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Clarivate Plc (NYSE: CLVT) today announced that Newfold Digital (“Newfold”), a leading web and commerce technology provider backed by Clearlake Capital Group, LP (together with its affiliates, “Clearlake”) and Siris Capital Group, LLC ( together with its affiliates, “Siris”), has signed a definitive agreement to purchase MarkMonitor™, a leading enterprise level provider of domain management solutions.
Under the terms of the agreement, Clarivate will receive cash proceeds of approximately $302.5 million. The transaction is expected to close in late 2022 subject to the satisfaction of regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.
Clarivate Chief Product Officer Gordon Samson said, “Newfold is a natural fit for MarkMonitor. After the transaction closes, we believe the integration of these two companies will create a rich product line and differentiated web presence offering that will add value to businesses of all sizes.” sizes. We are confident that MarkMonitor will continue to thrive and provide even greater services to its customers under Newfold. After this transaction closes, Clarivate will be better positioned to focus even more attention and investment on our core portfolio and all that is critical for IP to focus lifecycle management.”
The acquisition of MarkMonitor will highlight Newfold Digital’s continued commitment to providing differentiated web presence solutions to clients around the world. An ICANN-accredited registrar and recognized industry leader since 1999, MarkMonitor serves the domain management needs of approximately 2,000 customers worldwide, with a focus on Fortune 500 companies and other large corporate clients. This will make MarkMonitor a natural extension of Newfold’s portfolio of web technology brands, which includes Network Solutions, the world’s first registrar, Web.com, Bluehost, Register.com and Domain.com.
“As web presence needs continue to grow and evolve, domain management and protection become more important. Companies need reliable partners and solutions that deliver results, and MarkMonitor is renowned for its expertise in meeting the domain portfolio needs of some of the most sophisticated digital companies in the world, making it ‘ makes a natural fit for our family of web technology brands,” said Sharon Rowlands, CEO of Newfold Digital.
The MarkMonitor team, led by Head of Domain Management Stu Homan, will join Newfold.
“We are proud that Newfold recognizes the value of MarkMonitor’s top-tier global domain management service,” said Homan. “The combined capabilities of MarkMonitor and Newfold will deliver and enhance the same excellent services that our customers have enjoyed and relied on for years.”
“MarkMonitor will bring a rich history of industry experience and innovative solutions, and we look forward to welcoming the team to Newfold,” said James Pade, Partner, Clearlake, and Tyler Sipprelle, Managing Director at Siris, each a director of Newfold.
MarkMonitor is currently expected to generate approximately $80 million in revenue and $35 million in EBITDA for the full year 2022.
Sidley Austin is acting as legal advisor and RBC Capital Markets and JP Morgan Securities LLC are acting as financial advisors to Newfold, with BNP PARIBAS Securities Corp., Deutsche Bank, Mizuho and UBS Investment Bank also providing advice. Evercore is acting as financial advisor and Blank Rome LLP is acting as legal advisor to Clarivate.
