Shares of Quest Software (Nasdaq; QSFT) jumped 5 percent Friday after a report it would be acquired by Dell (Nasdaq: DELL), for as much as $2 billion.
In early activity, Quest shares rose 6 percent to $26.64, up $1.46. Shares of Dell rose 6 cents to $12.51. Quest specializes in enterprise software tools, so it might be attractive to Dell, of Round Rock, tex., which is trying to sell more profitable services than PCs. Dell is the No. 3 PC maker.
Bloomberg News reported Dell might try to outbid private equity specialist Venture Partners, which had agreed to buy the Aliso Viejo, Calif.-company in March. Quest is being advised by Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS).
