SK Hynix is expanding its investments into the NAND flash memory business. NAND flash chips are used as memory devices in smartphones.

The company said on Wednesday that it acquired a 100-percent stake in U.S.-based storage solution company Link_A_Media Devices (LAMD) for W287 billion (US$1=W1,151). LAMD is a world leader in data storage controller technology.

Data storage controllers connect NAND flash chips with application processors and play a key role in data-processing speeds and in maintaining stability.

With the surge in demand for smartphones and other mobile devices, the market for NAND flash chips is shifting to high-end products equipped with controllers.