CCI slaps Rs 873 cr fine on UBL Carlsberg India others for cartelisation in beer sale
New Delhi Sep 24 PTI Competition Commission on Friday imposed penalties totalling over Rs 873 crore on United Breweries Ltd Carlsberg India All India Brewers Association AIBA and other individuals for cartelisation in the sale and supply of beer in various states and Union TerritoriesA final order has been passed against three beer companies — United Breweries Ltd UBL SABMiller India Ltd now renamed as Anheuser Busch InBev India Ltd AB InBev and Carlsberg India Private Ltd CIPLThey have been found to be indulging in cartelisation in the sale and supply of beer in various States and Union Territories in India including through the platform of All India Brewers Association AIBA an official release saidAs AIBA was found to be actively involved in facilitating such cartelisation the Competition Commission of India CCI has also held to be contravening the competition lawGiving benefit of reduction in penalty 100 per cent to AB InBev and its individuals 40 per cent to UBL and its individuals and 20 per cent to CIPL and its individuals the release saidThe fines on UBL and Carlsberg India are nearly Rs 752 crore and Rs 121 crore respectively A fine of over Rs 625 lakh has been imposed on AIBA and various individuals have also been fined by the regulatorThe CCI directed UBL and CIPL to pay penalties of approximately Rs 750 crore and Rs 120 crore respectively besides passing a cease-and-desist order the release saidThe period of cartelisation was considered to be from 2009 to at least October 10 2018 with CIPL joining in from 2012 and AIBA serving as a platform for facilitating such cartelisation since 2013 All three beer companies were lesser penalty applicants before the regulatorAs per the release October 10 2018 was the date on which the Director General DG conducted search and seizure operations at the premises of the beer companies PTI RAM BAL BAL
New Delhi Sep 24 PTI Competition Commission on Friday imposed penalties totalling over Rs 873 crore on United Breweries Ltd Carlsberg India All India Brewers Association AIBA and other individuals for cartelisation in the sale and supply of beer in various states and Union TerritoriesA final order has been passed against three beer companies — United Breweries Ltd UBL SABMiller India Ltd now renamed as Anheuser Busch InBev India Ltd AB InBev and Carlsberg India Private Ltd CIPLThey have been found to be indulging in cartelisation in the sale and supply of beer in various States and Union Territories in India including through the platform of All India Brewers Association AIBA an official release saidAs AIBA was found to be actively involved in facilitating such cartelisation the Competition Commission of India CCI has also held to be contravening the competition lawGiving benefit of reduction in penalty 100 per cent to AB InBev and its individuals 40 per cent to UBL and its individuals and 20 per cent to CIPL and its individuals the release saidThe fines on UBL and Carlsberg India are nearly Rs 752 crore and Rs 121 crore respectively A fine of over Rs 625 lakh has been imposed on AIBA and various individuals have also been fined by the regulatorThe CCI directed UBL and CIPL to pay penalties of approximately Rs 750 crore and Rs 120 crore respectively besides passing a cease-and-desist order the release saidThe period of cartelisation was considered to be from 2009 to at least October 10 2018 with CIPL joining in from 2012 and AIBA serving as a platform for facilitating such cartelisation since 2013 All three beer companies were lesser penalty applicants before the regulatorAs per the release October 10 2018 was the date on which the Director General DG conducted search and seizure operations at the premises of the beer companies PTI RAM BAL BAL
