UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

Form 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 14, 2016

VIOLIN MEMORY, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

(650) 396-1500

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

On December 14, 2016, Violin Memory, Inc. (the “Company”) filed a voluntary petition (the “Bankruptcy Petition”) under chapter 11 (“Chapter 11”) of title 11 of the United States Code (the “Bankruptcy Code”) in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware (the “Court”). The Company’s Chapter 11 case is being administered under the caption In re Violin Memory, Inc. (Case No. 16-12782). The Company will continue to operate its business as a “debtor-in-possession” under the jurisdiction of the Court and in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Bankruptcy Code and orders of the Court.

The filing of the Bankruptcy Petition described in Item 1.03 above constitutes an event of default that accelerated the Company’s obligations under the Company’s 4.25% Convertible Senior Notes due October 1, 2019, issued pursuant to the Indenture, dated as of September 24, 2014, between the Company and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee (the “Indenture”).

The Indenture provides that as a result of the Bankruptcy Petition, all unpaid principal and interest due thereunder shall be immediately due and payable. Any efforts to enforce such payment obligations under the Indenture are automatically stayed as a result of the Bankruptcy Petition, and the creditors’ rights of enforcement in respect of the Indenture are subject to the applicable provisions of the Bankruptcy Code.

On December 14, the Company issued a press release announcing the filing of the Bankruptcy Petition described in Item 1.03 above. A copy of the press release is being filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

The information contained in this Item 7.01 is being furnished under Item 7.01 of Current Report on Form 8-K and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall such information and exhibit be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by reference in such a filing.

(d) Exhibits

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

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