(Alliance News) – The Competition & Markets Authority on Wednesday said it is considering whether the planned merger the UK businesses of Vodafone Group PLC and CK Hutchison Group Telecom Holdings Ltd would weaken competition.
The companies in June unveiled plans to combine their UK businesses, with Vodafone owning 51% and CK Hutchison 49% of the combined operation.
The two companies and any other interested parties have until November 1 to comment on the CMA concerns, the regulator said. The CMA is considering whether the merger would lead to a substantial lessening of competition within goods and services markets in the UK.
CK Hutchison is a Hong Kong-based telecommunications, ports, infrastructure and retailing conglomerate. It owns the Three UK business. Vodafone is a Newbury, England-based telecommunications operator.
Neither company will pay cash for the merger. Instead, they will…
