The U.K.’s Competition and Markets Authority began examining FirstCash Holdings Inc.’s anticipated purchase of Ramsdens Holdings PLC on Oct. 26, 2026, starting a formal merger review of the deal’s possible effect on competition.
The CMA lists the case in financial services and classifies its status as open. It concerns an anticipated acquisition, so the review is about a proposed purchase rather than a completed deal.
Before launching the inquiry, the CMA invited initial views on the proposed deal’s possible effect on competition from Aug. 20 to Sept. 4. That window has closed. The consultation was open to interested parties, not only the two companies. The agency also recorded that the parties had provided information needed to begin pre-notification, a step before the formal review.
The CMA’s timetable sets Dec. 22, 2026, as the deadline for its Phase 1 decision. The regulator’s schedule allows the deadline to be extended in limited circumstances.
