Facebook has gotten regulatory approval for its controversial acquisition of WhatsApp, a source close to the situation said.
The Federal Trade Commission was close to hitting its deadline to approve the $19 billion deal or extend the merger review, sources close to the process said.
Facebook announced Feb. 19 it was buying the mobile messaging service.
The FTC — after Facebook submitted its merger application with regulators — had 30 days to render a decision or issue a second request for additional information.
CEO Mark Zuckerberg included $1 billion in cash, and $1 billion in Facebook shares as a break-up fee payable to WhatsApp if regulatory authorities stopped the merger, showing that at least WhatsApp had some regulatory concerns.
The FTC has investigated Facebook before, making this quick approval something of a surprise.
It issued a second request in 2012 when Facebook proposed acquiring Instagram, though it ultimately approved the acquisition five months after the deal announcement.
A potential problem here was Facebook in acquiring WhatsApp would dominate mobile text messaging.
WhatsApp has 450 million active users who text through its application.
The companies argued that the FTC should instead look at the deal through the prism of all cellular phone texts, and not just ones made through apps.
Last month, The Electronic Privacy Information Center and Center for Digital Democracy also expressed concern to the FTC about Facebook targeting WhatsApp users for ads.
Facebook has maintained that nothing will change for WhatsApp users.
Facebook and FTC spokespeople have declined comment.