A keiretsu(系列, lit. system, series, grouping of enterprises, order of succession) is a set of companies with interlocking business relationships and shareholdings. It is a type of business group. There are three types of keiretsu: 1. * Kigyō shūdan(企業集団"horizontally diversified business groups") 2. * Seisan keiretsu(生産系列"vertical manufacturing networks") 3. * Ryūtsū keiretsu(流通系列"vertical distribution networks")