Clearwater has advised Initiative & Finance, a major player in private equity in France, on the sale of Groupe Occipain (La Panetière), to Arterris, UI Investissement, and Crédit Mutuel Equity.
Founded in 1936 in Aveyron, France, Occipain, is a manufacturer and distributor of frozen raw bakery and viennoiserie products, boasting over 200 references. The group is integrated through a strong regional presence, with a network of 208 points of sale, including 124 wholly owned outlets and 84 under brand license, along with 68 stands in markets and fairs. Its brands, La Panetière and Secrets de Pain, are spread across the Occitanie and Nouvelle Aquitaine regions and supplied by a logistics centre in Montauban.
To accelerate its growth and geographical footprint, Occipain has been supported since 2016 by Initiative & Finance as a majority shareholder alongside Guillaume Moly, Chairman and CEO. With 690 employees, Groupe Occipain achieved €61m in sales in 2023.
Arterris and Guillaume Moly now own approximately 75% of the group, with UI Investissement and Crédit Mutuel Equity supporting the transaction by acquiring the remaining approximately 25%.
