Yes, those with a domain "pending sale or development or MFA site" surely would've bitten the buyer's hand off at a mid-6 offer..
But surely the big giveaway was the fact that someone from out of the blue (but see later) wanting the domain must have major moolah to spend knowing full well that:
1/ this was a listed company (didn't check how big)
2/ had a full, proper, long established site on it that was making nice $$$.
Then again, just a thought, contrary to what many here are assuming that this was YP showing their hand 1st time out:
I would think YP at some stage in the distant past very likely nibbled (made offer) at it but were rebuked...
...and only today (maybe after a few times) they came back with a serious offer-you-cannot-refuse taking into a/c the exisitng goodwill/opportunity cost of seller + premium.
Regardless if anon, I think the seller would be able to put 2 + 2 together and make an educated guess as to the buyer's ID in wanting "YP".
(don't know exact details if buyer transacted anon or if 1st time etc)
-REECE- said:
Does anyone have info about what the domain was previously making?
With these high enduser sales, it's generally the result of exactly what you mention Aggro -- people/companies for whom the opportunity cost of selling the domain is high. I highly doubt their first offer was $3.85MM and I highly doubt many people here wouldn't have jumped all over the first mid six figure offer (if it was their undeveloped domain), even knowing who the enduser was.