Salesforce tries to block Microsoft's $26.2 billion LinkedIn acquisition read more at here www.spinonews.com/index.php/item/1077-salesforce-tries-to-block-microsoft-s-26-2-billion-linkedin-acquisition

Salesforce is reportedly trying to block the $26.2 billion Microsoft-LinkedIn deal, arguing that Microsoft's acquisition of the enterprise social network LinkedIn will be anti-competitive.

Cloud computing company Salesforce Chief Legal Officer Burke Norton will argue to the EU's competition authority that Microsoft's control of LinkedIn's dataset following an acquisition would be anticompetitive.

Microsoft's LinkedIn acquisition is expected to close by the end of this year, pending regulatory approval.

Burke Norton noted that, Microsoft’s proposed acquisition of LinkedIn threatens the future of innovation and competition, By gaining ownership of LinkedIn’s unique dataset of over 450 million professionals in more than 200 countries, Microsoft will be able to deny competitors access to that data, and in doing so obtain an unfair competitive advantage.

Read: Salesforce is trying to purchase micro-blogging website Twitter.

Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff has showed his concerns over the deal, urging the Federal Trade Commission to "scrutinise Microsoft's plans for LinkedIn".

Microsoft President Brad Smith, said "Salesforce may not be aware, but the deal has already been cleared to close in the United States, Canada, and Brazil,"

In June, Microsoft announced to acquire LinkedIn in an all-cash deal, billed as one of the largest such pacts in the global social media space. Microsoft will pay $196 per LinkedIn share -- a 50 per cent premium to LinkedIn's closing price on June 10.

 

Salesforce just declared that it will be opposing the deal between LinkedIn and Microsoft and will proceed on working with regulators for that purpose.