Private Equity Investing In The BRIC Countries

We tend to only focus on private equity in the U.S., but private equity investment is increasing across the globe. As for the four BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India, and China), India is leading the pack in the amount and number of deals being done. In U.S. dollars, there was $7.4 billion of private equity investment in India last year, compared to $2.1 billion in China, $3.2 billion in Brazil, and $924 million in Russia. As for the number of deals, India was also at the top with 119 deals completed last year, compared to 73 deals in China, 17 deals in Brazil, and 19 deals in Russia. Reports also have 42 private equity deals so far this year in India, worth approximately $1.1 billion. As a comparison, through Q3 of 2007, 295 U.S. private equity firms had raised $199.4 billion, which was more than the $154.1 billion raised by 232 firms in 2006. Still a long way to go, but private equity is on the move internationally, and surely will see increased growth as sovereign wealth funds look for places to put their new found commodity wealth.