Vodafone and Three announced plans to merge in the UK back in 2023, with regulators ultimately approving the consolidation in December 2024. The merged entity, VodafoneThree, officially commenced operations on May 31, 2025, with Vodafone holding 51% of the shares and CK Hutchison (the owner of Three) holding 49%.
Now, nearly a year later, Vodafone is moving to acquire CK Hutchison's stake, thereby attaining complete ownership of VodafoneThree for £4.3 billion. This transaction must receive regulatory clearance, which is expected to occur in the latter half of this year.
Interestingly, the merger's terms originally stipulated that Vodafone could opt for full ownership three years post-completion, but the company has opted to pursue this acquisition earlier than anticipated.
Vodafone has confirmed that there will be no change to the brands; both Vodafone and Three will continue to operate under the new ownership. This acquisition aligns with Vodafone CEO Margherita Della Valle's strategy to focus on the company's primary markets, particularly the UK and Germany. During her leadership, Vodafone has exited markets in Spain and Italy and plans to divest its stake in a Dutch joint venture.
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