French competition authority's Nvidia probe nearing end

PARIS, July 9 (Reuters) - The French competition authority said on Thursday its probe into chipmaker Nvidia Corp is coming to an end.

The agency is investigating the chipmaker over alleged anti-competitive practices.

"We are nearing the end of the investigation," Umberto Berkani, the French competition authority's general rapporteur, told reporters on Thursday.

The end of the investigation does not mean Nvidia will necessarily face sanctions.

The French antitrust watchdog's investigation services must first decide whether to issue a statement of objections - a finding that there are sufficient grounds to proceed -- or close the case. If they issue such a statement, Nvidia will have an opportunity to respond before the authority's board issues a final ruling.

(Reporting by Mathieu Rosemain; Writing by Makini Brice; Editing by Jan Harvey, William Maclean)