Google said it has completed its $2.1 billion acquisition of Fitbit Inc., a deal that would let the search giant push more deeply into the wearable-device and health-data businesses, as it continues to face antitrust scrutiny. The announcement on the deal closing came after European Union antitrust officials last month approved the acquisition with conditions aimed at protecting users’ health data and preserving competition in the wearable-tech sector, clearing one… Source link
Read More »Google closes deal to buy Fitbit as Justice Dept probe continues
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Search and advertising giant Google has closed its deal to buy Fitbit, the companies said on Thursday, even as the Justice Department said it was continuing its probe of the $2.1 billion transaction. The Justice Department, which sued Alphabet Inc’s Google in October for allegedly violating antitrust law in its search and search advertising businesses, said it “has not reached a final decision about whether to pursue an enforcement action” regarding the Fitbit… Source link
Read More »Google closes Fitbit deal as U.S., Australia probes continue
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Search and advertising giant Google closed its deal to buy fitness tracking company Fitbit, the companies said on Thursday, even as U.S. and Australian competition regulators said they were continuing probes of the $2.1 billion transaction. The Justice Department, which sued Alphabet Inc’s Google in October for allegedly violating antitrust law in its search and search advertising businesses, said it “has not reached a final decision about whether to pursue an… Source link
Read More »Google closes Fitbit deal as U.S., Australia probes continue
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Search and advertising giant Google closed its deal to buy fitness tracking company Fitbit, the companies said on Thursday, even as U.S. and Australian competition regulators said they were continuing probes of the $2.1 billion transaction. The Justice Department, which sued Alphabet Inc’s Google in October for allegedly violating antitrust law in its search and search advertising businesses, said it “has not reached a final decision about whether to pursue an… Source link
Read More »Google closes Fitbit deal as U.S., Australia probes continue
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Search and advertising giant Google closed its deal to buy fitness tracking company Fitbit, the companies said on Thursday, even as U.S. and Australian competition regulators said they were continuing probes of the $2.1 billion transaction. The Justice Department, which sued Alphabet Inc’s Google in October for allegedly violating antitrust law in its search and search advertising businesses, said it “has not reached a final decision about whether to pursue an… Source link
Read More »Google’s deal for Fitbit closes at last
Fitbit Inc. FIT, announced Thursday morning that its acquisition by Alphabet Inc.’s [s; GOOGL] GOOG, +0.80% Google has officially closed. Alphabet agreed to pay about $2.1 billion, or $7.35 a share, to acquire Fitbit. The deal was first announced in November 2019 but faced regulatory pushback, particularly in the European Union. European regulators who were looking into the deal eventually gave their blessing last month after… Source link
Read More »Google muscles up with Fitbit deal amid antitrust concerns
SAN RAMON, Calif. (AP) — Google has completed its $2.1 billion acquisition of fitness-gadget maker Fitbit, a deal that could help the internet company grow even stronger while U.S. government regulators pursue an antitrust case aimed at undermining its power. Thursday’s completion of the acquisition comes 14 months after Google announced a deal that immediately raised alarms. Google makes most of its money by selling ads based on information it collects about its billions of users’… Source link
Read More »Sterling up against dollar and euro as UK parliament approves Brexit deal
The pound gained 0.5% against the US dollar on Wednesday. Photo: Getty Sterling maintained its buoyancy in late afternoon trading in London after the UK parliament voted in favour of the deal 521 votes to 73 on Wednesday. “With the path of the Brexit deal expected to be smooth, sterling continues to be driven by broader market price action,” said Simon Harvey, FX market analyst at Monex Europe. “A weaker dollar has been the main theme of FX markets again this week, with liquidity… Source link
Read More »Inside the Google-Facebook ad deal at the heart of a price-fixing lawsuit
The Wall Street Journal viewed part of a recent unredacted draft version of the lawsuit, which elaborates on allegations in the redacted complaint filed in a Texas federal district court. Also Read | Ten books from 2020 you must not miss Ten Republican attorneys general, led by Texas’ Ken Paxton, say Google gave Facebook special terms and access to its ad server, a ubiquitous tool for allocating advertising space across the web. This and other conduct by Google, they allege… Source link
Read More »Inside the Google-Facebook Ad Deal at the Heart of a Price-Fixing Lawsuit
By Ryan Tracy and Jeff Horwitz State attorneys general said in a lawsuit earlier this month that a 2018 business agreement between two digital advertising giants, Facebook Inc. and Alphabet Inc.’s Google, was an illegal price-fixing deal. Lawmakers are calling for further investigation. The companies say it was above board. The Wall Street Journal viewed part of a recent unredacted draft version of the lawsuit, which elaborates on allegations in the redacted complaint filed in… Source link
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