Microsoft Acquires LinkedIn for a cool $26.2 billion

In an announcement on monday morning, Microsoft revealed that it had acquired LinkedIn for “$196 per share in an all-cash transaction valued at $26.2 billion, inclusive of LinkedIn’s net cash.” The Mountain View-based company is said to be retaining its brand, culture, and independence, and Jeff Weiner will maintain his position as CEO.

In a statement, Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, noted, “The LinkedIn team has grown a fantastic business centered on connecting the world’s professionals. Together we can accelerate the growth of LinkedIn, as well as Microsoft Office 365 and Dynamics as we seek to empower every person and organization on the planet.”

As per Microsoft’s announcement, the acquisition was “fully supported” by both Reid Hoffman (LinkedIn’s co-founder and chairman of the board) and Weiner both fully support this transaction. The social network’s continuous growth has led to more than 433 million members worldwide, with over 105 million unique visiting members each month. And as a key recruiting tool, there are now more than 7 million active job listings on the site. In a letter to employees, Nadella said LinkedIn would play a role in the development of Office. “This deal is the next step forward for Office 365 and Dynamics as they connect to the world’s largest and most valuable professional network,” he 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,” Weiner added to Nadella’s statement. “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.”

The $26.2 billion deal is expected to fully close by the end of 2016.
“Today is a re-founding moment for LinkedIn. I see incredible opportunity for our members and customers and look forward to supporting this new and combined business,” said Hoffman. “I fully support this transaction and the Board’s decision to pursue it, and will vote my shares in accordance with their recommendation on it.”

In his internal memo, Nadella said that there will be no immediate changes to LinkedIn’s organization.

“We know that near term there will be no changes in who reports to whom so no reporting relationships at Microsoft will change in that regard,” Nadella said. “This approach is designed to keep the LinkedIn team focused on driving results while simultaneously partnering on product integration plans with the Office 365 and Dynamics teams.”


Source: Digital Trends

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LinkedIn Tries to Clear the Clutter With App Update

LinkedIn's new mobile app, promises a "more intuitive, smarter" and simpler experience.

The streamlined service now features five core areas: Your Feed, Me, My Network, Messaging, and Search. Your Feed, or Home, collects content from your network, based on what is most relevant to your industry, function, and skills.

For the first time, LinkedIn will now ask users what they are interested in, helping the app learn. You can also simply unfollow anything unsuitable.

Similarly, check My Network to keep up with colleagues and other industry workers. In a nod to social media rival Facebook, LinkedIn now prompts users to say congrats to a connection celebrating a new role or work anniversary.

"We know time is scarce, so we made it as easy as possible for you to connect to your professional network and stay informed about the conversations and content most relevant to you," Joff Redfern, LinkedIn's Vice President of Product, wrote in a .

That includes Messaging, which, like the recent desktop update, promises quick conversations in a lightweight interface. The company also says Search is 300 times faster than before.

The Me tab, meanwhile, is fairly self-explanatory: see who has viewed your profile, and who is commenting on it or sharing your posts; also update your professional details.

The updated app is available to download now from the App Store and Google Play.

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