Yahoo has sold TechCrunch, a leading tech news site, to private equity firm Regent, marking another change in ownership for the 18-year-old publication. The acquisition, announced on Friday, comes on the heels of Regent's purchase of Foundry, the firm behind outlets like PCWorld, Macworld, and TechAdvisor.

The sale marks a significant shift for TechCrunch, which has experienced multiple changes in ownership since its founding in 2005. In 2010, AOL acquired the site, and when Verizon acquired AOL in 2015 and Yahoo in 2017, TechCrunch became part of a new division called Oath, later renamed Verizon Media. In 2021, Verizon sold its media division to Apollo Global Management for $5 billion, and it was renamed Yahoo!

According to TechCrunch editor-in-chief Connie Loizos, Yahoo decided to sell the site because "our DNA is simply different from the rest of its portfolio." Despite the sale, Yahoo will retain a "small interest" in TechCrunch. The exact terms of the deal remain undisclosed.

The acquisition is a significant move for Regent, which is expanding its portfolio of tech-focused publications. The private equity firm's purchase of Foundry and subsequent acquisition of TechCrunch demonstrate its commitment to the tech media space.

Yahoo still owns several other tech-focused sites, including Engadget, which underwent significant layoffs last year. The sale of TechCrunch raises questions about the future of these sites and whether they will also be sold or continue to operate under Yahoo's ownership.

The implications of the sale are far-reaching, with potential impacts on the tech media landscape. As the industry continues to evolve, the changing ownership structures of prominent tech news sites like TechCrunch will likely have significant effects on the way tech news is reported and consumed.

In the broader context, the sale of TechCrunch highlights the ongoing shifts in the media industry, as traditional ownership structures give way to new models and players. As the tech media landscape continues to evolve, it remains to be seen how these changes will shape the future of tech journalism.