As Indian firms go global, outbound M&A tops $11 billion in 2025
Published on 12/09/2025 02:05 PM
As Indian firms go global, outbound M&A tops $11 billion in 2025Sumeet Abrol, Partner and National Leader – Deals, Grant Thornton Bharat LLP, and Bhavesh Shah of Equirus discuss Indian outbound M&A trends, strategic planning, mid-market participation, global acquisitions, and risk management for corporate growth.By Surabhi Upadhyay | Reema Tendulkar September 12, 2025, 2:05:40 PM IST (Published)2 Min ReadRecent outbound merger and acquisition (M&A) activity by Indian firms is being guided by strategic planning rather than risk-taking, according to industry experts.
In 2024, India saw about 120 outbound M&A deals worth $17 billion. By August 2025, nearly 100 deals worth $11 billion have already been executed, showing strong momentum.
Sumeet Abrol, Partner and National Leader – Deals, Grant Thornton Bharat LLP stated that the primary consideration for any deal is its “strategic fitment,” aimed at building a solid rationale for the M&A.
He noted that while M&A is inherently risky, Indian corporates are now better positioned to manage its nuances, with both the willingness and ability to handle such risks at an “all-time high.”
Many acquisitions are being executed to fill “serious capability gaps” and are not merely value arbitrage plays.
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Crucially, he observed a high level of deal discipline, stating, “We are not seeing any big-ticket deals breaching some serious deal discipline on fitment. We are not seeing any billion-dollar gambles as yet on untested, non-profitable, high-risk business models.”
This view was supported by Bhavesh Shah of Equirus , who added that corporates are being “very, very careful.”
He highlighted that Indian firms are looking at international acquisitions to gain technology, market access, and better products. He noted that global trade shifts, including US tariffs, are influencing these strategies.
Shah said, “Some of these companies are large, and as long as cash flows are strong and buffers are in place, outbound M&A can continue to do pretty well.”
For the entire discussion, watch the accompanying video
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