Singapore: Grab & Uber appoint UK firm to ensure compliance

An independent third party has been appointed by ride-hailing companies Grab and Uber to ensure that interim measures imposed by Singapore’s competition watchdog are complied with, while Grab’s merger with Uber’s Southeast Asian operations is being investigated.

The appointment of UK accountancy firm Smith & Williamson LLP has been approved, announced the Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (CCCS) in a media release on Monday, May 7.

Some of the compliance terms are:

• Grab is not allowed to take over Uber’s operational data (e.g. historical trip data) from Uber.
• Uber is required to allow drivers who rent from Lion City Rentals to drive for any ride-hailing platform and shall not be subject to any impediments (e.g. higher rental rates and/or lack of insurance coverage) that limit their ability to drive for any ride-hailing platform.
• Uber is required to release ComfortDelGro from any restrictions from partnering with a third-party ride-hailing platform.

Investigations into the merger are still ongoing. The head of Grab Singapore said earlier on Monday that talks with CCCS are “going well”.

Full Content: Straits Times

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