Dominican retail-focused investor ALERE Advisors has instructed several firms to fund its acquisition of Colombian food and beverage producer QBco.
ALERE relied on Holland & Knight LLP in New York, Dominican firm OMG, Brigard Urrutia in Bogotá and Icaza, González-Ruiz & Alemán in Panama City for the acquisition financing portion of the deal.
The lenders, Bancolombia and Scotiabank, turned to Mayer Brown LLP in New York, offshore firm Walkers in the British Virgin Islands, Philippi Prietocarrizosa Ferrero DU & Uría (Colombia) and Alemán, Cordero, Galindo & Lee in Panama City.
Latin Lawyer understands that offshore firm Maples Group advised ALERE in the acquisition financing deal as well, but could not confirm this before publication.
OMG and Brigard Urrutia also assisted ALERE in its acquisition of QBco.
The acquisition financing closed on 1 August, one day after the loan transaction. The values of both deals remain confidential.
ALERE snapped up a 23.38% share in QBco through the deal. The remaining 76.62% is held by Latin America-focused asset manager SouthLight Capital and Florida-based property development group, Invesca.
Incorporated in Panama and headquartered in Santo Domingo, ALERE is affiliated with Dominican asset management group INICIA. It invests in the food, beverage and retail sectors in Latin America.
Based in the city of Buga in western Colombia, QBco manufactures and markets consumer products, such as packaged foods, drinks, oils and pet foods. Aside from its head office in Buga, it also has operations in the Colombian cities of Rionegro near Medellín and Tocancipá in the centre of the country.
