| There is no doubt that Dell is one of the biggest | | | | Technologies after the latter's acquisition in 1999. |
| names in the computer industry today. Dell as it is | | | | EqualLogic was an IP storage network vendor that |
| right now is a far cry from the part-time business | | | | sold iSCSI storage appliances, founded in 2001. |
| that Michael Dell started out as a college kid right out | | | | Dell bought EqualLogic for US$1.4 billion, an amount |
| of his dorm in 1984. In the course of 25 years, his | | | | that business analysts considered staggering at the |
| company expanded into a billion-dollar enterprise with | | | | time. Despite the hefty price tag, analysts |
| operations not just in the United States but in many | | | | nonetheless lauded Dell for the purchase because of |
| other countries across the globe. | | | | the innovations EqualLogic had introduced in the field |
| Over time, Dell has forged partnerships and made | | | | of storage networks and virtualization. |
| mutually beneficial arrangements with other | | | | 3. Perot Systems. Perot Systems, a provider of |
| companies in the computer industry. Over the years, | | | | information technology services and business |
| it has also bought a number of companies in an | | | | solutions, is the latest and biggest acquisition that Dell |
| effort to broaden its interests. | | | | made to date. The deal between Perot Systems and |
| What are the biggest acquisitions in the history of | | | | Dell was closed in late September 2009, with an |
| Dell as a company? Here is a brief list. | | | | unbelievable US$3.9 billion changing hands. The |
| 1. ConvergeNet Technologies, Inc. ConvergeNet | | | | acquisition of Perot Systems is expected to bring Dell |
| Technologies, Inc. was a private company that | | | | an additional US$8 billion per year. |
| specialized in storage networks. Dell bought the | | | | Dell bought Perot Systems in an effort to diversify |
| company in 1999 as part of its move to expand to | | | | its business outside of its core business of personal |
| storage networks and improve the future sales of its | | | | computer development. Analysts believe that this |
| PowerVault product line. | | | | acquisition is a move on the part of Dell to catch up |
| The price paid for ConvergeNet Technologies | | | | on flagging market shares. According to Wall Street |
| amounted to Dell's 6.9 million common stock shares | | | | reports, profits from personal computer development |
| with a total worth of US$340 million. As part of the | | | | are on the downtrend and computer manufacturers |
| deal, the president and CEO of ConvergeNet | | | | are trying to look at newer IT business models to |
| Technologies at the time became the vice president | | | | keep up. |
| and general manager of the Dell storage system | | | | These are just three of the biggest acquisitions |
| division. This division included people from both | | | | made by Dell over the years. Given that Dell remains |
| ConvergeNet and Dell's storage networks teams. | | | | to be among the most respected and profitable |
| 2. EqualLogic. As part of its move to expand further | | | | companies in the computer industry, there will likely |
| to storage networks and related products, Dell | | | | be other, bigger acquisitions on Dell's path in the |
| acquired EqualLogic in 2007. This was after Dell failed | | | | future. |
| to generate successful work with ConvergeNet | | | | |