New Delhi: The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the acquisition of three professional cricket franchises — Rajasthan Royals in India, Paarl Royals in South Africa and Barbados Royals in Barbados — by UK-based Westview Cricket Ltd and Pune-based Poonawalla Sports and Fitness Pvt Ltd.
The proposed combination involves the acquisition of the three franchises by Westview Cricket Limited (Westview Cricket) and Poonawalla Sports and Fitness Private Limited (Poonawalla Sports).
Westview Cricket is a company registered in the United Kingdom, while Poonawalla Sports is an Indian private limited company wholly owned by Adar Cyrus Poonawalla.
The CCI approval covers the three franchises held through EM Sporting Holdings Limited (EMSH), a private company incorporated and registered in Mauritius.
EMSH is the holding company for Royal Multisport Private Limited (RMPL), Paarl Royals Ltd and Barbados Royals Ltd.
RMPL owns and operates the Rajasthan Royals franchise, which competes in the Indian Premier League (IPL), the T20 cricket tournament organised by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
The Paarl Royals participate in South Africa’s professional cricket ecosystem, while the Barbados Royals are based in Barbados.
The CCI’s approval relates to the proposed acquisition of the three professional cricket franchises by Westview Cricket and Poonawalla Sports. The regulator announced the approval in a release issued on September 17.
