ADSL Broadband
Best Broadband
Cable Broadband
Free Broadband
Fastest Broadband
20Mb Broadband
50Mb Broadband
Fibre-Optic Broadband
Structural changes ahead for AOL
Thursday 28th May 2009, by Daniel King
AOL could be about to undergo a number of structural changes after it emerged this week that plans were being made to separate it from its parent company.
The former internet services provider and marketing specialist issued a statement on Thursday (May 27th) suggesting moves could be made to remove it from the umbrella firm of Time Warner.
It was noted the owning company's board of directors had already agreed to authorise the plans, which could also involve a complete legal and structural reorganisation of AOL.
Time Warner would then no longer operate the firm and it would stand alone as a fully independent and publicly traded organisation.
Currently 95 per cent of AOL is owned by the media conglomerate, with the remaining five per cent stake held by Google. Previously agreed terms between the two mean Time Warner will take the shares owned by the search engine company a move which would then allow it to be controlled in a different manner.
Jeff Bewkes, chairman and chief executive officer of Time Warner said it was expected that such a move would be beneficial for all involved and would be another "critical step" in the parent company's wider plans for the future.
"The separation will also provide both companies with greater operational and strategic flexibility. We believe AOL will then have a better opportunity to achieve its full potential as a leading independent internet company," he added.
AOL properties include Mediaglow and Platform A as well as social networking and photo sharing website Bebo - which recently joined forces with Samsung Mobile for a recent music-focused project.
