Novell to be acquired by Attachmate.

(From vnunet)

Novell is to be acquired by software firm Attachmate in a deal expected to be worth $2.2bn ( GBP1.37bn), which will also see some of Novell's intellectual property assets sold to a consortium led by Microsoft.

The deal is subject to regulatory approval, and is expected to close in the first quarter of 2011, according to Novell.

Few details have been disclosed other than a joint statement from the two companies outlining the planned buyout.

Under the terms of the agreement, Attachmate will acquire Novell's assets and will operate these as two separate business units - the Suse Linux subsidiary and the rest of Novell - and add these to …