domains GoDaddy acquiring Uniregistry's registrar & marketplace, and Name Administration's domain portfolio

[equity78]

The first blockbuster deal of the decade. GoDaddy Inc. (NYSE: GDDY), the company that empowers everyday entrepreneurs, today announced it is acquiring Uniregistry's leading domain registrar and marketplace businesses. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. The deal is expected to close sometime in Q2 2020. The Uniregistry domain registry is not part of the … [Read more...]

 

[Windoms]

Be aware GD could keep uni fully operational just like it did with afternic, while rebuilding it's very own marketplace.

 

[alcy]

i got 30 names at unireg
50 at gd
and 1200 at dyna.
but gd probably gonna buy dyna too :P
heck, @Rob Monster was probably approached by gd too
maybe simpler question would be.. who was not approached by gd

 

[NamesCost]

Who is next does come to mind.

 

[Windoms]

i got 30 names at unireg
50 at gd
and 1200 at dyna.
but gd probably gonna buy dyna too :P
heck, @Rob Monster was probably approached by gd too

Dyna has no value.
Epik has no value, yet.

 

[alcy]

Who is next does come to mind.

lol yeah
probably everybody
... does come to mind too

 

[equity78]

This deal did not include new extensions. The Berkens deal did not include his nTLDs. GoDaddy is really only interested in legacy extensions for resale.

The fact they have access to all the data, and that is the case, is telling.

Brad

They also did not want to compete on the registry side. GoDaddy makes money from these promotional deals and placement deals. GoDaddy was not going to compete against their customers in the registry space.

 

[7363824]

i got 30 names at unireg
50 at gd
and 1200 at dyna.
but gd probably gonna buy dyna too :P
heck, @Rob Monster was probably approached by gd too

Most my names are in Epik now and the rest will be soon. It'd be a sad day if Epik got aquired by GD.

 

[equity78]

Snapshot,

Deal closes in Q2 so no one will know value, until GoDaddy reports Q2 Earnings, last year that was in August.

Uniregistry and NameAdministration purchased, not the Registry business, which owns 24 extensions. https://ntldstats.com/registry/Uniregistry-Corp

 

[Nick]

BIG QUESTION: Does this now mean that if a unireg domain expires we can get it via a Godaddy auction starting at $12????

They’re already available at Dynadot.

 

[wwwweb]

They’re already available at Dynadot.

Most get redeemed, and the high profile ones never transfer over properly, and get lost somewhere.

 

[Samer]

Most my names are in Epik now and the rest will be soon. It'd be a sad day if Epik got aquired by GD.

Took words right out of my mouth, Preach.

Samer

 

[rh2000]

Congratulations to Frank, Fantastic Career

https://caymanmarlroad.com/uniregistry-owner-embroiled-in-legal-battle-with-estranged-wife/

Sad.

 

[tonyk2000]

but I would first wait for additional information, before starting to move domain names elsewhere.

Historically: you have 1-1.5 years to decide. After 1-1.5 years, customers will find that the registrar they selected due to whatever reasons became... too different. So far, in all cases it was a downgrade. I still remember Dotregistrar (easy interface, simply working, 1 click bulk registrations in drop time - successfully competing with the only player in town /snapnames/), Moniker, Fabulous... just to name a few. All acquired. Where are they now?

 

[wwwweb]

Most my names are in Epik now and the rest will be soon. It'd be a sad day if Epik got aquired by GD.

I think Godaddy’s done, they got a lot of moving parts new UI, and access to that SSE platform, along with all that customer data, 350,000 names to refresh NameFind, and new business in the corporate brand management with Brandsight.

Frank’s life work, and legacy, I’m sure it wasn’t easy for him, but this is a portfolio for a lifetime plus that can be better sold slowly thru the lifespan of a large corporation.

Maybe Frank will make a big splash in the next round of GTLD’s, but my guess is when you build so much, and you sell it all, you kind of just want to ride into the sunset. Kind of like Bob Parsons who is exploring other passions. I don’t think your going to hear much about Frank in the domain industry anymore.

 

[wizard]

Its a good deal for frank but i didn't use UNI-REG and found the brokers to be rude or clueless never did much via the platform still afternic rules they will get some good names but will much change who knows..

 

[tonyk2000]

All your base are belong to unidaddy!
(it sure is alot of data)

Already regged So they will have to use something else...

