MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., May 3, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LinkedIn
(NYSE:LNKD), the world's largest professional network on the Internet
with 161 million members worldwide, today announced it agreed to
acquire SlideShare, a leading professional content sharing community.

The transaction is valued at approximately $118.75 million, subject to
adjustment, in a combination of approximately 45 percent cash and
approximately 55 percent stock. Subject to the completion of customary
conditions, the acquisition is expected to close during the second
quarter of 2012.

Founded in October 2006, SlideShare helps professionals discover people
through content, and content through people. SlideShare users have
uploaded more than nine million presentations, and according to
comScore, in March SlideShare had nearly 29 million unique visitors,
ranking it among the most heavily trafficked sites for professional
content.

SlideShare is also enabling the sharing of presentations across the
Web; nearly 7.4 million presentations hosted by SlideShare are embedded
across more than 1.4 million unique domains.

"Presentations are one of the main ways in which professionals capture
and share their experiences and knowledge, which in turn helps shape
their professional identity," said LinkedIn CEO Jeff Weiner. "These
presentations also enable professionals to discover new connections and
gain the insights they need to become more productive and successful in
their careers, aligning perfectly with LinkedIn's mission and helping
us deliver even more value for our members. We're very excited to
welcome the SlideShare team to LinkedIn."

Rashmi Sinha, CEO of SlideShare, commented, "We built SlideShare to
help professionals share presentations and connect people through
content. What we can build with LinkedIn, the largest professional
network on the Internet, is the most natural extension of this vision.
I am excited about what we can build together."

Deep Nishar, LinkedIn's Senior Vice President of Product and User
Experience, blogged about the acquisition at
http://blog.linkedin.com/topic/slideshare/, and a SlideShare
presentation outlining the deal can be found on LinkedIn's SlideShare
page at: http://www.slideshare.net/linkedin/linkedin-and-slideshare and
on the investor relations section of the LinkedIn website at:
http://investors.linkedin.com/.

About LinkedIn

Founded in 2003, LinkedIn connects the world's professionals to make
them more productive and successful. With 161 million members
worldwide, including executives from every Fortune 500 company,
LinkedIn is the world's largest professional network on the Internet.
The company has a diversified business model with revenues coming from
member subscriptions, marketing solutions and hiring solutions.
Headquartered in Silicon Valley, LinkedIn has offices across the globe.

The LinkedIn logo is available at
http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=11096

About SlideShare

Founded in 2006, SlideShare is a leading professional content sharing
community. Professionals can upload content for free, discover people
through content, and content through people. SlideShare brings
presentations, documents and videos to life on the web for
professionals to discover and share. Premium social content marketing
subscriptions enable professionals and brands to gain social media
engagement and generate sales leads. The company is based in San
Francisco, Calif., and is backed by investors including Jonathan
Abrams, Mark Cuban, Dave McClure, and Venrock. More information about
SlideShare is available at www.slideshare.net.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements related to
LinkedIn, SlideShare, the timing and consummation of the acquisition of
SlideShare and the potential benefits of the acquisition. Actual events
or results may differ materially from those contained in the
forward-looking statements. Please refer to the documents LinkedIn
files from time to time with the SEC, including LinkedIn's most recent
Form 10-K and the Form 10-Q LinkedIn will file for the quarter ended
March 31, 2012. These SEC filings contain and identify important
factors that could cause results of the acquisition to differ
materially from those contained in LinkedIn's forward-looking
statements. LinkedIn is under no duty to update any of the
forward-looking statements after the date of this press release to
conform to actual results.


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