Fo Daddy

Racing rider Nick Laham/Getty ImagesDanica Patrick is featured in Go Daddy's high-risk commercial. Go Daddy Group, the contentious biggest online directory company, said Friday it was selling to a group headed by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts and Silver Lake.

Whilst the firm did not release the agreement's monetary conditions, the customers will pay approximately $2. 25 billion, according to those who are informed about the substance. With Go Daddy, the group of investors - which also owns Technology Crossover Ventures as a third-party shareholder - will buy the largest registered trademark in the United States.

More than 48 million domains are managed and the organization has nearly 9.4 million clients. In 2006, when Go Daddy tried to go public, $139 million was announced. 8 million in revenues, Go Daddy admitted it had successive net years. Qatalyst Partners, the Frankfurt-based mutual fund established by Frank Quattrone last autumn, was commissioned by the company's management to investigate a possible divestiture after being contacted by both commercial clients and private equity companies.

Daddy's Go deal is about stable registration rates for the Registry and web hostings, which are appealing to privately held companies. Perhaps Go Daddy is best known for his daring publicity, among them "too sexy for television" Super Bowl ads with sparsely dressed speakers like race racer Danica Patrick and star coach Jillian Michaels.

K.K.R. and Silver Lake leaders said this will probably not be changed. Go Papa's blunt founding and managing director, Robert Parsons, said the firm plans to broaden its offering, which includes switching to cloud-based service and aggressive expansion of its global outreach. Acquisitions have obtained funding approvals from their finance advisors Barclays Equity, Deutsche Bank and RBC Equity as well as K.K.R.'s own equity department.

Mr. Herald Chen, a manager at K.K.R., said the acquisition companies regarded the firm as a growing venture that did not add much indebtedness. Upon completion of the divestment, he will be appointed CEO of the business and will continue to be a key lobbyist. Mr. Parsons, unlike most CEOs, is keen to express his opinion.

In 2006, one of the causes of the company's withdrawal from the proposed IPO was Mr. Parsons' rubbing against the rest phase regulations prescribed by the Securities and Exchange Commission. "K. K. K. R. and Silver Lake are both invited to audition," he said.