French Hiss: A French government agency is stepping up its investigation of
three global staffing firms into allegations of price fixing and sharing
commercially sensitive information, in violation of France’s antitrust laws. The
probe centers on the French offices of Manpower Inc., Adecco Group and Vedior
NV. The companies have issued separate statements that they are cooperating. The
investigation stems from search warrants executed at the companies’ French
offices in 2004.
Adecco said its French office has received a “statement of objections from
the French Competition Council alleging exchanges of commercially sensitive
information with competitors from 2003 to 2004 and a concerted practice in
connection with one tender offer in France.” Adecco also said the French agency
could impose a fine that “would not be material” to the Zurich,
Switzerland-based firm.
Milwaukee-based Manpower has not commented publicly on the probe since a
comment contained in a 2004 financial document. In the document, Manpower told
shareholders that “the purpose of the investigation is to search for evidence of
price fixing and allocation of market share within the French market.”
Vedior, based in the Netherlands, consistently has refused to comment on the
matter other than a 2004 statement pledging cooperation with French officials.
Ironically, Vedior last month received a waiver of the waiting period of the
Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 in connection with its
recent acquisition of Alpharetta, Georgia-based consulting firm B2B Workforce
Inc.
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