LatAm deal volume falls 26.5% in January

• Aggregate deal value fell 33.8% to USD 5.3bn
• Deal of the Month: Grupo Enfoca acquires 100% of Grupo Ucal-Toulouse for USD 296m

The 125 announced and closed deals across Latin America in January together represent a 26.5% decline in transaction volume and a 33.8% drop in aggregate transaction value over January 2017, according to TTR data.

Top Six M&A Markets in Latin America

Brazil accounted for nearly half the 125 deals recorded across the region in January. Transaction volume fell 28%, however, its 56 deals together worth USD 2.2bn, 67% below the aggregate deal value in the country in January 2017, considering 23 deals of disclosed consideration.

Mexico’s 25 deals in January together represent a 19% bump in volume over the same month last year. Aggregate value surged 80% in Mexico in January to USD 1.6bn, taking into account 15 deals of disclosed consideration.

Argentina ranks third in Latin America by transaction volume at the close of January with 20 announced and closed deals, a 33% increase in volume. The 10 transactions of disclosed consideration are together worth 699m, a 126% jump in aggregate value over January 2017.

Chile ranks fourth by volume in January, its deal flow dropping 30% over the same month last year. Its nine transactions of disclosed consideration contributed to a 535% jump in aggregate value over the same month in 2017 to USD 209m, meanwhile.

Peru jumped to fifth place by volume with nine deals in January. Peru’s deal flow continues to slide, however, 47% relative to January 2017. Aggregate deal value is up 777% to USD 910m compared to the same month last year, however, taking into account seven transactions of disclosed consideration.

Colombia fell to sixth among the top regional M&A markets in January with just eight deals announced or closed during the month, a 38% decline over the same month last year. Aggregate deal value grew 889%, however, with four transactions of disclosed consideration totaling USD 183m.

 

Cross-Border Deals

Bidders based in Latin America made seven extra-regional acquisitions in January, four targeting companies in North America, and three with targets in the EU.

North American buyers tied bidders from the EU with 14 inbound acquisitions from each region in the first month of the year, alongside four transactions led by investors based in Asia.

 

Deal of the Quarter 

TTR selected Grupo Enfoca’s USD 296m acquisition of Grupo Ucal-Toulouse from Summa Asesores Financieros, Faro Capital SAFI and a group of shareholder’s together holding 60% of the target’s equity, as Deal of the Month in January.  The Lima-based fund manager was represented by Rebaza, Alcázar & De Las Casas Abogados Financieros while the acquired university was advised by Philippi, Prietocarrizosa, Ferrero DU & Uría Perú.