Nokia-Microsoft Deal Receives Regulatory Approval from China Govt

Nokia has received regulatory approval from the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China for transfer of its devices and services business to Microsoft.

As previously communicated, the closing of the transaction, which was announced on September 3, 2013, was subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.

“Nokia and Microsoft have now received regulatory approvals from the People’s Republic of China, the European Commission, the US Department of Justice and numerous other jurisdictions,” the company said in a statement. Nokia and Microsoft, both company continue to expect the transaction to close in April 2014. In additions, the regulatory approval process has involved a thorough review of Nokia’s patent licensing practices by several competition authorities around the world. During that process, no authority has challenged Nokia’s compliance with its FRAND under takings related to standardessential patents ( licensing on fair, reasonable and non- discriminatory terms) or requested that Nokia make changes to its licensing program or royalty terms.