Apple's Board Meeting: Resignation and Merger Prospects

Strategic Insights -

Apple's board meeting ended with the resignation of chief financial officer Joseph Graziano, who had rejoiced in the company's independent status, but argued it was unprofitable. Graziano's departure, amidst discussions of Microsoft's interest in acquiring the company, has sparked speculation about Apple's future prospects. Meanwhile, MICROGRAFX has unveiled an upgraded ABC Graphics Suite, and AVM has launched a cost-effective ISDN adaptor, while Sierra On-Line's Phantasmagoria is making waves in the gaming world.

Key Takeaways:

  • Apple's board meeting saw the resignation of chief financial officer Joseph Graziano, who had rejoined the company in 1989 for a signing-on fee of $1 million.
  • Graziano's departure comes amidst discussions of potential mergers, including Apple's rejection of IBM's $4.5 billion offer a year ago.
  • MICROGRAFX has introduced an upgraded ABC Graphics Suite, which incorporates Visual Software's Instant 3D and integrates with Microsoft Office 95.
  • The suite features over 20,000 pieces of clip-art, 7,500 photos, 2,000 diagramming symbols, and 250 fonts, and should cost around £250.
  • AVM has launched the first ISDN adaptor for under £200, excluding VAT, and claims to have over half the German ISDN controller market.
  • Sierra On-Line's Phantasmagoria includes a 'gore button' to censor explicit content for under-18s, and costs around £50.
  • The game requires seven CDs to carry digital video and is said to be easy to play.
  • Cafe Internet in Victoria now offers lunch delivery via the Internet's World-Wide Web for those in central London.
  • Robert J. Herbold, Microsoft's chief operating officer, earned $740,133 in salary and bonuses last year, against Bill Gates' $415,580.
  • Despite this, Gates is the company's largest shareholder, owning 141.2 million Microsoft shares worth around $12.5 billion.

Statistics:

  • £200: the cost of AVM's ISDN adaptor, excluding VAT.
  • 20,000: the number of pieces of clip-art included in MICROGRAFX's ABC Graphics Suite.
  • 7,500: the number of photos included in the same suite.
  • 2,000: the number of diagramming symbols in the graphics suite.
  • 250: the number of fonts included in the graphics suite.
  • £250: the expected cost of the ABC Graphics Suite.
  • $4.5 billion: the price of IBM's offer for Apple a year ago.
  • $740,133: Robert J. Herbold's salary and bonuses last year.
  • $415,580: Bill Gates' salary and bonuses last year.
  • 141.2 million: the number of Microsoft shares owned by Bill Gates.
  • $12.5 billion: the value of Bill Gates' Microsoft shares.

Sources:

  • The Wall Street Journal
  • MICROGRAFX press release
  • AVM press release
  • Sierra On-Line press release
  • Cafe Internet website
  • Microsoft annual report (last year's figures)
  • CompuServe (reference to Microsoft shares)