UK regulator scrutinises eBay bid for fashion resale app Depop

The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has opened a ceremonial merger enquiry into eBay's planned takeover of manner resale level Depop, with a Phase I determination owed by 6 August 2026.

The regulator issued a announcement nether Section 96(2A) of the Enterprise Act 2002.

The woody was announced successful February erstwhile eBay agreed to get Depop from Etsy successful a $1.2bn all-cash transaction.

The CMA opened a lawsuit connected 23 April 2026 and conducted a nationalist remark play betwixt 23 April and 8 May 2026 earlier formally launching the inquiry.

Subject to regulatory clearances, the acquisition was expected to implicit successful the 2nd 4th of 2026.

If the woody goes through, Depop volition clasp its name, marque identity, level and civilization pursuing the alteration of ownership.

Depop operates arsenic a mobile-first consumer-to-consumer (C2C) manner marketplace.

It generated astir $1bn successful yearly gross merchandise income (GMS) successful 2025, with a year-on-year maturation of astir 60% successful the US.

As of 31 December 2025, the level counted 7 cardinal progressive buyers, astir 90% of whom are aged nether 34 years, and much than 3 cardinal progressive sellers.

Announcing the deal, eBay said the acquisition would beforehand its C2C strategy by broadening engagement with younger shoppers and reinforcing its presumption successful resale fashion.

As portion of eBay, Depop could summation entree to the group’s fiscal services, shipping capabilities and purchaser extortion programmes, arsenic good arsenic broader inventory vulnerability done cross-listing.

The CMA said it examines mergers wherever the ineligible thresholds are met and wherever a woody could harm consumers, businesses oregon the broader UK system — whether done reduced choice, little prime oregon higher prices.

The enquiry comes amid broader turbulence for eBay.

Last month, GameStop submitted an unsolicited, non-binding connection to get the e-commerce institution successful a cash-and-stock transaction valued astatine astir $55.5bn, astatine an connection terms of $125 per share.

eBay's committee subsequently rejected the approach, describing it arsenic "neither credible nor attractive".

In a missive addressed to GameStop main enforcement Ryan Cohen, eBay president Paul S Pressler confirmed the committee had undertaken a thorough reappraisal with autarkic fiscal and ineligible advisers earlier declining the bid.

"UK regulator scrutinises eBay bid for manner resale app Depop" was primitively created and published by Retail Insight Network, a GlobalData owned brand.

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