According to a statement on Friday by Ronny Turoy, a spokesman for the Norwegian Competition Authority (NCA), Microsoft"s proposed $1.28 billion purchase of Norway"s Fast Search & Transfer is the subject of a stepped-up antitrust probe by Norwegian regulators. This development comes after MS"s $1.2 billion takeover bid on Jan. 8 of this year for Fast Search, whose board of directors unanimously accepted the deal. The purchase of Fast Search will give Microsoft tailored search programs for customers such as Deutsche Telekom and United Parcel Service.
The NCA began a 25-day review of the deal Feb. 25 and will make a ruling by April 3, though the proposed deal was already the subject of an initial probe that began Jan. 30. The authority is conducting an "in-depth analysis on the deal"s effect on the information, computer and technology market," Turoy said.