Considering selling its domain name portfolio? — Is Marchex

Firm considering what to do with its domain name portfolio.

Marchex is often cited as starting a wave of acquisitions of domain portfolios when it disclosed the purchase of Ultimate Search from Yun Ye in 2004 for $164 million.

Now it is looking at “strategic alternatives” for its domain name portfolio.

From a press release issued today announcing preliminary earnings for Q4:

Marchex is also announcing that it is evaluating potential strategic alternatives for its non-call-driven products and assets, counting its domain name assets, with a goal of further focusing on the products and opportunities that can drive business growth.

“The exploration of alternatives for our non-call advertising products and assets is driven by our goals to enhance shareholder value and to sharpen our strategic and financial focus,” stated Mr. Horowitz. “As we have stated previously, we believe that we have a very rich asset base that is not being properly valued, and whether achieved through select development of these assets, sales of these assets, or a combination of both, we ought to more aggressively pursue how best to get this value realized.”

Marchex is betting the firm on paid calls and is considering what to do with its domain portfolio.

The firm by now sells a couple million worth of domains from its portfolio each quarter. But it has a high median price tag on them.

A good purchase for someone like NameMedia?