US Bans Canadian Alcohol, Motorcycles as Trade War Escalates 
Brazil Court Suspends Sigma Lithium Mine Operations 
German Inflation Accelerates to 2.9% in August 
Iraq Seeks 6 Million Bpd OPEC+ Oil Quota 
BOJ Set to Raise Rates to 1.25% as Inflation Risks Build 
Enflame Shares Surge 200% in Shanghai AI Chip Debut 
Zara Owner Inditex Sales Rise 9% in August 
TetherMax Expands into Asian Market Following Rebranding, Names Actor Yun Siyun as Brand Ambassador 
Asian Currencies Steady as Yen Holds Firm, Oil Tops $100 
U.S. Accuses Chinese AI Firms of Extracting Model Capabilities 
Brent Oil Tops $100 as Middle East Conflict Threatens Supply 
Huawei Launches Mate XT2 Foldable Phone in China 
China Buys 1 Million Tons of U.S. Soybeans Ahead of Xi Visit 
China Inflation Accelerates in August as CPI, PPI Rise 
Fitch Eyes Japan Budget for Fiscal Discipline 
Gold Prices Rebound as Dollar Weakens, Fed Decision Looms 
Gulf Ministers to Meet Iran in Oman Over Hormuz Shipping Deal 
Add as a preferred source on Google
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
