Breakdown on the Beats Acquisition: $2.5 Billion for Electronics, $500 Million for Music

The WSJ:

Apple Inc. is paying slightly less than $500 million for the Beats Music streaming service, and more than $2.5 billion for Beats Electronics in its $3 billion deal, according to people familiar with the matter.

The breakdown between the two portions of Beats Electronics LLC offers insight into Apple’s thinking for the most expensive acquisition in its history.

A person familiar with Beats said its 2013 sales totaled close to $1.3 billion — all from the electronics unit that sells headphones and other audio gear — and the company was profitable. Beats launched its streaming-music service in January.

★ Friday, 30 May 2014