Microsoft poised to secure EU approval for Nuance deal: sources

BRUSSELS: US software giant Microsoft is poised to secure EU antitrust approval for its US $16 billion bid for artificial intelligence and speech technology firm Nuance Communications, according to people familiar with the matter.

The deal, the latest in the tech industry, comes amid heightened regulatory scrutiny of takeovers by tech giants and acquisitions, where potential rivals and potential start-ups are shut down.

Microsoft will increase its presence in cloud solutions for healthcare customers in April.

The US software giant is currently in talks with the British antitrust agency ahead of filing a request for approval of the deal, according to the sources.

The European Commission is due to make a decision on the deal by December 21, but they wouldn't say anything. Microsoft didn't want to say anything.

Sources said the company is in preliminary discussions with the UK antitrust agency CMA ahead of a formal request for approval of the deal.

The deal has been given a green light in the United States and Australia, without any remedies given.

Nuance, known for pioneering speech technology and helping launch Apple's virtual assistant, Siri, serves 77 per cent of US hospitals.