The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has been notified of Uniphar plc's acquisition of TouchStore Limited, following a call-in decision made in March 2026. This review is crucial as it examines the potential effects of the acquisition on competition within the Irish market.

Uniphar, a major player in the pharmaceutical wholesale sector in Ireland, operates various retail brands including Allcare Pharmacy and Hickey’s Pharmacy. TouchStore, based in Limerick, specializes in providing software solutions for pharmacies. Although the acquisition was completed in January 2026 and did not meet the mandatory notification thresholds, the CCPC has exercised its authority to call in the deal due to possible competition concerns.

As part of the review process, the CCPC has imposed interim measures that require Uniphar to manage TouchStore as a separate entity and maintain an arm’s-length relationship during the assessment period. These measures aim to mitigate any potential anti-competitive effects and ensure that the transaction can be reversed if necessary.

The CCPC's decision to call in this merger is significant as it marks the first use of the powers granted by the Competition (Amendment) Act 2022, which allows the authority to review below-threshold mergers that may impact competition. The CCPC will now evaluate whether Uniphar's ownership of TouchStore could lead to competition issues in the wholesale pharmaceutical supply, pharmacy software, and retail pharmacy sectors in Ireland.