PE/VC investments decline marginally in March qtr

Investments by private equity and venture capital funds have declined by 1 per cent year-on-year to $13.5 billion in the March 2024 quarter, according to a report.

However, it was 41 per cent higher compared to the preceding December quarter, the report by consultancy firm EY and industry lobby grouping IVCA said. When looked at from a volume perspective, the number of deals was 33 per cent higher at 292 in January-March 2024 against 220 in the year-ago period, it added. "We believe the markets and PE/VC investment activity will be range-bound till clarity emerges on election results and the risk of escalation in the geopolitical conflicts eases down," EY partner Vivek Soni said. The infrastructure sector received the maximum PE/VC investments in the quarter at $6.5 billion across 23 deals, 138 per cent higher than the $2.7 billion across 14 deals in the year-ago period, it said, adding that the same was led by the $2 billion investment by Brookfield in ATC India Tower Corporation. The financial services sector was the second largest by sector at $1.5 billion across 48 deals, 4 per cent lower in value terms. Pure play PE/VC investments (excluding investments in real estate and infrastructure) were 5 per cent higher at $6 billion and accounted for 45 per cent of all the PE/VC investments in the quarter. Buyouts were the highest deal segment at $4.5 billion across 10 deals, 39 per cent higher in value terms compared to $3.2 billion across 16 deals in the year-ago period. There were 80 exits in the quarter worth $5.1 billion, 35 per cent higher than the $3.8 billion in the year-ago period and $6.6 billion in the preceding December quarter. PE and VC funds raised $2.8 billion for investing during the quarter, down 27 per cent compared to the year-ago period.