• Novell's acquisition of Salmon will strengthen and expand its enterprise consulting and service based offerings in Europe, particularly in the UK market
• Salmon brings strong services expertise to Novell’s existing consulting practice focused on the delivery of web-based solutions
• Novell enhances its leadership position in Identity Management and Linux

Bracknell, UK — 22 July 2004 — Novell today announced it has acquired Salmon Ltd, the IT services and consulting firm head quartered in Watford, England. The acquisition expands Novell’s services offerings with Salmon’s expertise in delivering web-based solutions. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Salmon, a leading IT service provider focused on the successful development and implementation of enterprise class web-based applications and services, accelerates Novell's ability to deliver solutions to customers based upon its vision of a world without information boundaries.

The acquisition will see Salmon bring new capabilities and strengths to Novell’s existing service capabilities of consulting, education and technical support. As part of Novell, Salmon will continue to assist clients with shaping and managing IT change by identifying and sharing risk and offering a long term business partnership based on trust, honesty and integrity.

The combined service offerings will allow Novell to enhance its existing leadership position in Identity Management and Linux by delivering reliable and secure solutions faster, more cost-effectively and with high levels of scalability.

Jack Messman, chairman and CEO of Novell, said: “Novell has built a solid reputation as a leading provider of information solutions that deliver secure identity management, web services, application integration, resource management and cross-platform networking services. More recently we have evolved this offering further through the acquisitions of SUSE and Ximian, which enable us to provide a full range of Linux-based open source solutions. As our product and solutions capability increases, so must our high quality service offerings. With its expertise and experience in identifying, developing, implementing and the management and support of web-based applications and services within the UK and European market, Salmon is an excellent fit for Novell.”

Chris Harvey, Managing Director of Salmon, said: “This acquisition is great news for both Novell and Salmon's customers and partners. Novell will be able to offer a broad range of offerings and IT service propositions that combine the interests of Novell with those of our key partners. We continue with our commitment to delivering solutions on time, and on budget and I am confident that this acquisition will help Salmon to continue to make big strides within the UK and European marketplace.”

Novell addresses the need to offer complete solutions to clients through its Cambridge Technology Partners (CTP) business. The combination of strong CTP solutions delivery expertise and today's acquisition of Salmon reinforces Novell’s consulting capabilities in the United Kingdom and across Europe, and further improves Novell's go to market capability.

About Novell
Novell, Inc. (Nasdaq: NOVL) is a leading provider of information solutions that deliver secure identity management (Novell Nsure™), Web application 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, visit http://www.novell.com. Press should visit http://www.novell.com/pressroom.

About Salmon
Salmon is an IT services and consulting company that is completely committed to mitigating the risks inherent in identifying, developing and implementing web based applications and systems. Salmon combines comprehensive business acumen and IT project management expertise with over 15 years of successfully translating leading edge technologies into viable solutions. The company works in a diverse range of sectors including insurance, retail banking, retail, telecommunications, media, utilities and manufacturing. Salmon’s unique approach is underpinned by a desire to provide premium customer satisfaction, and to work in a way that ensures each client retains control of its budget and strategic direction, whilst Salmon takes responsibility for each initiative. Customers include Argos, Anglian Water, Swiss Re, Manchester Airport and Interface.

Salmon is head-quartered in Watford, Hertfordshire, UK. For more details about Salmon visit www.salmon.com

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 Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 2, 2004. 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.

Novell, NetWare, DeveloperNet, and Ximian are registered trademarks and PartnerNet is a registered service mark; exteNd, Nsure and Nterprise are trademarks; and Ngage is a service mark of Novell, Inc. in the United States and other countries. SUSE is a registered trademark of SUSE Linux AG, a Novell company. *All third-party trademarks are the property of their respective owners

Novell, DirXML, BorderManager and iChain are registered trademarks, eDirectory, exteNd, Nsure and Nterprise are trademarks, and Ngage is a service mark of Novell, Inc. in the United States and other countries. *All third-party trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Press Contact:
Scott McLean
Hotwire PR
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Andrew Mildren
Porter Novelli for Novell UK
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Mob: +44 (0) 7720 277 197
E-mail: andrew.mildren@cpn.co.uk

Kenny McGilvary
Hotwire PR
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E-mail: kenny.mcgilvary@hotwirepr.com

Matt Campbell
Porter Novelli
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E-mail: matt.campbell@cpn.co.uk