Private equity investments halved to $1.88 billion in the quarter ended March 31, 2012, from $3.61 billion in the year-ago period.
A study by Venture Intelligence shows third consecutive quarter of deceleration in PE investments in the country.
Healthcare and life sciences industry received $581 million. Information technology and IT-enabled services with $308 million in 35 investments and BFSI firms with $280 million occupied the second and third slots.
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.
“Secondary transactions rise as global PE firms buy out stakes of earlier investors. Healthcare sector emerged the most attractive sector for investments in 2012 as the three of the six $100-million deals happened in this sector,” the study on PE and mergers and acquisitions for the quarter said.
The year-ended with a big ticket investment of Rs 523 crore by Advent International into CARE Hospitals.