News for 'Competition Commission'

UltraTech acquisition fuels market consolidation talks

UltraTech acquisition fuels market consolidation talks

Rediff.com5 Jul 2024

Ultratech Cement's acquisition of a 23 per cent stake in Tamil Nadu-based India Cements is another instance of growing consolidation in the cement market in India. The deal will raise Ultratech's share, based on India Cements' revenues in FY24, in the domestic market by 230 basis points if the latter is formally acquired by the former in due course. India Cements' share was up 11.5 per cent on Thursday on market expectations of an open offer.

India's biggest media company is born. $10 bn Zee-Sony merger gets NCLT nod

India's biggest media company is born. $10 bn Zee-Sony merger gets NCLT nod

Rediff.com10 Aug 2023

The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) on Thursday allowed the merger of Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd and Culver Max Entertainment (earlier known as Sony Pictures Networks India). This order by the Mumbai bench, headed by H V Subba Rao and Madhu Sinha, will pave the way for the creation of a $10-billion media company, the biggest in the country. The tribunal also dismissed all objections regarding the merger.

Can Uday Shankar Recreate At Reliance-Disney What He Did In Star TV?

Can Uday Shankar Recreate At Reliance-Disney What He Did In Star TV?

Rediff.com11 Mar 2024

'The whole narrative will change from TV is dying to TV-plus-digital is the future.'

Tribunal directs Google to pay 10% of Rs 1,337.76 cr CCI penalty

Tribunal directs Google to pay 10% of Rs 1,337.76 cr CCI penalty

Rediff.com4 Jan 2023

The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal on Wednesday directed Google to pay 10 per cent of the Rs 1,337.76-crore penalty imposed on the tech giant by fair trade regulator CCI. A two-member bench, however, declined to grant any immediate stay the operations of Competition Commission of India (CCI) penalty and said it would pass any order after hearing out other parties. The appellate tribunal has issued notices to CCI and directed to list the matter on February 13, for hearing over interim stay.

Govt grants permanent commission of women in army

Govt grants permanent commission of women in army

Rediff.com23 Jul 2020

"The order specifies grant of permanent commission to Short Service Commissioned women officers in all 10 streams of the Indian Army," Army Spokesperson Col Aman Anand said.

Complaint against Amazon disposed

Complaint against Amazon disposed

Rediff.com4 Mar 2022

The Competition Commission has disposed of a complaint alleging unfair business practices by Amazon Seller Services Pvt Ltd and certain other related entities, saying that the allegations are devoid of requisite evidence. The complaint was filed by All India Online Vendors Association against Amazon Seller Services, Amazon Wholesale India, Amazon Retail India, Cloudtail India and Prione Business Services. The association comprises more than 2,000 sellers across the country, with its members selling various products on e-commerce marketplaces.

Union Budget 2024-25: MSMEs bat for Rs 5,000 crore export booster

Union Budget 2024-25: MSMEs bat for Rs 5,000 crore export booster

Rediff.com3 Jul 2024

India SME Forum, an organisation for small and medium businesses, has called for creating a dedicated fund of Rs 5000 crore for the export capacity development, promotion, and marketing of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in its Budget recommendation. The forum for MSMEs with over 98,000 members said that to enhance India's global competitiveness and increase its market share in global exports, it was "crucial to increase the number of active exporters and enable at least 3-4 lakh first-time micro, small, and medium exporters while supporting them in promoting Indian products globally."

ED allowed to share information about economic offenders with 15 more agencies

ED allowed to share information about economic offenders with 15 more agencies

Rediff.com28 Nov 2022

The government has allowed the Enforcement Directorate to share information about economic offenders with 15 more agencies, including SFIO, CCI and NIA, a move that will expedite nailing of law-breakers. The finance ministry notified changes to the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, on November 22. Through the notification, the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which deals primarily with cases of money laundering and violations of foreign exchange laws, would be able to share data with a total of 25 agencies, including the 10 specified earlier.

Wrestling restarts, elections get fair, wrestlers get a voice

Wrestling restarts, elections get fair, wrestlers get a voice

Rediff.com20 Mar 2024

The WFI will resume national camp from March 27, after after almost 16 months with Sonepat and Gandhinagar in Gujarat to be the likely venues for men and women respectively.

Cipla, Torrent may need to divest 15 brands in buyout deal: Bernstein

Cipla, Torrent may need to divest 15 brands in buyout deal: Bernstein

Rediff.com14 Sep 2023

As the market buzzes with news of Cipla promoters exiting the business through a stake sale and Ahmedabad-based Mehta family-led Torrent Pharmaceuticals racing to acquire its rival, Cipla, an analysis reveals that if the deal were to go through, both companies might need to divest as many as 15 brands to comply with Competition Commission of India (CCI) norms. A recent analysis by Bernstein shows that Cipla and Torrent share a presence in 332 products (based on product and molecule data from market research firm IQVIA). Bernstein analysts Nithya Balasubramanian and Parth Shah noted that, while this may appear as a high number, a significant portion of these products lack significance.

