EU halts probe of Sony, Bertelsmann music deal

European Union regulators suspended an antitrust investigation into Sony Corp. and Bertelsmann’s 2004 deal to merge their music units after the companies failed to turn over necessary data, the European Commission said.

The commission said it had “stopped the clock” on its new inquiry until the companies submitted the “complete and accurate information” the commission had asked for. The move would probably delay a decision, which had been set for July 2.