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Fair trade regulator CCI on Tuesday approved US-based Alpha Wave Global's proposed stake purchase in Nxtra Data, the data centre and cloud services arm of Bharti Airtel. Alpha Wave Global is acquiring a stake through Alpha Wave Ventures II, LP, a private equity fund co-managed by the alternative asset manager. The Competition Commission of India (CCI) said it has cleared the proposed deal. "CCI approves acquisition of certain shareholding in Nxtra Data Limited by Alpha Wave Ventures II, LP," the competition watchdog said in a post on X. In March this year, Bharti Airtel announced that its subsidiary Nxtra Data has secured USD 1 billion investment led by Alpha Wave Global, Carlyle and Anchorage Capital. Bharti Airtel, which will also participate in the investment round, will continue to retain a controlling stake in Nxtra. As part of the acquisition deal, Alpha Wave Global will invest USD 435 million, with the rest to be infused by Carlyle, Anchorage Capital and Airtel. After the
Fair trade regulator CCI on Wednesday approved a proposal of Blackstone-backed PE funds and other investors to acquire a stake in AI acceleration cloud provider Neysa Networks. The development came after Neysa, in February this year, announced that private equity funds affiliated with Blackstone and co-investors have entered into definitive agreements to invest in the company, enabling a USD 1.2 billion capital raise. The Competition Commission of India (CCI) said it has cleared the proposed deal. "CCI approves the acquisition of certain shareholding in Neysa Networks Private Limited by BCP Asia II Topco V Pte. Ltd, Asia II Topco XIV Pte. Ltd, and other investors," the competition watchdog said in a post on X. Other equity investors in the transaction include Teachers' Venture Growth, TVS Capital, 360 ONE Assets, and Nexus Ventures. Blackstone is the world's largest alternative asset manager with USD 1.3 trillion in assets under management, including global investment strategies .
Competition Commission seeks to strike the right balance to ensure that it neither stifles innovation with over-regulation nor allows the "winner-takes-all tyranny" of the Big Tech, the watchdog's member Sweta Kakkad said on Wednesday. Speaking at the 17th annual day function of the Competition Commission of India (CCI), she said the rise of artificial intelligence and its impact on pricing, algorithms and digital ecosystems are the newer challenges and that the regulator will deal with them efficiently. CCI has the mandate to keep a tab on unfair business practices and promote fair competition at the market place. "We are at the crossroads where the CCI tries to strike a balance that is just right, which neither stifles innovation with over-regulation nor allows the winner-takes-all tyranny of the Big Tech," she said. CCI has been taking action against unfair business practices in digital markets and has also passed orders against entities for violation of competition norms.
Appellate tribunal NCLAT on Tuesday set aside a Rs 301.6-crore penalty imposed on the Grasim Industries by CCI, directing the fair trade regulator to hear the Aditya Birla Group firm again over its alleged dominance in the viscose staple fibre (VSF) market. The tribunal observed that the CCI did not provide a chance to Grasim Industries to present their arguments, after it differed from the findings of DG, its probe Unit. The Competition Commission of India (CCI) had imposed a penalty on Grasim Industries in March 2020 for allegedly abusing its dominant position with respect to supply of VSF to spinners in India in which it has a dominant position. The order was challenged by Grasim before the NCLAT, which is also an appellate authority over CCI, which asked the regulator to hear afresh. A two-member National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) bench said the CCI itself has "differed from findings of the DG", its probe unit, regarding their directions for disclosure of ...