Fintech major PhonePe takes on Google, Apple with homegrown Indus Appstore

Fintech major PhonePe takes on Google, Apple with homegrown Indus Appstore

Rediff.com22 Feb 2024

Fintech major PhonePe on Wednesday announced the launch of its homegrown Indus Appstore specifically for the Indian market, in a bid to compete with global incumbents like Google Play Store and Apple's App Store. The Indus Appstore is PhonePe's attempt at creating a more competitive and localised mobile app store economy for India, which is already the world's largest market for mobile apps.

Google on Rs 936 cr fine slapped by CCI

Google on Rs 936 cr fine slapped by CCI

Rediff.com26 Oct 2022

Slapped with a second hefty fine for anti-competitive practices, Google India on Wednesday said it remains committed to users and developers and is reviewing the antitrust body's order to evaluate next steps. The Competition Commission of India (CCI) on Tuesday slapped a Rs 936 crore fine on Google for "abusing" its dominant position on its Android mobile app store and ordered it not to prevent app developers from using third-party billing or payment processing services in India. That penalty came just days after a Rs 1,337.76 crore fine was imposed on it for abusing the dominant position of its Android smartphone operating system. Commenting on Tuesday's CCI order, a Google India spokesperson said Indian app developers have benefited from the technology, security, consumer protection, choice and flexibility that Android and Google Play provide.

Modi's goal to make India high-income country by 2047 unlikely: Financial Times expert

Modi's goal to make India high-income country by 2047 unlikely: Financial Times expert

Rediff.com5 Jul 2024

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's goal of making India a high-income economy by 2047 is unlikely to be achieved, but the country should become an upper middle-income nation by then, Financial Times chief economics commentator Martin Wolf said on Friday. Wolf further said that India would also become a superpower by 2047. "India wishes to become a high-income country by 2047.

Google slams CCI enquiry; says it's 'tainted'

Google slams CCI enquiry; says it's 'tainted'

Rediff.com4 Jan 2023

Google has termed as "tainted" the investigations done against it by CCI, contending that the two informants on whose complaint the fair trade regulator has initiated the enquiry were working at the same office that was investigating the tech major. This was "against the principles of natural justice", Google said in the petition filed before the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT), adding the Competition Commission of India (CCI) should have refrained from initiating an investigation based on a complaint filed by their own employees. "At the very least, the Commission could have debarred the Informants from working in the DG office while the investigation was ongoing, to ensure that the investigating officer was able to impartially assess the case without any influence, such that no concerns could arise on the independence of the investigation," said Google.

CCI slaps Rs 936.44 cr fine on Google over Play Store policies

CCI slaps Rs 936.44 cr fine on Google over Play Store policies

Rediff.com25 Oct 2022

In its second ruling against Google in less than a week, the Competition Commission on Tuesday slapped a penalty of Rs 936.44 crore on the internet major for abusing its dominant position with respect to its Play Store policies.

Google approaches tribunal against CCI's order on Android

Google approaches tribunal against CCI's order on Android

Rediff.com23 Dec 2022

Google has approached the appellate tribunal NCLAT challenging the CCI's order on unfair business practices in Android mobile device ecosystem, the company spokesperson said on Friday. The Competition Commission in October slapped a steep penalty of Rs 1,337.76 crore on internet giant Google for abusing its dominant position in multiple markets in relation to Android mobile devices and ordered the internet major to cease and desist from various unfair business practices. A Google spokesperson told PTI: "We have decided to appeal the CCI's decision on Android as we believe it presents a major setback for our Indian users and businesses who trust Android's security features, and potentially raising the cost of mobile devices."

CCI refuses to pass interim order restricting Google

CCI refuses to pass interim order restricting Google

Rediff.com21 Mar 2024

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) on Wednesday declined an interim relief order that would restrain Google from levying service fees on app developers until a final decision is made by the regulator. The CCI also said the Director General (DG) would continue its investigation as ordered by the commission in its March 15 order. "The Commission is of the considered opinion that no case whatsoever has been made out by the informants which warrant the grant of interim relief. Resultantly, the applications stand dismissed," said the CCI while rejecting the plea by app developers in its order.

NEET issue to reverberate in Parl, exam's credibility under question: Oppn

NEET issue to reverberate in Parl, exam's credibility under question: Oppn

Rediff.com24 Jun 2024

The credibility of the examination system has also come under question, they said.

