According to a press release that just hit the wires, Web.com acquired Tucows’ ownership stake in NameJet. With this acquisition, I believe that the auction platform is now solely owned by Web.com.
As you may recall, NameJet was initially a partnership between eNom and Network Solutions. The platform was owned by Demand Media, which owned eNom, and Web.com, which owned Network Solutions. Tucows acquired eNom in early 2017, and with its acquisition of the registrar, it also acquired a stake in NameJet.
My quick thought is that this will be good news for NameJet and its users. I presume that having two different publicly traded companies own NameJet could have been difficult to get things done. This should help streamline things for NameJet leadership, and hopefully it means Web.com will continue to invest in the platform. I am sure there are plenty of improvements that could be made, and having one owner should help in that regard.
It will be interesting to see what happens with the eNom expiry stream now that Tucows doesn’t have an ownership stake in the NameJet auction business. I believe Tucows has been sending its expired domain names to auction at GoDaddy Auctions. I think the majority of domain names I win on NameJet are registered at eNom, so that will be something to watch.
I am sure there is more to come….
The press release is below:
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Dec. 03, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Web.com Group, Inc. on Monday announced it has acquired from Tucows, Inc. all remaining interest in the domain name aftermarket platform, NameJet, LLC. With this transaction, Web.com now owns two of the top platforms in the domain name aftermarket. The company also owns SnapNames Web.com, LLC, a pioneer in the domain name aftermarket space.
NameJet launched in 2007 as a joint venture between eNom, Inc., a subsidiary of Tucows, and Web.com subsidiary, Network Solutions, LLC. Like SnapNames, NameJet has exclusive partnerships with top domain name registrars across the globe and helps domain professionals, businesses and individuals acquire valuable domain names, including those that have recently expired.
“This move to complete ownership aligns with our goal of nurturing our core domain business, supporting and anticipating the diverse needs of our customers, and driving new opportunities for innovation and growth,” said David L. Brown, Web.com’s chief executive officer and president.
“We welcome the NameJet team to the Web.com family and are excited to leverage their thought leadership and expertise as we continue to invest in the aftermarket industry,” added Michael White, aftermarket vice president for Web.com.
“Web.com has been a great partner and we look forward to working with and leveraging their aftermarket expertise in the future,” said David Woroch, domains executive vice president for Tucows.
About Web.com
Since 1997 Web.com has been the marketing partner for businesses wanting to connect with more customers and grow. We listen, then apply our expertise to deliver solutions that owners need to market and manage their businesses, from building brands online to reaching more customers or growing relationships with existing customers. For some, this means a fast, reliable, attractive website; for others, it means customized marketing plans that deliver local leads; and for others, it means customer-scheduling or customer-relationship marketing (CRM) tools that help businesses run more efficiently. Owners from big to small can focus on running the companies they know while we handle the marketing they need. To learn how this global company collaborates with customers and employees to achieve their potential, explore www.web.com or follow on Twitter at @webdotcom or on Facebook at facebook.com/web.com.
Web.com is not publicly traded anymore , deal closed in October , so no more public filings that include Namejet
Thanks for sharing… I forgot about that.
All I know J T needs to be terminated immediately. The bid baiting, and shill baiting is NOT OK!
No one can save NameJet.