MWC 2019: Western Digital unveils world`s fastest 1TB SanDisk Extreme UHS-I micro SD XC card.

MWC 2019: Wester Digital unveils world`s fastest 1TB SanDisk Extreme UHS-I micro SD XC card.

As consumer demand for high-quality content continues to rise, Western Digital Corp. is enabling a bigger, faster experience with new industry-leading solutions that give consumers the best combination of performance and capacity so they can do more with the rich content they capture. At Mobile World Congress, the company is showcasing the world's fastest 1TB UHS-I microSD flash memory card, the 1TB* SanDisk Extreme® UHS-I microSDXC™ card. The new card features higher speed and capacity for capturing and moving massive amounts of high-quality photos and videos on smartphones, drones and action cameras. These impressive levels of capacity and speed give consumers the ability to create all the content they want without worrying about space limitations or long transfer times.

Today's smartphones and cameras allow consumers to create high-quality content in the palm of their hands, thanks to features like multi-lenses, burst mode capabilities and the 4K resolution. Western Digital continues to deliver the most advanced solutions to ensure consumers can reliably capture and share a special moment or create video content for personal or professional use.

"People trust SanDisk-brand cards to capture and preserve their world. Our goal is to deliver the best possible experience so consumers can share the content that's important to them," said Brian Pridgeon, director of marketing for SanDisk-branded products, Western Digital.

Designed to help move tons of high-quality content faster than ever, the 1TB SanDisk Extreme UHS-I microSD card reaches speeds up to 160MB/s1. This new card allows consumers to transfer files in nearly half the time over standard UHS-I microSD cards2 currently on the market. The cards reach these record-breaking speeds by leveraging Western Digital's proprietary flash technology. The new SanDisk Extreme card will also be available in 512GB* capacity, and will feature the A2 specification3 for launching and loading apps at blazing speeds. The 1TB and 512GB SanDisk Extreme UHS-I microSD cards are available for pre-order now on SanDisk.com, and will be available at select retailers in April 2019. The cards will be priced at U.S. MSRPs of $449.99 and $199.99, respectively.

Western Digital offers the industry's broadest portfolio of products and solutions to help people capture, preserve, access and transform their personal content. For more information, visit our websites: SanDisk and Western Digital.

About Western Digital®

Western Digital® creates environments for data to thrive. The company is driving the innovation needed to help customers capture, preserve, access and transform an ever-increasing diversity of data. Everywhere data lives, from advanced data centers to mobile sensors to personal devices, our industry-leading solutions deliver the possibilities of data.

Western Digital® data-centric solutions are comprised of the Western Digital, G-Technology™, SanDisk®, Upthere™ and WD® brands.

Not all devices support microSD memory card formats. Check with your device manufacturer for more details.

* 1GB=1,000,000,000 bytes. 1TB = 1,000,000,000,000 bytes. Actual user storage less.
1 Up to 160MB/s read speed; up to 90MB/s write speed. Requires compatible devices capable of reaching such speeds. Based on internal testing; performance may be lower depending upon host device interface, usage conditions and other factors. MB=1,000,000 bytes.
2 Based on standard UHS-I card speeds of 100MB/s.
3 A2 performance is 4000 read IOPS, 2000 write IOPS. Results may vary based on host device, app type and other factors.

IFA 2017: SanDisk 400GB* Ultra® microSDXC™ UHS-I world`s mobile highest-capacity microSD card, announced.

Western Digital Corporation , a global data storage technology and solutions leader, today announced its 400GB* SanDisk Ultra® microSDXC™ UHS-I card, the world’s highest-capacity microSD card for use in mobile devices. Two years after introducing its record-breaking 200GB* SanDisk Ultra microSDXC card, Western Digital has doubled the capacity within the same tiny form factor. Keeping up with the demands of today’s mobile-centric lifestyle, the new SanDisk microSD card provides consumers with the freedom to capture, save and share photos, videos and apps, and enjoy offline content - all without worrying about storage limitations.

“Mobile devices have become the epicenter of our lives, and consumers are now accustomed to using their smartphones for anything from entertainment to business. We are collecting and sharing massive amounts of data on smartphones, drones, tablets, PCs, laptops and more. We anticipate that storage needs will only continue to grow as people continue to expect more sophisticated features on their devices and desire higher quality content,” Jeff Janukowicz, research vice president, IDC. “We estimate mobile device users worldwide will install over 150 billion applications alone this year, which require a ton of memory on all of our favorite devices.”

