Top Level Domain Holdings Merges With Minds + Machines
By Anna Johnson on August 27th, 2009Top Level Domain Holdings, Ltd has completed its merger with Minds + Machines, a leading registry services provider for web-based top-level domains. The merger follows TLDH’s 2.5M pound private capital raising (approximately US $4.1 million).
TLDH is the only public company solely focused on acquiring and operating the new top-level domains authorized by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). The merger with Minds + Machines, in which TLDH previously held a minority share, will accelerate and facilitate the company’s strategy of investing in new top-level domains.
TLDH now has roughly US$7 million on hand to invest in new top-level domains, as well as a reserve fund for bidding at ICANN auctions.
The registry platform of Minds + Machines, Espresso, is in use by more than a dozen country based top-level domains. In addition to new web addresses backed by TLDH, Minds + Machines provides registry services to other applicants, including .ROMA and .RADIO.
The merger also sees TLDH add to its management expertise. Collectively, the Minds + Machines management team have previously launched or helped launch more than 20 top-level domains and have owned and operated ICANN-accredited registrars, managed reseller channels, developed systems software for domain names, and overseen global top-level domain roll-outs.
