Brocade to buy Ruckus Wireless in $1.5 billion deal

By Abhirup Roy

(Reuters) - Network gear maker Brocade Communications Systems Inc (BRCD.O) said it would buy Ruckus Wireless Inc (RKUS.N) in a $1.5 billion deal, aiming to tap into the growing demand for Wi-Fi access over large areas such as offices and stadiums.

Ruckus, which counts the Marriott group and the Angel baseball stadium in Los Angeles among its customers, makes controllers and access points that help businesses offer high-speed Internet to their customers.

Based on Friday closing prices, the deal values Ruckus at $14.43 per share, a premium of 44 percent.

Ruckus shares were trading at $13 in morning trading on Monday, while Brocade dropped 15 percent to $9.04.

Net of Ruckus's cash on hand, the deal value is about $1.2 billion, the companies said.

Macquarie Research analyst Rajesh Ghai said the deal made sense as the companies offered complimentary products and would provide Brocade with "some more ammunition" to expand into the services industry.

Ghai added it was unlikely that a second bidder would emerge.

Ruckus stockholders will get $6.45 in cash and 0.75 share of Brocade common stock for each share held. The cash portion of the deal will be funded with cash on hand and a new loan, the companies said.

"The reaction of Brocade's stock and their decision to offer a high mix of stock in this transaction despite clearly having enough cash for the deal, opens up the door for a competitive bidder," BTIG wrote in a note to clients.

San Jose-based Brocade also raised its share buyback program by $800 million, taking the total remaining under the existing program to about $1.7 billion.

The company said it expected the deal to add to its adjusted earnings by its first quarter of fiscal 2017.

Chief Executive Selina Lo will continue to lead the Ruckus business, reporting to Brocade Chief Executive Lloyd Carney.

Evercore was Brocade's financial adviser and Paul Hastings LLP was legal counsel. Morgan Stanley was financial adviser for Ruckus and Sullivan & Cromwell LLP provided legal advice.

Up to Friday's close, Brocade shares had fallen 9.5 percent in the past 12 months, while Ruckus shares had dropped about 22 percent.

(Reporting by Abhirup Roy in Bengaluru, additional reporting by Narottam Medhora; Editing by Anupama Dwivedi and Saumyadeb Chakrabarty)