Agilent, the HP spin-off with a name that famously is an anagram of the word “genital”, has given rise to another firm with another stupid name. Two private equity outfits recently completed the $2.6bn purchase of Agilent’s semiconductor division, christening it Avago Technologies – the kind of pathetic name you come up with when someone says: “Alright then, you have a go at coming up with a better name; go on, have a go!” After forking out billions, presumably the finance bods – Kohlberg Kravis Roberts and Silver Lake Partners – didn’t have enough money to pay an overpriced branding consultant to come up with a proper name like Dango, Crostum or Loblocks.

12 Dec 2005