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SK Hynix. / Yonhap News

Speculation has emerged that Solidigm, a second-tier subsidiary of SK Hynix, could pursue a listing on the U.S. stock market as early as next year. Industry observers suggest its corporate valuation could reach up to $150 billion (approximately 204 trillion won).

Reuters reported on the 25th (local time), citing multiple sources, that Solidigm held "bake-off" pitch meetings this week with investment banks to select lead underwriters for the IPO.

As the IPO process remains in its early stages, the timing and size of the offering could change. However, reports indicate that Solidigm could be valued at up to $150 billion and may raise around $15 billion through the public offering. If realized, it is expected to rank among the largest IPOs in the semiconductor industry.

Solidigm is a U.S. corporation launched in 2021 after SK Hynix acquired Intel's NAND flash and solid-state drive (SSD) business. Early this year, it was incorporated under "AI Company," an investment subsidiary established by SK Hynix in the U.S.

The company currently focuses on supplying enterprise SSDs (eSSDs) for servers, cloud infrastructure, and data centers. Amid expanding investments in artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure that are driving demand for high-capacity NAND and enterprise SSDs, the firm is also reportedly considering establishing a NAND flash manufacturing base in New York State.

                                                                                                                 Kim Yu-ra