Page 17 - Cci

CCI has an assertive agenda against cartels: Chief Sangeeta Verma

The Competition Commission of India (CCI), which replaced MRTP to usher in competitive and fair business practices in the country, has an assertive agenda against cartels, its chairperson Sangeeta Verma said on Friday. She said that cartels are bad and a cartelised market does not allow honest business. "The CCI has an assertive agenda against cartels. Cartels are bad for business and do not allow conduct of honest trade", Verma said at an event organised by MCCI here. Verma said the competition law will continue to create necessary safeguards and its enforcement may be supplemented by a suitable legislative framework. According to her, the CCI so far has received 1200 cases regarding abuse of dominance across sectors like airlines, infrastructure, automobiles, real estate and digital space. The commission had already imposed a penalty on Google for allegedly abusing its dominant position in the Android ecosystem. Verma said that the CCI is closely watching the digital space, add

India's anti-trust law raises penalty, seeks deposit before appeal

India's income tax law too requires a deposit of 20% before appeal

Delhi HC issues notice in Google's appeal against single judge order

The bench considered the submissions made by the senior counsels that the members who presently comprise the CCI are disqualified for any reason

HC seeks stand of start ups' body on Google's challenge to CCI probe

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought the stand of the Competition Commission of India and Alliance of Digital India Foundation (ADIF) on Google's challenge to an order asking the regulator to look into the tech giant's policy of allowing use of third-party payment processors for paid app downloads and in-app purchases on a commission basis. A bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad issued notice on Google's appeal against the single judge's order, which asked the Commission to consider the plea of ADIF, an alliance of individuals and an industry representative body of innovative start-ups in the country, against the new billing system on or before April 26. Senior advocate Sajan Poovayya, appearing for the appellant entity, said he was "not asking for an interim order" at this stage. "Issue notice," said the bench. On Tuesday, the court had refused to grant urgent hearing to Google on the appeal on the same day. Google had mentioned the appe

Billing policy: Google files appeal against single-judge order of Delhi HC

Group representing digital start-ups says tech giant's system charges high service fee, is contrary to CCI's orders

Google's new payment policy: Delhi HC asks CCI to take up plea by April 26

The case pertains to a Google Play Store policy that requires all app developers to only use Google Play's billing system (GPBS) to charge customers

Online gaming firms criticise Google for commission in alternative billing

Play Store allows alternate billing systems but service fees defeats purpose of fair play, they say

Delhi HC asks CCI to take up ADIF's complaints against Google by April 26

The new billing system will go into effect on April 26

CCI clears Berhyanda's 76% stake acquisition in Suven Pharmaceuticals

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) on Thursday said it has cleared Berhyanda Ltd's acquisition of a 76.10 per cent stake in pharmaceutical firm Suven Pharmaceuticals Ltd. Berhyanda Ltd is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Berhyanda Midco Ltd, which is an affiliate of Advent International Corporation. The proposed combination relates to the acquisition by Berhyanda Ltd for up to 76.10 per cent of the voting share capital of Suven Pharmaceuticals Ltd, by way of a share purchase agreement dated December 26, 2022, and pursuant to the mandatory open offer in compliance with Sebi's SAST (Substantial Acquisition of Shares and Takeovers) regulations, according to an official release. Suven Pharmaceuticals Ltd is a biopharmaceutical company that offers its services to global pharmaceutical and agrochemical majors. Deals beyond a certain threshold require approval from the regulator, which keeps a tab on unfair business practices in the marketplace.

Tatas, Singapore Airlines seek CCI nod for Vistara-Air India merger

Deal will not change competitive landscape, say parties

Indian start-ups may take legal route against Google in-app billing

They argue that the charges are "exorbitant", make any alternative billing apart from GPBS economically unviable for them

NCLAT's 'effects analysis' order on Google may hinder other big tech probes

Present competition law does not provide for effects analysis. Conducting one would mean letting anti-competitive practices continue and taking action once adverse effects have already been created

Google gets relief on four key CCI directives, but Rs 1,338-cr fine stays

NCLAT upholds competition watchdog's observation that Google misused dominant position in Android ecosystem

Google relieved after partial victory in Android antitrust case in India

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) said in October that Google had exploited its dominant position in Android and told it to remove restrictions imposed on device makers

