1. Roy Illsley, Omdia

Broadcom acquiring VMware was undoubtably the most-read story of the week. 

VMware will keep its brand, incorporating the assets from the Broadcom Software Group. Broadcom has bought several software companies over the last five years, including Symantec and CA Technologies.

According to Roy Illsley, Omdia’s chief analyst of IT ecosystem and operations, deals have not gone well for the companies Broadcom has acquired. (Informa Tech is the parent company of both Omdia and Channel Futures.) He made waves for being frank about the VMware deal.

“To be honest, Broadcom has killed CA and Symantec as brands (although these have helped Broadcom’s overall financial position), so I do not see any value other than they (Broadcom) may have cash to burn and need to make an investment that will also add to its overall financial performance,” Illsley said. “I would see this as Broadcom acquiring a ‘cash cow’ in VMware, but beyond that am struggling to see any real synergies.”

To read our ongoing coverage of the deal, go here, here and here.