Despite a steep drop off in the third quarter, the number of M&A deals in Mexico rose 10% year-on-year to 245 in the first nine months of 2018, compared to the same period a year before.

As reported by M&A research firm Transactional Track Record (TTR), total deal value for 100 of these transactions was US$8.92bn, marking a 54.2% decline.

Much of this year's weakness in overall M&A activity developed in the third quarter, which produced only 72 deals (-15.3% y-o-y) and reported deal value of US$1.24bn (-90.3% for 24 deals).

Of the 100 deals reporting price tags in January-September, 80 were small market (valued at less than US$100mn), 16 were mid-market (US$100m-US$500mn) and four were major deals valued at more than US$500mn.

Strongest M&A activity in the same period was seen in the combined financial and insurance sector (44 transactions), followed by real estate (39) and distribution and retail (28).

Source: Business News Americas / BN Americas - Chile