BLP has advised its client, Barentz International, a global distributor of ingredients in the life sciences industry, on the acquisition of 100% of the shares of Distribuciones Industriales Variadas, S.A. (Divsa) in a significant transaction involving eight jurisdictions (Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, British Virgin Islands, Panama, and Mexico.)

Divsa is the leading distributor in Central America of life science industry ingredients and specialty chemical products. With headquarters in Guatemala, and locations in the Dominican Republic, Honduras, El Salvador, Costa Rica and Panama, Divsa becomes a strategic acquisition to connect Barentz’s presence in North and South America.

BLP led and coordinated all legal aspects of this transaction for eight countries, from the due diligence stage to the drafting, reviewing, and negotiating of the share purchase agreement (SPA) and the contracts associated with the transaction.

For Costa Rica, BLP also assisted in the competition authorization process for a transaction that took place in stages, closing on May 31, after obtaining approval from the Commission to Promote Competition (COPROCOM). BLP continues to advise the client on all legal aspects of the company’s day-to-day business in the region.

Partner Adriana Castro from Costa Rica led the BLP team that included our lawyers in:

Guatemala: María Inés Arenales (partner), Carolina Saadeh (senior associate), Rubén Fuentes (senior associate), Gustavo Gamboa (associate), Luis Delgado (associate).

El Salvador: Mariana Nóchez (partner), José Gochez (associate), Delmer Rodríguez (associate), Fernando Farrar (associate), Sofía Quezada (associate).

Honduras: José Miguel Alvarez (partner), Ali Ordóñez (associate), Ivis Alvarado (associate).

Costa Rica: Juan Carlos Tristán (partner), Uri Weinstok (partner), Adriana Acuña (director), Alexandra Aguilar (director), Elia Naranjo (director), Luis Palacios (director), Carolina Arce (Environmental Manager), Fernando Shum (director), León Weinstok (director), Carlos García (senior associate), Shermine Elizondo (senior associate), Gabriel Durán (associate), Yannsi Paniagua (associate), Diego Quirós (senior paralegal), Elena Foltrán (senior paralegal), Aldo Cappella (paralegal).