Thomas Brette has taken over ownership of the French based Black Pepper Yachts shipyard.
The yard was founded by Michel Douville de Franssu in 2007 and is known for building high-end, customised boats from 8m to 25m, both monohulls and catamarans.
The transition is said to mark a pivotal moment for the company, which has technical expertise, sophisticated design, performance, and intelligent customisation as its core values.
The shipyard has several dozen boats in the water, and works with a network of partners including North Sails, Multiplast, Harken, Karver, Lorima and Facnor, and is recognised both in France and internationally.
My ambition is to further enhance the prestige of this gem of French boating.
Thomas Brette
“For me, Black Pepper Yachts is a multifaceted diamond. It’s a precious legacy and a source of inspiration and passion,” said Thomas.
“My ambition is to further enhance the prestige of this gem of French boating by leveraging my industrial experience and empowering the teams to grow, while continuing our collaboration with the best players in the sector.”
Thomas, who is a former managing director of the BIC Group where he worked for 25 years and remains a shareholder, continued: “We will capitalise on the brand’s strengths while structuring and diversifying our offerings.”
And he said he is committed to ensuring continuity and maintaining the quality of current programmes with delivery on time of the units currently in production.
Innovation and performance
He also outlined his plans for the future of the shipyard.
“By strengthening the shipyard’s structure and attractiveness, I want to welcome new talent and renowned naval architects.
“I also intend to diversify and develop the range of one-off catamarans and monohulls without losing the high-end DNA of innovation and performance that has become Black Pepper’s hallmark. This is a team effort.”
And Thomas said that by listening to his employees and clients, he will continue to make Black Pepper Yachts a success.
High-performance, customised boats
“My goal is simple: for Black Pepper Yachts to remain the benchmark for exceptional, high-performance, customised boats in France and to develop a new dynamic. I will guarantee this,” he said.
“I am proud to be surrounded in this adventure by several private investors, including Mer Invest, Pays de la Loire Participations, and BPI.”
Michel Douville de Franssu, shipyard founder, remains a shareholder and will continue to work alongside the teams, owners, and partners to support the ownership transition.
New phase of development
“I am convinced that the time has come for this brand, which I dreamed of and shaped over time with the help of my loyal friends and colleagues, to fly on its own and continue to grow,” he said.
“I am certain that Thomas will be a successor capable of leading Black Pepper into its new phase of development.”
Mer Invest is a subsidiary of Banque Populaire Grand Ouest and its Crédit Maritime brand.
Mer Invest supports maritime and coastal activities in the western regions of France by investing in shares and bonds. The company’s €15 million fund is invested as a minority shareholder in the capital of companies in the seed, growth, and succession phases.
