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Top
Level Domain Holdings Merges With Minds + Machines:
Combined Entity Plans to Acquire and Operate New ICANN
Top-Level Domains Top Level Domain Holdings, Ltd. (AIM:
TLDH.L) today announced that it has completed a
merger with Minds +
Machines, a leading registry services provider for top-level domains. TLDH previously owned a significant minority share in Minds + Machines.
The merger follows TLDH’s announcement that it has raised
2.5M pounds (approximately $4.1 million) in a private placement. |
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TLDH is the only public company focused exclusively on acquiring and operating the new top-level domains authorized by
ICANN which has announced its intention to allow any qualified organization or business to create its own web
address - though at a very stiff price (well into six
figures per domain). ICANN plans to start rolling out the
new TLDs early next year.
TLDH said it now has roughly $7 million on hand to invest in new top-level domains, and
as a reserve fund for eventual auctions at ICANN in the event of
competing applications.
Fred Krueger, Chairman of TLDH, said “Bringing Minds + Machines and TLDH under the same ownership makes total sense for our companies and
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for our shareholders. We were extremely pleased with our previous investment in Minds + Machines and we are delighted now to take the next step. With Minds + Machines backing our portfolio investments in new top-level domains with world-class registry services, we are extremely cost-efficient and scalable.”
Antony Van Couvering, CEO of Minds + Machines,
said, “This merger is a natural evolution. Minds + Machines and TLDH have grown up together, and joining up fully was the logical next step. With TLDH as our investment arm, and Minds + Machines providing the operational capabilities, we are extremely well positioned to participate in the new top-level domains.”
TLDH is already a major investor in several high-profile new applications for web addresses, all of which will be contracting with Minds + Machines for registry services. They include:
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.ECO backed by former
Vice President Al Gore and the Alliance for Climate
Protection, which if approved will devote a majority of profits to fighting climate change.
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.NYC backed by former
Mayor Ed Koch, which if approved will return a substantial portion of profits to
New York City. www.dotnyc.net.
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Antony
Van Couvering
Minds + Machines CEO |
The registry platform of Minds + Machines,
Espresso, is in use by more than a dozen country-based top-level domains. In addition to new web addresses backed by
TLDH, Minds + Machines is providing registry services to other applicants, including
.ROMA and .RADIO.
The Minds + Machines management team previously launched or helped launch more than 20 top-level domains, with business models ranging from small communities to large commercial enterprises. In addition, they have owned and operated
ICANN-accredited registrars, managed reseller channels, developed systems software for domain names and overseen global top-level domain roll-outs. In addition to its for-profit work, Minds + Machines provides funding for emerging countries to use the Internet more effectively through its Capacity Building + Grants program. |
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Full details of the merger and the private placement can be found on TLDH’s web site at
http://www.tldh.org. |
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