SBI negotiating with SK Hynix, UMC on Japan chip plant collaboration, report says (updated)

United Microelectronics

07/03/2025 01:30

Adds SBI denial to first paragraph

TOKYO, March 7 (Reuters) - SBI Holdings 8473.T denied a Nikkan Kogyo newspaper report that it is negotiating with South Korea's SK Hynix 000660.KS and Taiwan's UMC 2303.TW about collaboration on a chips plant in Miyagi prefecture.

The report is not true, said a spokesperson for the financial firm on Friday.

SBI aims to collaborate with SK Hynix on back-end DRAM processes and with UMC on chips for vehicles, according to the Nikkan Kogyo report, which did not cite sources.

SBI announced in September it was dissolving a joint venture with Taiwan's Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp 6770.TW.

The companies had been seeking government subsidies to build a foundry in northern Japan. SBI said at the time it would consider partnering with other firms on chip-related business.

 (Reporting by Sam Nussey and and Miho Uranaka; Editing by Leslie Adler and Tom Hogue)

 ((sam.nussey@tr.com;))