Personal computer maker Dell Technologies is again exploring a possible sale of SecureWorks, after unsuccessful earlier attempts to find a buyer for the U.S. cybersecurity firm, according to people familiar with the matter.
Shares of SecureWorks soared more than 20% on the news after trading was briefly halted.
Round Rock, Texas-based Dell, founded by CEO Michael Dell, has tapped investment bankers at Morgan Stanley and Piper Sandler to gauge takeover interest from potential acquirers, which include private equity firms, the sources said, requesting anonymity as the discussions are confidential.
A deal for SecureWorks, which has a market value of about $658 million, is not guaranteed and Dell could choose to maintain ownership of the company, the sources added.
Dell, which has shed many non-core assets in recent years, owns 79.2% of SecureWorks by holding all of the company’s class B shares, according to recent filings. It also controls 97.4% of the company’s voting stock through the dual class shares.
Dell explored …