United Kingdom: Issued CMA findings following Phase 1 investigation into merger between Vodafone and CK Hutchinson

On 22 March 2024, the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) issued its findings after its Phase 1 investigation into the proposed merger between Vodafone and Hutchison 3G UK. After reviewing evidence, the CMA has determined that the merger warrants further examination in a phase 2 investigation due to concerns about potential competition issues in both retail and wholesale mobile services in the UK. The parties involved have until 2 April 2024 to propose remedies to address these concerns. If no satisfactory solution is presented, the CMA will proceed with the phase 2 investigation to assess the merger's impact on competition before making a final decision.