e-Competitions News Issue Preview

On 23 August 2021, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) found Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL) liable for adversely impacting competition in the passenger vehicles 1 segment. The finding marks the conclusion of a two-year-long antitrust probe into MSIL's implementation of a "discount control policy" (DCP), across its dealerships.

The CCI found these DCPs to be restricting the ability of dealers from offering discounts to customers, beyond what is prescribed by a manufacturer. These policies often take the form of "resale price maintenance" (RPM), an agreement that prohibits distributors from re-selling a manufacturers' product/service, below a certain price. In terms of the Indian Competition Act, 2002 (Act), RPMs may contravene Section 3(4) if the CCI finds them to cause an appreciable adverse effect on competition (AAEC) in India.

The CCI found MSIL's DCP to be anticompetitive RPM and in contravention of the Act. Consequently, it imposed a penalty of USD 26 million on the automobile manufacturer.

The CCI's order assumes significance for its competitive assessment of the impact of RPM. It also signals the CCI's continued interest in the automobile sector (one of the most heavily scrutinized industries by the authority).

Background

In 2017, the CCI received an anonymous complaint by a purported dealer of MSIL. The complaint alleged that MSIL adopted an anticompetitive DCP which dictated the maximum discount a dealer could offer its customers. Dealers found to deviate from the DCP were penalized either through the discontinuation of supplies or the imposition of a monetary penalty.

The complaint also revealed a 'monitoring mechanism' based modus for the implementation of the DCP. Per the complaint, MSIL appointed the infamous Mystery Shopping Agencies (MSA), to track discounts offered by the dealers. The MSAs would pose as customers before dealerships, to check whether extra discounts were being offered. If offered, the MSA would send audio/video proof to MSIL. Based on this evidence, MSIL would seek clarification from the deviating dealer. Where the clarification was not deemed satisfactory, MSIL would penalize the dealership along with its personnel (such as sales executives, team leaders, etc.).

On 4 July 2019, the CCI formed the pirima facie opinion 2 that MSIL had contravened Section 3(4) of the Competition Act. It directed the Director General (DG) (investigative wing of the CCI) to investigate the matter.

Investigative Findings of the DG

The DG delineated the markets for assessment as the: (i) upstream market of the manufacture of passenger vehicles in India; and (ii) downstream market for the distribution and sale of passenger vehicles in India.

Upon analysis of email dumps from 2012 to 2019, the DG found that MSIL (i) actively implemented a DCP, (ii) tracked the penalty amounts imposed on dealers, and (iii) tracked the recovery and utilization of the penalty amounts.

In view of this evidence, the DG confirmed the averments in the complaint.

Thereafter, the DG concluded that given MSIL's high market share in the upstream market (i.e. 51.22% in the financial year ended 31 March 2019 ("FY 2019")), the implementation of the DCP lowered both, inter-brand and intra-brand competition, in the market.

Findings of the CCI

The CCI agreed with the findings of the DG. In doing so, the CCI rejected several arguments forwarded by MSIL in its defense. The observations of the CCI are detailed below:

Absence of a formal agreement

MSIL submitted that their "dealership agreements" explicitly permitted dealers to provide discounts, as they deemed fit. In the absence of any restrictive clause in the "dealership agreement", MSIL could not have implemented the DCP. Finding the submission untenable, the CCI held that the agreement on the DCP was de hors the "dealership agreement" – as was sufficiently evidenced in the emails between MSIL and its dealers.

Role as a facilitator

MSIL argued that it did not actively formulate the DCP (which was, in fact, an inter se agreement between its dealers). MSIL's role was limited to implementing the DCP on behalf of its dealers in the capacity of a third-party facilitator.

However, MSIL's involvement through the circulation of warning, imposition of penalties, and hosting of meetings on the DCP – did not support the submission that it was a mere third-party facilitator. In any case, the act of monitoring and controlling discounts (whether active or passive) amounted to an RPM.

