CADE signs agreement in cartel investigation related to international market of braking systems

On the hearing session of 10 May, the Tribunal of CADE signed a cease and desist agreement with the company Robert Bosch GMBH in a case related to a cartel in the international market of braking systems and components for light vehicles.

Based on the authority’s decision, and after Bosch admitted partaking in the practice, the company is to pay a financial contribution of more than BRL 4.5 million. The company has also agreed to cooperate with the antitrust authority’s investigation.

The President of CADE, Mr Alexandre Cordeiro, highlighted in his vote the relevance of the agreement to the course of proceedings. According to him, in addition to the information provided in the leniency agreement, the signatory of the cease and desist agreement makes a "relevant contribution that makes the case even more robust".

Upon the agreement, CADE suspended the proceedings in relation to Bosch until the company fully complies with the obligations.

Investigation

The investigation shows evidence of anticompetitive practices on the commercial conditions for supplying braking systems for light vehicles, with commercial and competitively sensitive information sharing.

The conduct occurred from at least January 2005 to May 2011 and involved three companies and eight current and former employees of the businesses.

The case is still under investigation by the Office of the Superintendent-General of CADE.