N America News May 2017

146 NORTH AMERICA NEWS / MAY 2017 , 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-changingmarket needs by providing a full portfolio of compelling, high-quality storage solutions with customer-focused innovation, high efficiency, flexibility and speed. The firm’s products are marketed under the HGST, SanDisk andWD brands to OEMs, distributors, resellers, cloud infrastructure providers and consumers. A Recognized Leader Established in 1970, WDC is a trusted leader – geared to providing clients with the sense of security to live life to its fullest. “We’re here to help you get the most out of your technology, showing you the ‘why’ not the ‘how’,” explains Satish Chitoori, Senior Director Materials Program Management at Western Digital Corporation. “And while we give advice, we’re also here to listen, share, laugh and connect.” The firm places great emphasis on its people, its culture and its workplace, letting its employees know the values and behaviors it expects them to demonstrate. “We believe those values and behaviors combine to create a culture in which employees can thrive,” says Satish. “A culture that allows our employees to focus on doing their best work leads to high quality and innovative, products, exceptional customer service and operational excellence.” As a corporate citizen in the communities in which its employees work and live, Western Digital recognizes its responsibility to respond to the needs of its local communities. Emphasis is placed on Educational programs, especially Science, Technology, Engineering and Math; Basic Needs Programs, especially those leading to economic self-sufficiency; and Civic Programs, with an emphasis on environmental protection and community volunteer projects. Western Digital, through the Western Digital Foundation, may award direct financial support to non-profit organizations that provide services in the geographic regions where Western Digital and its subsidiaries operate business units. The firm has also established a product donation program to assist educational institutions and non-profit organizations. Recently, Western Digital Corporation announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary Western Digital Technologies, Inc. had completed the acquisition of SanDisk Corporation (NASDAQ: SNDK). The addition of SanDisk makes Western Digital Corporation a comprehensive storage solutions provider with global reach, and an extensive product and technology platform that includes deep expertise in both rotating magnetic storage and non-volatile memory (NVM). The company also indicated that the debt financing associated with this transaction has been consummated and that the previously obtained funds from this financing have been released from escrow to Western Digital Technologies, Inc. “Today is a significant day in the history of Western Digital,” said Steve Milligan, chief executive officer of Western Digital. “We are delighted to welcome SanDisk into the Western Digital family. This transformational combination creates a media- agnostic leader in storage technology with a robust portfolio of products and solutions that will address a wide range of applications in almost all of the world’s computing and mobile devices. We are excited to now begin focusing on the many opportunities before us, from leading innovation to bringing the best of what we can offer as a combined company to our customers. In addition, we will begin the work to fully realize the value of this combination through executing on our synergies, generating significant cash flow, as well as rapidly deleveraging our balance sheet, and creating significant long-term value for our shareholders.” The integration process it to begin immediately through the joint efforts of teams from both companies. As previously announced, Steve Milligan will continue to serve as chief executive officer of Western Digital, which will remain headquartered in Irvine, California. Sanjay Mehrotra, co-founder, president and chief executive officer of SanDisk, will serve as a member of the Western Digital Board of Directors, effective immediately. “As a combined company, we will be best positioned to address the demands for data storage, which is growing exponentially every year,” said Sanjay Mehrotra. “Growth and change go hand in hand, and we couldn’t be happier to grow and change together with Western Digital. I look forward to contributing to realizing the potential of this combination as a member of the board.” Under the terms of the transaction, each outstanding share of SanDisk common stock was converted into the right to receive $67.50 per share in cash and 0.2387 shares of Western Digital common stock. Company: Western Digital Corporation Web Address: www.wdc.com 1701CA48