Need for Competition Act in a globalised world,
which is a single platform for carrying out trade
and commerce
Topics Covered
Meaning of Competition
Advantages of
Healthy
Competition
Economic Efficiency
and Welfare
Consumer
Welfare
Better Quality goods
and Services
Reduction in
corruption and
lobbying
Better
Accountability
and
Transparency
MRTP Act, 1969
Enforced in June 1970
Objectives
Control Monopolies and
Monopolistic Trade Practices
1
Prevention of Concentration of
Economic Power in few hands
2
Regulate Restrictive
Trade Practices
3
Regulate Unfair Trade
Practices
4
Monopolistic Trade Practices
1
Practices that,
1.Prevent or lessen competition in,
2.Production, Supply or Distribution of,
3.Goods or Services by,
4.Misusing one’s power in the market
Concentration of Economic Power
2
Restrictive Trade Practices
3
Practices that,
1. Obstruct the flow of capital or
2. Resources in the stream of production
Unfair Trade Practices
4
Practices that,
1. Involve adoption of unfair methods and /or deceptive
practices for,
2. Promoting sale,
3. Use or
4. Supply of,
5. Goods or Services
Shortcomings of MRTP
• Anti-welfaristic results
• Stringent Provisions
• Ambiguity
• International Norms
v/sMRTP Competition Act
Based on pre reform scenario Based on Post-reform scenario
Based on size/ structure as a factor Based on conduct as a factor
Frowns upon dominance Frowns upon abuse of dominance
Complex in arrangement and language
Simple in arrangement, language and
easily comprehensible
Registration of agreements
compulsary
No registration requirement
Regulation authority appointed
by the government
Competition commission
selected by a collegium
Reactive and rigid Proactive and flexible
Little administrative and financial
autonomy
Relatively higher administrative and
financial autonomy
No regulation for combinations
Combinations regulated beyond a
threshold
v/sMRTP Competition Act
Competition Act, 2002
Main Components
Anti - Competitive
Agreements
Abuse of
Dominance
Regulation of
Combinations
Competition
Advocacy
Anti-Competitive
Agreements
An agreement entered into by,
or OR or
with respect to,
1. Production,
2. Supply,
3. Distribution,
4. Storage,
5. Acquisition or control of goods,
6. or provision of services,
That may cause an Appreciable Adverse Effect
on the Competition
Types of Anti-Competitive Agreements
Horizontal Agreements
Agreements by,
Persons or Association of Persons
Or
Enterprises or Association of Enterprises
dealing in identical or similar goods or
services
Manufacturer A Manufacturer B
Retailer
Types of Anti-Competitive Agreements
Horizontal Agreements
Determine
Purchase/ Sale
price
Control
Production,
Supply, Tech
Developments,
investments etc.
Sharing/
Allocation of
market based
on geography or
markets
Bid rigging
Types of Anti-Competitive Agreements
Vertical Agreements
Any agreement amongst
enterprises or persons,
1. at different stages or levels of the
production chain
2. in different markets,
3. in respect of production, supply,
distribution, storage, sale or price of
or trade in goods or provision of
services
Manufacturer A Manufacturer B
Retailer
Types of Anti-Competitive Agreements
Vertical Agreements
Tie - in Refusal to Deal
Exclusive Supply
Exclusive Distribution
Re-sale Price Maintenance
Abuse of
Dominance
• Operate independently of competitive forces
prevailing in the relevant market; or
• Affect competitors or consumers or the relevant
market in company’s favour.
Dominant Position
Abuse of Dominance
Abuse of Dominance
Determining Abuse of Dominance
Determination of relevant
market
Ascertainment of dominance of
enterprise/ group in relevant market
Determination of Abuse by
dominant enterprise
1
2
3
Abuse of Dominance
Determining Relevant Market
The Act lays down the following factors that help
determine a relevant market :
Relevant Product Market
Relevant Geographic Market
Abuse of Dominance
Relevant Product Market
Abuse of Dominance
Relevant Geographic Market
Regulation of
Combinations
Covers,
- acquisition of control,
- of shares, voting rights, assets and
- merger or amalgamation.
by one or more,
- person or group of persons or
- Enterprise or group of enterprises
Combination :
Regulation of Combinations
The Competition Act prohibits any combination that has an
Appreciable Adverse effect on the competition.
Regulation of Combinations
- Prior approval from CCI
- Monetary Thresholds
- Intimation to CCI 30 days after board approval, or execution
of any document/ agreement for proposed combination.
Regulation of Combinations
Monetary Thresholds
In India
Applicable to Assets Turnover
Individual Rs. 1500 Cr. Rs. 4500 Cr.
