Airtel gets CCI nod for full ownership of DTH subsidiary

India's Competition Commission (CCI) has approved Bharti Airtel's acquisition of an additional 20% stake in its DTH (direct-to-home) subsidiary, Bharti Telemedia, from a US-based Warburg Pincus affiliate.

Key Points:

Airtel previously faced a fine for finalizing the deal in 2021 without prior CCI approval.
The company sought formal approval in October 2023.
Airtel claims the transaction consolidates internal holdings and doesn't impact market dynamics.
This marks the second major DTH deal in India, following Tata Sons' acquisition of a stake in Tata Play.
The acquisition brings Bharti Airtel's ownership in Bharti Telemedia to 100%, valuing the DTH firm at Rs 15,630 crore.