Somatem was a subsidiary company of the Lyonnaise water. It is today amalgamated in the group Suez-Lyons then Suez. It was implied in the Affaire of the HLM of Paris.

The faked market of the ascenceurs of the HLM of Paris

• the restoration and maintenance contract of the 3.092 lift cars of the buildings of Parisian HLM is allotted in 1992. The annual budget of this work borders 140 franc million, and the contract relates to one fifteen years duration. Three companies are selected: Somatem, CG2A, subsidiary of the ex- general Company of water (CGE, become Vivendi), and the American group Otis.

• the investigation showed that, for this invitation to tender, of the commissions had been versed, via the payment of invoices of “commercial assistance” to the one of the companies of Jean-Claude Méry. The leader of Somatem, had assure him, on official report, that this market was to involve “the payment of a commission among 1% and 5% of the value of the tender, whose payment was to be carried out abroad”.

• Questioned on May 11th, 1998, Jean-Claude Méry, for its part, had admitted “having required 1,5% of the market, which were versed in Suisse”, but it had not evoked a political destination.

See too

• Business of the HLM of Paris