CADE’s General Superintendence investigates cartel in antifriction bearings market

The General Superintendence of the Administrative Council for Economic Defense – CADE opened on 10 October 2014 an administrative proceeding to investigate an alleged cartel formation in the national and international market of antifriction bearings (Administrative Proceeding no. 08012.005324/2012-59). These bearings are used as car parts and in the manufacturing process of a wide range of industries, such as mining, steel, cellulose and paper, petrochemical, food and beverages, agricultural, ceramics, among other industries.

The investigated companies are AB SKF, INA-Holding Schaeffler GmbH & Co., JTEKT Automotiva Brasil Ltda., JTEKT Corporation, Koyo Rolamentos do Brasil Ltda., Nachi Brasil Ltda., Nachi Fujikoshi Corp., NSK Brasil Ltda., NSK Europe Ltd., NSK Ltd., NTN-SNR Roulements S.A., Schaeffler Brasil Ltda., SKF do Brasil Ltda., SNR Rolamentos do Brasil Ltda., and Timken do Brasil Comércio e Indústria Ltda.

The evidence indicate the companies agreed to fix prices and other sensitive commercial conditions. In addition, they would also have agreed with the allocation of quotation requests and the division of the automotive, industrial and independent bearing replacement markets.

Such anticompetitive conducts would have occurred between 1986 and 2011. The illicit agreements would have been signed by the companies’ head offices abroad and their Brazilian subsidiaries.

With the administrative proceeding opening, the charged parties will be notified to present their defenses. After this phase, the General Superintendence will issue an opinion recommending either the condemnation or the case filing to CADE’s Administrative Tribunal, which is responsible for the final decision.