The Competition Appellate Tribunal has cleared the India unit of Germany-based firm SCHOTT of anti-competition charges.
The company in a statement said the tribunal has acquitted it from all charges and it would not be required to make any penalties as imposed by the Competition Commission of India (CCI).
The Competition Commission had charged SCHOTT India of anti-competition activities on complaints filed by Kapoor Glass Private Limited.
SCHOTT India was accused of abusing its strong position in the glass tubes market and granting discriminatory pricing and other favourable terms to its affiliated entity, SCHOTT KAISHA, as compared to other converters in the market.
In July 2010, Kapoor Glass Pvt. Limited (Kapoor), a converter and former manufacturer of Glass Tubes, had filed information with the CCI in which it complained of alleged anti-competitive practices of SCHOTT India which affected the competition in the market for Neutral USP Type I Borosilicate Glass Tubes as well as in the downstream market for the containers.
The CCI initially held SCHOTT India guilty then the case was referred to the appellate tribunal.
"The judges refuted CCI's argument that favourable prices of SCHOTT India for SCHOTT KAISHA had resulted in reduced profit margins for the other converters and deprived them of their chance to grow," SCHOTT India said in a statement.
"In addition, they rejected the allegations by Kapoor that SCHOTT's Standard Trademark License Agreement was unfair and restrictive to the detriment of other converters," it said.
