From grain silos to €277 million war chest

A century of agricultural heritage meets modern finance

The story of FINANCIERE DU NOGENTAIS begins in 1900 when Pierre and Lucie Juchat established grain storage operations in Nogent-sur-Seine, laying the foundation for what would become the Soufflet agricultural empire. Through four generations, the family built a global agro-industrial powerhouse operating in 19 countries with 7,000 employees and annual revenues exceeding €5 billion. The company that would become FINANCIERE DU NOGENTAIS was officially established on June 3, 1986, as « SILOS SOUFFLET, » initially serving as a subsidiary to manage the group’s grain storage operations across Europe.

The pivotal moment arrived in December 2021 when Jean-Michel Soufflet, who had led the family business as CEO since 2001, orchestrated the sale of Soufflet Group to agricultural cooperative InVivo. The transaction, valued at €2.2 billion, created Europe’s second-largest agri-food group with 13,000 employees across 35 countries and combined revenues of €10 billion. French Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire praised the deal as « positive for France and French agriculture, » highlighting how it preserved national agricultural sovereignty while enabling international competitiveness.

This landmark transaction triggered a complete metamorphosis of FINANCIERE DU NOGENTAIS. In April 2025, the company received a massive capital injection of €271 million from the InVivo sale proceeds, bringing its total capital to €277.6 million. The transformation from operational agricultural holding to sophisticated family investment office was complete, with the company relocating its headquarters to 6 Rue Victor Hugo in Gouvieux, positioning itself within France’s financial ecosystem north of Paris.

The new investment philosophy takes shape

FINANCIERE DU NOGENTAIS has emerged from its transformation with a clearly defined investment philosophy that prioritizes long-term value creation over purely financial returns. The company’s approach reflects broader trends among European family offices increasingly focused on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria and stakeholder capitalism. « We look for entrepreneurs with strong potential who share our values, » the company states, emphasizing the importance of alignment between investor and investee.

The firm’s investment criteria explicitly include strong ESG commitments, clear strategic vision, and potential for positive societal impact. This patient capital approach leverages the family’s 125 years of business experience while addressing contemporary challenges like climate change and sustainable development. The company demonstrates a willingness to pay premium prices for quality sustainable assets, as evidenced by its first major post-transformation investment.

Operating with a lean structure of just 3-5 employees, FINANCIERE DU NOGENTAIS exemplifies the modern family office model—nimble, focused, and professionally managed while maintaining the founding family’s values and long-term perspective. This efficiency allows the company to deploy substantial capital while maintaining low operational overhead, maximizing resources available for investment activities.

Leadership combining tradition with innovation

At the helm of this transformation stands Jean-Michel Soufflet, 67, who brings over four decades of business experience to his role as President. Having joined the family business in 1981 and served as CEO of Soufflet Group from 2001 to 2021, he oversaw more than 30 acquisitions that expanded the company’s global footprint. His leadership style, described by colleagues as combining « strategic patience with collaborative decision-making, » reflects the balance between preserving family values and embracing strategic innovation.

Soufflet’s contributions to French business were formally recognized when he received the Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur on January 19, 2016, for « 33 years of services » at the request of then-Economy Minister Emmanuel Macron. The ceremony, held at Pavillons des Etangs in Paris with over 300 attendees, saw Michel Pébereau, President of Honor of BNP Paribas, serve as his sponsor. « My father and I often made our biggest decisions around the traditional Sunday morning aperitif, » Soufflet once noted, illustrating how family traditions inform business strategy.

Supporting Soufflet is Benjamin Czapla, who serves as Secretary General after spending nearly 12 years within the Soufflet Group. A graduate in taxation from Paris Dauphine-PSL University and ESSEC Business School, Czapla joined FINANCIERE DU NOGENTAIS in February 2022, bringing fiscal expertise crucial for the company’s new investment focus. He also represents the company on the board of REALITES, demonstrating the active governance approach the firm takes with portfolio companies.

The company maintains rigorous financial oversight through dual statutory auditors: FORVIS MAZARS SA, part of the international Forvis Mazars network formed in June 2024, and AVVENS AUDIT, affiliated with the Crowe network. This robust governance structure ensures compliance with French corporate law while managing hundreds of millions in assets.

Strategic investments signal sustainable focus

FINANCIERE DU NOGENTAIS made its intentions clear with its first major investment post-transformation: a €30 million stake in REALITES in July 2022. The investment, made at €45 per share—a 30% premium to market price—demonstrated the company’s conviction in quality sustainable assets and willingness to pay for strategic value. REALITES, a territorial development group focused on sustainable real estate projects, attracted the investment through its « Ambitions 2025 » plan targeting €800 million in revenue with an 8% operating margin and commitment to carbon neutrality by 2025.

The transaction saw FINANCIERE DU NOGENTAIS subscribe to 777,778 new shares as part of a €35 million capital increase, with the remaining €5 million coming from REALITES management. Beyond the financial investment, the company secured board representation through Pascal Maire, ensuring active participation in governance and strategic direction. This approach reflects the firm’s philosophy of being an engaged, value-adding investor rather than a passive capital provider.

REALITES exemplifies the type of company FINANCIERE DU NOGENTAIS seeks: businesses with strong ESG credentials, clear strategic vision, and potential for positive societal impact. As France’s first carbon-neutral real estate developer with « entreprise à mission » status, REALITES aligns perfectly with the investment philosophy. The company’s international expansion, including projects in Senegal, demonstrates the global perspective FINANCIERE DU NOGENTAIS brings to sustainable development.

Positioning within France’s investment landscape

Within France’s family investment ecosystem, FINANCIERE DU NOGENTAIS occupies a unique position. Unlike tech-focused family offices such as Agache Ventures or Motier Ventures, the company leverages its agricultural heritage to focus on sustainable development and environmental transition. Compared to established giants like Financière Agache (Bernard Arnault) or Téthys Invest (Bettencourt family), FINANCIERE DU NOGENTAIS represents the « new generation » of values-driven family offices.

The company’s €277.6 million capital base places it among France’s top-tier family investment vehicles by size, while its sectoral expertise in agriculture and sustainability provides a competitive advantage. This positioning is particularly relevant as 47% of French single family offices now invest in venture capital, with increasing focus on impact investing and sustainable development.

Historical innovation leadership strengthens this market position. Between 2008 and 2016, the Soufflet Group led the €77 million OSIRIS biotechnology initiative, developing precision farming and biocontrol solutions in partnership with Laboratory of Biochemistry at ESPCI-ParisTech. This experience in agricultural biotechnology, including pioneering drop-based microfluidic platforms for high-throughput screening, provides valuable expertise for evaluating emerging sustainable technologies.

Looking ahead with patient capital

The transformation of FINANCIERE DU NOGENTAIS from industrial holding to investment vehicle demonstrates successful adaptation to 21st-century investment themes while maintaining core values. With substantial capital deployment capacity and a clear strategic focus on sustainable development, the company is well-positioned to play a significant role in financing France’s ecological and digital transitions.

Future investment areas likely include clean technology leveraging agricultural expertise, sustainable agriculture innovations building on OSIRIS program knowledge, and digital transformation businesses with positive environmental impact. The company’s patient capital approach, enabling longer-term investments with extended payback periods, creates competitive advantages in pursuing transformative projects that traditional investors might overlook.

The firm’s multi-generational perspective—combining a century of agricultural experience with forward-thinking investment philosophy—positions it uniquely to support entrepreneurs addressing critical societal challenges. As European regulations increasingly favor sustainable business practices and investors demand greater ESG accountability, FINANCIERE DU NOGENTAIS’s approach appears prescient.