INTERNET : COMMISSION CLEARS GOOGLE-DOUBLECLICK MERGER.

Tech Europe, April, 2008

The proposed acquisition by the US search engine Google Inc of the online advertising technology firm DoubleClick (also American) - at a cost of 3.1 billion - was authorised by the European Commission, on 11 March. The detailed investigation into the deal, opened by the EU executive in November 2007, showed that the "transaction is unlikely to have harmful effects on consumers, either in ad serving or in intermediation in online advertising markets".

The Commission notes that its decision to allow the merger "is based exclusively on its appraisal under the EU Merger Regulation". "It is without prejudice to the merged entity's obligations under EU legislation concerning the protection of individuals and the protection of privacy with regard to the processing of...

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