Recently, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) fined US e-commerce giant, Amazon with Rs 200 crore.

Highlights

• CCI has also suspended the 2019 Amazon deal with Future Coupons, a unit of Future Retail Ltd.
• Amazon was fined for concealing facts while obtaining approval for this deal.

What does CCI order say?

According to CCI order, “it is required to re-examine the combination and transactions”.  In accordance with sub-section (2) of Section 45 of the Companies Act, CCI also directed Amazon to give notice in Form II within 60 days from the receipt of the order. Furthermore, the approval granted on November 28, 2019 will remain in abeyance until such notice is disposed of. This is so because, Amazon had suppressed the actual scope of the deal and had made false & incorrect statements while getting clearances.

Why Amazon was fined?

The CCI has imposed a penalty of Rs 200 crore on Amazon because, it had failed to identify and notify Future Retail Limited Shareholders Agreement (FRL SHA) under the agreement. Identification was an obligation under Section 6(2) of the Act. Amazon is required to pay the fine within two months.

By: Brijesh Kumar