Microsoft is offering EU antitrust regulators concessions in the hopes of gaining approval for its pending purchase of LinkedIn.
That’s according to a November 16 Reuters report, which also claimed that the move occurred after “the EU competition enforcer expressed concerns about the deal at a meeting with Microsoft executives last week.”
Microsoft announced intentions to buy LinkedIn for $26.2 billion in June, 2016. The deal, if approved, will be Microsoft’s largest acquisition to date.
Microsoft only submitted for EU regulatory approval its LinkedIn acquisition in mid-October, after already receiving similar approval from authorities in the U.S., Canada and Brazil.
Salesforce CEO Mark Benioff has been agitating to get EU antitrust regulators to give the Microsoft-LinkedIn deal extra scrutiny before clearing the purchase. Salesforce also bid on LinkedIn and lost to Microsoft.
Reuters said the European Commission will rule on the Microsoft-Linkedin deal by December 6. At that time, it will either approval the deal (with said concessions) or open a full investigation regarding Microsoft’s purchase. Last I heard, the EU was required to issue a decision as to whether or not it intended to explore the Microsoft-LinkedIn deal by November 22.
Microsoft officials recently have committed publicly to providing LinkedIn data to other companies, rather than keeping it only for Microsoft’s own use.
The Softies also have said they believe that Microsoft and LinkedIn’s data graphs are mutually complementary. Microsoft is expected to use LinkedIn’s data and algorithms to bolster its Dynamics CRM/ERP line, its Office family of products and services and other parts of the company’s productivity-related businesses.
I’ve asked Microsoft for comment on the Reuters report, but no word back so far. Update: A Microsoft spokesperson said the company had no comment.
More about LinkedIn
- Microsoft buys LinkedIn for $26.2 billion
- Microsoft’s $26.2 billion bet foreshadows human resources application move
- Indeed Job Search will overtake LinkedIn search soon according to report
- Now you can see if your LinkedIn account was caught up in 2012 hack
- LinkedIn crushes Q1 earnings, shares pop on strong guidance