Sep. 21, 2009 (United Press International) -- U.S. computer giant Dell (NASDAQ:DELL) Inc. said it agreed to buy information technology firm Perot Systems (NYSE:PER) Corp. for $3.9 billion.
The deal, agreed to by both company boards, includes a tender offer from Dell to buy all of Perot's outstanding Class A common stock for $30 per share in cash, the companies said in a statement.
The deal is expected to close before the end of January 2010.
Analyst Roger Kay at Endpoint Technology Associates said the purchase fills "a hole in Dell's portfolio."
"It is a very big bet, but I would say a necessary bet. Perot Systems is one of the few viable freestanding services companies that has a reasonable size and girth," Kay said.
Analysts said Dell was vulnerable to the recession's lack of hardware sales as corporations have cut back on buying new computers. The combination of Dell and Perot gives Dell $8 billion in annual services revenue, The (Austin, Texas) American-Statesman reported Monday.
