It has been confirmed that RFHIC, which has recently gained attention as a defense stock in the stock market, and Philoptics, whose stock price has increased due to semiconductor glass substrates, have been closely collaborating for a long time. The founders of each company are serving as non-executive directors at the counterpart company to devise business synergies.
According to the two companies, Chairman Han Gi-soo, who founded Philoptics, is serving as a non-executive director at RFHIC, while Chairman Cho Sam-yeol, who established RFHIC with his brother, CEO Cho Deok-soo, is serving as a non-executive director at Philoptics. The two have been non-executive directors at each other's companies for the fourth consecutive year since 2021.
According to the industry, Chairman Cho and Chairman Han have assumed directorship positions at the counterpart company with the intention of creating synergies in the businesses managed by both companies, based on their high understanding of engineering. They are known to generously provide advice on overall management and technology development.
While a visible collaboration project between the two companies will not be announced immediately, the companies explained that they are enhancing their business competitiveness through long-term close cooperation. Although the business relevance between the two companies may not seem significant at first glance, both companies see numerous areas for potential collaboration in the future.
When RFHIC appointed CEO Han as a director in 2021, it noted that "there are items that can create business synergies with Philoptics, but it’s difficult to disclose them due to security reasons."
The industry is also paying attention to the unusual collaboration between the two technically advanced companies. An industry insider said, "This is a form of exchanging high-level personnel, and it is rare for two companies listed on KOSDAQ that do not have an equity relationship to collaborate in this way," adding, "The two companies have high technological competitiveness, and this shared strength provides a strong demand in various IT sectors, making cooperation in technology and business fields anticipated."
RFHIC produces semiconductor components that amplify weak electrical signals using gallium nitride (GaN) materials and manufactures communication equipment and defense industry components. With superior performance and improved efficiency and stability over existing semiconductors, it secured Samsung Electronics as a client in less than a decade since its establishment, and it has also started supplying products to global communication equipment manufacturers such as Nokia and Ericsson.
Having secured technology in the communication sector, RFHIC expanded its business into the defense industry based on its technological expertise and supply chain. Major clients include Lockheed Martin in the U.S., BAE Systems in the U.K., and Leonardo in Italy. Its subsidiary RF Materials has manufacturing processes capable of producing finished goods for compound semiconductor packages.
Philoptics is a company that manufactures equipment for displays and semiconductor processes. Since its establishment by CEO Han in 2008, the company has expanded its business into manufacturing equipment for OLED displays, semiconductors, solar energy, and secondary batteries for electric vehicles. Its subsidiary Philenergy produces equipment for secondary battery processes, such as stacking and laser notching.
Philoptics is particularly regarded as having significant competitiveness in the glass substrate equipment field. As demand for high-performance semiconductors increases, sales of equipment for heat-resistant glass substrate materials are expected to rise. Philoptics is one of the few companies in Korea with expertise in processing glass substrates.