FTC Gives Green Signal to Google-DoubleClick Merger
Date: 12-24-2007
Google's $3.1 billion acquisition of Internet advertising server DoubleClick Inc. was approved by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in a 4-1 vote. Google announced its plan to acquire DoubleClick in April, and FTC regulators have been reviewing the proposed merger for nearly eight months. Despite earlier complaints by "interested parties," the FTC cleared the deal, citing that it is "unlikely to substantially lessen competition." The Commission observed that such issues are "not unique to Google and DoubleClick," and "extend to the entire online advertising marketplace." The merger is now pending approval by the European Commission who are expected to announce the results by April 2008.
