The Numbers Don't Lie: What LinkedIn Brings to Microsoft

Microsoft acquired LinkedIn for $26 billion, marking the highest earnings multiple of any takeover that year. The deal values LinkedIn at over 84 times EBITDA, with Microsoft paying a premium compared to Facebook's acquisition of WhatsApp. Despite LinkedIn's slowest revenue growth in its public history, Microsoft aims to increase user engagement by integrating LinkedIn with Microsoft Office. To fund the acquisition, Microsoft issued $19.8 billion in bonds, leveraging investor interest in high-yield corporate debt.

What was the growth rate of LinkedIn's revenue this year?

How did Microsoft fund the acquisition of LinkedIn?