Birla's paints unit said to have filed antitrust case against Asian Paints
Aditya Birla Group
's Indian paints venture has filed an antitrust complaint against market leader
Asian Paints
for allegedly abusing its market position, three sources said, a case that could lead to a stand off between the two industry rivals.
Asian Paints is India's biggest player with a 52% market share, but it has lost some of its dominance after
Birla Opus
launched in February 2024 and grew rapidly to garner a near 7% market share by March this year, Elara Capital data shows.
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has in recent weeks been reviewing a confidential complaint filed by Birla Opus alleging abuse of its position by Asian Paints, said the two sources, who declined to be named as the discussions are private.
The CCI is yet to decide if the complaint holds merit and needs a broader probe by its investigations unit, or should be dismissed.
One of the sources familiar with the matter said the allegations from Birla say Asian Paints had asked its retail dealers to not stock the rival's products and had warned of restricting their credit facilities if they do so.
Birla Opus, the paints arm of the Aditya Birla Group company Grasim, did not respond to Reuters queries. The group is led by billionaire Kumar Mangalam Birla, India's seventh richest person ranked by Forbes.
Asian Paints and the CCI did not respond to Reuters queries.
Reuters is first to report the antitrust case, details of which - in line with watchdog's policy - are not made public.
The first source added that Asian Paints also allegedly told its dealers it will curtail its supplies to them if they put up hoardings of Birla paint products or place them at prominent places.
Asian Paints has not been told about the case, according to a source with direct knowledge. But it had received some media queries and has told the CCI in a confidential letter - seen by Reuters - that the company must be allowed fair comment before any decision is taken.
"The rapid and substantial growth of Birla Opus demonstrated the absence of any significant barriers to entry or anti-competitive conduct by existing players," Asian Paints letter to the CCI stated.
Birla has expanded its paints business in the $9.5 billion sector, starting last year with an investment of $1.2 billion, with five plants operational now. Asian Paints clocked revenues of 294 billion Indian rupees ($3.43 billion) in 2024-25, and has 26 factories globally.
In 2022, the CCI closed a case filed by JSW Paints against Asian Paints for abusing its market position, saying it found no contravention of competition laws.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
32 minutes ago
- News18
Rs 1.2 Lakh Monthly Salary, Still Can't Buy a Home In India? Viral Post Sparks Debate
Akhilesh concluded the post with a powerful remark: 'The market is not broken. It's working exactly as designed—for someone else.' A recent post on social media platform X has reignited concerns over India's growing real estate affordability crisis. A techie named Akhilesh shared a striking anecdote about his friend in Gurugram who earns a hefty Rs 20 lakh per year, yet still finds himself priced out of the housing market. According to the post, Akhilesh's friend takes home around Rs 1.2 lakh per month after taxes and deductions. He lives modestly—no car, no kids, no extravagant lifestyle. Despite this, every residential project he visits in Gurugram starts at a staggering Rs 2.5 crore. These homes boast features like infinity pools, zen gardens, biometric lifts, and imported marble floors, making it clear that developers are targeting luxury buyers, not average professionals. The viral post struck a chord with many, especially young urban professionals. The core argument is simple: even those in the top 5% of India's income bracket can't comfortably buy a home in metro cities without compromising their financial security. Owning a house would mean living paycheck to paycheck, with no room for emergencies or even basic leisure. Akhilesh concluded the post with a powerful remark: 'The market is not broken. It's working exactly as designed—for someone else." The post captures a larger trend—how rapid urbanisation, speculative investments, and a push for ultra-luxury housing are making homeownership increasingly elusive, even for India's high earners. Anarock's Report Reveals Ultra-Luxury House In Demand Anarock's Annual Residential Report 2024 reveals that 59% of new housing projects in Delhi NCR, 18% in Hyderabad, and 12% in MMR were priced above Rs 2.5 crore, showing a rise in demand for premium homes among wealthy buyers and NRIs. NRIs, in particular, are playing a key role in this expansion, actively acquiring premium properties in major Indian metros as part of long-term wealth preservation strategies, noted a recent report by GRI Club. While the majority of new supply is focused on ultra-luxury homes, there is a noticeable shortage of homes in the upper mid-income and premium segments. Since the RERA law came into effect in 2017, there has been a significant increase in trust for developers who follow rules and deliver on time. This has led to a growing preference from NRIs for projects by such developers. About the Author Business Desk Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: June 08, 2025, 08:20 IST News business Rs 1.2 Lakh Monthly Salary, Still Can't Buy a Home In India? Viral Post Sparks Debate
Time of India
37 minutes ago
- Time of India
India is the 5th largest economy, so it makes sense: Canada's Mark Carney backs PM Modi's G7 invite despite tensions
