Three Interesting items from Intel/Hynix Announcement so far that make us go "hmmmm?":
1) Intel not selling Optane and the Optane projects will be managed by the Datacenter group in the future. This is a relatively small business (I will update revenue and bits at Flash Memory Summit in 3 weeks) so it will be hidden in other revenue for DCG.
2) Intel will continue to manage and own employees at Fab and in R&D for another 4.5 years. That's 2 memory cycles and 2 presidential elections and most likely at least one change in Intel's CEO. Intel will keep manufacturing there. So what exactly did Hynix buy and who manages the Fab? This is very strange
3) Hynix is buying Intel's Datacenter SSD business. Intel is very strong here. It is not clear that if "Intel SSDs" are sold by Hynix that customers will still want them. How will Hynix manage this business when the Intel brand and the Hynix brand are quite different in datacenter.
We will have all the details on finances, employees, and management as this deal unfolds and we get information from the affected parties.
We also are presenting NAND and Optane technology and market futures at Flash Memory Summit coming up and we will host Zoom meetings with people to add commentary on the markets and technologies
Call or text to set up a meeting to discuss more
Mark Webb
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From Intel Website
SK hynix to Acquire Intel NAND Memory Business
NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
- SK hynix will pay US $9 billion for the Intel NAND memory and storage business, which includes the NAND SSD business, the NAND component and wafer business, and the Dalian NAND memory manufacturing facility in China.
- SK hynix aims to enhance the competitiveness of its NAND flash solutions as one of the leading global semiconductor companies and grow the memory ecosystem to the benefit of customers, partners, employees and shareholders.
- Intel will retain its Intel® Optane™ business and intends to invest transaction proceeds in long-term growth priorities.
SEOUL, Republic of Korea, and SANTA CLARA, Calif., Oct. 20, 2020 — SK hynix and Intel today announced that they have signed an agreement on Oct. 20, Korea Standard Time, under which SK hynix would acquire Intel’s NAND memory and storage business for US $9 billion.
The transaction includes the NAND SSD business, the NAND component and wafer business, and the Dalian NAND memory manufacturing facility in China. Intel will retain its distinct Intel® Optane™ business.
More: Frequently Asked Questions
SK hynix and Intel will endeavor to obtain required governmental approvals, expected in late 2021. Following receipt of these approvals, SK hynix will acquire from Intel the NAND SSD business (including NAND SSD-associated IP and employees), as well as the Dalian facility, with the first payment of US $7 billion. SK hynix will acquire from Intel the remaining assets, including IP related to the manufacture and design of NAND flash wafers, R&D employees and the Dalian fab workforce, upon a final closing expected to occur in March 2025 with the remaining payment of US $2 billion. Per the agreement, Intel will continue to manufacture NAND wafers at the Dalian Memory Manufacturing Facility and retain all IP related to the manufacture and design of NAND flash wafers until the final closing.
With this acquisition, SK hynix aims to enhance the competitiveness of its storage solutions, including enterprise SSDs, in the rapidly growing NAND flash space, and further aims to leap forward as one of the leading global semiconductor companies in the industry. SK hynix expects that the transaction would enable SK hynix to grow the memory ecosystem to the benefit of customers, partners, employees and shareholders.
As the global leader in the semiconductor industry, Intel possesses industry-leading NAND SSD technology and quadruple level cell (QLC) NAND flash products. For the six months ended June 27, 2020, NAND businesses represented approximately US $2.8 billion of the revenue for Intel’s Non-volatile Memory Solutions Group (NSG) and contributed approximately US $600 million to NSG operating income.
SK hynix developed the world’s first Charge Trap Flash (CTF)-based, 96-layer 4D NAND flash in 2018 and 128-layer 4D NAND flash in 2019. SK hynix will combine Intel’s solutions technology and manufacturing capability in order to establish a higher value-added 3D NAND solutions portfolio including enterprise SSDs.
Intel intends to invest transaction proceeds to deliver leadership products and advance its long-term growth priorities, including artificial intelligence, 5G networking and the intelligent, autonomous edge.
Intel and SK hynix will work together to ensure a seamless transition for customers, suppliers and employees. The two companies will work collaboratively, as they did recently with DDR5, to better serve the growing demand from the memory-based semiconductor ecosystem.
“I am pleased to see SK hynix and Intel’s NAND division, which have led the NAND flash technology innovation, work to build the new future together,” said Seok-Hee Lee, chief executive officer (CEO) of SK hynix. “By taking each other’s strengths and technologies, SK hynix will proactively respond to various needs from customers and optimize our business structure, expanding our innovative portfolio in the NAND flash market segment, which will be comparable with what we achieved in DRAM.”
Bob Swan, Intel CEO said: “I am proud of the NAND memory business we have built and believe this combination with SK hynix will grow the memory ecosystem for the benefit of customers, partners and employees. For Intel, this transaction will allow us to further prioritize our investments in differentiated technology where we can play a bigger role in the success of our customers and deliver attractive returns to our stockholders.”
