Republic of Korea: Fair Trade Commission approved acquisition of Rainbow Robotics by Samsung Electronics

On 5 March 2025, the Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) approved Samsung Electronics' acquisition of a 20.29% stake in Rainbow Robotics, increasing its total shareholding to 35%. The review found minimal competition concerns, as alternative suppliers exist for key components including dynamic random access memory, and small-sized rechargeable batteries, reducing the risk of market foreclosure. It was also highlighted that Rainbow Robotics' small global market share (0.07%) further limits any impact on suppliers. The acquisition aims to strengthen South Korea’s industrial robotics sector by combining Rainbow Robotics’ expertise in humanoid robots with Samsung Electronics’ AI and software capabilities.