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Seagate and Toshiba compete for TDK’s HDD magnetic-head business
Seagate and Toshiba are reportedly competing to acquire the hard-disk-drive (HDD) magnetic-head business from TDK Corporation. According to reports from Bloomberg, the potential transaction could be worth several billion dollars.
TDK is currently the only major independent manufacturer of magnetic recording heads, supplying all three primary HDD makers: Seagate, Western Digital, and Toshiba. While Seagate and Western Digital produce some heads in-house, they rely on TDK for surge capacity. Toshiba, however, is almost entirely dependent on TDK for these components, which are critical for its planned Heat-Assisted Magnetic Recording (HAMR) technology aimed at increasing data center storage capacity.
Reports suggest Toshiba entered discussions with TDK in the spring, while Seagate may have submitted a higher offer during the summer. However, Toshiba has disputed these accounts, calling them ‘inconsistent’ with its understanding of the situation. TDK has also stated that no official decisions have been made and that media reports are not based on company announcements.
An acquisition of this scale would likely trigger antitrust scrutiny, as it would consolidate a vital link in the AI-driven data center storage supply chain.
Entities
Bloomberg · Seagate Technology · TDK Corporation · Toshiba · Western Digital
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 4 SOURCES] Seagate and Toshiba are reportedly competing to acquire TDK’s magnetic-head business. itreseller.pl · thecryptobasic.com · www.ithome.com · www.blocksandfiles.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Toshiba disputed the reports, stating they were inconsistent with the company’s understanding. thecryptobasic.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Western Digital, Seagate, and Toshiba hold approximately 48%, 42%, and 10% of the HDD market, respectively. itreseller.pl
- [● 4 SOURCES] TDK is the only major independent manufacturer of magnetic recording heads for the HDD industry. itreseller.pl · thecryptobasic.com · www.ithome.com · www.blocksandfiles.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] An acquisition of TDK’s business by a major HDD manufacturer would likely face antitrust scrutiny. itreseller.pl · www.ithome.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] Toshiba reportedly began talks with TDK in the spring, followed by a higher offer from Seagate in the summer. itreseller.pl · thecryptobasic.com · www.ithome.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] The potential acquisition could be valued at several billion dollars. itreseller.pl · thecryptobasic.com · www.ithome.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] TDK stated that no decisions have been made regarding the sale of its HDD head business. itreseller.pl · thecryptobasic.com · www.blocksandfiles.com