The somnOO hotel group announced that on June 30, 2025, it finalized the acquisition of the remaining shares in the Ibis Styles Besançon hotel, thereby becoming the sole owner of the establishment, both in terms of the building and the operations.
This acquisition marks the completion of a two-stage transaction.
Initially acquired in December 2019 in partnership with an institutional investor and individual investors introduced by the consulting firm Emeraude Gestion Privée, the hotel underwent an initial buyout at the end of 2022 with the exit of the institutional financial partner, enabling somnOO to become the majority shareholder (60%).
On June 30, 2025, somnOO finalized the purchase of the remaining 40% of shares held by individual investors.
This transaction illustrates somnOO's ability to meet its liquidity commitments and underscores the relevance of the initial structure proposed by Emeraude Gestion Privée: an entry into the hotel capital alongside an experienced operator, with a clear exit horizon.
“This operation demonstrates our ability to deliver on our commitments to our partners and see our projects through to full maturity,” say Lars Backhaus and Christian Rousseau, founders of somnOO.
“We are proud to have supported this operation alongside somnOO and to have enabled our clients to benefit from a structuring project aligned with their objectives and expectations,”, adds Benoît Dargnies, managing partner of Emeraude Gestion Privée.
The Ibis Styles Besançon hotel is a 3-star establishment with 103 rooms, featuring a restaurant, a wellness area with a swimming pool, and several seminar rooms. Located in a green setting close to the city center, it is a strategic asset for the group's French portfolio.
With this transaction, somnOO is continuing its long-term growth strategy, based on responsible governance, alignment of interests, and a sustainable vision for hotel investment.
We would like to thank our partners involved in this success:
Emeraude Gestion Privée is an independent firm specializing in wealth management consulting, with offices in Brittany (Dinard & Rennes) and Paris.
With solid expertise and strong values, Emeraude Gestion Privée prioritizes close, consultative relationships with its clients.
Founded in 2014, somnOO owns and operates a portfolio of more than 60 hotels in France and Germany. SomnOO has a European “owner & operator” strategy divided into two cycles: cycle 1 ‘operator’ and minority shareholder, and cycle 2 “owner-operator” with 100% takeover. This positioning as owner of real estate and operations ensures resilience and alignment of interests, and enables long-term value creation.