Korea’s largest private equity fund (PEF) management firm Hahn & Company announced on the 31st that it had finalized the acquisition of an 85% equity stake in SK Specialty from SK Group for approximately 2.6 trillion won. This comes about three months after a stock purchase agreement (SPA) was signed on Dec. 23 last year.
Industry insiders evaluate that Hahn & Company has secured a ‘global champion’ in the core materials sector for semiconductors through this acquisition of SK Specialty, thereby significantly strengthening its advanced manufacturing portfolio.
SK Specialty is a global leader in the production of specialty gases essential for semiconductor and display panel manufacturing processes. It holds the top market share in the institutional sectors of nitrogen trifluoride (NF3) and tungsten hexafluoride (WF6), which are key materials for advanced semiconductors.
Hahn & Company has acquired an 85% equity stake in SK Specialty this time, while SK Group decided to retain the remaining 15% considering SK Specialty’s growth potential. Hahn & Company has committed to ensuring job security for the members who are the foundation of SK Specialty’s technological competitiveness and to continue investing for future growth.
Hahn & Company aims to establish partnerships based on trust with domestic conglomerates through this transaction and to enhance global competitiveness by acquiring leading manufacturers.
A representative from Hahn & Company noted, ‘We consider it very meaningful to acquire SK Specialty, which is the global leader in specialty gases and a pillar in advanced manufacturing industries such as semiconductors,’ adding, ‘We will make relentless investments for future growth to strengthen SK Specialty’s technological competitiveness and ensure a more solid position in the domestic advanced industry ecosystem.’
Meanwhile, this investment was made through Hahn & Company’s fourth blind fund, which was established last year with a scale of approximately 4.7 trillion won. Hahn & Company is focusing its investments on advanced manufacturing firms that possess competitiveness on the global stage through the fourth fund.