NCLAT upholds Competition Commission's Rs 1,337 crore penalty on Google

The NCLAT bench comprising chairperson Justice Ashok Bhushan and member Alok Srivastava said that the CCI investigation was not in violation of the principles of natural justice

Competition Commission conducting inquiries against big tech firms: Govt

Competition Commission is conducting inquiries against Amazon, Flipkart, Zomato, Swiggy, BookMyShow, Apple, WhatsApp, Facebook (Meta) and Google for alleged anti-competitive practices, the government said on Tuesday. To a query in the Rajya Sabha on whether the government is aware of the fact that anti-competitive practices are indulged by big tech companies like Amazon, Flipkart, Google, Meta, Twitter, Apple, Facebook, Twitter and Google etc in the country, Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman replied in the affirmative. In a written reply, the Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister said the Competition Commission of India (CCI) after conducting inquiries in three different cases, passed orders in the matter related to Google on January 31, 2018, October 20, 2022, and October 25, 2022. In the matter related to MakeMyTrip-Go and OYO, the order was passed on October 19, 2022. "Appeals have been filed against these orders passed by CCI. Inquiries against Amazon, Flipkart, Zomato, Swiggy

CCI clears GMR Airports Infrastructure-Aeroports de Paris SA deal

Fair-trade regulator CCI on Friday said it has approved the proposed deal of GMR Airports Infrastructure and Aeroports de Paris SA (ADP) under the green channel route. The proposed combination involves ADP's proposed acquisition of and subscription to foreign currency convertible bonds (FCCB) issued by GMR Airports Infrastructure Ltd, according to a CCI notice. The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has cleared the deal. It has also given nod to the proposed intra-group merger of GMR Airports Ltd and GMR Infra Developers Ltd (GIDL) with and into GMR Airports Infrastructure Ltd. Also, the regulator has given its nod to the proposed acquisition by ADP (and its group entities) of equity shares and optionally convertible redeemable preference shares of GMR Airports Infrastructure post-merger, CCI said. On March 19, GMR Airports Infrastructure Ltd (GIL) announced the merger of GMR Airports Ltd with GIL. ADP is an international airport operator owned by the French Government, while G

CCI approves ADIA's stake buy in Lenskart under green channel route

Fair-trade regulator Competition Commission of India (CCI) on Thursday said it has given approval under the green channel route to Abu Dhabi Investment Authority for acquiring a stake in Lenskart Solutions Pvt Ltd (LSPL). Under the green channel route, wherein a transaction, which does not raise any risk of an appreciable adverse effect on competition, is deemed to be approved on being intimated to the competition watchdog. The proposed transaction relates to the proposed acquisition of a certain shareholding of LSPL by Platinum Jasmine A 2018 Trust (Platinum Jasmine), a notice filed with the CCI said. Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) is the sole beneficiary and settlor of Platinum Jasmine, while LSPL is engaged in the business of manufacture, sale and wholesale trading of eyewear products. CCI said it has approved the deal. Last week, Lenskart announced that it has signed definitive documents for a USD 500 million investment from a wholly-owned subsidiary of ADIA. "There ar

CCI clears investment by Qatar Investment Authority in BTS Investment 1 Pte

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) on Thursday said it has approved the proposed investment by Qatar Investment Authority in BTS Investment 1 Pte (BTS1), a Singapore-based pooled vehicle. QIA is a sovereign wealth fund of the State of Qatar, while BTS1 is an investment venture firm of James Murdoch's Lupa Systems and ex-chairman of Star and Disney India Uday Shankar. The proposed transaction relates to the proposed investment by Qatar Investment Authority in BTS1, which is raising capital from various investors for its investment in Viacom18, CCI said. Last year in February, Murdoch and Shankar announced the formation of the firm, Bodhi Tree Systems (BTS) raising up to USD 1.5 billion from QIA. Thereafter, in April, BTS said that it will invest Rs 13,500 crore in broadcaster Viacom18 as part of a tripartite partnership with billionaire Mukesh Ambani's Reliance, to form one of the largest TV and digital streaming firms in India. In September 2022, fair-trade regulator CCI on

CCI approves LIC AMC's acquisition of management rights over IDBI MF scheme

The proposed combination entails LIC AMC's acquisition of the rights to manage and administer the schemes of IDBI MF from IDBI AMC