M
icrosoft Corp. and LinkedIn Corporation announced today 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. This represents a 50% premium over Friday’s closing price. It’s currently trading at around $192, after closing Friday in the $130 range. This is a bold move for Microsoft, but a move which will make them a serious player in the Social Media space. Microsoft has an enviable cash reserve and can easily bankroll this acquisition, and LinkedIn looks like it could fit in nicely with their cloud computing strategy.
