
Latamlex Attorneys at Law successfully advises The Coca Cola Company in the acquisition of brands in El Salvador and Honduras
Recently the Superintendency of Competition of El Salvador issued its approval in favor of The
Coca Cola Company for the acquisition in El Salvador of the brands Oasis, Cristal and their
additional distinctive signs that cover bottled water products owned by La Constancia, Ltda de C.V.
Likewise it authorized signing a contract for bottling and distribution of the mentioned products. The
team involved in the transaction was lead by partners Oscar Mauricio Hurtado Saldaña and Carlos
Mauricio Guzmán Segovia, as well as by associated attorney Gerardo Guandique.
After a series of analyses, la SC determined in its resolution dated July 3rd, that there is an economic
concentration of conglomerate type and that, therefore, no type of economic rivalry exists between
the water brands. In addition, it discarded the production of packaging or sales strategies, product of
the concentration, since on the part of La Constancia an economic benefit resulting from production,
distribution and marketing of the products is already perceived.
On the other hand, the Commission of Competition of Honduras also authorized our client, The Coca
Cola Company, to carry out the operation of acquisition of the “Tropical” brand owned by Company
Cervecería Hondureña, S.A. de C.V. The Honduran competition authority concluded that the
operation of economic concentration will not produce alterations in the structure of the market in the
national territory. Our partner Paul Handal and associated attorney Francisco Pavón Bustillo also
participated in the mentioned operation.
LatamLex Attorneys at Law has a team of attorneys highly qualified on the subject of competition
law ready to consult with you on your business.
Abogados Participantes:
CARLOS MAURICIO GUZMáN SEGOVIA
Position: partner
Phone: (503) 2525-7800
Email: cmguzmans@latamlex.com
OSCAR MAURICIO HURTADO SALDAñA
Position: partner
Phone: (503) 2525-7800
Email: mhurtado@latamlex.com
PAUL HANDL MONTOYA
Position: partner
Phone: (504) 2231-0323
Email: phandal@latamlex.com
FRANCISCO ALEJANDRO PAVóN BUSTILLO
Position: associate
Phone: (504) 2231-0323
Email: fpavon@latamlex.com
JUAN GERARDO GUANDIQUE CHáVEZ
Position: associate
Phone: (503) 2525-7800
Email: gguandique@latamlex.com
- CARLOS MAURICIO GUZMáN SEGOVIA
- Position: PARTNER
- Country: EL SALVADOR
- Firm: LatamLex El Salvador
- Languages: Español, Ingles
STUDIES
- The American University Washington, D.C. (United States). Master´s Degree in International Legal Studies.
- Universidad Dr. José Matías Delgado (El Salvador). Lawyer.
PRACTICE AREAS
- CORPORATE LAW / MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS
- HYDROCARBON AND ENERGY LAW
- COMPETITION AND CONSUMER PROTECTION LAW
- MERCANTILE LAW
- LITIGATIONS AND ARBITRATIONS
PERFIL
Carlos Mauricio is partner at Guandique Segovia Quintanilla, where he has advised local and international clients in the areas of corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, hydrocarbons, antitrust and arbitrations.
He was authorized as Notary by the Supreme Court since 1998, and as arbitrator by the Mediation and Arbitration Center of the Salvadoran Chamber of Commerce since 2003.
Currently, he is President of the Centro de Estudios Jurídicos (Center for Legal Studies), since 2012 to the present date. This center is one of the most recognized lawyer´s associations and most experienced in El Salvador.
He has been recognized by Chambers & Partners as Leading Lawyer in the Corporate, Commercial, and Mergers and Acquisitions areas. He has also been recognized by other important legal directories in the same areas.

