The merger provisions in the Singapore Competition Act (Cap 50B) (‘the Act’) came into force on 1 July 2007 and only apply to mergers implemented after 1 July 2007. Under these provisions, mergers that may result in a substantial lessening of competition within any market in Singapore are prohibited.

The merger regime, which is administered by the Competition Commission of Singapore (CCS), provides for a voluntary rather than a mandatory notification process. However, notification of a merger to the CCS is possible and is even recommended when the market share of the merged entity meets an indicative threshold, as this will suggest that the merger is likely to result in a substantial lessening of competition (SLC).

From the merger regime’s coming into force on 1 July 2007 to the end of 2009, 15 mergers had been notiied to the CCS. All these mergers but one have been declared as not infringing the merger prohibition in the Act.

This chapter provides an overview of the operation of the merger provisions in Singapore. It does not discuss the provisions of the Takeover Code, which typically applies to all mergers and acquisitions.