France's Financial Markets Authority publishes guidance for employees on allocating profit-sharing and value-sharing bonuses via PEE and collective PER

France's Financial Markets Authority (AMF) published an educational note for employees who, typically in April to May and during employer-defined windows for the prime de partage de la valeur (PPV), must decide whether to take intéressement and participation amounts in cash or invest them through employee savings arrangements. The note also outlines how to choose between a plan d’épargne entreprise (PEE) and a collective plan d’épargne retraite (collective PER), and between different fund risk profiles. The AMF highlights that amounts invested via these schemes are not subject to income tax and may benefit from employer matching contributions, but allocations must be submitted in writing by returning the option form within 15 days. If no choice is returned for intéressement, sums are automatically invested in the PEE’s least risky fund and locked for at least five years, subject to statutory early-release cases; for participation, 50% is automatically allocated to the collective PER and 50% to the PEE unless the employee requests immediate payment or another allocation, with a one-month period to redeem amounts placed by default in the collective PER (fees may apply). In the absence of a choice, the PPV is paid to the employee’s bank account and may in some cases be subject to income tax; the note also flags the ability to contribute up to 10 days of unused leave to the collective PER and make voluntary PEE contributions up to 25% of gross remuneration. On investment selection, the note describes the range of employee mutual funds (FCPE) typically offered, including diversified funds with prudent, balanced or dynamic profiles, solidarity funds, and socially responsible or labelled funds, as well as employee shareholding structures where available. It encourages employees to match investments to their objectives and time horizon, consult each fund’s key information document (strategy, risk, recommended holding period, fees), and diversify to avoid concentrating holdings in their employer’s shares.