On 25/01/2007, at 10:00 AM, Brett Carboni wrote:
Whilst we're talking about anti-Apple people ...
Seems that when Apple gets successful (capitalised same as Dell
now) the proverbial chestnut comes out, "Microsoft own most / a
lot /10% of Apple anyway".
Is this true, or is it a geek urban myth? I know they once bought
in but heard they got rid of it.
Steve Jobs did indeed ask Bill Gates to buy a token US$150 million
worth of shares in Apple and commit to producing MS Office for the
Mac for another 5 years at least back ready for the infamous Big
Brother appearance of Gates on the big screen at MacWorld. The aim
was to demonstrate MS's support for Apple at a time when Apple was
only just starting it's turn-around under Jobs after the dark years
of the 90's. However, this came at a time when Apple had US$4
billion in the bank let alone their stock market capitalization so
represented a very small share of Apple - MS certainly never owned
most or a lot or even 10% of Apple!
A few years later MS quietly sold that share-holding for a
significant profit (though if they'd held on till now, it would have
been worth even more.)
-Mart
--------------------------------------
Martin Hill
email: mart "at" ozmac.com
homepages: http://mart.ozmac.com
Mb: 0417-967-969 hm: (08)9314-5242
