India to see increased momentum in cross-border deals and IPOs in 2026: JP Morgan

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. India is expected to see heightened momentum on cross-border mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and initial public offerings (IPOs) through 2026 as companies worldwide look to monetise their stakes and take advantage of the country's rich valuations, top executives at JP Morgan said at a media round table on Tuesday.

“While buying here will remain a priority, our Indian clients will also acquire assets outside the country as there are several high quality businesses that are owned by private equity globally that will come to market and Indian clients are keen to pursue growth in their familiar markets," said Nitin Maheshwari, co-head of investment banking at JP Morgan in India. He noted that this strategy was growing in popularity, driven by both a relative value perspective and the need to create a balanced portfolio of business.

Maheshwari said the firm was also seeing more instances of US and European multinationals looking to actively manage their India portfolios and enhance value by listing their local subsidiaries. “In selective cases, we are seeing entities exit or partner with local businesses to maximize value for their overall global business." He added that firms in Japan and the Middle East were actively looking to acquire assets in India.

“Middle East and Japan are super active corridors for us, which we expect to continue in 2026 along with selective inbound investments from US and Europe which have been active investors in India organically," Maheshwari said, adding that several factors including good collaboration between governments and a strong cultural fit have also caused private equity investors to allocate more capital to these regions. Prominent M&A transactions