Microsoft Completes Acquisition of Nokia's Phone Biz

[cdmagurus.com]

Nokia today announced that it has completed the sale of its handset business to Microsoft. The deal, first announced last September, is valued at $7.2 billion. The companies had to make some last-minute adjustments to the terms of the deal. Notably, Nokia was forced to exclude its manufacturing facilities in Chennai, India and Masan, Korea. Nokia has agreed to use the Chennai facility to manufacture devices for Microsoft as needed, but it will close the Masan facility. Microsoft gains several top Nokia executives, including former Nokia CEO Stephen Elop, Jo Harlow, Juha Putkiranta, Timo Toikkanen, and Chris Weber. Nokia remains committed to its networking business, and Microsoft is now officially a maker of smartphones. Elop will head Microsoft's phone business and said, "At our core, we are passionate about building technology that will change the world. From the early vision of Microsoft of placing a PC in every home and on every desk, to Nokia connecting billions of people through mobile devices, we have empowered generations. We are committed to continuing our support for feature phones, the Asha family, and the Nokia X family of devices." Elop called today's handover the first step in a new, long-term journey.


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