Asian Paints: CCI finds no case of breach of anti-competitive practices

The Competitors Fee of India (CCI) has discovered no situations of Asian Paints, the biggest paints producer within the nation, blocking JSW Paints’ foray into sure markets throughout south India.

The anti-trust physique, in its order dated September 8, has acknowledged it didn’t discover any contravention by Asian Paints beneath provisions of prohibition of anti-competitive agreements, the corporate stated in a regulatory replace.

In January 2020, CCI had ordered a probe towards Asian Paints following allegations by JSW Paints of ‘coercive actions’ that hindered the latter’s entry into sure southern markets.

JSW Paints launched its ornamental paints in Could 2019 in Bengaluru and Hubli. Subsequently, it launched the merchandise in Kerala (Kochi and Kozhikode) in June 2019, adopted by Telangana (Hyderabad) and Tamil Nadu (Chennai) in August 2019.

JSW Paints alleged that instantly after the launch of its ornamental paints, Asian Paints started pressurising sellers who had agreed to inventory and show ornamental paints manufactured by JSW Paints. Asian Paints allegedly directed sellers to cease coping with JSW Paints, threatening of stopping provides and asking them to cease displaying merchandise of JSW Paints.

“Such conduct has been alleged to have created concern amongst retailers and sellers, because of which plenty of them stopped coping with JSW Paints,” the petition moved by JSW Paints stated.