KKR, Silver Lake close to buying Go Daddy for $2 bn

A consortium of private equity firms are close to buying Go Daddy, the world's biggest registrar of internet domain names, for $2 billion to $2.5 billion.

Private equity firms led by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts and Silver Lake Partners along with a third minority investor Technology Crossover Ventures are close to finalising the deal, which could be announced as early as next week, The Wall Street Journal today reported citing people familiar with the matter.

Founded in 1997 as Jomax Technologies by Bob Parsons, Arizona-based GoDaddy.com, the company's flagship web property, is the world's largest registrar of internet domain names having more than 45 million domain names under management.

The Go Daddy Group includes three ICANN-accredited domain name registrars. Apart from from GoDaddy.com the company has membership-based 'Blue Razor.

Earlier this month it said it is preparing to be one of the first in the industry to offer Internet users the .XXX domain name extension, specifically designated for the adult entertainment industry.

The site also sells e-business related software and services to customers raking in monthly fees, which is lucrative for any buyout firms. It is now the world's largest provider of new SSL certificates having more than 9.3 million customers.