For Sale: Topsites.us / Topsites LLC

Part 1: Background
Part 2: Correspondence
Part 3: Topsites Uncovered
Part 4: More Topsites Scams and Lies
Part 5: Topsites Revisited
Part 6: For Sale: Topsites.us / Topsites LLC

For some time the Topsites LLC / MyDirectory LLC/ eTopSites.Net LLC / Media LLC has been split into two seeminly related outfits - one based in the US headed up by Paul Aunger aka Paul Thomas. The other side is headed up by Somnath Bharti aka John Kennedy based in New Delhi, India. Most of the activity during 2004 came from the Indian operation, and for a while Paul Thomas had vanished, leaving his rented address in California and moving elsewhere.

Some further research into the whereabout of the US side of the operation came up with some interesting facts.. firstly, the Topsites LLC business (maybe under a different name) is for sale for the cool sum of $9,000,000 according to listing 8299211 at BusinessBroker.net (page snapshot here).

 

ONE OF THE WORLD'S TOP SEARCH ENGINES

	Asking Price: $9,000,000 + USD USA Dollars Industry: Technology: Internet Reason for Selling: We are venture capital company. Yearly Cash Flow: $1,800,000 + Yearly EBITDA: $1,800,000 + Yearly Net Profit: $1,800,000 + Total Debt: $0

	Overview: This is one of the world's biggest and most profitable search engine and directory. Our after tax profits are in the seven figures. We are looking for someone with the brains and experience to grow the business big enough to take it public while the market is still valuing search engines at more than 100 times earnings. We will merge with a similar business or bring in a CEO / Partner. You could run the business from anywhere. Property Features and Assets: Internet data center Market Competition and Expansion: We index more websites than Google, Yahoo, or MSN. Only Google, Yahoo, FindWhat and Kanoodle have more advertisers than us.

	Additional Details: The property is leased. The owner is willing to train/assist the new owner. The owner is willing to work for the new owner. This is not a homebased business opportunity. This is not a franchise opportunity. This is not a distressed business or bankruptcy situation.

Claiming to be one of the world's biggest search engines is profitable, but according to the Register of Known Spam Operations at Spamhaus, Topsites is certainly one of the world's biggest spammers.

The turnover of $1.8m is a little shocking, but perfectly possible given the scale and scope of the Topsites spammimg operation. That would mean that about Topsites have perhaps 20,000 victims who have signed up to their rather worthless directory. We can also see mention of the "venture capital company" that reared its head back in 2004.

This definitely appears to be the US side of the operation for sale though, being sold by "Paul" (presumably Paul Thomas / Paul Aunger), email internet@financier.com who apparently is now based in the Bahamas (IP 24.244.172.58).

We feel that it's unlikely that anyone would pay $9,000,000 for an operation of this type, especially with Topsites very tarnished history and reputation for spamming. If it does get sold, then you can guarantee that a lot of people will be studing legal documents very closely.