Group Rs. 6000 Cr. Rs. 18,000 Cr.
In and Outside
India
Assets Turnover
Total
Minimum Indian
Component
Total
Minimum Indian
Component
Individual $750 Mn. Rs. 750 Cr. $2250 Mn. Rs. 2250 Cr.
Group $3 Bn. Rs. 750 Cr. $9 Bn. Rs. 2250 Cr.
Regulation of Combinations
Competition
Advocacy CCI’s Role in pro-actively brining
Government policies for,
- Reducing barriers to trade
- Trade Liberalisation
- Promote Competition
Competition Commission of India
Competition Commission of India
- Established on 14th Oct 2003
- Became functional in May 2009
- Head office at New Delhi
- Composition,
- Chairman
- 2 to 6 members (Experts with
15+ years experience)
Competition Commission of India
Duties of the Commission
• to eliminate practices having adverse effect on competition;
• to promote and sustain competition;
• to protect interests of consumers and
• to ensure freedom of trade carried on by other participants, in
markets in India.
• Extra territorial reach
Competition Commission of India
Process of Filing Complaints (Sec. 19)
Competition Commission of India
Notable Cases
BCCI v/s Franchise Owners DLF v/s Apartment buyers
• payments made by the buyers must be
based on construction milestones and
not "on demand“
• The builder will not have complete
ownership of open spaces within the
residential project area not sold
Jan 2013Feb 2013
• CCI imposed a penalty
of US$8.2 million on BCCI for misusing
its dominant position
• IPL franchise agreements were loaded
in favor of BCCI and franchises had no
say in the terms of the contract.
CCI in Numbers
CCI in Numbers
Status of Cases (2009 to 31st March 2014)
Total Cases : 461
CCI in Numbers
Sources of Enquiry (31st March 2014)
Total Cases : 461
Cases before
the commission
2013 - 14
Cases before
the commission
2012 - 13
CCI in Numbers
Monetary Penalties (2009 - 2014)
Description Nos.
1
Total number of matters and total amount of monetary
penalties levied
35 Cases. Amount of Penalty
levied is Rs. 9886.96 crore
2
Total amount realized without taking action as mentioned
under Section 39(2)
Rs. 72,74,53,618/-
3 Number of matters referred to income tax authorities Nil
4
Amount therein referred by income-tax authorities as
arrears of tax
Nil
Indian Competition act in light of
Global Environment
Indian Competition Act in Global Environment
Comparison with Chinese Competition Law, 2008
Categories Indian Competition Act, 2002 Chinese Competition Law, 2008
Aim of Law
Shifting the focus of Indian economy from curbing
monopolies to promoting competition.
To separate government activities from business management
and promote healthy development of the socialist market
economy
Tribunal Provides for a Board Does not provide for a competition tribunal
Objectives
1) Safeguard and promote the order of market competition,
2) Protect consumers and the public interest
3) eliminate practices having adverse effect on
competition,
4) ensure freedom of trade carried on by other
participants in markets in India3.
3)guard against monopolistic conduct,
4) improve economic efficiency
5) promote the healthy development of the socialist market
economy.
One regime
Law establishes a two tier enforcement regime which includes
(i) The Anti-monopoly Commission (ii) the Anti-Monopoly
Indian Competition Act in Global Environment
Comparison with Chinese Competition Law, 2008
Categories Indian Competition Act, 2002 Chinese Competition Law, 2008
Conduct Applicable to monopolistic conducts
Targets a special type of monopolistic conduct, i.e.
administrative monopoly, which is a distinctive feature
of the communist regime that exists in China.
Extra Terrestrial
Conduct
Does not distinguish between agreements
entered within India and outside India, but it
focuses - in either cases on the presence of
AAEC.
Distinguishes
Presumptions
Introduces a presumption of anti-competitive
behavior only in case of horizontal restrictions
while evidence that vertical restrictions have an
AAEC is required.13
No presumption of monopolistic conduct but the
effects on competition (i.e. eliminate or restrict) in the
domestic Chinese market should be proven case by
case.
Case study
Adani Gas penalised for its abuse of dominance
Abuse of Dominance
?
Abusing its dominance in the
relevant market of ‘supply and
distribution of natural gas in
Faridabad’ by incorporating
unconscionable and one
sided terms in the Gas Supply
Agreement (‘GSA’)
Case Cause
on July 3, 2014, the CCI
imposed a fine of over Rs. 25
crores on Adani Gas Ltd. for
abusing its dominant position
in the natural gas supply
market.
