- After a meeting between Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and US President Donald J. Trump, Microsoft is willing to start negotiations to pursue a TikTok acquisition in the US.
After a meeting between Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and US President Donald J. Trump, Microsoft is willing to start negotiations to pursue a TikTok acquisition in the US.
Microsoft completely appreciates the value of tackling the problems of the President. This is committed to obtaining TikTok subject to comprehensive security analysis and to provide the United States, particularly the United States Treasury, with sufficient economic benefits.
Microsoft will move immediately to pursue negotiations within a matter of weeks with TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, and in any case conclude such negotiations by September 15, 2020, at the latest.
In that process, Microsoft looks forward to continuing communication with the Government of the United States, particularly with the President.
The discussions with ByteDance would build on a notification made to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) by Microsoft and ByteDance. The two companies have given notice of their intention to explore a preliminary proposal that would involve buying the TikTok service in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, resulting in Microsoft owning and operating TikTok in those markets. Microsoft can invite other US investors to participate in the purchase on a minority basis.
The new framework will build on the experience already enjoyed by TikTok users while incorporating world-class security, privacy, and digital security safeguards. The service’s operating model would be built to ensure user transparency, as well as appropriate government security oversight in those countries.
Microsoft must, among other steps, ensure that all private data from American TikTok users are transferred to and remains in the United States. To the extent that any such data is stored or backed up outside of the United States, once it is moved, Microsoft will ensure that this data is removed from servers outside the country.
Microsoft supports the U.S. The personal engagement of the Government and President Trump as it seeks to establish strong security measures for the country.
These discussions are preliminary, and no assurance can be given that a transaction involving Microsoft will proceed. We do not intend to provide further updates until our discussions reach a definitive outcome.
