Speculation about potential buyout partners has been circulating since Bloomberg reported Dell's intentions on Jan. 14. The news followed a rough year for the Round Rock, Texas-based company, which made a variety of noteworthy acquisitions but could not sustain enthusiasm among investors. Even with buyout rumors provoking a momentary rise in Dell's shares, the company's stock was, as of Tuesday afternoon, still down almost 30% relative to its 52-week high of $18.36.

Just over a month ago, the company had positioned Dell World as a coming out party for its new identity as an end-to-end service provider with a competitive software portfolio. Though the transition earned Dell some praise, it didn't stop the company's PC sales from declining sharply, even relative to the depressed overall market.