Mutuelle Epargne Retraite
Mutuelle Epargne Retraite is a French mutual insurer founded in 1926 in Lyon, offering life insurance, military pensions, and burial insurance to roughly 35,000 members, distributed via military-specialist partners AGPM, La Financière du Militaire, and Allianz Défense et Sécurité.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1926
- HeadquartersLyon, France
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Mutuelle Epargne Retraite does
Mutuelle Epargne Retraite (MER) is a French mutual insurance company founded in 1926 and headquartered in Lyon, operating under Book II of the French Mutualities Code and supervised by the ACPR. The company serves primarily the French military and defense community, with a broader offering open to the general French population, providing savings, retirement, and protection products. Core offerings include MER Horizon + (a life insurance/savings contract), Retraite Mutualiste du Combattant (RMC, a long-standing military pension product), and Garantie Obsèques (burial insurance launched in February 2024). The membership base stands at approximately 25,000 at end-2023 and approximately 35,000 contracts at end-2024.
MER operates as a non-shareholder mutual: surplus is redistributed to members through participation rates. For 2025, MER advertises a 3.70% yield on MER Horizon + and a 3.50% excess participation rate, supplemented by a welcoming bonus of up to €1,000 for new subscriptions. The investment portfolio is 80.7% allocated to bond securities, with 21% in green/responsible assets, reflecting a conservative asset-liability profile. Distribution is conducted through military-specialist partners AGPM, La Financière du Militaire, and Allianz Défense et Sécurité, providing deep reach into the French armed forces. The company reports strong regulatory solvency (349% solvency ratio, 902.7% MCR coverage), employs 11–50 people, and is chaired by Jean-Claude Carrier. There is no indication of proprietary technology, digital-first distribution, or AI/ML capabilities in the available data.
Mutuelle Epargne Retraite firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Mutuelle Epargne Retraite
- Legal name
- Mutuelle Epargne Retraite
- Website
- https://mutuelleepargneretraite.fr
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1926
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Mutuelle Epargne Retraite is a French mutual insurer founded in 1926 in Lyon, offering life insurance, military pensions, and burial insurance to roughly 35,000 members, distributed via military-specialist partners AGPM, La Financière du Militaire, and Allianz Défense et Sécurité.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Mutuelle Epargne Retraite industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Mutual Insurance (Retirement and Life Insurance)
- NAICS
- Other Insurance Funds (525190), Health and Welfare Funds (525120)
- SIC
- Life Insurance (6311)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Group Whole Life (Limited/Continuous Pay) (FSAIADAE)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Group Universal Life (GUL) (FSAIADAC)
Keywords
Where Mutuelle Epargne Retraite is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lyon
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Mutuelle Epargne Retraite business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Insurance premiums - MER Horizon +: MER Horizon + is an euro fund life insurance contract where members make contributions that are invested in secure government and corporate bonds. The company earns management fees on these contributions.
- Insurance premiums - Retraite Mutualiste du Combattant: The RMC is a supplemental pension product for military veterans and combatants. Members make regular contributions that qualify for tax deductions, and the state provides additional contributions. MER earns management fees on these contracts.
- Burial expense insurance - Garantie Obsèques: A burial expense guarantee product that provides a capital sum to beneficiaries upon the member's death. Members pay regular premiums for coverage.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | MER Horizon + life insurance with minimum 250€ initial contribution |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Retraite Mutualiste du Combattant (RMC) pension product |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
Mutuelle Epargne Retraite product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Mutuelle Epargne Retraite (MER) is a French mutual insurance company founded in 1926 that offers three core products: MER Horizon + (a euro-fund life insurance contract), Retraite Mutualiste du Combattant (a state-matched supplemental pension for military veterans and combatants), and Garantie Obsèques (burial expense insurance for civilians). The company operates as a mutual governed by the French Mutualities Code, with no shareholders, redistributing all surpluses to its 25,000+ members.
Product overview
Mutuelle Epargne Retraite (MER) operates as a mutual insurance organization offering a portfolio of three core savings and retirement products: MER Horizon + (life insurance in euro funds), Retraite Mutualiste du Combattant (RMC, a military retirement annuity), and Garantie Obsèques (funeral insurance). Originally established in 1926 to serve the military community with the RMC product, the company expanded its reach in February 2024 by launching Garantie Obsèques to serve the civilian population. The three products are unified by MER's core mission of providing secure, long-term savings solutions with competitive yields and mutualist values of solidarity, democracy, and member-centric governance.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- MER Horizon +: Life insurance contract in euro funds combining performance search and security for savings, recognized by Good Value for Money and Label Excellence.
- Retraite Mutualiste du Combattant (RMC)
- Garantie Obsèques
Products and services
- MER Horizon + A life insurance (assurance vie) contract invested 100% in euro funds, combining performance search and security. Offers guaranteed capital with annual interest accrual and compound capitalization effect, designed for individual savers seeking long-term security. Features 0% entry fees, 0% contribution fees, 0% redemption fees, 0.70% annual management fees, and a €250 minimum initial contribution. Yield for 2025 was 3.70%.
- Retraite Mutualiste du Combattant (RMC) A military retirement savings product (droit à reconnaissance) for eligible combatants (Carte du Combattant or Titre de Reconnaissance de la Nation holders) and family members of deceased combatants. Allows members to build a lifetime annuity from age 50, with state-matched bonuses of 12.5% to 60% depending on conflict and eligibility. Contributions are tax-deductible and annuity payments are tax-exempt. Features 0% contribution fees as of June 2025 and 0.55% management fees on surpluses.
- Garantie Obsèques A burial expense insurance product that ensures a lump sum is paid to beneficiaries upon the policyholder's death, providing financial protection for family members. First civilian-targeted product in MER's portfolio, designed for general French population seeking pre-planned funeral coverage.
