The ACCC will not oppose the proposed acquisition of Mandiant, Inc. by Google LLC.
Mandiant supplies cybersecurity consulting services, specialising in incident response, and other cybersecurity products.
Google supplies software and internet-based products, including Google Cloud and some cybersecurity products.
“Our investigation concluded that Google and Mandiant are not competitors in the supply of cybersecurity products and that this acquisition was not likely to substantially lessen competition,” ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said.
Our investigation found that there are a number of alternative suppliers of cybersecurity and cloud platform products.
“We found the acquisition was unlikely to give Google the incentive and ability to foreclose competitors in cloud platform or cybersecurity services due to the existence of alternative suppliers,”
In reaching this view the ACCC consulted with customers and competitors of Google and Mandiant.
More information is available on the ACCC’s website: Google LLC - Mandiant, Inc.
Background
Google is a global supplier of software and internet-based products, including ads, Android, Chrome, hardware, Gmail, Google Drive, Google Maps, Google Photos, Google Play, Search, YouTube, Google Cloud and Google Cloud Platform.
Mandiant is a global supplier of cybersecurity consulting services including incident response. It also supplies cybersecurity software and managed services.
Both parties are listed on the NASDAQ Stock Exchange.
In considering the proposed acquisition, the ACCC applies the legal test set out in section 50 of the Competition and Consumer Act.
In general terms, section 50 prohibits acquisitions that would have the effect, or be likely to have the effect, of substantially lessening competition in any market.