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Abstract
This document provides guidelines to Local Internet Registries
(LIRs) and End-User Organisations on the steps to take when the
organisation changes ownership (due to a merger, sale or takeover)
or stops serving entirely as an LIR.
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Table of Contents
1.0 Introduction
2.0 LIR Ownership Change
2.1 IP Address Space
2.2 Registration Services Agreement (RSA).
2.3 Change in Operating Organisation
2.4 Contact Person(s)
2.5 Org-handle
2.6 Transfers of Address Allocations
2.7 Administrative fees
3.0 Closing an LIR/End-User Organisation
3.1 Further Assignments
3.2 Finance
3.3 Transfers of Address Allocations
from a Closing LIR/Organisation
3.4 End Users Keeping Address Assignments
3.5 Continued Internet Connectivity to
End Users
3.6 Database Responsibilities
3.7 Unassigned Address Space
4.0 When a member is
closed by AfriNIC
1.0 Introduction
When an an AfriNIC member organization
changes ownership status or stops serving as an LIR, there are financial,
IP address space and AfriNIC Database issues that need resolving.
Therefore, AfriNIC must always be contacted when a member changes
ownership or closes.
2.0 Ownership Change
In the case of ownership change, the
member organization should contact AfriNIC at new-member@afrinic.net,
hostmaster@afrinic.net or by fax on +2304666758. Only registered
contact person(s) for that organisation can discuss the change of
ownership with AfriNIC. The following initial steps are required
to start doing any kind of changes.
a. Clarify the type of change:
A takeover of one member by another member, closing one of the
member organizations.
A takeover of a member by a non-member organization.
b. Outline the details of the change, stating:
The reason for the change of organization.
The name of the company/companies involved.
The number of members affected by the change.
The org-handles(s) of the member organizations affected by the
change.
c. Present the following documents to
AfriNIC:
Confirmation from all parties agreeing to the change (See section
2.3).
Updated list of contact person(s) (See section 2.4).
Updated billing e-mail contact details, including any changes
to the VAT number
(For companies located In Mauritius).
A new Registration Services Agreement, if applicable (See section
2.2).
Legal documentation supporting the name change, if applicable
(See section 2.2).
Overview of utilization in all allocations (See section 2.6).
2.1 IP Address Space
Following any type of change (such as mergers,
acquisitions or takeovers) of a member organization operating, AfriNIC
will review the status of any IP address allocations that are held
by all the members involved.
According to current policy, all allocated resources
remain valid as long as the original criteria for which those resources
were issued are still in place. Following this policy guideline,
AfriNIC must ensure that for each merger and/or takeover, the resulting
organization is planning to continue using the allocated/assigned
number resources for the original criteria under which these resources
were issued. In light of this, AfriNIC may require the following
documentation from the resulting organization:
a. License from the local telecommunications regulator
or equivalent to operate as an ISP for the new organization. (Where
necessary),
b. Documentation showing proof of allotted operating frequencies
from the local
Telecommunications regulator (also where necessary),
c. Company registration documents from the appropriate body.
d. Contracts between new organization and upstream connectivity
providers.
e. Any legal or public information about the mergers and continuity
of Internet Services,
f. Any other documentation that AfriNIC will deem necessary to complete
the process.
g. An uppdated address plan for the merged Infrastructure (where
necessary).
2.2 Registration Services Agreement (RSA).
When a member organization changes ownership, a
new service agreement may need to be signed. AfriNIC will need to
request a new Registration Service Agreement (RSA) from the new
owners if the member organization changes the legal name from that
appearing in our records. The registration documentation from the
relevant Chamber of Commerce or its country equivalent, supporting
the name change must be submitted to AfriNIC.
If the member organization does not change its
name, it can continue to operate under the same RSA. If the merger
results into a change of membership type, a new membership form
will have to be submitted to AfriNIC, and this should show the new
type (Usually LIR or EU).
2.3 Change in Operating Organisation
In the case where a member organization
takes over one or more member organizations, confirmation of the
takeover from all parties involved or their legal representatives
must be included.
