UK antitrust regulator begins investigation of Vodafone-Hutchison merger

Britain’s antitrust watchdog has launched an investigation into the $19 billion merger between Vodafone’s UK operation and CK Hutchison’s Three UK, reviewing whether the deal will hurt competition, it said on Friday.

The tie-up announced last year will reduce the number of mobile networks in Britain from four to three.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has 40 working days to complete its initial investigation, which is likely to lead to an in-depth, phase two probe lasting 24 weeks.