On consideration of the merger between Uber and Yandex.Taxi

Uber/Yandex.Taxi deal

In 2017, the FAS Russia approved the merger (joint venture) of Uber and Yandex.Taxi[1].

The FAS Russia conducted an analysis of the market of services for rendering information interaction between passengers and taxi drivers (the market of taxi aggregators), as well as hold a number of meetings with participants of the Russian markets of taxi and taxi aggregators.

A survey of market participants showed that administrative barriers to entry are characterized as easily overcome.

Given the fact that the market of taxi aggregators is sufficiently young and significant changes and modernization take place in this market all the time, the FAS Russia concluded that currently there are no dominating organizations but Yandex and Uber have signs of dominance that may arise in the future.

In order to improve the conditions for the development of competition in the market for taxi aggregators and related markets, the FAS Russia issued an order to Yandex, Uber and their joint venture to implement actions aimed at optimizing the relationship between aggregators, taxi drivers and passengers. In particular, companies are required to provide the most complete and accessible information to users about a legal entity that carries out transportation with the preservation of the history of trips; do not impose a ban on partners, drivers and passengers to work with other taxis aggregators.

As part of the merger, the FAS Russia consulted with the competition authorities of Kazakhstan and Belarus based on the waivers received from the companies.

[1] http://en.fas.gov.ru/press-center/news/detail.html?id=52562