Mulliez Group Cleared of Tax Fraud and Money Laundering Allegations

After a decade-long investigation, French authorities drop charges against the family-owned conglomerate, though an appeal is underway.

The Mulliez Group, which includes brands like Auchan and Decathlon, faced accusations of tax fraud and money laundering for over ten years.
A Parisian judge ruled a non-lieu, or dismissal, on August 14, finding no evidence to support the charges against the group or its leaders.
The investigation scrutinized the complex financial arrangements within the Mulliez family's network of businesses, which are privately held and managed through a family pact.
Initial allegations involved unrecorded and interest-free loans purportedly used to minimize tax liabilities in France and abroad.
Despite the dismissal, the plaintiff has appealed the decision, while the French Financial Prosecutor's Office has not pursued further action.