NEWSLETTER-2017

120 NEWSLETTER 2017 European Commission Approves Microsoft’s Acquisition of LinkedIn Subject to Conditions* Prof. Dr. H. Ercument Erdem Introduction On 6 December 2016, the European Commission (“Commission”) has approved the acquisition of all shares of LinkedIn by Microsoft (“Transaction”), subject to conditions. As a result of the Transaction, Microsoft acquired the sole control of LinkedIn. The Commission’s decision 1 is conditional upon the compliance with a series of com- mitments to be applied by Microsoft in order to preserve competition between professional social networks in Europe. The Transaction was also notified in the United States, Canada, Brazil and South Africa, and was cleared by these countries´ competi- tion authorities. After receiving clearance from the Commission, on 8 December 2016, Microsoft and LinkedIn announced 2 that Microsoft’s acquisition of LinkedIn has officially closed. Microsoft, by acquiring LinkedIn, aims to expand the standalone business of LinkedIn, and to integrate LinkedIn’s services and products within its own offering, enriching both the Microsoft and LinkedIn user experience 3 . Parties to the Transactions Microsoft, a global technology company based in the United States, develops, licenses, and supports software products, services and devices. Microsoft’s products include operating systems for PCs, * Article of March 2017 1 Case M.8124- Microsoft / LinkedIn, 06.12.2016, available at: http://ec.europa.eu/ competition/mergers/cases/decisions/m8124_1349_5.pdf (Access date: 07.04.2017). 2 Jeff Weiner , LinkedIn and Microsoft: Next Play , 08.12.2016, available at: https://blog. linkedin.com/2016/12/08/linkedin-and-microsoft-next-play (Access date: 07.04.2017). 3 Case M.8124- Microsoft / LinkedIn, p. 32.