In a stunning turn of events, Italian tech company Bending Spoons has announced its acquisition of Vimeo, the beloved video platform, for a staggering $1.38 billion in an all-cash transaction.
The deal, revealed on September 10, 2025, via a LinkedIn post by Bending Spoons, marks the largest acquisition in the company’s history and has sent shockwaves through the tech and investment communities. This follows the firm’s previous high-profile purchases of Evernote, Meetup, StreamYard, and WeTransfer, cementing its reputation as a powerhouse in turning around struggling tech companies.
Bending Spoons, a Milan-based holding company, has built its business model around acquiring underperforming firms and revitalizing them through aggressive cost-cutting and price increases.
The strategy has proven effective, but it also raises concerns for Vimeo’s future. Just a week before the acquisition announcement, Vimeo’s CEO posted on LinkedIn about a 10% staff reduction, paradoxically describing the company as a "family." This move hints at the tough decisions ahead as Bending Spoons takes the reins.
For Vimeo, which lost 90% of its market value since going public in 2021 in a bid for independence, this acquisition is nothing short of a monster deal. The $1.38 billion price tag translates to 3.3 times the company’s annual revenue and an astonishing 40 times its profit.
The offer of $7.85 per share represents a 63% premium over recent stock prices, delighting shareholders but leaving many scratching their heads about the valuation. While the exact reasoning behind such a hefty investment remains unclear, congratulations are in order for those who held Vimeo stock through its turbulent journey.
However, the outlook for Vimeo’s users is less rosy. Bending Spoons is known for implementing paywalls and optimizing businesses for profit margins exceeding 50%.
Industry observers predict that free and low-cost plans, along with non-enterprise products, are likely to disappear as the Italian firm applies its signature turnaround playbook.
This shift could alienate Vimeo’s creative community, which has long relied on the platform for affordable video hosting and sharing.
Bending Spoons’ track record offers a glimpse into what might lie ahead. After acquiring Evernote, the note-taking app saw significant restructuring, while the purchase of WeTransfer involved a drastic 75% staff reduction.
The firm’s focus on streamlining operations and boosting profitability has yielded results, but it often comes at the cost of layoffs and higher user fees.
With Vimeo now in its portfolio, the company is poised to leverage its video technology assets, potentially expanding self-service tools and enterprise offerings, as hinted by Vimeo’s CEO.
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As the deal awaits shareholder and regulatory approvals, with an expected closure in the fourth quarter of 2025, the tech world watches with bated breath. Will Bending Spoons breathe new life into Vimeo, or will it follow the pattern of previous acquisitions with significant cost-cutting and a pivot to premium services? For now, all we can do is keep our fingers crossed for the platform’s future — and brace for the changes to come.