Unfair Conditions in the GSA
• No liability for reimbursement in case of excess payment
• Buyer’s liability to pay interest in case of delayed
payment
• No liability to pay interest in case of dispute
• Lesser compliance time to buyers, longer compliance
time from suppliers
• No liability to pay interest in case any amount becomes
due
Adani Gas penalised for its abuse of dominance
Final Order
• CCI directed AGL to stop indulging in these practices
and modify the GSA accordingly
• A penalty of Rs. 25.67 crore was imposed
Adani Gas penalised for its abuse of dominance
Regulation of Combinations
Sun Pharma - Ranbaxy Merger
Facts Findings
Sun Pharma and Ranbaxy
had filed the notice with the
CCI on 06.05.2014, in
relation to merger.
The Commission observed
that there are horizontal
overlaps between the
products of the Parties
Findings
Sun Pharma - Ranbaxy Merger
• The commission held a meeting on 07.07.2014 and formed
a opinion that the proposed combination would likely cause
an adverse effect on competition in the relevant markets in
India.
• The Commission noted that various generic brands of a
given molecule are chemical equivalents and are
considered to be substitutable. Therefore, the molecule level
would be most appropriate for defining relevant markets on
the basis of substitutability
Horizontal Overlaps found
Sun Pharma - Ranbaxy Merger
Proposals by the CCI
Sun Pharma - Ranbaxy Merger
Sun Pharma shall divest:
All products containing Tamsulosin + Tolterodine, Leuprorelin.
Ranbaxy shall divest:
All products containing Terlipresslin, Rosuvastatin + Ezetimibe,
Olanzapine + Fluoxetine,Levosulpiride + Esomeprazole, Olmesartan
+ Amlodipine + Hydroclorthiazide.
Modification(amendments) to the proposed combination:
Sun Pharma shall divest all products containing Tamsulosin +
Tolterodine and the rest products would be divestified by Ranbaxy.
Final Order
Sun Pharma - Ranbaxy Merger
• The Commission thus approved the proposed merger
between Sun Pharma and Ranbaxy.
• The Commission also directed that the proposed merger
shall not take effect before the Parties have carried out
the divestiture of the products.
• The combined entity would be the largest pharmaceutical
company in India and the fifth-largest generic player
globally by sales.
Conclusion

Competition Act

  • 1.
    Need for CompetitionAct in a globalised world, which is a single platform for carrying out trade and commerce
  • 2.
  • 3.
  • 4.
    Advantages of Healthy Competition Economic Efficiency andWelfare Consumer Welfare Better Quality goods and Services Reduction in corruption and lobbying Better Accountability and Transparency
  • 5.
    MRTP Act, 1969 Enforcedin June 1970 Objectives Control Monopolies and Monopolistic Trade Practices 1 Prevention of Concentration of Economic Power in few hands 2 Regulate Restrictive Trade Practices 3 Regulate Unfair Trade Practices 4
  • 6.
    Monopolistic Trade Practices 1 Practicesthat, 1.Prevent or lessen competition in, 2.Production, Supply or Distribution of, 3.Goods or Services by, 4.Misusing one’s power in the market
  • 7.
  • 8.
    Restrictive Trade Practices 3 Practicesthat, 1. Obstruct the flow of capital or 2. Resources in the stream of production
  • 9.
    Unfair Trade Practices 4 Practicesthat, 1. Involve adoption of unfair methods and /or deceptive practices for, 2. Promoting sale, 3. Use or 4. Supply of, 5. Goods or Services
  • 10.
    Shortcomings of MRTP •Anti-welfaristic results • Stringent Provisions • Ambiguity • International Norms
  • 11.
    v/sMRTP Competition Act Basedon pre reform scenario Based on Post-reform scenario Based on size/ structure as a factor Based on conduct as a factor Frowns upon dominance Frowns upon abuse of dominance Complex in arrangement and language Simple in arrangement, language and easily comprehensible Registration of agreements compulsary No registration requirement
  • 12.
    Regulation authority appointed bythe government Competition commission selected by a collegium Reactive and rigid Proactive and flexible Little administrative and financial autonomy Relatively higher administrative and financial autonomy No regulation for combinations Combinations regulated beyond a threshold v/sMRTP Competition Act
  • 13.
  • 14.
    Main Components Anti -Competitive Agreements Abuse of Dominance Regulation of Combinations Competition Advocacy
  • 15.
    Anti-Competitive Agreements An agreement enteredinto by, or OR or with respect to, 1. Production, 2. Supply, 3. Distribution, 4. Storage, 5. Acquisition or control of goods, 6. or provision of services, That may cause an Appreciable Adverse Effect on the Competition
  • 16.
