In a landmark deal shaking up the tech and media landscape, Italian tech company Bending Spoons has agreed to acquire AOL from Yahoo and Apollo Global Management for approximately $1.5 billion.
This acquisition, announced on October 29, 2025, marks the latest chapter in AOL’s storied history and positions Bending Spoons as a significant player in the digital content and services space.
AOL’s Legacy in the Internet Age
Once a dominant force in the early days of the internet, AOL—originally America Online—pioneered dial-up internet access and became synonymous with the phrase “You’ve Got Mail” for millions of users in the 1990s.
At its peak, AOL boasted over 30 million subscribers, but its influence waned with the rise of broadband and competitors like Google and social media platforms.
From Mergers to Decline: AOL’s Turbulent History
The company’s infamous $162 billion merger with Time Warner in 2000 is often cited as one of the largest and most disastrous corporate mergers in history, leading to massive losses and a decline in relevance.
Since then, AOL has changed hands multiple times, including acquisitions by Verizon in 2015 for $4.4 billion and later by Apollo Global Management in 2021 as part of a $5 billion deal with Yahoo.
Bending Spoons: A Rising Tech Powerhouse
Milan-based Bending Spoons, known for acquiring and revitalizing digital assets like Evernote, Vimeo, and WeTransfer, aims to breathe new life into AOL’s remaining 30 million monthly active users across its email and web properties.
The deal, expected to close by the end of 2025 pending regulatory approval, is part of Bending Spoons’ aggressive expansion strategy, reportedly backed by $2.8 billion in debt financing.
Potential Impacts and Future Prospects
Industry experts are cautiously optimistic about AOL’s future under Bending Spoons, though concerns linger about the Italian firm’s history of cost-cutting and layoffs post-acquisition, as noted in various industry discussions.
For users, this could mean a revamped AOL with modernized services, or it could signal further streamlining of a once-iconic brand that struggles to find relevance in today’s digital ecosystem.
Looking ahead, Bending Spoons may leverage AOL’s nostalgic brand equity and user base to integrate with its portfolio of apps and platforms, potentially targeting niche markets or enhancing data-driven advertising.
As the internet continues to evolve, this acquisition underscores the ongoing transformation of legacy tech giants, with AOL’s journey serving as a reminder of both the promise and peril of digital innovation.
Maria Lourdes
