March 12, 1997 5:30 PM ET

Amelio warns of significant layoffs in store for Apple
By Charles Cooper

  LOS ANGELES -- Apple Computer Inc.'s CEO today confirmed the company will announce "significant layoffs" later this week as part of a wide-ranging restructuring plan.

In a keynote speech delivered this afternoon here at Internet World, Gilbert Amelio said Apple "had finally faced up to the fact" that the Cupertino, Calif., company had spread its resources too thin.

"Apple cannot do everything. We cannot be in every market," said Amelio. "We have to focus our energies on the things that we do best."

Apple is expected to announce layoffs on Friday following the close of the stock market. Sources said the company might lay off as many as 5,000 people and scale back the number of product lines it sells.

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