SonicWall and Quest could go under the hammer - report

Dell is preparing to sell $10bn in non-core assets to cut EMC debt mountain, according to Reuters

Quest and SonicWall are among the assets a report has suggested Dell could sell as part of plans to wipe $10bn off the debt mountain it will assume through its proposed acquisition of EMC.

The debt Dell will take on through its record $67bn takeover of EMC has been a source of glee for competitors, with HP chief executive Meg Whitman claiming it will leave Dell having to pay $2.5bn a year in interest alone.

But according to a Reuters report this morning, Dell is preparing to offload about $10bn in non-core assets as it looks to wipe out some of $49.5bn debt it will take on through the transaction.

Dell has communicated its plan to credit reference agencies, the report stated, citing people familiar with the matter.

Software and services units, including software brand Quest, security outfit SonicWall, back-up player AppAssure and IT services provider Perot Systems, are said to be among the "non-core" assets Dell could sell, the report claimed.

The proposed transaction - the largest in tech history - is expected to close between May and October 2016.

A Dell representative said the firm "does not comment on rumours or speculation".