Dell has acquire more companies recently (latest additions includes : Clerity and Make)
http://www.wired.com/wiredenterprise/2012/04/dell-make
Rather than reading on the acquisition, here's a dated article from Wharton that highlights Dell's challenges and the transformation that they are going through.
http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/arti ... cleid=2584
Note:
- hiring of M&A guy from IBM; approach to acquisition is similar in thoughts process as that of IBM
- $1B bond issued couple of years back for M&A purpose (start of transformation)
- cost advantage that Dell has over competitors drop from 8% to 2% (decline of manufacturing and supply chain efficiencies)
- threat of iPad and the possible drop in PC sales (change in consumption)
- growth in service revenue, commodization of service offerings (growth in service revenue and improved margins)