GST anti-profiteering complaints to be taken up by CCI from Dec 1

GST anti-profiteering complaints to be taken up by CCI from Dec 1

Rediff.com15 Nov 2022

All GST anti-profiteering complaints would be dealt with by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) from December 1 as the extended tenure of National Anti-profiteering Authority ends this month, an official said on Tuesday. A notification in this regard is expected to be issued by the finance ministry later this month, the official added. The National Anti-profiteering Authority (NAA) was set up in November 2017 under Section 171A of Goods and Services Tax (GST) law to check unfair profiteering activities by registered suppliers.

Regulate Big Tech's AI Now!

Regulate Big Tech's AI Now!

Rediff.com21 Mar 2024

Regulators must learn from past mistakes and act swiftly to prevent Big Tech from monopolising the AI ecosystem, argue Payal Malik and Nikita Jain.

Indian Biz Sees Hope After Bangladesh SC Order

Indian Biz Sees Hope After Bangladesh SC Order

Rediff.com22 Jul 2024

'Bilateral trade has suffered seriously because of the growing unrest.' 'There is a standstill on both sides amid the curfew.'

CCI gives conditional nod to Sony-Zee merger deal

CCI gives conditional nod to Sony-Zee merger deal

Rediff.com4 Oct 2022

The Competition Commission of India on Tuesday approved with certain conditions the mega-merger deal between media groups Sony and Zee. In a tweet, the watchdog said it has cleared the deal with certain modifications. The proposed merger was announced in September last year. CCI said it has approved the "amalgamation of Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEE) and Bangla Entertainment Private Limited (BEPL) with Culver Max Entertainment Private Limited (CME), with certain modifications".

Rs 200 cr penalty: Maruti gets relief, but with rider

Rs 200 cr penalty: Maruti gets relief, but with rider

Rediff.com22 Nov 2021

Appellate tribunal NCLAT on Monday stayed the Rs 200 crore penalty imposed by the Competition Commission on Maruti Suzuki but directed the car maker to deposit 10 per cent of the total amount within three weeks. The amount has to be deposited with the Registrar of the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT). A three-member NCLAT bench stayed the demand notice issued on October 27 to the car maker, subject to the condition of depositing 10 per cent of the penalty amount.

Should My Son Work In A Reputed Firm Or A Start-Up?

Should My Son Work In A Reputed Firm Or A Start-Up?

Rediff.com9 Sep 2024

rediffGURU Nayagam PP counsels students and aspiring professionals on how to pick the right courses and scale up in your career.

Google's 'castle and moat' strategy is data hegemony: CCI

Google's 'castle and moat' strategy is data hegemony: CCI

Rediff.com16 Mar 2023

Fair trade regulator CCI on Thursday alleged that Google has created a digital data hegemony and called for a market space with "free, fair and open competition". Concluding the arguments of the Competition Commission of India (CCI) before the appellate tribunal NCLAT in the Google matter, Additional Solicitor General N Venkataraman said a market with greater freedom for all players would be in total sync with principles of free competition rather than the 'walled garden' approach of the internet major. On October 20 last year, the CCI slapped a penalty of Rs 1,337.76 crore on Google for anti-competitive practices in relation to Android mobile devices.

Cartelisation is going to be a challenge: Sitharaman

Cartelisation is going to be a challenge: Sitharaman

Rediff.com20 May 2022

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday flagged concerns about possible cartelisation in markets and stressed on the need to look into the causes of short supply of commodities. Speaking at the 13th annual day function of the Competition Commission of India (CCI), the minister also said that the regulator needs to have a "proactive understanding" of mergers and acquisitions. "Cartelisation is going to be a challenge...," the minister said.

PayU Payment's acquisition of BillDesk gets CCI nod

PayU Payment's acquisition of BillDesk gets CCI nod

Rediff.com5 Sep 2022

Competition Commission of India (CCI) on Monday granted its approval for the acquisition of 100 per cent equity of indiaideas.com (BillDesk) by PayU Payments. The proposed combination relates to the acquisition of 100 per cent of the equity share capital of India Ideas Ltd (IIL) by PayU India. In a tweet on Monday, CCI said it approved, "acquisition of 100% of the equity share capital of IndiaIdeas.com (BillDesk) by PayU Payments."

CCI clears Tata-Air India deal

CCI clears Tata-Air India deal

Rediff.com20 Dec 2021

Competition Commission has approved Tata Group's proposed acquisition of debt-laden Air India as well as its two subsidiaries. The Rs 18,000 crore-deal that includes the winning bidder Talace taking over Rs 15,300 crore-worth debt, is a major step in the government's efforts over the years to revive the ailing airline. Talace Pvt Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tata Sons, emerged as the winning bidder in October.

