[THE INVESTOR] Lutronic announced on Oct. 6 that its laser device R:GEN has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration to treat macular edema, that causes thickening and swelling of the yellow central area of the retina. It is the first laser therapy to treat the eye disease, and the first time a South Korean ophthalmic medical instrument has been approved in the US, according to the manufacturer.R:GEN can selectively treat retinal pigment epithelium, or the pigmented cell layer of ret

[THE INVESTOR] SKC celebrated the completion of its chemical mechanical polishing pad factory in Gyeonggi Province with a ceremony on Oct. 6.It has invested 20 billion won (US$17.97 million) in the factory that can manufacture about 50,000 units of CMP pad, a polyurethane product used to smooth surfaces of semiconductor wafers. CMP pads are high value-added products whose market is dominated by US companies. SKC jumped in the business last year acquiring the patent and business rights from Dongs

[THE INVESTOR] Although the third-quarter performance of Paradise Group will be below expectations, its casino and resort business will continue to grow in the mid- to long-term, according to Korea Investment and Securities on Oct. 6.The securities firm maintained its “buy” recommendation and 20,000 won (US$17.97) target price for the company, saying that its revenue in the third quarter would reach 176.4 billion won, up 23.5 percent on-year, with operating profit of 15.8 billion won, up 38.3 pe

[THE INVESTOR] Hanwha Techwin will issue corporate bonds worth 100 billion won (US$89.86 million) this month with three-year maturity, according to the Korea Economic Daily on Oct. 5. The defense arm of Hanwha Group has issued 220 billion won worth corporate bonds since June. And the additional funds will finance acquisition of 50 percent stake in its defense affiliate Hanwha Thales from Thales International for 288 billion won, to turn the company into a wholly owned subsidiary. KB Investment a

[DISCLOSURE] London-based Schroders Investment Management reported on Oct. 6 that it owns 5.13 percent stake in CJ CGV (079160), along with two individuals with special relationship. It has no intention to participate in management, it added. (theinvestor@heraldcorp.com)

[DISCLOSURE] Barunson (018700) announced on Oct. 5 that it will merge and absorb movie production company Pollux Pictures to expand into the movie business as a long-term growth plan and to promote the firm’s value. (theinvestor@heraldcorp.com)

[THE INVESTOR]  LOCUS, an animation and computer-generated imagery specialist, announced on Oct. 4 that it has signed an agreement with China’s To-Win Capital Group to attract 25 billion won (US$22.40 million) investment.This makes the Chinese investment company the third largest shareholder of the South Korean studio. Established in 2009, LOCUS boasts leading animation and computer graphics technology, and owns a number of affiliates including movie production and distribution company Sidus. By

[THE INVESTOR] Semicon Light has signed an agreement with China’s HC Semitek to establish a joint venture to expand into the global LED market, it announced at a press conference in Seoul on Oct. 5.The South Korean LED manufacturer is a leader in LEDs with flip chip architecture that allows faster processing with less power consumption, and has joined hands with HC Semitek which owns the second-largest market share in China’s EPI wafer chip market. Semicon Light will own 51 percent stake in the

[THE INVESTOR] Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power announced on Oct. 5 that it has won a US$530 million build-operate-transfer contract from Pakistan’s Private Power and Infrastructure Board for a hydroelectric power plant in the country.KHNP has formed a consortium with Daelim Industrial and Lotte Engineering and Construction and participated in the bid for the global project announced by the government body in charge of private electricity generation in January. They will build a 350-megawatt hydro