Milan-based technology company Bending Spoons has inked a deal to acquire AOL from Yahoo and its private equity parent, Apollo. The acquisition is set to position the historic web portal and email provider for its next phase of growth. The deal is expected to close by the end of this year.
While financial terms were not disclosed, Bending Spoons also announced the successful completion of a $2.8 billion debt financing package to support the AOL deal as well as future mergers and acquisitions.
The fast-growing company recently unveiled an agreement to acquire Vimeo, a transaction also expected to close by the end of 2025. Bending Spoons’ portfolio includes other well-known brands such as Brightcove, Evernote, komoot, Meetup, Remini, StreamYard, and WeTransfer.
“AOL is an iconic, beloved business that’s in good health, has stood the test of time, and we believe has unexpressed potential,” said Bending Spoons CEO and co-founder Luca Ferrari. “By our estimation, AOL is one of the top ten most-used email providers in the world, with a highly retained customer base counting around 8 million daily and 30 million monthly active users. We intend to invest significantly to help the product and the business flourish.”
Ferrari, who co-founded Bending Spoons in 2018, emphasized the company’s commitment to long-term ownership. “We have never sold an acquired business, and we’re confident we’re the right long-term steward for AOL. We look forward to serving its large, loyal customer base for many years to come.”
This acquisition marks the latest chapter in the history of AOL, the internet pioneer founded in 1983 under another name. AOL was shaped by marketing guru Steve Case into one of the best-known companies in the U.S. The company peaked when it acquired Time Warner during the 2000 tech bubble but faced challenges when broadband internet displaced dial-up service.
AOL was split off from Time Warner in 2009, acquired by Verizon in 2014, and merged with Yahoo the following year. Apollo acquired Yahoo from Verizon in 2021 and has since operated it as a standalone company.
Yahoo CEO Jim Lanzone commented on the transaction: “AOL and Yahoo share a great deal of history, and our new team has enjoyed the opportunity to return AOL to growth. This transaction will allow us to focus more deeply on the aggressive roadmaps we have planned for Yahoo’s core products moving forward, while ensuring AOL continues to thrive under new ownership.”
Reed Rayman, chair of Yahoo’s board and partner at Apollo, added, “Since our acquisition, we’ve helped the company drive transformational reinvestment in its digital media assets and consumer technology, producing strong performance across Yahoo’s properties. We believe this transaction positions AOL well for its next phase, while Yahoo accelerates investment in its flagship properties and AI-powered experiences.”
https://deadline.com/2025/10/aol-acquired-by-italian-tech-company-bending-spoons-1236601751/
