Watchdog Plans Deep Probe of SSE-Innogy Energy UK Merger

The creation of the U.K.’s second-biggest utility will probably take longer than anticipated after a watchdog announced plans for a more thorough probe into a merger of the retail units of SSE Plc and Innogy SE’s Npower.

The proposed merger was referred for an in-depth investigation after competition concerns were found, the Competition and Markets Authority said May 8 in a statement. A decision will now be made by a group of independent panel members supported by a case team of CMA staff and the deadline for the final report is Oct. 22.

The transaction would combine ...