A Windows Nokia Phone is seen on display at Microsoft's annual shareholder meeting in Bellevue, Washington on November 19, 2013
Brussels:
Microsoft is set to secure unconditional European Union (EU) regulatory approval for its proposed 5.4-billion-euro takeover of Nokia's mobile phone business, two people familiar with the matter said on Friday.
The deal, announced in September and which includes a 10-year licensing agreement of Nokia's patent portfolio, underscores Microsoft's push into the competitive consumer devices market.
It faces fierce competition from market leader Samsung Electronics and Apple.
"The (European) Commission is expected to clear the deal without conditions," one of the people said.
The EU competition watchdog has set a December 4 deadline for its decision. Commission spokesman for competition policy, Antoine Colombani, declined to comment. Microsoft also declined to comment. Nokia did not immediately reply to an email for comments.
Regulators in Russia, India, Turkey and Israel have already given the green light to the deal. Nokia shareholders earlier this week also gave a thumbs-up to the sale of what was once Finland's biggest brand and worth 4 per cent of the national GDP.
The deal, announced in September and which includes a 10-year licensing agreement of Nokia's patent portfolio, underscores Microsoft's push into the competitive consumer devices market.
It faces fierce competition from market leader Samsung Electronics and Apple.
"The (European) Commission is expected to clear the deal without conditions," one of the people said.
The EU competition watchdog has set a December 4 deadline for its decision. Commission spokesman for competition policy, Antoine Colombani, declined to comment. Microsoft also declined to comment. Nokia did not immediately reply to an email for comments.
Regulators in Russia, India, Turkey and Israel have already given the green light to the deal. Nokia shareholders earlier this week also gave a thumbs-up to the sale of what was once Finland's biggest brand and worth 4 per cent of the national GDP.
© Thomson Reuters 2013
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