Two buys for Barentz

Barentz International has continued its ongoing series of acquisitions with two more distributors of life science ingredients and specialty chemicals, one based in France and the other in Latin America. Both are described as being aligned with its growth strategy of becoming the leading global life science distributor.

Based in Paris and employing 80 there and at commercial offices in Brussels and Casablanca, Unipex is active in France, Benelux and North Africa. The company is said to be “well known … for innovation and leading trend development, efficiently using their own formulations labs”.  This deal is subject to legal and specified closing conditions, including the receipt of European merger control clearances.

The second acquisition, Distribuciones Industriales Variadas (Divsa) is a major player in Central America and the Caribbean, with its headquarters in Guatemala and locations in the Dominican Republic, Honduras, El Salvador, Costa Rica and Panama. It has in-house laboratories and technical services that serve markets include personal care, home care, flavours and fragrances, food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, coatings and polyurethanes.

“Divsa represents the ideal fit to bridge Barentz’ well-established presence in North and South America,” Barentz said. President and co-founder Mario Mena will remain at the helm. Divsa was privately owned, no approvals were needed and the acquisition has already been completed.