New Delhi, Aug 11 (NationPress) India's deal environment witnessed 227 transactions in July, amassing a total of $16.4 billion, fueled by a significant increase in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activities along with capital market issuances, as per a report released on Monday.

When capital market deals are excluded, deal volumes saw an increase from 169 to 200 month-on-month, with a striking 115 percent rise in values, jumping from $4.2 billion to $9.1 billion, according to findings from the business advisory firm Grant Thornton Bharat.

In this period, there were three deals surpassing the $1 billion mark and 15 substantial transactions exceeding $100 million, demonstrating robust investor confidence across multiple sectors.

Shanthi Vijetha, Partner, Growth at Grant Thornton Bharat, commented: "July experienced a significant rise in deal activity, fueled by high-value transactions in both domestic and international sectors. The growth in billion-dollar M&A activities, paired with vibrant capital markets and strategic secondary exits, suggests that this momentum is likely to continue into the latter half of the year."

In the M&A sector, 83 deals valued at $7 billion were reported, marking a 41 percent increase in volume and an astonishing 340 percent increase in value sequentially. This surge was led by high-value domestic and outbound transactions. A standout deal of the month was JSW Paints Ltd acquiring a 75 percent stake in Akzo Nobel India Ltd for $1.5 billion, as per the report.

The retail and consumer goods sector dominated deal volumes with a 22 percent share, experiencing a 5.4 times value increase driven by four transactions above $100 million. Deal volumes in the IT & ITeS sectors tripled, with values soaring 7.7 times, propelled by heightened interest in data analytics and AI firms.

The revival in M&A activity reflects increasing boardroom confidence and strategic intentions among corporations, setting a strong groundwork for dealmaking in the latter half of the year.

Additionally, the month featured 10 IPOs collectively raising $2.6 billion and 17 Qualified Institutional Placements (QIPs) mobilizing $4.8 billion. This rise in capital market activity supports the thriving M&A and private equity deal flow, indicating a positive shift in corporate fundraising strategies.