[THE INVESTOR] Samsung Electronics and three other affiliates received the top grade in the latest survey designed to promote shared growth among conglomerates and smaller businesses, a survey showed on June 27.

Samsung Electronics retained the top spot for the seventh consecutive year, according to the survey by the Korea Commission for Corporate Partnership, a private body responsible for shared growth among conglomerates and smaller businesses.

Samsung Electronics said it will continue to pursue shared growth by providing contractors with technologies, financial assistance and other forms of support.

The three other Samsung affiliates are Samsung Display, Samsung Electro-Mechanics and Samsung SDS.

The four of them are among 28 companies that were rated “excellent” in terms of fair business practices and cooperation with their smaller contractors, according to the commission.

The 28 companies also include Hyundai Motor and its affiliate Kia Motors, POSCO and SK Telecom.

The commission said it surveyed 13,378 smaller firms between January and May to evaluate their 185 larger Korean counterparts over the fairness of their business practices and their commitment to shared growth.

By Song Seung-hyun and newswires (ssh@heraldcorp.com)