The Competition Commission of India (CCI) received the following green channel combination of acquisition by Atropos de Paris SA (the “Acquirer” or “ADP”) of equity share capital of GMR Airports Limited (“GAL”), and GMR Infra Services Limited (“GISL”) (Proposed Combination).

The proposed combination is filed under sub-section (2) of Section 6 of the Competition Act, 2002 (Act) read with regulations 5A of the Competition Commission of India (Procedure in regard to the transactions of business relating to combinations) Regulations, 2011 (Combination Regulations).

The notification relates to acquisition by ADP of up to (i) 100% of the equity shares of GISL directly and (ii) 49% of the equity shares of GAL directly and indirectly.

The Acquirer is an international airport operator based in Paris. It carries out the following principal businesses in the airport value chain: (a) financing, (b) designing, and (c) operating infrastructure, for a network of 25 airports in 13 countries in Europe, Asia (not including India), Africa and South America.

GISL is an operating and holding company and its primary business is to hold shares in GAL.

GAL is an unlisted public company, which is a subsidiary of GMR Infrastructure Limited. GAL is engaged in developing, managing and operating airports in India and around the world, while also being engaged in associated business activities.

Summary of the Proposed Combination is available at:

https://www.cci.gov.in/sites/default/files/notice_order_summary_doc/C-2020-02-727.pdf

[Filling under sub-section (2) of Section 6 of the Act read with regulations 5A of the Combination Regulations (i.e. notice for approval of the Proposed Combination under Green Channel) shall be deemed to have been approved upon filing and acknowledgement thereof.]

Green channel filing enables deemed approval for an international airport operator's acquisition of airport company equity. Notification concerns a Green Channel combination filing by Atropos de Paris SA for acquisition of equity in GMR Infra Services Limited and GMR Airports Limited, seeking to acquire up to all equity of GISL and up to forty nine percent of GAL directly and indirectly. ADP is an international airport operator; GISL is a holding company for GAL, which develops and operates airports. The filing invokes the Green Channel procedure under the Combination Regulations, under which the notice is deemed approved upon filing and acknowledgement.