Microsoft’s $7.2 billion acquisition of Nokia’s devices and services divisions is now expected to close in April, after earlier reports pegged the deal to wrap up this month. Press releases from both companies early Monday confirmed the news.
We wanted to provide a brief update on the status of the regulatory process for approval of Microsoft’s acquisition of the Nokia Devices and Services business. We are nearing the final stages of our global regulatory approval process – to date we have received approvals from regulatory authorities in 15 markets on five continents. Currently, we are awaiting approval confirmation in the final markets. This work has been progressing, and we expect to close next month, in April 2014.
Both the U.S. Department of Justice and the European Commission have already approved the deal; Asian nations, notably China, have yet to make a determination, with competitors Google and Samsung lobbying the government to withhold approval.
Microsoft and Nokia first announced the acquisition last September, with shareholders approving the deal in late November. Once finalized, Microsoft is expected to unveil its own Windows Phone hardware, similar to the company’s tablet initiative with the Surface.
