Deal activity in H1 2021 at $40.7 bn, down 14% over year-ago period

The first half of the Calendar Year 2021 (H1CY2021) recorded deal activity worth around $40.7 billion over 710 transactions, which included both private equity and strategic acquisitions. However, the deal value was down 14 per cent when compared with the same period of 2020, as per the PwC India report titled, “Deals in India: Mid-year review and outlook for 2021 – Resilience and Recovery.”

When compared with the second half of 2020, the investments were a mere 2 per cent increase.

PE activity in H1 2021 was at an all-time high at $26.3 billion, 19 per cent and 25 per cent higher compared to H2 2020 and H1 2020 respectively. The surge in deal activity was fuelled by billion-dollar buyouts and numerous large fundraising rounds by start-ups, boosting many of them into the unicorn club.