The Brazilian Antitrust Tribunal fines medical gas companies more than USD 1.3 billion for conspiracy (SDE/MJ/AGA)

SDE/MJ ex officio v. AGA S.A et al., better known as the medical and industrial gases Cartel - price fixing and market division conspiracy in the medical and industrial gas market. The investigation began in December 2003, and CADE’s decision was reached in May 2008. Some customers who suffered losses launched private actions for damages. Background of the dispute The case refers to an Administrative Process filed by the Secretariat of Economic Law (SDE/MJ) to investigate an anonymous tip suggesting the existence of a cartel in the medical and industrial gas market. The companies said to be involved were AGA S.A. (succeeded by Linde Gases Ltda.), Air Liquide Brasil Ltda., Air Products Brasil Ltda., Indústria Brasileira de Gases Ltda. and White Martins Gases Industriais Ltda. The process