Competition regulator delays $8.8b Chemist Warehouse deal approval

The competition regulator has delayed its ruling on whether to allow the merger of Chemist Warehouse and Sigma Healthcare, a deal that would create an $8.8 billion listed pharmaceutical retailing and wholesale giant, until at least October.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission had originally expected to decide whether to approve the deal next month. In June, the regulator raised five “orange” flags in a preliminary assessment of the deal.