Full Speed Ahead for Dell-EMC Transaction Close

Dell and EMC have received regulatory approval from China, clearing the way for the former’s acquisition of the latter — scheduled for Wednesday.

Regulatory approval of the Dell-EMC transaction by China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) granted clearance for the companies’ proposed combination. MOFCOM approval was the final regulatory hurdles to closing the transaction. EMC shareholders approved the transaction on July 19, with approximately 98 percent of voting EMC shareholders casting their votes in favor of the acquisition, representing approximately 74 percent of EMC’s outstanding common stock, according to Dell.

Eleven months after the initial news of Dell’s bid for EMC, for $67 billion at the time, the largest technology company acquisition ever, Michael Dell will soon sit at the helm of Dell Technologies, the name of the new combined entity.{ad}

“This is an historic moment for both Dell and EMC. Combined, we will be exceptionally well-positioned for growth in the most strategic areas of next-generation IT including digital transformation, software-defined data center, converged infrastructure, hybrid cloud, mobile and security,” said Michael Dell, chairman and CEO of Dell Technologies. “Our investments in R&D and innovation, along with our 140,000 team members around the world, will give us unmatched scale, strength and flexibility, deepening our relationships with customers of all sizes,” he said in a prepared statement.

While Dell has tried to quell any anxiety among channel partners at both companies, the road ahead is uncertain. At EMC Global Partner Summit/EMC World 2016 this past May, the impending merger with Dell was top of mind for partner attendees.

Shortly after the close of the EMC partner conference, John Byrne, global channel chief for the new Dell Technologies, sent an open letter to partners outlining a short-term channel strategy once the deal closed: