Private equity investments fell by about half to $1.88 billion during the quarter ended March 31 from $3.61 billion same quarter last year in India. A study by Venture Intelligence shows third consecutive quarter of deceleration in PE investments in the country. The preceding quarter had registered investments of $1.47 billion through 120 transactions.
Healthcare and life sciences industry received $581 million, or 31 per cent in overall PE investments in 14 transactions. Information technology and IT-enabled services with $308 million in 35 investments and BFSI firms with $280 million occupied the second and third.
There were six reported PE investments worth over $100 million (and none above $200 million) during the quarter compared to nine such transactions in the same period last year. Of them, three were made in the healthcare sector, including Advent International investment of $105 million in CARE Hospitals group.
“Secondary transactions rise as global PE firms buy-out stakes of earlier investors. Healthcare sector emerged as the most attractive sector for investments in 2012 as the three of the six $100-million deals happened in this sector,” the study said.