[THE INVESTOR] SK Networks, a trading unit of SK Group, is acquiring Tongyang Magic, a local home appliance maker whose flagship products include water purifiers, for 610 billion won (US$550 million). According to industry sources on Oct. 11, the company was planned to sign a sale and purchase agreement with Tongyang’s largest shareholders Glenwood Private Equity and NH Private Equity, both based in Korea, later in the day. Considering the Glenwood-NH consortium acquired the company for about 28

Oct. 11, 2016

[THE INVESTOR] Shares of Samsung Electronics went on a wild ride on Oct. 10 after news reports that US telecom carriers have decided to stop selling its Galaxy Note 7 replacement phones over safety concerns. The stock price closed at 1,680,000 won (US$1,515), down 1.52 percent from the previous trading day.Earlier in the day, the price tumbled to 1,628,000 won following another news report that Samsung was suspending the production of the Note phones at its Korean and Vietnamese plants.The compa

Oct. 10, 2016

[THE INVESTOR] Samsung Electronics is making all-out efforts to upgrade key features of its next flagship smartphone, tentatively called Galaxy S8, amid the worsening battery fiasco of its latest Note 7 phablet. According to industry sources, the Korean tech giant has no immediate plan to advance the new launch that usually comes in March every year. “Samsung is making parts orders for the Galaxy S8. Several new, more expansive components are expected to be used,” said an official of a Samsung p

Oct. 10, 2016

[THE INVESTOR] Samsung Electronics  has suspended the production of its latest Galaxy Note 7 smartphone following several reports of fire even in replacements with a new battery. “The production suspension includes Vietnam where Samsung produces phones for overseas markets,” an official of a local supplier was quoted as saying by Yonhap News Agency. “The measure has been taken for safety reasons of customers. Samsung is working with product safety authorities in Korea, the US and China.”By Lee J

Oct. 10, 2016

[THE INVESTOR] LG Electronics and its display-making sister firm LG Display are struggling to elevate the low yield rate of organic light-emitting diode panels that will be used for the Korean tech giant’s next flagship smartphone, tentatively called LG G6.According to industry sources, the two firms are still gauging the new phone’s OLED adoption that industry watchers consider a must, rather than an option, for LG to remain a potent player in the crowded premium smartphone market. “Even its Ch

Oct. 6, 2016

[THE INVESTOR] Shares of tech giant Samsung Electronics closed at 1.691 million won (US$ 1,520), up 4.45 percent from the previous day, buoyed by Elliott Management’s demand for the company’s separation into holding and operating companies and higher dividend payout.　The opening share price was 1.696 million won, up nearly 5 percent from the previous day. 　 　　Elliott’s subsidiaries Blake Capital and Potter Capital demanded that Samsung Electronics be divided into a holdings company, and a compan

Oct. 6, 2016

[THE INVESTOR] Local analysts on Oct. 6 said Elliott Management’s demand for separation of Samsung Electronics  and big shareholder payout will be giving a good reason for Samsung Group to speed up the ongoing business restructuring ahead of a pending leadership transfer to a new generation. “Elliott’s demands include most of the process that Samsung is expected to experience in its ongoing business restructuring,” said Yoon Tae-ho, analyst at Korea Investment and Securities. “The hedge fund gav

Oct. 6, 2016

[THE INVESTOR] MBK Partners, the nation’s largest private equity firm, said on Oct. 4 that it will be acquiring Wharf T&T, a Hong Kong-based telecom carrier, in a consortium with US alternative asset firm TPG. The deal is priced at about US$1.22 billion and the buyout process is scheduled to be completed next month. Wharf T&T is Hong Kong’s largest enterprise-focused telecom service provider, with an extensive fiber optic network covering about 90 percent of the commercial market.  Wharf T&T’s h

Oct. 5, 2016

[THE INVESTOR] Samsung Electronics is expected to start operating its new semiconductor plant in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, earlier than planned to meet the growing demand for 3-D NAND flash memory chips. According to recent news reports, the Korean tech giant plans to complete the construction of the plant, tentatively called Line 18, in December and start production from the second quarter next year, possibly in April -- about three months in advance. Demand for 3-D NAND chips is surging a

Oct. 4, 2016