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发表于 2003-11-4 23:34:53
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Press Release
Novell Announces Agreement to Acquire Leading Enterprise Linux Technology
Company SUSE LINUX
Novell expands its open source commitment and will become the first to offer
comprehensive Linux solutions for the enterprise from the desktop to the
server
Novell will be the only $1 billion software company with a Linux distribution
and the worldwide technical staff to support it
Novell/SUSE LINUX to become the world?s largest supplier of desktop-to-server
Linux solutions and technical support
Customers to gain worldwide technical support for enterprise Linux solutions
from a company with more than 20 years of operating system experience
IBM and Novell to negotiate extensions to commercial agreement with Novell
/SUSE LINUX to support the IBM eServer line
PROVO, Utah — Nov. 04, 2003 — Novell today announced it has entered into
an agreement to acquire SUSE LINUX, one of the world?s leading enterprise
Linux companies, expanding Novell?s ability to provide enterprise-class
services and support on the Linux platform. With the open source expertise
of SUSE LINUX and Novell?s world-class networking and identity solutions
and support, training and consulting services, Novell will be able to deliver
Linux and all its components ? from the server to the desktop ? and give
organizations a secure, reliable and mature Linux foundation. Novell will
pay $210 million in cash to co
Novell expands its open source commitment and will become the first to offer
comprehensive Linux solutions for the enterprise from the desktop to the
server
Novell will be the only $1 billion software company with a Linux distribution
and the worldwide technical staff to support it
Novell/SUSE LINUX to become the world?s largest supplier of desktop-to-server
Linux solutions and technical support
Customers to gain worldwide technical support for enterprise Linux solutions
from a company with more than 20 years of operating system experience
IBM and Novell to negotiate extensions to commercial agreement with Novell
/SUSE LINUX to support the IBM eServer line
PROVO, Utah — Nov. 04, 2003 — Novell today announced it has entered into
an agreement to acquire SUSE LINUX, one of the world?s leading enterprise
Linux companies, expanding Novell?s ability to provide enterprise-class
services and support on the Linux platform. With the open source expertise
of SUSE LINUX and Novell?s world-class networking and identity solutions
and support, training and consulting services, Novell will be able to deliver
Linux and all its components ? from the server to the desktop ? and give
organizations a secure, reliable and mature Linux foundation. Novell will
pay $210 million in cash to complete the acquisition. The transaction is
subject to regulatory approval and the winding up of shareholder agreements
. Novell expects the transaction to close by the end of its first fiscal
quarter (January 2004).
This latest move follows Novell?s August purchase of Ximian, a leader in
Linux server and desktop solutions, and further demonstrates Novell?s ongoing
commitment to provide customers a full range of Linux solutions. Both the
Ximian and SUSE LINUX acquisitions affirm Novell?s commitment to promoting
the open source model and developer community.
Novell today also announced that IBM intends to make a $50 million investment
in Novell convertible preferred stock. In addition, Novell and IBM are
negotiating
extensions to the current commercial agreements between IBM and SUSE LINUX
for the continued support of SUSE LINUX on IBM?s eServer products and
middleware
products to provide for product and marketing support arrangements related
to SUSE LINUX. Both of these agreements will be effective when the acquisition
of SUSE LINUX by Novell is completed.
?Responding to customer demands for open, standards-based computing, Novell
has been dedicated to a cross-platform vision for four years now, and Linux
is an increasingly important part of that strategy,? said Jack Messman,
chairman and CEO of Novell. ?The acquisition of SUSE LINUX will complete
Novell?s ability to offe
This latest move follows Novell?s August purchase of Ximian, a leader in
Linux server and desktop solutions, and further demonstrates Novell?s ongoing
commitment to provide customers a full range of Linux solutions. Both the
Ximian and SUSE LINUX acquisitions affirm Novell?s commitment to promoting
the open source model and developer community.
Novell today also announced that IBM intends to make a $50 million investment
in Novell convertible preferred stock. In addition, Novell and IBM are
negotiating
extensions to the current commercial agreements between IBM and SUSE LINUX
for the continued support of SUSE LINUX on IBM?s eServer products and
middleware
products to provide for product and marketing support arrangements related
to SUSE LINUX. Both of these agreements will be effective when the acquisition
of SUSE LINUX by Novell is completed.
?Responding to customer demands for open, standards-based computing, Novell
has been dedicated to a cross-platform vision for four years now, and Linux
is an increasingly important part of that strategy,? said Jack Messman,
chairman and CEO of Novell. ?The acquisition of SUSE LINUX will complete
Novell?s ability to offer enterprise-class Linux solutions to our customers
from the desktop to the server. No other enterprise Linux vendor has the
services with the high-availability and scalability features needed for
mission-critical environments.
SUSE LINUX is the leading enterpriprovides without the anxiety over whether
an open source solution can truly be relied on for mission-critical functions
.?
?Novell understands the power of open, standards-based computing, and has
been moving in that direction for some time,? said Richard Seibt, CEO of
SUSE LINUX. ?Novell?s global reach, marketing expertise and reputation for
security, reliability and global enterprise-level support are exactly what
we?ve been seeking to take SUSE LINUX to the next level. We?ve also been
impressed by the incredible loyalty and competence of Novell customers and
business partners, and we?re looking forward to joining forces to help
customers
gain the benefits of Linux and to help Novell continue to expand its role
in the open source community.?
SUSE LINUX Offerings Complement Novell Linux Services
SUSE LINUX offers a range of Linux server and desktop solutions designed
to meet the diversified needs of different organizations. SUSE LINUX Enterprise
Server 8 for midsize to large companies provides a range of core networking
services with the high-availability and scalability features needed for
mission-critical environments.
