e425
Filed by SanDisk Corporation
Pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act of 1933
Subject Company: msystems Ltd.
Commission File No.: 001-11712
The following is a copy of the prepared remarks delivered by SanDisk Corporation and msystems
Corporation on a conference call on July 31, 2006.
SanDisk Corporation
601 McCarthy Blvd.
Milpitas, CA 94035
SanDisk ®
-msystemsTM
Analyst Teleconference Remarks
Lori Barker Padon, Director of Investor Relations
Thank you. Welcome to our conference call announcing SanDisks agreement to acquire msystems.
Im Lori Barker Padon, SanDisks Director of Investor Relations. Joining me on the call are Eli
Harari, Chief Executive Officer of SanDisk, Judy Bruner, SanDisks Executive Vice President of
Administration and CFO and Dov Moran, Chief Executive Officer and President of msystems.
Over the next 15 minutes, Eli and Dov will discuss the msystems acquisition we announced last
night. Judy will follow with financial commentary and then we will have a 20 to 30 minute
question
and answer period. A press release with information on todays announcement can be
found on our websites and via the wire services. A replay and a copy of the prepared remarks in
this call will be available on the msystems and SanDisk websites.
Id like to remind everyone that todays comments, including our question and answer session, will
include forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that are based on
our current expectations. Forward-looking statements in this teleconference are generally
identified by words such as believes, anticipates, expects, intends, may, will and
other similar expressions. In addition, any statement that refers to expectations, projections or
other characterizations of future events or circumstances are forward-looking statements. There are
significant risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from
those expressed in these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties are detailed
under the caption Risk Factors and elsewhere in our Form 10-K for fiscal 2005, as well as
msystems recent Form 20-F and Form 6-Ks, and our Forms 10-Q as well as our press releases and
Forms 8-K, including those filed regarding this transaction. Listeners are cautioned not to place
undue reliance on those forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof.
We do not intend to update information contained in this teleconference.
Now Id like to turn our call over to SanDisks CEO, Eli Harari.
Eli Harari, CEO
Thank you for joining us today to discuss the transaction announced by SanDisk and msystems last
night. Dov Moran and I are doing this call from Israel where we have been spending time with the
msystems team. Judy is calling in from California, so we will try to make the discussion as
seamless as possible for those of you who have dialed in.
We are all very enthusiastic about this strategic acquisition and believe that it will provide
value for SanDisk and msystems shareholders, employees, customers and partners.
The strategic rationale for this transaction is quite simpleits all about growth. Today there
are very large end-markets for flash storage developing in handsets, digital consumer electronics
and portable computing. The declining cost of flash memory drives the growth of these markets and
we expect will give rise to new applications and product categories in the years ahead. Last year
the flash storage market was $11 billion, and industry forecasts suggest that the market could
nearly quadruple to $40 billion by 2010. So, in many respects we are still in the early days of
the markets development, and those of you following the industry know how rapidly the competitive
landscape has been changing. We think this transaction will enable SanDisk and msystems, together,
to play an even greater role in driving the evolution of the flash market and positioning us to
benefit from its growth in the decade ahead.
Leadership in the flash market is about having the critical mass to compete and innovate. This
deal joins two flash memory pioneers with complementary products, customers, channels, technology,
IP and manufacturing resources to take our shared vision to the next level.
msystems is a leader in flash memory systems addressing mobile, portable and embedded markets and
they have a strong team, significant IP and important OEM customers. SanDisk has a record of
creating new market categories, world-class manufacturing capabilities and has a leading presence
in the retail channel. Both companies are renowned for their relentless innovations. In the near
term, we believe this transaction better positions SanDisk to serve the expanding storage needs of
handset manufacturers and mobile network operators. In the long term, the acquisition of msystems
is expected to enhance the proliferation of standards, accelerate the penetration of flash memory
into existing product categories, and catalyze the development of next-generation flash-enabled
consumer applications.
Now I will make a few comments about the business fit between SanDisk and msystems in terms of
driving innovation, leading in handsets, leading in portable computing, leveraging our channels and
realizing manufacturing efficiencies.
Our goal is to create a powerful acceleration engine for product innovation. SanDisk and msystems
have been leaders in creating todays flash storage markets over the past 18 years. Together we
have a world-class combination of expertise in semiconductors, systems, applications and security.
