IANS
The Competition Commission of India has approved the acquisition of 9.99 percent stake in Jio Platforms by Jaadhu Holdings LLC, a Facebook entity.
“@CCI_India approves acquisition of 9.99% stake in Jio Platforms by Jaadhu Holdings LLC,” the CCI said in a tweet.
The CCI was reviewing Facebook’s acquisition of 9.99 percent stake in Jio Platforms. Facebook has acquired the stake in Jio Platforms for $5.7 billion in cash from the transaction.
Following the deal, Facebook will become the largest minority shareholder in Jio.
Facebook, in its application to the CCI, argued that the deal does not alter the competitive landscape in any relevant market.
Filings show Facebook and its unit WhatsApp Inc have proposed to set up a digital marketplace as part of the investment in Jio.
Facebook’s investment in Jio Platforms is part of a series of investments made by global tech investors and private equity funds in Reliance Industries Limited’s digital arm, which has raised Rs 1.15 lakh crore ($15.1 billion).
India is the fastest growing internet market and global tech companies are seeking a foothold here.
Mukesh Ambani, RIL chairman and managing director, had said in a letter to the shareholders in the RIL annual report that with Facebook, the strategic focus of the partnership is India’s micro, small and medium enterprises or MSMEs, farmers, small merchants and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the informal sector.
Jio Platforms has raised Rs 1.15 lakh crore ($15.1 billion) through investments by tech investors. This is the largest continuous raising of funds by a company anywhere in the world.
Also see: Reliance debt free after raising $22 billion in two months
