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South Korea: Kakao, Celltrion placed on antitrust watch list

By  |  April 3, 2016

Mobile messenger operator Kakao and biopharmaceutical firm Celltrion have been listed on an antitrust watchlist.

While the designation means they have succeeded as startups, they now face a gauntlet of tough antitrust and competition regulations.

The Fair Trade Commission (FTC) on Sunday released the newly updated list of large business groups facing restrictions in mutual investment or loan guarantees between subsidiaries.

This year’s list of business groups with over 5 trillion won in total assets includes conglomerates such as Samsung, Hyundai Motor, SK, LG, Lotte and GS as well as state-run enterprises such as KEPCO and the Korea Land and Housing Corporation.

The number of business groups on the list increased from last year’s 61 to 65 this year, as the FTC added six companies while removing two from the list.

Full content: The Korea Herald

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