BRUSSELS, March 14 (Reuters) - Cisco Systems ( CSCO )

won unconditional EU antitrust approval for its $28 billion bid

for cybersecurity firm Splunk ( SPLK ) on Wednesday after EU

regulators said they did not see any competition issues.

The deal announced last year is Cisco's ( CSCO ) biggest-ever and

aims to boost its software business amid a boom in artificial

intelligence while also helping to offset a post-pandemic

slowdown in demand.

"The Commission concluded that the notified transaction

would not raise competition concerns, given its limited impact

on competition in the markets where the companies are active, as

there is a sufficient number of alternative players," the

European Commission said in a statement.

The EU competition enforcer also said the merged entity

would not have the ability to shut out rivals.

Reuters reported on March 5 that the deal would be cleared

without conditions by the EU competition enforcer.