Less Ads, More Data, More Tools Register for FREE

Pin to quick picksMMX.L Regulatory News (MMX)

  • There is currently no data for MMX

.vip launch update

23 May 2016 07:00

RNS Number : 9397Y
Minds + Machines Group Limited
23 May 2016
 

23 May 2016

 

Minds + Machines Group Limited

("MMX", the "Company" or "Group")

 

.vip launch update

 

Minds + Machines Group Limited (AIM:MMX), the top-level domain registry company, is pleased to report the record-breaking launch of its .vip top-level domain that entered General Availability at 1600hrs UTC on 17 May 2016. As of 1600hrs UTC on 22 May 2016, registrations taken by the Company had reached 203,720, .vip having been placed in the top 20 of new gTLDs within 5 days of launch, according to industry tracking site, nTLDstats.com. By comparison, .xyz, the world's leading new gTLD in terms of registrations, with 2.9 million current registrations, took some 21 days to reach an equivalent number of registrations when launched in June 2014.

 

In terms of billings and orders received for .vip names by 1600hrs UTC 22 May 2016, the combined total to date is US$3.2million, which will be recognized over the term of the domains. The Company is confident that renewal rates have the potential to be meaningful as no "freemium" strategies or equivalent were used during the launch phase to generate initial volume. The Company acquired .vip through auction for approximately US$3.1million in September 2014, highlighting the strong return on capital of the business model.

 

To date, .vip names have been retailed through 77 registrars globally of which 34 are within China. Registrations from China account for over 80 per cent. of all .vip names sold so far.

 

Toby Hall, CEO of MMX, commented:

"The Chinese market for top-level domains is real and we are delighted to have accessed this key region through the .vip launch. It is a major milestone for the Company, the new management team and our business model centred on working with best-in-class partners across every aspect of our business so as to best monetize our assets while maintaining a tight control on central overheads. It demonstrates that, when properly executed, how quickly the initial investment costs for a domain can be recovered and the potential for a strong recurring revenue established. The .vip launch equally illustrates how as a b2b business we do not have to burn funds on marketing to reach end-consumers and achieve outstanding results. Not only is .vip creating an exceptional platform through which to grow our presence in the expanding Asia market, it is providing an excellent template on how best to reach end-markets that can be potentially mirrored across our portfolio."

 

As part of the launch activity, MMX was invited to contribute 6 .vip premium names to Alibaba's Taobao online auction on 20 May. Running for 22 hours, the auctioned names fetched in aggregate approximately US$146,000 in gross proceeds before auction fees, with i.vip selling for approximately US$49,000, 18.vip for approximately US$32,000 and che.vip for approximately US$27,500.

 

The Directors believe the removal of the Company's historic premium renewal pricing strategy for .vip has significantly enhanced the value of its premium inventory in the domain.

 

The Company plans to release further .vip premium inventory on a regular basis throughout the next twelve months through the auction channel. Based on the success of the launch and initial auction, the Company anticipates strong ongoing interest in the .vip premium inventory which the Board expects will continue to materially build the Company's revenue stream in the next 12 months and beyond.

 

Guy Elliott, Chairman of MMX, said:

"The launch of .vip has been nothing short of extraordinary. We now have a pure-play registry Group set up to be able to operate across the three main global regions - the Americas, Europe and Asia - and a coherent strategy for growing revenue whilst operating off a dramatically reduced cost-base going forward. The transformation of the Group can be no better underlined than through the performance of .vip at launch."

 

Domains under management within the Group now stand at 506,227, up 64 per cent. from 31 December 2015. Following completion of the restructuring, which is expected in Q4 2016, fixed operational costs of US$6 million on an annualised basis are being targeted representing a 50% reduction of the 2015 fixed costs.

 

Further Information:

 

Minds + Machines Group Limited

Toby Hall (CEO) Tel: +44 (0)7713 341072

toby@mmx.co

 

Michael Salazar (COO/CFO) Tel: +1 (424) 214-7908

michael@mmx.co

 

N+1 Singer (Nomad and Broker)

Shaun Dobson / Liz Yong Tel: +44 (0)20 7496 3000

 

For further information, please go to www.mmx.co

 

 

About MMX

Minds + Machines Group Limited (LSE:MMX) is the owner and operator of a world class portfolio of top-level domain assets (gTLDs). As a sales and marketing-led registry business, we are focused on commercializing our portfolio in partnership with our expanding global network of distribution partners.

