[ad_1]
Rio de Janeiro – A Paraná Civil Police launched Mar di an operation to arrest the directors and commercial advisers of fuel distributors BR, Raízen and Ipiranga, the three largest in the country, suspected of joining a criminal gang formed to control the final price Eight leaders of the three companies were arrested because that they were suspected of being involved in the project, and the police also executed search and seizure warrants at the distributors' administrative headquarters in the capital of Paraná, the civilian police and the police
.
"The suspicion is that these distributors are abusively and criminally controlling the price," the civilian police said in an official note.
The three distributors, who together hold about two-thirds of the Brazilian diesel market and more According to investigators, 60% of the gasoline would prevent "free competition" in the capital of Paraná.
Among the prisoners are three commercial advisers from BR, a commercial director and an adviser from Ipiranga and a director and two advisers. from Raízen. A BR manager was also the subject of a search warrant.
BR Distribuidora is controlled by Petrobras, Raízen is a joint venture between Cosan and Shell, and Ipiranga belongs to the Ultrapar group. Shares of companies listed in B3 were down sharply on Tuesday
The operation "Margin Controlada" was triggered after more than a year of investigation by the Division of Corruption Control of the Civil Police and the Office of the Prosecutor of Defense. Curitiba consumer, an agency of the Public Prosecutor's Office of Paraná, the denunciation of the owners of service stations in Curitiba.
The surveys, which received rewards and controlled actions with the participation of station owners, pointed out that the managers and sales consultants of the three distributors sold the liter of fuel based on the price that would be charged by the owner of the corresponding flag station.
"Investigations revealed that, in addition to price control in the stations, the motoboys distributors who circulated around Curitiba taking pictures of the prices charged by the stations to see if they were in agreement with According to an example Specifically cited by the investigators, a distributor presented three options for buying and selling at its flag posts, and if the agreement had been reached at the time of the purchase of the fuel. It may not have been filled in. There could be retaliation, those who buy gas at 3.20 reais should sell at 3.39 reais, who bought at 3.25 reais, should sell at 3.49 reais, and whoever paid 3.32 should sell at 3.59 reais.
market dominance
According to the most recent data from the National Agency Brazil, Brazil, Brazil, Brazil, Brazil, Brazil, Canada, Brazil, Brazil, Brazil , Brazil, Brazil, Brazil, Brazil, BR, the largest distribu country, accounted for 31.07% of the diesel sales market in Brazil and 23.63% of the gasoline market during the period. Raízen had 21.1% of the diesel market and 20.44% of the gasoline market, while Ipiranga had 19.75% of the diesel market and 19.07% of the gasoline .
Raízen said that he follows the deployment of the police operation and is available to the authorities responsible for clarification, and said that prices at gasoline stations are set exclusively by the dealer without any interference.
fully complies with the legislation in force and still acts in a competitive manner with regard to the consumer and in favor of free competition, "he said.
Ipiranga also denied having An influence on the price charged at the pump will be taken as soon as you have access to the survey.
"The company points out that it does not encourage illegal practices, which It does not respect activities that violate its compliance program.
BR Distribuidora stated in a note that he governs his performance for "best business practices, competition, ethics and consumer respect", and requires the same behavior
Ultrapar, Cosan and BR fell heavily on the Sao Paulo Stock Exchange Tuesday morning after the outbreak of the operation by the Paraná Civil Police
. The shares of Ultrapar, owner of Ipiranga, fell by 5.6%, and Cosan shares lost 4.8%, among the biggest falls of Ibovespa, which retreated 1.17%.
The suspects will be responsible for crimes of economic power abuse and criminal organization, with sentences ranging from 2 to 13 years in prison.
[ad_2]
Source link
