The Venture Intelligence Blog

Press Release:  Private Equity - Venture Capital (PE-VC) firms invested $26.8 Billion (across 547 deals) in the first 9 months of 2020, shows data from  Venture Intelligence , a research service focused on private company financials, transactions and their valuations. The $12.1 Billion* invested by global private equity and sovereign wealth funds in Reliance Industries’ Jio Platforms ($9.9 Billion) and Reliance Retail ($2.3 Billion) accounted for 45% of the total PE-VC investment value in 2020. (*This figure excludes the $10.2 Billion in strategic investments by Silicon Valley tech giants Google and Facebook). The Reliance deals have managed to arrest the overall decline in PE-VC investment figures in 2020 to a marginal 2%, c ompared to $27.4 Billion (across 750 deals) in  the first nine months  of 2019.   (Note: These figures include Venture Capital investments, but exclude PE investments in Real Estate).  With the mega investments in Reliance Ji...

Mint has a feature, quoting growth figures from startups like Mamaearth and BoAT, on how some niche FMCG brands are gaining favor among consumers and also investors, post the Covid lockdowns.  Since June, Saama’s Lilani has begun to evaluate at least one new consumer brand investment every day. “Let me put it this way: in April, a down round was the best-case scenario for consumer brand startups; now, it’s the worst-case scenario for many," he said.  ...That these companies are not only growing rapidly but doing so with higher net margins is helping their cause at a time when investors are demanding better unit economics at startups. Last year, consumer brand startups received $295 million in capital, up from $158 million in 2018, according to data with Venture Intelligence. There are some common themes that are allowing startup brands to thrive. One, they were all relatively well-established in their categories even before the pandemic. Then, their products have now become e...

Each year, the Venture Intelligence Awards for Private Equity Excellence (APEX Awards) celebrate the best performing Private Equity & Venture Capital investors in India. It is also clear that the award winning funds as well as other PE-VC investors cannot perform at their best without the key supporting roles played by a host of service providers - including Investment Banks, Corporate Law Firms and other Advisory Firms. Venture Intelligence is pleased to acknowledge  the high value added played by the following Advisory Firms towards completing land PE-VC transactions during the last year: Most Active Startup focused Law Firm - Burgeon Law    Most Active Education focused Transaction Advisor  of the Year - DC Advisory Most Active Healthcare & Life Sciences f ocused  Transaction Advisor  of the Year - Advay Capital Most Active Technology focused Transaction Advisor of the Year - Avendus Capital Debutant Investment Advisor of the Year -...

Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas (CAM) topped the Venture Intelligence League Table for Legal Advisor to M&A Transactions for the half-year ending June 2020. CAM advised M&A deals worth USD 16.9 Billion (across 40 qualifying deals). CAM was followed by AZB & Partners (AZB, USD 9.7 Billion across 28 deals) and Davis Polk & Wardwell ( USD 5.7 Billion ) in second and third place respectively. Khaitan & Co. (KCO, USD 2.2 Billion across 25 deals) and Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas (SAM, USD 2 Billion across 6 deals) completed the top five. The  Venture Intelligence League Tables , the first such initiative exclusively tracking transactions involving India-based companies, are based on the value of PE and M&A transactions advised by Financial and Legal Advisory firms. During the latest quarter, AZB and Davis Polk & Wardwell advised Reliance Industries in the   USD 5.7 Billion strategic investment by Facebook into its communications unit Jio Platf...

In a year thus far dominated by the mega investments in Jio Platforms,  AZB & Partners (AZB) topped the Venture Intelligence League Table for Legal Advisor to Private Equity Transactions for the half-year ending June 2020. AZB advised deals worth USD 13 Billion (across 41 qualifying deals) during the period. Davis Polk & Wardwell (which advised the multiple Private Equity investments worth USD 9.8 Billion investment in Jio Platforms ) and Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas (SAM) (USD 7.7 Billion across 23 deals) took the second and third spot respectively. Simpson Thacher & Bartlett (USD 2.9 Billion across 4 deals) and Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas (CAM) (USD 2.5 Billion across 32 deals) completed the top five. The  Venture Intelligence League Tables , the first such initiative exclusively tracking transactions involving India-based companies, are based on the value of PE and M&A transactions advised by Financial and Legal Advisory firms. AZB and Davis...

Legal Capsule by Veyrah Law During the early stages of a company’s life, Founders needing funds generally give away equity to multiple small investors – be it their wealthy neighbour, friends, or some angel investors. But, once the company and the business flourish, procuring funds becomes relatively easier. Often Founders may also wish to exit the business by sale of the entire business to a strategic or financial investor. However, such investors may only be interested in acquiring 100% of an operational company once the company has achieved certain size and scale. In such a situation, it would become difficult for Founders to negotiate a 100% acquisition with a potential buyer, with multiple minority shareholders in the picture. If all minority shareholders are on good terms with the Founder, it would be smooth sailing. But, this is rarely the case, since over the years shares of small investors may have been inherited by persons who were not original shareholders, the relati...

Morgan Stanley topped the Venture Intelligence League Table for Transaction Advisor to M&A Deals for the half-year ending June 2020. Morgan Stanley advised the USD 5.7 Billion strategic investment by Facebook into Reliance Industries' telecom arm Jio platforms (among other Private Equity investments in the company). Deloitte (USD 1 Billion across 2 deals) and KPMG (USD 918 million across 2 deals) took the second and third spots respectively. EY (USD 845 million across 5 deals) and Arpwood Capital ( which advised Nirma Group's USD 770 million take over of Emami Cement ) completed the top five. The  Venture Intelligence League Tables , the first such initiative exclusively tracking transactions involving India-based companies, are based on the value of PE and M&A transactions advised by Financial and Legal Advisory firms. Among other larger deals in the second quarter of 2020, Avendus and Moelis & Company acted as financial advisors to KKR’s ma...