The Grab and Uber merger: a retrospective

Abstract

The Grab–Uber merger was a landmark case for the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC). Its decision to approve the merger had a far-reaching impact on passengers and drivers on both platforms. To date, no competitor of the same size and scale as Uber has emerged in the Philippines. Eight years having passed since the merger, it is time to review the approach taken by the PCC in its investigation and approval. This paper examines the appropriateness of reviewing the transaction through the lens of merger control, the gaps in the Philippine merger notification regime with respect to asset-light industries, the definition of the relevant market, and the remedies imposed and their impact on drivers and passengers.

JEL classification: G34, K21, L40