The drama involving Dell Inc (NASDAQ:DELL)’s future continues this week. Today there’s new speculation that the influential shareholder advisory firm Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) will back Carl Icahn’s offer over the go-private offer from Michael Dell and Silver Lake Partners.
Icahn And ISS
Icahn revealed on Monday that he had secured the $5.2 billion loans needed to finance his $14 per share tender offer. He had planned to meet this week with ISS in an effort to convince the firm that his plan is superior to Mr. Dell’s offer.
The activist investor spoke with CNBC’s David Faber on Monday after he made the big announcement. It said that it’s “self-evident” that his offer is better than Mr. Dell’s offer and that he believes ISS will back his offer. He said he’s dealt with the advisory firm in the past and that it does seem to have the best interests of the shareholders at heart. Icahn also said that if it really does back the interests of the shareholders, he believes it will throw its weight behind his offer instead of Mr. Dell’s.
It Looks Like Icahn Will Win
CNBC’s David Faber said this week that several sources indicate to him that it’s “highly doubtful” Dell will win the vote on July 18. That’s the date of Dell Inc (NASDAQ:DELL)’s annual shareholder meeting, and investors will decide the company’s date at that time.
Of course whatever ISS says will likely weigh heavily on the decision made by Dell Inc (NASDAQ:DELL)’s shareholders, and if it does side with Icahn, then it’s likely that he will prevail. Faber even went so far as to question whether Mr. Dell would raise his bid for his company.
Icahn’s Plans For Dell
On CNBC Monday night, Icahn was asked about his plans for Dell if he does prevail. He said he has “a few people in mind” to run the company. He also said that he really wants to be involved in Dell because he believes there’s “great potential” in it. He doesn’t believe the PC business “is over” completely, and he thinks there will be “iterations” of PCs in offices for some time. He sees Dell as one of the beneficiaries of the evolution of the PC industry.
