CCI Issues FAQs on ‘Combinations’ under Competition Act, 2002

FAQs; Dated: 20.05.2025

1. What Did CCI Publish?

On 20 May 2025 the Competition Commission of India (CCI) released a comprehensive booklet of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on “Combinations” at its 16th Annual Day. The FAQs consolidate guidance on the merger-control regime after the Competition (Amendment) Act 2023 and the Combination Regulations 2024, giving deal-makers a single, plain-English reference for when and how to notify the CCI.

2. Why the FAQs Matter

• One-stop compliance aide – replaces scattered guidance with a consolidated, example-rich handbook.
• DVT playbook – first official illustrations on how to apply the 2024 deal-value rules to share-swaps, earn-outs, options and inter-connected transactions.
• Clarity for funds & start-ups – spells out how fund-managed acquisition vehicles and digital-platform deals will be assessed post-Amendment Act.
• Process certainty – demystifies the PFC route and the CCI’s review clock, helping parties align deal timetables with regulatory milestones.

3. Practical To-Dos for Stakeholders

1. Update internal M&A checklists – insert DVT & SBO-I tests alongside traditional asset/turnover thresholds.
2. Train deal teams & advisers – circulate the FAQ booklet; highlight examples on control rights and option valuation.
3. Model transaction value early – aggregate all inter-connected steps; include non-cash consideration and assumed liabilities.
4. Use Pre-Filing Consultation – especially for novel structures (crypto assets, multi-step roll-ups, fund secondaries).
5. Document threshold analysis – keep working papers showing why a filing was (or was not) required—useful if probed later.

4. Where to Find the FAQs

• CCI website – “Publications › FAQs”
• Direct PDF link circulated in the press release (Release ID 2130012).

Bottom line – CCI’s new FAQ booklet converts recent legislative and regulatory changes—including the deal-value threshold—into clear, transaction-ready guidance. Companies, funds and advisers should embed these clarifications into their deal-screening protocols immediately to avoid last-minute filing surprises.

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