Dell accuses Icahn of getting on soapbox with legal battle

Michael Dell claims investor is grandstanding in effort to prevent delay in shareholder vote

Michael Dell has accused takeover-rival Carl Icahn of using a recent court case filed against the firm as a way to hurry along the vote that could see it taken private by its eponymous leader.

At the start of this month, Icahn filed a law suit in Delaware that outlines stumbling blocks to moves that could improve the chances of Dell taking back the firm he started in 1984. Icahn hopes the suit will prevent a delay in a shareholder vote that will determine the firm's future.

Today Bloomberg reports that, in court papers, Michael Dell accused Icahn of "grandstanding" in the legal case, and branded the proceedings as "just another soapbox for Mr Icahn's public spat" with Dell board members.

Icahn wants the shareholder vote – which is set for 12 September – to coincide with an earlier-than-scheduled AGM, but Dell said this would mean a vote would have to be delayed.

Bloomberg reports that Dell has accused Icahn's lawyers of speaking grandly about shareholder interests despite speaking "for no one but themselves".

The pair have been battling it out over plans for the future of Dell since its leader announced plans to take it private in February this year.

Michael Dell recently upped his offer for the firm from $13.65 per share to $13.75 per share, before throwing in an extra 13 cents per share dividend payment on top of what he had previously claimed was his "best and final" offer.