France

7 agencies researched (Wave 9): all real, independently-identity-confirmed entities via French government business registries (recherche-entreprises.api.gouv.fr, annuaire-entreprises.data.gouv.fr) cross-checked against societe.com -- 0 corrected out, the strongest independent-verification method of any wave to date. 2 more candidates excluded at the discovery stage itself (not verified): John Taylor (Artcurial Group franchise-style network, routes referrals internally per the Wave 1 finding) and MGM Constructeur (developer, no referral program). Top candidates (4-star): Michaël Zingraf Real Estate (Riviera/Provence, exclusive Christie's PACA affiliate, independent family ownership), Emile Garcin (Provence/multi-region, non-franchised since 1963, real cross-border referral precedent via Brown Harris Stevens/PWW), Home Hunts (multi-region buyer's agent, already splits commission with selling agents), Beaux Villages Immobilier (SW France/Provence, Savills International Associate). Weaker fits: Cimalpes (3-star, French Alps ski specialist, no B2B referral mechanism found, poor Trustpilot score) and Leggett Immobilier/French Estate Agents (3-star, nationwide network, but referral evidence points to individual-agent recruitment not platform referrals; own site 403-blocked all session). One serious risk flag: Vaneau (2-star, Paris prestige agency) is currently in active court-supervised judicial receivership (redressement judiciaire opened June 2026) -- do not pursue outreach until resolved. See data/partners.json tier='Tier 9 - France'. No full country-intelligence report (taxes/visas/healthcare) yet.