SGT, a French designer and manufacturer of PET preforms and HDPE caps, is welcoming UNIGRAINS, BPIFRANCE and BNP PARIBAS DEVELOPPEMENT on board as minority shareholders, as part of a process intermediated by ADVISO PARTNERS. The aim of the transaction is to support the family in transferring its business to the next generation, to accelerate the company's development and strengthen its role as a player in the circular economy by increasing its recycled PET production capacity.
Founded in 1981 in Rezé and headed by Frédéric MIGNOT, CEO and son and nephew of the founders, the SGT group is a major player in virgin and recycled PET packaging for liquid-food products (water, sodas, dairy products and juices, oils, wines, etc.) and non-food liquids (cleaning products). With turnover of nearly €400 million and 500 employees working across five FSSC 22000-certified sites, the Group produces more than 7 billion preforms per year.
As part of its environmentally-friendly approach, in 2019 SGT opened a recycling site in Chalon-sur-Saône to convert flakes from PET bottles into food-grade recycled PET pellets. Creating this new production line through organic growth enabled the Group to fully commit to the circular economy while controlling production quality and costs. A leader in Algeria, where it has been established since 2001, SGT meets specific needs in terms of food security and water access.
The transaction supports the transfer of the family-owned business and enables the company to benefit from the input and expertise of three recognised investors with complementary know-how.
SGT’s development projects will strengthen its positioning and environmental commitment:
“It is a great source of satisfaction for the whole SGT Group to welcome on board partners of this calibre. Together, we will be able to pool our experience and expertise to write a new chapter in our history. This will enable us to fully engage in meeting our societal commitments and all the challenges of a rapidly changing market. We are guided in our actions only by the desire to satisfy our employees, our customers and all our partners”. - Frédéric MIGNOT, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of SGT.
“We are investing in SGT, alongside Bpifrance and BNP Paribas Développement, because we are convinced that the company plays an essential role and adds value in the sector. SGT has a long history and is very close to its bottler customers. SGT was also one of the first players to steer its industry's transition towards recycling and the circular economy. For UNIGRAINS, a sector investor, this positive contribution is essential to promote the transformation of our food systems.” - Nicolas MULLE, Chief Investment Officer at UNIGRAINS.
“Supporting a family business in bringing in shareholders for the first-time is central to Bpifrance’s mission. We are particularly proud to support SGT in its pivotal role in steering its sector's transition to the circular economy. We are also convinced that its leadership, its recognised technical expertise and its bold industrial strategy ensure sustainable development prospects, both in France and internationally.” - Benoist DE SAINT LAGER, Senior Investment Director at BPIFRANCE.
“We are very pleased to support the MIGNOT family in this formative business transfer and to take part, alongside Frédéric, in implementing his strategic plan, building on the Group's values of commitment, rigour and innovation.” - Julien MARRONNIER, Investment Director at BNP PARIBAS DEVELOPPEMENT.
“We are pleased to have supported SGT’s founding family in this important stage in the Group’s history. For more than 20 years, Frederic MIGNOT has successfully positioned the company as it navigated key challenges, such as international expansion and the transition to a circular model with the creation of a recycled PET production unit at its Chalon-sur-Saône site. On the strength of its core values - commitment, rigour and innovation - the SGT Group has solid assets with which to continue on its wonderful journey of growth, supported by new sector, strategic and regional partners.” - Guillaume DARY, Partner in charge of the Grand Ouest region at ADVISO PARTNERS.