Tuesday 10 October 2017

Reflecting On The Microsoft Acquisition Of Linkedin

When it comes to mergers and acquisitions, it doesn’t get any bigger than Microsoft and LinkedIn. At $26 billion, not only is it the biggest tech deal in history, but it’s also one of the biggest acquisitions ever.

It was no doubt a surprise for all of those involved, especially the people who worked at LinkedIn. How it was kept a secret from everyone, nobody knows. The only sure thing was that when it was finally announced, the jaws of every LinkedIn employee had hit the floor. The whole acquisition involved a cash transaction, with LinkedIn shares being bought at $196 a share. This, of course, included the company’s net cash.

Image source: thenextweb.com

As with every merger and acquisition, certain provisions were such as the retention of LinkedIn’s brand and culture were set in place to ensure that LinkedIn employees still had their motivation to drive them. And although LinkedIn is still independent, its CEO now reports to Microsoft’s head honcho, Satya Nadella.

Some people still question the value of the acquisition -- $26 billion. Was it worth it? LinkedIn is the biggest professional network not just in cyberspace, but also in the world. After reaching the top of that mountain, LinkedIn has only continued to grow. And who knows what else it can achieve under Microsoft?

Image source: forbes.com


Eddie O’Brien is the CEO of the Americas at Arvato Bertelsmann, overseeing the growth and execution of the multibillion-dollar BPO services provider in the U.S., Canada, and Latin America. He has held several executive positions in various multinational firms, including at Microsoft. Follow this Twitter page for more business news.



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