The hanging uncertainty in the capital markets and the ensuing fall in company valuations have triggered an influx of private equity (PE) funds. But a likely overcrowding could stretch valuations, experts say.
The 30% fall in stock markets, from January, has led to a greater appetite for PE funds, but many deals were stuck over high valuations. Now, with promoters seeing a prolonged stability in the market at the current levels, and with no immediate upswings in sight, the time is again ripe for PE. The BSE Sensex, which had touched 21,000 in early January, is now languishing over the 14,000-mark.
“Valuations have cooled off in the deal space, leading to the entry of new PE players into the segment,” says Deepesh Garg, a director with O3 Capital, an investment banking and financial services firm. Large European players like Candover, Englefield and TA Associates have developed a new hunger for India. Older players like Warburg Pincus, Citigroup, ChrysCapital, ICICI Venture and General Atlantic continue to be active.
In the first seven months of 2008, PE firms invested $7.44 billion across 248 investments in India. They had invested $14.33 billion in 2007, according to research service body Venture Intelligence.
“Real estate and consumer products are attractive now,” says Garg.
Agrees Arun Natarajan of Venture Intelligence, “Valuations have fallen in tandem with the stock market decline, around 30%. The consumer demand-led segments like education and retail and infrastructure-demand-led projects like engineering and telecom are attractive.”
Natarajan feels though the entry of so many players would be a boon to entrepreneurs, it could also lead to overcrowding. “It’s possible that valuations get stretched again,” he adds.
PE firms are also doing a better analysis of the returns versus the risks involved in businesses, and are taking time to freeze deals, says Rohit Kapur, head-corporate finance, KPMG India. “PE players would like to get a return out of the capital that they deploy and that return is always on a risk-adjusted basis,” says he. They are now in a position to evaluate the risks better.
Parthenon, a US-based advisory firm that is making Mumbai its Asia hub, is advising some top clients in the
PE space. Says Chip Greene, its partner in Mumbai, “When public market expectations are low, private equity players gain an edge. However, high valuations had been a deterrent. The seller will have to ultimately adjust his out look with that of the current market realities.”
Source: Financial Express