The Sabaté Diosos Group, a leading provider of products and services for the wine market, has said that it will reinforce its activities in Australasia through the acquisition of the Australian cooperage Schahinger, in South Australia.
The takeover of the group will be staged, with an initial holding of 33 per cent, moving to 66 per cent on 30 January 2004 and 100 per cent on 31 January 2005.
Schahinger sold more than 8500 barrels in its financial year 2001/2002 with a turnover of A$7.2 million (€4m) and represents an opportunity for Sabaté Diosos to develop its commercial and industrial presence in the Australian market through a well known local brand.
According to Sabaté, the Schahinger brand has the strong backing of an experienced management team and has a strong history of expertise with American oak barrels.
"With the added strength of Sabaté Diosos' American stave mill in Bloomfield, Iowa, and the skills of the groups cooperages, Schahinger, through its own development, will help increase the market share of the group in Australasia, a strategic production region in the current development of the world wine market. The Schahinger installations will also represent a synergic basis for the whole range of Sabate Diosis activities (chips, staves, closures) in this high potential region," a Sabaté spokesperson said.
Through the acquisition Sabaté is aiming to pursue its ambition as world leader of value added products and services for the world wine market. The move also confirms the company's strategy of developing its global offer to the wine sector, based on the control of raw materials and production methods as well as geographical proximity.
France-based Sabaté Diosis is a world leading supplier of corks and barrels to the wine industry. In 2001 it supplied 203,000 oak barrels and is currently the world's number two supplier for wine closures.