Centralnic Group PLC (LON:CNIC)

The Company has a four pronged expansion strategy;

• Increasing volumes through provision of core registry services
• Investment in new gTLDs
• Investment in Registrar business
• Developing Markets

CentralNic was contracted by clients applying for 60 new gTLDs and those that have completed the ICANN initial evaluation process have all passed. ICANN has published the full list of applications that have been made for new gTLDs, which shows that 25 of the applications made by CentralNic’s clients are currently uncontested. These include:

CentralNic has also identified opportunities to add to its domain portfolio by winning government contracts to operate country codes for developing nations, particularly in Africa. These ccTLDs can be distributed globally via CentralNic’s retail network, as well as serving the populations of the domestic emerging markets where internet penetration is just starting to explode.

Domain Portfolio

ccTLDs

.PW

.PW is the namespace for individuals and businesses who want a Professional presence on the Web - a place for businesses to showcase their products and accomplishments and for individuals to display their professional accolades.

Now in General Availability, .PW is also the most registrar-friendly TLD. As well as offering a suite of benefits designed to meet the specific needs of today's leading registrars, .PW enables you to offer your customers an open, unrestricted and affordable extension that empowers them to create a successful and memorable online presence.

dotLA

It's the world's first city TLD and it's available now for instant registration via registrars worldwide. As well as being the domain that says "local to LA", .LA works as a lifestyle domain for LA related businesses worldwide – think tanning salons, personal trainers, cosmetic surgeons, dentists, talent agencies and the like.

Take advantage of the buzz (and delay) around new TLDs to offer .LA domain names to your customers today! All the standard CentralNic technical, marketing and sales support will be available to you.

Additionally, .LA is the domain chosen by Latin American registrants - from bloggers to corporate websites like intel.la and bendito.la.

With over 264.2 million internet users in Latin America and the fastest growing internet user rate in the world over last year, .LA for Latin America presents an extremely lucrative opportunity for your Latin American registrar business.

In short .LA is:

• Unrestricted: Ideal for local and international websites
• Short, identifiable and memorable – making it easy to sell
• Full of highly desirable names, with over 98% of ASCII names still available (including spanish characters).
• Perfect for creating mini URLs for promotional activities
• Backed by CentralNic's extensive marketing support

For information on New TLD's, please click here

For information on SLDs, please click here

TLD Services

Registry Services

CentralNic is the largest registry back-end provider worldwide, with over 5 million gTLD domains under management, and is the registry services partner for some of the industry’s most successful new TLDs including .xyz, .website, .online, .design and .space. Furthermore, we have welcomed over 50 new gTLD migrations from other backend providers.

As well as our low cost "standard" package that includes all the fundamental features for effectively launching and operating a TLD, we offer additional service modules including policy and compliance, sales and marketing, and premium domain support. Regardless of service level, every CentralNic client avails of our “partnership” approach, having direct access to our CEO and department heads.

As a CentralNic Registry Partner, you can benefit from the following services and more:

• state of the art, proprietary technical backend and domain management interface
• dedicated client service personnel with industry experience
• billing and cash collection
• abuse management support
• registry solutions for ccTLDs and .brands
• regular ICANN-related updates and support as well as logo presence at CentralNic sponsored ICANN meetings
• industry exclusive registry features such as data API, SRS firehose and DNS packet capture. Read more
• access to CentralNic’s network of over 1,500 registrars
• launch planning and strategic consultancy across policy, sales, marketing and premium domains

CentralNic is integrated with and actively selling through more ICANN 2013 accredited registrars than any other backend provider.

DotBrand Solutions

DotBrand Solutions (DBS) is the leading global provider of integrated registry services, registrar services and strategic consultancy for dot brand TLD applicants. Supported by CentralNic's top ranking registry technology, DBS delivers bespoke, innovative and high-impact TLD strategies via our offices in London, New York, Dubai and Los Angeles.

DBS's services are trusted by some of the world's leading consumer-facing brands, including multibillion-dollar media, telecommunications, finance, and entertainment companies; we are equally well-positioned to provide boutique support to small or niche brands.

We work with brands and their advisors to ensure that dot brands are poised for maximum success and return on investment.

Here's how:

• business case building
• application writing (we can write your entire application or just the technical portion)
• post-submission support and monitoring
• industry intelligence and reporting
• representation at industry meetings and events
• dedicated multi-lingual account managers
• world-class ICANN-compliant, ISO 27001-accredited technical solution with a sixteen year track record of security and stability
• in-house domain management tools & support for your dot brand
• post-launch strategy consultancy

New gTLD Financing Services

CentralNic now offers financing services for new gTLDs, so if you are a new gTLD applicant requiring financing for a forthcoming auction or seeking investment for working capital, please contact us to discuss your requirements.

