SK hynix has denied that it is negotiating to purchase the complex of factories that Intel is building in Ohio to turn it into a memory manufacturing plant. The South Korean company acknowledges that it is exploring investment and acquisition opportunities but assures that no decisions or operations are underway related to the U.S. facilities.
The key points of SK hynix’s denial in 20 seconds
- SK hynix denies negotiating the purchase of Intel’s factories in Ohio.
- The rumor suggested a conversion of the complex to produce memory.
- The company admits it is studying investment and acquisition opportunities.
- Intel officially maintains its plans to complete the plants within the next decade.
- SK hynix is already preparing an advanced packaging facility in Indiana.
The denial came after the South Korean newspaper JoongAng Ilbo published that SK hynix was negotiating with Intel to acquire the Ohio One campus, located in New Albany. The report claimed that the operation had passed internal reviews and could enable U.S. memory manufacturing within approximately five years.
SK hynix responded with a statement to the South Korean stock exchange, stating that it continuously reviews various business opportunities, including investments and acquisitions. However, it explicitly denied trying to purchase the land or factories of Intel in Ohio.
Precision matters. The company has not denied seeking assets or projects to expand capacity, which aligns with current demand for memory related to artificial intelligence. What it dismisses is the existence of the specific deal described by the Korean media.
Intel has not publicly announced an intention to sell the complex. Ohio One remains part of its manufacturing plans in the U.S., although the timeline has been delayed from initial estimates.
The Ohio factories are not yet producing chips
Intel’s Ohio project is not an existing plant that could change hands and start manufacturing memory immediately. It is a new campus with an initial investment of over $28 billion to build two advanced semiconductor factories.
Announced in January 2022, the project is central to Intel’s strategy to recover manufacturing capacity and expand its third-party fabrication business. The facilities aim to increase U.S. production of advanced chips.
However, the schedule has faced multiple adjustments. Intel announced in February 2025 that the first module is expected to be completed by 2030, with operations starting between 2030 and 2031. The second module would be finished in 2031 and begin operation in 2032.
Therefore, a potential acquisition would not simply be buying a ready-to-operate factory. The buyer would need to finish construction, install equipment, adapt clean rooms, and set up the entire manufacturing line for a specific process.
A facility designed for advanced logic chips cannot be easily converted into a DRAM or NAND memory factory. While some equipment categories like lithography, etching, or deposition might overlap, the manufacturing workflows, masks, internal layouts, and many tools are product-specific.
The rumor seemed plausible given the current situation of both companies. Intel needs to manage its investments carefully, aligning new factory openings with actual demand and Intel Foundry services. SK hynix, for its part, seeks additional capacity to meet the growth of memory for servers and AI accelerators.
However, this does not prove the operation will happen. For now, SK hynix has officially denied any negotiations, and Intel has publicly committed to continuing the Ohio project.
SK hynix already acquired Intel’s NAND business
The speculation also gained traction due to a significant precedent. In 2020, SK hynix agreed to buy Intel’s NAND and SSD business units for $9 billion.
The first phase closed at the end of 2021 with a payment of $7 billion. This included the NAND factory in Dalian, China, and part of the SSD operations. SK hynix set up the subsidiary Solidigm to manage the acquired assets and products.
The deal was structured in two phases. The remaining $2 billion was to be paid at the final closing in 2025, at which point SK hynix would acquire the remaining assets related to design and intellectual property.
The comparison with Ohio has its limits. In Dalian, Intel sold an existing memory operation as part of a reorganization focused on processors and advanced manufacturing. Ohio One was conceived as an Intel project for logic chips and foundry services, and it is still under construction.
Intel ceased producing NAND memory as a business segment, but that doesn’t mean it intends to divest from all future facilities. The company continues to list Ohio as part of its U.S. manufacturing network.
This background explains why a new transaction between Intel and SK hynix remains plausible in the market. However, it also underscores that until there is official regulatory communication, a clear agreement, or an official change in Intel’s plans, the supposed sale should be considered a rumor dismissed.
AI demand sustains potential new acquisitions
Although SK hynix has denied the rumor, it has not ruled out other acquisitions. Its statement indicates that it continues exploring investment and acquisition opportunities for business reasons.
The company is experiencing robust expansion driven by high-bandwidth memory, known as HBM. This component is installed alongside AI accelerators to provide high data transfer capacity, becoming one of the most demanded products in the semiconductor market.
Manufacturing HBM requires DRAM chips, stacking processes, and advanced encapsulation. Increasing supply involves more than just producing more wafers; it also requires expanding assembly, connection, and testing facilities for memory layers.
SK hynix already has an industrial project in the U.S. The company announced a $3.87 billion investment to build an advanced packaging facility and a memory-focused research center for AI in Indiana.
This project has received preliminary aid proposals of up to $450 million and loans up to $500 million under the U.S. CHIPS Act. Its scope is different from the alleged Ohio agreement: Indiana focuses on packaging and research, not on initial wafer fabrication.
The distinction between these processes is significant. Front-end manufacturing creates the circuits on silicon wafers, while advanced packaging connects multiple components, stacks memory layers, and prepares the product for integration with GPUs or accelerators.
The U.S. aims to boost both capacities to reduce dependence on Asia. Along with AI growth, this makes it likely that SK hynix will continue seeking land, partners, suppliers, or acquisitions within the country.
A purchase wouldn’t quickly solve the memory shortage
Even if such a deal were to happen in the future, its impact on supply would not be immediate. Building and launching a semiconductor plant takes years, billions of dollars, and a complex supply chain.
Current memory shortages are largely driven by capacity shifts toward AI products. Manufacturers prioritize HBM and server DRAM because of high demand and better margins, while other markets like PCs, smartphones, or SSD units compete with limited capacity.
SK hynix continues expanding in South Korea too. Its investments include a new Yongin complex, advanced packaging plants, and UV lithography equipment purchases.
Recent issuance of U.S. certificates of deposit on the Nasdaq provides additional resources for funding factories and equipment. This strengthens the company’s financial capacity but does not confirm an agreement to purchase Ohio One.
This episode leaves two separate facts: SK hynix needs to grow and is still exploring acquisitions, as this article notes. At the same time, it has explicitly denied that Intel Ohio is among the targets.
Until there is formal regulatory communication, a corporate agreement, or an official change in Intel’s plans, the so-called sale should be considered a denied rumor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will SK hynix buy Intel’s factories in Ohio?
SK hynix states it is not negotiating nor has it decided to acquire Intel’s Ohio complex. The company does acknowledge studying other investment and acquisition opportunities.
Are Intel’s Ohio plants completed?
No. Intel expects to complete the first module by 2030 and begin operation between 2030 and 2031. The second module is scheduled to start in 2032, according to the company’s timeline.
Has SK hynix previously bought Intel factories?
Yes. SK hynix agreed to purchase Intel’s NAND and SSD business for $9 billion, including the Dalian plant in China. This led to the creation of Solidigm.
Does SK hynix have factories in the U.S.?
The company is planning an advanced packaging facility and a research center in Indiana focused on memory for AI. This is not equivalent to an initial wafer fab for DRAM chips.
via: wccftech
