LONDON — The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has approved eBay’s planned $1.2 billion acquisition of fashion resale platform Depop from Etsy, removing a key regulatory hurdle and allowing the transaction to move closer to completion.
The CMA concluded its Phase 1 merger review without referring the deal to a more detailed Phase 2 investigation, indicating that it found no sufficient competition concerns in the UK second-hand fashion market. The authority said it would publish the full reasoning behind its decision at a later date.
eBay announced the all-cash acquisition in February 2026, agreeing to purchase Depop from Etsy for approximately $1.2 billion. The U.S. e-commerce giant said the deal is aimed at strengthening its position in the fast-growing resale fashion sector while expanding its appeal among younger consumers, particularly Generation Z.
Founded in London in 2011, Depop has become one of the world’s leading online marketplaces for second-hand fashion, attracting a predominantly Gen Z user base through its mobile-first, social-commerce platform. Etsy acquired the company in 2021 for $1.6 billion, but decided to sell the business as part of its portfolio optimization strategy.
With the UK watchdog’s approval, eBay has cleared one of the final major regulatory obstacles to completing the acquisition, which is expected to enhance its presence in one of the fastest-growing segments of online retail as demand for resale and sustainable fashion continues to rise.
Source: Patronlar Dünyası/ Prepared by: İlayda Gök