Western Digital achieved this capacity breakthrough by leveraging its proprietary memory technology and design and production processes that allow for more bits per die.

“We continue to push technology boundaries and transform the way consumers use their mobile devices,” said Sven Rathjen, vice president, product marketing, Western Digital. “By focusing on achieving new technology milestones, we enable consumers to keep up with their mobile-centric lifestyles with storage solutions they trust.”

Ideal for Android™ smartphone and tablet users, the world’s highest-capacity card can hold up to 40 hours of Full HD video and features superfast transfer speeds of up to 100MB/s** to deliver premium performance. At this transfer speed, consumers can expect to move up to 1,200 photos per minute1. Additionally, the 400GB* SanDisk Ultra microSD card meets the A1 App Performance Class specification, which means that the card can load apps faster.

Through the updated SanDisk Memory Zone app, users will have even greater control over their mobile device's memory storage. The app, available for free download from the Google Play™ store, is compatible with most Android-powered devices and allows users to easily locate, organize, transfer and back up data, including tagged content from Facebook and Instagram.

Pricing and Availability

The ground-breaking 400GB* SanDisk Ultra microSDXC UHS-I card features a ten-year limited warranty4 and will be available at SanDisk.com and other major retailers at a U.S. manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of $249.99.

­­­­­­­­­­About Western Digital

Western Digital Corporation (NASDAQ: WDC) is an industry-leading provider of storage technologies and solutions that enable people to create, leverage, experience and preserve data. The company addresses ever-changing market needs by providing a full portfolio of compelling, high-quality storage solutions with customer-focused innovation, high efficiency, flexibility and speed. Our products are marketed under the HGST, SanDisk and WD brands to OEMs, distributors, resellers, cloud infrastructure providers and consumers. For more information, please visit www.hgst.com, www.wd.com, and www.sandisk.com.

About SanDisk

SanDisk, a Western Digital Corporation brand, provides trusted and innovative flash storage products that have transformed the electronics industry. SanDisk’s quality, state-of-the-art solutions are at the heart of many of the world's largest data centers, and embedded in advanced smartphones, tablets and PCs. SanDisk’s consumer products are available at hundreds of thousands of retail stores worldwide.

SanDisk launches the world`s first 1TB SDXC Card. To run 4K and 8K content.

WESTERN DIGITAL DEMONSTRATES PROTOTYPE OF THE WORLD’S FIRST 1TERABYTE SDXC CARD AT PHOTOKINA 2016.

COMPANY GIVES PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEOGRAPHY INDUSTRY A PREVIEW OF FUTURE SANDISK IMAGING TECHNOLOGY.

Western Digital Corporation , a global storage technology and solutions leader, today unveiled its SanDisk^® 1TB terabyte (TB) SDXC™ card prototype at the world's leading trade fair for photo and video professionals. With increasing demand for high resolution content, such as 4K and 8K, the company continues to push the boundaries of technology with solutions that support the exponential growth of data-intensive production demands.

“Showcasing the most advanced imaging technologies is truly exciting for us,” said Dinesh Bahal, vice president, product management, Content Solutions Business Unit, Western Digital. 

“Sixteen years ago we introduced the first SanDisk 64MB SD™ card and today we are enabling capacities of 1TB. Over the years our goal has remained the same; continue to innovate and set the pace for the imaging industry. The SanDisk 1TB SD card prototype represents another significant achievement as growth of high-resolution content and capacity-intensive applications such as virtual reality, video surveillance and 360 video, are progressing at astounding rates.”

Since the introduction of the record-breaking 512GB SanDisk Extreme PRO^® SDXC UHS-I Memory Card at Photokina 2014, Western Digital has proven it can nearly double the capacity in the same SD card form factor using proprietary technology. Higher capacity cards expand the possibilities for professional videographers and photographers, giving them even greater ability to create more of the highest quality content, without the interruption of changing cards.

“Just a few short years ago the idea of a 1TB capacity point in an SD card seemed so futuristic – it’s amazing that we’re now at the point where it’s becoming a reality. With the growing demand for applications like VR, we can certainly use 1TB when we’re out shooting continuous high-quality video. 

High-capacity cards allow us to capture more without interruption, streamlining our workflow, and eliminating the worry that we may miss a moment because we have to stop to swap out cards,” said Sam Nicholson, CEO of Stargate Studios and member of the American Society of Cinematographers.

