Intel set to get green light for McAfee deal
Intel is set to win EU approval for its $7.68bn (£4.8bn) acquisition of security specialist McAfee next week.
The world’s biggest chipmaker has offered regulators more concessions to ease competition concerns, two sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters.
Intel has already secured clearance from the US Federal Trade Commission to acquire McAfee, the world’s no. 2 maker of security software.
Intel had offered the European Commission some concessions and in recent days proposed more remedies after complaints by some of McAfee’s rivals that they were inadequate, the sources said.
“The Commission’s clearance is likely next week,” one of the sources said.
McAfee’s competitors include Symantec, the world’s largest maker of security software, Finland’s F-Secure, Germany’s Avira and G Data.
The second source said the main element of Intel’s concessions related to interoperability features that will allow products from McAfee’s competitors to function without restrictions on Intel products.
The European Union regulator had been concerned that Intel might embed certain elements of McAfee’s virus-fighting technology in its widely used microprocessor chips for personal computers, giving it an unfair advantage over its rivals.
EU Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia is expected to hold a news conference on Wednesday to announce the decision in the case.
Intel shares were trading 1.8 per cent lower at $20.63 this afternoon, while McAfee was up 0.7 per cent.