Questions and Answers About the Special Meeting and the Merger

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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE SPECIAL MEETING AND THE MERGER

The following questions and answers address briefly some questions you may have regarding the special meeting, the merger agreement and the merger. These questions and answers may not address all questions that may be important to you as a stockholder of the Company. Please refer to the more detailed information contained elsewhere in this proxy statement, the annexes to this proxy statement and the documents referred to or incorporated by reference in this proxy statement.

  Q: Why am I receiving this proxy statement?
  A: On February 5, 2013, we entered into the merger agreement providing for the merger of Merger Sub with and into the Company, with the Company surviving the merger as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Intermediate. Merger Sub is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Intermediate, and Intermediate is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent. You are receiving this proxy statement in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board in favor of the proposal to adopt the merger agreement and the other matters to be voted on at the special meeting.
  Q: What is the proposed transaction?
  A: The proposed transaction is the merger of Merger Sub with and into the Company pursuant to the merger agreement. Following the effective time of the merger, the Company would be privately held as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Intermediate and an indirect subsidiary of Parent.
  Q: What matters will be voted on at the special meeting?
  A: You will be asked to consider and vote on the following proposals:
   

to adopt the merger agreement;

   

to approve, on an advisory (non-binding) basis, the compensation that may become payable to the named executive officers of the Company in connection with the merger, as disclosed in the table under “Special Factors—Interests of the Company’s Directors and Executive Officers in the Merger—Quantification of Payments and Benefits—Potential Change of Control Payments to Named Executive Officers Table,” including the associated footnotes and narrative discussion;

   

to approve the adjournment of the special meeting, if necessary or appropriate, to solicit additional proxies if there are insufficient votes at the time of the special meeting to approve the proposal to adopt the merger agreement; and

   

to act upon other business that may properly come before the special meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof by or at the direction of the Board.

  Q: Where and when is the special meeting?
  A: The special meeting will be held at the Dell Round Rock Campus, 501 Dell Way, Round Rock, Texas 78682 on July 18, 2013, at 8:00 a.m., Central Time.
  Q: Who can attend and vote at the special meeting?
  A:

All stockholders of record as of the close of business on June 3, 2013, the record date for the special meeting, are entitled to receive notice of and to attend and vote at the special meeting, or any adjournment or postponement thereof. A complete list of stockholders entitled to vote at the special meeting will be available for examination by any stockholder at the Dell Round Rock Campus, 501 Dell Way, Round Rock, Texas 78682, during regular business hours for a period of no less than ten days before the special meeting, and at the special meeting. We are commencing our solicitation of proxies on May 31, 2013, which is before the June 3, 2013 record date. We will continue to solicit proxies until the July 18, 2013 stockholders meeting. Each stockholder of record on June 3, 2013 who has not yet received a proxy statement prior to that date will receive a proxy statement and have the

  opportunity to vote on the matters described in the proxy statement. Proxies delivered prior to the record date will be valid and effective so long as the stockholder providing the proxy is a stockholder on the record date. If you are not a holder of record on the record date, any proxy you deliver will be ineffective. If you deliver a proxy prior to the record date and remain a holder on the record date, you do not need to deliver another proxy after the record date. If you deliver a proxy prior to the record date and do not revoke that proxy, your proxy will be deemed to cover the number of shares you own on the record date even if that number is different from the number of shares you owned when you executed and delivered your proxy. Proxies received from persons who are not holders of record on the record date will not be effective.

If you are a stockholder of record, please be prepared to provide proper identification, such as a driver’s license. If you wish to attend the special meeting and your shares of Common Stock are held in “street name” by your broker, bank or other nominee, you will need to provide proof of ownership, such as a recent account statement or letter from your bank, broker or other nominee, along with proper identification. “Street name” holders who wish to vote at the special meeting will need to obtain a proxy executed in such holder’s favor from the broker, bank or other nominee that holds their shares of Common Stock. Seating will be limited at the special meeting.

