EU antitrust regulators block Hutchison's O2 UK mobile bid

BRUSSELS, May 11 (Reuters) - EU antitrust regulators blocked on Wednesday CK Hutchison Holdings' planned 10.3 billion-pound ($14.9 billion) acquisition of O2 from Spain's Telefonica (LSE: 826858.L - news) , saying the deal would have led to higher mobile phone prices in Britain.

The European Commission said Hutchison (HKSE: 0013-OL.HK - news) 's concessions failed to address competition worries. Hutchison, controlled by Asia's richest man Li Ka-shing, had planned to expand its telecoms footprint in Britain, where it already operates as "Three".

"We had strong concerns that consumers would have had less choice finding a mobile package that suits their needs and paid more than without the deal," European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said in a statement.

She (Munich: SOQ.MU - news) said the deal would also have hampered innovation and the development of network infrastructure in the UK. (Reporting by Foo Yun Chee; editing by Philip Blenkinsop)