용량 큰걸로 테스트
● A KRW 522.5 billion investment was decided in the board of directors meeting on July 7, including the acquisition of the largest shareholder’s stake (KRW 347.5 billion) and new shares (KRW 175 billion).● After the acquisition of ISC, the world’s number one manufacturer of silicone rubber sockets for testing semiconductor chipsets, SKC will further search for additional growth engines. ● Following the glass substrate business, SKC has added a high value-added business for the semiconductor back-end process, seeking global expansion to Vietnam (ISC production base).SKC (CEO & President Woncheol Park) has acquired ISC, a global semiconductor test solution provider, to add a new growth engine to its semiconductor materials/parts business, one of its three growth pillars, along with EV battery and eco-friendly materials.On July 7, SKC held a board of directors meeting and decided to acquire 35.8% of ISC’s shares owned by the current largest shareholder Helios Private Equity Fund I for KRW 347.5 billion and also to acquire ISC’s newly issued shares worth KRW 200 billion jointly with Helios Private Equity. SKC is investing KRW 175 billion in ISC’s new shares, expanding its total stake to 45%. Immediately after the board of directors meeting, the Stock Purchase Agreement (SPA) and the Share Subscription Agreement (SSA) were signed.SKC plans to finance funds for the acquisition without compromising its existing investment capacity or being funded from outside. ISC will start anew as an SKC subsidiary upon completing the necessary procedures, such as filing the corporate merger and obtaining relevant approvals.The acquisition of ISC will significantly strengthen SKC’s semiconductor post-process materials/parts business. ISC was founded in 2001 and is known for test sockets, its main product, used to test electrical characteristics of packaged semiconductor chipsets, which are essential consumables in the semiconductor back-end process. Also, it should be noted that its future growth potential is deemed excellent because demand for test sockets is growing rapidly as the packaging technology of major semiconductor manufacturers is advancing to improve the performance of their chipsets.In 2003, ISC became the first in the world to commercialize test sockets utilizing silicone rubber materials and continues to hold an overwhelming first place in this market today with over half of the market share. It also has strong technological capabilities with more than 500 patents, the most in the industry. According to the semiconductor industry, silicone rubber sockets already account for over 80% of memory semiconductor test sockets and are expected to further expand rapidly in the non-memory market as well.In addition to silicone rubber sockets, ISC has a wide range of test solutions, such as pogo sockets made of copper alloy previously used for electrical characteristic testing sockets, burn-in test sockets, and interface boards. SKC plans to utilize ISC as a platform to expand its semiconductor materials/parts business. To this end, it plans to actively pursue additional mergers and acquisitions (M&A) as well as grow the existing business after the acquisition.Through this acquisition, SKC will further strengthen its portfolio in the semiconductor back-end process and carry on with its business model innovation efforts. SKC already has CMP pads and blank masks for the front-end process through its subsidiary, SK npulse. Also, through Absolics Inc., SKC is working to commercialize semiconductor glass substrates, which are considered a game changer in the packaging market of the back-end process.In addition, SKC is expected to position itself as a materials/parts solution enterprise offering a comprehensive high-value-added product lineup in both the front-end and back-end processes. Its global expansion will further be accelerated to Vietnam, the production base of ISC, following the SK nexilis copper foil manufacturing facility in Malaysia.An SKC executive said, “This acquisition has served to further strengthen our semiconductor back-end process materials/parts business strengthening our semiconductor back-end process materials/parts business, allowing us to achieve another business model innovation as a global ESG materials solution enterprise and secure additional footholds for growth” and added, “We will contribute to the continuous growth and happiness of both SKC and ISC and to enhance the competitiveness of the semiconductor industry in South Korea as well.ISC Stock Purchase Agreement Signing Ceremony (July 07, 2023)[SKC announced on July 7 its acquisition of ISC, a semiconductor test solution provider. SKC CEO & President Woncheol Park (right) and CEO & President Che Moe Chun of Helios PE, the largest shareholder of ISC, are signing the agreement at the SPA signing ceremony.]
2023-07-13
SKC embarks on the next-generation anode material business for rechargeable batteries
● Held BOD meeting on Nov. 1st and decided to form a consortium with SJL Partners and BNW Investment to invest in Nexeon, UK● Following the commercialization of glass substrates last week, SKC declared to embark on the anode material business, accelerating execution of its Financial Story ● To maximize synergy with the copper foil business and provide differentiated mobility material solutions that customers want
SKC (CEO Lee Wan-jae) is promoting in full force the business of silicon anode material, the next-generation material for rechargeable batteries, which improves the mileage and charging speed performance of electric vehicles. The material is in the initial stages of commercialization. SKC is promoting new businesses such as silicon anode material business in earnest, accelerating the execution of its “Financial Story,” the company’s growth strategy for the next five years.
SKC held a board meeting on the 1st and decided to invest US$33 million in Nexeon, a British silicon anode material technology company, by forming a consortium with private equity fund managers SJL Partners and BNW Investment. The three companies will make a total investment of US$80 million, with the SKC-BNW consortium investing 51% and SJL Partners 49% in the consortium through recruited investors. The main operator of the consortium, SKC will secure a portion of Nexeon's stake and business rights for silicon-carbon composite anode material technology when related procedures such as the business combination reporting are completed.
In September, SKC held 'SKC Investor Day' and unveiled its Financial Story focusing on rechargeable battery materials including next-generation anode materials and cathode materials and semiconductor glass substrates for high performance computing. Last week, SKC decided to commercialize glass substrates, a new material that it has developed for the first time in the world followed by the specification of its entry into the silicon anode material business, which is the next-generation material for rechargeable batteries, speeding up its execution of the Financial Story.
Silicon anode material is mixed with existing graphite anode material. The higher its content, the better the EV mileage and the rechargeable battery charging speed performance. The market outlook is bright. According to a market research institute, the size of the silicon anode material market is estimated to grow from US$400 million in 2020 to US$2.9 billion in 2025 and $14.6 billion in 2030. The material is divided into low content (within 15%) and high content (more than 15%) depending on to the silicon content in the anode. Currently, low-content products are in the early stage of commercialization.
A technology startup established in 2006, Nexeon has secured technology required to mass-produce silicon anode materials in a brief period of time with outstanding competitiveness in both price and performance. Most notably, SKC is equipped with the most important patents related to silicon anode materials. For such unrivaled competitiveness, SKC is receiving lots of invitation from major electric vehicle and battery manufacturers.
SKC plans to enter the silicon anode material market by combining its long-established global mass production and marketing capabilities with Nexeon's differentiated technology. First, SKC will independently commercialize low-content products and make inroads into the global market, and then commercialize high-content products in a joint venture with Nexeon in keeping with the pace of the market growth.
In addition, SKC plans to provide differentiated solutions to customers by maximizing synergy with SK nexilis, which has the world's best copper foil manufacturing technology. SKC will be able to provide superior mobility material solutions to customers by increasing the proportion of silicon anode materials through the utilization of high-strength and high-elongation copper foil technology that withstands the volume expansion of silicon anode materials, among others.
An SKC official said, "We will provide our customers with rechargeable battery material solutions with both quality and price competitiveness by adding synergistic effects created in the copper foil business to the strengths of SKC and Nexeon," adding, "As we promised at the ‘SKC Investor Day’ held in September, we will faithfully complete the Financial Story centered on rechargeable batteries, semiconductors and eco-friendly materials."
2021-11-01
