Brussels to investigate Google ad deal

The European Commission decided November 2007 to open an in-depth investigation under the EU Merger Regulation into the proposed acquisition by US company Google of the online advertising technology company DoubleClick, also of the US. The Commission’s initial market investigation indicated that the proposed merger would raise competition concerns in the markets for intermediation and ad serving in online advertising. The Commission has 90 working days (until 2 April 2008) to take a final decision on whether the proposed transaction would significantly impede effective competition within the European Economic Area (EEA) or any substantial part of it. The decision to open an in-depth inquiry does not prejudge the final result of the investigation.

European Commission: Press Release: IP/07/1688: Mergers: Commission opens in-depth investigation into Google's proposed take over of DoubleClick http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/07/1688&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

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