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DELL - Dell Inc.


txlaw

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Dell is currently trading at 13.24 with a confirmed 13.65 bid. I was looking at AUG 13 puts trading at ~0.50 as a potential play. With BX and Icahn bowing out from the process, it would seem insiders would be slightly more motivated to take the offer? I'm not sure why Michael Dell's motivation would have changed, only his case for 13.65 is bolstered. Interested in thoughts! Thanks!

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Dell is currently trading at 13.24 with a confirmed 13.65 bid. I was looking at AUG 13 puts trading at ~0.50 as a potential play. With BX and Icahn bowing out from the process, it would seem insiders would be slightly more motivated to take the offer? I'm not sure why Michael Dell's motivation would have changed, only his case for 13.65 is bolstered. Interested in thoughts! Thanks!

 

Yeah, I was wondering why it's trading below the offer price now, too. Kinda strange.

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Guest valueInv

Your thesis:

 

1, Michael Dell is a genius

2, Dell management is honest

3, They're doing a great job with their acquisitions and their turnaround strategy

4, The client business doesn't matter

 

This is a wildly inaccurate depiction of my thesis, but I suppose if it makes you feel good about your self . .  .

 

Sorry, I forgot to add that you were "speculating". Better? ;D

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Dell is currently trading at 13.24 with a confirmed 13.65 bid. I was looking at AUG 13 puts trading at ~0.50 as a potential play. With BX and Icahn bowing out from the process, it would seem insiders would be slightly more motivated to take the offer? I'm not sure why Michael Dell's motivation would have changed, only his case for 13.65 is bolstered. Interested in thoughts! Thanks!

 

Yeah, I was wondering why it's trading below the offer price now, too. Kinda strange.

 

There is certainly some fear that Silver Lake is having cold feet as well however the breakup fee is around $750MM!!

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-04-22/silver-lake-breakup-rules-make-dropping-dell-buyout-bid-costly.html

Makes walking away difficult but I guess crazier things have happened in this process! I never expected BX or Icahn to get involved.

 

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The stock closed 13.10 today on heavy volume which represents 4% gross spread, ~10%annualized, using an August closing date. I initiated a small position by selling some of the Aug 13 puts. Michael Dell issued a letter today to employees, basically rah rah speech but trying to address the IDC report.

 

http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/826083/000119312513167404/d523827ddefa14a.htm

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The stock closed 13.10 today on heavy volume which represents 4% gross spread, ~10%annualized, using an August closing date. I initiated a small position by selling some of the Aug 13 puts. Michael Dell issued a letter today to employees, basically rah rah speech but trying to address the IDC report.

 

http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/826083/000119312513167404/d523827ddefa14a.htm

 

I like playing these risk arbitrage situations by writing puts. Even if the deal doesn't close on time, you have set a closing date for your play. I may do the same as you, but write some nearer term puts, May and/or June.

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The stock closed 13.10 today on heavy volume which represents 4% gross spread, ~10%annualized, using an August closing date. I initiated a small position by selling some of the Aug 13 puts. Michael Dell issued a letter today to employees, basically rah rah speech but trying to address the IDC report.

 

http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/826083/000119312513167404/d523827ddefa14a.htm

 

I like playing these risk arbitrage situations by writing puts. Even if the deal doesn't close on time, you have set a closing date for your play. I may do the same as you, but write some nearer term puts, May and/or June.

 

I thought long about which month to sell, on one hand if there's only .10 difference between say June or August and deal breaks, the extra 0.10 won't be much consolation! Though on the other hand, given the binary situation in risk arb if good news comes out both options will pretty much price expectations similarly so why not take the extra premium? Obviously a calendar situation, for example a shareholder vote or decision is expected one month and then pushed out (NXY had a setup like this) then it could be a homerun!

 

Ultimately....I'm not really sure. I guess more important question to ask is what do you think the probability of closing is? market implied looks to be 89% which seems low but not glaringly so.

 

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OakMark sells DELL:

http://blogs.wsj.com/moneybeat/2013/04/24/oakmark-funds-sold-dell-stake-after-blackstone-withdrew-bid/?mod=yahoo_hs

 

Despite saying in their last commentary they would hold DELL expecting a better offer, they actually decided to sell it all, ~13MM shares. I would assume the natural buyers are actually arbs, and while I am biased as of yesterday, I think that's actually somewhat positive as they are more likely to accept the 13.65 and move along.

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  • 3 weeks later...
Guest wellmont

I am beginning to appreciate Carl Icahn more and more for being one of the most rational actors on the investing stage. Just don't be a minority shareholder in a company he controls.

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Guest wellmont

Could you elaborate on that?

 

try to research the history of a company called XO communications.

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Could you elaborate on that?

 

try to research the history of a company called XO communications.

 

Damn, what he did there is basically as scammy as what Michael Dell is doing here. I would call both theft.

 

Anyway, under the proposed conditions Icahn and Southeastern would end up with 55% interest if no-one but them opts for the $12 in shares instead of the $12 in cash per share. Because I want to own Dell I would opt for the shares and I think many more will too, most likely reducing Icahn and Southeastern's share  to <50%. I don't feel exactly right with that too however considering Icahn's past. I would prefer that all take-over offers are withdrawn and I can just continue to hold Dell as it is because I think it's worth significantly more and I'm actually not a fan of a large amount of leverage.

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anyone know the tax treatment of the $12 a share "dividend" under the icahn proposal? it woudln't be a qualified dividend woudl it?

 

Good question Krazee.

 

I would think that it would be either treated as a qualified dividend, un-taxed as a return-of-capital, or some combination of the two.  I'm sure someone on the board has a much better idea than me though . . .

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  • 2 weeks later...
Guest valueInv

Don't know about Txlaw, but I can give you a Carl Icahn quote:

 

"Where is ValueInv on the Forbes 400 list?"

 

Cardboard

 

Why would I be on the Forbes 400?

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