SAEM Vendée

SAEM Vendée is a semi-public limited company set up in early 2004 by the Vendée departmental council to take over the Vendée Globe after the collapse of Philippe Jeantot's organisation. The commercial court of La Roche-sur-Yon appointed the department as the buyer on 23 February 2004.

On 11 June 2004, a few months before the start of the 6th edition, the name "Vendée Globe" became a registered trademark held by SAEM Vendée, which exploits its rights. It also organises qualifying races such as Vendée-Arctique-Les Sables-d'Olonne and New York Vendée - Les Sables d'Olonne.

About 85% of the capital is public (Vendée department, the town of Les Sables-d'Olonne, Pays de la Loire region), the rest held by local companies. The chair passed from Philippe de Villiers to Bruno Retailleau (2010), Yves Auvinet (2016), then Alain Lebœuf (2021). The head office is in La Roche-sur-Yon.