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Summary: Motley Fool considers takeovers as an option for Novell

THERE have been several speculations and jokes about Novell getting acquired this year [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. The most recent situation involved the possibility that Microsoft would be a suitor. Microsoft affinity makes it a good match, but for many other reasons it's more of a mismatch, so while Novell called it unlikely, its Microsoft affinity does not rule this out of a future possibility. Moreover, a writer at CRN thinks that it might make sense for Dell to buy Novell. It's a complementary relationship.

Now we find the Microsoft-friendly Motley Fool suggesting that one of the cash-richest technology companies out there, namely Cisco, could be a buyer of Novell. The Microsoft relationships and the connection to networking might provide a technical link and there is almost no overlap resulting in redundancy upon merger.

The Linux field is hot, no question about it. But I'd be less surprised to see IBM or an ultrarich and very acquisitive Cisco (Nasdaq: CSCO) snap up rival Linux dealer Novell (Nasdaq: NOVL) for a song.

Two years ago we presented a comparison between Novell's relationship with Microsoft and that of Cisco's. Both betray the GPL, too. Does that still make sense for two companies like Cisco and Novell to become one? If not, why not? ⬆