Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!att!cbnewsj!jwi
From: jwi@cbnewsj.ATT.COM (Jim Winer @ AT&T, Middletown, NJ)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: Lotus bought Novell???
Summary: It's true!
Message-ID: <4570@cbnewsj.ATT.COM>
Date: 10 Apr 90 13:59:43 GMT
References: <65kla@physc1.byu.edu>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
Lines: 39

In article <65kla@physc1.byu.edu>, kla@physc1.byu.edu writes:
> I have also heard this from people who work closely with Novell (It being here
> in Provo I think it is on pretty good authority) What will happen to Novell is
> anyone's guess, but it seems unlikely that Netware can get any more expensive
> than it already is.

From CSN (Computer System News) April 9, 1990, Page 1:
quoted without permission

"Lotus Development Corp. last week agreed in principle 
to acquire Novell Inc., a move that highlights a key 
computing imperative for the 1990s: Applications are 
only as good as the networks on which they run.

"'All of our applications are moving onto networks,' 
said Lotus vice president Frank King, in explaining 
the thinking behind the proposed deal. 'And Novell is 
sitting there with the largest installed base of 
network users.'

"The stock transaction, valued at $1.42 billion, would 
combine Lotus' spreadsheet might with Novell's strength 
in local-area networks to create a powerful rival to 
Microsoft Corp in the PC software market. To date, 
Microsoft is the only company that can offer nearly 
every type of software for large PC networks.

[...omitted quotes from various industry sources about
how good this will be or how bad this will be]

"Wall Street did not look upon the acquisition too kindly. 
At Friday's close, Novell stock had plunged to $38.75 
from $42.88, while Lotus' stock had slipped to $34.25 
from $36.25.

"The agreement is subject to approval by both companies' 
boards, regulatory agencies and shareholders."

[... more omitted stuff]