Dell is reportedly in negotiations with private equity companies on a potential buyout after experiencing difficulty in the changing PC industry.
Bloomberg reported that Dell is in negotiations with private equity firms TPG Capital and Silver Lake. An agreement could be signed as soon as this week with founder and chief executive Michael Dell, who owns about 14% stake in the company.
Sources familiar to the development told Bloomberg that Silver Lake Partners and TPG could make a joint offer while there is apossibility that pension funds could invest in the company.
The news agency said negotiations could collapse if companies fail to arrange financing or find a way to exit the investment which could require pulling together over $20bn in equity and debt.
Dell spokesman Jess Blackburn told MarketWatch, "We do not comment on rumor or speculation."
Dell has been expanding into business software and technology consulting services which are now seen as more profitable making
Last month, Dell acquired data protection firm Credant Technologies for an undisclosed sum.
Analyst firm Gartner said that global PC shipments declined 4.9% in the fourth quarter of 2012 due to consumers switching over to tablets.
