LinkedIn Buys Lynda.com for $1.5 Billion

Natalie Gagliordi, reporting for ZDNet:

The social network for professionals is buying lynda.com in a cash and stock deal valued at approximately $1.5 billion.

Founded in 1995, lynda.com is a subscription-based online learning portal, where members can focus on a range business and technology skill sets. The website also offers a premium subscription for members in corporate, government and educational organizations.

Executives for both companies called the merger a “kind of fit that benefits everyone.”

Interesting acquisition. They had some integration with each other already — LinkedIn users could get their profiles updated with courses they completed through Lynda.com. But another angle is that Lynda.com has a lot of site-license deals with universities — this could help funnel students into LinkedIn as they enter the job market. (Maybe that was happening anyway? It’s been a long time since I last looked for a job.)

★ Thursday, 9 April 2015