C_2021476EN.01000801.xml

Prior notification of a concentration

(Case M.10290 – Microsoft/Nuance)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2021/C 476/07)

On 16 November 2021, the Commission received notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 and following a referral pursuant to Article 4(5) of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1).

This notification concerns the following undertakings:

—	Microsoft Corporation (‘Microsoft’, USA),

—	Nuance Communications, Inc. (‘Nuance’, USA).

Microsoft acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation control of the whole of Nuance. The concentration is accomplished by way of Agreement and Plan of Merger.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

—

for Microsoft: global technology company. Microsoft offers a wide range of products and services to customers through the following operating segments: (i) productivity and business processes (e.g., Microsoft 365, LinkedIn); (ii) intelligent cloud (e.g., Microsoft Azure, Windows Server); and (iii) more personal computing (e.g., Windows, MSN advertising, Microsoft Xbox);

—

for Nuance: software company. Nuance offers a wide range of software products that mainly integrate transcription technology. It has two main business units: (i) healthcare (health-related speech and AI solutions that help physicians conduct administrative tasks more efficiently, e.g., Nuance’s Dragon Professional and Consumer) and (ii) enterprise (voice engagement, digital engagement and voice biometrics for customer service and sales engagement).

On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of the Merger Regulation. However, the final decision on this point is reserved.

The Commission invites interested third parties to submit their possible observations on the proposed operation to the Commission.

Observations must reach the Commission not later than 10 days following the date of this publication. The following reference should always be specified:

M.10290 – Microsoft/Nuance

Observations can be sent to the Commission by email, by fax, or by post. Please use the contact details below:

Email: COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu

Fax +32 22964301

Postal address:

European Commission

Directorate-General for Competition

Merger Registry

1049 Bruxelles/Brussel

BELGIQUE/BELGIË

(1) OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1 (the ‘Merger Regulation’).