Western Digital will be demonstrating the SanDisk 1TB SDXC card prototype and showcasing its newest offerings at Photokina, Hall 02.1 Stand A014.

About Western Digital

Western Digital Corporation (NASDAQ: WDC) is an industry-leading provider of storage technologies and solutions that enable people to create, leverage, experience and preserve data. The company addresses ever-changing market needs by providing a full portfolio of compelling, high-quality storage solutions with customer-focused innovation, high efficiency, flexibility and speed. Our products are marketed under the HGST, SanDisk and WD brands to OEMs, distributors, resellers, cloud infrastructure providers and consumers. For more information, please visit www.hgst.com, www.wd.com, andwww.sandisk.com.

About SanDisk

SanDisk, a Western Digital Corporation (NASDAQ: WDC) brand, provides trusted and innovative flash storage products that have transformed the electronics industry. SanDisk’s quality, state-of-the-art solutions are at the heart of many of the world's largest data centers, and embedded in advanced smartphones, tablets and PCs. SanDisk’s consumer products are available at hundreds of thousands of retail stores worldwide.

MEDIA CONTACT
Joanna Andrade
SanDisk, a Western Digital brand
+1 408.801.1792
joanna.andrade@sandisk.com

MWC 2016: SanDisk launches world`s fast transfer speed micro SD Card 275MB/s.

THE NEW SANDISK EXTREME PRO^® MICROSDXC™ UHS-II CARD DELIVERS NEARLY 3X THE SPEED OF CURRENT CARDS¹

SanDisk Corporation , a global leader in flash storage solutions, today introduced the world’s fastest microSD card. The SanDisk Extreme PRO microSDXC UHS-II card enables action camera, drone and smartphone users to offload huge video files at unprecedented speeds.

“Action cameras are now the fastest-growing segment in digital imaging and drones are becoming increasingly popular, creating an opportunity for people to capture more high-capacity, high-quality 4K Ultra HD content,” said Dinesh Bahal, vice president, product marketing, SanDisk. “We designed this card specifically to address consumers’ needs for a faster solution when transferring massive files – and now, with nearly 3x the speed of our fastest microSD UHS-I card, this new offering dramatically reduces time spent transferring content.”

The new card, available in 64GB* and 128GB capacities, delivers transfer speeds of up to 275MB/s² to offload high-quality content at record speeds. Featuring Class 10 and UHS Speed Class 3 (U3), the SanDisk Extreme PRO microSDXC UHS-II card is perfect for capturing Full HD and 4K Ultra HD video³ on the latest action cams, drones and smartphones. It also includes a USB 3.0 card reader to conveniently offload files to a PC.   

“Today’s mobile devices are more sophisticated than ever, and require more advanced technology to deliver the best possible user experience," said IDC Research Director for mobile and tablets Les Santiago. "As the demand for higher quality content such as Full HD and 4K video increases, the need for higher capacity, faster storage solutions grows exponentially. The Extreme PRO microSDXC UHS-II card is at the forefront of delivering solutions that meet these evolving needs.”

Built for a New Generation of Devices

The latest action cameras, drones and smartphones are versatile, powerful devices that have expanded the possibilities for high-quality video. 

“We empower our creators to capture amazing images around the world, ones that were previously out of reach. High-end professional imagery is captured every day with our products, and SanDisk’s new UHS-II card is a great complement to our portfolio,” said Basile David, Senior Content Manager, DJI. “These new cards deliver remarkable speeds, giving our creators more time to spend bringing their ideas to life.”

SanDisk Extreme PRO microSDXC UHS-II cards are backwards-compatible with UHS-I host devices, performing up to UHS-I speeds allowed by the host device. Also designed for today’s durable devices, the cards can keep up in extreme environments. SanDisk Extreme PRO microSDXC UHS-II microSD cards⁴are shockproof, temperature-proof, waterproof, and X-ray-proof.

Pricing and Availability

The 64GB and 128GB SanDisk Extreme PRO microSDXC UHS-II cards feature a lifetime limited warranty⁵, and will be available worldwide in Q2 at U.S. MSRPs of $179.99 and $299.99, respectively.  

2015 Solid State Drive (SSD) market share: Samsung 41%, Intel 16%, SanDisk 10%

Samsung Electronics Co. is expected to have a more than 40 percent share in the global solid state drive (SSD) market, which is considered the general trend in personal computer markets including notebook computers and servers, this year.