Domain Name: unidaddy.com
Updated Date: 2019-11-15T15:20:17Z
Creation Date: 2018-11-14T21:23:38Z
Registrar Registration Expiration Date: 2020-11-14T21:23:38Z
Registrar: GoDaddy.com, LLC
Registrant Organization: UNIVERSITY OF POLAND SP. Z O. O.

Technically speaking, even independent Uni was unable to care of their new registrar platform. Too many bugs, including backend issues. GD is not exactly the one who may help them. So, it is likely that the Uniregistry platform will be replaced with GD frontend/backend, earlier or later.

 

[Theydon]

"Choice is the greatest power in the universe; and it is all yours"
- John Patrick Hickey

 

[alcy]

"Choice is the greatest power in the universe; and it is all yours"
- John Patrick Hickey

this is not really true. sorry mr Hickey...
believing is the greatest power

 

[wwwweb]

Already regged So they will have to use something else...

Domain Name: unidaddy.com
Updated Date: 2019-11-15T15:20:17Z
Creation Date: 2018-11-14T21:23:38Z
Registrar Registration Expiration Date: 2020-11-14T21:23:38Z
Registrar: GoDaddy.com, LLC
Registrant Organization: UNIVERSITY OF POLAND SP. Z O. O.

Technically speaking, even independent Uni was unable to care of their new registrar platform. Too many bugs, including backend issues. GD is not exactly the one who may help them. So, it is likely that the Uniregistry platform will be replaced with GD frontend/backend, earlier or later.

Uniregistry doesn't spend money like Godaddy does to be on every channel, and radio station, Godaddy is a household brand, if Uni is integrated into Godaddy, nobody outside the domainer space will even notice.

Uni was sold because you had a willing seller, with a lot of moving parts that would give Godaddy quick acceleration in some of their verticals. With a new CEO under pressure to make things happen, and get the stock price up, it just seems to have worked out. Given how hard they negotiate on domains, can you imagine the negotiation for all the domains.

 

[shopbuydomain.com]

Uni Go to Daddy.

 

[Josytal]

Was this a profitable sale for Uniregistry? I don't think that many used Uniregistry..Can we get a poll going??

Uniregistry has ~ 1,347,474 domains registered with it, placing it
somewhere 29th among over 900 registrars.
Though a far cry from GoDaddy (70,940,204 domains), by comparison to most registrars, still a lot.

Sources:
https://domainnamestat.com/statistics/registrar/Uniregistrar_Corp-IANA_ID-1659
https://www.registrarowl.com/Uniregistry

 

[wwwweb]

Uniregistry has ~ 1,347,474 domains registered with it, placing it
somewhere 29th among over 900 registrars.
Though a far cry from GoDaddy (70,940,204 domains), by comparison to most registrars, still a lot.

Sources:
https://domainnamestat.com/statistics/registrar/Uniregistrar_Corp-IANA_ID-1659

https://www.registrarowl.com/Uniregistry

Who knows how many of those names will be lost on the release of this news, some people are ok with it, others do not seem to be, and they will most likely transfer out as they come into renewal. Leaves about 1 million names in other accounts, outside the 350K that sold in the portfolio.

 

[Ostrados]

Super monopoly is very dangerous on the economy! rich companies become richer, poor companies become poorer and customers become ignored!

Merges and acquisitions have been occurring more and more in modern economy with no place for startups and small companies other than a profitable exit!! In today's economy startups think about an exit strategy before they even start! Some startups set a goal of getting couple of fundding rounds for the sole purpose of reaching a good exit (selling the business to a bigger player).

That being said I will stay positive and I hope that this merge will be for the benefit of customers, and I hope that GD will improve its platform by using Uniregistery excellent UI or by merging the 2 platforms in 1 good platform. But if the sole purpose of the acquisition is the domains portfolio then this merge will be useless for customers and bad for domainers.

 

[Kingslayer]

GoDaddy the Walt Disney of domain registrars buying everything out.

 

[Windoms]

They just want a share of domain sales brokerage.
1 million domains at uniregisty and 350.000 premium names just a bonus.
A look at @Joe Styler linkedin profile says "running 100 million plus annual revenue sales team".
Godaddy aftermarket is making 100million +.
2018 uni made over 50 million on brokered sales only.

Maybe.
I actually think their non-brokered sales number is higher.
Because the 15% vs 0% incentive is too high, especially among experienced professionals who know how to handle leads.
Way to many premium .com land at uni. They have escrow.com integration. All the domainers I know are using Uni as their main registrar are big domainers.
Uniregistry's total sales volume could be higher than afternic's.