  Q: What is a quorum?
  A: In order for any matter to be considered at the special meeting, there must be a quorum present. The presence, in person or represented by proxy, of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the shares of the Common Stock outstanding and entitled to vote on such matters as of the record date for the meeting will constitute a quorum. Shares of Common Stock represented by proxies reflecting abstentions and properly executed broker non-votes (if any) will be counted as present and entitled to vote for purposes of determining a quorum. If a quorum is not present, the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting who are present or represented by proxy may adjourn the meeting until a quorum is present. See “The Special Meeting—Record Date and Quorum” on page 134.
  Q: What will I receive in the merger?
  A: If the merger is completed, you will be entitled to receive $13.65 in cash, without interest and less any applicable withholding taxes, for each share of Common Stock that you own, unless you properly exercise, and do not withdraw or lose, appraisal rights under Section 262 of the DGCL. For example, if you own 100 shares of Common Stock, you will be entitled to receive $1,365 in cash in exchange for your shares of Common Stock, without interest and less any applicable withholding taxes. You will not be entitled to receive shares in the surviving corporation or in any of the Parent Parties.
  Q: Is the merger expected to be taxable to me?
  A: If you are a U.S. holder, the receipt of cash for your shares of Common Stock pursuant to the merger will generally be a taxable transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes. If you are a non-U.S. holder, the receipt of cash for your shares of Common Stock pursuant to the merger will generally not be a taxable transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes, unless you have certain connections to the United States. See “Special Factors—Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Merger” beginning on page 124. You should consult your own tax advisors regarding the particular tax consequences to you of the exchange of shares of Common Stock for cash pursuant to the merger in light of your particular circumstances (including the application and effect of any state, local or foreign income and other tax laws).
  Q: What vote of our stockholders is required to approve the proposal to adopt the merger agreement?
  A:

Under Delaware law and as a condition to the consummation of the merger, stockholders holding at least a majority of the shares of the Common Stock outstanding and entitled to vote at the close of

  business on the record date must vote “FOR” the proposal to adopt the merger agreement. In addition, the merger agreement requires, as a condition to the consummation of the merger, that stockholders holding at least a majority of the shares of the Common Stock outstanding and entitled to vote at the close of business on the record date, other than the Parent Parties, the MD Investors, the Gift Trusts, any other officers and directors of the Company and any other person having any equity interest in, or any right to acquire any equity interest in, Merger Sub or any person of which Merger Sub is a direct or indirect subsidiary, must vote “FOR” the proposal to adopt the merger agreement. A failure to vote your shares of Common Stock or an abstention from voting or broker non-vote will have the same effect as a vote against the proposal to adopt of the merger agreement.

As of May 22, 2013, there were 1,755,951,717 shares of Common Stock outstanding.

  Q: What will happen if I abstain from voting or fail to vote on the proposal to adopt the merger agreement?
  A: A failure to vote your shares of Common Stock or an abstention from voting will have the same effect as a vote “AGAINST” the proposal to adopt the merger agreement. Abstentions will be included in the calculation of the number of shares of Common Stock represented at the special meeting for purposes of determining whether a quorum has been achieved. See “The Special Meeting—Required Vote” on page 134.
  Q: How will our directors and executive officers vote on the proposal to adopt the merger agreement?
  A: The directors and current executive officers of the Company have informed the Company that, as of the date of the filing of this proxy statement, they intend to vote in favor of the proposal to adopt the merger agreement. As of May 22, 2013, the directors and current executive officers (other than Mr. Dell) owned, in the aggregate, 12,310,194 shares of Common Stock entitled to vote at the special meeting.

In connection with the merger agreement, the Company entered into a voting and support agreement with the MD Investors and the Gift Trusts pursuant to which the MD Investors and the Gift Trusts agreed, subject to certain conditions (including that the Board has not changed or withdrawn its recommendation to vote for the proposal to adopt the merger agreement), to vote, or cause to be voted, all of the outstanding shares beneficially owned by them in favor of the proposal to adopt the merger agreement.

  Q: What vote of our stockholders is required to approve other matters to be discussed at the special meeting?
  A: The proposal to approve, on an advisory (non-binding) basis, the compensation that may become payable to the named executive officers of the Company in connection with the merger, as disclosed in the table under “Special Factors—Interests of the Company’s Directors and Executive Officers in the Merger—Quantification of Payments and Benefits—Potential Change of Control Payments to Named Executive Officers Table,” including the associated footnotes and narrative discussion, and the proposal to approve the adjournment of the special meeting, if necessary or appropriate, to solicit additional proxies require the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the Common Stock present or represented by proxy and entitled to vote thereon.
  Q: How does the Board recommend that I vote?
  A: The Board (without Mr. Dell’s participation), acting on the unanimous recommendation of the Special Committee, unanimously recommends that our stockholders vote:
   

“FOR” the proposal to adopt the merger agreement;

   

“FOR” the proposal to approve, on an advisory (non-binding) basis, the compensation that may become payable to the named executive officers of the Company in connection with the merger,

 

as disclosed in the table under “Special Factors—Interests of the Company’s Directors and Executive Officers in the Merger—Quantification of Payments and Benefits—Potential Change of Control Payments to Named Executive Officers Table,” including the associated footnotes and narrative discussion; and

   

“FOR” the proposal to approve the adjournment of the special meeting, if necessary or appropriate, to solicit additional proxies if there are insufficient votes at the time of the special meeting to approve the proposal to adopt the merger agreement.

