Goldman Tied to Rival Bidder as Morgan Stanley Wins on Microsoft

Morgan Stanley won the role as Microsoft Corp.’s adviser on its agreement to buy LinkedIn Corp., vaulting the bank ahead of Goldman Sachs Group Inc. in technology dealmaking this year. Goldman Sachs was representing another potential bidder, according to people familiar with the matter.

Goldman Sachs was conflicted from working with Microsoft on the transaction, said the people, who didn’t name the other suitor and asked not to be identified discussing a private process. The bank is the global leader in overall mergers and acquisitions and has worked with Microsoft on more than $25 billion of deals, advising former Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer on his two largest deals.