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Brocade Communications Systems
Brocade Communications Systems, founded by Seth Neiman in 1995, was a leading SAN infrastructure provider acquired by Broadcom in 2017 for $5.9B.
Brocade Communications Systems
Seth Neiman founded Brocade Communications Systems in 1995, building a company that would define the storage area networking (SAN) market. The firm went public in 1999 and grew through acquisitions, including McDATA in 2006 and Foundry Networks in 2008. Broadcom completed its acquisition of Brocade for roughly $5.9B in cash in November 2017. Brocade's primary business was in Fibre Channel SAN switches and directors, complemented by IP networking products from its Foundry acquisition. The company held a leading market share in enterprise SAN infrastructure for over a decade, competing with Cisco Systems. At its peak, Brocade reported annual revenues exceeding $2.3B (per SEC filings, 2015). The acquisition by Broadcom integrated Brocade's networking assets into Broadcom's Broadband and Connectivity portfolio. The former Brocade business no longer operates as a standalone public or private entity, though its technology remains widely deployed in data centers worldwide. The Neiman family's wealth from the sale is managed separately. Brocade was structurally a public company, not a family office or asset manager, and its legacy is primarily as an enterprise technology firm. The 2017 acquisition ended its independent operations, making any current investment activity from the Brocade founding family a separate private matter not publicly associated with the Brocade name.
General information
Firm type
other
Year founded
1995
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
San Jose
Corporate office
San Jose, CA, United States
Principals
Seth Neiman
Founder
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
What happened to Brocade Communications Systems after the Broadcom acquisition?
Brocade was acquired by Broadcom in November 2017 for approximately $5.9B in cash. The company's networking and storage area networking assets were integrated into Broadcom's infrastructure business. Brocade no longer exists as an independent entity.
Who was the founder of Brocade?
Seth Neiman founded Brocade Communications Systems in 1995. He served as the company's chairman and had previously worked at IBM and as a venture partner at Menlo Ventures.
Does Brocade still operate as a separate asset manager or family office?
No. Brocade Communications Systems was a public company that was fully acquired by Broadcom in 2017. It does not operate as any kind of investment vehicle. The Neiman family's wealth from the sale is managed privately and not under the Brocade name.
What technology was Brocade known for?
Brocade was known primarily for Fibre Channel storage area networking (SAN) switches and directors, used to connect servers and storage in data centers. It also sold IP networking equipment, notably through its acquisition of Foundry Networks in 2008.
What was Brocade's market position before the Broadcom deal?
Brocade held a leading market share in Fibre Channel SAN switching for over a decade, competing directly with Cisco Systems. At its peak, the company reported annual revenues exceeding $2.3B (per SEC filings, 2015).
Is there any investment activity still associated with the Brocade name?
Public records indicate no. The Brocade brand ceased to exist as an independent entity after the Broadcom acquisition. Any subsequent investment activity by the Neiman family would be conducted through separate, private vehicles not publicly disclosed under the Brocade name.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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