According to market researchers IHS and DRAMeXchange on Nov. 29, Samsung's SSD market share will rank first this year with 41 percent, following Intel Corp. with 16 percent, SanDisk Corp. with 10 percent, Micron Technology Inc. with 7 percent and Toshiba with 6 percent.

In 2014, Samsung's share stood at 34 percent with Intel and SanDisk sharing 17 percent and 16 percent of the market, respectively. The estimate said Samsung will see an increase by 7 percent point, while Intel and SanDisk will show a decrease by 1 percent point and 6 percent point, respectively. Samsung’s market share is almost four times larger than its rival SanDisk.

Since SSD uses NAND flash memory, it is four times faster in reading and writing speeds. This trait considerably reduces booting time for users and it is steadily replacing hard disk drives on the market. But, it is hard to make it high capacity and more expensive than traditional memory storage.

After the mass production of 3-D V-NAND, however, the landscape has changed. The data from IHS shows the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of NAND flash memory from 2014 to 2019, which shows 3-D V-NAND growing a whopping 211 percent, overwhelmingly surpassing multi-level cell (MLC) and triple-level cell (TLC) NAND.

Also, 3-D V-NAND for general customers is expected to account for 60 percent in the market in 2018.

Samsung has become the first in the world to mass produce 3-D V-NAND and other competitors are in pursuit. Industry insiders said that SanDisk, which is indirectly controlled by China’s Tsinghua Unigroup through Western Digital, has started to use 3-D NAND in its SSD products, but it has not been able to reduce the technology gap with the South Korean tech giant yet.

DRAMeXchange said in the market view report, “Considering the SSD manufacturing strategy, Samsung, which has the strength in the 3-D NAND sector, can make full use of its price competitiveness. However, SanDisk is rapidly chasing Samsung by operating its own TLC SSD line.”

3Q2015: NAND Flash Makers market share: Samsung 31.5%, Toshiba 20.5%, SanDisk 15.4%

The latest report from DRAMeXchange, a division of TrendForce, finds that NAND flash prices fell rapidly in the third quarter, resulting in a mere 2.4% quarterly increase in the global NAND Flash revenue. 

Sean Yang, assistant vice president of DRAMeXchange, said demand was uncharacteristically weak in the third quarter and did not adhere to the seasonal pattern. NAND Flash end demand was below expectations due to macroeconomic factor. 

This resulted in oversupply and sharp price decline in the NAND Flash market, putting heavy pressures on NAND Flash suppliers’ revenue growth and margins. DRAMeXchange expects the suppliers’ revenue situation to remain difficult during the fourth quarter because of the persisting oversupply problem. 

Samsung

Both the OEM system product and the retail memory card markets saw a significant drop in their average selling prices due to weak demand. This had a negative impact on Samsung’s NAND Flash revenue in the third quarter. Compared with the second quarter, the supplier’s bit growth was up 15% but its revenue fell by 1% to US$2.68 billion. 

The supplier’s operating margin also suffered a quarterly decrease. In terms of product strategy, Samsung’s 3D-NAND Flash SSD and 16nm eMMC/eMCP product lines are ready. The supplier will be focusing on the promotion and sales of high-density SSD and eMMC/eMCP products to extend its lead over its competitors.

Toshiba

Toshiba’s NAND Flash revenue grew by 10% in the third quarter because of several factors. First, Toshiba’s 15nm output increased and exceeded 50% of its total NAND Flash production. At the same time, Toshiba’s strategic clients released their latest smartphones, and this in turn caused the shipments of the supplier’s 15nm TLC Mobile-NAND to pick up. Furthermore, server and PC vendors completed the sampling of Toshiba’s SSD products.

As for Toshiba’s technology and production plans, Fab 2 equipment is being moved in and tested. Fab 2 is scheduled to do small batch runs of 3D-NAND Flash in the first quarter of 2016. Fab 5, which mainly produces MLC and TLC chips, will also begin pilot production of 3D-NAND Flash on an upgraded process during next year’s first quarter.

SanDisk

SanDisk saw a massive 49% quarterly increase in NAND Flash sales bit growth in the third quarter, even though its average selling price dropped 22%. The growth in bit sales was attributed to stock up demand of embedded products following the market release of new smartphones. The averaging selling cost fell by 24%, pushing the supplier’s NAND Flash revenue up by 18% quarterly to US$1.31 billion. The declining average selling cost also helped lifted the supplier’s gross margin from 39% in the second quarter to 42% in the third. The increase gross margin came after three consecutive quarters of falling figures.

