By BLOOMBERG / Pic By MUHD AMIN NAHARUL
Singapore • Singapore regulators fined Uber Technologies Inc and Grab S$13 million (RM39.23 million) for antitrust violations after the Asian ride-hailing giant acquired its US rival’s regional operations.
Effective fares in the city state rose between 10% and 15% after the “anti-competitive merger”, the Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (CCCS) said in a statement yesterday.
While the watchdog didn’t nullify the deal, it ordered Grab to unwind exclusive arrangements with taxi operators, car rental partners and drivers because they prevented the expansion of potential rivals.
The decision comes six months after the regulator embarked on an investigation into the landmark deal in March, when Uber agreed to sell its
South-East Asian operations to Grab in return for a 27.5% stake and board seat. The Singaporean company now holds about an 80% share despite the entry of several smaller players into the ride-hailing market, according to the commission.
“Mergers that substantially lessen competition are prohibited and CCCS has taken action against the Grab-Uber merger because it removed Grab’s closest rival, to the detriment of Singapore drivers and riders,” CCCS CEO Toh Han Li said in the statement.
The regulator also ordered Uber to sell vehicles operated by its Singapore-based Lion City Rentals Pte Ltd to any potential competitor who makes a reasonable offer.
It barred the San Francisco-based company from offloading them to Grab without regulatory approval, potentially crimping a source of vehicles for its growing cohort of drivers.
“This prevents Grab and Uber from absorbing or hoarding Lion City Rentals vehicles to inhibit the access to a vehicle fleet by a new competitor,” the commission said in its statement yesterday.
Lion City had a fleet of about 14,000 vehicles as of last year.
Uber said it was disappointed with the ruling and was considering an appeal.
Grab welcomed the regulator’s decision to allow the merger and said it will abide by its proposed remedies. But it added that all drivers, including taxi operators, should be subject to non-exclusive conditions.
“Grab should not be the only transport player subjected to non- exclusivity conditions,” said its Singapore head, Lim Kell Jay. “This is inconsistent with taxi industry practices and we will continue our dialogue to create a level playing field for all.” — Bloomberg
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