SUSE LINUX is the leading enterprise Linux company in Europe. In addition
, through its relationships with Conectiva and Turbolinux, SUSE LINUX has
been a leader in Latin America and Asia, as well. SUSE LINUX is also one
of the top providers of Linux to enterprises in the United States and North
America. Novell?s extensive global sales and channel programs, proven and
reliable technical support capabilities, as well as ongoing Novell and SUSE
LINUX relationships with key partners like IBM, Oracle, SGI, Fujitsu-Siemens
, Dell, Intel, AMD, SAP, HP and others, provide a powerful business network
to promote more rapid Linux adoption around the globe.
Novell?s Linux Strategy
The acquisition of SUSE LINUX will be an important step in Novell?s efforts
to accelerate enterprise adoption of Linux. Novell began building solutions
for Linux in early 2000, when it made its flagship eDirectory? technology
available on Linux. In April of this year, Novell announced it would make
all the services that run on its NetWare? operating system run on both the
NetWare and Linux kernels in the future with the full range of Novell?s
worldwide technical support. In August, Novell acquired Ximian with its leading
Linux desktop management solutions and its visionary leadership to promote
Novell will deliver not only complete enterprise Linux software solutions
, but also worldwide channels and industry-leadin
In September, Novell announced the open beta of Novell? Nterprise? Linux
Services (NLS), an offering that runs on SUSE LINUX and Red Hat* and provides
a variety of networking services for Linux environments. IBM, HP and Dell
have all licensed the NLS technology for resale to their customers. With
SUSE LINUX, Novell expands its reach to developers and ISVs looking for
a complete Linux solution. Today?s announcement of Novell?s plans to acquire
SUSE LINUX strengthens Novell?s already proven set of Linux offerings by
allowing Novell to distribute the underlying Linux platform itself, in addition
to the many value-added services for Linux that Novell already offers.
?We chose SUSE LINUX because they are a clear market leader in Linux technology
for the enterprise,? Messman said. ?With this acquisition, Novell will be
the only billion-dollar software company with a Linux distribution and a
worldwide ecosystem around it. A worldwide technical staff of more than
600 has been trained to support Linux. The acquisition of SUSE LINUX completes
our technology stack from the desktop to the server.?
Beyond the technology, the acquisition will also expand Novell?s strategic
commitment to the open source community. The combination of SUSE LINUX and
Novell will deliver not only complete enterprise Linux software solutions
, but also worldwide channels and industry-leading partnerships. The combined
company will help promote a thriving, global open source ecosystem that
creates innovation and choice for developers, users and organizations alike
. Novell is firmly committed to open standards and maintaining the existing
open source kernel development efforts. From advocacy and development resources
to events and support of open source efforts like kernel projects, XFree86
, ReiserFS, KDE, GNOME and Mono, Novell stands side-by-side with the open
source community.
Citigroup Global Markets Inc. acted as Novell?s financial adviser to the
transaction. Clifford Chance Punder served as Novell?s legal counsel. Arma
Partners acted as financial adviser to SUSE LINUX and its stockholders.
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer served as legal counsel to SUSE LINUX and
its stockholders. SUSE LINUX investors are e-Millenium 1, AdAstra Erste
Beteiligungsgesellschaft
mbH and APAX Partners & CO.
Press Conference Invitation
Novell and SUSE LINUX will hold a press conferen
Beyond the technology, the acquisition will also expand Novell?s strategic
commitment to the open source community. The combination of SUSE LINUX and
Forward-looking Statements
This press release includes statements that are not historical in nature
and that may be characterized as ?forward-looking statements,? including
those related to future financial and operating results, benefits and synergies
of the company?s brands and strategies, future opportunities and the growth
of the market for open source solutions. You should be aware that Novell
?s actual results could differ materially from those contained in the forward
-looking statements, which are based on current expectations of Novell
management
and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including, but not
limited to, Novell?s ability to integrate acquired operations and employees
, Novell?s success in executing its Linux strategies, Novell?s ability to
deliver on its one Net vision of the Internet, Novell?s ability to take
a competitive position in the Linux industry, business conditions and the
general economy, market opportunities, potential new business strategies
, competitive factors, sales and marketing execution, shifts in technologies
or market demand, and the other factors described in Novell?s Annual Report
on Form 10-K for the 2002 fiscal year. Novell disclaims any intention or
obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of developments
occurring after the date of this press release.
, Inc. in the United States and other countries. SUSE is a registered trademark
of SUSE LINUX. *All third-party trademarks are the property of their respective
owners.
development (Novell exteNd?) and cross-platform networking services (Novell
Nterprise?), all supported by strategic consulting and professional services
(Novell NgageSM). Novell's vision of one Net - a world without information
boundaries - helps customers realize the value of their information securely
and economically. For more information, call Novell's Customer Response
Center at (888) 321-4CRC (4272) or visit http://www.novell.com. Press should
visit http://www.novell.com/pressroom.
About SUSE LINUX
Established in 1992, SUSE LINUX is one of the world?s leading providers of
Linux software and services. With the largest dedicated Linux research and
development team, SUSE LINUX delivers enterprise-ready software and services
that harness the innovation, speed-to-market and independence of the open
source community. A privately held company based in Nuremberg, Germany,
SUSE LINUX ? together with global business partners ? supports customers
throughout the world.
Novell, NetWare and Ximian are registered trademarks; eDirectory, exteNd,
Nsure and Nterprise are trademarks; and Ngage is a service mark of Novell
Phone: (415) 591-6523
E-mail: blowry@novell.com
Joseph Eckert
SUSE LINUX
Phone: (203) 270-3711
E-mail: jeckert@suse.com |
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