Almost 60% of SanDisk’s NAND Flash production came from the 15nm process in third quarter. The supplier’s bit output is expected to increase by 40~45% in 2015. However, SanDisk’s annual bit output growth for 2016 will be slightly lower than the industry average because the supplier’s 3D-NAND development schedule will interfere with the production. Moreover, SanDisk will not significantly increase its NAND Flash capacity next year.

SK Hynix

In the third quarter, the average selling price of NAND Flash from SK Hynix fell 15%. This quarterly slide was due to weak demand and a rapid increase in the share of TLC chips in the supplier’s total output. Consequently, SK Hynix NAND Flash revenue fell 4.7% to US$927 million, while its bit supply volume jumped by 15%.

Looking at the supplier’s product mix, SSD and embedded OEM products currently account for nearly 90% of total output. Demand has picked up since the supplier’s strategic clients released their new smartphones in the third quarter, and the supplier has also steadily expanded its shipments of TLC chips made on the 16nm process. TLC output is expected to account for 40% of the total production by the end of the year. SK Hynix has also managed to get a number of its TLC products verified by the module makers and will be ramping up TLC chip production for various applications (e.g. USB, SSD) in this fourth quarter.

Micron

Micron continued its product mix adjustment in its fiscal fourth quarter, which was from June to August. For that period, the supplier’s NAND Flash revenue totaled US$1.18 billion. The supplier’s bit supply volume and average selling price for NAND Flash fell by 6% and 1% respectively compared with the third fiscal quarter (from March to May). Micron’s storage business unit (SBU) also saw a slight quarterly decline in its operating margin.

In addition to developing more enterprise and client-SSD product lines, Micron has gotten its TLC products verified by strategic partners in the memory module industry. Mass production and shipments have started in this year’s calendar fourth quarter (from October to December).The share of TLC products in Micron’s total output is expected to reach 20% in the first half of next year as well. Looking at technology, Micron is advancing rapidly to 3D-NAND Flash manufacturing. The supplier is also on track in moving in equipment into its new fab in Singapore by next year. The share of 3D-NAND in Micron’s total production will expand quickly and may surpass 30% in the second half of 2016.

Intel

Intel’s third-quarter NAND Flash revenue totaled US$663 million, down 0.3% from the second the quarter. The slight decrease was attributed to strategic clients stocking up earlier in the second quarter and the rapidly declining average selling price. In terms of NAND Flash production strategy, Intel will strengthen its ties with its supply partner Micron and convert its chipset fab in Dalian, China, into a 3D-NAND fab. Intel, which sets its sights on future SSD opportunities in China, has therefore become the second NAND Flash supplier to invest in a wafer fab in the country.

trendforce

Western Digital buys SanDisk for US$19 billion.

Western Digital Announces Acquisition Of SanDisk

New platform creates greater scale and ability to deliver extensive portfolio of innovative products and technology

Combined business well-positioned to capture growth and opportunities created by rapidly evolving storage industry

JV with Toshiba provides stable NAND supply at scale through a time-tested business model and extends across NVM technologies such as 3D NAND.

Western Digital® Corporation (NASDAQ: WDC) and SanDisk Corporation (NASDAQ: SNDK) today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Western Digital will acquire all of the outstanding shares of SanDisk for a combination of cash and stock. The offer values SanDisk common stock at$86.50 per share or a total equity value of approximately $19 billion, using a five-day volume weighted average price ending onOctober 20, 2015 of $79.60 per share of Western Digital common stock. 

If the previously announced investment in Western Digital by Unisplendour Corporation Limited closes prior to this acquisition, Western Digital will pay $85.10 per share in cash and 0.0176 shares of Western Digital common stock per share of SanDisk common stock; and if the Unisplendour transaction has not closed or has been terminated, $67.50 in cash and 0.2387 shares of Western Digital common stock per share of SanDisk common stock. The transaction has been approved by the boards of directors of both companies.

The combination is the next step in the transformation of Western Digital into a storage solutions company with global scale, extensive product and technology assets, and deep expertise in non-volatile memory (NVM). With this transaction, Western Digital will double its addressable market and expand its participation in higher-growth segments. 

