06:40 AM EDT, 04/04/2024 (MT Newswires) -- The UK's antitrust regulatory authority said Thursday that it has named a four-member inquiry group to pursue an investigation into the ramifications of the proposed joint venture between Vodafone Group ( VOD ) and CK Hutchison Holdings concerning Vodafone Limited and Hutchison 3G UK Limited.

The Competition and Markets Authority said economist and former IBM (IBM) senior employee Stuart McIntosh will chair the inquiry group, which will include attorney Stephen Rose, consumer policy consultant Ashleye Gunn, and investment banker Crispin Wright.

The inquiry group will have until Sept. 18 to determine whether the anticipated joint venture will "result in a substantial lessening of competition" within the UK's retail, business, and commercial mobile services markets.