SAN FRANCISCO (AP) ? The U.S. Justice Department has approved Google’s acquisition of online advertising service AdMeld after concluding the deal won’t diminish competition in one of the most lucrative parts of the Internet.
The decision announced Friday clears the way for Google Inc. to take control of AdMeld six months after the companies agreed to the deal.
It’s the fourth time since 2007 that that the U.S. government has taken a close look at a Google acquisition to determine if it would stifle competition or drive up prices. Google has gained regulatory approval in each instance.
The Justice Department is still reviewing Google’s proposed takeover of cellphone maker Motorola Mobility Inc. That $12.5 billion deal is the biggest in Google’s history.
Google hasn’t disclosed how much it is paying for AdMeld.