South Korea's top 30 business groups were engaged in 272 mergers and acquisitions (M&As) worth a combined 46.75 trillion won (US$42.9 billion) since 2010, according to CEO Score that tracks the nation's large enterprises. 
Lotte Group, South Korea's fifth-largest conglomerate, was the most active among local business groups in the M&As field over the past six years. 
Lotte Group has purchased 28 firms, including a convenient store chain and an electronic goods retailer, over the past six years to beef up its retail and food business. The retail giant has spent 9.76 trillion won on M&As, the largest among others, state news agency (Yonhap) reported. 
Hyundai Motor Group, the world's fifth-largest automotive group, has spent a total of 5.54 trillion won to acquire 4 companies, including an engineering unit and a construction company. 
POSCO came in third with 10 M&As worth 4.89 trillion won, trailed by SK Group with 4.47 trillion won and Hanwha Group with 3.57 trillion won. 
While cash-rich chaebol have used M&As as a convenient way to expand their sprawling business empires, market watchers stressed the industry leaders' efforts to foster new growth drivers to revitalize Asia's fourth-largest economy.
Samsung, the country's top conglomerate, has been relatively inactive in taking over other firms, but recently it is reportedly in talks to take over a unit of Fiat Chrysler Automobile NV, a deal estimated at $3 billion, in a bid to diversify its business portfolio that's mainly focused on electronics.