BREAKING: Microsoft Buys LinkedIn

Here’s something that I didn’t see coming. Microsoft has apparently agreed to buy LinkedIn. It’s going to cost Microsoft $196 per share and will be all-cash transaction valued at $26.2 billion. As part of the deal, LinkedIn will retain its dbrand, culture and independence. Jeff Weiner will remain CEO of LinkedIn, reporting to Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft. Reid Hoffman, chairman of the board, co-founder and controlling shareholder of LinkedIn, and Weiner both fully support this transaction. The transaction is expected to close this calendar year.

So, why would Microsoft do this? Rather than read the tea leaves for you, here’s a video with LinkedIn CEO Jeff Weiner and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella explaining why this deal is happening:

Hopefully, LinkedIn doesn’t become another Skype which went to hell shortly after being bought by Microsoft. But on the plus side, all the business intelligence that LinkedIn has can be used by Microsoft in things like Cortana and Outlook, and that could make this purchase one that makes Microsoft a serious player again.

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