UPDATE: Korean companies reach deal on Georgia battery plant - Atlanta Journal Constitution

SK Innovation, which is building a $2.6 billion factory near Commerce to make electric vehicle batteries, reached a settlement on Saturday with a rival that had accused it of stealing trade secrets, according to people familiar with the matter.

It has agreements to supply lithium-ion batteries to Ford and Volkswagen for new electric vehicles those companies plan to manufacture.

LG had argued that SK stole its trade secrets by hiring about 100 of its employees, including engineers and marketing executives.

International Trade Commission ruled in favor of LG that SK stole trade secrets.

It ruled SK could only make batteries for Ford for four years and Volkswagen for two years.

If he didn’t overturn the ruling, SK was expected to appeal the decision to a federal court.

Attorney General Sally Yates to argue that Biden should overturn the ruling because if the plant were to close, it would allow China to extend its global market share dominance in the manufacturing of electric vehicle batteries.

In addition to the trade secrets dispute, immigration authorities have conducted two rounds of arrests of illegal Korean workers at the plant