Seoul: SK hynix Inc. announced it has initiated steps to list on the U.S. stock market as part of its strategy to enhance access to global investors in line with its artificial intelligence (AI) expansion efforts. The South Korean chipmaker made a "confidential submission" to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) with the intention of listing its American depositary receipts (ADRs) within the year.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the company aims to complete the listing in the second half of the year. CEO Kwak Noh-jung mentioned during a shareholders meeting in Icheon that while specifics regarding the issuance size and method are not finalized, the company is keen on enhancing shareholder value. ADRs are U.S. securities that facilitate the trading of foreign company shares, making it easier for SK hynix to attract American investors without fully listing its common shares.

The chipmaker noted that the finer details, including the size and schedule of the listing, are pending and will depend on market conditions. The SEC will make the final decision. Industry analysts believe this move could expand SK hynix's funding opportunities in international markets.

SK hynix plans to submit another regulatory filing within six months or sooner if there are updates. CEO Kwak also revealed plans to amass over 100 trillion won (approximately US$66.8 billion) in net cash to support long-term investments. He emphasized the importance of financial stability for competitive growth and outlined the company's focus on maintaining world-class financial strength.

The company's 2025 annual report states SK hynix held 12.7 trillion won in net cash at the end of that year. Kwak confirmed ongoing shipments of high bandwidth memory (HBM) chips and plans to release samples of the next-generation HBM4E product later this year, with HBM3E chips remaining predominant. The company expects to increase HBM4 shipments in the second half and present HBM4E samples before the year's end.