Dell Inc., the world’s third-largest personal- computer maker, has agreed to buy 3Par Inc. for about $1.13 billion, gaining equipment and software to bolster its growing corporate data-center business.
3Par investors will get $18 a share in cash, Dell said Monday. That’s almost double the stock’s closing price of $9.65 on Friday. 3Par, based in Fremont, Calif., makes hardware and software for reducing data-storage requirements.
Dell is seeking to compete with companies such as Hewlett-Packard Co. and IBM in the market for more complex computer systems and technology services that yield higher profits than desktop and laptop PCs. Dell said in June that it plans to double the size of its data-center and technology-services business in part through acquisitions.
“The 3Par acquisition gives Dell the needed arrows in its quiver to step up competition in enterprise technology,” said Ashok Kumar, an analyst at Rodman Renshaw in New York.
Dell bought EqualLogic Inc. in 2007 for $1.4 billion as the foundation for its data-storage offering. Last month, Dell agreed to buy storage company Ocarina Networks. Kelly Riddell, Bloomberg News
