HPE CEO Says Company Will Defend Juniper Merger ‘Vigorously’

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co. Chief Executive Officer Antonio Neri said his company plans to “vigorously” defend its planned acquisition of Juniper Networks Inc. in court after the US Justice Department sued to block the tie-up.

“We’re going to litigate this in court because we believe there is no case here,” Neri said Thursday in an interview.

In a federal court complaint filed earlier Thursday, the Justice Department said the deal would eliminate head-to-head competition between HPE and Juniper and decrease pressure on the bigger company to discount and innovate in the future. Antitrust enforcers said the acquisition would reduce potential ...