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has firmly defended his invitation to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the upcoming G7 Summit in Kananaskis , Alberta, from 15–17 June. Carney said India's presence is essential for discussions on global priorities such as energy security, critical minerals, and infrastructure partnerships. 'India is the fifth largest economy in the world, effectively the most populous country in the world, central to a number of those supply chains at the heart of a number of those supply chains, so it makes sense,' Carney said in a media interaction on Friday. The G7 Summit will focus on pressing international concerns including artificial intelligence, climate action, digital development, and cooperation with emerging economies. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like War Thunder - Register now for free and play against over 75 Million real Players War Thunder Play Now Undo Strong push from G6 countries to include India Vina Nadjibulla, Vice President of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, added that the decision to include India wasn't solely Canada's. 'In terms of the G7, we are the outlier because the other six members of the G7 are interested in deepening their strategic partnerships with India, deepening their defence technology and economic ties. In fact, every day there is a new announcement about either France or UK or US doing more with India,' she told CBC News Network. Live Events She continued, 'So having India there also matters to everybody else. I think there was a strong push from other G6 to have India at the table. And I think in order for Canada also to be able to show relevance on the world stage, we can't just engage in diplomacy with those whom we like. I mean, this is not… diplomacy is not a gift to our friends. It's not a concession. It's a necessary tool to be able to advance our interests and defend our values, right?' PM Modi confirms participation Prime Minister Modi accepted the invitation, expressing appreciation in a post on X. 'Glad to receive a call from Prime Minister Mark J Carney of Canada. Congratulated him on his recent election victory and thanked him for the invitation to the G7 Summit in Kananaskis later this month. As vibrant democracies bound by deep people-to-people ties, India and Canada will work together with renewed vigour, guided by mutual respect and shared interests. Look forward to our meeting at the Summit.' A strained backdrop: Nijjar's killing and diplomatic rift This invitation comes at a time when India–Canada ties remain deeply strained. Tensions escalated after the June 2023 killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar , a Canadian citizen and vocal pro-Khalistan activist, outside a gurdwara in Vancouver. Canadian authorities accused Indian agents of involvement, a charge India categorically denied. The result was a diplomatic standoff, with both countries expelling senior envoys in a tit-for-tat move. When asked whether he believed PM Modi was linked to Nijjar's murder, Carney declined to speculate. 'There is a legal process that is literally underway and quite advanced in Canada… It's never appropriate to make comments with respect to those legal processes,' he said. Four Indian nationals have been arrested and charged in connection with the murder, and investigations continue. Sikh organisations oppose Modi's presence The World Sikh Organization has criticised the decision to invite Modi. Its president, Dinesh Singh, told The Guardian, 'This is a betrayal, not just of our community, but core Canadian values.' These reactions underscore a larger discontent among Sikh Canadians who have accused Ottawa of ignoring community concerns in favour of geopolitical strategy. Despite the rift, Carney said there had been some improvement in bilateral cooperation. 'In addition, bilaterally we have now agreed importantly to continued law enforcement to law enforcement dialogue so there's been some progress on that recognises issues of accountability. I extended the invitation to Prime Minister Modi in that context and he has accepted.' Carney also noted that inviting India to such global platforms helps Canada maintain relevance internationally. Other guest nations at G7 2025 India isn't the only non-G7 country invited to this year's summit. Canada has also extended invitations to: South African President Cyril Ramaphosa Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum (pending confirmation) For Carney and his G7 counterparts, engaging with India appears to be a strategic necessity, regardless of domestic backlash. As the summit approaches, New Delhi's role in global supply chains and economic governance seems to outweigh diplomatic discomfort. Whether this G7 appearance eases bilateral tensions or deepens divisions at home remains to be seen. But for now, both sides appear to have chosen pragmatism over grievance.
India.com
2 hours ago
- India.com
Mukesh Ambani reveals why he didn't take admission in..., donates Rs 151 crore to....
Mukesh Ambani reveals why he didn't take admission in…, donates Rs 151 crore to… New Delhi: One of the most richest men in the world Mukesh Ambani has recently donated a hopping whopping amount of Rs 151 crore to the prestigious Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT), making it the biggest donation in the history of the institute. Notably, the chairman of the country's most valuable company – Reliance Industries – studied at the institute. Earlier known as the University Department of Chemical Technology (UDCT), the ICT was established in the year 1933 by the University of Bombay. It was given the status of a deemed university in 2008 and subsequently renamed as ICT. Ambani announced the donation at the launch of Anita Patil's book 'The Divine Scientist'. The book is based on the life of Padma Vibhushan Professor Man Mohan Sharma. Many students consider him to be the greatest guru of Indian chemical engineering. While speaking about Guru Dakshina, the Reliance Chairman discussed several topics and announced a donation of Rs 151 crore to the institute at the behest of Sharma. 'When they tell us something, we just listen. They told me, 'Mukesh, you have to do something big for ICT', and I am happy to announce that it is for Professor Sharma,' Ambani said. Why Did You Not Go To IIT-Bombay Responding to the question, why did you not go to IIT-Bombay? Ambani stated, 'Visiting the UDCT campus always feels like visiting a sacred temple. Professor Sharma, I regard you as my most respected Guru, my guide and source of inspiration.' He recalled his fond memories of the institute and also praised Patil, saying, 'It is a very difficult task to write the life of a great man like Sharma.' I chose UDCT over IIT -Bombay.' Ambani stated that Sharma's inaugural lecture solidified his belief in Sharma's exceptional abilities. He described Sharma as a transformative figure, capable of converting curiosity into practical knowledge, then into profitable ventures, and finally into enduring wisdom. Ambani attributed major growth within India's chemical sector to Sharma bestowing upon him the title of 'Rashtra Guru' (national teacher).
