Dell has officially announced its plans to take the company private once again. Originally founded as PCs Limited in 1984 by Michael Dell, the company changed its name in 1988 when it went public at $8.50 per share. The stock has had its ups and downs in the decades that followed, and has had trouble maintaining cohesion on its board of directors, causing a focusing problem.
Through the years Dell Inc. has picked up a number of companies to add to its portfolio, but has never been able to figure out exactly how to integrate them into the company proper. Michael Dell and investment partner Silver Lake believe that going back to the setup from Dell's roots, namely owned and operated by Michael Dell personally, will give the flexibility for a single decision maker to right the ship.
Michael Dell said of the announcement,
I believe this transaction will open an exciting new chapter for Dell, our customers and team members. We can deliver immediate value to stockholders, while we continue the execution of our long-term strategy and focus on delivering best-in-class solutions to our customers as a private enterprise. Dell has made solid progress executing this strategy over the past four years, but we recognize that it will still take more time, investment and patience, and I believe our efforts will be better supported by partnering with Silver Lake in our shared vision. I am committed to this journey and I have put a substantial amount of my own capital at risk together with Silver Lake, a world-class investor with an outstanding reputation. We are committed to delivering an unmatched customer experience and excited to pursue the path ahead.
Not everyone is happy about the decision, however. Hit the break to find out why current investors, customers and employees aren't exactly thrilled.