E-Malt.com News article: Singapore: The Competition Commission of Singapore investigating Heineken’s acquisition of GAPL

The Competition Commission of Singapore (CCS) is inviting interested parties to provide feedback on the acquisition of GAPL by Heineken International (HIBV), Channel NewsAsia reported on November 17.

In a press release issued on November 17, CCS said that the public consultation will take place from Nov 17 to Nov 27.

The Heineken Group, which includes Asia Pacific Breweries, is involved in the production, marketing, sale, distribution and supply of various brands of beer, ale, lager and stout in Singapore, including brands of beer which are held by the Heineken Group and third party brands which have been licensed to Heineken Singapore entities for supply in Singapore.

GAPL is a registered company in Singapore, and does not directly produce or distribute the ABC Extra Stout and Guinness Draught and Guinness Foreign Extra Stout brands in Singapore, but holds these brand licenses in Singapore.

CCS said that HIBV "submits that the direct overlap in the activities of Heineken Singapore and GAPL is the licensing of brands of beer (including all ale, lager and stout) for the production, marketing, sale, distribution and supply in Singapore".

HIBV claims that the acquisition will not result in the substantial lessening of competition in the relevant market, which is the production, marketing, sale, distribution and global supply of duty-paid and duty-free beer (which includes all ales, lagers and stouts) to Singapore.

CCS said that HIBV made the notification for decision with regard to the acquisition on Nov 12.

According to CCS, the notification was made under section 58 of the Competition Act which relates to section 54 of the Act prohibiting mergers that have resulted, or may be expected to result, in a substantial lessening of competition within any market in Singapore.


17 November, 2015