Maison Pommery & Associés has announced a raft of potential sell-offs and a major overhaul of the company’s financing arrangements after the ending of takeover talks with Henkell Freixenet.
The conclusion of the pair’s discussions, revealed yesterday, leaves Maison Pommery & Associés free to announce deleveraging plans valued at EUR200m (US$231m). These include the disposal of assets in the South of France and inventory reductions, and a revamp of the Pommery brand owner’s finances as the 2026 champagne harvest approaches.
The company said: “Maison Pommery & Associés confirms that advanced discussions are under way with several parties regarding the disposal of various non-strategic assets in the Camargue region.” The objective, it added, was to sell off assets, particularly in Southern Europe, for about EUR100m (U$115m).
From 2027 to 2030, the Champagne-led wine group plans to reduce its inventories by EUR25m ($29m) a year, totalling a further EUR100m, with the first cuts beginning in December this year.
Maison Pommery & Associés’ refinancing plans include the provision of an extra EUR42.8m ($49.4m) from early September, and the extension of terms with its lenders until June 2027, with a possible extension to June 2028, as well as a repayment holiday.
Hailed as “an important milestone in the stabilisation of the group’s financial structure”, the deal provides Maison Pommery with the necessary finances for the 2026 champagne harvest, which could begin as early as next week.
Maison Pommery & Associés, which operates in Champagne, Provence, the Camargue and Portugal’s Douro Valley, began its disposal programme with the sell-off of Heidsieck & Co Monopole to champagne rival Lanson-BCC in January.
Regarding a deal with Henkell Freixenet, Maison Pommery & Associés reiterated the Mionetto and Schloss Johannisberg brand owner’s statement, made yesterday, that exclusive discussions between the pair “have come to a preliminary end and have not resulted in an agreement at this stage”.
The negotiations, which began on 2 June, could have led to Henkell Freixenet becoming a majority shareholder in Maison Pommery & Associés. Both companies say they “remain open to the possibility” of further talks.
