Looking to complete the sale of ICQ and put it behind them, AOL has accepted the bids of a limited number potential buyers for the pioneer internet chat service. Though at least seven legitimate offers came in, AOL has narrowed the list of buyers to Russia’s Digital Sky Technologies and ProfMedia, China’s Tencent, and possibly one more which remains unnamed.
DST and ProfMedia are believed by some to have an advantage due to the fact that 44% of all ICQ users are located in Russia. AOL was looking to get USD 200 million for the unit but estimates place the remaining bids in the neighborhood of USD 120 million. AOL paid USD 287 million for ICQ in 1988.
14/04/2010
Central & Eastern Europe, Internet, E-Commerce & E-Services, Rumors & Speculation, Russia, Software & Information Technology