Lee Wan-jae, CEO of SKC, is explaining the mid- to long-term management plan at the Investor Day held online on the 24th. [Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] SKC has announced a mid-to-long-term plan to grow its enterprise value to 30 trillion won, more than five times within the next five years, by expanding its secondary battery and semiconductor materials businesses. Currently, the industrial materials and chemical sectors account for more than 70% of sales, but the company plans to shift its business structure by focusing investment on high-growth potential areas.
On the 24th, at the corporate briefing 'Investor Day,' SKC President Lee Wan-jae announced this plan, stating, "By 2025, we will generate more than 80% of our profits from mobility materials such as secondary batteries and semiconductors."
The company will focus investment on secondary battery materials, a market that has recently expanded centered on electric vehicles. The copper foil business operated by its subsidiary SK Nexilis will increase production capacity about fivefold to a global scale of 250,000 tons. The company plans to actively expand overseas with 50,000 tons in Malaysia, 100,000 tons in Europe, and 50,000 tons in the United States. Accordingly, SKC aims to firmly secure the number one position with a global market share of over 35%. According to the industry, SK Nexilis currently holds a 22% share of sales volume, already ranking first.
In addition, SKC will enter new material fields such as silicon anode materials and high-nickel cathode materials. The company plans to secure anode material technology by collaborating with a company possessing world-class silicon technology, and also cooperate with global firms for cathode materials. By 2025, SKC aims to grow sales in the secondary battery business, including copper foil, to 4 trillion won, ten times the current level.
The semiconductor materials business is expected to become a growth engine with the world's first developed glass substrate for high-performance computing. Using the newly developed product reduces semiconductor package thickness and power consumption by more than half, and increases throughput, reducing the required data center area to about 20% of the current size. Development began in 2018, and prototype certification has been completed with global semiconductor manufacturers. The company is promoting commercialization together with semiconductor equipment companies and major clients. SKC expects this to help expand its scale in addition to existing businesses. The goal is to increase the semiconductor materials sector to over 2 trillion won by 2025.
The existing film and chemical businesses will apply eco-friendly processes or increase related products to grow sales to 3 trillion won by 2025. The company plans to secure the necessary funds for this business structure transformation through strategic financing such as business partnerships and policy finance, as well as expanding internal cash generation. Financial stability will be maintained at the current level.
President Lee said, "We aim to become a global maker of material solution marketers, enhancing customer value and transforming the world with sustainable value together with stakeholders."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
