Corporate VCPuts its own capital into companiesActive · deal in last 18 monthsLAST VERIFIED Oct 2026 · 21 SOURCES

Unigrains

Created and majority-owned by AGPB and AGPM (French wheat and maize growers’ associations)

Also known as UNIGRAINS, Unigrains SA, Unigrains Développement

Paris agrifood investor founded 1963, majority-owned by the French grain profession (AGPB, AGPM); invests €2M–€100M of equity and quasi-equity; €1.1bn equity, €1.3bn managed (end-2025).

HEADQUARTERS: Paris, France
FOUNDED: 1963
AUM: €1.3B (2025)
OUTSIDE CAPITAL: Yes
TEAM LISTED: 9 people

Focus

STAGES: GrowthBuyout
SECTORS: Food & Agriculture Industrial & Manufacturing
ASSET MIX: Private equityPrivate creditDirect investments
GEOGRAPHY: FranceItalySpainPortugalEurope

Investment arms & vehicles

Unigrains Développement
Wholly owned AMF-authorised management company (GP-16000003, since 3 February 2016) managing French and European third-party agrifood funds in co-investment with Unigrains; Milan branch since 2017
Unigrains Italia
Investment company for Italian agrifood SMEs and mid-caps (tickets €5M–€25M, own funds), created 2023
Unigrains Iberia
Investment company for Spanish and Portuguese agrifood SMEs and mid-caps (tickets €5M–€25M, own funds), created 2023
Messis Finance
M&A advisory firm specialised in agrifood and agro-industry (created 2007)

Overview

Unigrains is a long-term investor in agrifood and agro-industry companies, created in 1963 and majority-owned by the French grain profession (AGPB and AGPM), with major French banks (including Crédit Agricole, BNP Paribas and Société Générale) and agricultural cooperative organisations also in its capital. It invests mainly from its own funds, €2M to €100M per deal in equity and quasi-equity, to strengthen capital or reorganise shareholdings across the agri-agrifood value chain, with an exit horizon of five to eight years. At 31 December 2025 it reported €1.1bn of equity and €1.3bn under management, about 80 holdings and 10 to 20 deals (about €150M) a year. Its subsidiary Unigrains Développement manages third-party funds in co-investment with Unigrains, and Unigrains Italia and Unigrains Iberia invest in southern Europe.

Investment thesis

Sector investor across the agri-agrifood value chain (upstream supplies, first and second processing, distribution, and adjacent sectors such as logistics, equipment, packaging, green chemistry and bioethanol), backing companies of all sizes and cooperatives through minority or majority equity, convertible instruments, participating securities and subordinated debt.

PORTFOLIO (12)

SGTNOTABLE
Industrial & Manufacturing · since 2023
Unicoque
Food & Agriculture · since 2026
Groupe Richel
Food & Agriculture · since 2026
Haricaman
Food & Agriculture · since 2026
LIM Group
since 2025
L’Albero del Pane Tedesco
Food & Agriculture · since 2025
Staphyt
Food & Agriculture · since 2025
Maison Duprez
Food & Agriculture · since 2024
Groupe Savel
Food & Agriculture · since 2024
Groupe Beillevaire
Food & Agriculture · since 2024
Groupe Squiban
Food & Agriculture · since 2024
Sylvatek
Industrial & Manufacturing · since 2023

People

Eric Thirouin
Président Directeur Général · source
Luc Vermersch
Vice Président · source
Maxime Vandoni
Directeur Général Délégué · source
Sébastien Haselint
Directeur des Investissements · source
Natacha André
Secrétaire Générale · source
Kristell Guillou
Directrice Financière · source
Vincent Destieu
Directeur du Développement · source
Alvaro Hernandez
Directeur Général - Unigrains Iberia · source
Florence Alin
Directrice de Participations · source

Frequently asked questions

Unigrains is a corporate venture arm based in Paris, France, founded in 1963.

Yes. Unigrains invests its own capital in private companies.

Unigrains invests at Growth and Buyout stages in Food & Agriculture and Industrial & Manufacturing.

Unigrains's stated ticket size is €2M–€100M.

Key people at Unigrains include Eric Thirouin (Président Directeur Général), Luc Vermersch (Vice Président), Maxime Vandoni (Directeur Général Délégué) and Sébastien Haselint (Directeur des Investissements).

Unigrains's investments include SGT, Unicoque, Groupe Richel, Haricaman, LIM Group, L’Albero del Pane Tedesco, Staphyt and Maison Duprez, among others.

The most recent publicly reported investment by Unigrains is Unicoque (Participating securities (titres participatifs), fully subscribed), announced in Sep 2026.

Yes. Unigrains manages capital from outside investors.