[DISCLOSURE] Tronic Holdings has become the largest stakeholder in Hyundai Paint (011720) after its capital increase through third-party allocation, the company announced Aug. 24. Tronic Holdings now owns 3,667,482 shares (9.87 percent) of the company. By Yun Jeong-hyeon (clareyun@heraldcorp.com)

[THE INVESTOR] KT Corp announced on Aug. 24 its intent to begin selling smartphones made by China’s Huawei Technologies later this month. The move by South Korea’s second-largest mobile carrier by subscribers joins its rivals SK Telecom and LG Uplus in introducing low-cost Chinese and Taiwanese smartphones in South Korea.Huawei’s P9 Lite smartphone will be sold at 316,800 won (US$283) in South Korea, KT said in a statement.Last year, LG Uplus rolled out Huawei’s Y6 smartphone in South Korea, whi

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean battery materials leader Ecopro is to set up a joint venture with Chinese resources recycling company GEM to produce cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries in Pohang, the southeastern city’s municipal government said Aug. 24.Representatives from the two companies, the Pohang municipality and the North Gyeongsang provincial government signed a memorandum of understanding the same day to build a plant for the production of the key material for lithium-ion batteries

[THE INVESTOR] South Korea’s birthrate marked gains for the second consecutive year in 2015, data showed Aug. 24, amid growing concern the low birthrate and rapid aging could undermine the growth potential of Asia’s fourth-largest economy.The total fertility rate, or the average number of babies that a woman is projected to have during her lifetime, reached 1.24 in 2015, up from 1.21 tallied a year earlier, according to data compiled by Statistics Korea.It recorded the second consecutive year of

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean Culture Minister Kim Jong-deok is to attend a culture ministers’ conference this weekend with his counterparts from China and Japan on the southern island of Jejudo this weekend, the government said Aug. 24.Entering its eighth edition, the trilateral meeting Aug. 27-28 will focus on ways to establish an Asian cultural community as a joint project by the three countries in arts, cultural assets and the culture-related industry, an official at the ministry of culture sa

[THE INVESTOR] Financial health of South Korean insurance firms improved in the second quarter thanks to increased net profits and higher bond prices they hold, data showed Aug. 24.Risk-based capital, or RBC, the minimum required liquid reserves for a financial institution, of 56 life and non-life insurers averaged 288 percent at the end of June, up 14.1 percentage points from three months earlier, according to the Financial Supervisory Service.The average RBC of 25 life insurers rose to 297.1 p

[DISCLOSURE] Alphachips (117670) said on Aug. 24 that it has decided to issue convertible bonds worth 10 billion won (US$8.9 million million) for capital increase. The newly issued bonds will be offered to Lium Curation with the interest rate standing at 6 percent. The maturity date is Nov. 30, 2019 and the conversion price is 12,000 won.By Yun Jeong-hyeon (clareyun@heraldcorp.com)

[DISCLOSURE] CQV (101240) reported on Aug. 24 that it has terminated a trust agreement with Daishin Securities for a 3 billion won (US$ 2.67 million) repurchase. By Yun Jeong-hyeon (clareyun@heraldcorp.com)

[DISCLOSURE] Danal (064260) announced Aug. 24 that it will issue convertible bonds worth 38 billion (US$33.88 million) to fund operations.The coupon rate and maturity interest rate both stand at 0 percent, and the maturity date is Aug. 26, 2019. The conversion price is 6,953 won and the conversion period is from Aug. 26, 2017 to July 26, 2019. Subscription and payment are due Aug. 26.The bonds are being offered to Synergy Partners, Golden Bridge Asset Management, Korea Securities Finance, KTB As

[DISCLOSURE] LegoChem Biosciences (141080) announced on Aug. 24 that it has obtained approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety for a phase I clinical study of LCB01-0371, an injectable antibiotic that targets superbacteria. The company added that oral medication is currently undergoing a phase II clinical study and will be later developed in the form of injection.By Yun Jeong-hyeon (clareyun@heraldcorp.com)

