Amid the whirlwind of technological advancements and business mergers, the semiconductor industry has been buzzing with the potential union of Western Digital and Kioxia. However, recent events suggest a bump in this road, coming from SK Hynix, a key shareholder of Kioxia.
Today, SK Hynix revealed its opposition to the merger between these two giants of the memory chip realm. During its earnings call, the South Korean chip behemoth clarified its stance, expressing concerns over the impact of such a merger on its investment in Kioxia.
Woohyun Kim, the chief financial officer of SK Hynix, remarked, “SK Hynix is not agreeing on the deal given the overall impact on the value of the company’s investment in Kioxia.” Kim’s comments carry weight as they come amidst speculations, even before Western Digital and Kioxia officially address any merger talks.
Although Western Digital and Kioxia have been collaborators since 2022, forming a joint venture, their potential merger has been a topic of discussion since 2021. The anticipation heightened recently with reports hinting at the merger announcement possibly coming this month.
Interestingly, this revelation from SK Hynix comes a week after they denied allegations from Nikkei about exploring a partnership with Japan’s SoftBank. If the merger with Western Digital fails, such collaborations might be on the table.
Rumour mills suggest that Western Digital and Kioxia are in talks with premier Japanese banks, aiming to secure nearly $13 billion to facilitate this merger. Names like Sumitomo Mitsui Financial, Mizuho Financial, and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial have been hinted as potential lenders. Kioxia’s outreach to Japan Investment Corp (JIC) for financial support further fuels these speculations.
While the onus of moving forward with the merger lies on both companies’ shareholders, the history of Kioxia, formerly known as Toshiba Memory, must be addressed. Acquired by a consortium led by Bain Capital in 2018, Kioxia has had significant backers like SK Hynix, Apple, Dell, and Seagate.
Despite the tumultuous relationship between demand and supply in the memory chip market, evidenced by SK Hynix’s recent 17% revenue dip from last year, merger talks between Kioxia and Western Digital rekindled earlier this year.
However, even with potential shareholder approval, whether the merger would clear regulatory hurdles across global markets, particularly in China, remains to be seen.
Western Digital and Kioxia have been reached for comments as the tech community awaits further developments. Updates will follow as more information becomes available.
FAQs on the Western Digital-Kioxia Merger and SK Hynix’s Role
Q1: Why is SK Hynix opposing the merger between Western Digital and Kioxia?
Answer:Â SK Hynix has expressed concerns regarding the impact of the merger on the value of their investment in Kioxia. As a significant shareholder of Kioxia, any decisions related to its future hold substantial implications for SK Hynix.
Q2: How significant is SK Hynix’s investment in Kioxia?
Answer:Â SK Hynix is a critical player in the consortium led by Bain Capital, which acquired Kioxia (formerly Toshiba Memory) in 2018. Their stake and involvement in Kioxia are substantial, which gives them a significant say in major decisions.
Q3: Have Western Digital and Kioxia confirmed merger talks?
Answer:Â As of the last update, Western Digital and Kioxia have not officially confirmed any merger talks. However, with the public statements made by representatives from companies like SK Hynix, it’s evident that discussions are ongoing or have taken place.
Q4: What’s the anticipated impact of the merger on the global memory chip market?
Answer:Â If the merger goes through, it could result in one of the world’s largest NAND flash memory makers. This could reshape the competitive landscape, allowing the merged entity to stand tall against giants like China, Samsung, and SK Hynix.
Q5: Aside from SK Hynix’s opposition, are there potential roadblocks to the merger?
Answer:Â Yes. Even if the companies’ shareholders approve the merger, regulatory approvals across various global markets, including China, might need to be revised.
