The Venture Intelligence Blog

Press Release Private Equity - Venture Capital firms invested over $11.9 Billion (across 188 deals) in the first 3 months of 2021, representing an increase of about 85% compared to the same period in 2020, shows data from  Venture Intelligence , a research service focused on private company financials, transactions and their valuations. (Jan-March 2020, the last pre-pandemic quarter, had recorded PE-VC investments of $6.5 Billion across 238 deals.) The value of investments in Q1'21 was also over 58% higher compared to the immediate previous quarter (which saw $7.5 Billion being invested across 231 deals). Deal volumes in the period however dipped 21% compared to Q1'20 and down 19% compared to the previous quarter, the Venture Intelligence data showed. (Note: These figures include Venture Capital investments, but exclude PE investments in Real Estate).  The appetite for investing in high scale technology startups gathered further momentum in Q1’21, led by the over $400 mil...

COVID-19: Turning Point for Online Pharma With the rapid advancement of the internet and movement of businesses online, it was only time before the pharmaceutical retail industry also joined the bandwagon. The pharmaceutical retail industry which has long been popular among investors also started to venture into providing online services ( Online Pharma ). This was due to the increased demand and tech-savvy clientele who preferred to order from the comfort of their homes. So, it was only natural that the Online Pharma sector bloomed during the Covid-19 pandemic and the ensuing lockdown.  Online Pharma is high in demand due to better discounts, convenience, greater anonymity, accessibility in remote locations, easy home delivery, etc. These features have made it the preferable option over community brick and mortar pharmacies during the pandemic. This article explores the current regulatory regime surrounding Online Pharma and the opportunities in India that it presents for investor...

Press Release iLink Digital, a global software solution provider and systems integrator, recently announced its acquisition of majority stake in Dazeworks, a Platinum Consulting Partner with Salesforce offering development, implementation, and architectural guidance to SMBs and large enterprises across verticals. SA Global Advisors, a leading M&A advisory firm to companies in the Digital and Technology ecosystem is pleased to announce another successful transaction, serving as an exclusive advisor to iLink in this acquisition process.  Commenting on the acquisition, iLink Group CEO Sree Balaji said, “iLink Digital is focusing on growth acceleration this year. SA was able to leverage their deep experience in this sector and identify a strong Salesforce specialised company for us to partner with and enter expand our Salesforce footprint, as part of our inorganic strategy. In our journey with SA as our advisor and partner, we find their M&A process, reach and business alignmen...

IBC Moratorium to Apply to Cheque Bouncing Cases The Hon’ble Supreme Court of India on March 1, 2021 held that the criminal proceedings against cheque bouncing under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instrument Act, 1881 (‘ NI Act’ ) shall remain stayed against the company during the period of moratorium applicable to insolvency proceedings of any company. The proceedings would however continue against the directors and other officials of the company who are made accused in cheque bouncing proceedings.   Section 14 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016  (‘IBC’ ) specifies that when an order declaring moratorium is passed, the institution of suits or continuation of pending suits or proceedings against the corporate debtor including execution of any judgement, decree or order in any court of law, tribunal, or arbitration panel would be prohibited.   The Supreme Court passed the above directions in  P. Mohanraj & Ors. v. M/S. Shah Brothers Ispat Pvt. Ltd. , ...

Unconditional Stay on Arbitral Awards Unconditional stay on enforcement of arbitral awards has yet again become a reality in India.   A.    Background Indian arbitration law, contained in the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (the “ Act ”), provided for an automatic stay on enforcement of the arbitral award once a challenge against the award was entertained by the Court under Section 34 of the Act.   The automatic stay on enforcement was heavily criticized, as it defeated the whole objective of expeditious adjudication of disputes by arbitration. The Indian Courts often took years to arrive at a final decision in the proceedings under Section 34 of the Act, challenging the award, which final decision was again subject to an appeal under Section 37 of the Act.   The legal position qua automatic stay of the award was changed by the Arbitration and Conciliation Amendment Act, 2015 (the “ Amended Act, 2015 ”), which stipulated that a stay on enforcement could o...