CMA to probe Microsoft purchase of software firm Nuance

The Competition and Markets Authority announced on Monday that it was probing the proposed acquisition of software company Nuance Communications by Microsoft Corporation.

Microsoft entered into an agreement to buy the Nasdaq-listed Nuance in April, for $56 per share, in an all-cash deal worth $19.7bn.

At the time, Microsoft said Mark Benjamin would remain Nuance chief executive officer, reporting to its executive vice-president of cloud and artificial intelligence Scott Guthrie.

On Monday, the CMA said it was considering whether the merger would result in a “substantial lessening of competition” within the United Kingdom for goods or services, under the Enterprise Act 2002.

“To assist it with this assessment, the CMA invites comments on the transaction from any interested party,” the competition regulator said in its statement.

It said comments would be open until 10 January, before it decides whether to proceed with a phase 1 merger inquiry.