Courtesy of Benzinga.
Activist investor Carl Icahn said Monday in an open letter that his investment firm Icahn Enterprises LP (NASDAQ: IEP) now owns an 8.3-percent stake in Dell Technologies Inc (NASDAQ: DVMT), the tracking stock of VMware and Dell.
Icahn is against Dell’s proposed $21.7-billion — or $92 per share — offer to buy out the holders of DVMT, which is designed to track roughly the economic value of VMWare through a combination of cash and equity in Dell.
What Happened
Icahn told CNBC he was contacted by various DVMT shareholders who asked for his help in blocking what he said appears to be an undervalued deal.
After taking a closer look at the deal, Icahn says it represents “one of the best opportunities I have ever seen.”
A fair value for the tracker is $144 per share, Icahn said. Michael Dell and the Silver Lake executives behind the proposed deal are guilty of “coercing” and “manipulating” shareholders to accept the lowball offer, he said.
If DVMT shareholders don’t accept the deal on the table, the company charter permits the use of force to convert DVMT into Dell stock as part of a new IPO, he said.
Why It’s Important
Even if the company’s charter permits a forced conversion into Dell stock, governance laws also dictate a fiduciary duty to act in the best interest of shareholders, Icahn told CNBC.
“Dell and Silver Lake cannot line their pockets at the stock holders’ expense,” he said.
What’s Next
Icahn said in his letter he expects a modest increase in the takeout offer, although not as large as the estimated 36-percent discount to fair value: “I intend to do everything in my power to STOP this proposed DVMT merger,” he said.
“In my opinion, it is better to have peace than war, but be assured, I still enjoy a good fight for the right reasons, and in the current situation, I do not see peace arriving quickly! Stay tuned!”
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