Quantifiable outcome
- 3.70% yield on MER Horizon + for 2025
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Mutuelle Epargne Retraite
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Mutuelle Epargne Retraite technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Mutuelle Epargne Retraite partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- AGPM (Groupe AGPM)coreAGPM is a major military insurance group that serves as a key distribution partner for MER's Retraite Mutualiste du Combattant product. The partnership extends MER's reach to AGPM's membership base of military personnel and veterans.
- La Financière du Militaire (LFDM)coreLa Financière du Militaire specializes in financial services for military personnel and distributes MER's RMC product to its client base of military members and veterans.
- Allianz Défense et SécuritécoreAllianz Défense et Sécurité is a defense and security insurance specialist that partners with MER to help military members access the Retraite Mutualiste du Combattant, which provides supplemental retirement with tax advantages.
- FOSA (Fondation des Oeuvres Sociales de l'Air)minorFoundation providing social support to Air Force personnel and families in need. MER provides financial sponsorship and support to FOSA's mission.
- Terre Fraternité - ADOminorAssociation for Development of Mutual Aid Works in the French Army. MER sponsors Terre Fraternité to support military families in need.
- Entraide Marine - ADOSMminorAssociation for Development of Social Works of the Navy. MER provides ongoing support to Entraide Marine's assistance programs for naval personnel and families.
- Les InvaincuSminorAssociation supporting physical and psychological reconstruction of wounded military personnel through rehabilitation programs. MER sponsors Les InvaincuS's reconstruction initiatives.
- ONaCVG (Office National des Combattants et des Victimes de Guerre)minorNational office providing financial and social benefits to eligible military personnel and families. MER partners with ONaCVG to strengthen solidarity with those in need.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Mutuelle Epargne Retraite competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Crédit Agricole Assurances: Bancassurance arm of Crédit Agricole, a major French life insurance and retirement provider. Comparable to MER in offering euro fund life insurance contracts with low-fee structures but serves the broader population through Crédit Agricole's banking network.
- CNP Assurances: France's largest life insurance and retirement provider, including a major presence in public-sector and partner-distributed savings products. Comparable to MER in offering euro fund life insurance and supplemental pension products but at vastly greater scale and with a broader customer base.
- AXA France: One of France's largest general insurers with significant life, savings, and retirement offerings. Comparable to MER in offering life insurance products but as a broad-market incumbent rather than a niche mutual.
- MACIF: Major French mutual insurer with savings, life insurance, and provident products. Comparable to MER in mutualist governance and member-owned structure but operates across the broader population rather than the military niche.
- SMACL: French mutual insurer focused on local public-sector civil servants. Comparable to MER in serving a specific professional community with mutualist governance, but addresses a different occupational segment.
Direct peers
- Carac: French mutual savings and retirement insurer historically serving civil servants and military personnel. Comparable to MER as a mutualist life insurance and retirement provider with a community-segment focus and member-owned governance.
- La Financière du Militaire: Financial services specialist for French military personnel, distributing MER's RMC product. Direct peer in targeting the same veteran/military customer segment with savings and retirement products.
- Allianz Défense et Sécurité: Defense- and security-focused insurance arm of Allianz France, distributing RMC to military members. Direct peer in serving the same military customer base with insurance and retirement products.
- AGPM (Groupe AGPM): French mutual insurance group dedicated to military personnel, defense, and security communities. Directly comparable to MER as a fellow military-focused mutual insurer with overlapping distribution and member profiles; AGPM is also a key distribution partner.
Emerging players
- Prévoir: French mutual insurer specializing in individual life insurance, savings, and dependency cover. Comparable to MER in mutualist structure and individual-focused life insurance products, with a longer-standing presence in burial/funeral insurance via its Obsèques product.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Mutuelle Epargne Retraite social profiles
Digital presenceMutuelle Epargne Retraite financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Mutuelle Epargne Retraite leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Mutuelle Epargne Retraite funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Mutuelle Epargne Retraite M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Mutuelle Epargne Retraite
What does Mutuelle Epargne Retraite do?
Mutuelle Epargne Retraite (MER) is a French mutual insurance company founded in 1926 that offers three core products: MER Horizon + (a euro-fund life insurance contract), Retraite Mutualiste du Combattant (a state-matched supplemental pension for military veterans and combatants), and Garantie Obsèques (burial expense insurance for civilians). The company operates as a mutual governed by the French Mutualities Code, with no shareholders, redistributing all surpluses to its 25,000+ members.
Is Mutuelle Epargne Retraite a public or private company?
Mutuelle Epargne Retraite is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Mutuelle Epargne Retraite founded?
Mutuelle Epargne Retraite was founded in 1926. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Mutuelle Epargne Retraite based?
Mutuelle Epargne Retraite is headquartered in Lyon, France, in the Europe region.
How does Mutuelle Epargne Retraite make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Insurance premiums - MER Horizon + is the primary driver. The others are insurance premiums - Retraite Mutualiste du Combattant and burial expense insurance - Garantie Obsèques.
Who are Mutuelle Epargne Retraite's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Crédit Agricole Assurances, CNP Assurances, AXA France, MACIF and SMACL. Direct peers are Carac, La Financière du Militaire, Allianz Défense et Sécurité and AGPM (Groupe AGPM). Prévoir is listed as an emerging player.
Does Mutuelle Epargne Retraite have an API?
No public API is recorded for Mutuelle Epargne Retraite.
What industry is Mutuelle Epargne Retraite in?
Mutuelle Epargne Retraite's product category is Mutual Insurance (Retirement and Life Insurance). Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAIADAE, Group Whole Life (Limited/Continuous Pay), with a secondary code of FSAIADAC, Group Universal Life (GUL). Its NAICS code is 525190 and its SIC code is 6311.