Alisher Usmanov

AOL has at last sold ICQ instant messenger company to Russian investors for $187.5 million. The transaction was reported by Digital Sky Technologies, an investment group backed by Yuri Milner, a media baron, and Alisher Usmanov, Uzbek commodities tycoon who owns a large stake in Arsenal FC.

While the popularity of the instant messenger has declined in the Western countries it remained strong and even increased in Israel, where it was developed, and former Soviet countries.