Indian-based United Spirits, controlled
by Diageo, recently put its non-core businesses, including Bouvet Ladubay, up
for sale. In early November the sale was announced though the purchaser was not
revealed at the time. On 18th November a management buyout deal was
finalised to put the Monmousseau family are now back in control of Bouvet-Ladubay
41-years after it was bought by Taittinger.
Under the deal the
family hold 100% of the shares. In order to finance the purchase, the
Monmousseau family created an acquisition holding in conjunction with three
private equity firms - Ouest Croissance, regional investor and leader of the
operation; CM CIC Investments; and Unigrains – together with a consortium of
banking institutions headed by Banque Populaire Atlantique, and including the
Banque CIC Ouest, the Banque Européenne du Credit Mutuel, and the Banque Caisse
d'Epargne Bretagne Pays de la Loire. With a majority of partners based
in the Loire region, this deal marks the return to regional based financing for
the company
Bouvet-Ladubay has changed hands a number of times since it was
founded in 1851 by Etienne Bouvet and his wife – Célestine
Ladubay. In 1932 it was bought by Justin-Marcel
Monmousseau, Patrice's grandfather. In 1974 Taittinger bought Bouvet along the
Monmousseau sparkling wine business in Montrichard in Touraine. In 2006
Taittinger sold to Indian-based United Breweries/United Spirits. This allowed Bouvet to launch
in the Indian market.
However, United Breweries, owner of Kingfisher beer, ran into problems with their Kingfisher Airline. During 2013 Diageo became the largest shareholder in United Spirits.
The Monmousseau family, however,
continued to run the company. Patrice has been the in charge since taking over
from his father, Jean, in 1972. The dynamic, ebullient, trumpet-playing Patrice
Monmousseau will remain president and Juliette, his daughter, continues as CEO.
Bouvet-Ladubay is based in Saint-Hilaire-Saint-Florent,
a western suburb of Saumur. In 2008 they have invested in a new vinification
and cellaring facility at nearby Distré called Bouvet Full Metal .
Cuvée Trésor, white and rosé, are
Bouvet's top sparkling wines. The company has long been a patron of the arts.
Since 1996 they have hosted the Journées du Livres et du Vin, celebrating
literature and wine.
In 1994 Monmousseau (Montrichard) was sold by Taittinger to the Bernard-Massard, who in turn sold the company to pan-Loire company Ackerman in 2010.
In Bouvet's historic cellars
The Monmousseaus love to hold
elaborate parties for their distributors
