Live Nation-Ticketmaster Merger Wrinkle in U.K.

The Competition Appeal Tribunal on Thursday set aside the independent review body's unconditional Dec. 22 approval of the splicing of the concert promotion giant and the top ticketing-management firm. The matter was referred back to the Competition Commission, and a new decision is expected within three months.

In the U.S., the merger received Department of Justice approval on Jan. 25, following a proposed settlement of a civil suit that required the merged firms, now known as Live Nation Entertainment, to sell off some interests and institute market concessions.

U.K. move follows an appeal by Bremen, Germany-based ticketing company and concert promoter CTS Eventim, one of Ticketmaster's top Europe-based competitors.

In an initial October ruling opposing the merger, the commission had said the Live Nation-Ticketmaster merger could impede Eventim's entry into the U.K. ticketing market.