An Insidious Parasite

What's the difference between these two groups of companies:
- O2, Pilkington, Manchester United and (in the not too distant future) Scottish Power, and
- Endesa, Danone, the Italian banking industry, and the US airline industry

Well according to The Herald, the first group represents a groupd of UK based companies who have been taken over by overseas companies, and the second are overseas companies (industries) that receive protection from their own Government to protect them from being bought over by overseas companies.

According to new CBI President, Sir John Sunderland, this protectionism within the developed economies of the world represent an "insidious parasite" that prevents the level playing.