Novell completes Cambridge acquisition

BANGALORE: Novell, Inc has completed the acquisition of Massachusetts-based

Cambridge Technology Partners Inc. The new portfolio - services and consulting -

will complement Novell's Net service software.

Though Cambridge Technology Partners will function as Novell’s subsidiary,

it will continue to retain its name, market presence and independence to

recommend best-of-breed solutions. Cambridge will focus on Novell major global

and national accounts and will serve its broad base of non-Novell global

clientele.

This apart, it will deliver strategic solutions around digital business

strategy, e-commerce and mobile commerce, and help companies put their customer

relationship, supply chain, and enterprise resource processes onto the Internet.

Cambridge will also offer systems integration and custom applications

development.

Cambridge Technology Partners' president and CEO, Jack Messman, will be the

president and CEO of Novell. Former CEO of Novell, Eric Schmidt, will be as

chairman of the Novell board of directors.

At a special meeting of Cambridge shareholders, held today in Cambridge,

Massachusetts, approximately 60 per cent of Cambridge's outstanding shares were

voted in favor of the Novell merger. "Cambridge will quickly take Novell to

full support of e-business solutions. This is a central element in our strategy

to provide a foundation for e-business with Novell Net services software and

eDirectory," Messman said.

"Novell has the technology and Cambridge the experience in helping

companies to understand how to use technology products to solve specific

business challenges. The new Novell product is ideally positioned to help

organizations make this transition," he said.

The addition the acquisition will provide a wide range of choices for

customers to implement the latest Web-based, e-business solutions. Novell

provides leading cross-platform Net services and integration technologies, such

as NDS eDirectory and DixXML.

Cambridge brings expertise in horizontal e-business solutions, such as

customer relationship management, supply chain management, and enterprise

resource planning. In addition, the Cambridge focus on specific industries,

including telecommunications, financial services, energy, and manufacturing,

will help generate new solutions to widen Novell's presence in the market.