Background
      
            

On 26 February 2026, the Autorité de la concurrence was notified of the planned joint takeover of La Vie Claire by Crédit Mutuel Equity and Famille Pelen & Cie.



At the end of its examination, the Autorité concluded the takeover was not likely to harm competition and has cleared transaction unconditionally.
      
      

                
          
        
            The parties to the transaction



The Crédit Mutuel group is a mutual banking group with operations spanning banking, insurance and private equity. Crédit Mutuel Equity, a subsidiary of the group, encompasses its private equity operations.



Famille Pelen & Cie is the holding company of the Famille Pelen & Cie – La Vie Claire group, which wholly owned La Vie Claire prior to the transaction.



La Vie Claire operates in the organic food retail sector, with more than 300 stores under the “La Vie Claire” banner in France.

The Autorité ruled out any risk of harm to competition



As the Crédit Mutuel group does not control any company in the same markets or in any markets related or vertically linked to La Vie Claire, the Autorité concluded the planned takeover was not likely to raise any risks of harm of competition and cleared transaction unconditionally.
      
      
      

                
          
        
          
            Decision 26-DCC-68 of 16 March 2026
      
          
            on the joint takeover of La Vie Claire by Crédit Mutuel Equity and Famille Pelen & Cie
      
        
                  
            
            The full text of the decision (in French) will be available soon
      
          
              
      

                
          
  
    Contact(s)
          
                
          
              
          
        
              


      
      
      
  
    
      
            Nicola Crawford
      
      
            Communications Officer
      
    
    
      
            +33155040151
      
      
     Contact us by e-mail

French Authority Approves La Vie Claire Acquisition

On February 26, 2026, the Autorité de la concurrence received notification regarding the planned joint takeover of La Vie Claire by Crédit Mutuel Equity and Famille Pelen & Cie.

After a thorough examination, the Autorité concluded that the acquisition would not harm competition and granted unconditional clearance for the transaction.

Crédit Mutuel is a mutual banking group involved in banking, insurance, and private equity, while Crédit Mutuel Equity is its private equity subsidiary. Famille Pelen & Cie is the holding company that previously owned La Vie Claire, which operates over 300 organic food retail stores in France.

The Autorité found no competition risks as Crédit Mutuel does not control any companies in the same or related markets as La Vie Claire, leading to the unconditional approval of the takeover.

The decision, numbered 26-DCC-68, was issued on March 16, 2026, and the full text will be available soon.



French Authority Approves La Vie Claire Acquisition

The French competition authority has unconditionally cleared the joint acquisition of La Vie Claire by Crédit Mutuel Equity and Famille Pelen & Cie, determining it poses no competition risks.