As Asian deals disappear, India becomes unlikely hotspot for M&A

Thanks to investments in Jio, India accounts for more than 12 per cent of announced deals in the Asia Pacific region so far this year, the highest ratio since at least 1998.

Mukesh Ambani’s ambitious courtship of international investors has helped turn India into a rare bright spot for dealmaking in 2020, a shift that bankers say is likely to continue as the battle for the country’s digital economy heats up.

Thanks in large part to $15 billion of investments in Ambani’s technology venture from the likes of Facebook and Silver Lake Partners, India accounts for more than 12 per cent of announced deals in the Asia Pacific region so far this year, the highest ratio since at least 1998. The country’s tally has jumped 18 per cent from a year ago to