UHY GLOBAL AUGUST 2020 CLIENT STORY MEXICAN WAVES


Olmix is a business that might just change the world The company develops solutions for more natural, sustainable plant, animal and human nutrition and health. Its ‘blue biotech’ focus on the complete food chain – from sea to plate –might sound ambitious, but the science behind the soundbites makes sense. So does the company’s decision to appoint UHY member firms to help its expansion into South America. Olmixmarine solutions are based on macroalgae, a varied source of nutrients and bioactive compounds. Macroalgae offers a range of innovative ways to reduce the need for pesticides in plants, antibiotics in animal feed and chemical additives in human food and healthcare. LOCAL KNOWLEDGE ESSENTIAL The Olmix Group is based in Brittany, France, but has now expanded into 28 locations, including the Americas. The group has a turnover of around USD 200 million and over 900 employees. It opened its Mexico subsidiary – OlmixMex – in 2014. CHALLENGES Olmix faced the same challenges all businesses encounter when seeking rapid international expansion. Each new location demands local knowledge. As a French company, Olmix needed local partners to steer the business through the intricacies of national and regional regulation, especially as it moved beyond the familiar tax, accounting and legal regimes of the European Union. “Our group strategy is to use local specialists in every country we are active in – partners with knowledge of local legislation, accounting and politics,” says Robert Bandner, regional manager for the Americas at Olmix Group. “We made a strategic decision long ago not to use the Big Four.” MEXICO As Robert implies, the role of an accounting firm, in this scenario, is about more than tax and audit. Olmix operates in a heavily regulated sector. When the group prepared to open a Mexican subsidiary in 2014, it looked for professional services providers that also offered a wider advisory function. Olmixmet with three local accountancy firms, and as a result UHY Glassman Esquivel y Cía, UHY’s Mexican member firm, was awarded the task of helping Olmix develop a successful presence in the country. Six years later, the UHY member firm – and specifically UHY’s José Carlos Villegas and his team in Mexico City – is still Olmix’s preferred accountancy partner. RANGE OF SERVICES The team provides Olmix with accounting, tax, payroll, and invoicing services. Additionally, UHY Glassman Esquivel y Cía provides legal support and business advisory services, and prepares price transfer studies. “We chose UHY Glassman Esquivel y Cía because they gave us the complete set of services we needed,” says Robert. “We were also attracted by reasonable pricing and trustworthy people.” Since OlmixMex was created six years ago, the company has significantly expanded its activities in the country. Robert believes the partnership between OlmixMex and UHY Glassman Esquivel y Cía has been key to that success. “We have achieved our strategy in Mexico thanks to the support of UHY Glassman Esquivel y Cía,” he says. “We rely on the cooperation and vigilance of the people at UHY to give us the service we need.” PERU CONNECTION The partnership between OlmixMex and UHY Glassman Esquivel y Cía has been so rewarding that, when Olmixwas considering opening a subsidiary in Peru, it asked José Carlos Villegas for a recommendation. He had no hesitation in reaching out to UHY Blancas Sandoval & Asociados, UHY’s member firm in Lima. Olmix has now created a Peruvian subsidiary with the help of Carlos Sandoval at UHY Blancas Sandoval & Asociados. What is more, the company is considering opening further import and sales offices in Central and South America. José would not hesitate to recommend other member firms of the UHY global network in future, as OlmixMex continues to be delighted with the service it receives. “The quality service we get from UHY goes beyond a simple accounting service,” says Robert. “We have a special relationship and we trust them to make sure Olmix can keep developing in the right way.” For further information, please contact José Carlos Villegas, partner, UHY Glassman Esquivel y Cía, Mexico: jcv@uhy-mx.com THE FUTURE IS ALGAE According to trade specialists Algae Industry Magazine, these mostly-aquatic photosynthetic organisms can provide globally sustainable food and fuel and a host of other benefits too. Seaweed has been gathered from shorelines since the dawn of mankind, consumed for health-enhancing nutrients. Considering that algae are reckoned to be 20 times more productive than terrestrial biomass crops, it is easy to see what the excitement is all about. Companies like The Olmix Group are at the leading edge of research and development into practical algal-based solutions to replace the harmful pesticides and other chemicals in the provision of nutrition, hygiene and health products for plants, animals and humans. Olmix has produced an English language video explaining their work, which is available to view here, on YouTube. UHY IN THE BIOSCIENCE SECTOR Experts across the UHY network have extensive experience in offering tailored services to the biosciences sector, from local firms or startups, to multinationals.


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