EC rejects UK review of proposed O2-3 UK merger

Nieuws Mobiel Verenigd Koninkrijk 4 DEC 2015
EC rejects UK review of proposed O2-3 UK merger
The European Commission (EC) has decided not to refer the planned acquisition of Telefonica UK (O2) by Hutchison to the UK competition authority. The EC decided that it was better placed to ensure consistency in the application of merger control rules in the European mobile telecoms sector. 

Hutchison 3G UK notified the EC of its plans to acquire control of Telefonica UK in September. In October, the UK competition authority submitted a request for the EC to refer all or part of the assessment of a case to it. The EC opened an in-depth investigation into the proposed deal on 30 October and has until 18 April 2016 to make a final decision.

Categories:

Mobiel

Companies:

O2,  Telefonica

Countries:

Verenigd Koninkrijk

Tags:

Voice services, Data services, Messaging, Company, Services, Corporate, M&A buyouts & divestments

Related Articles

VERENIGD KONINKRIJK 1 FEB 2016

Ofcom chief says 3-O2 merger threatens competition

Sharon White, the head of UK regulator Ofcom, has come out against the proposed takeover of O2 UK by Hutchison, owner of the 3 UK network. In an opinion piece in the Financial Times, White said she was concerned the move from four to three mobile networks in the UK could lead to higher prices. She also sees a possible impact on the high street, where the balance of power could shift in favour of the mobile operators rather than the independent retailers who help keep the price of handsets and services compe

VERENIGD KONINKRIJK 18 JAN 2016

EC set to impose strict conditions on 3 UK-O2 deal - report

The EC is expected to impose strict concessions on plans for Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison, owner of 3 UK, to acquire rival operator O2 UK, in a preliminary report due this week, reports The Telegraph. 3 UK controls 11 percent of the UK mobile market and could be ordered to divest network capacity before it can take over O2, which holds nearly 22 percent of the market. The deal will cut the number of UK mobile network operators from four to three. A merged 3 UK-O2 could also be forced to set up a spin-off ri

VERENIGD KONINKRIJK 5 JAN 2016

Ofcom chief concerned about prices after O2-3 UK merger

Ofcom CEO Sharon White has said that the planned GBP 6.2 million merger between O2 UK and 3 UK would damage competition between UK mobile operators and force price upwards, reports the Daily Mail. Telefonica's sale of O2 UK to 3 UK owner Hutchison would reduce the number of UK mobile operators from four to three and would give the merged group a 40 percent market share. White is quoted as saying that people who use their mobile phone less, such as elderly consumers, could face higher prices.

VERENIGD KONINKRIJK 16 DEC 2015

O2 Business partners with Enterprise Nation

O2 UK has announced a partnership between O2 Business and small business network Enterprise Nation. They will join forces in 2016 to deliver Enterprise Nation TV, a new digital library containing hundreds of exclusive how-to videos delivered by experts and entrepreneurs on topics of interest to small businesses.

VERENIGD KONINKRIJK 15 DEC 2015

O2 UK carries more data on 4G network than 3G network

O2 UK's network investment programme for 2015 has included the roll-out of 4G to over a fifth more of the population in 2015. This includes over 2,300 cities, towns, and villages across the UK, (including over 1,700 smaller villages and smaller towns. The company has increased its overall network investment budget for 2016 by 15 percent. O2 also confirmed that for the first time it carried more data traffic on the 4G network than the 3G network in 2015. It has also started a programme of reallocating some o

VERENIGD KONINKRIJK 14 DEC 2015

O2 UK promotion gives away Christmas gifts

O2 UK has announced a Christmas promotion with O2 Priority. From 14 December, customers can win a gift every weekday by guessing what is underneath the O2 wrapping paper and tweeting their answer to @O2 including #O2ITSAWRAP. One winner will be chosen at random from all correct entries.

VERENIGD KONINKRIJK 8 DEC 2015

EC questions market on O2-3 UK merger

The European Commission has sent out a questionnaire asking UK market players to comment on the expected impact of the proposed takeover of O2 by Hutchison, the owner of 3 UK. In November the EC opened an in-depth investigation of the merger, amid concerns the move from four to three network operators in the UK could have negative consequences for competition. According to the confidential questionnaire seen by the Financial Times, the EC is seeking feedback in four main areas: retail competition, sales cha

