Vodafone's Hutch stake acquisition fourth largest in global M&A: Dealogic

17 February 2007

New Delhi: According to market researcher Dealogic, Vodafone's acquisition of Hutch-Essar is the fourth largest deal in terms of value at $13.3 billion dollar ($11.1 billion plus $2 billion debt) in 2007 year-to-date.

Dealogic's report of the top five global deals in 2007 is topped by US-based Kraft Foods' $48.2-billion acquisition by its existing shareholders. At the second place comes the Nuon-Essent deal of Netherlands valued at $15.2 billion, while the third largest deal for 2007 was of Assurances Generales de France by Germany's Allianz.

The Hutch-Essar deal is at the fourth place followed by $9.9 bilion acquisition deal of 27.39 per cent of Russia's Norilsk Nickel by Interros Holding, says Dealogic.

India-targeted M&A activity is the highest on record at $21.3 billion in 2007 year-to-date via 101 deals - five times more than last year's $4.4 billion through as many as 108 deals.

Inbound deals to the country account for $20.7 billion dollars by way of 38 acquisitions so far this year, which includes the latest Vodafone's acquisition of Hutchisson-Essar, the largest inbound deal this year, Dealogic's report on India targeted M&A deals said.

Global M&A reached a record volume of $4.06 trillion last year.