About This Deal

Apple acquired NeXT Software, Inc. for $400 million, a transaction announced in December 1996, structured as cash plus debt assumption.

NeXT Software, Inc. operates in Operating systems / software, is based in Redwood City, California, USA. Apple agreed to buy Steve Jobs' NeXT Software in a friendly acquisition, folding all of NeXT's products, services and technology research into Apple. The deal returned Jobs to the company he co-founded in 1976. NeXT's object-oriented development tools and its NEXTSTEP operating system became the technical foundation Apple used to build Mac OS X. Terms were $400 million ($350 million cash plus roughly $50 million of assumed debt).

Apple positioned the deal as marrying its strengths in ease of use and multimedia with NeXT's development software and operating-environment expertise, giving developers a modern OS foundation and advancing Apple's move toward open industry standards for the emerging Internet/intranet market.

Deal Terms

Acquirer
Apple
Target
NeXT Software, Inc.
Value
$400 million
Date
December 1996
Type
Acquisition
Status
Ready

Transaction Details

Target HQ
Redwood City, California, USA
Segment
Operating systems / software
Structure
Cash plus debt assumption
Announced
December 20, 1996

In Their Words

The acquisition of NeXT is the start of a new chapter in Apple's history and represents a milestone in our transformation as a corporation. Today Apple welcomed back its most talented visionary.Dr. Gilbert F. Amelio, Chairman and CEO, Apple Computer, Inc.

Advisors

Advisory firms were not disclosed for this transaction.

Related Deals & Entities

Sources: Press release ↗

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