Dell reaffirms buyout plan extend deadline

Dell's board of directors Wednesday defended a proposed $24.4 billion private equity buyout led by founder Michael Dell, but said it may continue looking at other offers past a March 22 deadline. A statement issued by the special committee of the board said the plan was adopted after "a rigorous process, over a period of more than five months, to evaluate Dell's current risks, opportunities and strategic alternatives." "As a result of that process, the special committee unanimously determined that the sale of the company would be the best alternative for stockholders, the statement said. "We negotiated aggressively to ensure that stockholders received the best possible value and agreed to a $13.65 per share transaction that provides value certainty at a 37 percent premium above the average price for the 90 days before rumors regarding the transaction surfaced." The statement comes with some major outside shareholders complaining that the deal would undervalue the US computer giant, which has been struggling amid a shift away from traditional desktop and laptop PCs. At least two major institutional shareholders have said they would vote against the plan. The board committee said there were "a number of important provisions in the transaction to protect and maximize value for stockholders" including a "low break-up fee and a robust go-shop process." It said its financial advisor, Evercore "is actively soliciting potential alternative proposals now in a process that concludes March 22, and we will continue negotiations past that date if a potentially superior proposal emerges." The committee "also insisted on a requirement that holders of a majority of the shares not held by Mr. Dell or members of management approve the transaction before it can be completed." The large investment firm T. Rowe Price last month joined the opposition from Southeastern Asset Management. The plan is backed by equity investment firm Silver Lake and would include a $2 billion loan from Microsoft. Dell brushed aside criticism Monday, saying the plan was "in the best interests of stockholders." The move would de-list the company from stock markets and could ease some pressure on Dell, which is cash-rich but has seen profits slump as it tries to reduce dependence on the shrinking market for personal computers.