Report: Dell may delay vote on buyout

Dell offices in Santa Clara, Calif. (Photo: Paul Sakuma AP)

Investors watching personal computer maker Dell may have to wait another week to learn of the company's fate.

Citing "a person with direct knowledge of the situation," Bloomberg reports a Dell special committee overseeing buyout efforts may postpone a shareholder vote scheduled for Friday.

The reason? Dell is reportedly delaying the vote to snag a better bid or convince more shareholders to support an offer from CEO Michael Dell and Silver Lake Management for $24.4 billion.

Several shareholders have furiously opposed the plan, which could take Dell private. Last week, billionaire Carl Icahn, who owns a stake of Dell at nearly 9%, amended a counterproposal that would value Dell between $15.50 and $18 per share. The initial buyout plan from Dell goes for $13.65 per share.

Like many PC companies, Dell has struggled as more consumers shift away from desktops and laptops in favor of tablets and smartphones. Last quarter, Dell reported a 2% drop in revenue compared to last year.