The Department of Justice has announced a settlement regarding the acquisition of Juniper Networks by Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE). This agreement, reached earlier today, allows the merger to proceed under specific conditions designed to address antitrust concerns. The approach taken by the Justice Department highlights its dedication to addressing complex merger challenges.
Attorney General Pam Bondi emphasized that the enforcement of laws will be carried out diligently. Gail Slater, Assistant Attorney General for the Antitrust Division, expressed gratitude towards the division's staff, stating: “Thank you to the hardworking men and women of the Antitrust Division for their work on this case.”
Chad Mizelle, Chief of Staff at the Department of Justice, remarked on this development as a significant achievement for their Antitrust Division. He stated: “This marks another key legal victory from the Department of Justice’s Antitrust division. Our attorneys will continue fighting and winning to defend the American people and consumers.”
As part of the settlement terms, HPE is required to divest its Instant On business. Additionally, HPE must ensure that critical software from Juniper is licensed to independent competitors. Specifically, HPE needs to sell its global "Instant On" campus and branch WLAN business within 180 days to a buyer approved by DOJ. The assets involved include intellectual property, research and development personnel, and customer relationships.
Moreover, an auction will be held for licensing Juniper’s AI Ops for Mist source code—a vital component in modern WLAN systems—to facilitate competition. This license will be perpetual and non-exclusive with optional transitional support available.
