Dell Inc.'s special committee of the board is consideringdelaying the July 18 shareholder vote on the buyout by founderMichael Dell, seeking a higher bid or time to win support for the$24.4 billion deal, said a person with direct knowledge of thesituation.

The committee is exploring a postponement of about a week, saidthe person, who asked not to be named because the process isprivate. The group is likely to make a decision by the morning ofJuly 18 if the votes already cast against the buyout are enough toscuttle it, the person said. The June 3 record date, by which onehad to invest to be entitled to vote, won't change, said theperson.

Adjourning the vote would give buyers Dell and Silver LakeManagement LLC time to boost the bid or declare the current offerof $13.65 a share as best and final, said the person. It would alsogive shareholders, who can recast their votes up until the lastminute, a chance to change their minds, according to theperson.