Registry Technology Overview

Advanced, Flexible & Robust

CentralNic's registry system ranks among the industry's foremost, boasting a perfect track record of security and stability over the past years. Our platform is flexible, scalable, real-world proven and above ICANN specification for new TLDs (more stringent requirements than those for ccTLDs and existing gTLDs).

Developed in-house by leading software engineers and developers, our platform continues to evolve with developments in the market and regulatory environment so as to maintain its outstanding performance, capacity and feature set.

Currently providing registry services for dozens of open domain extensions, our platform operates at a fraction of its capacity, having been equipped over recent years to manage hundreds of TLDs. Additionally, our system is fully-IDN enabled and leads the industry in DNSSEC deployment.

Modularised, optimised and stable, it uses the most trusted and reliable technologies - enabling it to handle billions of DNS queries and hundreds of thousands of registry transactions every day.

We work closely with the industry's leading connectivity and hosting providers to ensure high levels of service for both DNS and registrar interfaces. Additionally, our system operates from locations all over the world, boasting an infrastructure so robust that DNS availability is guaranteed even in the event of simultaneous cataclysmic natural disasters on three continents.

DNS Infrastructure

CentralNic and our strategic technical partners operate a network of DNS servers across many cities and continents: this map shows all of the current locations (note that some cities, such as London, host several nameservers). We are adding new locations all the time.

Domain & DNS Management Solutions

Since 1994 we have been helping big registrars and resellers to achieve results. DomiNIC is the world's most advanced integrated registrar software with a 20 year track record of making the management of domains and zones easy and more efficient.

Efficiency & cost savings

• Fully automated workflows for domain and zone management.
• DomiNIC integrates seamlessly with your CRM and billing systems.

Risk reduction & security

• Fine-grained authorization concept lets you create your own policies of access and authorization.
• Approval workflows protect you against unauthorized changes.

Flexibility & independence

• Easy integration with new registries.
• DomiNIC offers a customizable white-label retail site.

DNSSEC at CentralNic

CentralNic is a centre of excellence for DNSSEC, having completed the largest deployment of any registry (by number of zones) and the first registry to launch domain extensions with DNSSEC enabled from the start.

For more information, please click here

UK, USA and China.

Mike Turner - Chairman

Mike is a world leader in European and Trans-Atlantic Technology M&A. He has over 30 years of experience working in London, New York and Los Angeles, advising private and publicly held clients on corporate transactions in technology, telecoms, advertising/marketing services, traditional/digital media, internet and e-commerce sectors. Mike is a Partner and International Head of Technology Media and Communications at the international law firm Taylor Wessing. Previously, Mike was a General Partner responsible for technology investments at Oakfield Partners. Mike obtained an LLB at the University of Reading.

Benjamin Crawford - Chief Executive Officer

Ben Crawford is one of the best-known figures in the domain industry, featuring extensively on ICANN’s “Ask the Experts” website and is frequently quoted in the global media. Ben has been the Chief Executive Officer of CentralNic since 2009, successfully launching the company into new markets including the Middle East, Japan and Russia, as well as winning 60 new TLD and the .PW ccTLD contracts. Ben is a specialist in global business and corporate development – his former positions included Founding President of Louise Blouin Media, integrating 11 acquisitions in three countries and launching artinfo.com; Managing Director of SportBusiness Group, where he launched the world’s leading online gambling trade media group, iGamingBusiness.com; and Executive Producer of the official website of the Sydney Olympic Games. Ben has an MBA from the Australian Graduate School of Management and a First Class Honours Degree from the University of Sydney.

Don Baladasan - Chief Financial Officer

Don, a Chartered Management Accountant, has several years' experience of being Finance Director of AIM listed companies. Over the last five years he has assisted AIM listed businesses in raising £25 million of equity in addition to overseeing a series of acquisitions including reverse takeovers. Don has several years' experience of integrating internationally acquired companies from a finance, governance and commercial perspective. This experience was gained at Stemcor, an international steel trader which at the time had operations in 46 countries and a turnover in excess of £6bn, where Don was Head of Accounting Development. Don initially studied Medicine at Guys Hospital before completing a BSc in Economics at CASS Business School. He was then awarded a place on the Financial Times graduate scheme where he trained as a Chartered Management Accountant.

