You’re wrong, Apple did not need the $150 million. . . it was nice to get, but it was not required, except that Microsoft did have to pay compensation for stealing the IP, or the judge would not have agreed to the settlement. Apple needed Microsoft to re-start the discontinued Office for Mac and more to commit to continue developing it. Gates had cancelled Office to put pressure on Apple to get Apple to drop the lawsuit but Jobs wasn’t having it. Nor was he going to give them an inch. He did allow them a way to recover face and their payment at the end of the five years. . . By tying it to Apple’s success by making it a restricted stock purchase that Microsoft could not only recover, but GAIN on with Apple’s success! It was a brilliant play!
Frankly speaking, sword guy....Steve Jobs was not a good person and Gates generally is so in my view Gates made a deal he likely regrets to this day.
Business men generally have a code of conduct among themselves just like anyone else. I never, since very long ago had any respect for jobs, although I do have admiration for what he achieved. I simply found Jobs the person to be a total craphead.
Yes, MS did take a gain on the stock. They did not need it when they exited the investment but my read was that they basically disassociated themselves with apple for personal reasons. They got out in two tranches if I recall but they handled it with delicacy.
My read is that if they had to do it all over again in a history repeat, they would have never pursued it.