SanDisk brings a 27-year history of innovation and expertise in NVM, systems solutions and manufacturing. The combination also enables Western Digital to vertically integrate into NAND, securing long-term access to solid state technology at lower cost.

The proposed combination creates significant value for both SanDisk and Western Digital shareholders. Western Digital brings a successful track record of M&A with a number of acquisitions over the last several years helping to fuel innovation, create value and strongly position the company to capture higher-growth opportunities. In addition, Western Digital's operational excellence, coupled with the recently announced decision by China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) allowing Western Digital to integrate substantial portions of its WD and HGST businesses, is expected to generate additional cost synergies.

"This transformational acquisition aligns with our long-term strategy to be an innovative leader in the storage industry by providing compelling, high-quality products with leading technology," said Steve Milligan, chief executive officer, Western Digital. "The combined company will be ideally positioned to capture the growth opportunities created by the rapidly evolving storage industry. I'm excited to welcome the SanDisk team as we look to create additional value for all of our stakeholders, including our customers, shareholders and employees."

"Western Digital is globally recognized as a leading provider of storage solutions and has a 45-year legacy of developing and manufacturing cutting-edge solutions, making the company the ideal strategic partner for SanDisk," said Sanjay Mehrotra, president and chief executive officer, SanDisk. "Importantly, this combination also creates an even stronger partner for our customers. Joining forces with Western Digital will enable the combined company to offer the broadest portfolio of industry-leading, innovative storage solutions to customers across a wide range of markets and applications."

Western Digital and SanDisk's complementary product lines, including hard disk drives ("HDDs"), solid-state drives ("SSDs"), cloud datacenter storage solutions and flash storage solutions, will provide the foundation for a broader set of products and technologies from consumer to datacenter. Both companies have strong R&D and engineering capabilities and a rich base of fundamental technologies with over 15,000 combined patents issued or pending worldwide.

Toshiba has been a long-term strategic partner to SanDisk for 15 years. The joint venture (JV) with Toshiba will be ongoing, enabling vertical integration through a technology partnership driven by deep collaboration across design and process capabilities. The JV provides stable NAND supply at scale through a time-tested business model and extends across NVM technologies such as 3D NAND. 

Steve Milligan will continue to serve as chief executive officer of the combined company, and the company will remain headquartered in Irvine, California. Upon closing, Sanjay Mehrotra is expected to join the Western Digital Board of Directors.

Led by a seasoned management team, Western Digital has a strong track record of integrating acquisitions to create value. The company expects to achieve full annual run-rate synergies of $500 million within 18 months post-closing. The transaction is expected to be EPS accretive on a non-GAAP basis within 12 months of the transaction close. Pending the closing of the transaction, Western Digital expects to continue paying its quarterly dividend and plans to suspend its share buyback program.

The transaction will be financed by a mix of cash, new debt financing and Western Digital stock.  In connection with the transaction, Western Digital expects to enter into new debt facilities totaling $18.4 billion, including a $1.0 billion revolving credit facility. The proceeds from the new debt facilities are expected to be used to pay part of the purchase price, refinance existing debt of Western Digital and SanDisk and pay transaction related fees and expenses. If SanDisk's cash balance falls below certain thresholds at the time of transaction close, the merger agreement provides for an adjustment to the mix of cash and stock consideration.

The transaction is subject to approval by SanDisk shareholders and, in the event that the Unisplendor transaction does not close, Western Digital shareholders, receipt of regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. The transaction is expected to close in the third calendar quarter of 2016.

BofA Merrill Lynch and J.P. Morgan are acting as lead financial advisors to Western Digital and will provide committed financing for the transaction. Also, Credit Suisse is acting as a financial advisor and providing committed financing, and RBC Capital Markets is providing committed financing. Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP and Baker & McKenzie are acting as legal advisors to Western Digital.

Goldman Sachs is acting as the exclusive financial advisor to SanDisk. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP is acting as the exclusive legal advisor to SanDisk.  

Conference Call and Additional Presentation Materials

Western Digital and SanDisk will be hosting a joint conference call to discuss today's announcement that will also be broadcast live over the Internet today at 5:30 am PT / 8:30 am ET. To participate in the conference call, please dial 800-857-4532 in the U.S. or +1-210-234-0009 for international callers, with passcode "Western Digital".  The live and archived webcast can be accessed online at investor.wdc.com. In addition, the investor presentation slides from the conference call will also be available on the Western Digital website at the same location approximately two hours after the live event.  The conference call telephone replay number is 866-470-7051 in the U.S. or +1-203-369-1485 for international callers.

