Top Level Domain Holdings (Minds+Machines) withdraws 4 new gTLD applications: .free, .sale, .spa and .zulu

The Company has decided as a consequence of GAC warnings, and after discussion with relevant governments, to withdraw four of its applications: .free, .sale, .spa and .zulu.

The GAC strongly advised against four gTLDs, none of which TLDH applied for. Another 513 gTLDs were given some kind of advice by the GAC, ranging from serious reservations to desired improvements.

The Company expects to receive refunds totaling $520,000 (£341,304) from ICANN, and to have released to it $144,000 (£94,515) currently set aside in letters of credit for ICANN’s Continued Operations Instrument requirement.

TLDH’s portfolio received relatively few third-party objections, all from rivals for the TLDs in question. TLDH was notified that objections had been filed against only seven of its new gTLD applications, representing 9.7% of the Company’s portfolio: two objections for .music and one each for .购物(“shopping” in Chinese), .gay, .eco, .home, .vip, and .realestate.

TLDH’s operating company, Minds + Machines, is now focused on the upcoming launches of .london, .budapest, .nrw, .gop and .kiwi. The Company is also actively pursuing arrangements with other applicants for new gTLDs.

About Top Level Domain Holdings Limited
Top Level Domain Holdings is a publicly-traded holding company listed on the London AIM market. The company is focused on the new top-level domain space. Top-level domains, such as .com, run by VeriSign (NASDAQ: VRSN), and .biz, run by NeuStar (NYSE: NSR), are regulated by ICANN. ICANN has announced plans to expand the number of top-level domains. TLDH intends to make targeted investments in this space, focusing on both infrastructure technologies and specific top-level domains.

About Minds + Machines
Minds + Machines is a registry services provider that works internationally with commercial organisations, cities, not-for-profits, and entrepreneurs to secure and operate new web domains, known as top-level domains (TLDs). Minds and Machines Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Top Level Domains Holdings Limited.