Who Owns Outbrain Company?

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Who Really Owns Outbrain Now?

Understanding a company's ownership is crucial for grasping its trajectory and potential. Outbrain, a leading web advertising platform, recently underwent a significant transformation. This shift was largely influenced by its acquisition of Teads in February 2025, a deal valued at approximately $900 million.

This acquisition, which led to the combined entity operating under the Teads brand, fundamentally altered the Outbrain SWOT Analysis landscape. Delving into the details of the Outbrain ownership, including its founders, key investors, and the impact of the Teads deal, provides critical insights. Exploring "Who owns Outbrain" and the evolving ownership structure helps to understand the company's future direction. Examining the Outbrain company's history and current status, including its executives, investors, and parent company, is essential for making informed decisions.

The digital advertising platform, Outbrain, was co-founded in 2006 by Yaron Galai and Ori Lahav. This marked the beginning of what would become a significant player in the content recommendation and native advertising space. Understanding the initial ownership structure of the Outbrain company is key to tracing its evolution.

Yaron Galai and Ori Lahav brought prior experience in the online advertising industry to the table. Galai had co-founded Quigo, and Lahav had worked at Shopping.com. Their combined expertise was instrumental in shaping the company's early strategy and attracting initial investors. The founders' vision played a crucial role in the company's early development.

While the specific equity split at the company's inception isn't publicly available, early funding rounds were pivotal in determining the initial ownership of Outbrain. Index Ventures led an initial $5 million funding round. This early investment helped set the stage for future growth and expansion. The founders' combined vision helped attract initial investors.

Founders

Yaron Galai and Ori Lahav co-founded Outbrain in 2006. Galai served as Co-CEO, and Lahav was CTO and General Manager of Israel.

Early Funding

Index Ventures led an initial $5 million funding round. A $35 million Series D round in 2011 supported international expansion and product development.

Founder Backgrounds

Galai co-founded Quigo, acquired by AOL. Lahav had experience at Shopping.com, acquired by eBay. Their experience influenced the company's early strategy.

Ownership Agreements

Details on equity splits and agreements like vesting schedules are not publicly available. These agreements are common in startups to align founder interests.

Initial Vision

The founders aimed to create a content discovery platform. This vision helped publishers monetize content and advertisers reach audiences.

Ownership Disputes

There are no public reports of initial ownership disputes or buyouts among the founders. The initial focus was on building the platform.

The early success of Outbrain and its ability to attract investment can be attributed to the founders' vision and the platform's potential in the digital advertising landscape. The company's focus on content discovery and native advertising set it apart. To understand more about the strategies that drove Outbrain's expansion, you can read about the Growth Strategy of Outbrain.

Key Takeaways

The founders' experience and early funding rounds were crucial. The initial vision was to create a content discovery platform. The founders' backgrounds in online advertising were key.

• Yaron Galai and Ori Lahav co-founded Outbrain in 2006.
• Index Ventures led an early funding round of $5 million.
• The founders had experience in the online advertising space.
• The company focused on content discovery and native advertising.

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The journey of understanding 'Who owns Outbrain' begins with its initial public offering (IPO) on July 23, 2021. Traded on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol 'OB,' the IPO involved the sale of 8 million shares at $20.00 each, generating approximately $160 million. However, the market capitalization has since seen a decline, dropping from $1.09 billion to $258.38 million as of June 9, 2025, marking a 76.36% decrease.

A pivotal moment in the company's ownership structure was the acquisition of Teads in February 2025. This transaction, valued at around $900 million, included $625 million in cash and 43.75 million shares of Outbrain common stock. As a result, Altice Teads S.A., the selling shareholder of Teads, secured a considerable stake, owning roughly 47% of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock as of December 31, 2024. This significantly influences the combined entity, now operating under the Teads brand.

As of May 2025, major institutional shareholders include Value Base Ltd., BlackRock, Inc., Vanguard Group Inc, Acadian Asset Management LLC, Geode Capital Management LLC, and State Street Corp. Institutional investors collectively hold 68.5% of the ownership, while retail investors hold 21.3%, and insider ownership stands at 10.2% as of 2024. This ownership structure, especially the influence of Altice Teads S.A., is expected to shape company strategy and governance. For more insights, you can explore the Target Market of Outbrain.

