Probe comes as Didi gets ready for huge U.S. listingRegulators consulted with Didi, other companies in April – prospectusChinese tech giants facing antitrust clampdownHONG KONG, June 17 (Reuters) – Chinas market regulator has actually started an antitrust probe into Didi Chuxing, three people with knowledge of the matter said, just as the ride-hailing giant is pressing ahead with what could be the biggest preliminary public offering in the United States this year.The probe, reported here for the very first time, is the most current in a sweeping crackdown on Chinas so-called “platform” companies, consisting of Alibaba Group Holding Ltd (9988. HK), and Tencent Holdings Ltd (0700. HK). find out more Chinas market regulator, the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR), is investigating whether Didi utilized any competitive practices that ejected smaller sized rivals unjustly, two of the three sources said.The regulator is also taking a look at whether the rates system used by Didis core ride-hailing business is transparent enough, the 3 sources stated.”We do not discuss dubious speculation from unnamed source(s),” Didi said in an emailed statement. SAMR did not react to ask for comment.In its IPO prospectus made public last week, Didi disclosed that it and more than 30 other Chinese web companies had actually met regulators, consisting of the SAMR, in April. The regulators asked the business to conduct a “self-inspection” and send compliance dedications, it said.The companies were asked to identify and fix possible offenses of antimonopoly, anti-unfair competition, tax and other associated laws and regulations, Didi stated in the filing.Didi stated it had finished the self-inspection and the “pertinent governmental authorities have actually carried out onsite inspections”. It warned that regulative bodies might not be pleased with the inspection results and the firm might go through potential penalties.Two of the sources familiar with the situation stated that the probe by the markets regulator was in the preliminary stages, and that the regulator was yet to offer the company detailed instructions.The effect of the probe on the companys IPO, anticipated to be the biggest Chinese IPO in New York considering that Alibabas $25 billion float in 2014, stays to be seen.One of the sources stated Didi thought prices and unjust competition would be deemed reasonably small offenses, which had actually given the company enough self-confidence to continue with plans for the IPO.ANTITRUST CRACKDOWNDidi is also highlighting its development of tasks to regulators, a crucial aspect that could warrant a more lenient attitude from Beijing, the source said.The business now uses about 13 million yearly active chauffeurs in China, according to its prospectus.In current months China has actually looked for to curb the financial and social power of its once loosely regulated web giants, a clampdown backed by President Xi Jinping. In April, SAMR imposed a $2.75 billion fine on Alibaba, a record for the agency.In March, SAMR fined the registered company behind Didis community group-buying platform Chengxin Youxuan 1.5 million yuan ($233,656) along with another four companies, mentioning “inappropriate pricing behaviour”. Didi, the worlds biggest mobility-technology platform, operates in 15 nations and counts over 493 million annual active users globally, according to its prospectus.It reached its dominant position in the online ride-hailing business in China after years-long aid wars with Alibaba-backed Kuaidi and Silicon Valley-based Ubers China system, both of which were combined into Didi as financiers grew tired of burning cash and required profits.In 2016, Uber Technologies Inc (UBER.N) sold its operation to Didi in exchange for a 17.5% stake in the Chinese company, which likewise made a $1 billion financial investment in Uber.The U.S. firm presently owns 12.8% stake in Didi, according to the Chinese companys prospectus. A few of Asias largest technology investment companies, consisting of SoftBank Group Corp (9984. T), Alibaba and Tencent, have likewise purchased Didi.In addition to ride-sharing, Didi runs different organizations around movement, consisting of electric vehicle charging networks, fleet management, vehicle making and self-governing driving.($1 = 6.4197 Chinese yuan renminbi)Reporting by Julie Zhu, Pei Li in Hong Kong, and Beijing Newsroom; Additional reporting by Kane Wu; Editing by Sumeet Chatterjee and Stephen CoatesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.