PARIS (Thomson Financial) – Clear Channel’s French subsidiary has filed a complaint against JCDecaux and the city of Paris over ‘anti-competitive practices’ related to the Velib bicycle-hire venture, Les Echos reported.
The city of Paris has proposed extending the Velib scheme by installing 300 Velib stations and 4,500 bicycles in nearby suburbs, with an investment of 7 mln eur per year, the paper said.
US-based urban furniture and outdoor advertising group Clear Channel says Paris authorities’ plan to base these new contracts on the existing contract with JCDecaux would be in violation of public market rights and principles of competition as it would give
JCDecaux an advantage in winning the contracts.
Clear Channel also bid for the Paris Velib contract but was unsuccessful. The company has already tried unsuccessfully to overturn the award of the contract to JCDecaux.
JCDecaux operates Velib through a joint venture, in which Publicis holds 34 pct.
helen.beresford@thomson.com
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