[ THE INVESTOR ] Hanwha Investment & Securities on Oct. 28 forecast Naver ’s rising share price will experience a brief slowdown, but will maintain strong growth on the back of steady earnings in the fourth quarter. The local brokerage predicted Naver’s fourth-quarter operating profit will jump 52 percent on-year to 309 billion won (US$269.69 million), while revenue will rise 22 percent to ...

[ THE INVESTOR ] The South Korean Supreme Court on Oct. 27 upheld a lower court ruling that acquitted Cho Seong-jin, CEO of LG Electronics ’ home and appliance unit, of intentionally vandalizing Samsung washing machines at a retail store in Berlin. The top court ruled in favor of Cho, saying it found no error in the lower court’s decision. It also found two other LG executives not guilty. ...

[ THE INVESTOR ] Kia Motors , South Korea’s second largest automaker, on Oct. 27 said it will release Niro hybrid crossover in the US next year, while launching four new models in China. “After our planned launch of the K7 sedan later this year in the US, we will launch the Niro hybrid early next year and focus on marketing there,” said Kia Motors CFO Han Chun-soo in a conference call after ...

[ THE INVESTOR ] The nation's second largest carmaker Kia Motors said on Oct. 27 it is still gauging its entry into the Indian market, including building a new production plant there. “Nothing has been decided on entering the Indian market,” Han Chun-soo, Kia’s chief financial officer, said during a conference call after the company’s third-quarter earnings report. “We are open to all possib...

[ THE INVESTOR ] General Motors’ first full electric vehicle Chevrolet Bolt will make its Korean debut in the first half of next year. The US auto giant on Oct. 26 announced the plan at the opening day of the Korea Electronics Show where the carmaker unveiled the Bolt EV to the public for the first time here, ahead of the car going on sale in the US later this year. From left are GM Korea C...

[ THE INVESTOR ] German luxury carmaker BMW is recalling 23 vehicle models, including the top-selling 520d, in Korea for faulty emissions-control devices, the Environment Ministry said on Oct. 25. A total of 15,802 vehicles will be recalled. BMW Korea, the local unit, has begun recalling a total of 15,802 vehicles since Oct. 12, offering repairs at its service centers nationwide. The ministr...

[ THE INVESTOR ] Lotte Duty Free, the duty-free unit of Lotte Group, is seeking to purchase smaller overseas duty-free businesses to resume its global expansion efforts, local media outlet Money Today reported on Oct. 25. “Lotte Duty Free is exploring to acquire businesses that are valued less than 100 billion won (US$87.93 million). It is also pushing to make inroads in the Asia-Pacific re...

[ THE INVESTOR ] Yello Digital Marketing, the digital marketing unit local mobile app aggregator Yello Mobile, on Oct. 24 said it has received US$15 million investment from Partners For Growth, the private equity arm of US-based SVB Financial Group. With the secured funds, Yello Digital Marketing said it plans to invest in purchasing shares of its affiliates to consolidate control within the g...

[ THE INVESTOR ] Hyundai Motor ’s flagship compact sedan Avante became the fourth best-selling car among 1,382 models in 2015, selling 913,152 units globally, industry data showed on Oct. 24. Toyota’s Corolla nabbed the top spot selling 1.49 million units, followed by Volkswagen Golf with 950,235 units, and Ford F Series pickup, with 921,785 units, according to data compiled by the Best Sell...

[ THE INVESTOR ] A possible merger between South Korea’s No. 2 container liner Hyundai Merchant Marine and its larger local rival Hanjin Shipping appears to be not so lucrative, as it is expected to create an entity ranking only 38th out of 5,000 global vessel operators, according to data from VesselsValue, a UK-based shipping valuation firm. “If HMM & Hanjin merged, they would have a c...

[ THE INVESTOR ] Hyundai Merchant Marine is mulling acquisition of Hanjin Shipping’s terminal in Algeciras, Spain, according to industry sources on Oct. 18. HMM seeks to purchase the entire stake in the Spanish terminal, which was put up for sale last year by debt-ridden Hanjin Shipping . Initially, the consortium of IBK Investment & Securities and Korea Investment Partners bought a 100 pe...

[ THE INVESTOR ] HMC Investment Securities on Oct. 18 projected Hyundai Wia , the automotive parts unit of Hyundai Motor Group, will post earnings below market consensus in the third quarter. Hyundai Wia’s third-quarter sales will decrease 3.4 percent on-year to 1.75 trillion won (US$1.54 billion), while operating profit will plunge 34.8 percent to 72.8 billion won, the brokerage said. The ...