Vodafone/Hutchison Merger Rattles ACCC

Australia’s competition watchdog tonight issued a strongly worded statement of concern that the proposed merger of mobile carriers Hutchison and Vodafone could lead to increased retail prices on mobile telephony and broadband services. In February the pair announced plans to merge in a joint venture dubbed VHA that would have around 6 million customers and combined revenues of approximately $4 billion for the 12 months ended 30 June 2008. The merger is subject to a shareholder vote and is the subject of a current ACCC inquiry