You should read “Special Factors—Reasons for the Merger; Recommendation of the Board of Directors; Fairness of the Merger” beginning on page 50 for a discussion of the factors that the Special Committee and the Board (without Mr. Dell’s participation) considered in deciding to recommend the approval of the merger agreement. See also “Special Factors—Interests of the Company’s Directors and Executive Officers in the Merger” beginning on page 112.

  Q: Am I entitled to exercise appraisal rights instead of receiving the merger consideration for my shares of Common Stock?
  A: Stockholders who do not vote in favor of the proposal to adopt the merger agreement are entitled to statutory appraisal rights under Delaware law in connection with the merger. This means that if you comply with the requirements of Section 262 of the DGCL, you are entitled to have the “fair value” (as defined pursuant to Section 262 of the DGCL) of your shares of Common Stock determined by the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware and to receive payment based on that valuation instead of receiving the merger consideration. The ultimate amount you would receive in an appraisal proceeding may be more than, the same as or less than the amount you would have received under the merger agreement. To exercise your appraisal rights, you must comply with the requirements of the DGCL. See “Rights of Appraisal” beginning on page 180 and the text of the Delaware appraisal rights statute, Section 262 of the DGCL, which is reproduced in its entirety as Annex D to this proxy statement.
  Q: What effects will the merger have on Dell?
  A: The Common Stock is currently registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and is quoted on the NASDAQ Global Select Market (“NASDAQ”) under the symbol “DELL.” As a result of the merger, the Company will cease to have publicly traded equity securities and will be wholly-owned by Intermediate. Following the consummation of the merger, the registration of the Common Stock and our reporting obligations under the Exchange Act with respect to such registration will be terminated upon application to the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). In addition, upon the consummation of the merger, the Common Stock will no longer be listed on NASDAQ or any other stock exchange or quoted on any quotation system.
  Q: When is the merger expected to be completed?
  A:

The parties to the merger agreement are working to complete the merger as quickly as possible. In order to complete the merger, the Company must obtain the stockholder approvals described in this proxy statement, the other closing conditions under the merger agreement must be satisfied or waived and the marketing period for Parent’s debt financing must have expired. In addition, the Parent Parties are not obligated to complete the merger until the expiration of a twenty consecutive business day “marketing period” that they may use to complete their financing for the merger. The marketing period will begin to run after we have obtained the Company’s stockholders’ approval and satisfied other specified conditions under the merger agreement. If the marketing period would not end on or before August 16, 2013, however, then the marketing period will commence no earlier than September 3, 2013. See “The Merger Agreement—When the Merger Becomes Effective” beginning on page 140. The Company currently expects to complete the merger during the third quarter of the Company’s current fiscal year, which quarter will end on November 1, 2013. The Company, however, cannot assure

  completion of the merger by any particular date, if at all. Because consummation of the merger is subject to a number of conditions and the marketing period, the exact timing of the merger cannot be determined at this time.
  Q: What happens if the merger is not consummated?
  A: If the proposal to adopt the merger agreement is not approved by the Company’s stockholders, or if the merger is not consummated for any other reason, the Company’s stockholders will not receive any payment for their shares in connection with the merger. Instead, the Company will remain a public company and shares of Common Stock will continue to be listed and traded on NASDAQ. Under specified circumstances, under the merger agreement the Company may be required to pay Parent (or one or more of its designees) a termination fee of either $180 million or $450 million or the documented out-of-pocket expenses of the Parent Parties and their affiliates, up to a maximum amount of $15 million, or Parent may be required to pay the Company a termination fee of either $250 million or $750 million. If the proposal to adopt the merger agreement is not approved by the Company’s stockholders, the only payment the Company will be obligated to make pursuant to the terms of the merger agreement will be in respect of such expense reimbursement of up to $15 million, unless the Company subsequently enters into a definitive agreement with respect to an acquisition proposal or consummates an acquisition proposal, in which case the Company may in certain circumstances be required to pay Parent (or one or more of its designees) a termination fee of $450 million. These obligations are separate from, and in addition to, a letter agreement the Company and the Parent Parties entered into on March 25, 2013, which provides that the Company will reimburse the transaction-related expenses of the Parent Parties and their affiliates up to a cap of $25 million, with any amounts reimbursed under such agreement (i) not being eligible for additional reimbursement by the Company pursuant to the merger agreement and (ii) not reducing or otherwise being offset against any termination fee or expense reimbursement that may be payable by the Company to Parent (or one or more of its designees) pursuant to the merger agreement. See “The Merger Agreement—Termination Fees; Reimbursement of Expenses” beginning on page 163.
  Q: What do I need to do now?
  A: We urge you to read this proxy statement carefully, including its annexes and the documents referred to as incorporated by reference in this proxy statement, and to consider how the merger affects you. If you are a stockholder of record, you can ensure that your shares are voted at the special meeting by submitting your proxy via:
   

