Cartel damages require the evaluation of very large amounts of data. The estimation of cartel damages therefore requires a confident handling of "Big Data". EE&MC, with Professor Hildebrand and her team, is specialised in goal-oriented data queries and a structured evaluation of the data gathered by applying different methods and techniques.
EE&MC's experience in cartel damage estimation covers the whole range: from "hard core" price cartels to a "soft" information exchange of planned price increases through table top queries. Since 2008, EE&MC has been active in more than 15 different cartel constellations: both for cartel participants and injured companies. Methods and techniques used by EE&MC in cartel damage estimation are constant regardless the side EE&MC is working for. EE&MC always conducts client-specific analyses of market conditions first. In this way it is possible to estimate customer-specific price mark-ups. Next to this, EE&MC considers the dynamics of cartels. Cartels do work dynamically and are not characterised by a homogeneous approach by all participants. EE&MC is able to capture and quantify these cartel dynamics.
EE&MC has applied/ is applying these methods and techniques for more than 200 clients already in various industries such as:
- Beer
- Coffee
- Detergents
- Drugstore product
- Elevators and escalators
- Engine dishwashing liquid
- Fire trucks
- girocard
- HDF-boards
- Insurance industry
- Sugar
- Sweets
- Trucks
The biggest challenge in calculating cartel damages is evaluating the available data. In many cases, cartel members were active for years. However, some companies no longer have historical data on individual procurement transactions.
EE&MC has the experience to carry out evaluations in cases where the data situation is difficult.