Six months after being cleared by US antitrust authorities, the European Commission (EC) now also approved social networking giant Facebook’s acquisition of messaging app WhatsApp for US$19bn.
The EC determined the companies’ smartphone apps, Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp, weren’t close competitors, and consumers would continue to have “a wide choice” of alternatives after the transaction.
Joaquín Almunia, commission vice-president in charge of competition policy, said the EC has carefully reviewed the proposed acquisition and come to the conclusion it would not hamper competition “in this dynamic and growing market”.
The acquisition is bound to boost Facebook’s position internationally, and provide the company with a stronger presence in mobile messaging.
WhatsApp on mobile image via Shutterstock
