Cade weighs conviction recommendation in HR data-sharing probe covering Klabin and Suzano
The general superintendence of Brazil's competition authority Cade has gathered more than 2,000 pieces of evidence in an investigation into the alleged systematic exchange of salary, pay-rise and benefits data between HR executives at more than 50 large companies between 1994 and 2021, among them Klabin and Suzano. People following the case say the technical staff is weighing whether to recommend that Cade's tribunal convict the companies, and whether the conduct amounts to a cartel; a finding against them could bring fines of up to 20% of gross revenue in the year before the alleged infringement, plus damages claims in court. Several of the companies say they comply with competition law and describe the exchanges as benchmarking, and some argue Cade has no jurisdiction over the practice.
Why this mattersA conviction would expose two major Brazilian forest-products groups to fines measured against group revenue and make labour-market information sharing an antitrust risk sector-wide.
- Cade's general superintendence has collected more than 2,000 pieces of evidence in the case
- More than 50 companies are under investigation, including the listed groups Klabin and Suzano
- The alleged exchanges of salary, pay-rise and benefits data ran from 1994 to 2021
- A conviction could bring fines of up to 20% of gross revenue in the year before the alleged infringement began, and open the way to damages claims in court
- The investigation began in 2020 from a leniency agreement with a company whose name is confidential; the administrative proceeding was opened in 2024
- Of the companies contacted by Folha, 16 replied and generally said they comply with the law, 12 declined to comment and 30 did not respond