Under the proposed agreement, Vodafone would hold a 51% stake in the new company, with CK Hutchinson holding the remaining share. CK Hutchinson would eventually sell its stake to Vodafone after the merger of Vodafone UK and Three UK. However, the entire process is expected to take at least another year as regulators undertake a thorough approval process.
Regulators are likely to scrutinize the merger closely due to concerns about market consolidation leading to increased market power and higher prices for consumers. Earlier this year, most UK mobile operators raised their tariffs by approximately 14%, highlighting the potential impact on consumer costs.