 

The MMX portfolio is currently focused around geographic domains (e.g. .london, .boston, .miami, .bayern), professional occupations (e.g. .law, .abogado, and .dds), consumer interests (e.g. .fashion, .wedding, .vip), lifestyle (e.g. .fit, .surf, .yoga), outdoor activities (e.g..fishing, .garden, .horse) and generic names such as .work and .casa. As a business, we work through our expanding international network of registrars and distribution partners to bring the benefits of affinity based domain addresses to B2B and consumer audiences. For more information on MMX, please visit www.mmx.co.

 

ENDS

 

 

 

This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
 
END
 
 
STRPGUBCAUPQPUP
Date   Source Headline
2nd Aug 20137:00 amRNSTucows Agreement: .STORE, .TECH, .GROUP
30th Jul 20135:15 pmRNSResult of AGM
17th Jul 20137:00 amRNSICANN and portfolio update
12th Jul 20134:00 pmRNSNotice of AGM
12th Jul 20133:07 pmRNSExercise of options and TVR
26th Jun 20137:00 amRNSUncontested applications increase to 23
17th Jun 20137:00 amRNSHolding(s) in Company
13th Jun 20138:30 amRNSIssue of shares and total voting rights
11th Jun 20137:00 amRNSICANN update - IE and first private auctions
3rd Jun 20132:30 pmRNSPlacing to raise US$10 million
22nd May 201310:17 amRNSHolding(s) in Company
13th May 201311:48 amRNSHolding(s) in Company
30th Apr 201312:00 pmRNSAudited results for 14 month period ended 31.12.12
29th Apr 20137:00 amRNSJoint Venture with Uniregistry for .COUNTRY
24th Apr 20137:00 amRNSICANN and gTLD portfolio update: Board confident
11th Apr 20135:43 pmRNSHolding(s) in Company - CORRECTION
11th Apr 20133:59 pmRNSHolding(s) in Company
10th Apr 20137:00 amRNSBoard appointment
4th Mar 20137:00 amRNSgTLD update
1st Mar 20137:00 amRNSDirector's dealing
28th Feb 20135:11 pmRNSHolding(s) in Company
28th Feb 20134:30 pmRNSDirectors' dealings
27th Feb 20137:00 amRNSGrant of options
26th Feb 20137:30 amRNSgTLD auction funding
25th Feb 20131:30 pmRNSBoard changes and issue of equity
7th Feb 20133:40 pmRNSHolding(s) in Company
31st Jan 20137:00 amRNSUnaudited Interim Results ended 31 October 2012
24th Dec 20127:01 amRNSBoard appointment
24th Dec 20127:00 amRNSResult of AGM
19th Dec 20129:54 amRNSIssue of Shares and total voting rights
19th Dec 20127:00 amRNSgTLD update: results of the Prioritization Draw
12th Dec 20124:46 pmRNSTR-1
3rd Dec 20124:05 pmRNSBoard changes and notice of AGM
26th Nov 20127:00 amRNSgTLD application update
16th Nov 20127:00 amRNSCorporate Update
5th Nov 20127:00 amRNSAdviser Change of Name
31st Oct 20127:00 amRNSCorporate Update and Board Change
18th Oct 20127:00 amRNSDirectorate Change
7th Sep 20125:24 pmRNSHolding(s) in Company
5th Sep 20121:42 pmRNSDirector's dealing
5th Sep 20127:00 amRNSAppointment of Broker
3rd Sep 20124:30 pmRNSIssue of Shares and total voting rights
31st Aug 20124:35 pmRNSWarrant expiry amendment
13th Aug 20127:00 amRNSGrant of Options
2nd Aug 20124:18 pmRNSExercise of Warrants and TVR
27th Jul 201210:58 amRNSExercise of Warrants and TVR
20th Jul 20124:32 pmRNSExercise of Warrants and TVR
10th Jul 20122:27 pmRNSExercise of Warrants and TVR
5th Jul 20125:18 pmRNSDirectors Dealing
27th Jun 20124:44 pmRNSExercise of Warrants

Due to London Stock Exchange licensing terms, we stipulate that you must be a private investor. We apologise for the inconvenience.

To access our Live RNS you must confirm you are a private investor by using the button below.