On Wednesday, the competition regulator of Britain (UK) announced that it was conducting an inquiry into the potential competition implications of Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s proposed $14 billion acquisition of Juniper Networks
The Competition and Markets Authority must determine whether or not to refer the agreement for a more thorough investigation by August 14.
In January, Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) announced its intention to acquire Juniper, a networking equipment manufacturer, to improve its artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities.
The agreement is anticipated to double HPE’s networking business, as companies have invested billions of dollars in advancing and developing their technology amid the AI gold rush.
In an email to Reuters, HPE stated that it anticipates concluding the transaction by the end of 2024 or the beginning of the following year.
The company collaborates with the UK regulator to expedite the approval process and complete the requisite reviews.
Juniper, headquartered in the United States, did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters.
The United States market is closed in observance of the Juneteenth holiday.