2.4 Contact Person(s)
It is very important to notify AfriNIC, if
there is a change of contact person(s). This is essential, as only
registered contact person(s) can submit Internet resource requests
to AfriNIC and provide updates to our internal registry files. If
there are no current registered contacts remaining with the member
organization, a fax signed by a senior administrative authority
on the organization’s letterhead is required to implement
these changes. The changes should include the new registered contact
person(s) for the member organization.
2.5 org-handle
It is not necessary to obtain a new
Organization Handle (org-hdl) if the name of the member organization
hasn't changed. The org-handle is an identifier used by AfriNIC
to distinguish the various members. It does not have to correspond
to the legal name of the member.
2.6 Transfers of Address Allocations
All transfers of address allocations from
one member to another (or to a non-member) require evaluation and
approval by AfriNIC. It is expected that all database objects relating
to this allocation be correct and up-to-date before the transfer
occurs.
2.7 Administrative Fees
There are no administrative fees involved in handling
mergers and related tasks. However, all current outstanding invoices
for the members involved in the process will have to be paid in
full before AfriNIC can start the process.
3.0 Closing an member organisation/LIR.
In the case of a closure, AfriNIC should be contacted
at least 1 month prior to the required closure date. Only registered
member contact person(s) can discuss a closure of an organization
with AfriNIC. In case of bankruptcy, the court-appointed administrator
may take over these responsibilities.
To cease operations, a member is required to take
the following four steps:
a. Send AfriNIC a written request to officially
close the membership. State the reasons for
closure and the intention to return the unassigned address space.
b. Provide AfriNIC with documentation of all IP
assignments made from address
space allocated by AfriNIC.
c. Provide a list of any End Users that have expressed
a need to keep their assigned
IP address space. Contact information such as e-mail addresses of
these End Users
should be included. (See section 3.7)
d. Verify that the contents of the AfriNIC Database
are up-to-date. A closing member
is responsible for removing any objects entered by them in the AfriNIC
Database that
are no longer valid. Please send a confirmation to AfriNIC that
all obsolete and invalid
objects have been removed, or if any other help is required (See
section 3.8)
3.1 Further Assignments
A closing member is not allowed to make any
further assignments from its address space allocations.
3.2 Finance
A member will continue to be billed for services
until a formal request to be closed is sent
by a registered contact person along with all paperwork until AfriNIC
approves the merger.
3.3 Transfers of Address Allocations from
a Closing LIR
If a member wishes to transfer IP address allocations
to another existing member organization, they must provide documentation
about all assignments to the member receiving the transferred allocation.
As outlined above, all transfers require approval by AfriNIC and
all database objects must be valid and up-to-date.
3.4 End Users Keeping Address Assignments
A closing LIR should always encourage its End
Users to renumber into an address allocation held by another LIR.
This way, customer assignments can then be routed as part of the
other LIR's allocation.
3.5 Continued Internet Connectivity to
End Users
The End Users cannot continue to use the address
space already assigned to them by the closing LIR. Assignments made
by an LIR that has been closed are invalid as the full allocation
would have to be returned to the unused number resource pool.
3.6 Database Responsibilities
Members are responsible for the accuracy of the
data they enter into the AfriNIC Database. In the case of a closure
, the member should remove any objects in the AfriNIC Database that
are no longer valid. This includes inetnum and domain objects with
obsolete information. In case where End Users of an LIR keep the
address space assigned to them after the LIR closes, the LIR maintainer
in the database objects representing these assignments needs to
be removed and replaced by the AfriNIC maintainer. The LIR should
provide AfriNIC with a list of relevant database objects agreeing
to AfriNIC overwriting the current LIR’s maintainer.
3.7 Unassigned Address Space
Unassigned address space will be returned to AfriNIC
and will revert back to the public pool of IP address space. It
can be assigned or allocated by AfriNIC as necessary. Should the
member decide to close and reopen at a later date, all formal steps
required to become an AfriNIC member must be re-done. All reclaimed
addresses are quarantined for a period of 2 years before they can
be allocated to another entity.
4.0 When an LIR is Closed by AfriNIC
AfriNIC may decide to close a member that stops
paying its bills and/or cannot be
contacted by AfriNIC for a significant period of time. Furthermore,
if a member consistently violates the policies established by the
Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) or the community at large,
in spite of multiple warnings, such a member may be closed. There
are internal guidelines followed by AfriNIC towards closure of members
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