Anthropic IPO lifts outlook for SK Telecom stake
People visit the SK Telecom pavilion during the World IT Show 2025 at the Coex convention center in Seoul, South Korea. File. Photo by JEON HEON-KYUN / EPA
April 13 (Asia Today) — Anticipation surrounding a potential initial public offering by Anthropic is drawing renewed attention to the value of SK Telecom’s minority stake, as analysts point to both financial gains and strategic upside.
SK Telecom invested about $100 million in Anthropic in 2023, securing an early stake in the U.S. generative artificial intelligence company. The startup has since expanded rapidly with its large language model Claude and a newer model known as Claude Mitos, contributing to sharply rising annual revenue projections.
Analysts expect Anthropic’s valuation to climb further after a public listing, potentially boosting the value of SK Telecom’s holdings.
SK Telecom currently owns about 0.3% of Anthropic. The stake is estimated at roughly 1.3 trillion won (about $970 million) based on book value. Some analysts say it could rise to the high 3 trillion won range (about $2.6 billion) after the IPO.
Market watchers say the investment goes beyond financial returns, highlighting potential collaboration. SK Telecom has been expanding its artificial intelligence services, including its consumer platform A. and enterprise-focused AI business, and could integrate Anthropic’s models to enhance products and develop new services.
Industry observers said the investment gains would likely be recorded as other comprehensive income, meaning they may not immediately improve earnings. Realized profits would depend on when the company sells its shares.
Still, analysts said continued growth in AI company valuations and strong performance reviews of Anthropic’s latest models could lead to further revaluation.
Executives at SK Telecom have also emphasized strategic synergy, saying the investment is intended to strengthen the company’s position in the global AI ecosystem, not just generate financial returns.
Analysts said securing ties with a leading AI model developer could support long-term growth as demand for generative AI accelerates.
— Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI
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Original Korean report: https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/kn/view.php?key=20260413010003863
