EU sets deadline for Microsoft/Yahoo deal review

BRUSSELS Jan 19 (Reuters) - The European Commission has set a provisional deadline of Feb. 19 to decide whether to clear a bid by Microsoft (MSFT.O) to acquire control of Yahoo Inc's (YHOO.O) search engine business.

The parties notified the European Union's competition watchdog last week, a list of planned mergers under review on the Commission's website showed on Tuesday.

"The notification concerns the acquisition of control by Microsoft of Yahoo Inc's online web-wide algorithmic search and paid search advertising business," the Commission said.

U.S. software giant Microsoft and Yahoo announced the Internet search deal in July last year in a move that could challenge market leader Google (GOOG.O). [ID:nN29216653]. (Reporting by Bate Felix, editing by Dale Hudson)