Egm 2

[olebean]

Isn't this thread getting clogged up with Paranoia?



Peter

I am sure some of it is.... Take two pills, have a long sleep you'll all feel better in the morning!

 

[Crusader-K]

How to spend the Nominet cash mountain ?

Nominet appears not to want to return the accumulated cash pile to the registrants (via reduced registration/renewal charges).
Nominet appears not to want to return the accumulated cash pile to the Members (sorry can't do).

One option is to spend the cash mountain on the ENUM venture as well as corporate empire building through acquisitions of other companies. Remuneration commensurate with managing a global group of companies can be paid out of the cash pile.

Words that trouble me under the heading of "Providing business through subsidiaries and third parties" are (3.13.3) "acquire....any corporations,companies" also "promote"/"worldwide"/"any or all" etc.

What this means is that Nominet could acquire various companies, a Domain Parking Company, a Foreign cctlds registration Company, etc

The effect of such acquired companies backed by the weight of Nominet's cash-pile could be formidable something akin to the Supermarket chain effect on small high street shops. Both small and large Nominet members need to think carefully what the effect would be to them if Nominet acquired a Company in the same market sector as themselves.

The proposed EGM changes make it more likely that Nominet will be tempted to compete with its members. Therefore it is probably safest to vote "NO".

 

[aqls]

If Nominet's mantra is cheaper reg fees and well managed, secure domains then IMO it is fine that they control/own the worlds domain registries.

It's the first three points I'm worried about.

Noone at Nominet seems to acknowledge the requirement for cheaper reg fees and they seem completely content with the way things are as far as the other two go.

Tesco got there by being the most competitively priced and best managed, hopefully Nominet can do the same.

My fears are that Nominet management think big for the sake of big rather than best.

Their incentives need to change. {Cheap plus Secure plus Well Managed = pay rise for management.} Otherwise bye bye, I'll go and support a better registry.

-aqls-

 

[Hazel Pegg]

Noone at Nominet seems to acknowledge the requirement for cheaper reg fees

I don't want cheaper reg fees. In fact I'd be quite happy to see them rise to £50 or so.

Hazel

 

[sneezycheese]

I don't want cheaper reg fees. In fact I'd be quite happy to see them rise to £50 or so.

... :shock: - If that doesn't help the NO campaign, I don't know what will!!

Hazel - For what purpose would a hike in price to £50 be (except that of funding empire building and fat cat salaries)??? :???:

Regards,

Sneezy.

 

[olebean]

Hazel has a point, £50 will deter PPC as a business model...... It will help purify the internet and reduce google etc ability to advertise in a wider context

 

[gordon]

How to spend the Nominet cash mountain ?

Nominet appears not to want to return the accumulated cash pile to the registrants (via reduced registration/renewal charges).
Nominet appears not to want to return the accumulated cash pile to the Members (sorry can't do).

How do you come to these conclusions? Nominet put proposals to EGM1 that would allow it to do so. We agreed after EGM1 with the members to split the issues up, the first to be dealt with being the objects at EGM2. All the other issues from EGM1 will be dealt with post EGM2 if it passes. If EGM2 doesn't pass well we will see what happens then.

Currently the only way to change the price is a 75% majority of members voting, we attempted to alter the way pricing was changed but you rejected it.

You have no idea what board members think about returning cash in one way or another so stop pretending you do.

One option is to spend the cash mountain on the ENUM venture as well as corporate empire building through acquisitions of other companies. Remuneration commensurate with managing a global group of companies can be paid out of the cash pile.

In terms of small business yes Nominet has a cash mountain, in terms of global empire building, you're having a laugh aren't you?

The effect of such acquired companies backed by the weight of Nominet's cash-pile could be formidable something akin to the Supermarket chain effect on small high street shops. Both small and large Nominet members need to think carefully what the effect would be to them if Nominet acquired a Company in the same market sector as themselves.

Nominet's cash pile is tiny on the global scale of things, we work with members to get things done, how on earth do you equate this to supermarkets affecting high street shops?

The proposed EGM changes make it more likely that Nominet will be tempted to compete with its members. Therefore it is probably safest to vote "NO".

It would be far safer to vote "YES" and win friends and influence people to get them to do as you wish.

Gordon

 

[Hazel Pegg]

... :shock: - If that doesn't help the NO campaign, I don't know what will!!

Price changes are not a topic at the upcoming EGM. Currently reg fees can only be changed after a vote of the membership and that remains the case whatever happens at the EGM.

Hazel

 

[gordon]

... :shock: - If that doesn't help the NO campaign, I don't know what will!!

Why would this help the no campaign? One members view doesn't have that much influence.

Gordon

 

[Whois-Search]

I don't want cheaper reg fees. In fact I'd be quite happy to see them rise to £50 or so.

Hazel

I think £50 will be the price of the ENUM registrations

What would Pipex and Schuld think about £50 domain names? Or lets see who gets elected on the non-executive part of the board if that were to happen and reverse it. Who will make the £50 decision the PAB or the Board?

 

[Whois-Search]

It would be far safer to vote "YES" and win friends and influence people to get them to do as you wish.

Can't we be friends which ever way we vote? Or do the board need friends to be on it?

 

[Crusader-K]

Gordon

Many words. Questions being answered with questions.

