Arris nears deal to acquire Brocade's networking business - sources

By Liana B. Baker

(Reuters) - Set-top box maker Arris International Plc (ARRS.O) is nearing a deal to acquire Brocade Communications Systems Inc's (BRCD.O) networking equipment business for roughly $1 billion, people familiar with the matter said on Tuesday.

An acquisition of the Brocade unit, which makes equipment that boost high-speed internet service for consumers and businesses, would add a suite of products to Arris' portfolio that can serve areas with high demand for bandwidth, such as universities and airports.

The deal could be announced as early as Wednesday, the sources said, cautioning there was always a chance for the negotiations to end without a deal. The sources asked not to be identified because the discussions were confidential.

Arris and Brocade, which is set to be acquired by chipmaker Broadcom Ltd (AVGO.O) in a $5.5 billion deal that is pending regulatory approval, declined to comment.

The divestiture of Brocade's networking unit, if completed, would be the first sale of assets that Broadcom is aiming to complete, and likely the most valuable, the sources said.

Broadcom has said that it plans to sell Brocade's networking business to avoid competing with its top customers such as Cisco Systems Inc (CSCO.O).

Broadcom declined to comment.

Most of the unit, known as the "network edge" business, was obtained by Brocade as part of its $1.5 billion acquisition of Ruckus Wireless last year.

Reuters reported last month that Suwanee, Georgia-based company Arris was one of the bidders for the unit.

Arris, which has a market capitalization of $5.6 billion, makes electronics such as modems and set-top boxes used by cable and satellite companies. It closed a deal last year to buy British rival Pace Plc for $2.1 billion, and incorporated itself in Britain in a deal structured as a corporate tax inversion.

(Reporting by Liana B. Baker in New York; Editing by Himani Sarkar)