Demand Media Takes Domain Services Business to Dublin

Company Names David Ryan as General Manager to Oversee Efforts for Historic New TLD Launch

SANTA MONICA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Demand Media® (NYSE: DMD), a leading digital media and domain services company, today announced the opening of what will be its largest international office in Dublin, Ireland. With an international presence that currently includes offices in Toronto, Buenos Aires and London, Demand Media’s Dublin office will serve as the international headquarters for the company’s domain services business. The team in the new location is focused on preparing for the historic change about to take place on the Internet, as thousands of new domain names, called new Top Level Domains (TLDs), come to market later this year. To lead the new Dublin operation during this pivotal time in the domain business, the company has hired David Ryan as General Manager, most recently with Fortune 500 Company Electronic Arts.

“We are excited to expand our business into the thriving tech scene of Dublin”

Located in Center City Dublin, the office models that of a technology start-up, and the company is seeking talent with experience across all functions, including product engineering, sales & marketing, IT, finance, operations and customer support, and expects to employ between 20 and 40 people within the next year. The Demand Media team will be based at One Clarendon Row, located next to the historic Gaiety Theatre and St. Stephen’s Green. As a part of the company’s expansion, Demand Media partnered with the Irish Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation through IDA Ireland, the country’s premiere investment promotion agency, to set up and develop the new location.

“We are excited to expand our business into the thriving tech scene of Dublin,” commented Dave Panos, executive vice president of emerging markets for Demand Media. “At such an exhilarating time in the domain services industry with the upcoming launch of new TLDs, we are eager to recruit creative and high-energy professionals who are up to the challenge of taking the lead in the changing Internet landscape.”

The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton TD, said, “ICT is a major part of the Government’s plans for jobs and growth, and in the time since we took office over 11,000 additional people are employed in this sector. Today’s announcement that this leading US company is opening its largest international office in Dublin is a further boost for the sector. Through continued implementation of the Action Plan for Jobs I am determined to build on this and support the jobs growth we need.”

Barry O’Leary, CEO of IDA Ireland said, “The vision Demand Media has for its presence in Dublin is exciting, and fits well with Dublin’s growing reputation as a ‘silicon hub.’ The presence of Demand Media here will significantly add to our cluster of cutting-edge technology companies undertaking innovative activities that are at the forefront of development in the online sphere.”

Mr. Ryan is an executive with a unique and outstanding background running both high performing service organizations for global brands as well as growing successful start-ups. Most recently, Ryan served as senior director with Electronic Arts (EA), one of the largest video game developers in the world, leading the online games live operations division, and was responsible for the development and execution of community and customer service efforts. Ryan has also led start-ups, including LeasePlan Infrastructure services and Vordel, growing both businesses in valuation and services offered. With his consumer-facing and industry-leading experience, Demand Media has tasked General Manager Ryan with bringing talented professionals to join Demand Media’s domain services business, with an initial focus on the emerging TLD space.

“With his experience creating efficiencies inside of large operations, identifying and participating in high-growth markets, and creating value within smaller start up environments, David Ryan is certain to lead our Demand Media Dublin team to success in a new market,” continued Panos. “Our ramped up efforts internationally further illustrate Demand Media’s commitment to this historic TLD launch.”

To assist Mr. Ryan’s recruitment efforts, Demand Media has partnered with influential recruiting firm Morgan McKinley. A global professional recruiting company with Irish offices in Dublin and Cork, Morgan McKinley will work to staff Demand Media with experienced and motivated engineers, marketers, sales people, IT professionals and customer service representatives of all levels. For more information on careers at Demand Media in Dublin, visit http://www.demandmedia.ie.

About Demand Media

Demand Media, Inc. (NYSE: DMD) is a leading digital media and domain services company that informs and entertains one of the internet’s largest audiences, helps advertisers find innovative ways to engage with their customers and enables publishers, individuals and businesses to expand their online presence. Headquartered in Santa Monica, CA, Demand Media has offices in North America, South America and Europe. For more information about Demand Media, please visit www.demandmedia.com.

