Which company acquired LinkedIn in a deal announced in 2016?

Microsoft acquired LinkedIn in a deal announced in 2016. Microsoft agreed to purchase the professional-networking company for $26.2 billion, and the transaction was completed in December of that year.

LinkedIn was founded in 2003 and launched publicly in 2003 as a service for professional identity, networking, recruiting, job listings, and business publishing. It operates differently from general-purpose social networks because profiles and connections are centered mainly on careers and workplaces.

Microsoft kept LinkedIn operating as a separate brand and business. The acquisition connected LinkedIn’s professional data and services with Microsoft products such as Office, Dynamics, and business-oriented software, while LinkedIn continued to run its own platform.

The transaction is sometimes confused with Microsoft’s earlier purchase of Skype or its later gaming acquisitions. LinkedIn was one of Microsoft’s largest purchases and strengthened its position in enterprise software and professional services.