A joint stock company may not own shares in another company, if the latter holds a fraction of its capital greater than 10%.
Failing agreement between the companies concerned to regularise the situation, the one holding the smaller fraction of the other’s capital must dispose of its investment. If the reciprocal investments are of equal size, each of the companies must reduce its own investment so that it does not exceed 10% of the capital of the other.
When a company is obliged to dispose of the shares of another company, the disposal must be carried out within the period set by decree in the Conseil d’Etat. The company may not exercise the voting rights attached to these shares.