Microsoft to Buy LinkedIn at $26.2 Billion

Microsoft Corp. and LinkedIn Corporation recently announced they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Microsoft will acquire LinkedIn for $196 per share in an all-cash transaction valued at $26.2 billion, inclusive of LinkedIn's net cash. LinkedIn will retain its distinct brand, 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.

LinkedIn is the world's largest and most valuable professional network and continues to build a strong and growing business. Over the past year, the company has launched a new version of its mobile app that has led to increased member engagement; enhanced the LinkedIn newsfeed to deliver better business insights; acquired a leading online learning platform called Lynda.com to enter a new market; and rolled out a new version of its Recruiter product to its enterprise customers.

"The LinkedIn team has grown a fantastic business centered on connecting the world's professionals," Nadella said. "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. 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 said. "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 transaction has been unanimously approved by the Boards of Directors of both LinkedIn and Microsoft. The deal is expected to close this calendar year and is subject to approval by LinkedIn's shareholders, the satisfaction of certain regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.



Culled from: Microsoft News Center

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FREE LUMIA 950

t's not that uncommon to see "Buy One Get One", also known as BOGO, sales during a hot new product's launch. But when you see something like that happen to a half year old product, things get a bit ambiguous. On the one hand, it looks like a clearance sale of sorts in preparation for new stocks or models. On the other hand, it could also be a desperate attempt at clearing out inventories. Either way, Microsoft is now giving a free Lumia 950 to anyone who buys a Lumia 950 XL, which could find a few interested buyers but also shed more negative light on the smartphones.

They may not be the ever elusive and mythical Surface Phone, but the Lumia 950 and 950 XL are pretty much the creme of the crop among Windows smartphones. Bearing QHD screens, the somewhat latest (last year) Snapdragon 808 and 810, and 3 to 4 GB of RAM, the smartphones were designed to show the best of Windows 10. If you can ignore the plastic.

And that best of Windows 10 comes in the promise of Continuum, so far only available on a very select few models, including these two. Continuum for Phones is pretty much Microsoft's play in the smartphone market, which practically turns people's attentions back to its full Windows 10 PC experience. Other than and its Universal Windows Platform mission, Microsoft doesn't have so much planned for smartphones.

And the market has perhaps perceived that as well. Lumia sales are almost negligible and Microsoft hasn't exactly helped that cause. Its ambiguous, mostly absent, commitment to its own smartphones and its backtracking over Windows 10 Mobile updates for existing models have most likely turned would be buyers away. That it doesn't plan to focus on smartphones this year is further proof of its disinterest.

For lack of a more convincing marketing strategy, Microsoft seems to be now trying to cuts its losses and get devices out some other way. After all, unsold inventory takes up space and costs further money. The deal ain't so bad either. You are practically getting a $549 savings off one Lumia. That is, if you were actually planning on buying two. But if you have been on the fence into buying the Lumia 950 or 950 XL, now might be the right time to think hard on what could be the very last Lumias Microsoft will make. Until the Surface Phone, of course.

SOURCE: Microsoft