The evergreen and recession-proof characteristics of the education sector are drawing interest among private equity firms. Billed to be a $80-billion market, the number of private equity deals in the education space has grown four-fold in the last four years. According to Venture Intelligence, a Chennai-based research firm focused on private equity and mergers & acquisitions, eight deals worth $121 million were sealed in 2009, compared with just two deals worth $73 million in 2006. The first educational institute to get venture capital funding in India was Career Launcher from Intel Capital as early as in 2000. And last week, India Equity Partners invested Rs 172 crore for a 26% stake in IL&FS Education and Technology Services, which provides training to schools, colleges and to the government and corporate sector.   more »

Private equity transactions in India fell by a significant 68 per cent in 2009 as investors resorted to a wait and watch approach amid the slowdown. According to a report by global consultancy firm Grant Thornton, there were 206 deals in 2009 with a total announced value of USD 3.44 billion (Rs 15,953 crore), a fall of 68 per cent from the year ago period (2008) when as many as 312 deals worth USD 10.59 billion were announced. There was, however, an upsurge in fund raising activity through institutional placement. "In the absence of active private equity participation, several large companies turned to qualified institutional placement (QIPs) to fund their renewed acquisition appetite.   more »