The merger between chipmaker Broadcom and Brocade, which builds routers, switches, and other equipment for computer networks, is only the latest in a series of mergers this year that has transformed the landscape of enterprise technology providers. On Monday, for example, enterprise Internet service providers CenturyLink and Level 3 entered into an agreement for a $25 billion merger focused on providing better fiber connectivity for enterprise networks.
And it has been only about a year since Avago Technologies acquired Broadcom in a $37 billion deal in which Avago decided to keep Broadcom's name on the building. Today?EU?s deal represents something of a vertical consolidation of the networking sector, since Broadcom makes many of the semiconductors that act as components in Brocade?EU?s networking equipment.
?EU?This strategic acquisition enhances Broadcom?EU?s position as one of the leading providers of enterprise storage connectivity solutions to OEM customers,?EU? said Hock Tan, Broadcom's president and CEO, in a statement announcing the deal. ?EU?With deep expertise in mission-critical storage networking, Brocade increases our ability to address the evolving needs of our OEM customers. In addition, we are confident that we will find a great home for Brocade?EU?s valuable IP networking business that will best position that business for its next phase of growth.?EU?
Broadcom said it plans to divest Brocade?EU?s IP networking business, consisting of wireless and campus networking, data center switching and routing, and software networking solutions. That would leave Broadcom with Brocade?EU?s Fiber Channel storage area network (FC SAN) switching business that produces networking...