United Kingdom: Issued CMA statement in investigation into the merger between Vodafone and CK Hutchinson

On 2 May 2024, the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) issued a statement on its investigation into the merger between Vodafone and CK Hutchinson. The statement assesses the potential anti-competitive effects arising from the merger. It analyses constraints on the merged entity's behaviour regarding pricing and service quality, as well as concerns about diminished competition in wholesale mobile services and reduced incentives for investment. The investigation involves gathering evidence through surveys, econometric estimations, and internal document analysis, with particular attention to competitive constraints from MVNOs and rival companies. Efforts are also directed towards evaluating claims of efficiency gains by the merging parties and considering potential remedies if anti-competitive effects are identified, alongside analysing possibilities for entry or expansion by third parties to mitigate these effects.