The French Competition Authority unconditionally authorizes the acquisition of a furniture retailer by a furniture retail distribution company under the failing firm defence (Mobilux / Conforama)

The French Competition Authority ('FCA') has unconditionally authorized the acquisition of furniture retailer Conforama by Mobilux under the failing firm defence ('FFD'). Background On 8 July 2019, Mobilux group ('Mobilux') announced its intention to acquire Conforama. Mobilux is the parent company of the BUT group, which operates a network of 322 stores in the retail distribution of furniture, homeware and general merchandise products in France and its overseas territories. Conforama is active in the same markets and operates a network of 170 sales outlets. The transaction was initially notified to the European Commission, which, following a request from the notifying party, referred the case to the FCA on 26 June 2019 because of the operation's exclusive impact on the French market