EU: Microsoft offers hardware, software LinkedIn concessions

Microsoft will still allow LinkedIn’s rivals access to its software and give hardware makers the option of installing other services to try to win EU approval for its takeover of the US firm, people familiar with the matter said.

The US software company submitted its LinkedIn concessions to the European Commission last week after the EU competition enforcer expressed concerns about the $26 billion deal, Microsoft’s biggest ever acquisition.

The offer aims to show that Microsoft will not favor LinkedIn at the expense of rivals, the people said, in an attempt to address a key concern for regulators.

Both the Commission and Microsoft, which have not provided details of the offer, declined to comment on Monday.

The EU is now seeking feedback from rivals and customers before deciding whether to accept the concessions, demand more or open an investigation which can take up to five months. They have until Tuesday to do so. The Commission is scheduled to rule on the deal by Dec. 6.

The Commission has fined Microsoft more than 2.2 billion euros ($2.3 billion) over the past decade for various infringements, one of them being the tying of some products to its Windows operating system to stifle competition.

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