Lotte Chemical, HD Hyundai petrochemical merger heads to South Korea hearing
( July 15, 2026, 05:08 GMT | Official Statement) -- MLex Summary: Lotte Chemical, Lotte Daesan Petrochem, HD Hyundai Oilbank and HD Hyundai Chemical have been sent to a Korea Fair Trade Commission hearing after examiners concluded their proposed Daesan No. 1 petrochemical restructuring could substantially lessen competition in South Korea's low-density polyethylene and ethylene vinyl acetate markets. The watchdog said Wednesday it had delivered its examiner's report to the parties on Wednesday after reviewing proposed remedies submitted by the companies to address the identified concerns. The transaction would combine Lotte Daesan Petrochem into HD Hyundai Chemical, leaving Lotte Chemical and HD Hyundai Oilbank each holding a 50 percent stake in the surviving company and integrating their naphtha cracking centers and other petrochemical production facilities at the Daesan complex. The regulator said it plans to hold a hearing promptly to make a final decision. Statement is attached (in Korean)....
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