In IP and design SanDisk has fundamental patents in NAND flash storage including hard disk
emulation, removable card formats and MLC technology; msystems has patents and development in USB
flash drives, flash management, security and x4TM. The flash industry has grown through
the formation and adoption of standard formats and together we expect to be in a better position to
accelerate these efforts. In this regard, we intend to continue our current licensing strategy,
including with respect to our joint U3TM products. In summary we believe our
complementary IP portfolios improve our ability to compete on a global scale.
Handsets are the fastest growing application category in the flash market today, and together
SanDisk and msystems are poised in the sweet spot of this market segment. We believe the combined
company will be a leader in providing a broad line of embedded and card solutions with offerings
such as mDOC H3, iNANDTM and MegaSIM® series on the embedded side and SDTM,
miniSDTM, microSDTM, MS PRO DuoTM, M2 and so on on the card side.
Together we will have extensive relationships with the widest array of mobile network operators and
handset OEMs, as well as the providers of chipsets, operating systems and content for mobile
telephony applications.
Portable computing is another critical application category where SanDisk and msystems have
complementary strengths. Together we have a strong value proposition for the USB and industrial
markets. Our successful collaboration on the U3 platform is unleashing new categories of mobile
applications on USB drives. msystems patient development in Flash solid state disk is a promising
launch pad into diskless notebook computing in the coming years.
From a channel perspective, our two companies are an absolutely fabulous fit. SanDisk has more
than 187,000 retail storefronts (including 54,000 mobile stores), and msystems has a leading
position with OEMs for both consumer and enterprise applications. When the channel and sales
resources of our two companies are united, we believe we will have an ability to reach more
customers in more geographies and in more product categories. Importantly, we will be highly
focused on maintaining and building the excellent relationships that msystems has established with
its OEM customers.
We believe that long-term success in the flash market depends on controlling our destiny through
vertical integration and ownership of leading-edge manufacturing. SanDisk has world-class
manufacturing capability through our partnership with Toshiba. By 2008 we expect to have made in
excess of $5 billion in cumulative capital investments in our Fab 3 and Fab 4 leading edge
manufacturing capacity. This commitment of resources is critical to having the low-cost NAND
supply necessary to profitably complete on a global scale. As Judy will discuss, we believe that
migrating a portion of msystems flash requirements to our captive supply should deliver attractive
gross margin benefits to msystems business and help us leverage our significant capital
investments. Both SanDisk and msystems have very good non-captive supply relationships and we
intend to continue working with our non captive suppliers to more fully meet our customer
opportunities.
Before turning the call over to Dov for his comments, let me state how excited Iand the SanDisk
teamare to join forces with Dov and his team to achieve our shared vision. Dov started his
company 17 years ago, just a year after we did. We both had a very similar vision for the future
of our markets, but came at it from different approaches: Dov from the system and software side,
myself from the semiconductor device and hardware side. Over the years our approaches converged
remarkably well, and we learned to appreciate and respect the others approach even as fierce
competitors, culminating in the U3 cooperation. Ultimately the success of everything we do depends
on the people, and both Dov and I have been exceptionally fortunate to recruit the best people and
talent in the business. Dov and I are committed to meet the challenge going forward of integrating
the two teams into a unified, effective organization that is totally focused on our customers.
SanDisk already has a significant presence in Israel, with two excellent design centers, our
growing relationship with Tower, and numerous
partnerships with innovative Israeli companies. The msystems acquisition represents a major
increase in our commitment to growing our future business in Israel, and we are very pleased to
have msystems employees join the SanDisk family.
Dov?
Dov Moran
Thank you Eli, in the name of all of us at msystems, for your kind words and warm welcome. I will
keep my comments brief.
There are certain moments in the lives of companies which are obviously watershed events. I firmly
believe this is one of those moments for both msystems and SanDisk. Today we join hands to make
ourselves better. Better through our joint teams, our excellent people. Better through our
complementary IP, innovative technologies and product offerings. Better for our customers, and our
partners, without which we would not be here today.
