AfterDawn: Tech news

AOL looking to sell patent portfolio

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 25 Mar 2012 12:37 User comments (1)

AOL looking to sell patent portfolio AOL has hired Evercore Partners to help it sell its 800-strong patent portfolio.
The company has confirmed it has received numerous buyout offers from private equity firms, with the firms wanting to take AOL private. Such firms include Providence Equity Partners Inc, TPG Capital and Silver Lake.

So far, no deal has been struck yet.

Starboard Value, a hedge fund that owns 5 percent of AOL, says the firms believe AOL's patent portfolio could bring in over $1 billion in licensing income if used correctly.

The company, once valued at over $100 billion, now has a market cap of just $1.75 billion thanks to slowing advertising growth and the decade-long decline of dial-up revenue.

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1 user comment

126.3.2012 01:10

I wonder what the patents SOL (as i've always called it) actually has? Hmm, lets look into their portfolio and take a look:

#1.) How to charge people more for less service.

#2.) How to give something to users they could do on their own already with and ISP.

#3.) How to make money by suggesting their patent portfolio could be worth 100 Billion if used correctly.

Hahah, ya right.

This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 26 Mar 2012 @ 1:11

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