"The explanation for that lack of notice and consultation – and the core argument for the sale itself – has been built around a huge lump sum that ISOC will receive for handing over its rights to the registry; something that Sullivan has said will be put into an endowment and used to fund the organization’s activities in perpetuity."
If they just did it for the money, Shirley putting it up for auction would make more sense? I'll bet that an Alphabet company (for example) would pay a LOT more than 1.135bn for it, given the opportunity.
Shady doesn't even begin to describe the pending sale, IMO.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