About Western Digital

Founded in 1970, Western Digital Corp. (NASDAQ: WDC), Irvine, Calif., is an industry-leading developer and manufacturer of storage solutions that enable people to create, manage, experience and preserve digital content. It is a long-time innovator in the storage industry. Western Digital is responding to changing market needs by providing a full portfolio of compelling, high-quality storage products with effective technology deployment, high efficiency, flexibility and speed. Its products are marketed under the HGST and WD brands to OEMs, distributors, resellers, cloud infrastructure providers and consumers. Financial and investor information is available on the company's Investor Relations website at investor.wdc.com.

About SanDisk 

SanDisk Corporation (NASDAQ: SNDK), a Fortune 500 and S&P 500 company, is a global leader in flash storage solutions. For more than 27 years, SanDisk has expanded the possibilities of storage, providing trusted and innovative products that have transformed the electronics industry. Today, SanDisk's quality, state-of-the-art solutions are at the heart of many of the world's largest data centers, and embedded in advanced smartphones, tablets and PCs. SanDisk's consumer products are available at hundreds of thousands of retail stores worldwide. For more information, visit www.sandisk.com.

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NAND Flash War: Toshiba and SanDisk partnership to challenge Samsung. Press Release.

Francisco De Jesùs.

 Artist's impression of the new fab, Yokkaichi Operations

Samsung is the world`s number one seller of computer memory chips with a 34.7% market share, followed by Toshiba with a 32.2% market share. 

Now Toshiba, the world’s second-largest NAND flash memory chipmaker, decided to make an investment in a 3D V-NAND flash memory production facility in partnership with US-based semiconductor company SanDisk. Both companies are going to equally share the cost of the investment and inject 700 billion yen (7.419 trillion won, US$6.843 billion) for three years at the Yokkaichi Operation plant, the company’s memory production facility in Mie prefecture, Japan. At first, they estimated the amount at 400 billion yen. However, it nearly doubled after the two firms agreed to invest in the construction of a new facility and the replacement of the existing one.  

An increase in investment can be interpreted as Toshiba’s willingness to not lag behind its rival companies like Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, and Micron. Given that Samsung completed the construction of its 3D V-NAND production facility in Xian, China on May 9, competition between Korean and Japanese firms to dominate the next-gen semiconductor memory market is expected to heat up again. 

Samsung began to mass-produce 3D V-NAND flash memory chips in its plant in Xian. 3D V-NAND flash memory where 40nm-class NAND flash memory is stacked up in 24 layers are twice as fast and last 10 times longer than 20nm-class planar NAND flash memory. The world’s largest computer memory chipmaker is planning to dominate the market by developing 3D V-NAND flash memory chips in a 36-layer stack soon.   

SK Hynix, the world's fourth-largest manufacturer of computer memory chips, is focusing on investing in NAND flash memory. For example, the firm converted its Cheongju M12 Plant that produced both DRAM and NAND flash memory chips into a NAND flash line last year in order to restructure the company whose focus was on DRAM. The chip-maker plans to mass-produce 3D V-NAND at the end of this year. Micron, which is in the third spot, recently changed its DRAM factory in Singapore into a NAND flash plant. 

Unlike its rivals, Toshiba only manufacturers NAND flash memory. Therefore, if competitors outperform the Japanese firm in the global NAND flash memory market, it will be fatal. Industry analysts are saying that Toshiba's lawsuit filed in March against SK Hynix for technology leakage despite its patent cross-licensing deal with the Korean firm was aimed at checking the Korean chip-maker's influence.  

Press Release:

Toshiba to Replace Fab 2 at Yokkaichi Japan for Transition to 3D NAND Technology

- Toshiba and SanDisk Sign Memorandum of Understanding -

TOKYO, Japan— Toshiba Corporation (Tokyo: 6502) today announced that it will demolish the No. 2 semiconductor fabrication facility (Fab 2) at Yokkaichi Operations, the company’s NAND Flash memory plant in Mie prefecture, Japan, and replace it with a new fab on the same site. Toshiba also entered into a non-binding memorandum of understanding with SanDisk Corporation (NASDAQ: SNDK) to invest jointly in the new facility. The primary purpose of the new wafer fab is to secure space for converting existing Toshiba and SanDisk 2D NAND capacity to 3D NAND beginning in 2016.

