South Korea’s SK Group is looking to sell its controlling stake in SK Siltron, the country’s only semiconductor wafer manufacturer, in a deal that could raise more than 3 trillion won ($2.2 billion), people familiar with the matter said.
SK Inc., the group’s holding company, is in talks with several private equity firms to sell its entire 70.6% stake in SK Siltron, the sources said. The stake includes shares acquired from LG Group and financial investors in 2017 for about 790 billion won.
SK Siltron is a key supplier of 12-inch silicon wafers and ranks third globally in the segment. In 2024, the company reported an operating profit of 315.5 billion won on revenue of 2.12 trillion won—more than double its revenue in 2017.
The remaining 29.4% stake, held separately by SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, is not included in the sale discussions, the sources added.
An SK Inc. spokesperson said the company is “reviewing various options to adjust the composition of its portfolio,” but added that no final decision has been made.
The potential divestment comes as SK Group seeks to bolster liquidity amid mounting macroeconomic and industry uncertainties. In March, the group sold an 85% stake in specialty gas producer SK Specialty to local private equity firm Hahn & Co. for about 2.6 trillion won, while retaining a 15% stake to preserve synergies with affiliates such as SK Hynix.
If both transactions are completed, SK could secure around 6 trillion won in total, providing greater financial flexibility and allowing the group to focus on its core businesses.
