EU to assess Nvidia's acquisition of Run:ai

(ANSA) - BRUSSELS, OCT 31 - The European Commission said Thursday that it has accepted the request submitted by Italy to assess the proposed acquisition of Run:ai, an Israeli artificial intelligence company, by chip giant NVIDIA under the EU Merger Regulation ('EUMR').
    The Commission said the transaction threatens to significantly affect competition in the markets where NVIDIA and Run:ai are active.
    The proposed acquisition does not reach the notification thresholds set out in the EUMR. But was notified in Italy, upon a request by the national competition authority, which used its "call in" powers enabling it to review transactions not meeting the relevant national turnover thresholds when it finds that they pose concrete risks for competition and the other conditions laid down in the Italian Competition Act are met..
    Rome then submitted a referral request to the Commission to examine a merger that does not have an EU dimension but affects trade within the Single Market and threatens to significantly affect competition within the territory of the Member States making the request.
    On the basis of the information available, and without prejudice to the outcome of its full investigation, the Commission said it considers that the transaction meets the criteria for referral requested by Italy because the transaction threatens to significantly affect competition in the markets where NVIDIA and Run:ai are active.
    The Commission also concluded that it is best placed to examine the transaction given its knowledge and case experience in related markets.
    The Commission has asked NVIDIA to notify the transaction and said it cannot implement it before obtaining clearance. (ANSA).