New Delhi, 30 August 2014: A stable economic recovery across the Eurozone, steady growth in the US and a moderating yet firm growth in China have paved the way to an improved M&A environment. Mega blockbuster deal announcements during the year led to a rise in global M&A values in FY14, while volumes declined marginally, says EY’s Transactions 2014, its annual review of the M&A landscape. Corporate boards today are more confident than before and their ability to execute transactions is now matching their intent. The global M&A trend was somewhat replicated in India. In FY14, the Indian M&A market registered an aggregate disclosed deal value of US$22.6 billion, representing an increase of 12% against the US$20.1 billion seen last year. The number of M&A transactions involving Indian companies was relatively muted in FY14, which stood at 674, down by 20% against 843 deals seen in FY13. Amit Khandelwal, National Director and Partner, Transaction Advisory Services, EY, says, FY14 has been an encouraging year for the global business environment. Amidst the gradually stabilizing economic scenario, corporate organizations internationally have adopted a more selective approach towards M&A, with boards now prioritizing quality over quantity. A similar sentiment was witnessed across the Indian M&A market. The country continues to be a major attraction for global players, as evinced by their continuing interest in the country’s growth story. We remain optimistic about the M&A outlook as it continues to stabilize over the next year.
