Michael Dell may end up a winner by default.
With a deadline looming and no rival bids emerging, the Dell founder, along with private-equity firm Silver Lake Partners, is poised to take control of the PC giant that bears his name for $24.4 billion.
Other PE firms are sniffing around, but nobody has floated a bid, let alone one that tops the Dell-led group’s $13.65-a-share offer.
While reports suggest that Blackstone Group is close to making a rival offer, sources told The Post that the firm is unlikely to submit a bid before tomorrow’s deadline.
Shares of Dell yesterday dipped 1.3 percent, to $14.14, before the end of the “go-shop” period, which expires just after the stroke of midnight.
Still, some investors believe a higher bid is in the offing and have threatened to vote against the Dell-led buyout if the matter is put to shareholders.
Dell investors, including Southeastern Asset Management, the largest outside shareholder, and billionaire Carl Icahn, say that Dell could be worth as much as $24 a share.
Both Icahn and Southeastern argue that Dell should return to shareholders some of the $14 billion in cash it holds overseas .
Despite the pressure, sources said Silver Lake is unlikely to offer a sweetened bid for the troubled PC maker.
If no alternate emerges, Dell’s founder and Silver Lake believe they will have made serious headway in securing victory.
Icahn is the only wild card since he would still be capable of playing a gadfly even after the deadline passes.