[DISCLOSURE] Hyundai Heavy Industries (009540) reported on Oct. 26 that it has turned to black with a 321.8 billion won (US$284.88 million) operating profit in the third quarter. Its revenue fell 19 percent to 8.84 trillion won from the same period last year, and the company posted 334.4 billion won net profit. (theinvestor@heraldcorp.com)

[DISCLOSURE] Cosmax (192820) announced on Oct. 26 that it has earned a patent for a cosmetic composition derived from Tillandsia usneoides, or Spanish moss, that moisturizes skin, accelerates differentiation of cells that generates keratin, and restores skin barriers.(theinvestor@heraldcorp.com)

[DISCLOSURE] LG Hausys (108670) reported on Oct. 26 that its operating profit in the third quarter fell 22.8 percent to 36.2 billion won (US$32.05 million) from the same period last year. Its revenue inched up 3.2 percent to 719.8 billion won on-year. “Total revenue increased thanks to growing sales in B2C market of construction materials and rise in overseas demand for premium artificial marble, but as the domestic auto output slumped, sales and profitability in the auto parts material division

[THE INVESTOR] Korea Aerospace Industries only logged 176.3 billion won (US$156.07 million) in new orders this year, and the delay in orders for Surion helicopters and its amphibious spin-off will affect its first half revenue in 2017, according to NH Investment and Securities on Oct. 26. The securities firm lowered the target price to 99,000 won from 110,000 won. The orders, however, will recover by the end of this year, said analyst Yu Jae-hoon, “as the third batch of Korean Utility Helicopter

[THE INVESTOR] Lotte Group’s food and dining division Lotteria reported a 145.5 billion won (US$128.81 million) balance of debt guarantees for its overseas operations, according to the data released by Financial Supervisory Service on Oct. 25.On the previous day, Lotteria decided to guarantee a 20.5 billion won loan of its subsidiary Burger King Japan and Burger King Japan Holdings, an 11.2 billion won loan of Lotteria Vietnam, and 6.8 billion won loan of Lotteria Beijing. In addition to its fla

[THE INVESTOR] LG Household and Health Care’s revenue from duty-free stores should be seen from a conservative perspective following the Chinese cap on tourism to South Korea, according to Samsung Securities on Oct. 26.The securities firm lowered the target price to 1,010,000 won (US$894.12) from 1,150,000 won, as it cuts the prospective rate of increase in number of Chinese tourists coming to the country in 2017 to 5 percent from 15 percent. The Chinese government recently notified its tourism

[THE INVESTOR] The Chinese government’s restrictions on tourists to South Korea in relation to THAAD deployment could increase uncertainty in Shinsegae’s duty-free business, according to NH Investment and Securities on Oct. 26. The securities firm lowered the target price to 300,000 won (US$265.58) from 330,000 won. “However, even when the number of Chinese tourists decreases by 20 percent Shinsegae’s duty-free store’s daily revenue will only decline 8.5 percent to 1.74 billion won from 1.9 bill

[THE INVESTOR] KTB Investment and Securities has signed a memorandum of understanding with Big Bang Angels, a consulting firm for angel investment, to collaborate on improving the environment for startups and enlivening crowdfunding. The companies will share information on promising startups and systemically pursue crowdfunding and attracting further investment. By Hwang You-mee (glamazon@heraldcorp.com)

[DISCLOSURE] LG Household & Health Care (051900) reported on Oct. 25 that its operating profit in the third quarter hiked 28.4 percent to 244.16 billion won (US$215 million) on-year. Its revenue increased 12.7 percent to 1.56 trillion won and net profit jumped 41.2 percent to 192.14 billion won from the same period last year.(theinvestor@heraldcorp.com)

[THE INVESTOR] LG Household and Health Care and life science company Macrogen announced on Oct. 25 that they have signed an agreement to establish a joint venture to enter the consumer genomics market. The companies will invest a combined 6 billion won (US$5.28 million) and equal stake in Genstory, to develop and provide direct-to-consumer genetic analysis service. The Ministry of Health and Welfare lifted a ban on having one’s DNA tested at a non-medical entity without a referral from medical i

