The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the proposed combination involving, inter alia, Amazon Asia-Pacific Holdings Private Limited (Amazon Asia-Pacific), Frontizo Business Services Private Limited (Frontizo), Appario Retail Private Limited (Appario), Haverl LLC (Haverl) and Clicktech Retail Private Limited (CRPL).

The Proposed Combination involves the following transactions:

a. Acquisition by Amazon Asia-Pacific of 76% of the equity shares in Frontizo from Zodiac Wealth  Advisors LLP (Zodiac)

b. Acquisition of Appario’s entire business, as a going concern, by CRPL,

c. Acquisition of 1% shareholding by Haverl in New Trends Commerce Private Limited (NTCPL)

d. Intra group transactions among Clicktech Enterprises Private Limited (CEPL), NTCPL and CRPL.

Amazon Asia-Pacific acts as the seller of record for distribution of digital kindle content to end-customers in India. Amazon.com, Inc, the ultimate parent company of Amazon Asia-Pacific, has certain indirect subsidiaries either registered in India or having business operations in India (Amazon Affiliates). Some of these Amazon Affiliates are engaged in business activities in the Indian retail market and wholesale (B2B) sales in India.

Frontizo is engaged in the business of providing customer support services to customers on the online marketplace, www.amazon.in and www.amazon.in/business (collectively, Amazon India Marketplace), operated by the Amazon Affiliate, Amazon Seller Services Private Limited (ASSPL) in India and to customers on Amazon.com, which is the online marketplace offered by Amazon Affiliates in the US. Frontizo provides customer support services through email, chat and telephone.

Frontizo’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Appario, is engaged in retail (B2C) business and wholesale (B2B) sales in India. It currently offers for sale products to customers on the Amazon India Marketplace, operated by ASSPL.

Haverl is engaged in the business of making and holding investments.

CEPL is the parent/holding entity of NTCPL.

NTCPL is the parent entity of CRPL. NTCPL would commence the business of providing Business Onboarding and Integration Services.

CRPL is engaged in B2C and B2B sale of products to customers on the Amazon India Marketplace.

Detailed order of the CCI will follow.

Merger control clearance for multi party proposed combination involving acquisitions and intragroup transfers in online retail services. CCI approves a multi-transaction proposed combination involving acquisitions and intra-group transfers among Amazon Asia Pacific, Frontizo, Appario, Haverl, NTCPL, CEPL and CRPL. Key transactions comprise Amazon Asia Pacific acquiring 76% of Frontizo, Appario's business transferred as a going concern to CRPL, Haverl taking a minority stake in NTCPL, and intra group arrangements between CEPL, NTCPL and CRPL. The parties' activities-digital content distribution, customer support services, B2C retail and B2B wholesale sales, and business onboarding services-frame the competitive context; a detailed CCI order will follow.