, there were a total of 36 deals which were worth $1,660 million.