VERENIGD KONINKRIJK 7 DEC 2015

O2 UK offers customers chance to win NYC trip

O2 UK is offering customers the chance to win a trip to New York by using the 'My O2' online account management tool. The online tool allows customers to view their bills, check their usage and examine their upgrade options. One My O2 user will win a trip for two to New York, including travel, four nights' 4-star accommodation and GBP 1,000 cash to spend. They will also be given a Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 9.7", a pair of Beats headphones, a GBP 100 Google Play gift card and a year's subscription to Spotify Pre

VERENIGD KONINKRIJK 6 NOV 2015

O2 UK adds 224,000 mobile customers in Q3

O2 UK added a net 224,200 new mobile customers in the third quarter, for a total 25.040 million at the end of September. The prepaid base increased by 30,100 to 10.823 million, and postpaid subscribers were up by 194,200 compared to June to 14.218 million. The operator also counted 2.290 million M2M connections, up from 2.234 million three months earlier. O2 passed 50 percent of mobile customers with smartphones in Q3, equal to 67.9 percent of postpaid customers and 32.2 percent of prepaid users. Customers

VERENIGD KONINKRIJK 2 NOV 2015

EC opens in-depth investigation of O2-3 UK merger

The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation into Hutchison's acquisition of O2 UK. The Commission said it's concerned that the merger of O2 and 3 UK could lead to higher prices, less choice and reduced innovation for mobile customers in the UK. The merger of O2 and 3 would create the UK's largest mobile operator and reduce the market from four network operators to three. 

VERENIGD KONINKRIJK 12 OCT 2015

Approval of O2/3UK and BT-EE mergers would make O2/3UK the largest MNO but facing two converged competitors

The announced merger between O2/3 UK will reduce the number of MNOs, if approved. Currently the EU is looking into the O2/3 UK merger, as both are part of multinational mobile operator groups, while the British Competition Authority (CMA) is looking into the proposed BT/EE merger. The CMA has recently requested the EU to pass the O2/3 UK merger case to them, so they can assess both at the same time and therefore get a better idea of the effect of both mergers onto the British telecom landscape. T

VERENIGD KONINKRIJK 8 OCT 2015

Ofcom chief warns of higher prices from 3 UK/O2 deal

Ofcom CEO Sharon White warned that the merger of mobile operators 3 UK and O2 UK could be blocked by regulators because it could lead to higher prices for customers, reports The Telegraph. Speaking at the London School of Economics, White warned that the deal was unlikely to have any positive impact on network investment. The merger will create the UK's largest mobile network, accounting for over 40 percent of all mobile connection. It will also the number of network operators from four to three. White said

VERENIGD KONINKRIJK 4 OCT 2015

CMA requests UK review of 3 UK, O2 merger

The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has made a request to the EC to refer Hutchison's proposed takeover of Telefonica Europe to the CMA for investigation. Hutchison owns mobile network operator 3 UK, whilst Telefonica Europe owns O2 UK. The merger was formally notified to EC on11 September. Following consultation and preliminary analysis, the CMA believes that the deal threatens to significantly impact competition in the UK retail mobile and wholesale mobile markets. It also believes that the cas

VERENIGD KONINKRIJK 21 SEP 2015

Hutchison to consider IPO for merged 3-O2 UK

CK Hutchison will consider a stock market listing for O2 UK after its merger with 3 UK is completed, chairman Canning Fok told the Financial Times. The company already agreed to sell a third of the merged company for GBP 3.1 billion to the investors Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, GIC of Singapore, Limpart Holdings (a subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority), CDPQ of Quebec and BTG Pactual of Brazil. Fok said the new investors had a "liquidity requirement" and an IPO would be considered to of

Just In

19 DEC 16:42

SLT-Mobitel launches 5G network in Sri Lanka

19 DEC 16:19

Dialog Axiata launches 5G network, connects 1.5 million subscribers

19 DEC 15:56

UK govt to ban AI-enabled nudification apps to protect women, girls

19 DEC 15:42

3 UK launches last-minute Christmas sale

Commentary

13:56

Video market set for slower growth ahead

11:38

Netflix buys Warner Bros to deepen content catalogue

11:11

KPN's mixed performance in Q3 raises questions for strategy day

15:26

Stock markets breaking records but what happened to Odido's IPO plans?

Background

01:04

The week in telecom: Wi-Fi bolt-ons take off to boost broadband growth, video market works on consolidation

01:39

The week in telecom: Netflix wins bidding for Warner Bros, Apple poaches new execs, Samsung debuts trifold

13:51

Proximus vs. Telenet: Proximus performs better in Q3 while Telenet uses up cash

14:16

Proximus Domestic still struggling with low margins

Complete profile

Before downloading the whitepaper, we would like to ask you to complete your profile with company and position. After confirming you will receive the white paper.