Abuse of dominance

Home > Clients > Abuse of dominance

Petroleum industry

November 20. 2008 - The French Conseil de la concurrence dismisses a case regarding alleged anticompetitive practices in the marketing of refined petroleum products. Microeconomix advised Total France.

€295 million damages claim filed against Google in Europe

Paris commercial court

June 28, 2011 - Microeconomix estimated the damage suffered by 1plusV, the creator of an innovative hybrid search technology called VSearch and, jointly with expert partners, a large series of vertical search engines based on this technology, resulting from Google's alleged anticompetitive practices.
Lire la suite... Lien
Allegation of predatory prices

Tertiary reserves of electricity

June 8, 2011 - French Competition Authority rejects complaint against RTE's electricity reserve services procurement and allegation of predatory prices against EDF's supply. Microconomix advised EDF.
Bidding for urban public transport

Econometric analysis

May 30, 2011 - François Lévêque, professor of economics at Mines ParisTech and founding partner of Microeconomix will present an econometric analysis of competitive trends observed on the French urban public transport market at the International Conference "Contracts, Procurement, and Public-Private Arrangements" organized by the Chaire EPPP. Emmanuel Frot, senior econometrician at Microeconomix will also present it at the Zew conference in Mannheim.
VEOLIA TRANSPORT - TRANSDEV

Approval by the French Competition Authority

December 30, 2010 - The French Competition Authority has cleared the merger between Veolia Transport and Transdev, subject to conditions. Microeconomix advised Veolia Environnement and Veolia Transport. Our team of economists in collaboration with legal counsels has among other conducted sophisticated econometric analyses of the French urban public transport market and participated in designing the merger remedies, including the "competition stimulation fund", an innovative remedy efficiently addressing potential competition concerns in a bidding market.
Liquefied Petroleum Gas

Case dismissal by the French Competition Authority

December 17, 2010 - The French Competition Authority has concluded the absence of anticompetitive practices in the market for the liquefied petroleum gas. Microeconomix advised Totalgaz. Our team of economists supported the defense in this collective dominance case by proving that Airtours criteria were not satisfied and by establishing that, even though in the context of the merger control Airtours criteria may be used to analyze the likelihood of the tacit collusion in the future, they are insufficient to prove the existence of a collective dominance in the past.
VEOLIA TRANSPORT - TRANSDEV

Unconditional approval by NMa

December 9, 2010 - The Dutch Competition authority NMa unconditionally approved the merger between Veolia Transport Nederland and Connexxion (Transdev). Microeconomix advised Veolia Environnement and Veolia Transport during the NMa procedure.
EDF - Constellation

Agreement signed

Octobre 27, 2010 – EDF and Constellation Energy today announced that the companies are pleased to have reached a comprehensive agreement that restructures the companies' partnership, eliminates the outstanding put option and establishes the full ownership of UniStar Nuclear Energy by EDF. Energy economists and econometricians from Microeconomix assisted EDF.
Interconnector Charging arrangements

Response to consultation

September 30, 2010 – Marcelo Saguan, energy economist at Microeconomix was the economic expert in the Florence School of Regulation team which advised TenneT. Its report is included in the responses to charging consultation (see page 13).
Interbank cheque fees

€385 million fine

September 20, 2010 – The French Competition Authority fined 11 banks for colluding to charge interbank fees on cheques (décision n°10-D-28). Microeconomix assisted HSBC France during the investigation.
VEOLIA TRANSPORT - TRANSDEV

Partial authorization and referral

August 12, 2010 - Commission approves part of the merger between Veolia and Transdev, and refers examination of the merger’s impact in France and the Netherlands to the respective national competition authorities. Microeconomix advised VEOLIA ENVIRONNEMENT and VEOLIA TRANSPORT and was in charge of the economics analysis presented in the FORM CO.
Bathroom equipment manufacturers

Price fixing cartel

June 23, 2010 - The European Commission fines 17 bathroom equipment manufacturers € 622 million in price fixing cartel. Microeconomix advised Villeroy & Boch and produced an in-depth econometric model.
EDF commitments to open French electricity market to competition made legally binding

French electricity market

March 17, 2010 - The European Commission has made legally binding commitments offered by the French electricity group EDFin response to the Commission's concerns that its contracts with large electricity consumers may hinder the entry and expansion of competitors on the French market. Microeconomix advised EDF.
iPhone exclusive distribution

Orange France

February 16, 2010 - Commercial Chamber of the Supreme Court concluded that the Paris court of appeals had not sufficiently motivated its decision on Orange France's exclusive distribution agreement with Apple for the iPhone. Microeconomix advised France Télécom and Orange France.
Nuclear generation costs

