TECHNOLOGY - April 10, 1996

IBM, Apple Close to Signing Pact: The agreement to license the Macintosh operating system is likely to be signed in the next few days with the IBM Corp. Microelectronics division, the unit that develops the PowerPC chip, sources told Reuters. It would be similar to a pact Apple signed in February with Motorola Inc.’s computer systems unit, sources said. The pact would be another move in Apple’s aggressive push to license its Macintosh operating system, one of the key goals set by Gilbert Amelio, Apple’s new chief executive. Cupertino, Calif.-based Apple’s stock jumped $1.625 to $26 on Nasdaq. IBM’s Personal Computer Co. is not involved in the licensing talks and has no plans to develop Macintosh clones.