GoDaddy sale set for $2.5 billion?
(CBS/CNET/AP) - GoDaddy, the domain-name registration company known for its racy Super Bowl ads, may be close to being purchased by three private investment firms for $2 billion to $2.5 billion.
According to The Wall Street Journal, the deal is being co-led by Silver Lake Partners and KKR & Co. Private equity and venture capital firm Technology Crossover Ventures will be involved as a lesser partner.
The newspaper said the deal between the companies could be announced next week, but so far, GoDaddy has not signed a definitive agreement to sell its business to the firms.
CNET News reports that GoDaddy has been seeking potential buyers for months. In September, The Wall Street Journal reported that the company hired Qatalyst Partners to find potential suitors. GoDaddy was reportedly seeking more than $1 billion in a potential sale.
Go Daddy Group Inc. was founded in 1997 and manages more than 48 million domain names. It is a privately held company.