Your reply is telling in what you do not say.

You had ample opportunity to deny that Nominet will use its cash pile to acquire companies throughout the industry, but there was no such denial.

We have no choice but to assume that this is the real agenda. The best you could offer is that the cash pile is not that big, so I guess that means Nominet will not be able to buy too many top notch companies.

ENUM is clearly being used as a "trojan horse" to slide through sweeping changes beneficial to the management.

 

[gordon]

Can't we be friends which ever way we vote? Or do the board need friends to be on it?

You are cheekily misinterpreting what I wrote.

My point was:
1. It would be far safer to vote "YES".

and

2. It would be safer to win friends and influence people to get them to do as you wish. This point is that always being negative and never offering positive options or never offering to actually work together for the greater good of Nominet and all its customers and members doesn't win friends.

Gordon

 

[gordon]

You had ample opportunity to deny that Nominet will use its cash pile to acquire companies throughout the industry, but there was no such denial.

We have no choice but to assume that this is the real agenda.

The proposed memorandum FORBIDS Nominet from buying up web hosting, etc companies. This has been said many times, if you want me to say it again then there you go I've done so.

Again a negative and unhelpful message from you casting aspersions on Nominet, its board and their motives.

Why be so bitter?

Gordon

 

[olebean]

You are cheekily misinterpreting what I wrote.

My point was:
1. It would be far safer to vote "YES".

Gordon

Gordon

I am unaware whether you engaged with the process of word.. Why the need for any company of any type ? When all work could be done under the control of Nominet?

The problem I have is the manner in which the Taylor wassit issues was conducted..... If those with close relationships cannot get that right, can they be trusted with larger ones?

Do keep in mind that I am in favour of Nominet extending business activity

 

[static]

Gordon

Many words. Questions being answered with questions.

Your reply is telling in what you do not say.

You had ample opportunity to deny that Nominet will use its cash pile to acquire companies throughout the industry, but there was no such denial.

We have no choice but to assume that this is the real agenda. The best you could offer is that the cash pile is not that big, so I guess that means Nominet will not be able to buy too many top notch companies.

ENUM is clearly being used as a "trojan horse" to slide through sweeping changes beneficial to the management.

Didn't captain Bob waffle on at the AGM about wanting to use the cash pile to set up some sort of trust similar to the Wellcome Trust? I can't imagine who would be on the board of such an entity :roll:

I've not seen this new Nominet building yet. I'm sure herzog de meuron weren't asked to design it. Now that would have been making a bold and modernistic statement about Nominet's future. It would have been a good way to spend some of the cash.

The ENUM thing is obviously a mere excuse to try to nudge voting in favour of the resolution. I think the resolution has actually very little to do with ENUM. It is all about giving the Board far more power to do as they wish and to marginalise the smaller members.

 

[sneezycheese]

The proposed memorandum FORBIDS Nominet from buying up web hosting, etc companies. This has been said many times, if you want me to say it again then there you go I've done so.

...Don't just 'say it' Gordon - Prove it!!!

Lets point AGAIN to Nominets 'own words'...

3.13.1.1 organise, incorporate, reorganise, finance, aid and assist, financially or otherwise, companies, corporations, syndicates, partnerships, associations and firms of all kinds;

...So I say 'again' - Prove us wrong!!!

 

[Crusader-K]

The proposed memorandum FORBIDS Nominet from buying up web hosting, etc companies. This has been said many times, if you want me to say it again then there you go I've done so.

Gordon

As per the earlier posting

3.13.3 of the proposed revised memorandum states :

to carry on the business of a holding company and to acquire and to hold the whole or any part of the shares or other securities and interests of and in any corporations, companies, associations or firms, for the time being engaged, concerned or interested in any industry, trade or business relating to the Company's objects or which can conveniently be carried on in connection therewith and to exercise in respect of such investments and holdings all the rights, powers and privileges of ownership including the right to vote thereon;​

I cannot locate anywhere in the the proposed memorandum which specifically forbids Nominet from buying up a Domain Parking Company, a DNS Management Company, etc

Please provide the clause number which FORBIDS (your word) such activities.

 

[Whois-Search]

Lesley Cowley has been quoted in IT Week as saying:

Nominet polls members on changes to .uk services - IT Week

"We were set up with a very narrow remit, which was right for the time but now members are saying, 'You're a good registry and offer great customer service, so why not use those skills to do other things for us?'" she explained. "We're a not-for-profit business, so we could do Enum reliably and cheaply and according to a membership model."

The ENUM is not for us? I don't even want a ENUM registration and will we be even able to sell them?. ENUM is to save Nominet from going bust apparently......

 

[Whois-Search]

I've not seen this new Nominet building yet. I'm sure herzog de meuron weren't asked to design it. Now that would have been making a bold and modernistic statement about Nominet's future. It would have been a good way to spend some of the cash.

"This will represent a total investment by Nominet, including fit-out, in the region of £ 10 million.

King Sturge will also be aggressively marketing Nominet’s existing freehold building in Sandy Lane West, Oxford"

Nominet buys into the Oxford Science Park

So how much will they get for their old site? A few million?

I also heard it was going to be very "cool" in there.

http://www.oxfordsp.com/downloads/News Nominet.pdf