Both our companies have indeed always been at the forefront of innovation. For msystems, it is no
exaggeration when I say innovation is our way of life. From the very first embedded flash disk,
to the first flash file system, on to the USB flash drive, the high density SIM card and now x4, we
have time and time again demonstrated our ability to rise beyond so-called limits and shatter even
our own high-set expectations. We are fortunate to have the worlds leading OEMs reliant on our
innovation, execution and products and are thankful for the support of our strategic partners who
are instrumental in getting us to where we are today.
We believe that together, SanDisk and msystems, can truly shake up the world of flash data storage,
further cutting costs, increasing fab profitability and promoting a wave of new NAND-hungry
consumer electronics devices. I believe that jointly we can get there faster and with more
efficiency. I am sure that this is a perfect fit, truly one of these rare cases where one plus one
equals three.
I would like to turn to our OEM customers and assure you, both in my name and in Elis name that
together with SanDisk we will support you just as we have in the past. SanDisk is entering this
endeavor with a great deal of respect for the OEM business we have built together with you in the
past few years. For SanDisk, this poses a true opportunity for growth and an untapped market for
its abundant flash supply of which more will be available as Fab 3 reaches full utilization and
Fab 4 is completed. SanDisk expects you will be able to tap into its low-cost MLC NAND flash and
later on x4 flash supply even in times of allocation and that we will be able to support your
growth while continuing to serve you in the manner you have rightfully grown accustomed to from
msystems. We pride ourselves on our support of our OEM customers and partners and we plan to
continue and be there for you every step of the way.
To our flash suppliers I would like to say that we rely on your continued support. We have no plans
to change our roadmaps on the contrary. Eli and I see msystems carefully crafted partnerships as
critical to our future growth and we expect to continue intimately working with you on our joint
offerings according to our growth forecasts.
Lastly, to my employees, friends and colleagues. I have been most fortunate to have steered this
great ship of msystems to where it is ready for its next stage. I have done so not as its solitary
captain, but as a first among a team of equals. I am truly blessed to have worked with each and
every one of you. But make no mistake: our exciting journey is far from over. In fact, as Eli has
so eloquently stated, it has only just begun. We have always excelled at making the impossible,
possible. But now, together with Elis team and SanDisks complementary strengths we can really go
beyond even our wildest dreams.
Thank you. Judy?
Judy Bruner, CFO
Thanks Dov and Eli.
Let me first review the terms of the proposed transaction. As detailed in the press release we
issued last night, SanDisk and msystems have entered into a definitive agreement under which
SanDisk will acquire msystems in an all-stock transaction. Under the terms of the agreement, each
msystems ordinary share will be converted into 0.76368 of a share of SanDisk common stock. The
agreement has been unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both companies. Upon
completion of the transaction, SanDisk shareholders will own approximately 86% and msystems
shareholders will own approximately 14% of the combined company. The closing of the transaction is
expected as early as the fourth quarter of 2006 and is subject to regulatory approval and approval
by msystems shareholders, among other conditions.
We believe that this transaction will result in attractive financial benefits to SanDisks business
model over time and we expect to achieve significant cost synergies associated with migrating a
portion of msystems business to SanDisks captive manufacturing supply. We do not anticipate
achieving operating expense reductions for the combined company as there is little overlap in terms
of the functional activities of our efforts and we believe that it will be appropriate to continue
investing in both the SanDisk and msystems businesses in order to optimize, and where appropriate,
accelerate the rate of development in areas of future growth. From a financial planning
perspective, we anticipate a modest degree of near-term revenue attrition on a combined basis after
the closing, although as Eli and Dov have described, it is our objective to continue to service all
customers. Over time we believe that our breadth of products, complementary channels and
complementary IP will lead to revenue synergies. There will be one-time transaction and other
costs associated with integrating SanDisk and msystems, and purchase accounting for the transaction
will also result in one-time costs for in-process R&D and ongoing costs for amortization of
purchased intangibles. In addition, under purchase accounting rules, SanDisk will not recognize
revenue for any msystems deferred revenue existing at the close of the transaction. This will
primarily affect the revenue recognized in the first quarter after the close of the transaction.
Our expectation is that prior to one-time transaction related costs and the impact of purchase
accounting on revenue and expenses, the acquisition will become accretive to SanDisks EPS on a
cash operating basis by the end of 2007. Over the longer term, we expect to manage the combined
business to around the 70/30 captive/non-captive supply model that we have previously discussed for
SanDisk on a stand-alone basis. We do not anticipate making near-term changes to our joint venture
fab expansion plans as a result of this transaction. We expect to provide additional detail on the
financial effects of this transaction on our business model following the closing of the
acquisition.
