HSBC TAPS MICROSOFT-NOVELL AGREEMENT TO REDUCE LINUX ENVIRONMENT

REDMOND, Washington, and WALTHAM, Massachusetts, March 14 /PRNewswire/ --

- Global bank selects SUSE Linux Enterprise as its standard Linux
distribution, citing interoperability with Windows Active Directory and
integrated Windows and Linux platform support.


Microsoft Corp and Novell, Inc today announced that HSBC, one of the
world's largest banking and financial services organisations, has joined the
growing number of global firms taking advantage of the recent collaboration
between Microsoft and Novell. Under the agreement, Microsoft will deliver to
HSBC certificates for three-year priority support subscriptions to SUSE(R)
Linux Enterprise Server from Novell(R), as HSBC moves to standardise its
Linux(1) deployments on one distribution. By reducing the diversity of its
Linux environment, HSBC will be able to reduce its total cost of ownership
(TCO) for Linux, and improve interoperability with its existing Microsoft(R)
Windows(R) infrastructure.

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"The Microsoft-Novell agreement is a great catalyst to helping us reduce
the complexity of our Linux environment as we standardise our Linux
infrastructure with SUSE Linux Enterprise and continue to extend the use of
Microsoft Active Directory(R)," said Matthew O'Neill, group head of
Distributed Systems for HSBC Global IT Operations. "Some will be surprised to
learn that our Windows environment has a lower total cost of ownership than
our current Linux environment. Our decision to simplify our mixed-source
environment with Microsoft and Novell will allow us to reduce the cost and
complexity. That's why we have selected Novell as our preferred Linux partner
to support our Linux infrastructure going forward."

Headquartered in London, HSBC's international network includes more than
9,500 offices with 284,000 employees in 76 countries. HSBC has 125 million
customers, 25 million of whom are registered for internet banking. HSBC
provides a comprehensive range of financial services including personal
financial services; commercial banking; corporate, investment banking and
markets; private banking; and other activities.

Roger Levy, vice president and general manager of Open Platform Solutions
for Novell, is joining HSBC's Open Source Software Committee as a nonvoting
advisor. "The ability of HSBC to reduce complexity, simplify support and
increase its IT agility is a testament to the mission of Novell's agreement
with Microsoft -- to help customers win," Levy said. "Novell is pleased to
become HSBC's trusted Linux partner, and standardising Linux on SUSE Linux
Enterprise Server will give the company a rock-solid foundation that will
seamlessly interact with its Windows environment."

"Our customers tell us that they want technology vendors to work better
together -- that's what our agreement with Novell is all about," said Susan
Hauser, general manager of strategic partnerships and licensing at Microsoft.
"Founded on intellectual property assurance, our interoperability efforts are
helping HSBC apply best practices from its Windows infrastructure to lower
TCO for its Linux environment."


The Microsoft-Novell Agreement

On 2 Nov 2006, Novell and Microsoft announced a series of agreements to
jointly build, market and support new solutions to improve interoperability,
deliver powerful new virtualisation capabilities, make Microsoft and Novell
products work better together, and give customers peace of mind that both
companies stand behind the products they deliver. As part of this five-year
agreement, Microsoft can use, resell or distribute certificates that
customers redeem to receive SUSE Linux Enterprise Server subscriptions for
upgrades, updates and technical support from Novell.

Since the announcement, more than 40,000 new certificates for three-year
priority support subscriptions to SUSE Linux Enterprise Server have been
activated under the Microsoft and Novell collaboration agreement. AIG
Technologies Inc, Deutsche Bank AG, Credit Suisse and Wal-Mart Stores Inc are
among the first companies taking advantage of the benefits of the
interoperability agreement between Microsoft and Novell.

More information about the Microsoft and Novell agreement, including
other customer announcements, can be found at
http://www.novell.com/linux/microsoft and
http://www.microsoft.com/interop/msnovellcollab/default.mspx .


About Novell

Novell, Inc (Nasdaq: NOVL) delivers infrastructure software for the Open
Enterprise. We are a leader in enterprise-wide operating systems based on
Linux and open source and the security and systems management services
required to operate mixed IT environments. We help our customers minimise
cost, complexity and risk, allowing them to focus on innovation and growth.
For more information, visit http://www.novell.com .


About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in
software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realise
their full potential.


About Microsoft EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa)

Microsoft has operated in EMEA since 1982. In the region Microsoft
employs more than 12,000 people in 60 subsidiaries, delivering products and
services in 138 countries and territories.


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