Juniper Networks denies allegations in US DOJ lawsuit to block $14 billion merger with HPE

Juniper Networks

11/02/2025 17:15

Feb 11 (Reuters) - Juniper Networks  JNPR.N  denied the
allegations by the U.S. Department of Justice, after the agency
sued to block Hewlett Packard Enterprise's  HPE.N  $14 billion
all-cash takeover of the networking gear maker, according to a
court filing.
    Last month, the DOJ argued in its complaint that the
proposed deal would stifle competition and lead to Cisco Systems
 CSCO.O  and HPE controlling more than 70% of the U.S. market
for networking equipment.
    The complaint does not correctly represent the market
dynamics for wireless network solutions and the companies'
rationale for the deal, Juniper said in a filing made to a
federal court in California on Monday.
    There are more than eight companies offering wireless
networking solutions in the U.S., other than Juniper and HPE, it
said.
    Cisco has had more than 50% of the market for the past 10
years, while HPE and Juniper have had a combined share of less
than 25% over the last three years, according to the filing.
    The combined market share of HPE and Juniper are lower than
a level that would allow the DOJ to presume the deal as illegal,
it said.
    The deal, announced more than a year ago, would boost
competition against Cisco, Juniper said.
    The DOJ's antitrust lawsuit marks the first since President
Donald Trump's second term in office.

 (Reporting by Akash Sriram in Bengaluru; Editing by Shilpi
Majumdar)
 ((Akash.Sriram@thomsonreuters.com; On X as @HoodieOnVeshti;
+91-99017-77617;))