Mergers & Acquisitions in Latin America: How to Acquire with Confidence

Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) can be a powerful way to accelerate growth, enter new markets, or strengthen competitive positioning. But as anyone who has been through the process knows, M&A in Latin America is not for the faint of heart. Beyond the complexity of deal structures, there are cultural, regulatory, and operational challenges that can make or break success.

At Midas Consulting, we’ve supported companies for over 25 years in navigating these waters—helping them identify the right partners, uncover risks early, and negotiate from a position of strength.

This article walks you through the essentials of conducting mergers & acquisitions in Latin America: why a structured process matters, the key challenges you’ll face, and how a step-by-step approach can help you acquire with confidence.

What is M&A Search?

At its core, M&A search is the process of identifying, evaluating, and approaching potential companies for acquisition, joint ventures, or licensing agreements. It is not just about “finding targets”—it’s about ensuring those targets align strategically, culturally, and operationally with your business.

Done right, the process uncovers hidden gems while flagging deal-breakers early, so you avoid expensive missteps. Done wrong, it can lead to wasted time, inflated valuations, or acquisitions that fail to deliver on expectations.

The Benefits of a Structured Mergers & Acquisitions Process

We’ve seen time and again that companies that follow a disciplined process reap three major benefits:

• Clarity of Strategy. Instead of chasing every opportunity, a structured process starts with defining your objectives—whether market entry, portfolio expansion, or defensive positioning. This focus allows you to screen effectively and prioritize only the most relevant candidates

• Better Negotiation Power. When you have clear profiles of target companies—including their strengths, weaknesses, and deal-breakers—you can negotiate from a position of knowledge, not guesswork. This avoids surprises later in the process and often results in better terms

• Reduced Risk of Failure. M&A is risky by nature, but most risks come from what you don’t know. A systematic approach ensures due diligence goes beyond financials, uncovering cultural fit, compliance standards, government relationships, and other critical factors that are often overlooked

“Midas explained clearly why our target was overvalued and gave us the insights to negotiate a better deal. Their support saved us millions.”
— Senior Vice President, Healthcare Company

The Challenges of Mergers & Acquisitions in Latin America

Latin America presents unique opportunities—but also unique challenges. Three stand out as the most common pitfalls for international companies:

• Information Gaps. Public data is often incomplete or outdated. Many high-potential companies operate under the radar, meaning you can’t rely solely on databases or reports. Without on-the-ground intelligence, you risk missing the real opportunities

• Regulatory and Government Complexity. Compliance, local regulations, and relationships with government agencies can be decisive factors. In many cases, success depends on knowing whether a target has the right contacts, approvals, or lobbying strength to operate effectively

• Cultural and Regional Nuances. What works in São Paulo may not work in Bogotá. Each country—and often each region within a country—has its own business culture, consumer expectations, and operating environment. Deals that look solid on paper can fall apart if cultural fit is ignored

“We thought we knew the right acquisition candidates, but Midas uncovered two hidden gems we hadn’t even considered. Their intelligence was spot-on.”
— Head of Business Development, Consumer Goods Company

A Step-by-Step Approach to Mergers and Acquitions

At Midas, we use a phased methodology that balances rigor with flexibility. Here’s how it works:

• Understanding. We begin by aligning on your objectives, goals, and attractiveness criteria. What are you really looking for—market share, innovation capabilities, or geographic expansion?

• Screening. We develop a master list of possible targets and screen them based on your criteria and secondary research. This narrows the universe to companies worth analyzing further

• Analyzing. From that pool, we create in-depth profiles of the most attractive targets—covering their portfolios, customer relationships, compliance standards, government ties, and more

• Approaching. Once the right candidates are identified, we discreetly approach them on your behalf to secure meetings and gauge interest

• Negotiating. Finally, we assist you in negotiations—equipped with intelligence that allows you to anticipate counterpart priorities and achieve stronger outcomes

Strengths and Weaknesses of this Mergers and Acquisitions Approach

No process is perfect, but understanding the strengths and limitations helps you plan better

Strengths

• Provides clarity and focus—avoiding distractions from irrelevant opportunities

• Identifies deal-breakers early—saving time, money, and reputation

• Enhances negotiation leverage—by knowing what really matters to the other side

Weaknesses

• Time-intensive—rigorous analysis takes resources and patience

• Requires access to insiders—some information can only be obtained through trusted networks

• May surface fewer targets—quality over quantity sometimes feels restrictive but is ultimately more effective

“What stood out for me was how Midas helped us understand the other side’s priorities. That made all the difference in getting the deal across the finish line.”
— Strategy Director, Industrial Equipment Company

Practical Case: Entering a Market Through the Right Partner

One of our clients, a global company without a local presence, needed to launch a product in Latin America but lacked commercial infrastructure

We screened and profiled dozens of potential partners, narrowing the field to three strong candidates. After facilitating introductions and supporting negotiations, the company selected a partner that matched not only in portfolio but also in government relationships and market know-how

The result: a successful market entry, accelerated revenues, and a long-term partnership that continues today

Conclusion: Acquire with Confidence

M&A in Latin America offers incredible opportunities—but only if approached with discipline, local knowledge, and the right intelligence. The difference between a failed acquisition and a successful one often comes down to preparation

At Midas Consulting, we help companies get the right candidates, uncover deal-breakers early, and negotiate from a position of strength. With over 25 years of experience across every major Latin American market, we know what works—and what doesn’t

If you’re considering an acquisition, joint venture, or licensing agreement in the region, don’t leave it to chance

Contact us, and let’s discuss how you can acquire with confidence

Understanding how mergers & acquisitions work is one thing—executing them successfully is another. That’s where we come in

We’re with you at every step to secure the right company!

With hundreds of M&A projects behind us, we’ve refined a proven approach that delivers results. Our passion is helping companies like yours acquire the partner that drives real growth

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