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Marchex pays $164.2 Million for Domain Portfolio of Keyword Search Terms
(See Press Release below which validates the $$ value of Direct Navigation Search)
KEYWORD DIRECT NAVIGATION SEARCH The term "Direct Navigation Keyword Search" is the term describing those who will type in a ProductName with a ".com" after to quickly see what company or site happens to be at that domain. If a person is looking for Plastic Fabricators, they will simply type in their browser address bar PlasticFabricators.com to see what company or website is there to find a plastic fabricator or a directory of plastic fabricators. This form of search has existed since the early days of the internet and generates approximately 10% or more of all internet search traffic to websites. This is traffic that will choose this method before trying a search engine. And this traffic is known to typically be MORE SERIOUS and MORE TARGETED visitors. Many are familiar with Overture (today owned by Yahoo). Overture started out as GoTo.com and included many people's domains directing traffic through this Direct Navigation Search that directed traffic to companies on a pay-per-click basis thru GoTo.com (GoTo.com became Overture, which is now Yahoo search). Many domain owners who have undeveloped domains have a page up on their websites to sell their Direct Navigation Search traffic through companies such as FindWhat.com, DomainSponsor.com, and several others. Below is a News Release regarding a domain portfolio that has been widely known in the Direct Navigation Search industry, and was purchased by Marchex in November 2004 Marchex Press Release November 23, 2004 for $164.2 million
As part of this transaction, Marchex will be acquiring a large base of online user traffic, which Marchex estimates at more than 17 million unique visitors per month in October 2004. This traffic is generated from a portfolio of Web properties, or Internet domains, which are generally reflective of commercially-relevant search terms in many of the Internet's most popular vertical commerce categories, and may include geographically-targeted elements. The total number of Internet domains in the portfolio, including Marchex's existing Internet domains, is more than 100,000. Key vertical commerce categories include: travel, financial services, insurance, real estate, auto, health, technology and electronics, personals, jobs, business, home and garden, Web and telecom services, education, and entertainment. The online user traffic is primarily monetized with pay-per-click listings that are relevant to the Web property. Marchex believes that the acquired assets will build on Marchex's existing portfolio of Internet domains, and that there are several opportunities to grow this traffic base and enhance user utility over time by leveraging Marchex's existing technologies and strategic relationships. Direct navigation refers to one of the methods that online consumers use to search for information, products or services. Direct navigation is primarily characterized by online users directly accessing a Web site by typing descriptive keywords or keyword strings into the uniform resource locator (URL) address box of an Internet browser or by accessing bookmarked Web sites. It can also include navigating to a Web site through referring link traffic or partner traffic sources. As of August 2004, First Albany Capital estimated that the size of the 2004 global search market is approximately $4.5 billion, and will grow to $13.1 billion by 2008. Marchex estimates that the direct navigation market may represent 10% or more of this market. Additionally, recent industry research highlights that in September 2004 more than 67% of daily global Internet users arrived at Web sites by "direct navigation", defined as typing a URL into a browser address bar or using a bookmark - rather than through search engines and Web links, up from approximately 53% in February 2002 (Source: WebSideStory, Inc.'s StatMarket division). "With today's announcement, we are taking a step forward in executing against our mission to connect merchant advertisers with targeted customers, as we will now have both search engine marketing services and proprietary sources of online traffic in key commerce verticals," said Russell C. Horowitz, Marchex Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "We are pleased that these traffic sources will complement our existing business and will help us to build upon our existing partnerships with the major search engines, directories and commerce portals." Overall, search marketing continues to experience strong growth. According to the Internet Advertising Revenue Report generated by the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) and PricewaterhouseCoopers, paid search has been growing at accelerated rates when compared to other forms of online advertising. Specifically, search advertising spending accounted for nearly $1 billion during the second quarter of 2004, which represented 40% of all online ad spending, up from $515 million and 31% of all online ad spending in the year earlier period. Marchex believes this asset acquisition will further expand its participation in this growing segment of online advertising and in key commerce verticals. "The use of direct navigation as a means to find products, services and information on the Web has been, and will remain, a valuable and important navigation tool for Internet users," said Horowitz. "This transaction meets many of our key acquisition criteria, has specific catalysts for growth, and expands our access to a dynamic segment within our industry. We look forward to participating in the evolution of the direct navigation market, and working with many of our current partners to drive continued growth in this segment." Capital Plan and Closing Conditions Marchex also announced that details of a planned financing event to provide the cash consideration for the proposed asset acquisition and related expenses will be announced separately within the next 30 days. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, is contingent on a financing event that will fund the cash consideration, and provides for the payment of a $1.5 million break-up fee through a combination of cash and equity in the event the transaction is not completed under certain circumstances by June 30, 2005. Financial Guidance
Standalone Guidance for Marchex and the Acquired Assets:
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