[THE INVESTOR]  Entertainment company IHQ has partnered with A&E Networks, a subsidiary of Walt Disney Co. to jointly develop contents for the global market, according to Maeil Business Newspaper on Oct. 24. IHQ has been seeking to expand into television drama and recording production and has a partner to provide its contents worldwide. Walt Disney will secure a foothold to make further inroads into South Korea. A&E, a documentary and drama cable, will also make use of a range of hallyu contents

[THE INVESTOR] Cheil Worldwide’s 2016 operating profit will reach 137.4 billion won (US$120.98 million), the largest figure ever, Daishin Securities forecast on Oct. 25. The advertising company reported 28.8 billion won operating profit in the third quarter, up 6.14 percent on-year, in a regulatory filing on Oct. 24. Its revenue rose 14.32 percent to 780.9 billion won, and net profit hiked 43.38 percent to 25.5 billion won on-year.“Cheil Worldwide’s Q3 operating profit is significantly higher th

[DISCLOSURE] Lotte Chemical (011170) announced on Oct. 24 that it has decided to acquire 80 shares of its affiliate Lotte Chemical USA for 378.4 billion won (US$333.19 million), increasing its stake to 71 percent (200 shares).(theinvestor@heraldcorp.com)

[DISCLOSURE] Hanssem (009240) reported on Oct. 24 that its operating profit in the third quarter hiked 31 percent to 42.34 billion won (US$46.04 million) from the same period last year. Its revenue rose 16 percent to 474.83 billion won on-year. (theinvestor@heraldcorp.com)

[THE INVESTOR] Nature Cell announced on Oct. 24 that it has filed for approval of the US Food and Drug Administration to initiate the first and second phases of clinical trials for AstroStem, a stem cell therapy for Alzheimer’s disease, in the US. Since 2008, Nature Cell has been seeking to develop a novel medicine for the still-incurable brain disease. Its CEO Ra Jeong-chan and a team from Seoul National University jointly had confirmed the possibility of a therapy using autologous adipose tiss

[THE INVESTOR] Lotte Duty Free has maintained the third place for two consecutive years among the world’s duty-free operators by 2015 revenue, it announced on Oct. 24.According to The Moodie Report, Lotte’s sales in 2015 reached 3.75 billion euros (US$4.08 billion), after Switzerland’s Dufry (5.68 billion euros) and US’s DFS Group (3.77 billion euros). Lotte beat France’s LS Travel Retail to the third rank in 2014, and has closed in on DFS, in line with its aim to become the top duty-free operat

[THE INVESTOR] AmorePacific Group will launch its better-priced range Innisfree with a flagship store in Manhattan in 2017, according to Money Today on Oct. 24. Actor Lee Min-ho attending the opening ceremony for Innisfree`s Shanghai flagship store in 2015. InnisfreeThe South Korean beauty giant is looking for a site for the store slated to open as early as the first half next year, and will open multiple outlets across the US, where it already has four brands Amore Pacific, Sulhwasoo, Laneige a

[THE INVESTOR] Lotte Confectionary’s third-quarter earnings will not be able to meet market expectations, according to Korea Investment and Securities on Oct. 24. The securities firm adjusted the target price to 250,000 won (US$219.11) from 290,000 won, forecasting its third-quarter operating profit will rise only 2.6 percent, as overseas affiliates including Rakhat in Kazakhstan are yet to show improved performance due to the depreciated local currencies. From the fourth quarter, however, opera

[DISCLOSURE] SeAH Steel (003030) acknowledged that it is in talks to acquire Russian steel pipe manufacturer OMK’s tube factory in Texas, US to strengthen its competitiveness in North America, but that nothing specific was determined, in a statement released on Oct. 21 in response to Korea Exchange’s inquiry regarding media reports. (theinvestor@heraldcorp.com)

[THE INVESTOR] Hana Financial Group reported on Oct. 22 its net profit in the third quarter surged 76.6 percent on-year to 450.1 billion won (US$396 billion) on a consolidated basis. The third-quarter earnings were Hana’s highest quarterly results since the first quarter of 2012.Interest income came to 3.45 trillion won in the January-September period, up 2 percent on-year, boosting the performance. However, the group’s net interest margin, a key barometer of profitability, slipped 0.01 percenta