Google’s $5 billion Mandiant acquisition just hit another snag
The search giant wants to bolster its cybersecurity credentials by buying Mandiant
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Googlerecently announcedits plan to acquirecybersecuritycompany Mandiant for $5.4 billion, in an effort to bolster its services and entice new customers into the fold.
However, as with any huge acquisition, regulators are looking closely at the deal to make sure that it passes muster – especially in terms of harming competition.
In afilingwith the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Mandiant executives disclosed that their company and Google had received enquiries from the US Department of Justice (DOJ).
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“On March 21, 2022, Mandiant and Google filed the Notification and Report Forms required under the HSR Act with the Department of Justice (the “DOJ”) and the Federal Trade Commission,” the filing explains.
“On April 20, 2022, Mandiant and Google each received a request for additional information…from the DOJ in connection with the DOJ’s review of the Merger. The issuance of the Second Request extends the waiting period under the HSR Act until 30 days after both Mandiant and Google have substantially complied with the Second Request, unless the waiting period is terminated earlier by the DOJ or extended by agreement of Mandiant and Google.”
The merger is still expected to complete within 2022, but this could present a snag for the search giant and its plans to cement its place in the cybersecurity space with netowork mapping,ransomware protectionand risk management services from Mandiant.
Both parties expect to reply promptly to the DOJ’s requests, which have been described as routine.
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A huge move in the security space
Google buying Mandiant is a really big deal and it’s no surprise that various parties are opposed to the merger. Recently, a shareholderfiled a lawsuitclaiming that Mandiant made “materially incomplete and misleading” in shareholder letters.
The most powerful hacking tools are no longer in the hands of governments alone>US government warns specialized malware is targeting energy plants>Google Cloud has revealed a significant security upgrade
Whether these moves go anywhere remains to be seen – and presumably Google is fairly confident it can get the deal over the line – but the deal would bring one of the largest cybersecurity firms under direct control of one of the world’s largest companies.
Mandiant has made a name for itself by offering tools to detect and counteractmalwareand other forms of cyberattack, as well as offering public-facing research into a variety of online misdeeds.
Mandiant also recentlypartneredwith CrowdStrike, its key rival, which is perhaps a sign of goodwill from the company ahead of scrutiny from regulators.
ViaThe Register
Max Slater-Robins has been writing about technology for nearly a decade at various outlets, covering the rise of the technology giants, trends in enterprise and SaaS companies, and much more besides. Originally from Suffolk, he currently lives in London and likes a good night out and walks in the countryside.
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