Russian Gangsters Buy Aol Instant Messenger.

It's a broader definition of gangster, for sure, but the big PE firms in Russia are largely backed by ex-soviet bigwigs turned natural resource masters. Have you noticed how many of them seem to end up in prison?

Just like American gangsters eventually built hotels and casinos, Russian gangsters are buying up yesterday's big tech names at a premium either as a vanity play, or to diversify by sinking their blood money into foreign businesses that Putin can't touch.