mail, using the enclosed postage-paid envelope;

   

telephone, using the toll-free number listed on each proxy card; or

   

the Internet, at the address provided on each proxy card.

If you hold your shares in “street name” through a broker, bank or other nominee, you should follow the directions provided by your broker, bank or other nominee regarding how to instruct your broker, bank or other nominee to vote your shares. Without those instructions, your shares will not be voted, which will have the same effect as voting against the proposal to adopt the merger agreement.

  Q: Should I send in my stock certificates or other evidence of ownership now?
  A: No. After the merger is completed, you will be sent a letter of transmittal with detailed written instructions for exchanging your shares of Common Stock for the merger consideration. If your shares of Common Stock are held in “street name” by your broker, bank or other nominee, you may receive instructions from your broker, bank or other nominee as to what action, if any, you need to take to effect the surrender of your “street name” shares in exchange for the merger consideration. Do not send in your certificates now.
  Q: What happens if I sell my shares of Common Stock before completion of the merger?
  A: If you transfer your shares of Common Stock, you will have transferred your right to receive the merger consideration in the merger. In order to receive the merger consideration, you must hold your shares of Common Stock through completion of the merger.
  Q: Can I revoke my proxy?
  A: Yes. You can revoke your proxy at any time before the vote is taken at the special meeting. If you are a stockholder of record, you may revoke your proxy by notifying the Company’s Corporate Secretary in writing at Dell Inc., Attn: Corporate Secretary, One Dell Way, Mail Stop RR1-33, Round Rock, Texas 78682, or by submitting a new proxy by telephone, the Internet or mail, in each case, dated after the date of the proxy being revoked. In addition, you may revoke your proxy by attending the special meeting and voting in person, although simply attending the special meeting will not cause your proxy to be revoked. If you hold your shares in “street name” and you have instructed a broker, bank or other nominee to vote your shares, the options described above for revoking your proxy do not apply, and instead you must follow the instructions received from your broker, bank or other nominee to revoke your proxy or submit new voting instructions.
  Q: What does it mean if I get more than one proxy card or voting instruction card?
  A: If your shares are registered differently or are held in more than one account, you will receive more than one proxy or voting instruction card. Please complete and return all of the proxy cards or voting instruction cards you receive (or submit each of your proxies by telephone or the Internet, if available to you) to ensure that all of your shares are voted.
  Q: What is householding and how does it affect me?
  A: The SEC permits companies to send a single set of proxy materials to any household at which two or more stockholders reside, unless contrary instructions have been received, but only if the applicable company provides advance notice and follows certain procedures. In such cases, each shareholder continues to receive a separate notice of the meeting and proxy card. Certain brokerage firms may have instituted householding for beneficial owners of Common Stock held through brokerage firms. If your family has multiple accounts holding Common Stock, you may have already received householding notification from your broker. Please contact your broker directly if you have any questions or require additional copies of this proxy statement. The broker will arrange for delivery of a separate copy of this proxy statement promptly upon your written or oral request. You may decide at any time to revoke your decision to household, and thereby receive multiple copies.
  Q: Who can help answer my other questions?
  A: If you have more questions about the merger, or require assistance in submitting your proxy or voting your shares or need additional copies of the proxy statement or the enclosed proxy card, please contact MacKenzie Partners Inc., which is acting as the Company’s proxy solicitation agent and information agent in connection with the merger.

105 Madison Avenue

New York, New York 10016

(212) 929-5500 (Call Collect)

or

Call Toll-Free (800) 322-2885

Email: proxy@mackenziepartners.com

If your broker, bank or other nominee holds your shares, you should also call your broker, bank or other nominee for additional information.

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