SK hynix halts Solidigm IPO as dual-listing concerns mount

SK hynix Inc. has halted plans to list its U.S. subsidiary Solidigm Inc., citing changing capital market conditions and the need to reassess whether an initial public offering (IPO) would benefit the company and its existing shareholders.

In a regulatory filing Friday, SK hynix Inc. said it had halted preparations for both a pre-IPO funding round and an IPO for Solidigm. The decision came 79 days after preparations for the listing were first reported on August 5.

SK hynix said recent market conditions and share price trends prompted a reassessment of whether an IPO would be the most favorable option for the company and its shareholders.

Solidigm was established after SK hynix acquired Intel’s NAND flash memory and solid-state drive business in 2021. The planned listing was intended to help finance capacity expansion and technology development in the United States amid growing demand driven by artificial intelligence (AI).

The decision appears to have been influenced by strong shareholder opposition and falling share prices.

Concerns also mounted over a potential dual listing, which critics warned could widen the valuation discount on parent companies if Solidigm went public separately under SK hynix’s multilayered ownership structure. Solidigm accounts for about 12.9 percent of SK hynix’s total corporate value.

Market volatility and a correction in semiconductor stocks have further complicated the IPO outlook.

U.S. NAND maker SanDisk has fallen about 40 percent from its June peak, raising questions about whether Solidigm could secure its expected valuation in the current market.

The proposed listing also faced scrutiny under Korea’s tightening rules on parent-subsidiary dual listings.

Securing funding for Solidigm’s U.S. investments, in the meantime, remains a challenge.

The company needs additional facilities to expand its domestic supply chain and support cooperation with major U.S. technology companies.

SK hynix said it would review investment timing, scale, and funding options to support Solidigm’s growth while protecting existing shareholders’ interests. The company added that it currently has no plans to revisit the IPO, saying shareholder benefit would remain the key criterion in determining how to raise capital.