MSIL also submitted that the MSAs were not appointed by MSIL. This was proved from the invoices for the appointment of MSAs, which were issued in the name of dealers. Un-swayed by the submission, the CCI noted that the (i) proposal to appoint MSAs was forwarded by MSIL, (ii) MSIL determined the mode and frequency of the MSA visits, and (iii) the dealers likely had no choice but to comply with MSIL's proposal. Therefore, MSIL could not shirk responsibility, in this regard.

Lack of implementation

MSIL highlighted that at least 30% MSIL's sales made in FY 2019 involved additional discounts by dealers to consumers, which were oNcially communicated by dealers to MSIL. Therefore, even if the DCP was implemented, it was done so for a limited set of instances.

MSIL also submitted that it had 331 parent dealers and 3,067 outlets across India. Given this, MSIL buttressed the logistic impossibility in relation to the implementation of a successful DCP. Compounding this impossibility was the fact that dealers offered (i) unoNcial discounts, and (ii) additional freebies (e.g., accessories, extension on warranties, home deliveries, etc.). As such, the diversity and nature of these free offers were not possible to regulate.

On additional discounts ( 30%), the CCI noted that the dealers had procured the prior permission of MSIL – in terms of the DCP itself.

On logistics, the CCI turned MSIL's argument regarding the DCP being implemented inter se by dealers against MSIL. The CCI held that if a DCP was impossible to implement by MSIL, the DCP would be near impossible to implement by several dealers spread across the geographic breadth of the country. Therefore, MSIL must have been in charge of the formulation, monitoring, and implementation of the DCP.

Economic Motive

MSIL argued that it did not have the incentive/motive to implement a DCP because of the lack of any conceivable benefit. The CCI was of the view that by controlling its dealers' margins, MSIL was at liberty to regulate its own margin freely. In any case, the motive (or absence thereof) was irrelevant for the purpose of establishing a contravention.

A Balancing Act

The RPM was argued to offer several procompetitive benefits such as, the elimination of free-riding, and promotion of "non-price" competition amongst its dealers. MSIL also challenged the high market power(i.e., 51%) attributed to it by the DG and stated that customers were at liberty to switch to alternative automobile manufacturers if the prices were deemed too high.

As a first step, the CCI highlighted the anticompetitive effects of RPM. It noted that RPMs prevent dealers from effectively competing on price thereby stiOing intra-brand competition. Further, the imposition of RPM by a market leader (such as MSIL) also lowers inter-brand competition. This is because competing automobile manufacturers can monitor prices more easily and factor it into their pricing strategy. The softening of intra-brand and inter-brand competition leads to consumers paying higher prices for products/services. The conduct also obstructs the effective distribution of cars and hinders new dealers from entering the market (given the restrictions imposed on them).

As for the procompetitive effects, the CCI noted that MSIL had detailed Sales Operating Procedures (SOP) and System and Process Guides (SPG) to prevent free-riding. Therefore, the implementation of RPM was not found necessary

Conclusion

In sum, the CCI found that the harm caused in the market outweighed any conceivable procompetitive effects in the market. Accordingly, MSIL was penalized with an amount of USD 26 million.

Key Takeaway

Interestingly, the case is only the second instance of a *nding of anticompetitive RPM since the Act's enforcement in 2009. Jurisprudence has been sparse, with most parties being let off due to their low market power (and therefore, inability to impact markets).

Incidentally, the *rst case involving a contravention of RPM was also in the automobile sector. The case was, however, stayed by the appellate authority on procedural grounds. The vigor with which the CCI addressed each of MSIL's submissions was perhaps intended to prevent a similar challenge in the present matter.

In doing so, the CCI goes to the extent of stepping into the shoes of MSIL, to determine the "necessity" or "effectiveness" of the adopted DCP to prevent the free-riding concerns. Such detailed assessments are uncommon and indicative of the stringency with which the CCI views a contravention of RPM.

Footnotes

1 Passenger vehicles include passenger cars, utility vehicles, and vans.

2 A "prima facie" opinion here refers to the CCI's tentative or preliminary view.

The content of this document do not necessarily reflect the views/position of Khaitan & Co but remain solely those of the author(s). For any further queries or follow up please contact Khaitan & Co at legalalerts@khaitanco.com