Phone: (503) 2525-7800

Email: cmguzmans@latamlex.com

- OSCAR MAURICIO HURTADO SALDAñA
- Position: PARTNER
- Country: EL SALVADOR
- Firm: LatamLex El Salvador
- Languages: Español, Ingles
STUDIES
- Universidad Dr. José Matías Delgado (El Salvador). Lawyer.
PRACTICE AREAS
- CORPORATE LAW / MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS
- COMPETITION AND CONSUMER PROTECTION LAW
- FINANCE, BANKING AND SECURITIES LAW
- LABOR LAW
- MERCANTILE LAW
- LITIGATIONS AND ARBITRATIONS
PERFIL
Mauricio is a partner at Guandique Segovia Quintanilla , and since 2010, he has been Head of the Litigation Department, having represented several local and international clients, in both judicial and arbitration proceedings. Providing legal advice to clients as well.
He has been a Law Professor at the University Dr. José Matías Delgado since the year 2000 and at the University Francisco Gavidia, since 2012. Mauricio has been authorized as a Notary by the Supreme Courtsince September 1998, and as Arbitrator by Centre for mediation and arbitration of the Salvadoran Chamber of Commerce.
He is member of the Centro de Estudios Jurídicos (Center for Legal Studies); and member of the panel of arbitrators of the Mediation and Arbitration Center of the Salvadoran Chamber of Commerce.
He has been recognized as Leading Lawyer in the Dispute Resolutions area by Chambers & Partners.

Phone: (503) 2525-7800

Email: mhurtado@latamlex.com

- PAUL HANDL MONTOYA
- Position: PARTNER
- Country: HONDURAS
- Firm: LatamLex Honduras
- Languages: Español, Ingles
STUDIES
Law Degree. Universidad de Navarra. Spain.
PRACTICE AREAS
- CORPORATE LAW / MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS
- COMPETITION AND CONSUMER PROTECTION LAW
- FINANCE, BANKING AND SECURITIES LAW
- TAX LAW
- INSURANCE
PERFIL
Paul Handal joined Matamoros Batson | Latam Lex as Partner in 2015. He counts with a solid experience in Anti-trust matters, Bank, Insurance and Reinsurance Regulation, Taxes, Dealer Law, Loan Documentation, Trusts and Public-Private Partnerships.
He has been counsel to several local and foreign bank and insurance institutions. Additionally, he has successfully obtained the merger clearance before the Honduran Competition Authority to several of the most complex economic concentrations in the country, as well as the defense of cases for allegedly competition restrictive practices.
Chambers and Partners Latin America recognize him as a Leading Lawyer for Corporate and Tax Law.
He has published in local and international publications several articles on anti-trust, insurance and dealer law related matters.

Phone: (504) 2231-0323

Email: phandal@latamlex.com

- FRANCISCO ALEJANDRO PAVóN BUSTILLO
- Position: ASSOCIATE
- Country: HONDURAS
- Firm: LatamLex Honduras
- Languages: Español, Ingles, Francés
STUDIES
Law Degree.Universidad Católica de Honduras.
PRACTICE AREAS
- ADMINISTRATIVE LAW
- ENVIRONMENTAL LAW
- CORPORATE LAW / MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS
- MERCANTILE LAW
PERFIL
Francisco advises national and international clients in administrative, corporate matters and contracts concerning distribution law. Additionally he advices several foreign reinsurance companies on regulatory aspects.
Member of the Honduran Bar Association (CAH).

Phone: (504) 2231-0323

Email: fpavon@latamlex.com

- JUAN GERARDO GUANDIQUE CHáVEZ
- Position: ASSOCIATE
- Country: EL SALVADOR
- Firm: LatamLex El Salvador
- Languages: Español, Ingles
STUDIES
- Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona / Universidad Dr. José Matías Delgado. Master of Business Law. 2013.
- INCAE and Georgetown Law Center. Postgraduate Degree in Legal Aspects of International Business. 2009.
- Universidad Dr. José Matías Delgado (El Salvador). Lawyer. 2003.
PRACTICE AREAS
- ADMINISTRATIVE LAW
- CONSTITUTIONAL LAW
- CORPORATE LAW / MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS
- COMPETITION AND CONSUMER PROTECTION LAW
- REAL ESTATE
- LABOR LAW
- MERCANTILE LAW
- LITIGATIONS AND ARBITRATIONS
PERFIL
Gerardo is an associate at Guandique Segovia Quintanilla, providing legal advice to national and international clients. He was designated by the law firm as an in house lawyer in the company AES as Analyst in regulatory and municipal matters, and attorney in Constitutional and administrative litigation matters.
He was Authorized as Notary by the Supreme Court since January 2007, and he is member of the Centro de Estudios Jurídicos ("CEJ") (Center for Legal Studies) since 2005.5.

Phone: (503) 2525-7800

Email: gguandique@latamlex.com
