Returning the Money to the Shareholders

It’s going to be quite a feat, taking a company as big as Dell private — but Michael Dell just got one step closer to doing just that:

Michael Dell won a surprising and important victory on Monday when Institutional Shareholder Services, the influential proxy advisory firm, recommended that shareholders of Dell DELL +2.22% take his $24.4 billion buyout of the company.

ISS pointed to the certainty provided by the all-cash $13.65 per share offer and the 25.5% premium the deal put together by Michael Dell and his partner, private equity firm Silver Lake, represents.

This has to be the biggest deal of its kind, and I was doubtful at first enough partners could be found to pony up that kind of cash. I’m hoping Dell returns to its former glory, if only to see a deal this big work.