For those not in the know, EQT is a Swedish-based private equity firm with 50 billion euros in raised capital and SUSE is the leading European Union (EU) Linux distributor.

SUSE has changed owners several times. First, Novell bought it in 2004. Then Novell was bought by Attachmate with Volish funds in 2010. In 2014 when Micro Focus purchased Attachmate and SUSE was spun off as an independent division.

EQT purchased SUSE from Micro Focus for $2.5 billion in March 2019. With an IPO of approximately $6 billion, it should make a tidy sum.

Bloomberg, which uncovered the plans, said that the IPO talks are in a preliminary stage. Nothing may yet come of these conversations. SUSE said: "As a company, we are constantly exploring ways to grow. But as a matter of corporate policy, we do not comment on rumour or speculation in the market."