SK Hynix to Invest 103 Trillion Won in AI Services.

SK Hynix, a South Korean memory chip maker, has announced plans to invest $74.6 billion by 2028 to strengthen its chip business, with a particular focus on artificial intelligence (AI). Approximately $59 billion will be allocated to AI and semiconductor operations by 2026. Furthermore, SK Hynix plans to streamline over 175 subsidiaries as part of its strategy to revive the business, following a significant loss in its electric vehicle battery unit. The SK Group, of which SK Hynix is a part, has set its sights on the production of high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips, AI data centres, and personalised AI assistants. The group's chairman, Chey Tae-won, has forecast that SK Hynix's pre-tax profit will reach $19.8 billion in 2024 and $35.9 billion in 2026, following a loss in 2023.

https://internasional.kontan.co.id/news/sk-hynix-bakal-investasi-103-triliun-won-untuk-layanan-ai
 

M&A business revenues in Asia have reached their lowest levels to date.

Financial advisory revenues for mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in Asia have declined to their lowest level since 2013, reaching US$1.5 billion. This is due to a 25 percent decrease in the total value of deals in Asia, amounting to US$317.5 billion, the lowest in 11 years. The total value of completed deals also reached its lowest point since the 2009 global financial crisis, standing at US$253 billion. The average size of M&A deals has contributed to the decrease in volume on an annualised basis. A number of companies have postponed or cancelled their M&A plans, including BHP Group, which has terminated its US$49 billion takeover of Anglo American. In China, total deals have fallen 25 percent, reaching US$108 billion, the lowest since 2012, due to a slowing economy and rising geopolitical tensions. Japan is the only market in Asia to record an increase in M&A activity, although deal value decreased by 23 percent to US$61 billion due to a weakening yen. These factors have placed significant pressure on the investment banking industry.

https://internasional.kontan.co.id/news/pendapatan-bisnis-ma-di-asia-merosot-ke-level-terendah
 

China-owned semiconductor company expands its European operations.

Nexperia, the world's largest producer of semiconductor diode and transistor products, is planning to expand its main plant in Hamburg, Germany. The company, owned by Chinese firm WingTech, will invest $200 million in the expansion and will introduce two new types of wideband gap chips that are crucial for electrical infrastructure. This move by Nexperia is significant as it is one of the few Chinese companies investing in Europe's computer chip industry without any state subsidies. Nexperia currently manufactures 100 billion chips annually in Europe, representing approximately a quarter of the global supply. While assembly and packaging are conducted in China, Malaysia, and the Philippines, the company's headquarters have been based in the Netherlands since its acquisition by WingTech in 2018. This expansion underscores China's growing prominence in the semiconductor industry and its objective to expand its global market share.

https://internasional.kontan.co.id/news/perusahaan-semikonduktor-milik-china-ekspansi-di-eropa