Paris, March 1, 2017 – TWINL, specializing in Acquisitions, Fundraising, and Corporate Divestitures, announces the sale of Groupe Clair de Lorraine to Vegafruits, the world leader in mirabelle plum trading, a cooperative based in Meurthe-et-Moselle (54).
Mandated by Mr Vincent Ferry, emblematic entrepreneur of Lorraine for more than 20 years and sole shareholder of the company Clair de Lorraine, Twinl has just concluded the sale of its company to Végafuits, with the support of the regional investment fund ILP and Unigrains, the food and agribusiness specialist. This operation strengthens the structuring of the mirabelle sector in Lorraine and strengthens its anchorage in the territory.
Located near Nancy, Clair de Lorraine (12 M€ turnover) is known for its flagship product, Perlé, this aperitif also Lorraine sparkling dessert wine (12°) that it has been producing for more than 20 years. Clair de Lorraine also distributes other regional gastronomic specialties via a network of 14 own shops «En passant par la Lorraine» or «En passant par l’Alsace» as well as in supermarkets and via its e-commerce platform.
In the heart of Lorraine, Vegafruits is the specialist of Lorraine fruits and brings together nearly 200 producers on 1,000 hectares of orchards. In 2016, Vegafruits processed nearly 7,000 tonnes, including 5,400 mirabelle plums. With 40% market share, the group is the leader in mirabelle plum production. With this position, Vegafruits has developed partnerships with many manufacturers and has multiplied innovations. Its activity is divided 50/50 between fresh and processed fruits.
Vincent Ferry, Founder of Clair de Lorraine, says: «After 21 years at the helm of the company, my priority was to pass on the relay to a team whose philosophy is very close to ours. With Vegafruits, two Lorraine-based companies are joining forces to develop our territory.”
Bruno Colin, Chief Executive Officer of Vegafruits, added, “We are merging the DNA of two healthy regional companies into a cohesive family. We are looking to the future because we believe in local commerce, a business that offers transparency, local products whose quality and origin we know, which pass directly from the producer to the consumer.”
In practice, Vegafruits acquires 100% of the capital of Clair de Lorraine which remains an autonomous structure and will continue to develop, in collaboration with its new shareholder; It is therefore a new page full of promises that opens for Clair de Lorraine and its teams.
L’équipe TWINL a assuré la gestion globale du processus de cession : approche des acteurs du marché en France, discussions et négociation des accords avec le Groupe sélectionné jusqu’au closing, le 1er Mars 2017.
«Une équipe performante, organisée, rigoureuse, toujours au service de son client et de l’acquéreur. J’ai pris beaucoup de plaisir à vivre cette aventure riche en émotions avec TWINL »
Vincent Ferry
Conseils Cédant :
- Opération : TWINL – Frank LOUBARESSE, Laurent LOUBARESSE (www.twinl.com)
- Avocat : ACD – Philippe SESTER (www.acd.fr)
Conseils Acquéreur :
- Opération : SODICA – Philippe AZEVEDO, Simon DUPREZ (www.ca-sodica.com)
- Avocat : G&A – Philippe CHOQUET (www.gegout-associes.fr)
- Due Diligence Financière : PWC – Jean-Luc Cacciatore, Sylvain Mayeur (www.pwc.fr)
Plus d’informations :
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