LONDON — The U.K. Competition Commission on Thursday provisionally ruled against the proposed merger of live-entertainment companies Ticketmaster Entertainment Inc. and Live Nation Inc., saying it would stifle a prospective competitor from Germany.

The Competition Commission said the merger of the two California-based companies “could severely inhibit the entry of a major new competitor, CTS Eventim, into the U.K. ticketing market.”

It said possible remedies include prohibition of the merger, divestment of some of Ticketmaster’ or Live Nation’s U.K. operations, or require Live Nation to use CTS or another company to sell tickets for Live Nation’s U.K. events.

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