It took longer than expected, but today Dell’s founder and CEO Michael Dell and private equity firm Silver Lake have secured the privatisation of the company.

Paying $13.65 dollars per share, the two main parties alongside a $2 billion loan from Microsoft, secured the 3rd largest computer maker in the world for $24.4 billion.

Shareholders have yet to confirm the deal, but are expected to with a premium offer on the table, and little expectation of any increase in the current static rate of Dell’s share price.

The deal comes as Dell continues to face heavy competition from Chinese manufactures, combined with lost revenue to tablets and smart phone devices.