According to the data released by Grant Thornton India, an accounting and consulting firm, the total merger and acquisitions (M&A) and private equity (PE) deals in the first quarter of 2012 were valued at US$ 20.4 billion (297 deals).

Moreover, the total value of outbound deals (Indian companies acquiring businesses outside India) in the first quarter of 2012 were US$ 0.7 billion (26 deals). The total value of inbound deals (foreign companies or their subsidiaries acquiring Indian companies) in the first quarter of 2012 were valued at US$ 1.3 billion (36 deals).

The total value of domestic deals in the first quarter of 2012 were US$ 16.3 billion (115 deals) as compared to US$ 2.4 billion (82 deals) and US$ 3.1 billion (119 deals) during the corresponding quarters in 2011 and 2010 respectively.

The top 5 M&A sectors were identified as Mining, Telecom, Metal and Ores, IT & ITeS and Pharma Healthcare & Biotech.

Dealtracker Quarter 1 (January - March, 2012)

Also read the other M&A Dealtracker reports released by Grant Thornton India: