No one at IBM or Novell was available to comment on speculation that Big Blur has set its sights on gobbling up the software company.

Rumours of a possible acquisition helped fuel a 20 per cent increase in Novell's share price yesterday, according to the FT.

However, this is not the first time the two companies have been linked. Reports suggest that industry gossip mongerers have been talking about a possible tie-up between the two companies for at least two years.

Twenty two million shares were traded in Novell yesterday forcing up its price by almost $2 to $11.

Novell will publish its Q3 results tomorrow. ®