American firm seeks acquisition of Google Chrome for an astounding $34.5 billion price tag
In a significant turn of events, Google's Chrome browser is under threat of divestment due to an ongoing antitrust investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) [1][3][4]. The investigation, focused on Google's monopoly in search and digital advertising, could lead to structural remedies, including the sale of Chrome.
The browser, which holds a dominant position globally with approximately two-thirds market share and over three billion users, is critical for Google's search dominance and data collection [3]. However, Google denies monopoly claims and argues that selling Chrome could pose security risks to users [1].
A potential buyer in the mix is AI startup Perplexity, which has made a $34.5 billion bid to acquire Chrome [2][3][4]. Perplexity's offer is seen as strategic positioning and a readiness to take over if the court mandates divestment. The startup, backed by prominent investors, positions itself as an independent operator focused on openness and consumer protection [3][4].
Industry experts remain skeptical about the likelihood of a forced sale, considering Chrome's integral role in Google’s business and its high valuation. However, the final ruling is pending, and the decision could have significant market impacts, potentially dropping Google’s stock by 15–25% if Chrome is sold [1][2].
The U.S. DoJ is also insisting on providing competitors with access to data as part of the lawsuit against Google [1]. Alphabet, Google's parent company, is the third-largest technology company in the world by revenue and the largest by profit [5].
This development comes after the U.S. authorities filed a lawsuit on April 21, demanding that Google be forced to sell Chrome [4]. The lawsuit against Alphabet, created through the restructuring of Google in October 2015, is aimed at combating the company's monopoly [5].
Sources:
[1] The New York Times [2] The Wall Street Journal [3] The Verge [4] Reuters [5] Business Insider
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