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
7th Nov 20147:00 amRNSHolding(s) in Company
4th Nov 20147:00 amRNSPortfolio Update
31st Oct 20143:22 pmRNSTotal Voting Rights
31st Oct 201410:25 amRNSDirector's dealing
22nd Oct 20142:05 pmRNSExercise of Warrants and TVR
21st Oct 20147:00 amRNSDirector's dealing
17th Oct 20147:30 amRNSNet exercise of options
24th Sep 20147:15 amRNSUnaudited interims for 6 months ended 30 June 2014
24th Sep 20147:00 amRNSAuctions update - MMX wins .law and .vip
12th Sep 20143:55 pmRNSExercise of Options and TVR
28th Aug 20147:00 amRNSPortfolio Launch and Distribution Channel Update
7th Aug 20147:00 amRNSShare Incentive Scheme
29th Jul 20147:00 amRNSClient win - .broadway
25th Jul 20143:21 pmRNSExercise of Options and TVR
24th Jul 20141:07 pmRNSDirector's dealings
24th Jul 20147:00 amRNSHolding(s) in Company
15th Jul 20147:00 amRNSExercise of Options
14th Jul 20147:00 amRNSIssue of Equity
17th Jun 20147:00 amRNSPrivate auction update - .fashion win
10th Jun 20147:00 amRNSAudited results for year ended 31 December 2013
7th May 20144:56 pmRNSHolding(s) in Company
30th Apr 20147:01 amRNS.garden and .yoga wins; .london successful launch
25th Apr 20143:27 pmRNSHolding(s) in Company
11th Apr 20147:00 amRNSPrivate Auction Update
3rd Apr 20144:20 pmRNSExercise of options
21st Mar 20147:00 amRNSChange of Name to Minds + Machines Group Limited
19th Mar 201412:22 pmRNSResult of Meeting of Shareholders
5th Mar 20145:04 pmRNSAdmission Doc Publication & Proposed Name Change
25th Feb 20147:00 amRNSPrivate Auction and Corporate Update
14th Feb 201412:30 pmRNS.LONDON Update
7th Feb 20143:26 pmRNSHolding(s) in Company
7th Feb 20147:00 amRNS.RUGBY update
6th Feb 20143:47 pmRNSHolding(s) in Company
6th Feb 20141:48 pmRNSHolding(s) in Company
31st Jan 20147:00 amRNSPlacing to Raise £21 million and Board Changes
14th Jan 20147:00 amRNSPortfolio update
18th Dec 20137:00 amRNSSales Channel and gTLD Portfolio Update
25th Nov 20137:00 amRNSTLDH group signs 6 new gTLD contracts with ICANN
19th Nov 20137:00 amRNSLaunch of Registrar and Priority Reservations
15th Nov 20134:40 pmRNSSecond Price Monitoring Extn
15th Nov 20134:35 pmRNSPrice Monitoring Extension
15th Nov 201312:00 pmRNSICANN signing of .LONDON contract
11th Nov 20137:00 amRNSPortfolio Update: .KIWI Passes Pre-delegation
25th Oct 20134:17 pmRNSHolding(s) in Company
25th Oct 20137:00 amRNSPrivate Auction and gTLD Program Update
18th Oct 201311:23 amRNSDirectors' dealings
10th Oct 20137:00 amRNSDirector's dealing
30th Sep 20137:00 amRNSUnaudited interim results to 30 June 2013
20th Aug 20137:00 amRNSFirst private auction & .shopping (Chinese) update
12th Aug 20137:00 amRNSFirst private auction participation

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.