Sellers: Maison Boinaud - Cognac
Sector: production of oak extracts

Wine Experts has been assigned to deliver a valuation of the company and to analyse the competitive standing of the company and its potential in the Wine & Spirits industry

 
Biossent is a subsidiary of Maison Boinaud, a family group established in the 17th century, in the heart of the Cognac Grande Champagne region.
Biossent produces oak extracts for Wines & Spirits in France and internationally and offers a replacement solution for barrels, allowing a reduction in investment costs and aging time.
Biossent distributes its products under two main brands:
- Boisé Selection for spirits and in particular Cognacs
- Oenotan for wines

In the context of the sale of the company, Wine Experts has been assigned by a prospective buyer to deliver a valuation of the company and an expertise of the potential of the company.

TFF Group finally announced the acquisition of Biossent in september 2023. 

Sellers: Jean et Martine Donnay  
Buyer: Chivas Brothers Limited (Scotland), subsidiary of the Pernod Ricard Group (France)

Wine Experts acting as financial advisor to the sellers, in relation to the transaction

Following the sale of their historic Glann ar Mor Distillery in Brittany, advised by Wine Experts in 2020, Jean and Martine Donnay wanted to restart their project of creating a new Distillery in Scotland, on the island of Islay, the Mecca for great Scottish peated single malts, which brings together the renowned Distilleries Lagavalin, Ardbeg, Laphroaig, Bruichladdich, Port Charlotte, Caol Ila, Bowmore and Port Ellen…

An exceptional site on Islay was selected with care by Jean and Martine Donnay, at an historic place called Gartbreck, located on the banks of Loch Indall, opposite of the Bruichladdish and Port Charlotte Distilleries. Then they obtained authorization to set up a new Distillery on this privileged site.

The site and this ambitious project are transferred to Chivas Bothers, the Scottish subsidiary of the Pernod Ricard group.

Concerning Jean Donnay:
Jean Donnay was elected "Whisky Distillery Manager of the year" in 2014.
His Kornog peated Whisky was awarded “European Whisky of the Year” in 2016 in the Whisky Bible and was selected in 2018 in the top 10 of the best peated Whiskies on the planet by the American magazine “Whisky Advocate”.
In 15 years, Kornog has won numerous Gold Liquid Awards and has thus entered the Jim Murray's "Superstar Whisky" category (score > 94/100).
His Glann ar Mor non peated Whisky was also elected n°1 of the non-peated French Whiskies, by the Revue des Vins de France (RVF).

Concerning Chivas Brothers:
Chivas Brothers is the subsidiary of the Pernod Ricard Group, dedicated to Scottish Whiskys. Chivas Brothers holds a portfolio of internationally recognized malts and blends, including The Glenlivet, Royal Salute, Chivas Regal and Ballantine’s and is therefore investing in its first distillery on the island of Islay.

Sellers: De Wulf family
Buyer: Moët Hennessy - LVMH Group, through Château d'Esclans

Wine Experts acting as exclusive financial advisor for the sellers, in relation to the transaction

Domaine du Jas d'Esclans, a 65 ha property belonging to the De Wulf family since 2002, is a gem of the Provencal vineyard, recognized as a Cru Classé during the 1955 Provence classification, a very closed circle of only 18 Crus in the Côtes de Provence Appellation of Origin (AOP).

This wine estate is located in the municipality of La Motte, at the foot of the Estérel massif and in the heart of the famous Esclans valley, with a 180 degree view of the Gorges de Pennafort up to the rock of Roquebrune.

Benefiting from a vineyard of ~50 hectares, on clayey-sandstone Permian soils, high level terroirs, Domaine du Jas d'Esclans is the precursor of organic farming in Provence, with a bio certification (AB) obtained from the first ECOCERT certifications in 1990.

The Estate also operates the Château de Vaucouleurs, a ~45 ha property including ~25 ha of vineyard, in the municipality of Puget-sur-Argens, also managed in organic farming.

The two properties constitute a land base of ~110 ha including ~75 ha of vineyard.

