LinkedIn buys Lynda to boost its business content for its 300 million users

LinkedIn has bought Carpinteria, California, US leading online learning business Lynda (founded in 1995) for $1.5bn (£1.1bn), making it the professional networking site’s biggest acquisition to date. Lynda helps anyone to learn business software, coding to business skills, technology and creative skills to achieve personal and professional goals, also provides German, French and Spanish language content under the Video 2 brain brand name.

LinkedIn is trying to boost the business content it offers to its 300 million users.

Subscribers pay £ 256.30 ($375) per year to access the tutorials.

“The mission of LinkedIn and the mission of lynda.com are highly aligned,” said LinkedIn chief executive Jeff Weiner.

“Both companies seek to help professionals be better at what they do.”

Shares in LinkedIn  rose more than 1.5% on the New York Stock Exchange after news of the acquisition was released.