https://www.theverge.com/2023/10/30/23938334/western-digital-separating-hard-drive-flash-business

Skip to main content
 The Verge logo.The Verge homepage

  * The Verge homepageThe Verge logo./
  * Tech/
  * Reviews/
  * Science/
  * Entertainment/
  * MoreMenu

 The Verge logo.
Menu

  * Business/
  * Tech

Western Digital is spinning off its flash memory business as sales
decline

Western Digital is spinning off its flash memory business as sales
decline

/

Western Digital is separating its hard drive and flash memory
businesses.

By Emma Roth, a news writer who covers the streaming wars, consumer
tech, crypto, social media, and much more. Previously, she was a
writer and editor at MUO.

Oct 30, 2023, 2:06 PM UTC|

Share this story

  * 
  * 
  * 

If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a
commission. See our ethics statement.

A photo showing a Western Digital SSD inside a computer
Image: Western Digital

Western Digital is splitting into two companies: one for its flash
business and another for its hard drive storage products. The company
announced the change alongside its earnings results on Monday, noting
that spinning off its flash business will allow Western Digital to
"realize its full value."

Western Digital acquired flash memory manufacturer SanDisk for nearly
$19 billion in 2016. However, as noted by The Wall Street Journal,
this decision will effectively reverse the merger, allowing its flash
division to operate as a standalone business. The separation is
expected to take place in the second half of 2024.

"Our HDD and Flash businesses are both well positioned to capitalize
on the data storage industry's significant market dynamics," Western
Digital CEO David Goeckeler said in a statement. "Given current
constraints, it has become clearer to the Board in recent weeks, that
delivering a stand-alone separation is the right next step."

This past quarter, Western Digital's revenue dropped 26 percent year
over year as flash memory and disk drive sales declined. Western
Digital recently expanded its disk drive lineup to include NVMe SSDs
for the Steam Deck and ROG Ally as well as expandable storage cards
for Xbox Series S / X consoles.

While Western Digital has been in talks to merge with Japanese flash
memory maker Kioxia for years, the two companies reportedly scrapped
their plans last week after an indirect Kioxia investor rejected the
deal.

Most Popular

 1. Apple is getting ready for Prime Time

    -----------------------------------------------------------------
 2. That's one pricey subscription

    -----------------------------------------------------------------
 3. ChatGPT Plus members can upload and analyze files in the latest
    beta

    -----------------------------------------------------------------
 4. Apple's best move is giving us what we want

    -----------------------------------------------------------------
 5. Elon Musk gives X employees one year to replace your bank

    -----------------------------------------------------------------

Verge Deals

/ Sign up for Verge Deals to get deals on products we've tested sent
to your inbox daily.

Email (required)[                    ]Sign up
By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and
Terms of Service apply.
From our sponsor

 

 
Advertiser Content FromSponsor logo
Sponsor thumbnail

More from Business

  * Photo Illustration of Sam Bankman-Fried in front of a graphic
    background of inverted money.Photo Illustration of Sam
    Bankman-Fried in front of a graphic background of inverted money.

    The jury finally hears from Sam Bankman-Fried

  * Photo collage of Sam Bankman-Fried over a graphic background of
    pixel blocks and hundred dollar bills.Photo collage of Sam
    Bankman-Fried over a graphic background of pixel blocks and
    hundred dollar bills.

    Sam Bankman-Fried is going to talk himself right into jail

  * Photo Illustration of Sam Bankman-Fried, Gary Wang, Caroline
    Ellison, Nishad Singh, and Adam Yedidia in front of a graphic
    background of courtroom and crypto imagery.Photo Illustration of
    Sam Bankman-Fried, Gary Wang, Caroline Ellison, Nishad Singh, and
    Adam Yedidia in front of a graphic background of courtroom and
    crypto imagery.

    In the end, the FTX trial was about the friends screwed along the
    way

  * Photo illustration of Sam Bankman-Fried, Caroline Ellison, Gary
    Wang, and Nishad Singh among imagery of courtrooms, finance,
    circuit boards, and server rooms.Photo illustration of Sam
    Bankman-Fried, Caroline Ellison, Gary Wang, and Nishad Singh
    among imagery of courtrooms, finance, circuit boards, and server
    rooms.

    The tragically millennial vocabulary of the Sam Bankman-Fried
    trial

  * 
     
    Advertiser Content FromSponsor logo

     

 The Verge logo.

  * Terms of Use
  * Privacy Notice
  * Cookie Policy
  * Do Not Sell Or Share My Personal Info
  * Licensing FAQ
  * Accessibility
  * Platform Status
  * How We Rate and Review Products

  * Contact
  * Tip Us
  * Community Guidelines
  * About
  * Ethics Statement

The Verge is a vox media network

  * Advertise with us
  * Jobs @ Vox Media

(c) 2023 Vox Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved