Express Bus Service Operators Under Investigation for Price-Fixing

The Straits Times on Saturday 1 August 2009 reported that 16 bus service operators were under investigation by the Competition Commission of Singapore (“CCS”) for price-fixing.

CCS had on, 16 June 2009, issued a Proposed Infringement Decision (“PID”) against the Express Bus Agencies Association (EBAA) and 16 companies for colluding to fix the prices of express bus tickets from Singapore to various destinations in Malaysia from 2006 to 2008.

The PID is a written notice setting out the facts and the grounds on which the CCS had reached its proposed decision so as to give the parties involved an opportunity to make representations or arguments against the findings of the CCS.

It is understood that the bus companies could collectively face fines of up to $1.75 million with one of the companies facing a fine of about $520,000.

Some of the express bus operators together with the EBAA have submitted their representations to the CCS within the 6 week deadline from the date of the issuance of the PID.

The CCS is now considering the representations and will issue a final decision in due course. The CCS will not release further details of the case at this stage.