Japan can open probe into any merger involving Fitbit: new antitrust watchdog head

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EU antitrust regulators in August launched an investigation into a $2.1 billion deal by Alphabet (O:GOOGL) unit Google’s bid to buy Fitbit, a move aimed at taking on Apple (O:AAPL) and Samsung (KS:005930) in the wearable technology market.

“If the size of any merger or business tie-up is big, we can launch an anti-monopoly investigation into the buyer’s process of acquiring a start-up (like Fitbit),” Furuya told Reuters in an interview.

“We’re closely watching developments including in Europe.”