ACCC permits proposed Google LLC acquisition of Mandiant

The ACCC does not challenge Google LLC’s proposed acquisition of Mandiant Inc.

ACCC chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb has found the acquisition would not "substantially lessen competition", following an investigation.

"We found the acquisition was unlikely to give Google the incentive and ability to foreclose competitors in cloud platform or cyber security services due to the existence of alternative suppliers," Cass-Gottlieb said.

The ACCC applied the legal test set out in section 50 of the Competition and Consumer Act in order to consider the proposed acquisition.

Section 50 prohibits acquisitions that would have the effect, or be likely to have the effect, of substantially lessening competition in any market.

Google is a global supplier of a wide range of software and internet-based products including Google Cloud Platform, while Mandiant supplies cyber security software and managed services as well as carrying out cyber security consulting services including incident response.

"Our investigation concluded that Google and Mandiant are not competitors in the supply of cyber security products and that this acquisition was not likely to substantially lessen competition.

"There are a number of alternative suppliers of cyber security and cloud platform products," Cass-Gottlieb said.

The ACCC consulted with customers and competitors of Google and Mandiant before handing down the decision.