03:07 PM EDT, 04/04/2024 (MT Newswires) -- (Updates with Microsoft's ( MSFT ) response in the fourth and fifth paragraph)

Microsoft ( MSFT ) is likely to be charged by regulators in South Africa for squeezing out its competition by making it difficult for local vendors to transition their cloud licenses, Bloomberg reported Thursday, citing people with the knowledge of the matter.

The South African Competition Commission is looking to file a formal complaint against Microsoft ( MSFT ) for its Azure cloud business in the coming days which could ultimately result in a fine of up to 10% of the company's revenue in the country, the report said.

Microsoft's ( MSFT ) cloud business practices are also being investigated in other parts of the world, including the European Union. The company charges too much for businesses to switch cloud licenses to other providers, the news outlet said.

A Microsoft ( MSFT ) spokesperson told MT Newswires the firm was not aware of a complaint by the South African competition authority.

"Microsoft ( MSFT ) implemented software licensing changes two years ago which apply globally and enable South African customers to bring their Microsoft ( MSFT ) software licenses to any South African cloud provider at no additional cost," the spokesperson said in an emailed response.

The South African Competition Commission did not immediately respond to a request for comment from MT Newswires.

(Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)

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