Vimeo is being acquired by European software developer Bending Spoons for $1.38 billion in an all-cash deal.
Bending Spoons is known for aggressive post-acquisition changes, raising concerns for Vimeo's future.
The deal is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2025, taking Vimeo private.
Bending Spoons' acquisition of Vimeo could make it a larger player in the video market.
Video platform Vimeo is being acquired by European software developer Bending Spoons for $1.38 billion in an all-cash deal that will take the company private, following a long period of struggle since its 2021 public spinoff.
Payday for shareholders: The deal pays Vimeo shareholders $7.85 per share, a 91% premium over the stock's recent average price, according to the company's announcement. The transaction, which has unanimous approval from Vimeo’s board, is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2025.
A long time coming: The acquisition follows a tough run for Vimeo, which has seen its market value plummet by nearly 90% since going public. The steady decline culminated in the company laying off around 10% of its staff just last week, as reported by multiple outlets.
Here comes the playbook: But the new owner has a history that may give users pause. As detailed by TechCrunch, Bending Spoons is known for making aggressive changes post-acquisition, including deep staff cuts at Evernote and a 75% workforce reduction at WeTransfer shortly after buying it.
For Vimeo, a platform that once had ambitions to be a Netflix for indie filmmakers, this sale provides a definitive financial outcome for investors but opens a new chapter of uncertainty for the brand and its creator community under a notoriously aggressive new owner.
The acquisition makes Bending Spoons a bigger force in the video market, as it already serves Vimeo competitor Brightcove. Meanwhile, some bankers are already eyeing the Italian app developer itself as a future candidate for a U.S. IPO.
