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EU: EC Likely to clear Microsoft-LinkedIn deal with conditions

By  |  December 1, 2016

European Union antitrust authorities are likely to clear Microsoft’s $26 billion acquisition of LinkedIn by Tuesday with conditions attached, according to people familiar with the matter.

The European Commission, the bloc’s competition regulator, has to decide by Dec. 6 whether to clear the deal or open an in-depth investigation into the merger. The commission is unlikely to open a probe, the people said.

The deal would be conditional on the implementation of concessions Microsoft offered the EU in November, though there may be some minor changes to those commitments, one of the people said.

As part of its remedy package, Microsoft offered to allow rival professional social networks to continue to have access to its Outlook programs, according to people familiar with the matter. Microsoft’s Outlook provides email and calendar management.

Full Content: The Wall Street Journal

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