As we were heading into the weekend well-founded rumors began circulating that Web.com had purchased domain auction platform SnapNames from Luxembourg-based KeyDrive S.A. The news became official today when Web.com confirmed the acquisition of SnapNames at an undisclosed price (Web.com did say the company expects this transaction to be immaterial to 2014 financial results.) 

SnapNames, established in 2000, offers daily online auction sales of expiring, deleting and privately-

owned domain names. KeyDrive had acquired both SnapNames and registrar Moniker.com from Oversee.net two years ago. Web.com already shares ownership of another major domain auction platform, NameJet, with DemandMedia's Rightside unit and owns registrars NetworkSolutions and Register.com outright. 

At least for now, SnapNames and NameJet will continue to operate as separate entities. In a letter to clients this morning, SnapNames CEO Craig Snyder wrote, "As we move ahead in the 

David L. Brown
Chairman, President & CEO, Web.com

integration of the two businesses, we ask that all current SnapNames customers and partners continue to use their existing contacts. SnapNames and Moniker will continue to cooperate similarly to how they have in the past.  Domain names currently accessible through the Moniker interface will remain accessible through that interface.  We will promptly communicate any changes as they are made available. For support contacts, hours and portal access please continue to visit: Snapnames.com/support.jsp.

Web.com Chairman, CEO & President David L. Brown said, “We are very pleased to bring SnapNames under the Web.com umbrella. This acquisition enables us to enhance our existing domain related assets and provide additional services for customers who are looking for specific domain name addresses. In today’s expanding domain resale marketplace, SnapNames is a global industry leader with experience and expertise in domain lifecycle management and auction services.” 

In another notable marriage of a different kind, registry operator Afilias has won the hand of the coveted .green new gTLD. TheDomains.com reported this morning that DemandMedia's  United TLD Holdco Ltd withdrew their application for .green, leaving Afilias as the sole applicant for the extension (this after another suitor, Minds + Machines, dropped out of what had been a three-way auction last week). Afilias had to pay undisclosed but substantial sums (believed to be in seven figures) to the parties that agreed to withdraw from the auction, clearing their path to what looks to be one of the most attractive new gTLDs. 

One other note today, Beverly Hills, California domains sales platform Domains90210.com has debuted a new auction format on the site. Listings are currently names held by Domains90210 founder Claude Dauman, who has been building online businesses since 1996. 

In a post on his blog Friday, Dauman noted the 1,400 listings On Domains90210 feature a number of 2-letter acronyms, including PJ.net, MH.net, UF.net, Be.tv, PO.tv and HV.tv, as well as many 3-letter acronyms, single word and two word category defining domain names.