[THE INVESTOR] SK Chemical is releasing a flu vaccine, the first cell culture vaccine that covers four strains of influenza viruses, next month. A total of 5 million units have been manufactured, it announced on Aug. 10. Dubbed SKY Cell Flu Quadrivalent, “it is a next generation vaccine that can prevent four kinds of viruses with a single vaccination,” the company said.SK Chemical's vaccine production line. SK chemical[Multinational firm Glaxo Smith Kline already sells its own quadrivalent, that

[THE INVESTOR] Korea Gas (036460) reported on Aug. 10 that its operating loss in the second quarter came in at 6.4 billion won (US$5.90 million). Revenue declined 28.81 percent to 3.54 trillion won and net loss ballooned 162.86 percent to 106.3 billion won from the same period last year.The public corporation explained that “fall in the oil price led to a decrease in the net profit” adding that “the debt-equity ratio declined from last year’s 321.5 percent to 294 percent in the first half.” Kore

[THE INVESTOR] Medipost announced on Aug. 10 that it has obtained a US patent for administering mesenchymal stem cells derived from umbilical cord blood to treat nerve injuries. “This patented method can be applied to treat hypoxic-ischemic brain injury strokes, Alzheimer’s, Pick’s, Huntington’s and Lou Gehrig’s diseases, and traumatic central nervous system disorders,” according to the biotechnology company. This is the 13th patent Medipost obtained this year, the highest number among South Kor

[DISCLOSURE] E-mart (139480) reported on Aug. 10 that its operating profit in the second quarter decreased 28.5 percent to 47 billion won (US$42.99 million) from the same period last year. Sales rose 6.8 percent to 3.45 trillion won while net profit fell 95.6 percent to 12.19 billion won on-year.

[DISCLOSURE] Kolon Industry (120110) reported on Aug. 10 that its second quarter operating profit increased 1.4 percent to 77.48 billion won (US$70.86 million) from the same period last year. Sales fell 8.1 percent to 1.13 trillion won while net profit hiked 93.6 percent to 64.27 billion won on-year.

[THE INVESTOR] IS Dongseo will continue to post improved earnings from the third quarter due to the strong performance of its construction division, Eugene Investment said maintaining a “strong buy” rating on Aug. 10.“IS Dongseo recorded an earnings surprise as its operating profit in the second quarter surged 173.8 percent on-year to 86.1 billion won (US$78.75 million) and revenue hiked 82.5 percent to 452.3 billion won,” said Lee Sang-woo, an analyst at Eugene Investment. “It will have no prob

[THE INVESTOR] NH Investment & Securities maintained a “buy” rating for Celltrion on Aug. 10, saying that the biopharma firm has met expectations in its second-quarter performance. The company reported on Aug. 9 that its operating profit decreased 5.7 percent to 75.2 billion won (US$68.78 million) and sales increased 7.4 percent to 159.9 billion won from the same period last year. “The revenue has grown as prescriptions for (its first antibody biosimilar) Remsima increased in Europe while the op

 [THE INVESTOR] Daelim Energy has signed an agreement with Overseas Private Investment Corporation, the US government’s development finance institution, to finance US$100 million for Hawa Energy power project in Pakistan, the company announced on Aug. 10.Daelim Energy in a power and resources  affiliate of  South Korea's leading conglomerate Daelim Group. The power project will develop and operate a 50-megawatt wind power facility in southwestern Pakistan and the total amount will be US$130 mill

[THE INVESTOR] With Innotox, a liquid version of Botox, entering the third phase of clinical trials, analysts maintained “buy” ratings for the biopharmaceutical company, forecasting better performance in the second quarter. As Allergan, a global leader that created Botox announced Aug. 9 that it will proceed to the next phase of trials for the injectable version of Botolinium toxin, developed and transferred by Medytox, “it is time to reevaluate it,” said Lee Seung-ho, an analyst at NH Investmen

[THE INVESTOR] Although duty-free sales posted a record high in the first half of this year, new outlets are still struggling, according to data released Aug. 10.“Duty-free shops in Seoul recorded 9.5 billion won (US$8.65 million) operating loss in the second quarter, falling further into red from the previous quarter,” said Kim Gyu-ri, an analyst at Shinhan Investment. Hanwha Galleria Timeworld, which recently launched Galleria DFS63, posted 2.8 billion won operating loss and 6 billion won net

[DISCLOSURE] GS Engineering & Construction (006360) will guarantee a 105 billion won (US$94.87 million) debt of Woojin D&C. This amounts to 3.14 percent of its equity capital.

[DISCLOSURE] UNID (014830) acknowledged that it is considering acquisition of Tongyang Magic, in a statement released on Aug. 9 in response to Korea Exchange’s inquiry. Nothing has been confirmed, the company added.

[THE INVESTOR] Popular Korean animated comedy TV series “Larva” is being made into a Hollywood movie, TUBAn announced on Aug. 9.The toy and animation company behind the cartoon said that Hollywood producer-writer Erica Rivinoja is finalizing the script and the movie is slated for release in the first half of 2018. Rivijoja’s works include “South Park” (1997) and “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2” (2013). The slapstick cartoon featuring two larvae -- Yellow and Red -- has been broadcast in ove

[THE INVESTOR] Celltrion CEO Seo Jung-jin’s private investments, especially in the entertainment business, are garnering a lot of public attention. The self-made billionaire has reaped huge profits from his investment in the latest blockbuster movie “Operation Chromite” that sold more than 5.24 million tickets as of Aug. 7. The other investors in the movie that cost 16 billion won ($14.46 million) include KBS and CJ E&M. Each invested around 3 billion won in the Korean War movie.Celltrion CEO Se

[DISCLOSURE] SKC Solmics (057500) acknowledged that it is considering selling off solar power division but said nothing specific has been decided, in a statement released on Aug. 9 in response to Korea Exchange’s inquiry regarding the issue .

[THE INVESTOR] With the manufacturing sector in South Korea slowly losing steam, it is the cultural contents industry that is grabbing the attention of investors and lenders seeking to make steady profits.Not just private investors, even the state-run policy banks are seeking to capitalize on the boom in cultural contents, ever willing to loosen their purse strings. Movie posters of "Train to Busan" (left) and "Operation Chromite."According to government estimates, the policy banks have earmarke

[THE INVESTOR] ChongKunDang’s pharmaceutical composition CKD-506 has been approved by Netherland’s Central Committee on Research Involving Human Subjects (CCMO) for phase 1 clinical trials, it announced on Aug. 9.The preclinical candidate is for the treatment of autoimmune diseases by selectively inhibiting HDAC6 that can affect a variety of inflammatory diseases. It represses inflammation and enhances T cell function that tailors immune responses, and has been found to be effective for rheumato

[DISCLOSURE] SK Networks (001740) acknowledged on Aug. 9 that it is reviewing acquisition of Tongyang Magic but did not provide any specifics, in response to Korea Exchange’s inquiry.

[THE INVESTOR] LG Household & Health Care is pushing su:m 37 as its new main cosmetics line for China, opening shops in top department stores in Hangzhou, Shanghai, Nanxing and Beijing since April. It also launched an online flagship store at Tmall, the largest online shopping website in China, in May.Established in 2007, the brand has gained popularity with its “naturally fermented” botanical ingredients, a new concept in the South Korean beauty industry. The premium cosmetics range has been gr

[DISCLOSURE] It’s Skin (226320) announced on Aug. 9 that its second quarter operating profit decreased 2.2 percent to 14.2 billion won (US$12.83 million) from the same period last year. Its sales increased 5.5 percent to 61.9 billion won while net profit was down 7.4 percent to 10.9 billion won on-year.