The European Union has suspended a competition investigation into Hyundai Heavy Industries' takeover of fellow South Korean shipbuilder DSME.
It is waiting for the companies to provide information, the European Commission said.
The clock was stopped last Wednesday. The previous deadline was 7 May.
"Once the missing information is supplied by the parties, the clock is restarted and the deadline for the Commission’s decision is adjusted accordingly," the EC said.
Some companies have been struggling to provide the necessary information during the coronavirus pandemic, which the EU is now taking into account.
It is not clear whether this has affected HHI or DSME.
A Hyundai Heavy official said it was “maintaining a constructive dialogue” with the EC during the suspension.
The commission announced the probe in December, saying the $1.8bn merger would create a company with a 21% market share and could lead to higher vessel prices.
It was also concerned that it would stifle innovation in the sector.
European owners
"Maritime transport represents a substantial portion of the EU's internal and external freight trade, with European shipping companies regularly purchasing vessels from [DSME and Hyundai]," European competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager said at the time.
"This is why we will carefully assess whether the proposed transaction would negatively affect competition in the construction of cargoships, to the detriment of European consumers."
The acquisition was proposed last March, with the duo hoping to complete the deal in the first half of 2020.
HHI and DSME is also awaiting the result of competition investigations in its home country, as well as Japan, China and Singapore.
So far, only Kazakhstan — necessary due to DSME's oil production unit business in the country — has okayed the acquisition.
Japan is seen as the biggest obstacle to a potential tie-up, given its issues with South Korea's purported state aid for shipyards. Unions also oppose the deal.
The previous deadline for an EU decision was 7 May.