Prior to closing of the transaction, we will engage in detailed integration planning with msystems.
Obviously, we will not implement any integration steps until the deal closes and the two companies
will continue to operate independently until then.
We would now be happy to take your questions.
Closing Remarks After Q&A
Thank you for joining us today. Im really looking forward to working with Dov and the entire
msystems team to ensure a smooth integration process. We are really thrilled to be joining these
two industry pioneers and we believe that together we will accelerate the growth of the industry,
and improve our ability to serve the customers of both companies and bring innovations to this
exciting market. Thank you very much and well talk to you soon.
SanDisk® is a registered trademark of SanDisk Corporation registered in the United States and
other countries; iNAND is a trademark of SanDisk Corporation. msystems is a trademark of msystems
Ltd.; MegaSIM is a trademark of msystems Ltd. in the United States and other countries and
registered in Israel and Japan. U3 is a trademark of U3, LLP. SanDisk Corporation is an authorized
licensee of the SD trademarks. Memory Stick PRO Duo is a trademark of Sony Corporation. Other
brand names mentioned herein are for identification purposes only and may be the trademarks of
their respective holder(s).
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements contained in this document that are not historical facts, including statements regarding
the consummation of the transaction, and the timing thereof, the expected benefits of the
transaction, the future market for the companies products, future financial and operating results,
plans, objectives, expectations and intentions, including plans with respect to future products and
the continued support of msystems customers after the closing of the transaction, are
forward-looking statements as that item is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties that could
cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements. Many of
these risks and uncertainties cannot be predicted with accuracy and some might not even be
anticipated. Some of the factors that could significantly impact the forward-looking statements in
this press release include the ability to obtain regulatory and other approvals of the transaction
on the proposed terms and schedule; the risk that the businesses will not be integrated
successfully; the risk that any synergies from the transaction may not be fully realized or may
take longer to realize than expected; disruption from the transaction making it more difficult to
maintain relationships with customers, employees or suppliers, the risk that msystems business may
not perform as expected, risks relating to msystems prior stock option grants, risks related to IP
litigation involving either party and other risks, some of which are discussed in the companies
reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the caption Risk Factors and
elsewhere. Any forward-looking statement is qualified by reference to these risks and factors.
These risks and factors are not exclusive, and the companies undertake no obligation to publicly
update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that may arise
after the date of this release except as required by law. Additional information regarding these
and other factors is contained in the companies SEC filings, including, without limitation,
SanDisks Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended January 1, 2006, and its Form 10-Q for the fiscal
quarter ended April 2, 2006, msystems Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2005 and msystems
forms 6-K. The companies filings are available from the Securities and Exchange Commission or may
be obtained on SanDisks website at www.sandisk.com and msystems website at www.msystems.com, as
applicable.
Where You Can Find Additional Information
SanDisk may file a Registration Statement on Form S-4 containing a proxy statement/prospectus and
other documents concerning the proposed merger with the SEC. msystems security holders are urged
to read any such proxy statement/prospectus if and when it becomes available and other relevant
documents filed with the SEC because they will contain important information. msystems security
holders may obtain a free copy of any such information statement/prospects (if and when it is
available) and other documents filed by SanDisk with the SEC at the SECs Web site at
http://www.sec.gov. Any such information statement/prospectus and these other documents may also be
obtained for free from SanDisk Investor Relations, 601 McCarthy Boulevard, Milpitas California
95035 (+1 408-801-1000).
If a Registration Statement is not filed by SanDisk, msystems security holders are advised to read
the proxy statement regarding the proposed merger, which will be made available, because it will
contain important information. msystems security holders will be able to obtain a free copy of the
proxy statement (when it is furnished to the SEC and becomes available) at the SECs website at
http://www.sec.gov. Such proxy statement (when it becomes available) may also be obtained by
msystems security holders for free from msystems investor relations, 7 Atir Yeda, Kfar Saba 44425
Israel (+972 9-764-5000). msystems and its directors and executive officers may be soliciting
proxies from msystems security holders in connection with the proposed merger. A description of
certain interests that msystems directors and executive officers may have in the merger will be
available in the proxy statement.