Microsoft to acquire LinkedIn for $26b

Earlier today Microsoft has officially announced that it has acquired LinkedIn, the social network for professionals, for $26.2 billion in an all-cash transaction. Right out of the gate, that means users of Microsoft’s services like Skype, the Office suite of apps, Cortana, and others will see LinkedIn integration that will offer up details on contacts, as well as provide the means to contact an expert when you’re working on an Office project.

 The company said that LinkedIn will continue to operate as usual. Jeff Weiner will remain CEO of LinkedIn, reporting to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. The transaction is expected to close by the end of 2016.

You can check out a quick video with Nadella and Weiner talking about the acquisition below.

Nadella added that while Microsoft will be keeping its distance for the most part, there are aspects that the company sees as potential threads for continuing revenue, including subscriptions, and targeted ads. LinkedIn has 433 million members.

LinkedIn CEO Jeff Weiner said:

Just as we have changed the way the world connects to opportunity, this relationship with Microsoft, and the combination of their cloud and LinkedIn’s network, now gives us a chance to also change the way the world works.
For the last 13 years, we’ve been uniquely positioned to connect professionals to make them more productive and successful, and I’m looking forward to leading our team through the next chapter of our story.

So what do you think about this move from Microsoft ?

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