On April 30, 2020, CCI approved the acquisition of 100% of the shareholding in Tech Data Corporation (‘Tech Data’) by Tiger Midco LLC (‘Tiger Midco’).[1] Tiger Midco was a special purpose vehicle set up and managed by investment funds affiliated to Apollo Management, L.P. (‘Apollo’).
The Apollo group is present in India in application services, provision of cloud solutions, and professional services. Tech Data’s offerings in India include hardware products, software products, distribution of cloud solutions, security and analytical solutions, and educational offerings.
CCI noted that cloud solution providers and cloud solution distributors compete in the market for the provision of cloud solutions and also overlapped vertically since cloud solution providers engage distributors. However, it decided to not define a relevant market because of the insignificant market share of the parties in these markets and the presence of significant competitors such as Microsoft, Google, Ingram India, Crayon India. CCI approved the transaction because it did not anticipate any foreclosure effects on competition in India.
[1] Combination Registration No. C-2020/03/737.