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Uniregistry Acquisition Price

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How much did GoDaddy pay?

  • This poll is still running and the standings may change.
  • $100.000.000

  • $250.000.000

  • $500.000.000

  • $750.000.000

  • $1.000.000.000

  • More

  • This poll is still running and the standings may change.

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Windoms

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GoDaddy has bought Uniregistry, the best sales infrastructure for domain names, along with their portfolio of 350.000 domain names.

How much did GoDaddy pay?
Here's what we know.

Source

1st hint - This was 2004.

"But Schilling's single minded pursuit paid off. Within a couple of years he had bagged over a quarter of a million domains and revenues for his company, Name Administration, cracked the 8 figure mark annually. Bigger fish were starting to take notice. Marchex, the first public company to buy a major domain portfolio (Yun Ye’s $164 million collection) wanted Schilling’s list too and made an offer of over $100 million to buy it. Schilling was inclined to accept but Mother Nature intervened to upset that apple cart."


2nd hint.

" In a further irony, the missed opportunity proved to be a blessing in disguise as Schilling’s portfolio has soared even higher in value and if sold today would command considerably more than the 2004 offer. “I have been approached about selling my business five times over the past four years,” Schilling told us. “Each offer was extensive and written, three of them were accompanied by deposits and all were nine-figure deals of ever increasing magnitude. I seriously worked with each suitor. Things just never worked out for one reason or another and I take that as a sign of sorts. I suspect I will sell my business one day but I am reasonably certain I will never leave the name business entirely, nor would I want to. This is too good a space,” Schilling declared. "


3rd hint - Quote from Rick Schwartz, saying Mr Schilling has the #1 portfolio in the world.

" Frank is a legend for a number of reasons," Schwartz said. "First because he is the nicest guy you would ever want to meet. He is like the Jack Kennedy of domains. Second, he came fairly late to the game but never whined that he got in too late. He just put his nose to the grindstone and put together the #1 domain portfolio in the world nearly overnight. His portfolio has a low value of about $500 million and a real value likely over $1 billion…and third, did I mention that Frank is one of the nicest guys you will ever want to meet?! I see him as the #1 ambassador for our industry, "


Based on that, it's clear GD paid a lot.
A whole lot.


While reflecting on the twists and turns he has experienced in his life, Schilling said “I wake up every day feeling so grateful for the life I have. Reading my history you can see how I could have just as easily settled into a life of invisibility and gone from struggle to struggle with nobody ever knowing or caring about it. I have no formal education, no marketable skills and I don’t focus well. Yet I’ve still thrived and have made more money than everyone in my family tree before me combined. Why did this happen to me? All I can do is be eternally grateful and give back wherever I can,” Schilling concluded.


Congratulations to Mr. Frank Schilling, greatest domain investor of all times.

Title earned.
 
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The views expressed on this page by users and staff are their own, not those of NamePros.
😂😂😂
20200212_161226.jpg
 
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The portfolio alone is worth $100million...

Billion if has stock, likely somewhere between

Samer
 
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I made a prediction not long ago.
Frank Schilling is never selling Uniregistry.
He's too passionate to do that.
He's built a great team of brokers, and they are too busy making sales.

''Looking forward to the smartest people in the room all discovering what Uni can do for "you" ''
- Frank Schilling

Which is why so many great domains land on Uni landers.
Just think and type.
You'll be shocked.

Happy New Year.
 
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I made a prediction not long ago.

i was wondering who that was.

i recall post.. give credit; man admits mistake; recalled someone was so sure. after seeing u, probably not sayin, but still nice see thanks :)

Schilling will forever be known as a pioneer.

Samer
 
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I voted 500...may be just a little north of that by the time all is said and done.

Frank had put together such a fantastic portfolio...even though he is a shrewd businessman, I know (from experience) it is hard to let go of your 'baby'. We will all get some of the names he has controlled for years, but releasing them to the wild may have an overall reduction in retail sale prices...hope I am wrong.
 
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Let's not forget to thank @Joe Styler @Paul Nicks
Uni platform on GD branding = dream.

I am sure during secret meetings one of them was like
"we have to get uni"

For your information there is 1 to 5% commission on mergers and acquisitions.
 
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you two have quite the poker faces’
@Joe Styler, @Paul Nicks i didnt feel anything, nicely kept under wraps. Would either you gentlemen care share anything? :)

Samer
 
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I voted 500...may be just a little north of that by the time all is said and done.

Frank had put together such a fantastic portfolio...even though he is a shrewd businessman, I know (from experience) it is hard to let go of your 'baby'. We will all get some of the names he has controlled for years, but releasing them to the wild may have an overall reduction in retail sale prices...hope I am wrong.
Yes and that efficient brokerage team diligently making 50 million $ a year has a lot of value.

It's nice to cashout and leave an industry after 20 years,
while being remembered as #1.

Now he can chill, work on his passions, or start something new, he's only 51.

Looks like the legend was in his kitchen
cashing out

EQgnkayXUAE857r.jpg
 
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It has to be more than a billion. Any figure below that will not make sense to me.
 
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Probably around 500m to 750m won't be surprised if its a B
 
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Rick S. tweeted today that the price would depend a lot on whether Frank S. went to GD to see if they were interested, or if GD came calling wanting to acquire it. It is a good point, I think. Kind of like difference in bargaining power with inbound and outbound in domain names. As far as I know we do not yet know how the acquisition talks started.
Bob
 
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I see it like this.
Pure assumptions, feel free to correct me.

Uni is making 10 million $ / year on brokerage commission (roughyly 7.5 as of 2018, number is growing rapidly). I'd pay 50 million $ to have that.
Uni platform. I'd pay 50 million $ to have that.
1 million domains registered at Uni. I have no idea what it's worth. 50 million $.
350.000 premium domain portfolio. 100 million $ wholesale.

250 million $ total + most importantly this next point which can change everything if GD knocked on Frank's door.

The strategic management factor. Not having to watch out for Uni in the rear-view mirror is a huge advantage for GD aftermarket. It's the main threat, they have professionalism, large & successful brokerage business, great commission structures and lots of serious customers.

350-500 million $ if I had to guess.
A billion would only be worth it if they are planning to enjoy a flat 20% commission on all aftermarket transactions using the GD brand power and the Uni platform to dominate the market. And even then, it would be quite expensive (Frank would be the clear winner).

If Frank knocked on GD's door.
100-200 million.
 
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@Domain Shane I thought maybe you were just trolling to get some activity/comment around the real number, but since people have been telling me about this I'll take the shot for team.

Do you know something we don't?


DS1.JPG



DS2.JPG



Don't want to put you in hot waters but since you said it publicly...
 
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Our guess is $20M
350,000 domains is mostly garbage.
 
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What was their total profit?
 
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We meant $20M, this is our guess.
 
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Even if domains are garbage, Uni UX gold.

IP good will etc.. $1 billion if include gddy stock
and $500MM+ if no stock.

Yes, dreamer :xf.grin:

Samer
 
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Even if domains are garbage, Uni UX gold.

IP good will etc.. $1 billion if include gddy stock
and $500MM+ if no stock.

Yes, dreamer :xf.grin:

Samer
UX can't be replicated (IP, learned that from DAN vs SAV), easier to acquire a very good one than build from the ground up.
 
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So do we know the final number?

Apparently 196,9 million of which 148,1 million for the 350.000 name portfolio.

Problem is on many websites all those numbers date from february 21st 2020 when godaddy released their annual report.

Is that number accurate?
 
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