US DOJ to OK Microsoft/Yahoo search deal -NY Post

Feb 18 (Reuters) - Microsoft (MSFT.O) is expected to secure the blessing of the U.S. Department of Justice for its landmark search deal with Yahoo Inc (YHOO.O), to challenge market leader Google (GOOG.O), the New York Post quoted a source as saying.

Within the next 20 days to 30 days the Justice officials are expected to give unconditional approval to the search pact with an announcement to coincide with approval by the European Commission, the daily said.

On Friday, Reuters reported that U.S. software company Microsoft was expected to secure unconditional EU approval for the deal with Internet firm Yahoo. [ID:nBFA001062]

Microsoft and Yahoo signed a 10-year global Web search partnership last July, which needs approval by regulators. [ID:nN29216653]

The Justice Department has been investigating the partnership since at least September, even before the two companies had finalised the deal, the paper said.

Yahoo, Microsoft and the DoJ could not immediately be reached for comment by Reuters out of regular U.S. business hours. (Reporting by Archana Shankar in Bangalore, editing by Will Waterman)