M&A Capital Rises in Latam; Bitcoin Nears Record: Finance Week

This week in finance news, the Latin American M&A market saw a 16% increase in capital during 2024, despite a 16% drop in transactions. Following President Trump’s inauguration, Bitcoin surged to US$105,000, approaching its all-time high. Meanwhile, in Mexico, TransUnion announced plans to acquire a majority stake in the country’s Buró de Crédito.

Stay tuned for more finance updates this week!

Latin America's M&A Capital Up 16%, Transactions Fall 16%

The mergers and acquisitions (M&A) market in Latin America saw a total of 2,904 transactions in 2024, valued at US$87.68 billion, according to the annual Transactional Track Record (TTR) Data report, in collaboration with Datasite and AON. This marks a 16% increase in capital mobilized compared to 2023, but a 16% decline in the number of transactions.

Bitcoin Nears US$105,000 as Trump’s Crypto Optimism Fuels Rally

Bitcoin is nearing its all-time high, trading at US$105,000  as of Jan. 17, driven by optimism surrounding Donald Trump’s supportive stance on cryptocurrencies. The leading cryptocurrency by market value has surged 13% since Sunday, marking its best weekly performance since Trump’s re-election in November. 

TransUnion to Acquire 68% of Buró de Crédito by Late 2025

TransUnion, a global credit reporting agency, has announced its acquisition of a 68% stake in Buró de Crédito, Mexico’s leading consumer credit bureau. Valued at MX$16.8 billion (US$818 million), the transaction increases TransUnion’s ownership in the entity from 26% to 94%. The deal excludes Buró de Crédito’s commercial credit business and is subject to regulatory approvals.

Mexico’s Contactless Payments Surge 150% in 2024: ABM

Contactless payments in Mexico have grown by 150% over the past year, demonstrating increasing consumer interest in innovative payment solutions, according to the Mexican Banking Association (ABM).

BlackRock’s Profit Jumps 16%, Expects AI to Drive 2025 Growth

BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, reported a net profit of US$6.37 billion in 2024, a 16% increase compared to 2023. Revenues rose by 14% to US$20.4 billion. In the fourth quarter, profits soared by 21.45% year-over-year to US$1.67 billion, driven by a 23% increase in quarterly revenues to US$5.68 billion.