Microsoft buys LinkedIn for $26.2bn

Microsoft has completed its $26.2 billion acquisition of LinkedIn, a social network for professionals.

The deal was concluded after the European Commission gave the final approval earlier this week.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has outlined how the two companies plan to integrate their products. The companies will integrate LinkedIn’s Sales Navigator tool for sales representatives into Microsoft’s customer-relationship-management tool, Dynamics, which was the main reason for the buy.

“As we articulated six months ago, our top priority is to accelerate LinkedIn’s growth, by adding value for every LinkedIn member,” says Nadella.

“I am energized and optimistic for what we can achieve together and the journey ahead,” he added.

Below is a list of the integration plan:

LinkedIn identity and network in Microsoft Outlook and the Office suite. LinkedIn notifications within the Windows action center

Enabling members drafting résumés in Word to update their profiles, and discover and apply to jobs on LinkedIn. Extending the reach of Sponsored Content across Microsoft properties Enterprise LinkedIn Lookup powered by Active Directory and Office 365

LinkedIn Learning available across the Office 365 and Windows ecosystem. Developing a business news desk across our content ecosystem and MSN.com. Redefining social selling through the combination of Sales Navigator and Dynamics 36.