Dell closing in on $23B deal to go private -- WSJ

Dell is reportedly close to finalizing a deal to go private -- but it's still not there yet.

The Wall Street Journal reported today that the PC maker is nearing a buyout deal worth $23 billion, or between $13.50 and $13.75 per share.

According to the WSJ, here's how the plan is supposed to break down:

• CEO Michael Dell will contribute his 16 percent stake, which is valued at $3.7 billion.
• An investment firm he controls will contribute another $700 million.
• Microsoft will invest $2 billion in the form of a "subordinated debenture," which is said to be less risky than common stock.
• Private equity firm Silver Lake Partners will invest more than $1 billion.
• At least four banks are said to be arranging $15 billion in debt to help fund the deal.

To recap, reports started circulating in January that the Round Rock, Texas-based corporation was mulling over reverting to operating as a private company.

At the time, Bloomberg reported that Dell was in buyout talks with at least two private equity firms and that it also reached out to "several large banks" about potential financing for the deal.

As recently as last Friday, Reuters wrote that the Dell buyout would be announced this week after being fine-tuned during the weekend.

However, it is important to note that Dell has not commented publicly on the matter, and that all of these reports are based on unnamed sources.

Nevertheless, based on numerous -- and now detailed -- reports circulating the financial sphere for weeks now, it appears to be all but a done deal at this point.

This story originally appeared at ZDNet's Between the Lines under the headline "WSJ: Dell reportedly nearing $23B buyout deal to go private."