GoDaddy, the internet domain web site famous for its provocative Super Bowl commercials, has been sold to KKR & Co. and two other firms for $2.25 billion, people familiar said, according to reports. In a released statement, CEO Bob Parsons said the deal with KKR, Silver Lake and Technology Crossover Ventures was a possibility he had been looking forward to.
“I’ve always said we would make a move like this when the right deal with the right partners could help us do the right thing for our customers and our employees,” he said.
He said he was partnering with the firms because “of their technology expertise, their understanding of Web based businesses and because their values align with ours.
“We believe, together, we will take the company to the next level, especially when it comes to accelerating international growth,” Parsons said.
An official from Silver Lake said the firm plans to “maintain and augment” GoDaddy’s customer support and competitive pricing. A KKR representative said there is a “significant opportunity ” to expand the current products and services and to also accelerate growth internationally.