Google now says will cooperate with CCI on way forward

Google now says will cooperate with CCI on way forward

Rediff.com20 Jan 2023

With the Supreme Court turning down Google's plea for a stay on the CCI order, the tech giant on Friday said it is reviewing the details of the decision which is limited to interim relief and did not decide the merits of the appeal. The company said it remains committed to users and partners and "will cooperate with the CCI on the way forward in parallel with our appeal." In a setback to Google, the Supreme Court on Thursday endorsed the order of the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) declining to grant an interim stay on the imposition of Rs 1,337 crore penalty on the US tech major by the competition regulator for allegedly abusing its dominant position in the Android mobile device ecosystem.

Approval for Amazon-Future Coupons deal suspended

Approval for Amazon-Future Coupons deal suspended

Rediff.com17 Dec 2021

In a significant development, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) on Friday suspended its more than two-year-old approval for Amazon's deal to acquire stake in Future Coupons Pvt Ltd and also imposed a Rs 202 crore penalty on the e-commerce major for certain contraventions. This comes amid a bitter legal battle between Amazon and Future Group over the latter's proposed Rs 24,713 crore-deal with Reliance Retail Ventures Ltd (RRVL). Against this backdrop, Future Group had complained to the CCI.

Nitish appoints new JD-U working president, seeks special status for Bihar

Nitish appoints new JD-U working president, seeks special status for Bihar

Rediff.com29 Jun 2024

The party's national executive meeting chaired by its president and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar flagged price rise and unemployment as "burning issues"

M&M gets CCI nod to drive Ford's Indian business

M&M gets CCI nod to drive Ford's Indian business

Rediff.com11 Feb 2020

The automotive business includes vehicle manufacturing plants of Ford India in Chennai and Sanand.

Adani, Tata eye bigger pie in Mumbai power distribution

Adani, Tata eye bigger pie in Mumbai power distribution

Rediff.com6 May 2024

As Mumbai's real estate and electric vehicle penetration grows, two of the city's private power distribution companies, Adani Electricity and Tata Power, are eyeing a bigger business pie, particularly betting on high-value customers. Adani Electricity Mumbai (AEML), the subsidiary which houses Adani Energy Solutions' Mumbai distribution business, recorded a six per cent growth in total units sold in the financial year 2023-24 (FY24), the company's presentation shows. This gain came at over 13 per cent growth in the year-ago period.

Explained: How National Testing Agency functions

Explained: How National Testing Agency functions

Rediff.com27 Jun 2024

Here is an explainer on the functioning of the seven-year-old body.

Google begins reinstating Indian apps after govt intervention

Google begins reinstating Indian apps after govt intervention

Rediff.com6 Mar 2024

Google on Tuesday began reinstating about 250 Indian apps it had delisted from its Play Store over a billing dispute as it caved in to government criticism, but the squabble may not yet be over.

Tatas get CCI nod to acquire 64.3% stake in BigBasket

Tatas get CCI nod to acquire 64.3% stake in BigBasket

Rediff.com29 Apr 2021

The Competition Commission of India has approved Tatas' proposal to acquire up to 64.3 per cent stake in BigBasket, a deal that will provide the diversified group a strong foothold in the fast-growing online grocery market.

As Karnataka ministers seek 3 more deputy CMs, Shivakumar says...

As Karnataka ministers seek 3 more deputy CMs, Shivakumar says...

Rediff.com25 Jun 2024

Seemingly expressing his displeasure against ministers demanding three more deputy chief minister posts in Karnataka, state Congress president D K Shivakumar on Tuesday said the party would respond to them appropriately.

'BJP Sent Maliwal On A Mission To Entangle Kejriwal'

'BJP Sent Maliwal On A Mission To Entangle Kejriwal'

Rediff.com29 May 2024

'I have no doubt that when she was prevented from meeting Kejriwal, she felt humiliated.'

Tribunal reserves order on Zee, Sony merger

Tribunal reserves order on Zee, Sony merger

Rediff.com11 Jul 2023

The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) has reserved its order on the merger of Zee Entertainment Enterprises and with Culver Max Entertainment (earlier known as Sony Pictures Networks India). The Mumbai bench of NCLT, comprising H V Subba Rao and Madhu Sinha, reserved the order on Monday, after hearing arguments from creditors who objected to the scheme including Axis Finance, JC Flower Asset Reconstruction Co, IDBI Bank, Imax Corp and IDBI Trusteeship. In December 2021, Zee Entertainment and Sony Pictures had agreed to merge their businesses.

Sony agrees to discuss extending Dec 21 deadline for merger, says ZEEL

Sony agrees to discuss extending Dec 21 deadline for merger, says ZEEL

Rediff.com20 Dec 2023

Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd on Wednesday said Culver Max Entertainment, formerly known as Sony Pictures Networks India, has agreed to discuss extending the date required to make their merger scheme effective, a day ahead of the deadline. A day after Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) stated that it has not yet agreed to a deadline extension requested by Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (ZEEL) for their proposed $10-billion merger, the Subhash Chandra family-promoted media firm said it has received a communication from Sony group for discussing an extension of the deal which was announced almost two years ago.