SK Holdings plans to focus on advanced materials, green energy, biopharmaceuticals, and digitalization this year. Its plan is to accelerate a progress of becoming an investment-focused holdings firm within the SK Group by making 2021 as the first year to carry out the four core businesses.
The holdings firm announced on January 24 that it plans to reorganize its investment portfolio so that the portfolio is centered on the four businesses and change the names of the existing investment centers (1, 2, and 3) and the 1 Cube center to advanced materials, green, bio, and digital investment centers.
Advanced materials investment center will be responsible for areas that cover semiconductors and battery materials. The holdings firm has prepared a groundwork for semiconductor materials business by acquiring SK Siltron and SK Materials in the past and it has even expanded its business area towards copper foil that is a key component of an electric vehicle battery. The investment center plans to hire doctoral-level experts in chemistry and polymers of new materials and strengthen its portfolio centered on high-value advanced materials by focusing its investments in companies that specialize in core technologies.
Green Investment Center will push for eco-friendly energy solution businesses such as new and renewable energy and energy saving business models. It will also push for sustainable alternative food business and recycling and development of new technologies in the field of carbon dioxide capture and utilization.
Bio Investment Center will look to secure capabilities ranging from synthetic new drugs to new biopharmaceuticals through new drug development and CMO (Contract Manufacturing Organization). It will also strengthen its innovative new drug business such as development of a new drug that breaks down the targeted protein with an American biotech company called Roivant Sciences. It will expand its business area as a fast-growing bio CMO with Yposkesi, a French contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) for gene and cell therapy drugs that is in a process of being acquired by SK Holdings, at the center.
Digital investment center will target emerging tech markets such as artificial intelligence and autonomous driving. It will expand the firm’s eco-friendly mobility business and strengthen the firm’s digital capabilities in infrastructures.
In order to promote these four businesses, SK Holdings will work with outside partners. It plans to actively bring in capitals and technologies and create an investment ecosystem as a platform that specializes in investment.
Jang Dong-hyeon, who is the president of SK Holdings, said that the holdings firm plans to execute its financial story through the four businesses and that he plans to develop the firm into an appealing company that sympathizes and establishes trust by actively communicating with various interested parties.
Staff Reporter Ryu, Taewoong | bigheroryu@etnews.com