Two large domain name companies are responsible for major transactions.
Perhaps the two of the largest domain transactions of the year occurred recently.
First, InterSearch Group, Inc. (OTCBB:IGPN) acquired Banks.com. Depending on the size of the transaction, InterSearch will likely disclose the purchase price in its next quarterly filing. One reader suggested this might be the $1.2M purchase Afternic recently coordinated, but I have know idea if this is true. InterSearch paid over $10M for IRS.com and the company realizes the value of a good domain name. InterSearch is the parent company of domain parking company ParkingDots. The company views its parking service as a pipeline for key domain purchases.
Second, Internet Real Estate Group (formerly DealJam) sold Computer.com to Tiger Direct, a division of Systemax (NYSE: SYX). Internet Real Estate Group is perhaps the biggest player in premium domains. Among the company’s properties are Software.com, Phone.com, Chocolate.com, Luggage.com, and Relationship.com.
Thanks two two readers for sending me information about these recent sales.
Derek says
I don’t know if you’d consider cnet as a player in premium domains as they don’t actively sell them, but I sure would love their portfolio which includes news.com, search.com, download.com, tv.com, radio.com. Here’s what is heartbreaking, what they paid for them many years ago:
# SEARCH.COM for $7,000
# DOWNLOAD.COM for $20,000
# TV.COM for $15,000
Editor says
Those are quite some bargains. At least CNET is using some of its domains…it has other premium domains it’s not using yet.