Dell is the third largest personal computer maker, behind Hewlitt Packard and Lenovo. By going private, Dell will have more flexibility to transform the business that he started while he was in college in 1984.
Links to articles:
WSJ.com: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324900204578285582125381660.html
NY Times DealBook: http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2013/02/05/dell-sets-23-8-billion-deal-to-go-private/
Bloomberg: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-02-05/dell-taken-private-as-pc-market-slump-hastens-24-billion-buyout.html