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Chapter I: Voluntary sales of furniture by public auction.

Article L321-1 of the French Commercial code

Subject to the provisions of Article L. 322-8, voluntary sales of furniture by public auction may relate to new or second-hand goods. These goods are sold retail, by lot or wholesale, i.e. in sufficiently large lots that they cannot be considered to be within the reach of the consumer. Wholesale sales may only involve new goods from a company’s stock. When new goods are offered for sale by the trader…

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Article L321-2 of the French Commercial code

Voluntary sales of furniture by public auction are, except in the cases provided for in Article L. 321-36 organised and conducted under the conditions provided for in this chapter by operators practising on an individual basis or in the legal form of their choice. When they meet the training conditions laid down by regulation, notaries may also organise and conduct these sales, with the exception of voluntary sales by public…

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Article L321-3 of the French Commercial code

The act of offering, acting as the owner’s agent, an item of property by remote public auction by electronic means in order to auction it to the highest bidder constitutes a sale by auction by electronic means, subject to the provisions of this chapter. The mere fact that a confirmation, in accordance with the provisions of article 1127-2 of the Civil Code, is required has no bearing on the classification…

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Article L321-4 of the French Commercial code

Only operators meeting the conditions defined in this article may organise and conduct voluntary sales of movable property by public auction and electronic auctions. I.-If a natural person, the operator of voluntary sales of movable property by public auction must: 1° Be French or a national of a Member State of the European Union or another State party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area; 2° Not have been…

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Article L321-4-1 of the French Commercial code

Continuing professional training is compulsory for natural persons who manage voluntary sales of furniture by public auction, within the meaning of article L. 321-9. The Conseil d’Etat decree provided for in article L. 321-38 sets the nature and duration of the activities that may be validated under the obligation mentioned in the first paragraph of this article.

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Article L321-5 of the French Commercial code

I.-When organising or conducting voluntary sales of furniture by public auction, the operators mentioned in article L. 321-4 act as agents for the owner of the property or its representative. The mandate shall be drawn up in writing. Operators of voluntary sales of furniture by public auction mentioned in the same article L. 321-4 shall take all appropriate measures to ensure the security of the voluntary sales by public auction…

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Article L321-6 of the French Commercial code

The operators referred to in Article L. 321-4 must provide evidence of: 1° The existence in a credit institution of an account intended exclusively to receive funds held on behalf of others; 2° Insurance covering their professional liability; 3° Insurance or a guarantee guaranteeing the representation of the funds mentioned in 1°. Any information relating to the nature of the financial guarantees provided for in 1° to 3° shall be…

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Article L321-7 of the French Commercial code

The operators mentioned in Article L. 321-4 provide the Conseil des Maisons de Vente with all relevant details concerning the premises where exhibitions of furniture offered for sale and public auction sales are usually held and the infrastructure used in the case of electronic auctions. When the exhibition or sale takes place on other premises, or remotely by electronic means, they shall notify the Council in advance. They shall also…

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Article L321-9 of the French Commercial code

Only persons meeting the conditions mentioned in 1° to 3° of I of article L. 321-4 are authorised to direct the sale, to designate the last bidder as the successful bidder or to declare the property not awarded and to draw up the minutes of this sale. The minutes are drawn up no later than one clear day after the close of the sale. It shall mention the name and…

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Article L321-10 of the French Commercial code

The operators referred to in Article L. 321-4 shall keep a daily register pursuant to Articles 321-7 and 321-8 of the Penal Code as well as a directory in which they record their minutes. They must keep this register and directory in electronic form, under conditions defined by decree. This register and directory may be grouped together. .

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