Caixa's decision came after the Minister of the TCU (Union Court of Auditors) asked for clarification on the payroll of the Brazil Aid

A CEF informed at the end of the night that, following an orientation from the court Union accounts (TCU), froze for 24 hours the release of payroll loans from the Brazil aid requested this Monday (24).

Caixa established a 24-hour deadline because that was the interval that the TCU asked the bank to give explanations about the payroll of the Auxílio Brasil. During this period, according to the court, it would be prudent to suspend loan concessions.

“In the contracts that were signed today, CAIXA informs that there is no forecast for the release of financial amounts related to these requests, in the next 24 hours, automatically complying with the recommended prudence”, said the bank in a note.

TCU RECOMMENDS SUSPENSION OF APPEAL

WHAT DOES TCU SAY?

The request made to Caixa for clarification came from Minister Aroldo Cedraz, from the TCU. He suggested that Caixa, if it so wishes, out of prudence, immediately suspend the release of new loans in the payroll modality.

"As a measure of zeal with the public interest, until this Court examines the documentation to be forwarded and deems it capable of demonstrating that the serious irregularities suggested in the representation are not present".

The request made by Minister Cedraz was carried out within the process, opened at the request of the Public Ministry of Accounts, which asked the Court to analyze the procedures adopted by Caixa for granting payroll loans to beneficiaries of the Auxílio Brasil.

Politics involved?

The Deputy Attorney General of Public Prosecutor's Office at TCU, Lucas Rocha Furtado, declared that there was an alleged “use for purely electoral purposes and to the detriment of the bank’s related purposes”.

Lucas also asked the TCU to adopt a precautionary measure (urgent and provisional) ordering Caixa to “abstain from making new payroll loans for the beneficiaries of the Auxílio Brasil until this Court of Accounts definitively manifests itself on the matter”.

Oil and gas: With an increase in contracts in the offshore oil and gas sector, an air transport logistics company has a 50% growth in its helicopter operation unit

Accompanying the growth of the oil and gas sector in Brazil in recent years, Líder Aviação sees a strong expansion of its helicopter operations business unit, which provides services for this segment.

In 2022 alone, the company had a 50% increase in the number of air transport contracts for the oil and gas industry. “To increase and diversify even more this Lider operation, we invested about US$ 10 million in the area this year”, explains Junia Hermont, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Lider Aviation.

The company, which is a pioneer in helicopter operation for the oil and gas industry in Brazil, this business unit will have its fleet of aircraft expanded by around 30% later this year – to serve, among others, the new base and the new hangar in operation in the state of Rio de Janeiro. “By the way, it is worth mentioning that Rio concentrates around 40% of the bases of Líder for the Operation of Helicopters for the oil and gas industry in the country”, points out Junia.