Google has announced it’s finally scooped up Fitbit, even though antitrust investigations in US and Australia continue.
Google has announced it’s finally acquired Fitbit via dual press releases, closing a long process that went public in November 2019. Both companies allegedly agreed on the announcement despite the US Department of Justice not rendering a final decision on the acquisition’s potential for antitrust violations. Yet the DOJ has reportedly countered that its investigation is ongoing, according to a statement sent to several publications, here quoted from Android Police: “The Antitrust Division’s investigation of Google’s acquisition of Fitbit remains ongoing. Although the Division has not reached a final decision about whether to pursue an enforcement action, the Division continues to investigate whether Google’s acquisition of Fitbit may harm competition and consumers in the United States. The Division remains committed to conducting this review as thoroughly, efficiently, and expeditiously as possible.” Google reportedly maintains that both companies have gotten implicit approval after complying with the DOJ for the previous 14 months, and after the waiting period expired without strict objection from the DOJ, went ahead with its joint announcement about Fitbit’s acquisition success.
