Opening of a public consultation on a merger in the real estate sector

The Autorité de la concurrence is examining a proposed merger under which the Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations (French Deposit and Consignment Office), together with Nexity, plans to acquire joint control of a company that will be active in the real estate sector, and whose main ambition will be to provide shared work spaces, known as "third places" or "co-working spaces".

The Autorité questions whether there is a specific market for the provision of work-sharing services, distinct from the markets in the real estate sector that it has previously identified.

Given the clientele that these spaces are likely to accommodate (startups, teleworkers, very small businesses, etc.), the Autorité has decided to give the users of these spaces and the companies offering this type of service the opportunity to respond freely in a public consultation.