EU Energy Policy Blog

Octobre, 23. 2009 - François Lévêque, founding partner of Microeconomix and Marcelo Saguan, energy economist have just published Nuclear generation costs – revisiting estimates (once again) on EU Energy Policy Blog.
Energy Practice

Energy consulting

Septembre 1, 2009 - Microeconomix is pleased to announce the launch of the Energy Practice which aims at helping clients to understand and to respond to the continuing transformation of energy businesses. It combines rigorous economic analysis and quantitative tools with solid experience gained from working for energy companies on competition and regulatory issues.
Lire la suite... Lien
Plywood cartel

Fines reduced

Septembre 29, 2009 - The Paris Court of Appeal significantly reduced the fines imposed by the French Competition Council (in its decision no. 08-D-12 of 21 Mai 2008) on the plywood manufacturers. Plysorol, advised by Microeconomix, had its fine reduced by more than 40%.
Electricity regulation

Champsaur report
May 6, 2009 - François Lévêque, Professor of Economics at Mines ParisTech and founding partner of Microeconomix publishes an academic opinion on the Champsaur's report on the organization of the French electricity market. "Regulating the price of nuclear power generation: a new French exception" is published on EU Energy Policy Blog.
Information exchange

Mobile Telecommunications
March 11, 2009 - The Retrial Court upholds the decision of the Conseil de la concurrence fining the three mobile telephony operators, Orange France, SFR and Bouygues Télécom, for engaging in information exchanges on overall net or gross sales volumes at the national level, contrary to the judgment of the Supreme Court which had quashed the judgment of the Paris Court of Appeal. Microeconomix advised Orange France.
iPhone exclusive distribution

Orange France
February 4, 2009 - The Paris court of appeals has confirmed the suspension of Orange France's exclusive distribution agreement with Apple for the iPhone. Ruling on an appeal brought by Orange and Apple, the court held up a 17 December 2008 decision by the French Conseil de la concurrence. Microeconomix advised France Télécom and Orange France.
Anticompetitive market sharing

Supply of kerosene
December 4, 2008 - The French Conseil de la concurrence fines four oil companies a total of 41 million euros for distorting competition in a tender process organized by Air France. Microeconomix advised Total Réunion.
Abuse of dominance

Petroleum industry
November 20. 2008 - The French Conseil de la concurrence dismisses a case regarding alleged anticompetitive practices in the marketing of refined petroleum products. Microeconomix advised Total France.
Cartel

Stay of execution
September 23, 2008 - The Paris Court of Appeal issues stay of execution for Plysorol. Microeconomix advised Plysorol before the Conseil de la concurrence. Six plywood manufacturers have been penalized for having set-up a product price scale within their professional organisation and for having coordinated their price increases during several years.
Patents and Antitrust

Web-platform on standards
Septembre 19, 2008 - François Lévêque, founding partner of Microeconomix and Professor of Law and Economics at Mines ParisTech launches a web platform dedicated to gathering economic literature and legal documents dealing with the intersection between standards, patents and antitrust.
Lire la suite... Lien
Energy markets liberalization

Electricity transmission

July 18, 2008 - Microeconomix publishes a report written by F. Lévêque, J.-M. Glachant, M. Saguan and G. de Muizon following a research financed by Endesa. This work develops a comprehensive framework that enables to assess the performance of different institutional arrangements for electricity transmission (ITSO, LTSO and ISO).
Merger

Accessories for rolling shutters
June 12, 2008 - The French Minister for Economy clears the acquisition of Zurflüh-Feller by Somfy after an in-depth investigation of the Conseil de la concurrence. Microeconomix advised Somfy.
Cartel

Plywood industry
May, 21, 2008 - The Conseil de la concurrence issues a decision penalizing 6 plywood manufacturers for having set-up a product price scale within their professional organisation on the one hand, and for having coordinated price increases during several years on the other hand. Microeconomix advised Plysorol.
Conference

Competition compliance programs
May 20, 2008 - Microeconomix's CEO, Gildas de Muizon gives a talk on predatory pricing and fidelity rebates at a conference on antitrust compliance programs organized by Allen & Overy Paris and Ernst & Young Fraud Investigation and Dispute Services.
Merger

Telecoms
April 15, 2008 - The French Minister of the Economy has cleared proposed acquisition of Neuf Cégétel a French telecoms operator by SFR, a French mobile operator without openin in-depth investigation. Microeconomix advised a telecoms firm during the market test.
Predatory pricing

