SK hynix and Intel today announced that they have signed an agreement on Oct. 20, Korea Standard Time, under which SK hynix would acquire Intel’s NAND memory and storage business for US $9 billion.
The transaction includes the NAND SSD business, the NAND component and wafer business, and the Dalian NAND memory manufacturing facility in China. Intel will retain its distinct Intel® Optane business.
More: Frequently Asked Questions
SK hynix and Intel will endeavor to obtain required governmental approvals, expected in late 2021. Following receipt of these approvals, SK hynix will acquire from Intel the NAND SSD business (including NAND SSD-associated IP and employees), as well as the Dalian facility, with the first payment of US $7 billion. SK hynix will acquire from Intel the remaining assets, including IP related to the manufacture and design of NAND flash wafers, R&D employees and the Dalian fab workforce, upon a final closing expected to occur in March 2025 with the remaining payment of US $2 billion. Per the agreement, Intel will continue to manufacture NAND wafers at the Dalian Memory Manufacturing Facility and retain all IP related to the manufacture and design of NAND flash wafers until the final closing.
With this acquisition, SK hynix aims to enhance the competitiveness of its storage solutions, including enterprise SSDs, in the rapidly growing NAND flash space, and further aims to leap forward as one of the leading global semiconductor companies in the industry. SK hynix expects that the transaction would enable SK hynix to grow the memory ecosystem to the benefit of customers, partners, employees and shareholders.
As the global leader in the semiconductor industry, Intel possesses industry-leading NAND SSD technology and quadruple level cell (QLC) NAND flash products. For the six months ended June 27, 2020, NAND businesses represented approximately US $2.8 billion of the revenue for Intel’s Non-volatile Memory Solutions Group (NSG) and contributed approximately US $600 million to NSG operating income.
SK hynix developed the world’s first Charge Trap Flash (CTF)-based, 96-layer 4D NAND flash in 2018 and 128-layer 4D NAND flash in 2019. SK hynix will combine Intel’s solutions technology and manufacturing capability in order to establish a higher value-added 3D NAND solutions portfolio including enterprise SSDs.
Intel intends to invest transaction proceeds to deliver leadership products and advance its long-term growth priorities, including artificial intelligence, 5G networking and the intelligent, autonomous edge.
Intel and SK hynix will work together to ensure a seamless transition for customers, suppliers and employees. The two companies will work collaboratively, as they did recently with DDR5, to better serve the growing demand from the memory-based semiconductor ecosystem.
“I am pleased to see SK hynix and Intel’s NAND division, which have led the NAND flash technology innovation, work to build the new future together,” said Seok-Hee Lee, chief executive officer (CEO) of SK hynix. “By taking each other’s strengths and technologies, SK hynix will proactively respond to various needs from customers and optimize our business structure, expanding our innovative portfolio in the NAND flash market segment, which will be comparable with what we achieved in DRAM.”
Bob Swan, Intel CEO said: “I am proud of the NAND memory business we have built and believe this combination with SK hynix will grow the memory ecosystem for the benefit of customers, partners and employees. For Intel, this transaction will allow us to further prioritize our investments in differentiated technology where we can play a bigger role in the success of our customers and deliver attractive returns to our stockholders.”
Advisors
Citi served as financial advisor and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, K&C and Fangda Partners served as legal counsel to SK hynix. BofA Securities served as financial advisor and Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP, Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP, Linklaters LLP and Bae, Kim & Lee LLC served as legal counsel to Intel.
About SK hynix
SK hynix, headquartered in Korea, is the world’s top tier semiconductor supplier offering dynamic random access memory chips (“DRAM”), flash memory chips (“NAND flash”) and CMOS image sensors (“CIS”) for a wide range of distinguished customers globally. SK hynix’s shares are traded on the Korea Exchange, and the Global Depository shares are listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange. Further information about SK hynix is available at www.skhynix.com, news.skhynix.com.
Forward Looking Statements
This announcement has been prepared by SK hynix and Intel exclusively for information purposes. It does not constitute or include any advice or recommendation by SK hynix or Intel (or any other person) regarding the securities of SK hynix, including its Global Depositary Receipts (GDRs), or Intel or as to the merits of any transaction or the making of any investment decision. This announcement is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy or exchange or acquire securities. It does not constitute or include any confirmation or commitment by SK hynix or Intel (or any other person) regarding the present or future value of the business of SK hynix, Intel’s NAND memory and storage business or Intel, their securities, affiliates or any of their respective their assets.
Statements in this press release that refer to future plans and expectations, including with respect to the transactions contemplated by SK hynix’s agreement to acquire Intel’s NAND memory and storage business, NAND manufacturing and supply arrangements and other relationships between SK hynix and Intel, and SK hynix’s and Intel’s business and investment plans, are forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Words such as “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” “goals,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates,” “continues,” “may,” “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Statements that refer to or are based on estimates, forecasts, projections, uncertain events or assumptions, including statements relating to the benefits of the transactions contemplated by SK hynix’s agreement to acquire Intel’s NAND memory and storage business; the timing and closing conditions of such transactions, including with respect to applicable governmental approvals; anticipated trends in SK hynix’s or Intel’s businesses or the markets relevant to them; investment returns and benefits; and future products and technology and the availability and benefits of such products and technology also identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are based on current expectations and involve many risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, among others, that governmental authorities may not approve the transactions; that the first or second closings of the transactions may not occur or may be delayed; that expected financial or other benefits of the transactions may not be realized; that litigation related to the transactions or limitations or restrictions imposed by regulatory authorities may delay, permanently restrain or negatively impact the transactions; that unanticipated transition costs may be incurred; that the transactions may not be supported by third parties; that the announcement and pendency of the transactions may adversely affect SK hynix’s, Intel’s or the purchased and sold division’s business relationships, operating results, or their business in general; that actions by competitors may negatively impact results; and that there may be negative changes in general economic or geopolitical conditions affecting the regions or the industries in which SK hynix and Intel operate; as well as the factors set forth in SK hynix’s earnings release dated July 23, 2020 and SK hynix’s most recent published business reports and Intel’s earnings release dated July 23, 2020, which is included as an exhibit to Intel’s Form 8-K furnished to the SEC on such date, and Intel’s SEC filings, including the company’s most recent reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q. Copies of SK hynix’s earnings releases and business reports may be obtained by visiting SK hynix’s Investor Relations website at https://www.skhynix.com/eng/ir/irOverview.jsp. Copies of Intel’s Form 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K reports may be obtained by visiting Intel’s Investor Relations website at www.intc.com or the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Neither [SK hynix] nor Intel undertakes, and both SK hynix and Intel expressly disclaim any duty, to update any statement made in this press release, whether as a result of new information, new developments or otherwise, except to the extent that disclosure may be required by law.
