A great article about a Quatuor transfer featured on the web-agri media site!
Cyril Gaudry and Mathilde Petit had a plan: to settle on a farm that suited them. Meanwhile, Michel Ménard and Gérard Baranger, dairy farmers in Mauges-sur-Loire (49), wanted to hand over the reins to younger people. The two parties were brought together by Quatuor Transactions. Specialising in agricultural transfers, the firm provided support throughout every stage of the sale, right up to the young couple’s move in.
Before retiring, what farmer doesn’t want to pass on their business? Generational renewal is a crucial issue in the agricultural world. But finding a buyer, dealing with the legal complexities and getting good advice is no easy task. For prospective buyers, the challenge is also considerable: access to land, financing, time to spend looking for a farm… The path to setting up a farm is rarely smooth sailing. In this context, agencies specialising in farm transfers play a role in bringing the two parties together and supporting them.
A transfer supported by Quatuor Transactions
Michel Ménard and Gérard Baranger, partners in the Mottay dairy farm in Maine-et-Loire, entrusted their transfer project to Quatuor Transactions. “We wanted to pass it on to young people with a real project, and above all we didn’t want the farm to be split up to make other farms nearby bigger,” they explain. Advised by Nicolas Le Labourier, a negotiator at the firm, the two farmers included additional land and residential buildings in the offer. Initially focused on a milk production takeover, they also agreed to broaden the scope of possibilities by considering other types of production. This positioning made it easier to get in touch with Cyril Gaudry and Mathilde Petit, who were working on a project focused on raising Black Angus cows.
Tailor-made support at every stage
“We had identified several farms on the Quatuor site,” says the young couple. “Their team then helped us target the structures that really suited our project. Even though it was a dairy farm, Le Mottay was one of them. With a few adjustments, we were able to settle in and start our business right away.” Their search began in the midst of the health crisis, and remotely. These constraints did not discourage Nicolas Le Labourier, who was in charge of the project. “He supported us every step of the way, even when we had doubts. Several banks had refused to finance us, but he encouraged us to contact one last one, and this time we were successful.”
From initial contact to the notary’s review
In addition to putting the parties in contact, Quatuor Transactions also took care of the administrative procedures and the steps to secure the transaction. Both the sellers and the buyers received comprehensive support, right up to the signing at the notary’s office. “Quatuor managed the entire process, from the initial contact to the follow-up after the move. They provide guidance, they connect people, they secure the deal. And above all, they really know the agricultural sector,” confirm those involved. “What sets us apart is that we are not a real estate agency that has decided to get in volved in agricultural transactions just for the sake of it,” says Nicolas Le Labourier. “We all have a background in agriculture or related fields and have solid expertise in this area.”
A meaningful farm transfer
Mathilde and Cyril are now settled in. After a period of overlap, life on the farm has resumed under the leadership of the young couple. The two former partners and their successors continue to keep in regular contact. “Beyond the transaction itself, it’s a real satisfaction to see that the sellers and buyers are still close,” says Nicolas Lelabourier. “When a transfer project is successful and people remain at the heart of the process, it’s very rewarding.” This is yet another source of pride for the firm, which claims to have completed more than 650 agricultural and wine-growing transactions since its creation.
Pour aller plus loin
Tax benefits and investment in agricultural land
