Dell mulling rival bids to founder’s offer

Separate takeover bids for PC manufacturer Dell by equity group Blackstone and investor Carl Icahn are being considered in place of an offer by founder and CEO Michael Dell.

A special committee of the board today confirmed it had received the offers from Blackstone and Icahn, and said “both proposals could reasonably be expected to result in superior proposals” than the $24.4 billion (£16 billion) agreement for it to be taken private by Michael Dell and private-equity group Silver Lake.

Activist investor Icahn holds an estimated 6% stake in Dell and is looking to buy 58% of the company in a deal believed to be worth $15 a share. Blackstone is offering $14.25 per share. Dell’s CEO is offering $13.65.