FTC Could Block Google/AdMob Deal
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. (
) --
Google's
proposed purchase of mobile-advertising company
AdMob
could be blocked by the Federal Trade Commission, the
Wall Street Journal
reports.
The FTC has assembled an internal litigation team to prepare for a possible effort to block the deal, sources familiar with the matter told the newspaper.
The FTC also has sent letters to AdMob's competitors asking them to testify in sworn statements about the potential impact of the acquisition. The regulator also has briefed Congress on its concerns, the
Journal
reports.
Five FTC commissioners, however, are yet to vote against the deal and Google lawyers continue to meet with the agency's staff to debate in favor of the acquisition, and the two sides could yet come to an agreement to allay FTC's concerns and preserve the deal.
"While we're continuing to work with the FTC, there is overwhelming evidence that mobile advertising will remain competitive after this deal closes," a Google spokesman told the newspaper.
The FTC declined to comment for the
Journal
.
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