Wall Street Journal - Slumping Dell Holds Talks to Go Private

[menotu]

14 Jan 2013

Dell Inc. has held talks recently with buyout firms Silver Lake Partners and TPG about going private, as the technology company struggles to find a new course for itself following the end of the personal-computer boom.

Talks between Dell and private-equity firms have been going on for the last two to three months, according to people with knowledge of the conversations.

One of these people described the talks as "serious" and said that they heated up late last year and any possible deal—if one were to be struck—likely would emerge within six weeks.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324235104578242252277078638.html

[menotu]

Reuters

Dell nears buyout, deal could come as soon as Monday: sources

Dell Inc is nearing an agreement to sell itself to a buyout consortium led by its founder and Chief Executive Michael Dell and private equity firm Silver Lake Partners, possibly announcing a deal as soon as Monday, according to two people familiar with the matter.

Michael Dell is expected to take majority ownership of the world's third-largest personal computer maker, which currently has a market value of $23 billion, while Silver Lake and Microsoft Corp would become minority investors, a third person familiar with the matter said.

The final price the group is expected to pay Dell shareholders could not be immediately learned. The deal would mark the largest leveraged buyout since the global financial crisis.

The transaction is set to be finalized over the weekend but the buyout consortium is working on last-minute details and the timetable could still slip, the people cautioned, asking not to be named because the matter is not public.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/01/us-dell-buyout-idUSBRE91009K20130201

[ruel24]

I think they should just close the doors and give the money back to the stockholders... Seriously! Dell is HORRIBLE anymore. There was a time, back in the 1990's, when they were the best computer out there. But that was long ago. Their customer service is complete crap, their extended warranties are useless, and the quality of their product is below par. They deserve to die a horrible death.

[Old-Polack]

I think they should just close the doors and give the money back to the stockholders... Seriously! Dell is HORRIBLE anymore. There was a time, back in the 1990's, when they were the best computer out there. But that was long ago. Their customer service is complete crap, their extended warranties are useless, and the quality of their product is below par. They deserve to die a horrible death.

By accepting MS as a partner, that's pretty much assured.

[menotu]

Tuesday, 5 Feb 2013 y: Cadie Thompson - CNBC

Dell agreed to be taken private Tuesday in a $24.4 billion buyout deal by a consortium led by its founder and chief executive, Michael Dell, in the biggest leveraged buyout since the 2008 financial crisis.

According to the agreement, shareholders will receive $13.65 in cash per share for common stock in a deal that will allow Dell and the private-equity firm Silver Lake Partners to acquire the company.

Microsoft, which provides software for Dell computers is also part of the investment consortium and will invest $2 billion in the deal. Michael Dell will also roll over his roughly 16 percent stake and put in some of his own money so he has control of the company.

http://www.cnbc.com/id/100434254