Trilegal gets CCI clearance on proposed merger of Scottish amp Newcastle India with United Breweries

Trilegal has represented Scottish & Newcastle India (SNIPL), owned by Heineken group and United Breweries (UBL) in obtaining merger control clearance from the Competition Commission of India (CCI) in relation to the proposed combination wherein SNIPL will merge into UBL pursuant to implementation of scheme of amalgamation..Trilegal filed a joint notice before CCI on March 7, 2012 and obtained a clearance from CCI within 13 days of filing its application..The CCI in its 2 page order has said “Considering the facts on record and the details provided in the notice and the assessment of the proposed combinations is not likely to have an appreciable adverse effect on competition in India and therefore, the Commission hereby approves the proposed combination under sub-section (1) of Section 31 of the Act”..Trilegal team was led by Partner Delano Furtado along with Senior Associate Rahul Singh and Associate Anant Kaushik..According to the notice filed before CCI, the objective of the proposed combination was to consolidate Heineken Group’s shareholding in UBL, which would lead to consolidation of Heineken Group’s presence in India..At present, both the Heineken Group and the UB Group hold 37.38 percent each in UBL, and others hold the remaining 25.24 percent. SNIPL has no operations or activities and is merely holding 3.22% shares in UBL and it will cease to exist post merger..Heineken had indirectly acquired 37.5 per cent stake in UBL following a worldwide takeover of Scottish & Newcastle in January 2008.