back to article Microsoft to pump cash into Dell buyout deal?

The word on the street is that Michael Dell and his rich friends are having an easy time finding the many billions of dollars needed to do a leveraged buyout of the PC and server maker and take it private, especially now that Microsoft has entered the picture with as much as $3bn to invest in the deal. According to a report ( …

COMMENTS

This topic is closed for new posts.
  1. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Why go private?

    Why go private? Everybody, Facebook included, is making lots of money on the stock market!

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Why go private?

      For a private company, floating is good. Just ask a banker. (And they won't be swayed by how much money they can make in advisor fees when you float, oh no. The very thought of it!)

      For a public company, going private is good. Just ask a banker. (And they won't be swayed by how much money they can make in advisor fees when you go private, oh no. The very thought of it!)

    2. P. Lee

      Re: Why go private?

      The depression is on, the stock is very cheap. Buy it and wait for the uptick in profits in the next cycle.

    3. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Why go private?

      Probably the more pressing issue for Dell at the moment is that there is very little profit in the box making IT industry. Dell are going to have to make some pretty big decisions soon, such as how big Dell want to be, where Dell want to be, which market(s) they want to focus on. This may mean downsizing Dell or it may mean moving Dell's manufacturing. It may also mean outsourcing or off-shoring elements of Dell. It will be far, far easier to carry out this work, without shareholders demanding votes and threatening lawsuits for every decision that they don't like.

    4. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Why go private?

      You do realise that there are real costs involved in being listed.

      The main advantage for the company of being listed is the ability to access cheap cash through selling stock ... but the downside is that it dilutes your own holdings and shifts power into the hands of the stockholders.

      The main advantage for the original owners of being listed is that it crystallises the worth of their efforts, and leaves them with millions or in the case of Facebook billions.

      It's also great for stockholders if there are big dividends or the stock is rising.

      However, there are controls on what a listed company can and cannot do.

      and anyone of course buy your stock ...

      In a situation where the immediate future looks bleak ... i.e. small or no dividends ... where the future looks like it'll be a shrinking share price ... and where you really need to restructure to address a changing market ... being listed can be a death sentence.

  2. Anonymous Coward
    Thumb Down

    Mirky waters?

    Nevermind Dell... Is Microsoft, back to creating corporate ties in the name of their own share price?

    Once WIntel...now WinDell...else possible WinSell?

    Now, if this "news" isn't really about _saving_ share value, then you can really tell Microsoft is behind FOSS, with a knife. Well, bedding with Dell puts a knife in their hand regardless.

    1. Lars Silver badge
      Thumb Down

      Re: Mirky waters?

      Not exactly the fellow I would like to go to bed with.

    2. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Mirky waters?

      Talk about out of the frying pan and into the bowels of hell!

      I'd much rather my chances in a huge tank full of blood-sucking parasites, investment bankers, piranha, asset strippers, crocs, naked shorters, etc, etc... than trapped in some dark, lonely place with Balmer... trying to make a go of a "deal" with the evil empire. Can't see that ending well ;-)

  3. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Dell Linux Machines

    Microsoft: evil laugh

  4. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Alas, poor Ophelia, we hardly knew ye....

    http://www.infoworld.com/t/thin-clients/meet-ophelia-dells-50-plug-in-cloud-based-pc-challenger-211031

    http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2013/01/is-dell-looking-to-kill-pcs-with-project-ophelia/

    Alas, poor Ophelia, we hardly knew ye - taken from us before you were even born.

  5. tempemeaty

    Has Microsoft won the war against alternative operating systems?

    Every time I think it can't get worse it does. Looks like the only hope of mainstream PCs being sold with Linux is going to be from small companies. That's little to none.

    I remember a time when congress didn't support monopolies.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Linux

      Re: Has Microsoft won the war against alternative operating systems?

      No, far from it.

      Look at Android, it's running rings around Windows Phone.

      Ubuntu is also far more usable on both the desktop and servers...

      1. Patrick O'Reilly

        Re: Has Microsoft won the war against alternative operating systems?

        This does not bode well for #projectSputnik

        1. Dan 55 Silver badge

          No need to worry

          It's a Ballmer with his wallet flailing around like wounded elephant. His multi billion-dollar purchase is bound to turn to shit in about a year.

      2. Euripides Pants

        Re: Has Microsoft won the war against alternative operating systems?

        "Ubuntu is also far more usable"

        That's sad, I've seen Ubuntu.

