Getma International, a unit of French group NCT Necotrans, has served a writ with a Paris court against the Bolloré group and its subsidiary, Bolloré Africa Logistics, for unfair competition and complicity over the “illegal” termination of Getma’s contract to run the container terminal at the port of Conakry, in Guinea, Ifw-net reports.
Getma argues that the Conakry contract included termination clauses which the state of Guinea did not respect.
“Getma is demanding compensation and damages from the Bolloré group and the state of Guinea totalling around €100 million,” one of Getma’s lawyers told IFW.
NCT Necotrans estimates that its subsidiary had invested more than €30 million in the port when the contract was terminated.
Getma was awarded the contract in September 2008, beating off the challenge of three other candidates which included Bolloré.
However, it came to an abrupt end on 8 March this year when, over dinner with Guinea President Alpha Condé, NCT Necrotrans’ lawyers were informed that the contract was being terminated with immediate effect as a result of a “breach of dealer obligations”.
Two days later, Bolloré was awarded the contract.
During a state visit to France, several months later, President Condé was quizzed on French radio about his close ties with the Bolloré group and claims that it had contributed to his election campaign (he became head of state in March 2010).
For its part, Bolloré denies any wrong-doing in obtaining the Conakry contract.
A spokesperson told IFW: “We finished second in the tender and when the Guinean authorities terminated the concession with Getma, we became the preferred bidder, in accordance with the rules, and subsequently improved our offer.”
“We are investing €200 million at Conakry and work is now under way on deepening an access channel and building two quays to allow the port to handle the larger containerships that currently have to go to Dakar, in Senegal, for offloading,” the spokesperson added.
Getma argues that the Conakry contract included termination clauses which the state of Guinea did not respect.
“Getma is demanding compensation and damages from the Bolloré group and the state of Guinea totalling around €100 million,” one of Getma’s lawyers told IFW.
NCT Necotrans estimates that its subsidiary had invested more than €30 million in the port when the contract was terminated.
Getma was awarded the contract in September 2008, beating off the challenge of three other candidates which included Bolloré.
However, it came to an abrupt end on 8 March this year when, over dinner with Guinea President Alpha Condé, NCT Necrotrans’ lawyers were informed that the contract was being terminated with immediate effect as a result of a “breach of dealer obligations”.
Two days later, Bolloré was awarded the contract.
During a state visit to France, several months later, President Condé was quizzed on French radio about his close ties with the Bolloré group and claims that it had contributed to his election campaign (he became head of state in March 2010).
For its part, Bolloré denies any wrong-doing in obtaining the Conakry contract.
A spokesperson told IFW: “We finished second in the tender and when the Guinean authorities terminated the concession with Getma, we became the preferred bidder, in accordance with the rules, and subsequently improved our offer.”
“We are investing €200 million at Conakry and work is now under way on deepening an access channel and building two quays to allow the port to handle the larger containerships that currently have to go to Dakar, in Senegal, for offloading,” the spokesperson added.