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Dell regains compliance with NASDAQ listing requirements

Dell, Inc. (NASDAQ: DELL) has gotten the go-ahead to rejoin the NASDAQ stock exchange where its shares are traded. Yesterday, the world's second-largest computer maker announced that it is now fully compliant with the listing requirements of the exchange.

Dell regained compliance before the extended deadline of November 12 after finally filing complete and re-stated financial reports from the 2003 to 2007 timeframe, something I wrote on a few days ago. The company ended up taking a $92 million hit on its re-stated revenue after years of quarterly accounting manipulations. This could be the final chapter of an ugly recent history for the company.

But there's a postscript: The SEC still has not completed its own independent investigation. Dell won't be able to completely close the books until the forensic accountants from Uncle Sam fail to uncover any further financial shenanigans. It's perfect timing, as Dell's focus and attention does not need to be on internal accounting mischief, but on growing profitability and market share against the larger sheriff in town, Hewlett-Packard Co. (NYSE: HPQ).

Dell gets two weeks' grace from NASDAQ

Apparently there is some love for Dell, Inc. (NASDAQ: DELL) from NASDAQ after all. Just recently, the exchange told the world's second-largest computer maker to get its act together or face a delisting from the exchange. It was the third time in two years that Dell had been warned by the exchange where its public shares are traded. With the Round Rock, Texas, company still in the middle or at the end (we hope) of an internal and external accounting irregularity investigation, the computer maker has not posted official financial reports in what seems like ages.

Well, the good ol' NASDAQ has extended Dell's listing on the exchange for two more weeks from yesterday, and in what seems like normal procedure by now, the company again asked for more time to finish delinquent financial reports. How long is this going to take? Visions of Enron start floating in my head when it takes a year or more to get correct financial reports out the door. That, or Dell hired a forensic accounting team of monkeys to perform its investigation.

Dell's shares will be listed until July 16, according to NASDAQ officials. We'll see what kind of extension Dell gets when that date rolls around in a few weeks. Perhaps sometime in 2009 we will see audited financial statements from Dell? I'm not holding my breath, but if you hold Dell shares, you've probably run out of air by now.

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Last updated: November 25, 2009: 04:08 PM

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