    Types of Anti-CompetitiveAgreements Horizontal Agreements Agreements by, Persons or Association of Persons Or Enterprises or Association of Enterprises dealing in identical or similar goods or services Manufacturer A Manufacturer B Retailer
  • 17.
    Types of Anti-CompetitiveAgreements Horizontal Agreements Determine Purchase/ Sale price Control Production, Supply, Tech Developments, investments etc. Sharing/ Allocation of market based on geography or markets Bid rigging
  • 18.
    Types of Anti-CompetitiveAgreements Vertical Agreements Any agreement amongst enterprises or persons, 1. at different stages or levels of the production chain 2. in different markets, 3. in respect of production, supply, distribution, storage, sale or price of or trade in goods or provision of services Manufacturer A Manufacturer B Retailer
  • 19.
    Types of Anti-CompetitiveAgreements Vertical Agreements Tie - in Refusal to Deal Exclusive Supply Exclusive Distribution Re-sale Price Maintenance
  • 20.
    Abuse of Dominance • Operateindependently of competitive forces prevailing in the relevant market; or • Affect competitors or consumers or the relevant market in company’s favour. Dominant Position Abuse of Dominance
  • 21.
    Abuse of Dominance DeterminingAbuse of Dominance Determination of relevant market Ascertainment of dominance of enterprise/ group in relevant market Determination of Abuse by dominant enterprise 1 2 3
  • 22.
    Abuse of Dominance DeterminingRelevant Market The Act lays down the following factors that help determine a relevant market : Relevant Product Market Relevant Geographic Market
  • 23.
  • 24.
    Abuse of Dominance RelevantGeographic Market
  • 25.
    Regulation of Combinations Covers, - acquisitionof control, - of shares, voting rights, assets and - merger or amalgamation. by one or more, - person or group of persons or - Enterprise or group of enterprises Combination :
  • 26.
    Regulation of Combinations TheCompetition Act prohibits any combination that has an Appreciable Adverse effect on the competition. Regulation of Combinations - Prior approval from CCI - Monetary Thresholds - Intimation to CCI 30 days after board approval, or execution of any document/ agreement for proposed combination.
  • 27.
    Regulation of Combinations MonetaryThresholds In India Applicable to Assets Turnover Individual Rs. 1500 Cr. Rs. 4500 Cr. Group Rs. 6000 Cr. Rs. 18,000 Cr. In and Outside India Assets Turnover Total Minimum Indian Component Total Minimum Indian Component Individual $750 Mn. Rs. 750 Cr. $2250 Mn. Rs. 2250 Cr. Group $3 Bn. Rs. 750 Cr. $9 Bn. Rs. 2250 Cr.
  • 28.
  • 29.
    Competition Advocacy CCI’s Rolein pro-actively brining Government policies for, - Reducing barriers to trade - Trade Liberalisation - Promote Competition
  • 30.
  • 31.
    Competition Commission ofIndia - Established on 14th Oct 2003 - Became functional in May 2009 - Head office at New Delhi - Composition, - Chairman - 2 to 6 members (Experts with 15+ years experience)
  • 32.
    Competition Commission ofIndia Duties of the Commission • to eliminate practices having adverse effect on competition; • to promote and sustain competition; • to protect interests of consumers and • to ensure freedom of trade carried on by other participants, in markets in India. • Extra territorial reach
  • 33.
    Competition Commission ofIndia Process of Filing Complaints (Sec. 19)
  • 34.
    Competition Commission ofIndia Notable Cases BCCI v/s Franchise Owners DLF v/s Apartment buyers • payments made by the buyers must be based on construction milestones and not "on demand“ • The builder will not have complete ownership of open spaces within the residential project area not sold Jan 2013Feb 2013 • CCI imposed a penalty of US$8.2 million on BCCI for misusing its dominant position • IPL franchise agreements were loaded in favor of BCCI and franchises had no say in the terms of the contract.
  • 35.
  • 36.
    CCI in Numbers Statusof Cases (2009 to 31st March 2014) Total Cases : 461
  • 37.
    CCI in Numbers Sourcesof Enquiry (31st March 2014) Total Cases : 461
  • 38.
  • 39.
  • 40.
    CCI in Numbers MonetaryPenalties (2009 - 2014) Description Nos. 1 Total number of matters and total amount of monetary penalties levied 35 Cases. Amount of Penalty levied is Rs. 9886.96 crore 2 Total amount realized without taking action as mentioned under Section 39(2) Rs. 72,74,53,618/- 3 Number of matters referred to income tax authorities Nil 4 Amount therein referred by income-tax authorities as arrears of tax Nil
  • 41.
