SKC sells fine ceramics business to private equity firm

SKC headquarters in central Seoul [SKC]

SKC is selling its fine ceramics business to Hahn & Company, a Korean private equity firm, for 360 billion won ($267 million).

SK enpulse, a semiconductor component maker 100 percent owned by SKC, signed the deal with Hahn & Company on Tuesday. The deal will be finalized within January next year.

The fine ceramic division makes semiconductor components including silicon, quartz, and alumina. It accounts for 70 percent of SK enpulse's total sales.

SKC has been bolstering its efforts to transition a major part of its business portfolio from chemicals to components, with a focus on materials for secondary batteries and semiconductors.

“With the sale, the funds will be used in strengthening our semiconductor parts business,” SKC said.

SKC is also selling 100 percent of SK pucore — its fully-owned subsidiary that makes polyols, a raw material for polyurethane — to Glenwood Private Equity for 410.3 billion won.

In July, the company acquired 45 percent of semiconductor test equipment maker ISC. It recently made an equity investment in the U.S. chip packaging startup Chipletz as well.

BY SARAH CHEA [chea.sarah@joongang.co.kr]