Iain McDonald - Non Executive Director

Iain is a global expert in technology and e-commerce, having had a strong track record in investing in early stage companies such as ASOS, The Hut Group, Eagle Eye Solutions, Anatwine and Metapack. He is an advisor to the William Currie Group, a family office founded by financier Bill Currie to invest mainly in technology and e-commerce companies. Iain is also a non-executive director of various of his investee companies, as well as other technology companies such as My Sale Group plc and Houseology Design Group Limited, and was nominated as a NED of the year in 2015 by the Sunday Times NED Awards. Previously, Iain was a top-ranked retail and e-commerce analyst and held positions in a number of UK investment banks. Iain graduated from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), with a Bsc in Economics & Economics History.

Samuel Dayani - Non Executive Director

Samuel Dayani is a partner at the Joseph Samuel Group and responsible for managing the group investments and business development. He is also a Director of Opes Industries Ltd, a waste to energy, landfill and recycling business. From 2001-2005, Samuel was the Chief Operating Officer and then Managing Director of ViaVision Ltd, an interactive TV company, before it was sold to Yoomedia plc. Samuel graduated from Queen Mary College, University of London with a BSc in Business and Biology in 2000.

Thomas Rickert - Non Executive Director

Thomas Rickert is an attorney-at-law in Germany. He is the owner of Rickert Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH, a law firm with offices in Bonn and Frankfurt am Main. Thomas has extensive experience in the domain industry working on domain disputes as well as advising Registrars, Registry Service Providers and new gTLD applicants both on contractual as well as policy matters. Thomas is an expert speaker on domain related subjects both at the national and international level. Thomas has been appointed by ICANN’s Nominating Committee to serve on the Council of the Generic Names Supporting Organisation (GNSO), which is the body responsible for developing policy for generic domain names.

Thomas Pridmore - Non Executive Director

Tom Pridmore began his career as a solicitor at Norton Rose, specialising in corporate finance, where he acted on behalf of institutional clients in relation to a variety of corporate finance and M&A activities. Tom then joined Flextech/Telewest Plc as Head of Corporate Strategy, where he was responsible for directing investment into strategic Internet and interactive television companies. In 2000, Tom co-founded the international fund manager and investment adviser Development Capital Management Limited. In this capacity he has set-up and managed real estate investment and development operations in Turkey, India, North Africa, Eastern Europe and the UK on behalf of both institutional and private clients.

Gavin Brown - Chief Technology Officer

Gavin has worked at CentralNic since 2001, becoming chief technology officer in 2005. He has responsibility for all aspects of CentralNic’s Registry Engine and all technical elements of the integrated global reseller network. He is a highly respected figure in the domain industry and has been published in several professional technical journals and as well as participating in a number of technical public policy and advocacy groups.

* The beneficial holder of Erin Finance and Invest Ltd and Natwest FIS Nominee Limited is the father of Samuel Dayani, a director of the Company.

** Jabella Group Limited is a BVI company owned inter alia, by Erin, Natwest FIS Nominee Limited, John Swingewood and Robert Pooke.

CentralNic Global Headquarters

Contact for: general enquiries, support, sales

CentralNic Ltd.

35-39 Moorgate

London, EC2R 6AR

Tel: +44 (0)20 33 88 0600 

Fax: +44 (0)20 33 88 0601

CentralNic USA Office

Contact for: sales only

CentralNic USA Ltd.

350 5th Avenue

59th Floor, New York, NY 10118 USA

Tel: +1 323 375 2669

CentralNic China

Contact for: sales only

Tel: +85258085429 (1400hrs - 2100hrs local time)

Nominated Adviser and Broker:

Zeus Capital Limited
82 King Street,
Manchester,
M2 4WQ

41 Conduit Street,
London,
W1S 2YQ

Peel Hunt LLP
Moor House,
120 London Wall,
London, EC2Y 5ET,
United Kingdom

Auditors and Reporting Accountants:

Crowe Clark Whitehill LLP
St Bride's House,
10 Salisbury Square,
London EC4Y 8EH

Solicitors to the Company:

DWF LLP
Capital House,
85 King William Street,
London EC4N 7BL

Financial PR:

Abchurch Communications
125 Old Broad Street,
London,
EC2N 1AR

Company Registrars:

Capita Registrars Ltd
The Registry,
34 Beckenham Road,
Beckenham, Kent,
BR3 4TU

Bankers:

HSBC Bank plc
89 Buckingham Palace Road,
London SW1W 0QL