Demolition work on the current Fab 2 will start in May with construction beginning in September 2014, with a target completion date of Summer 2015. The clean room within the new fab will be built in phases to align the clean room investment with the timing of conversion of 2D NAND capacity to 3D NAND. Construction of the initial cleanroom will be complete in time for 2016 output. Decisions on capacity conversion ramp and equipment investment, the start of production, and production levels in the new fab will reflect market trends.

The new fab will provide a supplementary facility for processes mainly dedicated to 3D NAND memory production, and work in close cooperation with Yokkaichi’s other facilities. Toshiba and SanDisk will support 3D memory production with leading-edge manufacturing equipment for lithography, deposition and etching through joint ventures.

Yasuo Naruke, Corporate Senior Vice President of Toshiba Corporation and President and CEO of Semiconductor & Storage Products Company, said, “Our determination to develop advanced technologies underlines our commitment to respond to continued demand of NAND flash memory. We are confident that our joint venture with SanDisk will allow us to produce cost competitive next generation memories at Yokkaichi.”

Sanjay Mehrotra, President and Chief Executive Officer of SanDisk, said: “We are pleased to continue our long-standing collaboration with Toshiba in this new wafer fab, which will advance our leadership in memory technology into the 3D NAND era.”

The new fab will have a quake absorbing structure and an environmentally friendly design that includes LED lighting throughout the building. It will also be equipped with the latest energy saving manufacturing equipment, which will secure productivity advances while lowering power consumption. Highly efficient use of waste heat will help to lower fuel consumption and cut CO2 emissions by 15% compared to Fab 5, currently the most advanced fab on the Yokkaichi site.

Toshiba and SanDisk will, through joint ventures, maximize investment efficiency in the transition to 3D NAND by making full use of the Yokkaichi site. Going forward, the companies will continue to jointly develop advanced process technology, and make investments to meet market requirements.

About Toshiba

Toshiba is a world-leading diversified manufacturer, solutions provider and marketer of advanced electronic and electrical products and systems. Toshiba Group brings innovation and imagination to a wide range of businesses: digital products, including LCD TVs, notebook PCs, retail solutions and MFPs; electronic devices, including semiconductors, storage products and materials; industrial and social infrastructure systems, including power generation systems, smart community solutions, medical systems and escalators & elevators; and home appliances.

Toshiba was founded in 1875, and today operates a global network of more than 590 consolidated companies, with 206,000 employees worldwide and annual sales surpassing 5.8 trillion yen (US$61 billion). Visit Toshiba's web site atwww.toshiba.co.jp/index.htm

About SanDisk

SanDisk Corporation (NASDAQ: SNDK), a Fortune 500 and S&P 500 company, is a global leader in flash storage solutions. For more than 25 years, SanDisk has expanded the possibilities of storage, providing trusted and innovative products that have transformed the electronics industry. Today, SanDisk’s quality, state-of-the-art solutions are at the heart of many of the world's largest data centers, and embedded in advanced smart phones, tablets and PCs. SanDisk’s consumer products are available at hundreds of thousands of retail stores worldwide. For more information, visit www.sandisk.com.

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SanDisk Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements, including statements about demolition and construction schedules, our timing expectations for first wafer outs, expected production focus at the new clean room, development of new technologies and products and leadership in NAND memory. There are a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause these forward-looking statements to be inaccurate including, among others: general business and economic conditions; the ability to ramp the new production lines and realize expected manufacturing yields, efficiencies and cost-effectiveness; construction and manufacturing difficulties or delays; the failure to reach definitive agreements or the other risks detailed from time-to-time in our Securities and Exchange Commission filings and reports, including, but not limited to, our most recent quarterly report on Form 10-Q. We do not intend to update the information contained in this release.

Public Relations & Investor Relations Team:

Midori Hara

Toshiba Corporation

+81-3-3457-2100

media.relations@toshiba.co.jp

Media Contact:

Michael Diamond

SanDisk Corporation

+1-408-801-1108

michael.diamond@sandisk.com

Investor Contacts:

Jay Iyer

SanDisk Corporation

+1-408-801-2067

jay.iyer@sandisk.com

Brendan Lahiff

SanDisk Corporation

+1-408-801-1732

brendan.lahiff@sandisk.com

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