14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft is seeking regulatory approval in Europe to complete the acquisition of LinkedIn, and according to a new report, the company has offered concessions to make sure it gets the go-ahead from the antitrust body on the Old Continent.
Reuters writes that Microsoft executives met with European Union officials last week and discussed the LinkedIn acquisition and the concerns expressed by other companies. The software giant, however, has offered concessions, the report adds, but no specifics are available right now.
Rival companies are worried that once Microsoft purchases LinkedIn, the Redmond giant would be able to restrict access to its database, thus impacting competition. Microsoft told the European Union that competition enforcers need to have in mind that Facebook is becoming a rival on this side of the industry, so Microsoft would not become a monopoly.
Microsoft vs. Salesforce
Salesforce is one of the companies that asked for antitrust bodies to closely look into the deal, explaining that the merger might be anticompetitive.
Microsoft, however, said that it already received the go-ahead from several antitrust groups, and the European Union seems to be one last roadblock that the company needs to get through in order to complete the LinkedIn takeover.
“Salesforce may not be aware, but the deal has already been cleared to close in the United States, Canada, and Brazil,” said Brad Smith, Microsoft’s chief legal officer. “We’re committed to continuing to work to bring price competition to a CRM market in which Salesforce is the dominant participant charging customers higher prices today.”
An official statement from Microsoft regarding the current talks with the European Union is not yet available, but given the fact that the Commission has until December 6 to announce a decision, expect the software giant to provide more information shortly after that.