[DISCLOSURE] Nature Cell (007390) announced Aug. 24 that it has acquired a stake of 25 percent of a patent for the composition that increases the storage safety of blood serum-containing stem cells. The patent originally belonged to Naturecell CEO Ra Jeong-chan. The company reported this composition will be of a great help in shipping stem cells overseas, including to Japan and Hong Kong.By Yun Jeong-hyeon (clareyun@heraldcorp.com)

[DISCLOSURE] Soulbrain (036830) announced Aug. 23 that it will sell its entire 2 million shares of subsidiary Soulbrain Memsys for 2.57 billion won (US$2.3 million), which amounts to 7.04 percent of its revenue last year on a consolidated basis.Soulbrain Memsys produces and sells semiconductor testing devices and will be sold off on Sept. 23. By Yun Jeong-hyeon (clareyun@heraldcorp.com)

[DISCLOSURE] Shinhan Engineering & Construction (005450) announced on Aug. 23 that the Seoul Central District Court has dismissed a suit that Speco (013810) filed against the company.Speco, a road construction plant manufacturer, appealed in October 2015 to request monetary compensation of 5 billion won (US$4.47 million) regarding a material delivery agreement it made with Shinhan E&C. By Yun Jeong-hyeon (clareyun@heraldcorp.com)

[DISCLOSURE] Green Cross (006280) announced Aug. 23 that Huh Il-sup, the chairman and chief executive, sold 30,000 shares this month and now owns a total 1.27 percent stake (148,173 shares) of the company.By Yun Jeong-hyeon (clareyun@heraldcorp.com)

[DISCLOSURE] Welcron Hantec (076080) announced on Aug. 23 that it has received a 30.7 billion won (US$27.5 million) order to build TJ Logistics’ warehouse. This amounts to 22.76 percent of its last year’s revenue on a consolidated basis and expires March 31, 2017. By Yun Jeong-hyeon (clareyun@heraldcorp.com)

[DISCLOSURE] Huvitz (065510) announced Aug. 23 that Mondrian Investment Partners bought 132,386 shares (1.12 percent) of the company, owning a total of 6.27 percent stake of Huvitz. By Yun Jeong-hyeon (clareyun@heraldcorp.com)

[DISCLOSURE] Shinhan Engineering & Construction (005450) reported on Aug. 22 that it will sell real estate property worth 35.1 billion won (US$31.2 million) to its subsidiarity MZN. The company is to reconstruct and lot out a multipurpose building with residential and commercial units. The amount of cashable assets increased by the transfer property will be used to pay off the loan and finance its operation funds.By Yun Jeong-hyeon (clareyun@heraldcorp.com)

[DISCLOSURE] Hyundai Motor (005380) announced on Aug. 22 that it has acquired a money market fund worth 50 billion won (US$44.4 million) from HMC Investment Securities (001500) to stabilize its fund operations and improve profitability. The maturity date is June 12, 2017 and the total amount of purchased money market funds is 130 billion won.By Yun Jeong-hyeon (clareyun@heraldcorp.com)

[DISCLOSURE] GS Engineering & Construction (006360) announced on Aug. 19 that the other party of its 876.6 billion won (US$778.1 million) contract to build a residential complex in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, has changed to KB Real Estate Trust. 　The deal amounts to 8.29 percent of the firm’s 2015 revenue.By Yun Jeong-hyeon (clareyun@heraldcorp.com)

[DISCLOSURE] Dawonsys (068240) announced on Aug. 22 that it has signed a 15.2 billion won (US$13.1 million) contract with National Fusion Research Institute to manufacture and install a power control system for Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research NBI-2.This amounts to 22.65 percent of its recent revenue and expires Dec. 31, 2020. By Yun Jeong-hyeon (clareyun@heraldcorp.com)