    Indian Competition actin light of Global Environment
  • 42.
    Indian Competition Actin Global Environment Comparison with Chinese Competition Law, 2008 Categories Indian Competition Act, 2002 Chinese Competition Law, 2008 Aim of Law Shifting the focus of Indian economy from curbing monopolies to promoting competition. To separate government activities from business management and promote healthy development of the socialist market economy Tribunal Provides for a Board Does not provide for a competition tribunal Objectives 1) Safeguard and promote the order of market competition, 2) Protect consumers and the public interest 3) eliminate practices having adverse effect on competition, 4) ensure freedom of trade carried on by other participants in markets in India3. 3)guard against monopolistic conduct, 4) improve economic efficiency 5) promote the healthy development of the socialist market economy. One regime Law establishes a two tier enforcement regime which includes (i) The Anti-monopoly Commission (ii) the Anti-Monopoly
  • 43.
    Indian Competition Actin Global Environment Comparison with Chinese Competition Law, 2008 Categories Indian Competition Act, 2002 Chinese Competition Law, 2008 Conduct Applicable to monopolistic conducts Targets a special type of monopolistic conduct, i.e. administrative monopoly, which is a distinctive feature of the communist regime that exists in China. Extra Terrestrial Conduct Does not distinguish between agreements entered within India and outside India, but it focuses - in either cases on the presence of AAEC. Distinguishes Presumptions Introduces a presumption of anti-competitive behavior only in case of horizontal restrictions while evidence that vertical restrictions have an AAEC is required.13 No presumption of monopolistic conduct but the effects on competition (i.e. eliminate or restrict) in the domestic Chinese market should be proven case by case.
  • 44.
  • 45.
    Adani Gas penalisedfor its abuse of dominance Abuse of Dominance ? Abusing its dominance in the relevant market of ‘supply and distribution of natural gas in Faridabad’ by incorporating unconscionable and one sided terms in the Gas Supply Agreement (‘GSA’) Case Cause on July 3, 2014, the CCI imposed a fine of over Rs. 25 crores on Adani Gas Ltd. for abusing its dominant position in the natural gas supply market.
  • 46.
    Unfair Conditions inthe GSA • No liability for reimbursement in case of excess payment • Buyer’s liability to pay interest in case of delayed payment • No liability to pay interest in case of dispute • Lesser compliance time to buyers, longer compliance time from suppliers • No liability to pay interest in case any amount becomes due Adani Gas penalised for its abuse of dominance
  • 47.
    Final Order • CCIdirected AGL to stop indulging in these practices and modify the GSA accordingly • A penalty of Rs. 25.67 crore was imposed Adani Gas penalised for its abuse of dominance
  • 48.
    Regulation of Combinations SunPharma - Ranbaxy Merger Facts Findings Sun Pharma and Ranbaxy had filed the notice with the CCI on 06.05.2014, in relation to merger. The Commission observed that there are horizontal overlaps between the products of the Parties
  • 49.
    Findings Sun Pharma -Ranbaxy Merger • The commission held a meeting on 07.07.2014 and formed a opinion that the proposed combination would likely cause an adverse effect on competition in the relevant markets in India. • The Commission noted that various generic brands of a given molecule are chemical equivalents and are considered to be substitutable. Therefore, the molecule level would be most appropriate for defining relevant markets on the basis of substitutability
  • 50.
    Horizontal Overlaps found SunPharma - Ranbaxy Merger
  • 51.
    Proposals by theCCI Sun Pharma - Ranbaxy Merger Sun Pharma shall divest: All products containing Tamsulosin + Tolterodine, Leuprorelin. Ranbaxy shall divest: All products containing Terlipresslin, Rosuvastatin + Ezetimibe, Olanzapine + Fluoxetine,Levosulpiride + Esomeprazole, Olmesartan + Amlodipine + Hydroclorthiazide. Modification(amendments) to the proposed combination: Sun Pharma shall divest all products containing Tamsulosin + Tolterodine and the rest products would be divestified by Ranbaxy.
  • 52.
    Final Order Sun Pharma- Ranbaxy Merger • The Commission thus approved the proposed merger between Sun Pharma and Ranbaxy. • The Commission also directed that the proposed merger shall not take effect before the Parties have carried out the divestiture of the products. • The combined entity would be the largest pharmaceutical company in India and the fifth-largest generic player globally by sales.
  • 53.