Dell reignites HP-3Par feud

Hardware giant accuses rival of overpaying for storage vendor

Hardware giant Dell has reignited its feud with HP by accusing its arch-rival of paying over the odds for storage vendor 3Par.

The two firms became embroiled in a bidding war for 3Par last August, with HP emerging victorious by offering $2.35bn (£1.47bn) for the vendor.

Dell announced several months later that it had signed a merger agreement worth $960m with storage vendor Compellent.

In an interview with Bloomberg Television at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Dell founder Michael Dell said his firm had shown restraint by bowing out when it did.

"We showed a good discipline and didn't take an emotional decision," said Dell. "I think HP paid way too much for 3Par."

HP chairman Ray Lane then weighed into the hullabaloo by pointing out that Dell repeatedly matched HP's offer during the 3Par tug of war.

"[Dell] was willing to pay just under what we paid. He went all the way to almost what we paid," he said.