Mergers & Acquisitions, Compraventa de empresas

Investors look to Latin American

This year the Latin American market ignited the interest of several foreign companies, which find good growth opportunities in these countries. In November, this tendency continued, the amount of cross-border deals registered had a significant impact in the total number of deals. US-based acquirers continue to be the most active in Latin America, with 17 acquisitions registered.

US-based Cabot Internationals acquired a 59.95% stake in Negro Humo (NHumo), a Mexico-based chemical company, held by Grupo Kuo. The deal value was USD 105m. Furthermore, General Electric Company acquired IDT – Ingeniería y Desarrollo Tecnológico, a Chile-based consultancy and engineering company, held by Chile-based Grupo CGE. Highlights, in Brazil, include US-based One Equity Partners’ acquisition of a stake in Brazil-based Unicoba, through a capital increase of approximately USD 65.93m.

On the other hand, Latin American companies started to invest abroad through internationalization strategies. One of the most active countries was Colombia with eight acquisitions registered, followed by Mexico with six. Highlights, in Colombia, include Cementos Argos’ acquisition of a 53.3% stake in Lafarge Honduras, held by French cement company Lafarge, for EUR 232m.

The Latin American transactional activity dropped slightly in November, both in number of deals and investment volume compared with the previous month, according to data from Transactional Track Record. However, the number of deals announced was noteworthy, which implies that the market is dynamic. These transactions should be complete within the next few months.

Brazil-based companies continue to be the most active with 61 deals registered, followed by Mexico with approximately 19, and Colombia with 18. Among the largest deals was the acquisition agreement made by China-based CNPC – China National Petroleum Corporation of Petrobras Perú, held by Brazil-based Petrobras. The deal value was USD 2.60bn. Furthermore, still in Brazil, consortium Aerobrasil, constituted by Switzerland-based Flughafen Zürich, Germany-based Flughafen München, and Brazil-based CCR, acquired a 51% stake in Concessão Aeroporto Internacional de Confins, held by INFRAERO. The deal value was USD 612.11m. INFRAERO also reached an agreement to sell a 51% stake in Concessão Aeroporto Internacional Galeão to Consórcio Aeroportos do Futuro, for USD 8.32bn.

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