The investments represent strategic opportunities for both Intel and Cisco. The size of the investments is immaterial to both companies. This is how VMware describes the relationships in the prospectus:
VMware and Intel Corporation, or Intel, have had an ongoing strategic relationship. VMware’s base virtualization platform virtualizes Intel architecture…Pursuant to Intel Capital’s proposed investment, at the later of the closing of the investment, and the earlier of the completion of this offering and September 30, 2007, our board of directors will appoint a new board member, an Intel executive to be designated by Intel and acceptable to our board….In addition, we and Intel have entered into a routine and customary collaboration partnering agreement that expresses the parties’ intent to continue to expand their cooperative efforts around joint development, marketing and industry initiatives. Intel’s investment is intended to foster strengthened intercompany collaboration towards accelerating VMware virtualization product adoption on Intel architecture and reinforcing the value of virtualization technology for customers.
We have agreed to consider the appointment of a Cisco executive to our board of directors at a future date….In addition, we and Cisco have entered into a routine and customary collaboration partnering agreement that expresses the parties’ intent to expand cooperative efforts around joint development, marketing, customer and industry initiatives. Cisco’s purchase is intended to strengthen intercompany collaboration towards accelerating customer adoption of VMware virtualization products with Cisco networking infrastructure and the development of customer solutions that address the intersection of virtualization and networking technologies. Through improved coordination and integration of networking and virtualized infrastructure, the companies intend to foster solutions that deliver enhanced data center optimization and extend the benefits of virtualization beyond the data center to remote offices and end-user desktops.
These transactions will not cause any change to VMware’s continued operation under our rules of engagement with respect to open industry partnerships and confidentiality principles that we publish to our technology partners. |
