The Fair Trade Commission has started its review of Nippon Steel Corp.'s plan to merge with Sumitomo Metal Industries Ltd. and create the world's second-largest steel producer.
The regulator started the investigation after receiving documents from the companies Tuesday, Wataru Kobayashi, director of the commission's mergers and acquisitions division, said Wednesday. The regulator will review the plan for a month, after which it may extend its probe for up to 90 days.