Key Ownership Insights

The acquisition of Teads reshaped Outbrain's ownership, with Altice Teads S.A. becoming a significant shareholder. Institutional investors hold the majority of shares, influencing strategic decisions.

• Outbrain's IPO occurred in July 2021.
• Market capitalization has decreased since the IPO.
• Altice Teads S.A. holds a substantial stake.
• Institutional investors play a key role in ownership.

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The current board of directors of Outbrain, now operating as Teads, is pivotal in the company's governance. David Kostman is the CEO of the combined entity. Yaron Galai, co-founder of Outbrain, serves as Co-Founder and Chairman of the Board. This structure reflects a shift in leadership and control following the acquisition of Teads in February 2025. Understanding the Outbrain ownership structure is key to grasping the company's strategic direction.

Following the acquisition, Altice Teads S.A., the selling shareholder of Teads, holds significant influence. Altice Teads has the right to nominate two directors to the Outbrain Board. As of December 31, 2024, Altice Teads owned approximately 47% of the issued and outstanding common stock, granting them substantial influence over corporate matters. The voting structure generally follows a one-share-one-vote principle for common stock. The Series A Preferred Shares, part of the acquisition consideration, vote together with the Common Stock on an as-converted basis on all matters. This arrangement impacts the Outbrain company's decision-making processes.

The Stockholders Agreement related to the Teads acquisition mandates that as long as Altice Teads and its affiliates hold at least 15% of the total voting power, they must vote their shares as recommended by the Outbrain Board, with certain exceptions. This agreement further solidifies Altice Teads' influence on decision-making. For more insights into the financial aspects, consider exploring the Revenue Streams & Business Model of Outbrain. There have been no widely reported proxy battles or activist investor campaigns directly related to Outbrain in the immediate past, but the significant shift in ownership with the Teads acquisition has inherently reshaped the balance of power within the company's governance. Analyzing who owns Outbrain provides critical context for understanding the company's future.

Key Takeaways on Ownership

The board of directors includes key figures from both Outbrain and Teads. Altice Teads has considerable influence due to its significant stock ownership and board representation. The voting structure and Stockholders Agreement further define Altice Teads' control.

• David Kostman is the CEO of the combined company.
• Yaron Galai is the Co-Founder and Chairman.
• Altice Teads holds approximately 47% of the common stock.
• Altice Teads has the right to nominate two directors.

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Over the past few years, the Outbrain company has seen significant shifts in its ownership structure. A major development was the acquisition of Teads, which closed on February 3, 2025. This deal, valued at approximately $900 million, involved a cash payment of $625 million and the issuance of 43.75 million shares of Outbrain common stock to Altice Teads. As a result, Altice Teads now holds roughly 47% of Outbrain's outstanding common stock as of December 31, 2024, marking a substantial consolidation in the ad tech industry. This acquisition has reshaped the landscape of Outbrain ownership.

In 2024, Outbrain reported a revenue of $889.9 million, a 5% decrease compared to the previous year. However, the first quarter of 2025, which includes results from the Teads business starting February 3, 2025, saw revenue increase to $286.4 million, a 32% increase year-over-year. The company anticipates realizing about $65 million to $75 million in synergies in 2026 from the Teads acquisition, with approximately $40 million expected in 2025 from cost synergies. These financial results reflect the evolving Outbrain ownership and its strategic direction.

Yaron Galai, co-founder and former Co-CEO, resigned in February 2024, with David Kostman becoming the sole CEO. This leadership change, combined with the Teads acquisition, signals a strategic pivot for Outbrain towards a more diversified omnichannel advertising platform. The company also repurchased 1,410,001 shares for $5.8 million in 2024 under its $30 million stock repurchase program. Further insights into the competitive environment can be found in the Competitors Landscape of Outbrain.

Who Owns Outbrain?

Altice Teads holds a significant stake, owning approximately 47% of the company's common stock after the Teads acquisition.

Outbrain Executives

David Kostman currently serves as the CEO of the combined entity, leading the company's strategic direction.

Outbrain Financial Performance

The company reported a revenue of $889.9 million for the full year 2024, with a significant increase in Q1 2025.

Outbrain's Future

The company anticipates realizing significant synergies from the Teads acquisition in 2026, enhancing its market position.

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