SUSE Linux Up for Sale Again, Valued at $6 Billion

IBM's $34 billion Red Hat acquisition raises questions about SUSE's future ownership.

Published on Mar. 12, 2026

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Rumors and reports indicate that SUSE Linux, the enterprise Linux distribution, is up for sale again. This would mark the latest ownership change for SUSE, which has changed hands several times in the past. The company is reportedly valued at around $6 billion, a fraction of the $34 billion IBM paid to acquire Red Hat Linux six years ago.

Why it matters

SUSE's potential sale raises questions about the future direction of the company and the Linux ecosystem as a whole. As one of the major enterprise Linux distributions, SUSE's ownership and strategy could have significant implications for businesses and developers relying on the platform. The sale also comes amid broader consolidation in the Linux and open-source software market.

The details

According to reports, SUSE Linux is being put up for sale by its current owner, the Swedish private equity firm EQT. SUSE was previously owned by Novell, then acquired by Attachmate Group in 2011, and later sold to EQT in 2014. The $6 billion valuation is a fraction of the $34 billion IBM paid to acquire Red Hat in 2018, raising questions about SUSE's market position and growth potential compared to Red Hat.

  • SUSE Linux was previously owned by Novell before being acquired by Attachmate Group in 2011.
  • EQT, a Swedish private equity firm, acquired SUSE from Attachmate Group in 2014.
  • IBM acquired Red Hat, another major enterprise Linux distribution, for $34 billion in 2018.

The players

SUSE Linux

An enterprise Linux distribution that has changed ownership several times in the past, and is now reportedly up for sale again with a $6 billion valuation.

IBM

The technology giant that acquired Red Hat, another major enterprise Linux distribution, for $34 billion in 2018.

EQT

A Swedish private equity firm that currently owns SUSE Linux and is reportedly looking to sell the company.

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What they’re saying

“It would be interesting to see who grabs SUSE. I hope it's not Microsoft.”

— It's FOSS, Author (itsfoss.com)

What’s next

The potential sale of SUSE Linux is still in the rumor stage, and the details of any potential transaction or new ownership are not yet known. Industry observers will be closely watching to see who emerges as the potential buyer for SUSE and how the company's future strategy and direction may change under new ownership.

The takeaway

The potential sale of SUSE Linux highlights the ongoing consolidation and shifting dynamics in the enterprise Linux market. As one of the major players, SUSE's future ownership and strategy could have significant implications for businesses and developers relying on the platform, as well as the broader Linux ecosystem.