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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Apple 'in talks' to buy Beats for $3.2bn | Apple 'in talks' to buy Beats for $3.2bn |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Technology giant Apple is in talks to buy headphone maker and music-streaming service provider Beats Electronics, according to various media reports. | Technology giant Apple is in talks to buy headphone maker and music-streaming service provider Beats Electronics, according to various media reports. |
| The reports claim Apple could pay as much as $3.2bn (£1.9bn) and a deal could be announced next week. | The reports claim Apple could pay as much as $3.2bn (£1.9bn) and a deal could be announced next week. |
| If completed, it will be Apple's biggest ever acquisition. | If completed, it will be Apple's biggest ever acquisition. |
| It is being seen as move by Apple to get a stronger foothold in the phone and music accessories business and bolster its online music offerings. | It is being seen as move by Apple to get a stronger foothold in the phone and music accessories business and bolster its online music offerings. |
| The two areas are expected to see fast growth in the coming years. | The two areas are expected to see fast growth in the coming years. |
| The Financial Times, which was the first to report the talks, cited a source as saying the firms were still negotiating the details. | The Financial Times, which was the first to report the talks, cited a source as saying the firms were still negotiating the details. |
| 'Really puzzling' | 'Really puzzling' |
| Beats was founded by music producer Jimmy Iovine and the hip-hop star Dr Dre and until recently was best known for its headphones. | |
| It started a subscription-based music streaming service earlier this year. | It started a subscription-based music streaming service earlier this year. |
| However, Apple already has its own iTunes store which is the world's largest music download service. It also launched iTunes Radio last year. | However, Apple already has its own iTunes store which is the world's largest music download service. It also launched iTunes Radio last year. |
| That has made some industry watchers questioned the move. | That has made some industry watchers questioned the move. |
| James McQuivey, an analyst with Forrester, said there was a big overlap of customers between the two firms. | James McQuivey, an analyst with Forrester, said there was a big overlap of customers between the two firms. |
| "This is really puzzling," he said. "You buy companies today to get technologies that no one else or customers that no one has. | "This is really puzzling," he said. "You buy companies today to get technologies that no one else or customers that no one has. |
| "They must have something hidden under the hood." | "They must have something hidden under the hood." |
| The reported price is also a huge premium on Beats's previous valuation. | The reported price is also a huge premium on Beats's previous valuation. |
| Beats was valued at just $1bn after its last funding round in September, which saw it get a $500m investment from the Carlyle Group. | Beats was valued at just $1bn after its last funding round in September, which saw it get a $500m investment from the Carlyle Group. |