Comments from the sellers, Matthieu & Gwenaëlle De Wulf :

« Dear Frederic,
thank you for your expertise and all of your work during the sale process of our Wine Estates in Provence.
Indeed, without you, this complicated transaction could have gone wrong. You were able to understand all our problems and greatly contributed to the successful conclusion of the transaction.
Congratulations for this sucess without any fail.
Sincerely »

Sellers: Anney family (FR)
Buyer: Mr Eddie O’Connor (Supernode - IRL)

Wine Experts acting as exclusive financial advisor for the sellers, in relation to the transaction

Château Tour des Termes is distinguished by its centuries-old family history which makes it unique in Saint-Estèphe. Since 1678, several generations of the Anney family have succeeded in creating, expanding and enhancing this property in the prestigious Saint-Estèphe appellation of Origin (AOP).

The name "Tour des Termes" comes from an old feudal tower that still exists today, located on the plot called "The Termes" and which would be part of an old Gallo-Roman site.

Christophe Anney and his daughter Aurélie have perpetuated the family tradition, set up a management of the vineyard more respectful of the environment (certified TERRA-VITIS and HVE3), and produced fine and elegant wines. Château Tour des Termes is now positioned as a reference of the Saint-Estèphe appellation, with high recognition of its wines (rated 90-94/100) and as a Cru Bourgeois Supérieur since the 2020 classification.

Surface of the vineyard in AOP Saint-Estèphe: ~ 26 ha
Surface of ​​the vineyard in AOP Haut-Médoc: ~9 ha

Comments from Mr. Christophe Anney, seller: "A huge thank you Frédéric for your sense of listening and analysis in supporting this project. We have highly appreciated your professionalism, your enthusiasm, the quality of your network, your efficiency, all carried out with dynamism. Thank you again Frédéric and I hope we can stay in touch."

Comments from Ms. Nathalie Du Verdier, seller: “Thank you for your efficiency and professionalism. You allowed us to finalize this beautiful project. Best wishes. »

Sellers: Brana family
Buyer: ENOWE via ENOWE EXCELLENCE (chaired by Mr. Hugues Souparis, former SURYS CEO)

Wine Experts acting as financial advisor for the buyer, in relation to the transaction

Maison Brana is the historical nugget of the Wines & Spirits sector of the Pays Basque Region.
This House of Excellence develops its know-how around 3 complementary activities:

- the wine trade, as a Negociant company, for more than a century in the Pays Basque Region

- the Distillery since 1974, whose the « Poire Brana » is probably one of the finest eaux-de-vie made in France. Maison Brana also produces Plum, Raspberry, Marc, Clementine and Corsican Citron eaux-de-vie, liqueurs, Gins with Espelette pepper and lemon, and Whiskies. In 2018, a new distillery was installed in the village of Ossès, equipped with three copper stills and respecting the most recent standards. With this distillery, Maison Brana has a production capacity that will allow a strong development of this activity.

- wine production since the plantation in 1985 of Domaine Brana in Ispoure, an exceptional vineyard which is organized in narrow terraces on the steep slopes of Mount Arradoy, located between 200 and 400 m above sea level. Cultivated at the gates of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques, the ~20 ha of Domaine Brana belong to the Irouleguy AOP, the only Appellation of Origin in the Pays Basque Region, recognized as one of the smallest mountain vineyard grouping together 255 hectares of vines. This Appellation is one of the most confidential in France. The specific terroirs, made up of iron-rich Triassic sandstone and the South / South-West exposure, give the vineyard a particular identity which is perfectly reflected in the expression of elegant and mineral wines.

ENOWE, whose vocation is to support entrepreneurs who share the same ambitions and values, is thus committed to the Brana family and teams. By joining the ENOWE Excellence Group, Maison Brana will benefit from a committed and sustainable family shareholding, and will be able to rely on the operational experience of the ENOWE teams in order to sustain, structure and accelerate its growth. The ambition is to consolidate the strengths of the House, and, in accordance with its fundamental values, to provide it with the necessary resources to accelerate national and international development to carry high and far the values ​​of Maison Brana.

Comments from Grégory Wagemans, Managing Director of ENOWE :
" A big thank you for your contribution to the realization of this great operation. Your sector knowledge allowed us to secure the legal structuring of the deal, while the regulatory environment was particularly changing. Your technical expertise, combined with very good interpersonal skills, made it possible to establish a relationship of trust with all the stakeholders, which was very useful in a context of a family transmission. "