With its technical sales team, in-house formulation capabilities and a product portfolio focused on specialty excipients, Barentz said Chemcel provides the company with a “natural platform“ to further expand into the Mexican market, where it will operate in future as Barentz Mexico. The team will continue to be headed by Chemcel managing director and shareholder Julio Rendon, and the headquarters will remain in Mexico City.

Beyond strengthening the European company’s existing presence in Latin America, the buy also provides an opportunity for further expansion through strategic principal relationships, Barentz said, noting that the gain of a in-house laboratory & technical service team dedicated to the pharmaceutical industry will complement its to global network of more than 30 laboratories across four continents.

Barentz CEO Hidde van der Wal said Mexico has long represented a strategic market for the Hoofddorp-headquartered distributor, and Chemcel is an ideal fit with its commercial strategy and entrepreneurial culture. In return, Rendon said the Mexican firm sees a “tremendous opportunity” to benefit from Barentz’ global infrastructure and relationships.

Author: Dede Williams, Freelance Journalist