linkedin CEO 宣布以15亿美元收购在线学习网站Lynda，技能教育连接招聘和职业社交
美国职业社交网站LinkedIn今日宣布，将以约15亿美元收购在线学习网站Lynda.com。
Lynda.com总部位于加州，拥有550名员工，由琳达·威曼(Lynda Weinman)和布鲁斯·海文(Bruce Heavin)共同创办。公司专门制作在线学习工具，并将其出售给个人和大企业客户。
Lynda.com提供逾5700项课程和25.5万段视频辅导。注册后，会员便可以访问这些课程。这些课程支持英语、德国、法语、西班牙语和日语。
LinkedIn CEO杰夫·维纳(Jeff Weiner)称：“LinkedIn和Lynda.com的使命高度一致，都是为了帮助专业人士更好地做好本职工作。”
通过收购Lynda，LinkedIn打通了职业教育、在线招聘、职场社交这个链条，从发现和匹配人才到培养人才，Linkedin显然进入了一个附加值更高的市场。
LinkedIn一直提供行业资讯等方面的增值服务，订阅用户可以接触到优质的行业内信息资源。Lynda的教育资源是对这块增值服务的一个加强和延伸。
该交易将以现金加股票形式进行，其中现金占约52%，股票部分占约48%。据预计，该交易将于本季度内完成。
就在今年年初，Lynda刚刚完成了由TPG Capital领投的新一轮融资1.86亿美元，估值已经接近10亿美元，这也是全球教育科技领域自2010年以来的最大单笔融资。
而在国内，近日，在线教育领域也是再度沸腾，三家涉足K12在线教育的创业公司在3月30日和31日“抢头条”式的扎堆宣布获得融资。所谓K12是来自美国的概念，指从幼儿园到大学前的基础教育阶段。
专注做初高中在线做题和测评的猿题库宣布获得6000万元D轮融资，估值3.6亿美元；专攻基础教育阶段的一起作业网宣布获得D轮1亿美元融资，估值6亿美元；致力于打造涵盖中小学教育、大学留学教育和艺术体育生活类培训三大板块的教师O2O平台跟谁学宣布获得5000万美元A轮融资，估值2.5亿美元。
不过，有了资本的推手，并不等于一定可以成功。就目前而言，在线教育的各种模式都处在探索之中，尚乏成功案例。在业界人士看来，这也是BAT迟迟没有大举发力、新东方转型线上亦步亦趋的原因之一。稍早之前，世纪佳缘创始人龚海燕连续创办91外教网、梯子网均铩羽而归。
琳达·威曼(Lynda Weinman) 的博文：
Today, I am thrilled to share the exciting news that lynda.com hasentered into an agreement to be acquired by LinkedIn. Our story is one only possible in the Internet age, and it has been an unbelievable journey that proves just how much people have come to value and embrace new ways to learn new skills.
As a teacher, entrepreneur and lifelong learner, this is a very exciting moment in my own professional journey. Early on in my career, as a teacher at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, I found my passion and talent for de-mystifying design software for my technology-phobic art students. In 1995, I secured the domain lynda.com as a sandbox from which to teach web publishing. I wrote my first book in 1996, with invaluable help from my husband Bruce Heavin, called Designing Web Graphics, and never dreamed that it would become an international bestseller.
Although the platform has changed—from in-person teaching at our small school in Ojai, California, to courses on VHS, DVD and later the Internet—from the start, lynda.com became known for our friendly, approachable teaching style. We have always focused on making lynda.com flexible enabling people to learn from anywhere, at their own pace and on their own schedules.
When we were approached by LinkedIn, we instantly recognized that the synergy between the two companies offered a match unlike any other. LinkedIn has the largest database of professionals in the world, all of whom potentially benefit from self-paced study of new skills. Jeff Weiner, CEO of LinkedIn, and I both believe that the skills gap is one of the leading social issues of our time—technology, changes fast and people need to keep their skills up to date. We have a shared vision of connecting relevant knowledge to those in need of new or stronger skills, and believe that together we can positively impact the global job market and economy.
This is a moment in history when people can learn anytime, anywhere, and with no boundaries. We believe in LinkedIn’s future stewardship and vision, and feel that we have found a perfect cultural fit for our mission. We are thrilled to be part of something bigger than ourselves, and look forward to helping more people learn the skills that are needed in today’s rapidly changing economic landscape.
Congratulations to the entire lynda team, and here’s a toast to people everywhere who are motivated and empowered to learn new skills. Thank you to all of our members who have supported and contributed to our success.
附：linkedin收购历史
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