Photo of Kirthi Srinivas

Partner in Competition/Antitrust Practice at the Mumbai Office of Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas.  Kirthi’s practice includes advising on merger control issues including filing pre-merger notifications with the Competition Commission of India, advising on competition compliance/risk assessment, and enforcement matters. Kirthi advises various companies, across manufacturing, retail, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, white goods, technology, telecom and other sectors, with respect to competition compliance, review of business arrangements, risk assessment and business and competition strategy. He can be reached at kirthi.srinivas@cyrilshroff.com

CCI’s Draft (Combinations) Regulations: Key Takeaways

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has published the draft CCI (Combinations) Regulations, 2023 (Draft M&A Regulations) on 5 September 2023 and has invited stakeholder comments, to be submitted by 25 September 2023. The Draft M&A Regulations would replace the current CCI (Procedure in regard to the transactions of business relating to combinations) Regulations, 2011 (Combinations Regulations, 2011).Continue Reading CCI’s Draft (Combinations) Regulations: Key Takeaways

Introduction

2022 was an eventful year for competition law in India. The Competition Commission of India (CCI) operated optimally approving combinations notified before it in reasonable timelines, conducting significant dawn raids, passing notable orders that made international headlines, and conducting market studies. The anticipated amendments to the Competition Act, 2002 (Act) were discussed ad nauseum in conference rooms and across coffee tables. Notable also is that the CCI has not had quorum for the formal conduct of business since Chairperson, Mr. Ashok Gupta demitted office on 24 October 2022, which has resulted in deals worth billions stuck without clearance.Continue Reading What’s Happening? 2022 Wrap of Competition Law in India

Competition Law

The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (“MCA”) has extended the suspension of the 30-day deadline for merger filings

India’s competition regime is mandatory and suspensory. A transaction cannot be completed (in whole or in part) unless the Indian competition regulator grants its approval.Continue Reading Update on Indian Merger Control Regime: The Small Target Exemption and pitfalls around jurisdictional thresholds for merger filings before the CCI

Penalty for penalty - CCI penalises Maruti Suzuki for indulging in resale price maintenance
In an order published on August 23, 2021, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) penalised Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL) to the tune of INR 2 billion (approx. USD 27 million) for restricting and controlling the discounts offered by its dealers to the end consumers. Such conduct by India’s leading passenger vehicle manufacturer was held to be anti-competitive resale price maintenance (RPM), and thus violative of the provisions of the Competition Act, 2002 (as amended) (Competition Act).
Continue Reading Penalty for penalty: CCI penalises Maruti Suzuki for indulging in resale price maintenance

CCI issues interim order to relist FabHotels and TreeboIn an interim order dated 9 March 2021[1], the Competition Commission of India (“CCI”) has asked MakeMyTrip India Private Limited (“MMT”) and Ibibo Group Private Limited (“Ibibo”) to relist the hotels of Casa2Stays Private Limited (“FabHotels”) and Rubtub Solutions Private Limited (“Treebo”) on their platforms.

The CCI granted interim relief while adjudicating the applications filed by Treebo and FabHotels. The Competition Act, 2002 (as amended) (“Act”) gives power to the CCI to grant temporary injunction restraining any party from carrying on acts which are in contravention of certain provisions of the Act, until the conclusion of such inquiry or until further orders.
Continue Reading CCI issues interim order to relist FabHotels and Treebo

Recently, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) published advocacy material in the form of a competition assessment toolkit intended for policymakers, researchers, analysts, and competition stakeholders; and a diagnostic toolkit for procurement officers. This furthers the CCI’s mandate of taking suitable measures for the promotion of competition advocacy, creating awareness and imparting training about competition issues.
Continue Reading CCI Diagnostic Toolkits for Competition Assessment and Procurement Officers in Competitive Tenders