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One month after entering receivership, Black Pepper Yachts has found a buyer. Didier Charpentier, a former executive at Itesoft and himself a client of the shipyard, is acquiring its assets through CDML. Eleven of the twelve employees are expected to keep their jobs.
Didier Charpentier is acquiring Black Pepper's assets
In early October 2026, the Nantes Commercial Court approved the sale of Black Pepper Yachts? assets to CDML, a company led by Didier Charpentier. The decision came one month after the Nantes-based manufacturer of carbon-fiber sailboats entered receivership.
Eleven of the 12 employees have been retained. The sale price has not been disclosed. At the same time, Black Pepper is undergoing court-ordered liquidation, while its assets and operations are to be taken over by the new entity.
The buyer is also a client of the shipyard
This acquisition has a unique aspect: Didier Charpentier is already familiar with Black Pepper as a client. The founder and former CEO of the software company Itesoft has ordered one of the two C.69 catamarans currently under construction in Nantes.
These two 69-foot multihulls had weighed heavily on the shipyard?s financial situation. Their construction costs, which exceeded projections, had contributed to the cash flow problems that led Black Pepper into receivership.
Continuing their construction should therefore be one of the new owner's top industrial priorities.
A team and carbon expertise that remain intact
Retaining 11 employees also makes it possible to preserve most of the shipyard?s in-house expertise in carbon composite construction. Black Pepper has made a name for itself with its highly customized recreational sailboats, but has also built several IMOCA yachts designed by Sam Manuard.
Didier Charpentier plans to continue operations beyond the completion of his own C.69. According to API News, he is aiming for 40% annual growth through 2030. This remains the buyer?s goal: the financial resources committed and the shipyard?s future workload are not known at this time.
After the legal takeover, the main challenge will therefore be industrial: completing the ships currently under construction while rebuilding a business model capable of financing future programs.
