According to multiple news agency reports, Samsung Electronics is in talks to potentially acquire NAND flash specialist SanDisk. A Samsung spokesperson confirmed that initial discussions with SanDisk executives had started, while SanDisk issued a statement confirming only that it periodically has discussions with companies regarding ‘business opportunities.’
Rumors have recently circulated that other companies, including Seagate had shown interest in acquiring SanDisk, which is caught in the spiraling price reductions in NAND flash devices due to softening consumer demand and overcapacity in the flash market. Market research firms are forecasting ASP declines of approximately 60 percent in 2008, which follows two previous years of similar ASP erosion.