The mega-merger between Korean shipbuilders Hyundai Heavy Industries and DSME could face difficulty in winning competition clearance.
The Korea Herald reported that the deal must gain approval from about 30 countries, including Asian rivals and European clients.
A combination, signed earlier this month, will give the group a 21% market share, but 63% of the LNG carriers sector.
Industry watchers said Japan and China, as well as some European nations, could oppose the transaction.
Japan’s transport ministry has said it would evaluate whether South Korea’s “monopoly position could distort competition.”
Andreas Mundt, president of Germany’s Federal Cartel Office, told Korean reporters that a tie-up is “not a solution” to overcoming the shipbuilding crisis.
The deal sees Korea Development Bank (KDB) sell its majority holding of 55.7% in DSME, worth more than KRW 2 trillion ($1.78bn).
The South Korean giants are dominant in the big tanker market with DSME sporting the world's largest VLCC orderbook, ahead of HHI, according to Clarksons.
DSME also leads the world in the construction of LNG carriers, with HHI having the third largest orderbook in the sector and Samsung Heavy Industries sandwiched in the middle. The same trio lead the construction of large container vessels.
