CCCS seeks feedback on City Energy’s acquisition of Tan Soon Huah Gas Supply’s LPG business

The commission is studying whether the deal will infringe section 54 of the Competition Act 2004.

The Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (CCCS) has invited the public to provide feedback on City Energy's acquisition of Tan Soon Huah Gas Supply’s (TSH) Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) business.

The commission is studying whether the acquisition would infringe section 54 of the Competition Act 2004, which prohibits mergers that have resulted or may result, in a substantial lessening of competition within any market in Singapore.

City Energy said that whilst it and TSH are suppliers to residential, commercial, and industrial customers in Singapore, the latter is not active in the town gas, natural gas or electricity business. 

City Energy added that the proposed transaction will not result in a substantial lessening of competition in Singapore because of the following reasons:

The presence of strong LPG, natural gas and electricity competitors in the relevant markets will impose competitive constraints on the merged entity;
There are no significant barriers to entry into the relevant markets (except town gas) and therefore potential entrants are likely to be able to enter relatively quickly on a material scale; 
Customers can switch easily between suppliers in the relevant markets due to the low cost and time required to do so; 

The public can provide feedback on the proposed acquisition from 8 June to 21 June,  5 p.m.