A promotional YouTube video and check on Google Maps reveals that Western Digital Corporation (NYSE:WDC) has not just moved to a new location, but has moved directly next to a potential acquirer.

South Korea’s Samsung Electronics’ subsidiary, Samsung Information Systems America (SISA), is located immediately next door to Western Digital’s new offices.  The buildings are actually attached.  Samsung’s website describes SISA as,

“..engaged in researching ‘frontier’ technologies for creating new businesses, as well as developing core technologies to enhance the competitiveness of existing products of Samsung. The research activities of SISA focus on the development of hard disk drives, digital TV technologies, printer software, wireless connectivity and high-level software such as middleware.”

Western Digital began to relocate to the new address in September and has cited the building’s cost and close proximity to employee’s homes as reasons for the move.  The new office in Irvine, California, however, is only a 20 minute drive from the previous Lake Forest, California location according to Google Maps.

The Orange County Business Journal reported in April 2006 that rumors were floated at the time that Samsung was interested in acquiring Western Digital, sending shares higher.  Recently, competitor Seagate announced that it was in talks with a potential acquirer.  Those talks apparently ended without an agreement.