Google clears key antitrust hurdle in $32B Wiz acquisition

Alphabet’s Google has moved a step closer to completing its $32 billion acquisition of cybersecurity firm Wiz after clearing a major antitrust review by the US Department of Justice (DOJ).

The deal, which will become Alphabet’s largest acquisition once finalised, aims to bolster Google Cloud’s cybersecurity capabilities amid intensifying global scrutiny of the company’s market power.

The DOJ’s decision to end its review, confirmed by Wiz CEO Assaf Rappaport at a Wall Street Journal event on Tuesday, comes as Google faces multiple antitrust challenges globally.

The early termination notice, dated October 24 and posted on the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) website, removes a significant obstacle to the merger’s completion, though regulatory reviews continue in other jurisdictions.

DOJ approval marks a major milestone in the Google-Wiz merger

After the companies announced their deal in March, the DOJ launched a detailed probe earlier this year to determine whether Alphabet’s acquisition of Wiz would stifle competition in the cybersecurity market.

The investigation focused on whether the deal could give Google an unfair advantage in a sector vital to cloud computing, where a few large players already dominate.

The DOJ has now concluded its investigation and granted early termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act.

This means that the agency no longer considers the merger an impediment to competition.

Wiz’s chief executive described the approval as an important milestone in the process, while noting that the deal is still subject to customary closing conditions and other international reviews before its expected completion in 2026.

Timing of FTC posting raises procedural questions

The timing of the FTC’s early termination notice for the Google-Wiz deal drew attention, as it appeared during the US government shutdown when the agency had announced it would suspend such approvals.

A similar early termination notice for Pfizer’s acquisition was also granted in the same week.

Although the Google-Wiz notice was dated earlier, it was uploaded to the FTC’s website after the Pfizer announcement, suggesting administrative delays.

The FTC manages the early termination process for both itself and the DOJ, and its decision in this case signals a coordinated effort to move ahead with pending merger reviews despite logistical challenges.

Early termination allows companies to proceed with mergers before the end of the statutory waiting period, signalling that regulators see no immediate competitive concerns.

Google faces continued scrutiny amid broader antitrust actions

While the DOJ’s move offers Google a reprieve in this case, the company remains under extensive antitrust pressure worldwide.

Two separate trials in the US have already concluded that Google unlawfully monopolised markets for online search and digital advertising technology.

A federal judge in Virginia is expected to rule soon on whether Google must divest portions of its advertising business.

Similar probes are ongoing in the European Union and other regions, where regulators are examining the company’s influence across digital markets.

Wiz, a fast-growing cloud security firm, provides software that helps enterprises detect and mitigate risks across cloud infrastructure.

Once integrated, Google aims to leverage Wiz’s platform to strengthen its position against rivals such as Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure.

The acquisition also signals Alphabet’s broader push to expand its cybersecurity portfolio amid rising global threats and increasing regulatory focus on data protection standards.