By February 10: The European Commission must give a final decision regarding $32 billion acquisition of Wiz by Alphabet.

Antitrust Authorities Prepare for a Key Verdict

By February 10, we await a critical decision from EU antitrust authorities. The European Commission, responsible for competition oversight within the Union, is set to announce its position regarding the proposed acquisition of cybersecurity company Wiz by Alphabet valued at $32 billion. This will be the most ambitious deal ever attempted by a tech corporation to date.

Why This Deal Is Drawing Such Regulatory Attention

The acquisition of Wiz plays a crucial role in Alphabet’s strategy to expand its presence in cybersecurity and secure a competitive edge in the cloud services market. The corporation is competing in this segment against giants like Amazon and Microsoft, which already hold significant positions. When Google announced its intentions last fall, it became clear that this deal would have far-reaching implications for the industry.

Increased Regulatory Scrutiny Over Large Tech Deals

Recently, mergers and acquisitions in the tech sector have come under tighter scrutiny from authorities. Regulatory agencies have expressed concerns that large-scale deals could further consolidate the monopoly position of leading market players and restrict competition.

Three Possible Scenarios for the Commission’s Decision

The European Commission has three options: it can grant full approval for the deal, impose specific conditions and restrictions, or initiate a more detailed investigation if serious competitive issues are identified during the preliminary assessment.

How Events Have Unfolded So Far

Unlike the EU, American regulatory agencies approved this deal last November, allowing it to proceed to the next stage. However, European approval remains a key obstacle that still needs to be overcome to complete the transaction.