Microsoft buys social network LinkedIn for $ 26.2 billion – News Economy

Print Microsoft company buys social network LinkedIn for business communication for $ 26.2 billion. The Microsoft will pay $ 196 per share, which is more than half the market price LinkedIn. The deal will be closed in 2016.

Microsoft General Director Satya Nadella assured that after the merger of the social network “will retain its unique brand culture and independence”, and Jeff Weiner will remain as general director of LinkedIn.

«LinkedIn created a tremendous business, focused on establishing communication between professionals around the world. Together, we can accelerate LinkedIn growth, as well as Microsoft Office 365 and Dynamics, because we want to empower each individual and every company on the planet “- said Satya Nadella

Microsoft Chairman expressed the hope that the user base of social networks will. continue to grow further. Over the past year the number of registered participants has increased by 19%, reaching 433 million users worldwide. About one-third (33.4%) of users -. US residents

LinkedIn after the official closing of the transaction can be integrated with Microsoft Office 365, and an application for the Enterprise Resource Planning – Microsoft Dynamics. Purchase has already been approved by the boards of directors of both corporations and closed its side hope before the end of this calendar year.

Buying LinkedIn became the biggest deal of the current chief executive Satya Nadella, who became Microsoft CEO in 2014. Second place in the list of the largest shopping Redmond giant occupies acquisition of Skype in May 2011 for $ 8.5 billion.

LinkedIn and its shareholders during the IPO attracted $ 352.8 million in 2011. Placing 7, 84 million shares. On the first day of trading quotes have increased by 91%. After that, a well-known venture investor and minority shareholder LinkedIn Peter Thiel accused the organizers of the IPO is that they underestimated the company.

The cost of LinkedIn shares rose on news of more than 48%. Quotes Microsoft, on the other hand, fell by 2.7% after the announcement of the purchase of the social network.