No smartphone move as Dell goes private

Following a $24.9 billion to take the company private, Dell CEO Michael Dell says the PC manufacturer will not be entering the smartphone market.

Dell stockholders approved the proposal in which Michael Dell, Dell's founder, chairman and CEO, will acquire the company in partnership with global technology investment firm Silver Lake Partners.

“Dell will participate in tablets and all sorts of clients devices,” Dell told CNBC this week.

"Our main business is helping our customers secure, protect their data and access it from any device they want to."

In connection with the transaction, Dell stockholders will receive $13.75 in cash for each share of Dell common stock they hold, plus payment of a special cash dividend of $0.13 per share to stockholders of record as of a date prior to the effective time of the merger, for total consideration of $13.88 per share in cash.

The agreement also guarantees the regular quarterly dividend of $0.08 per share for the fiscal third quarter would be paid to holders of record as of a date prior to closing.

“I am pleased with this outcome and am energized to continue building Dell into the industry’s leading provider of scalable, end-to-end technology solutions,” added Michael Dell.

“As a private enterprise, with a strong private-equity partner, we’ll serve our customers with a single-minded purpose and drive the innovations that will help them achieve their goals.

“I would like to thank our 110,000 team members around the world who, throughout this process, have remained focused on serving our customers with unity, purpose and pride.

"As our company continues to expand its enterprise solutions and services business, our team members will be Dell’s most valuable asset and the key to our future success.”

The preliminary vote tally shows that the transaction was approved by the holders of a majority of Dell’s outstanding shares, as required by Delaware law.

In addition, the tally shows that the transaction was approved by the holders of a majority of Dell’s shares voting for or against the matter, excluding shares held by Michael Dell, certain of his related family trusts, Dell’s Board of Directors and certain members of its management, as separately required under the merger agreement.

“Over the course of more than a year, the Special Committee and its advisors conducted a disciplined and independent process to ensure the best outcome for Dell stockholders,” said Alex Mandl, chairman of the Special Committee formed to evaluate the transaction and other strategic alternatives.

“By voting in favor of the transaction, the stockholders have chosen the best option to maximize the value of their shares.

"I want to thank my fellow Committee members and the entire Board for their diligent and tireless efforts on behalf of Dell stockholders, and the stockholders themselves for the careful consideration they gave to this important matter.”

The transaction is expected to close before the end of the third quarter of Dell’s FY2014, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including regulatory approval.

Dell will continue to be headquartered in Round Rock, Texas.

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