12 Aug 2013 07:00
For Immediate Release
12 August 2013
Top Level Domain Holdings Limited
("TLDH" or the "Company")
First private auction participation
The directors of Top Level Domain Holdings (AIM: TLDH) are pleased to announce that the Company will be participating in four private auctions starting Tuesday, 13 August for the contested strings .GUIDE, .CASA, .网址("web address" in Chinese) and .FISHING. In each instance the Company will be bidding against single competitors, there being just two companies participating in each of the four auctions.
Under the private auction format, if TLDH makes the winning bid it will secure the sole ICANN application rights to the name. If the single competitor makes the winning bid, TLDH will receive the cash bid less the auctioneer's fees.
Each private auction is expected to last for up to five days, with the results of the four auctions expected to be announced by the Company in the week commencing 19 August. Each auction is being managed by Innovative Auctions.
Antony Van Couvering, Chief Executive Officer of TLDH, commented:
"We are delighted to be participating in our first round of private auctions. ICANN has encouraged contending applicants to come to private arrangements, and private auctions are one method for doing so. Our participation will enable us either to increase the number of our uncontested applications or receive a cash payment for those applications which receive bids that exceed the valuation we believe is appropriate. For rival applicants unable to reach agreement through private discussions, we view the private auction route as the method of choice given the benefits that can be delivered to all by participating."
Where competing applicants can not reach agreement either through private negotiations or private auctions, ICANN-sponsored auctions will take place with ICANN receiving the monies paid by the winning bidder.
Further Information:
Top Level Domain Holdings Limited
North America
Antony Van Couvering Tel:+1 310 452 1491
Beaumont Cornish Limited (Nomad) Tel:+44(0)20 7628 3396
Roland Cornish
Michael Cornish
N+1 Singer (Broker) Tel +44 (0)20 7496 3000
Shaun Dobson/Matt Thomas
gth media relations
Toby Hall /Suzanne Johnson Walsh Tel:+44(0)20 7822 7493/2
Or visit the group's website at www.tldh.org
About Top Level Domain Holdings Limited
Top Level Domain Holding is a publicly traded holding company listed on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange. The company is the only publicly traded company exclusively focused on the new top-level domain space. Top-level domains, such as .com and .net are regulated by ICANN. ICANN is expanding the number of new generic top-level domains from the current 22 to over 1000. TLDH is making targeted investments in this space, focusing on both infrastructure technologies and specific top-level domains.
About Minds + Machines, http://mindsandmachines.com
Minds + Machines is a registry services provider that works internationally with commercial organisations, cities, not-for-profits and entrepreneurs to secure and operate new top level domains (TLDs). Minds + Machines is a wholly owned subsidiary of Top Level Domain Holdings Limited.
ENDS