Country steps up in global ranking of acquisitions
DCI
The activity of corporate mergers skyrocketed in 2010 in Brazil and, together with China, it led the emerging world to respond for one third of the global operations in the sector in the period, a record. According to a survey of Thomson Reuters, the announced operations involving companies in the Country generated US$ 120.6 billion last year, an increase of 76.1%. Energy was the leading sector, with emphasis on the purchase of 40% of the assets of Repsol, in Brazil, by the Chinese Sinopec, and on the creation of a joint venture that gathers part of the assets of the British-Dutch Shell and Cosan. Raw material and telephone were in second and third place on the list, respectively.
For specialists, for being strong in the areas of energy (oil and ethanol) and in metals, some of the most active segments in mergers in the world, and the perspective of high economic growth in the coming years, Brazil will continue being one of the most active countries in the market in 2011. "That combination is attracting the attention of every sort of investor", says Marco Gonçalves, head of area of mergers and acquisitions of BTG Pactual, leader in the sector in Brazil.
According to the bankers, more than the record of 2010, the change in the profile of the market in the country, with participation of more sectors, and lower average value per transaction draws the attention to the numbers. 693 transactions were announced in 2010, an annual growth of 37.5%. The assessment is that it reveals the maturing of the sector of mergers in Brazil, because it points to a consolidation in several sectors of the economy.