Nokia deal with Microsoft delayed

Nokia has said the sale of its mobile phone unit to Microsoft will be delayed until next month because it is still waiting for approval from regulatory authorities in Asia.

The Finnish company said today that the €5.4bn deal announced in September and expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2014, has been approved by the EU and US authorities but “certain antitrust authorities In Asia” are still reviewing the deal.

Last week, Nokia said it was contesting a legal case in Madras, India, by local authorities who want Nokia to pay sales tax on the export of devices made at Nokia’s plant in Chennai.

Legislation in some countries requires local regulatory approval for transactions which affect companies in the region.