  6. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    And the march continues

    For Microsoft becoming just like Apple, but without the success. {}:>))

  7. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    If you can't sell Windows 8 software

    buy into hardware and force it's way in..

    Job done.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: If you can't sell Windows 8 software

      Microsoft has always forced its way in. It never needed to buy any of the hardware companies to hold them in its iron grip. Don't know why it is doing so now.

  8. Adam 1

    can someone check on Eadon?

    It's been over an hour and still no sign.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: can someone check on Eadon?

      Probably lying on his floor flailing wildly in the throws some ghastly apoplectic fit. If anyone knows his address, please call the poor sod an ambulance.

  9. This post has been deleted by its author

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Why doesn't...

      Methinks even US regulator types would raise an eyebrow at that... probably much more palatable to quietly slip a subversive foot into an obligingly parted backside.

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: Why doesn't...

        What's there to raise an eyebrow at? MS don't make physical computers and Dell don't make software, or not much at least. The regulator would only raise an eyebrow at MS buying something like direct competitor in software, for instance if MS bought RedHat or Apple, you could be sure there would be some regulatory investigation, if they bought up HP's Proliant division there would be no need for an investigation.

  10. Fihart

    Then opposite of Victor Kiam.

    He loved the Remington razor so much he bought the company.

    Dell hated Windows 8 so much Steve Balmer bought that company.

  11. Chris_Maresca

    They should shut it down and give shareholders their money back

    Michael Dell was right.... He should listen to his own advice

    http://news.cnet.com/2100-1001-203937.html

  12. Dazed and Confused

    What will the regulators make of this?

    Having seen the affect of letting Oracle buy Sun.

    What will the regulators make of letting a Monopoly SW supplier get into the HW business?

    Sadly Microsoft's current "partners" aren't in a position to say anything. When Microsoft say "Jump" you don't even think about whether they'll ever to say "Land"

    1. Wanda Lust

      Re: What will the regulators make of this?

      It's only a $3bn share of a $22bn capitalisation. Can't see the regulators get too excited.

      Now, if only Dell's old 'pal' Joe Tucci felt inclined to weigh in......

    2. Anonymous Coward
      Headmaster

      Re: What will the regulators make of this?

      MS is hoping that regulators will never see the "effect" of letting Oracle buy Sun!!

  13. dssf

    What about Google. As of 7/2012, it had US$50Bn in the bank...

    http://www.forbes.com/sites/timworstall/2012/07/19/google-doesnt-know-what-to-do-with-its-money-but-dell-does/

    Google could REALLY (even moreso than with Chromebooks, laser goggles, etc.) be in the hardware business if it buys up Dell:

    http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2012/07/13/a-show-and-tell-with-googles-hardware/

    http://mobile.businessweek.com/articles/2012-05-22/its-official-google-is-now-a-hardware-company

    But, what would Google do with Alienware?

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Google knows enough about computer hardware...

      ...to steer well clear of Dell. Next you'll be suggesting that they buy HP's PC division!

  14. Captain DaFt

    And then, unexpectedly...

    Apple swoops in and buys Dell, then dissolves it, to the uncanny background sound of Steve Jobs laughing from the grave...

  15. Lars Silver badge
    Joke

    Well, well

    Dell (the man) you should have kept Dell (the company) private from the beginning.

  16. adam payne

    If MS want to get into the hardware market then suppose it makes sense for MS to buy in to Dell as they are big player.

  17. Zap

    Clever

    This is clever, right now Dell shares are hot on the anticipation of a deal, shares can be sold while the price is up and bought back later at a discount when it falls through. Meanwhile the company has capitalization.

    In my experience when a company wants to take itself private it is for one of two reasons; some bad news that would erode their share price or an anticipated sale of some or all of the company.

    Only MD and his investors know the true story, meanwhile it is in play and there is money to be made or lost.

    What Dell has shown is that it is one of the best at just in time manufacturing, which has helped it protect margins.

    One thing is for sure, Microsoft has no interest in buying Dell, that would kill it's relationship with other OEM's, a shareholding on the other hand gives it influence.

    Apple is NOT going to buy it, Apple works in Niches, yes selling overpriced kit to technophobic idiots is still a niche even if it leads to some killer products.

  18. solaries
    Unhappy

    Dell buyout by Mircrosoft

    I am a Dell user should I be worried about this buyout by Microsoft. I am thinking of up grading my laptop to a Dell desktop in the future will Dell be around to buy one they have great customer service.

This topic is closed for new posts.

Other stories you might like