The European Union on Thursday cleared computer disk drive maker Western Digital Corp’s $19 billion acquisition of rival SanDisk, after finding that the takeover wouldn’t negatively impact competition in Europe.
“We have worked efficiently, in cooperation with our US counterparts, to scrutinize this takeover in the strategically important IT sector and concluded that there would be no adverse effects on either retail or commercial customers,” said EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager.
The European Commission, the bloc’s top antitrust regulator, said the overlap of the companies’ activities was limited to the market for flash memory storage but that the merged entity wouldn’t be able to shut out competitors from access to flash memory and that other rival flash memory producers will still have a substantial customer base.
Western Digital already sells some storage devices that use flash memory chips in addition to disk drives. By adding SanDisk’s chip production capability—part of a joint venture with Japan’sToshiba Corp.—Western Digital would gain an internal supply of the chips at attractive prices.
Full content: Nasdaq
Want more news? Subscribe to CPI’s free daily newsletter for more headlines and updates on antitrust developments around the world.
Featured News
Judge Mehta Questions Both Sides in Landmark Google Antitrust Case
May 2, 2024 by
CPI
FCC Urges Urgent Funding for Removal of Chinese Telecom Equipment from U.S. Networks
May 2, 2024 by
CPI
Former Pioneer CEO Facing Potential Criminal Charges For Colluding With OPEC
May 2, 2024 by
CPI
South Korea’s Antitrust Regulator Greenlights K-Pop Powerhouse Deal
May 2, 2024 by
CPI
Exxon’s Pioneer Purchase Approved, Former CEO Barred from Board
May 2, 2024 by
CPI
Antitrust Mix by CPI
Antitrust Chronicle® – Economics of Criminal Antitrust
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI
Navigating Economic Expert Work in Criminal Antitrust Litigation
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI
The Increased Importance of Economics in Cartel Cases
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI
A Law and Economics Analysis of the Antitrust Treatment of Physician Collective Price Agreements
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI
Information Exchange In Criminal Antitrust Cases: How Economic Testimony Can Tip The Scales
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI