Add-on Acquisition • Digital Media

Best Buy Acquires Napster

On September 15, 2008, Best Buy acquired digital media company Napster for 121M USD

Acquisition Context

This is Best Buy’s 1st transaction in the Digital Media sector.
This is Best Buy’s 6th largest (disclosed) transaction.
This is Best Buy’s 6th transaction in the United States.
This is Best Buy’s 2nd transaction in California.

Investment Fate

Napster was divested to a consortium of strategic buyers in 2011.
Napster was divested to a consortium of strategic buyers in 2021 for 71M USD.

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M&A Deal Summary
Date	September 15, 2008
Target	Napster
Sector	Digital Media
Buyer(s)	Best Buy
Deal Type	Add-on Acquisition
Deal Value	121M USD
Advisor(s)	UBS Investment Bank (Financial) O'Melveny & Myers (Legal)

Target Company

Napster

Los Angeles, California, United States

Napster is an online streaming music service. Napster, the pioneer of digital music, offers the ultimate in interactive music experiences, creating better ways to discover, share, acquire and enjoy music -- anytime, anywhere. Napster was founded in 1999 and is based in Los Angeles, California.

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Buyer Overview 1

Buyer

Best Buy

Richfield, Minnesota, United States

Category	Company
Founded	1966
Sector	Retail
Employees	85,000
Revenue	41.5B USD (2025)

DESCRIPTION

Entrance to Best Buy's corporate headquarters in Richfield, Minnesota.

Best Buy is a multi-channel consumer electronics retailer with stores in the United States, Canada, China, and Mexico. Best Buy also sells through its BestBuy.com website. Best Buy was founded in 1966 and is based in Richfield, Minnesota.

Deal Context for Buyer	#
Overall	9 of 12
Sector: Digital Media	1 of 1
Type: Add-on Acquisition	8 of 11
State: California	2 of 3
Country: United States	6 of 9
Year: 2008	2 of 2
Size (of disclosed)	6 of 8

PREVIOUS DEAL

DATE	TARGET	DEAL TYPE	VALUE
2008-05-08	Carphone Warehouse London, United Kingdom Carphone Warehouse Ltd is a mobile phone retailer. It provides unbeatable prices on contract phones compared across the widest range of networks at Carphone Warehouse.	Buy	-

DATE

TARGET

DEAL TYPE

VALUE

2008-05-08

Carphone Warehouse

London, United Kingdom

Carphone Warehouse Ltd is a mobile phone retailer. It provides unbeatable prices on contract phones compared across the widest range of networks at Carphone Warehouse.

Buy

FOLLOWING DEAL

DATE	TARGET	DEAL TYPE	VALUE
2010-06-10	Speakeasy Seattle, Washington, United States Speakeasy is a broadband voice (VoIP), data and IT service providers. Speakeasy helps small businesses succeed by offering simplified voice and data solutions that improve the customer experience, increase employee productivity and help cut costs.	Sell	-

DATE

TARGET

DEAL TYPE

VALUE

2010-06-10

Speakeasy

Seattle, Washington, United States

Speakeasy is a broadband voice (VoIP), data and IT service providers. Speakeasy helps small businesses succeed by offering simplified voice and data solutions that improve the customer experience, increase employee productivity and help cut costs.

Sell

Explore Related M&A Activity

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