Dell is negotiating to sell Perot Systems to NTT Data. The negotiations appear to be exclusive, meaning that no other suitors are bidding to buy Perot at the present time, according to a report.
Updated March 7, 2016, 9:52 p.m. ET: NTT Data apparently is presenting a $3.52 billion offer for Dell's Perot Systems business this week.
Original Feb. 13 Coverage:
Dell has been trying to sell Perot, the hardware giant's IT services arm, for up to $5 billion, multiple reports suggest. Names like Atos (a French IT services firm) and Cognizant Technology Solutions also emerged as rumored bidders more than a month ago.
However, Atos recently denied interest in Perot, and Cognizant this past week announced a weaker-than-expected forecast for fiscal 2016 -- which suggests a potential Perot bid is unlikely.
Dell-EMC and More
Dell is juggling several major financial moves at the moment. In addition to a potential Perot Systems sale, Dell expects to IPO its SecureWorks business soon. Plus, the company is striving to line up financing for its $67 billion buyout of EMC Corp.
The Perot and SecureWorks moves would potentially strengthen Dell's balance sheet ahead of the EMC buyout, which is expected to close between May and October 2016.
Some investors have been pushing Dell to improve its bid for EMC. But EMC didn't attract higher bids during a "go shop" period in 2015, so it's unlikely Dell will sweeten the deal.
Michael Dell, EMC CEO Joe Tucci and EMC's board members have publicly endorsed the Dell-EMC combination multiple times in recent weeks. EMC Board Member William Green recently said only an act of God could derail the pending Dell-EMC deal.
