The European Commission has lifted a suspension of its review of a venture by Japanese electronics giant Sony and Germany's Bertelsmann that created the world's number two music company.

It set a new deadline of October 10, by which time it has to approve or prohibit the deal, a daily Commission merger list showed on Tuesday.

The Commission, the European Union's highest antitrust regulator, lifted the suspension because the companies had provided information that they failed to give before.

The Commission approved the deal in 2004 and the companies went ahead and created their joint venture. But a European court annulled that decision and the EU executive now has to reexamine the deal.laws. REUTERS/Handout

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