Summary
Dell Technologies Inc. announced significant changes to its shareholder capital allocation strategy on December 13, 2016. The company's Board of Directors approved the suspension of its existing $1 billion Class V Common Stock Repurchase Program, under which approximately $324 million had been utilized. Concurrently, a new $500 million Class V Group Repurchase Program was initiated, with a six-month duration. This new program is specifically designed to be funded by proceeds from the sale of VMware Class A common stock. Further details reveal that Dell Technologies has entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement to sell $500 million of VMware Class A common stock back to VMware. This transaction, expected to have an initial closing on December 22, 2016, with the remainder settled in early fiscal year 2018, directly supports the newly launched Class V Group Repurchase Program. Investors should note that the share count for the repurchase will be determined by a volume-weighted average price less a discount, and the ultimate use of proceeds can be flexible at the board's discretion.
Key Highlights
- 1Suspension of the previous $1 billion DHI Group Repurchase Program for Class V Common Stock.
- 2Initiation of a new $500 million Class V Group Repurchase Program for Class V Common Stock.
- 3The new repurchase program has a shorter, six-month duration.
- 4The new repurchase program is explicitly linked to the sale of VMware Class A common stock.
- 5Dell Technologies will sell $500 million of VMware Class A common stock to VMware.
- 6The sale of VMware stock will occur through a stock purchase agreement with VMware.
- 7Proceeds from the VMware stock sale are earmarked for the Class V Group Repurchase Program, but flexibility remains for other uses at the board's discretion.