GoDaddy, the world’s largest domain registrar with nearly 40 million domains, has been sold to private equity firms KKR & Co., Silver Lake Partners and Technology Crossover Ventures for $2.25 Billion. Founder and CEO Bob Parsons is quoted about the deal in the LA Times saying “What these guys see is a company with a lot more potential internationally and more potential to make partnerships and acquisitions. They’ll help us finance and they’ll help us recruit talent.”
Famous for its sexy superbowl ads and a CEO with a penchant for hunting elephants GoDaddy has expanded from registrar into also becoming one of the world’s largest web hosting companies. The company had hired Lehman Brothers back in 2006 with an aim to float the company and raise over $100 million, but after their S-1 registration the company withdrew its filing. More recently in September 2010 the company was put up for auction but again despite rumours of bids exceeding the $1.5 – $2 Billion asking price the auction was called off.
[via WSJ]