AOL

America Online shaped Germans' access to the internet in the 1990s with dial‑up software, millions of installation CDs and advertising campaigns. After the spectacular merger with Time Warner and a loss of relevance due to cheaper internet access, AOL declined and failed to find new business models. At the end of October 2025, AOL was acquired by Bending Spoons; what remains mainly are the email service and the news portal, while the classic dial‑up service was discontinued shortly before the deal. » More on wiwo.de

The Italian company Bending Spoons is buying AOL from Yahoo and will take over the aol.com website as well as the email provider. The deal is subject to approval by competition authorities and is expected to close by the end of the year. Bending Spoons has arranged a $2.8 billion debt financing package. With the acquisition, the company continues its series of purchases, most recently including Vimeo, Komoot, WeTransfer, Streamyard and Evernote. » More on heise.de

Bending Spoons announced it will acquire AOL from Yahoo after securing $2.8 billion in debt financing and expects the deal to close by year-end. CEO Luca Ferrari said the company will invest in AOL and does not plan to sell the asset, aiming to serve its large, loyal customer base long-term. The acquisition follows Bending Spoons' recent string of digital purchases, some of which were followed by layoffs and price increases for customers. » More on theverge.com