CVC Strikes $1.5 Billion Deal for Namecheap

[Cam]

CVC Capital Partners is closing in on buying a majority stake in Namecheap, in a deal that values the big domain registrar and web-hosting provider at about $1.5 billion including debt, according to people familiar with the matter.

The global buyout firm is expected to work closely with Richard Kirkendall, Namecheap’s founder and chief executive officer, who will retain a big stake in the company, the people said.

Deal terms have been completed, the people said, but the timing of any announcement couldn’t be learned.


Established about 25 years ago, Arizona-based Namecheap started out registering web domain names. Its offerings have expanded to include online hosting and security services to help users develop and manage websites.

Source: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/cvc-strikes-1-5-billion-100000167.html

I intended to create a topic about this when I saw this headline last week, but I'm just now getting around to it. I think it's probably time to think about transferring your domains.

 

[Katrina]

What's wrong with CVC?

 

[PGen98]

What's wrong with CVC?

Typically when an investment firm buys out an independent business, particularly a well-liked one, they have a history of gutting it, stripping it of what makes it so special, and turning it into a shell of its' former self, riding on the name and the prestige it has gathered while the service declines and declines. It's never a good thing.

 

[zappaDPJ]

What's wrong with CVC?

In addition to what @PGen98 has already said, I doubt CVC bought the company for its domain name business or its web hosting. It's after something far more valuable, the data it holds and CVC has a poor track record in regard to personal data.

In the same year CVC acquired a stake in Avast, Jumpshot an Avast subsidiary began harvesting data from Avast antivirus and browser extension users and selling it to multiple third-party companies. CVC then sold off its stake in Advast before the scandal became public.

Personally I would at the very least ensure I had a full backup of any sites held on Namecheap and then look for another provider.

 

[Cam]

In addition to what @PGen98 has already said, I doubt CVC bought the company for its domain name business or its web hosting. It's after something far more valuable, the data it holds and CVC has a poor track record in regard to personal data.

In the same year CVC acquired a stake in Avast, Jumpshot an Avast subsidiary began harvesting data from Avast antivirus and browser extension users and selling it to multiple third-party companies. CVC then sold off its stake in Advast before the scandal became public.

Personally I would at the very least ensure I had a full backup of any sites held on Namecheap and then look for another provider.

Unfortunately I moved all of my domains over to Spaceship (which NameCheap owns) last year. Now I think I'll be moving them back to Porkbun. 😛

 

[PGen98]

Unfortunately I moved all of my domains over to Spaceship (which NameCheap owns) last year. Now I think I'll be moving them back to Porkbun. 😛

These company names...my oh my...

 

[Ravenfreak]

Welp that sucks, I've always preferred Namecheap to any other domain registrar. :\ I'm thinking about looking into moving over to Porkbun since I've heard good things about them. Though I wonder if they allow the transfers of .zone and .ing domains... Guess I better do some research!