In a commission decision issued on Tuesday, the PCC said URC’s buyout of its only competitor in the sugarcane milling services market leads to a monopoly in the region. Earlier, the PCC raised competition concerns on URC’s proposed acquisition of CADPI and RHI’s assets. PCC, however, rejected the voluntary commitments offered by the parties as such were deemed insufficient to address the competition concerns raised. “The prohibition prevents this deal from creating a monopoly in the relevant market that could harm the welfare of the sugar cane planters. Meanwhile, RHI owns 100 percent of the shares of CADPI, which operates an integrated sugar cane milling and refining plant in Batangas.

Source: Philippine Star February 14, 2019 15:56 UTC