The Deal Room: An Insider’s Guide to Investment Banking in India by Abhishek Gupta brings readers inside the world of Indian investment banking, offering practical insights drawn from two decades at the deal table. Moving beyond textbook theories and Wall Street narratives, the book focuses on India’s mid-market, where promoter-led family businesses seek institutional capital and boutique investment banking teams manage complex transactions from mandate to closure.
The book explores how mandates are won and lost, what lenders and private equity investors evaluate differently, why certain clauses become negotiation battlegrounds, and how deals can collapse even days before closing. Key areas including structured debt, private equity, mergers and acquisitions, valuation, financial modelling, and cap tables are explained through worked Indian examples. Regulatory considerations such as FEMA and the SEBI Takeover Code are integrated into the discussion, giving readers valuable context for the Indian market.
The book also provides a practical toolkit featuring a sample engagement letter, equity and debt term sheets, teaser and information memorandum templates, and a financial model skeleton. Beyond technical knowledge, Gupta highlights the judgement, temperament, and relationships that distinguish exceptional bankers, making The Deal Room a valuable guide for aspiring and practising investment banking professionals.