Linux-Watch
      . . . keeping an eye on the penguin   
Home  |  News  |  Forum  |  Blogs  |  Videos  |  ITLink

Keywords: Match:
Novell sells Celerant, focuses on Linux
May 24, 2006

Novell announced on May 24th that it has sold its shares in Celerant Consulting, its management consulting branch, to Caledonia Investments, a UK-quoted investment trust, for $77 million.

Celerant was part of Cambridge Technology Partners, which Novell Inc. acquired in 2001.

This acquisition never worked well for Novell. As Novell CEO Jack Messman said in 2002, "Hindsight is always 20/20, but who could have guessed we'd see such a collapse in the services business? "

Investors like Blum Capital Partners LP had long wanted Novell to sell off Celerant and make other changes. Other stockholder-driven changes have yet to materialize, however.

For example, Novell started to plan a share repurchase programn of up to $200 million of Novell common stock in September. At the time, Jack Messman, Novell's chairman and CEO said, "Our stock buyback is just one of the elements of a plan aimed at enhancing shareholder value and securing Novell's future as an important provider of solutions to the IT market." However, Novell hasn't acted on that plan yet, because it's been in a blackout period.

With Celerant's sale behind it, sources close to the company indicated that the stock-buyback plan would soon start.

Now that Celerant is sold, Novell will be better able to focus on its core businesses of Linux and open source; systems, security and identity management; and its renewed interest in workgroup computing. In particular, Novell is looking forward to a summer launch of the next-generation of its SUSE Linux Enterprise 10 for Novell server and desktop systems.

These are based on the recent OpenSUSE 10.1 Linux community release.

The sale of Celerant should have have no impact on Novell's existing IT consulting business. Novell will continue to offer IT consulting services around its Linux, NetWare, and services build around those operating systems.

"The sale of Celerant allows Novell to concentrate fully on our core technology growth businesses." said Messma in a statement.


-- Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols



Do you have comments on this story?


Talkback here

NOTE: Please post your comments regarding our articles using the above link. Be sure to use this article's title as the "Subject" in your posts. Before you create a new thread, please check to see if a discussion thread is already running on the article you plan to comment on. Thanks!



(Click here for further information)


7 Advantages of D2D Backup
For decades, tape has been the backup medium of choice. But, now, disk-to-disk (D2D) backup is gaining in favor. Learn why you should make the move in this whitepaper.

4 Legal Reasons to Control Internet Access
The Internet is obviously a valuable resource for many organizations. However, many are exposed to legal liability concerns because they fail to control Internet access. Learn if you're safe in this white paper.

Rapidly Resolve J2EE Application Problems
Whether you are in the process of building J2EE applications or have J2EE applications already running in production, you must ensure that they deliver the expected ROI. Learn how in this white paper.

Load Testing 2.0 for Web 2.0
There are many unknowns in stress testing Web 2.0 applications. Find out how to test the performance of Web 2.0 in this white paper.

Build Better Games Online
For the game infrastructure providers, life is complex. Making money from games has become more complicated. Why? Find out in this white paper.

Building a Virtual Infrastructure from Servers to Storage
This white paper discusses the virtual storage solutions that reduce cost, increase storage utilization, and address the challenges of backing up and restoring Server environments.

Gaining Faster Wireless Connections with WiMAX
Welcome to what is quickly becoming the hyperconnected world where anything that would benefit from being connected to the network will be connected. Learn more in this white paper.

Is Your Desktop a Security Threat?
The new wave of sophisticated crimeware not only targets specific companies, but also targets desktops and laptops as backdoor entryways into those business’ operations and resources. Learn how to stay safe in this white paper.

Increasing SAN Reliability by 100 Percent
Storage area networks (SAN) are a strong part of storage plans. Learn how to increase your reliability and uptime by 100 percent in this case study.

 



Got a HOT tip?   please tell us!

ADVERTISEMENT
(Advertise here)

Also visit:
• eWEEK's Linux center
• Dev Shed
  and, our 'evil twin'...
• Microsoft-Watch.com


Latest Linux-Watch Posts

• Worst security blooper ever?
• Novell offers RHEL, CentOS support
• Windows 7 no threat to netbook Linux
• Microsoft breaks HotMail for Linux users?
• Torvalds: Real quality means taking it personally
• Opinion: open source value transcends tough times
• OpenOffice 3.0 reviewed
• Shutting down idle PCs with Linux
• Linux valued at $10.9 billion
• UK gains LPI affiliate
More Linux-Watch posts

DesktopLinux headlines:
• "Moonlight" ready to shine
• Adobe unleashes 64-bit Flash
• Debian Lenny installer arrives
• Ubuntu announces ARM port
• Amazon offers Linux XOs
• Windows 7 "no threat" to netbook Linux
• Creative frees Sound Blaster driver code
• Linux, netbooks threaten Microsoft's fat profits
• Ibex inspires GNOME switch
• Linux to outship Windows in 2009?
More DesktopLinux news

LinuxDevices headlines:
• MontaVista touts Android readiness
• Via panel PC resists shock, liquids
• Linux provider touts support award
• "World's smallest humanoid robot" runs Linux
• Linux connects TVs to 'Net video
• Mot camera-phone runs widgets
• Linux-ready MILS kernel gains POSIX
• Multimedia processor plays H.264 video
• $7 ARM9 SoC gains mainline support
• Mini-ITX board has HDMI port
More LinuxDevices news

Dev Shed Dev Shed
Powered By Dev Shed


Linux vs. Windows?
•  in the enterprise
•  in gadgets & devices

Linux conquers smartphones!

...read all about 'em




news feed

Home  |  News  |  Forum  |  About  |  Contact
 

Ziff Davis Enterprise Home | Contact Us | Advertise | Link to Us | Reprints | Magazine Subscriptions | Newsletters
Tech RSS Feeds | White Papers | ROI Calculators | Tech Podcasts | Tech Video | VARs | Channel News

Baseline | Careers | Channel Insider | CIO Insight | DesktopLinux | DeviceForge | DevSource | eSeminars |
eWEEK | Enterprise Network Security | LinuxDevices | Linux Watch | Microsoft Watch | Mid-market | Networking | PDF Zone |
Publish | Security IT Hub | Strategic Partner | Web Buyer's Guide | Windows for Devices

Developer Shed | Dev Shed | ASP Free | Dev Articles | Dev Hardware | SEO Chat | Tutorialized | Scripts |
Code Walkers | Web Hosters | Dev Mechanic | Dev Archives | igrep

Use of this site is governed by our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Except where otherwise specified, the contents of this site are copyright © 1999-2008 Ziff Davis Enterprise Holdings Inc. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of Ziff Davis Enterprise is prohibited. Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.