SKC Corp. to Divest SK enpluse Fine Ceramics Unit in $308.7M Deal, Refocus on Batteries, Chip Materials

In a strategic shift, SKC Corp., part of SK Group, sells the fine ceramics unit of SK enpluse, a key semiconductor component producer, to private equity firm Hahn & Co. The deal, valued at approximately $308.7 million, will enable SKC to intensify its focus on batteries and chip materials.

As per Pulse News, a source from the investment banking industry said that SKC signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Hahn & Co., a private equity fund company. The signing took place not long ago, and this was for the sale of the fine ceramics division of its SK enpulse subsidiary. The deal is worth around KRW400 billion or $308.7 million.

Sources further revealed that the fine ceramics unit makes up 70% of the company’s total sales. After offloading this division, SK enpulse is expected to do more business related to pre-processed chip materials like blank masks and chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) pads.

Only earlier this year did the SK Group change SKC solmics’ name to SK enpulse. With the renaming of the business, the company also announced that it has committed to building the business into a corporation valued at KRW1.5 trillion by the year 2025. It also mentioned at that time that it would focus on the chip materials business.

At any rate, the Fine Ceramics unit that SK enpulse is getting rid of produces materials including quartz, silicon carbide, silicon, and alumina. These are typically used in the manufacturing of semiconductor equipment.

Business Korea reported that in 2022, SK enpluse’s total sales reached KRW45.4 billion or $35 million, but despite this high level of sales, the assessment reveals the business is far from SKC’s core business with high added value; thus, in the end, it was decided to sell the Fine Ceramics unit.

“SK enpulse has signed a non-binding MOU with Han & Company to enhance its business competitiveness,” SKC said in a statement. “Various options are under review, but nothing has been confirmed yet.”

Photo by: SK enpulse Media Center