AMSTERDAM, Sept 19 (Askume) – The Dutch market regulator said on Thursday it needs more powers to investigate transactions on its own, after the European Union’s anti-competition watchdog said it would investigate Microsoft Corp MSFT.OBut it will not take action against the hiring of staff by artificial intelligence startup Inflection .
The Dutch Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) said in a statement that it remains to be seen whether the deal will have any “negative effects” on consumers and businesses in the country.
Martin Snopes, chairman of the ACM board of directors, said: “We therefore believe an investigation is warranted. The ability to assess the impact of such acquisitions and to prevent the exercise of market power does not currently exist.”
“To do this, the ACM needs new powers. This would also restore the ACM’s ability to refer these types of takeovers, which have consequences across Europe, to the European Commission.”
