Microsoft’s acquisition of Nokia’s handset business has been delayed

The inevitable has been delayed. According to both Nokia and Microsoft, the $7.2 billion acquisition deal will now be finalized at some point in April rather than at the end of March as the companies had previously announced. We have covered several of the regulatory approvals relating to the buyout over the past few months, although Nokia’s statement reveals that the two companies are still awaiting approvals from several antitrust authorities in Asia. Microsoft confirmed the details of Nokia’s press release on the official blog, noting that “the completion of this acquisition will mark the first step to bring Microsoft and the Nokia Devices and Services business together.”