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Appellate tribunal NCLAT on Tuesday set aside a section of a Competition Commission of India (CCI) order that had banned WhatsApp from sharing data with Meta Platforms for advertising purposes for five years. Modifying the order passed by the CCI on November 18, 2024, the NCLAT set aside section 247.1 of the 158-page-long order. However, the tribunal retained the Rs 213 crore penalty on the company and the rest of the order. "We are setting aside the findings of the Commission insofar as it holds breach of Section 4 (2)(D) and setting aside the directions in paragraph 247.1, (which stated) WhatsApp will not share user data collected on its platform with other data companies or advertising purposes for a period of five years from the date of receipt of this order," said NCLAT bench while pronouncing its order orally in the open court. "In respect of such sharing of data for advertising purposes, the rest of the impugned order is upheld. The order dated 18 November 2024 is modified ..
Fair trade regulator CCI on Tuesday cleared Torrent Pharmaceuticals Ltd's proposed acquisition of a stake in JB Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals, subject to voluntary modifications offered by the companies. The development came after Torrent Pharmaceuticals in June this year announced the acquisition of a majority stake in JB Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals in a Rs 19,500-crore deal. "The proposed combination relates to the acquisition of shareholding by Torrent Pharmaceuticals Ltd (acquirer) in JB Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals Ltd (target) and the subsequent amalgamation of the target with the acquirer," the regulator said in a release. After the completion of the deal, Torrent Pharmaceuticals will become India's second most valued pharma company. "The Commission approved the proposed combination subject to compliance with voluntary modifications offered by the parties (Torrent Pharmaceuticals Ltd and JB Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals Ltd)," it added. Torrent Pharmaceuticals is the ...
To curb AI-triggered unfair business practices, a CCI market study has suggested that enterprises need to conduct self-audits of their artificial intelligence systems to address potential competition concerns and also that the watchdog strengthen its technical capabilities as well as infrastructure. The study titled 'Market Study on Artificial Intelligence and Competition' released by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) on Monday also mooted the idea of setting up a "think tank to draw upon expertise on matters related to digital markets with special focus on AI" and undertake steps to promote inter-regulatory coordination. Apart from emphasising the need to strengthen CCI's technical capabilities and infrastructure, the study has also suggested that the regulator should engage with international competition authorities and multilateral competition platforms. The study also comes at a time when there are concerns about algorithmic collusion and AI-driven pricing strategies tha
Fair trade regulator CCI on Tuesday said it has given in-principle approval to Naveen Jindal-led Jindal Power's proposal to acquire debt-ridden Jaiprakash Associates, should it win a bid in the ongoing insolvency proceeding. Apart from Jindal Power, the proposals of PNC Infratech, Adani Group and Dalmia Bharat for JAL acquisition have been cleared by the regulator. "Commission approves acquisition of Jaiprakash Associates Limited by Jindal Power Ltd," the regulator said in a post on X. The Competition Commission of India (CCI) said it has approved the acquisition of Jaiprakash Associates Ltd (JAL) by Jindal Power. Following a recent ruling by the Supreme Court related to interpreting provisions of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), an approval from the competition watchdog is mandatory for submission of a resolution plan by the entity concerned. The entity must obtain the CCI nod before the resolution plan is voted upon by the Committee of Creditors (CoC) of the company ...
Fair trade regulator CCI has dismissed a complaint alleging abuse of dominance and anti-competitive practices by Emaar India Ltd and others in connection with its "Marbella" villa project in Gurugram. "The Commission finds that no prima facie case of contravention of the provisions of Sections 3 and 4 of the Act is made out against the opposite parties in the instant matter," according to an order passed by the Competition Commission of India (CCI). Section 3 and 4 pertain to anti-competitive agreements and abuse of dominant position, respectively. The case was based on a complaint filed by an informant who alleged that Emaar India Ltd, its group firm Emaar India Community Management, and several government departments including the Department of Town and Country Planning, Haryana, and the Union of India through DPIIT have violated the Sections 3 and 4 of the Competition Act. The complainant alleged that Emaar misused its dominant position by permitting construction of builder floo
A group of investors led by Multiples Equity on Tuesday received approval from the Competition Commission of India (CCI) to acquire stakes in luggage and travel accessories maker VIP Industries. VIP Industries promoters Dilip Piramal and Family in July had announced the sale of up to 32 per cent of their stake in the company to a consortium led by Multiples Equity, an alternative asset management company. The consortium comprises Multiples Private Equity Fund IV (MPEF), Multiples Private Equity Gift Fund IV (MPGF), Samvibhag Securities, Caratlane founder Mithun Padam Sacheti, and his brother, Siddhartha Sacheti. "The proposed combination relates to the acquisition of certain shareholding by Multiples Private Equity Fund IV, Multiples Private Equity Gift Fund IV, Samvibhag Securities Pvt Ltd, Mithun Sacheti and Siddhartha Sacheti in VIP Industries Ltd," the fair trade regulator said in a release. Multiples focuses on core sectors of financial services, pharma & healthcare, consumer