ECA launches poll to assess effects of Uber, Careem acquisition agreement

Competition authority launches polls on Uber-Careem tie-up: The Egyptian Competition Authority (ECA) has launched two opinion polls for drivers and users of ride-hailing apps to analyse the effects of Uber’s recent USD 3.1 bn acquisition agreement with Careem, according to two separate ECA statements (a driver’s survey and a rider’s survey). The short surveys ask a handful of yes / no questions to assess what respondents effect the merger could do to service quality, price, driver income, market entry barriers, etc. The ECA voiced concerns last week that the agreement may be a “significant impediment” to market competition and has previously threatened to separately slap each of the companies with an EGP 500 mn fine if the merger went ahead.