Hear That? Apple May Buy Beats Electronics in $3.2 Billion Mega Deal. Looking to amplify its 'cool' factor, Apple is reportedly in talks to buy the premium headphone maker.
By Lauren Covello •
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Looking to turn up the volume on its "cool" factor, Apple is reportedly cooking up a plan to buy Beats Electronics.
The consumer tech giant is reportedly in talks to buy the premium headphone maker for $3.2 billion in a deal that could be announced as soon as this week, sources told the Financial Times.
The move would mark Apple's largest acquisition ever.
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Beats, which was founded in 2008 by hip-hop mogul Dr. Dre and record producer Jimmy Iovine, was once majority owned by phone maker HTC. HTC sold nearly half of its stake in July 2012 for about $150 million, and the remainder for $265 million last fall.
Beats also received a $500 million investment from private-equity firm Carlyle Group in September.
If a deal is inked, Apple would acquire Beats' streaming service, which launched in January, and its headphone and audio equipment unit, the Financial Times reports.
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