Marc Simoncini

Following the bicycle recall, Angell experienced a major financial crisis, with liabilities of several tens of millions of euros reported by the press and restructuring proceedings. The parties subsequently disputed technical responsibility for the frame defect and funding for repairs owed to customers.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

An investigation reported in 2026 highlighted that reportedly fewer than half of the deals announced on 'Qui veut être mon associé?' eventually resulted in investment after filming, prompting criticism of the gap between televised promises and reality.

State of the evidence

Reported by the press

Attribution

Personally implicated

Angell recalled several thousand electric bicycles after discovering possible frame failures that could cause falls and injuries. The company asked users to stop riding the affected models, while recall and replacement costs aggravated its financial position.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

In 2012, Marc Simoncini was named among entrepreneurs considering moving to Belgium because of France's wealth tax (ISF), particularly as applied to his holdings in unlisted businesses. The episode fuelled debate over wealthy entrepreneurs leaving France for tax reasons.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Personally implicated

Marc Simoncini was among the entrepreneurs promoting and representing the 'Pigeons' movement, mobilised against plans for higher taxation of gains on business disposals in the 2013 budget. The campaign exerted considerable pressure on the government and contributed to changes to the proposal.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Personally implicated

Meetic and 2L Multimedia disputed the use of trademarks, domain names, search engine advertising and content in the dating website sector over several years. The litigation resulted in several rulings and a Paris Court of Appeal judgment in November 2011.

State of the evidence

Documented

Before the lawful opening of France's online gambling market, links between WAM-Poker, Patrick Bruel, Marc Simoncini and Winamax attracted the attention of French police intelligence services and the press. Authorities questioned whether real-money poker, then prohibited in France, was being promoted in advance of legalisation.

In May 2007, the Paris Commercial Court ordered Meetic to stop displaying sponsored links triggered by the keyword 'Easyrencontre', a trademark operated by 2L Multimedia, subject to a penalty of €500 per day for thirty days.

State of the evidence

Documented