Pharmacy2U / Lloyds Direct merger inquiry

The CMA is investigating the completed acquisition by Pharmacy2U of Lloyds Direct.

Statutory timetable

Date Action
19 April 2024 Decision published and case closed
12 March 2024 Decision announced
23 January 2024 Launch of merger inquiry
28 November 2023 Initial enforcement order

CMA clearance decision

12 March 2024: The CMA cleared the completed acquisition by Pharmacy2U of Lloyds Direct.

Phase 1

Revocation of initial enforcement order

12 February 2024: The CMA has revoked the initial enforcement order imposed on 28 November 2023 in relation to the completed acquisition by Pharmacy2U of Lloyds Direct. The Revocation Order was issued under section 72(4) of the Enterprise Act 2022 and is without prejudice to the CMA’s ongoing investigations into the acquisition.

Launch of merger inquiry

23 January 2024: The CMA announced the launch of its merger inquiry by notice to the parties.

Invitation to comment: closed on 6 February 2024

23 January 2024: The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is considering whether it is or may be the case that this merger has resulted in the creation of a relevant merger situation under the merger provisions of the Enterprise Act 2002 and, if so, whether the creation of that situation has resulted, or may be expected to result, in a substantial lessening of competition within any market or markets in the United Kingdom for goods or services.

To assist it with this assessment, the CMA invites comments on the transaction from any interested party.

These comments should be provided by the deadline set out above.

Initial enforcement order

28 November 2023: The Competition and Markets Authority has served an initial enforcement order under section 72(2) of the Enterprise Act 2002 on Pharmacy2U, P2U Holdings Limited, G Square Capital II L.P., G Square Healthcare Private Equity LLP and Lloyds Direct.

Amendments / consents granted

Contact

Please send written representations about any competition or public interest issues to:

general.enquiries@cma.gov.uk

Your name and contact details are your personal data. In collecting, receiving, storing, accessing and using your personal data, the CMA, as controller, is processing your personal data. The CMA processes personal data in accordance with data protection law. The CMA is processing your personal data so that it can contact you again, should it need further help or information from you, in order to carry out its merger work under Part 3 of the Enterprise Act 2002. For more information about how the CMA processes personal data and your rights relating to that data, please see our Privacy Notice.

Published 30 November 2023
Last updated 19 April 2024 + show all updates
  1. Decision published and case closed.

  2. Clearance decision published

  3. Derogation letter and revocation order published

  4. Launch of merger investigation and commencement notice published.

  5. First published.