Markmonitor sold AGAIN
Com Laude buys MarkMonitor, marking its fifth owner in less than 15 years.
Corporate domain name registrar Markmonitor has been sold once again, marking at least its fifth owner in less than 15 years.
This time, it was domain and hosting rollup Newfold Digital selling to Com Laude.
Newfold stated the sale is part of a strategy to simplify its portfolio of domain assets. Recently, it has consolidated its major domain registration brands, counting Web.com and Register.com, into Network Solutions.
For Com Laude, it’s the second buyout notice in as many weeks. The prior week, the firm disclosed it was acquiring domain consulting firm FairWinds.
Com Laude is backed by private equity firm PX3 Partners. Com Laude hired former Team Internet Group CEO Ben Crawford last year. Crawford grew Team Internet by buyout, so it’s not surprising he’s following the same playbook at his fresh employer.
As for Markmonitor, its clients must be feeling whiplash. Thomas Reuters purchased the business in 2012 and then sold it to Clarivate Analytics in 2016. Clarivate sold it to Newfold Digital in 2022 for $300 million. Com Laude stated the enterprise valuation of its buyout was $450 million. Com Laude clarified that the $450 million enterprise valuation was for its business post-buyout, not just the Markmonitor business.
Markmonitor has regarding 700,000 .com domains under management, in addition to other extensions. It competes with CSC, Safenames, and GoDaddy Corporate Domains, among others.
