CCPC notified of Uniphar’s acquisition of TouchStore following call-in
April 28, 2026
The competition watchdog has imposed interim measures while the deal is under review
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has been formally notified of the acquisition of TouchStore Limited by healthcare services provider, Uniphar plc.
This follows the CCPC’s decision to call in the deal in March 2026 in order to examine its potential effect on competition.
Uniphar is one of two full line pharmaceutical wholesalers in Ireland and has extensive retail operations, including owning retail stores, franchise networks and buying groups. It owns the brands Allcare Pharmacy, Hickey’s Pharmacy and McCauley Health and Beauty.
TouchStore is a Limerick-based company that provides dispensing and retail management software to pharmacies across Ireland.
The acquisition completed in January 2026 but fell below the turnover thresholds for mandatory notification. However, the CCPC has exercised its statutory power to ‘call in’ below‑threshold mergers where it believes they may have an impact on competition in Irish markets.
The CCPC will now assess whether Uniphar’s ownership of TouchStore could give rise to competition concerns in the wholesale pharmaceutical supply, pharmacy software and/or retail pharmacy sectors in Ireland.
The CCPC, with the cooperation of Uniphar, has imposed interim measures requiring Uniphar to operate TouchStore as a separate business and to deal with it on an arm’s‑length basis for the duration of the CCPC’s review. These measures are intended to limit any potential anti-competitive effects and to ensure that the transaction can be unwound, if necessary, following the CCPC’s review.
About the acquisition
Uniphar acquired TouchStore in December 2025. While the deal fell below the threshold which required notification, the CCPC issued requirements for information (RFIs) to Uniphar and TouchStore to gather information to assist in its consideration of whether this merger should be required to be notified or “called-in” under section 18A of the Competition Act, 2002, as amended. Based on the information gathered, the CCPC is of the opinion that the transaction may have an effect on competition in the State and has exercised its call-in powers accordingly to require notification.
CCPC mergers and acquisitions procedures
The CCPC’s procedures and timelines for reviewing notified mergers and acquisitions are set out at: Mergers and acquisitions – CCPC Business. All mergers and acquisitions that meet specific financial thresholds (in addition to all ‘media mergers’) must be notified to the CCPC. The CCPC assesses these transactions to determine whether or not the result of the transaction will be to substantially lessen competition in any market for goods or services in the State.
CCPC call-in powers
The Competition (Amendment) Act 2022 came into effect in September 2023, which gave the CCPC power to call in below-threshold mergers that may, in the opinion of the CCPC, have an effect on competition in markets for goods or services in State. This is the first time the CCPC has exercised this power. A call-in does not predetermine any outcome of a merger review.
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