UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
PURSUANT TO RULES 13a-16 OR 15d-16 UNDER
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Dated
December 05, 2024
Commission
File Number: 001-10086
VODAFONE GROUP
PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY
(Translation
of registrant’s name into English)
VODAFONE
HOUSE, THE CONNECTION, NEWBURY, BERKSHIRE, RG14 2FN,
ENGLAND
(Address
of principal executive offices)
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual
reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form
20-F ✓
Form 40-F _
This
Report on Form 6-K contains a Stock Exchange Announcement dated 05
December 2024 entitled ‘CMA APPROVES MERGER OF VODAFONE AND
THREE IN UK’.
5 December 2024
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CMA APPROVES MERGER OF VODAFONE AND THREE IN THE UK
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Merger creates a new force in UK
mobile, unleashing more competition and investment to transform the
UK telecoms landscape
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Committed £11 billion investment
programme to build the UK's biggest and best
network
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New advanced 5G network will bring
vastly superior network quality to tens of millions of consumers
and businesses up and down the country
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Investment will propel the UK's
telecoms infrastructure to the forefront of European
connectivity
Vodafone
and Three welcome today's announcement by the UK's Competition and
Markets Authority ("CMA"). After 18 months of detailed and thorough
analysis, the CMA has approved the combination of Vodafone and
Three in the UK.
The
merger is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform the UK's
digital infrastructure. From the outset, Margherita Della Valle,
Vodafone Group's CEO, described the combination as being, "great
for customers, great for competition and great for the country."
Upon completion, this promise can be turned into
reality.
Vodafone and Three have committed to invest £11 billion to
create one of Europe's most advanced 5G networks. The new network
will reach 99% of the population and benefit over 50 million
customers1,
through significantly better quality, greater reliability and
enhanced capacity for handling ever-increasing data demand. This
demand is set to accelerate further with more widespread adoption
of new technology, such as AI.
Great network connectivity is critical to so many elements of our
daily life and is central to the UK's economic growth ambitions.
Businesses large and small depend on high-quality connectivity and
advanced 5G is also crucial for the growth of the UK's science and
technology sectors, as well as improving public services and
narrowing the digital divide.
The combination creates a new, stronger player in UK mobile, with
the scale to drive more intense competition across both the retail
and wholesale markets.
The £11 billion network investment will require no public
funding and, as highlighted by the CMA, will "boost competition
between the mobile network operators in the long term, benefiting
millions of people who rely on mobile services."
Margherita Della Valle said: "Today's
decision creates a new force in the UK's telecoms market and
unlocks the investment needed to build the network infrastructure
the country deserves. Consumers and businesses will enjoy wider
coverage, faster speeds and better-quality connections across the
UK, as we build the biggest and best network in our home market.
Today's approval releases the handbrake on the UK's telecoms
industry, and the increased investment will power the UK to the
forefront of European telecommunications."
Canning Fok, Deputy Chairman of CK Hutchison and Chairman of CK
Hutchison Group Telecom Holdings, said: "We
have been operating telecoms businesses in the UK for over three
decades and Three UK for the past two. We have invested in the
people and the infrastructure, helping to bring the benefits of
mobile connectivity to UK businesses and consumers. When Three and
Vodafone are combined, CK Hutchison will fully support the merged
business in implementing its network investment plan, the
cornerstone of today's approval by the CMA, transforming the UK's
digital infrastructure and ensuring customers across the country
benefit from world-beating network quality."
Vodafone and Three will study the Final Report in detail and will
continue to engage with the CMA as they put in place the final
undertakings.
The merger is expected to formally complete during the first half
of 2025. Vodafone will own 51% of the equity and, after three years
following completion and subject to certain conditions, Vodafone
may acquire Hutchison's 49% stake via a Put and Call
option.
- ends -
1. The
merger will extend the network quality benefits well beyond the
merged company's own customer base to VMO2's customers - please see
full announcement here.
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For more information, please contact:
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Vodafone Media
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GroupMedia@vodafone.com
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Vodafone Investor Relations
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Investors.vodafone.com
ir@vodafone.co.uk
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Three
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ed.cropley@teneo.com
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Registered Office: Vodafone House, The Connection, Newbury,
Berkshire RG14 2FN, England. Registered in England No.
1833679
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About Vodafone
Vodafone is a leading European and African telecoms company. We
provide mobile and fixed services to over 330 million customers in
15 countries (excludes Italy which is held as a discontinued
operation under Vodafone Group), partner with mobile networks in 45
more and have one of the world's largest IoT platforms. In Africa,
our financial technology businesses serve almost 79 million
customers across seven countries - managing more transactions than
any other provider.
Our purpose is to connect for a better future by using technology
to improve lives, businesses and help progress inclusive
sustainable societies. We are committed to reducing our
environmental impact to reach net zero emissions by
2040.
For more information, please visit www.vodafone.com follow
us on X at @VodafoneGroup or connect with us on LinkedIn
at www.linkedin.com/company/vodafone.
About Three
Three launched in 2003 as the UK's first 3G only network. Today
Three is a connectivity company that connects people to people,
people to things and things to things and has 10.9 million
customers.
Our network today covers 99% of the UK population and we carry 34%
of the UK's mobile data traffic.
Three launched 5G in August 2019, and has been recognised by Ookla
as having the UK's fastest 5G network.
Three UK is a proud partner of Samaritans, where it will use the
strength of its network and technology to connect 1 million people
to emotional support.
Three UK is part of the CK Hutchison Holdings Ltd group of
companies which has mobile operations in 11 countries. We employ
more than 4,800 people across our offices in Reading and Glasgow
and our 297 retail stores.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorised.
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VODAFONE
GROUP
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PUBLIC
LIMITED COMPANY
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(Registrant)
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Date:
December 05, 2024
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By: /s/ M D B
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Name: Maaike de Bie
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Title: Group General Counsel and Company Secretary
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