© 2013 Demand Media, Inc.

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties regarding the Company's future financial performance, and are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about our industry, financial condition, operating performance and results of operations, including certain assumptions related thereto. Statements containing words such as guidance, may, believe, anticipate, expect, intend, plan, project, projections, business outlook, and estimate or similar expressions constitute forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from the results predicted, and reported results should not be considered an indication of future performance. Potential risks and uncertainties include, among others: our ability to successfully integrate and expand our operations in Dublin; our ability to complete a separation of our business as previously announced and unanticipated developments that may delay or negatively impact such a transaction; the possibility that we may decide not to proceed with the separation of our business as previously announced if we determine that alternative opportunities are more favorable to our stockholders; the possibility that we decide to separate our business in a manner different from that previously disclosed; the impact and possible disruption to our operations from pursuing a previously announced separation transaction; the high costs we will likely incur in connection with such the previously announced separation transaction, which we would not be able to recoup if such a transaction is not consummated; the expectation that the previously announced transaction will be tax-free; revenue and growth expectations for the two independent companies following the separation of our business; the ability of each business to operate as an independent entity upon completion of such previously announced transaction; our ability to attract and retain key personnel; changes in the methodologies of internet search engines, including ongoing algorithmic changes made by Google as well as possible future changes, and the impact such changes may have on page view growth and driving search related traffic to our owned and operated websites and the websites of our network customers; changes in our content creation and distribution platform, including the possible repurposing of content to alternate distribution channels, reduced investments in intangible assets or the sale or removal of content; our ability to successfully launch, produce and monetize new content formats; our ability to diversify into new initiatives such as paid content; the inherent challenges of estimating the overall impact on page views and search driven traffic to our owned and operated websites based on the data available to us as internet search engines continue to make adjustments to their search algorithms; our ability to compete with new or existing competitors; our ability to maintain or increase our advertising revenue; our ability to continue to drive and grow traffic to our owned and operated websites and the websites of our network customers; our ability to effectively monetize our portfolio of content; our dependence on material agreements with a specific business partner for a significant portion of our revenue; future internal rates of return on content investment and our decision to invest in different types of content in the future, including premium video and other formats of text content; our ability to attract and retain freelance creative professionals; changes in our level of investment in media content intangibles; the effects of changes or shifts in internet marketing expenditures, including from text to video content as well as from desktop to mobile content; the effects of shifting consumption of media content from desktop to mobile; the effects of seasonality on traffic to our owned and operated websites and the websites of our network customers; our ability to continue to add partners to our registrar platform on competitive terms; our ability to successfully pursue and implement our gTLD initiative, and the actual impact of that initiative even if successfully implemented; changes in stock-based compensation; changes in amortization or depreciation expense due to a variety of factors; potential write downs, reserves against or impairment of assets including receivables, goodwill, intangibles (including media content) or other assets; changes in tax laws, our business or other factors that would impact anticipated tax benefits or expenses; our ability to successfully identify, consummate and integrate acquisitions; our ability to retain key customers and key personnel; risks associated with litigation; the impact of governmental regulation; and the effects of discontinuing or discontinued business operations. From time to time, we may consider acquisitions or divestitures that, if consummated, could be material. Any forward-looking statements regarding financial metrics are based upon the assumption that no such acquisition or divestiture is consummated during the relevant periods. If an acquisition or divestiture were consummated, actual results could differ materially from any forward-looking statements. More information about potential risk factors that could affect our operating and financial results are contained in our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2012 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (http://www.sec.gov) on March 5, 2013, and as such risk factors may be updated in our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, without limitation, information under the captions Risk Factors and Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

Furthermore, as discussed above, the Company does not intend to revise or update the information set forth in this press release, except as required by law, and may not provide this type of information in the future.