Microsoft scoops up LinkedIn for $26.2B in cash

Microsoft has made a big bet on LinkedIn, announcing Monday that it will spend nearly $26.2 billion in cash to purchase the enterprise-focused social networking and recruiting company.

The acquisition, the largest in Microsoft's history and one of the biggest tech acquisitions ever, will combine the world's largest enterprise-focused social network with one of the biggest enterprise software companies.

The deal is more than just a social play. In addition to LinkedIn's core professional networking product, Microsoft also gains access to products including presentation-sharing software SlideShare and professional training service Lynda.com.

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