Pharmaceutical industry
April 8, 2008 - The Paris Court of Appeal handed down the decision 07-D-09 of the French Conseil de la concurrence and considers that GlaxoSmithKline did not engage in predatory pricing. Microeconomix and Professor Lévêque advised GlaxoSmtihKline.
Conference

Mobile price comparisons
February 8, 2008 - Microeconomix's CEO, Gildas de Muizon (author of "Mobile price comparisons in Europe") participates to a roundtable organized by AFOM on mobile price comparisons methodology.
Predatory pricing

Passenger transport
November 23, 2007 - Following a complaint filed by British Airways on 18 November 2004, concerning an alleged abuse of dominant position on the part of the SNCF and Eurostar Group Ltd (EGL) on the market for passenger transport between Paris and London, the Conseil de la concurrence issues a decision according to which the alleged predatory and cross subsidies practices are not established. Microeconomix advised Eurostar.
Antitrust

Qualcomm
October 1, 2007 - The European Commission has decided to open formal anti-trust proceedings against Qualcomm Incorporated, a US chipset manufacturer, concerning an alleged breach of EC Treaty rules on abuse of a dominant market position (Article 82). Microeconomix advised one of the parties in the complaint filed against Qualcomm with the European Commission.
Information exchange

Mobile telecoms
June 29, 2007 - The Cour de cassation partially revised the decision of the Court of Appeal of Paris which had confirmed the decision of the Conseil de la concurrence fining the three mobile telephony operators, Orange France, SFR and Bouygues Télécom, for engaging in anticompetitive agreements. Microeconomix advised Orange France.
Vertical agreement

Luxury Perfumes
June 26, 2007 - The Court of Appeal of Paris quashes the decision 06-D-04 of the Conseil de la concurrence , finding13 companies operating luxury perfume and cosmetics brands guilty of entering into anticompetitive agreements with their distributors, concerning the retail price to consumers.Microeconomix advises four LVMH group's companies Parfums Christian Dior, Guerlain, Kenzo Parfums et Parfums Givenchy).
Petroleum industry

Sea-line access
April 24, 2007 - Microeconomix advises Total France in a procedure before the Tribunal de commerce de Narbonne and the Court of Appeal of Montpellier.
Who's Who Legal

Competition Economists
March 2007 - Professor François Lévêque, founder of Microeconomix and Professor of Economics at Mines ParisTech, is recommended in the 2007 Who's Who of Competition Lawyers and Economists.
Press review

Telecoms
December 12, 2006 - Les Echos, the French leading economic daily newspaper, publishes an article on the mobile operators cartel and mention Microeconomix as the expert for Orange France.
Dominance

Automotive suppliers
November 9, 2005 - Microeconomix advises Valeo in a procedure before the Tribunal de Grande Instance de Paris.
Merger

Gambling sector
July 28, 2004 - The French Minister for Economy clears the merger in which the companies Accor and Colony and the Barrière-Desseigne family would join forces to set up the Lucien Barrière Group bringing together the casinos currently controlled, directly or indirectly, by Accor and the Barrière-Desseigne family. Microeconomix advised Accor Casinos and Groupe Lucien Barrière.
Press review

Economic consulting
July 13, 2004 - Les Echos, the French leading economic daily newspaper, publishes an article on economic consulting and provides as an example Microeconomix.
Press review

Telecoms
June 4, 2004 - Les Echos, the French leading economic daily newspaper, publishes an article on mobile telecom competition and mention a report written by Microeconomix at Orange France's request.
Interim measures

Media
April 30, 2004 - In a decision dated 22 December 2003 , the Conseil de la concurrence, following a case filed by Messageries Lyonnaises de presse (MLP), announced interim measures regarding Nouvelles Messageries de Presse Parisienne (NMPP) and Société Auxiliaire pour l'Exploitation de Messageries Transport Presse (SAEM-TP). Microeconomix advised NMPP.
Cartel

Chemical Industry
December 10, 2003 - The European Commission has imposed fines totalling nearly €70 million on Atofina, Peroxid Chemie, Laporte (now known as Degussa UK Holdings), Perorsa and AC Treuhand AG for operating a cartel in the market for organic peroxide products, a chemical used in the plastic and rubber industries. Microeconomix advised Atofina.
Information exchange

Motorway petrol stations
March 31, 2003 - The Conseil de la concurrence hands down sanctions against the company Total Fina Elf France, the oil companies Shell and the companies Esso SAF and BP France, imposing fines totalling € 27 million. Microeconomix advised Shell.
Pricing strategy

Pharmaceutical industry
2003-2004 - Microeconomix advised Bayer Pharma in a procedure before the Conseil d'Etat.