Campari Group enters into exclusive negotiations for the acquisition of Champagne Lallier
Milan, April 17th, 2020 - Davide Campari-Milano S.p.A. announced today that it has entered into exclusive negotiations with the privately owned French company SARL FICOMA, family holding of Mr Francis Tribaut, (the ‘Seller’) for acquiring an 80% interest, with a medium-term route to total ownership, in the share capital of SARL Champagne Lallier and other group companies (jointly as the ‘Company’). A put option is granted to the Seller thereto in such context, whilst the transaction is subject to the completion of French labour law processes.
The Company is the owner of the Champagne brand ‘Lallier’, which was founded in 1906 in Aÿ, one of the few villages classified as ‘Grand Cru’ in Champagne, a clear indication of the product’s quality. The Company sold approximately 1 million Champagne bottles in 2019, including close to 700,000 bottles of Lallier.
The projected transaction scope includes the brands, related stocks, real estate assets including owned and operated vineyards, and production facilities.
With this contemplated acquisition, which would mark the entry of the first Italian player in the Champagne category, Campari Group will add a premium and historical champagne brand, Lallier, mainly sold in selected on-trade outlets and bottle shops, further extending its range of premium offerings to this key channel for brand building. Moreover, Campari Group will build further critical mass in the strategic French market where the Group recently started to sell through its own in-market company.
Upon the hopefully positive conclusion of the negotiations, Campari Group will communicate thereupon and provide the key financial terms of the transaction.