The EU antitrust regulators have reportedly suspended their probe into the $1.8bn merger of Hyundai Heavy Industries and Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering.

The organisation halted the process on 1 April as it is waiting for information to be provided by the companies.

In an emailed statement, the regulator said: “Once the missing information is supplied by the parties, the clock is re-started and the deadline for the commission’s decision is adjusted accordingly.”

In a few cases, many companies that were affected by the Covid-19 pandemic have faced delays in responding to information requests, which the EU has considered.

In February, Japan filed a petition with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) over the legitimacy of the merger.