The US consolidated its position as the biggest source of cross-border M&A in Mexico in the first five months of 2015, according to a report by data firm TTR. 

Of the 45 inbound M&A transactions in Mexico over the period, US firms were the buyers in 19, more than doubling the presence of the next most active country, Spain, which was involved in just eight deals.

The only other country to be involved in more than two deals in the first five months of the year was the UK, with a presence in four M&A transactions. 

US companies have become increasingly acquisitive in Mexico in the last three years. In the first five months of last year, for example, they were involved in 15 M&A deals, less than in 2015 but up from four the year before, TTR told BNamericas. 

The total value of the US deals rose even more sharply, reaching US$9.05bn this January to May, up from US$560mn in the same period last year and US$80.2mn in the first five months of 2013.

The increase in US activity reflects broader M&A growth in Mexico, which saw the number of transactions steadily rise to 135 in January to May this year from 118, 76 and 67 in the same periods of 2014, 2013, and 2012, respectively.

This year, the value of those transactions totaled US$23.7bn, more than double the US$8.998bn in January-May 2014 and US$6.56bn the year before that.

In terms of outbound deals, Mexican firms conducted most of their M&A activity in Spain, with nine transaction totaling US$540mn.

They were also involved in four deals in the US with a total value of US$79.8mn, and three in Chile.

The real estate sector was the most active from January to May, with 24 deals in terms of both incoming and outgoing M&As, followed by the internet, financial, and food and beverage sectors with 10 each, according to TTR. 

According to reinsurance firm Swiss Re's latest Sigman report, there are also signs a new wave of insurance industry M&A is approaching, with firms increasingly eyeing deals as a route to growth or to boost capital. 

In May alone, US firms dominated again with four purchases in Mexico, including Barclays Capital's acquisition of a minority share in Grupo Aeroméxico for around US$1.14bn.

BNAmericas - http://www.bnamericas.com/en/news/banking/us-still-dominating-foreign-m-a-in-mexico1?idioma=en